MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting, as scheduled, on Tuesday, December 21, 2021, at 5:30 P.M. in the Commissioners’ Board Room located in the Watauga County Administration Building, Boone, North Carolina.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy called the meeting to order at 5:34 P.M. The following were present:
PRESENT: Billy Kennedy, Vice-Chairman
Carrington Pertalion, Commissioner
Larry Turnbow, Commissioner
Charlie Wallin, Commissioner
Andrea Capua, County Attorney
Deron Geouque, County Manager
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board
[Clerk’s Note: Chairman Welch was not able to attend due to a prior commitment.]
Commissioner Wallin opened with a prayer and Commissioner Pertalion led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of Minutes
Vice-Chairman Kennedy called for a correction to the November 16, 2021, regular minutes as well as additions and/or corrections to the December 7, 2021, regular meeting and closed session minutes.
Commissioner Pertalion, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to approve the November 16, 2021, regular meeting minutes with the corrections as presented.
VOTE: Aye-4(Kennedy, Pertalion, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Welch)
Commissioner Pertalion, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to approve the December 7, 2021, regular meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-4(Kennedy, Pertalion, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Welch)
Commissioner Pertalion, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to approve the December 7, 2021, closed session minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-4(Kennedy, Pertalion, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Welch)
Approval of Agenda
Vice-Chairman Kennedy called for additions and/or corrections to the December 21, 2021, agenda.
Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Commissioner Pertalion, moved to approve the December 21, 2021, agenda as presented.
VOTE: Aye-4(Kennedy, Pertalion, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Welch)
Capital Campaign Request for the High Country Service Area
Ms. Anne-Marie Yates and Ms. Evalyn Pierce, Capital Campaign Co-Chairs, presented a capital campaign for a hospice and palliative care facility for the High Country Service Area. Ms. Yates and Ms. Pierce shared personal experiences that resulted in the realization of the need for such a facility located in the High Country.
Ms. Kerri McFalls, AMOREM Vice President of Community Engagement, and Ms. Brittany Bonn, AMOREM Director of Development, also shared information regarding the facility to be located on Moonstruck Lane off of Archie Carroll Road. The facility would be located adjacent their Office Building which was currently under construction. Appalachian Architecture prepared the plans for the buildings. The request to the Board was to sponsor a patient room at the cost of $250,000 which could be paid over a five-year period. The sponsorship would come with naming rights for the room.
County Manager Geouque stated that there could potentially be American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funds available for water and sewer; however, the infrastructure was already in place for the project. It was clarified that operation costs would be covered through insurance and Medicare funds.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy stated that the Board would discuss the request at the Annual Pre-Budget Retreat which would take place in February and during the upcoming budget process.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Community Update
Ms. Jennifer Greene, AppHealthCare Director, provided an update on the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The report was for information only and, therefore, no action was required.
Request for Declaration of Surplus and Sale – WCSO K-9
County Manager Geouque, on behalf of Major Redmon, requested to declare “Elvis” a K-9 police dog as surplus and approve the sale to its handler, Lt. Rick Ruppert. Major Redmon had indicated that due to Elvis’ age and hip issues, the K-9 must be retired for use by the Sheriff’s Office. General Statutes allowed for the dog to be sold for a negotiated price by order of the Board of Commissioners. For staff to carry out the order, the Board must adopt a resolution, as presented by the County Manager, and advertise the sale for ten (10) days prior to the sale. The County Manager requested the dog be declared surplus and sold for a fee of $1.00 to its handler, who would then bare all future expenses related to the medical, care and housing of Elvis. Since the K-9 had been trained for duty, it would be best for an experienced handler to have ownership.
Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to declare the K-9 “Elvis” surplus; adopt the resolution, and direct staff to give notice ten (10) days prior to the sale with the understanding that, upon completion of the ten-day notice, Elvis would be presented to Lt. Ruppert who would bare all future expenses related to the medical, care and housing of Elvis.
VOTE: Aye-4(Kennedy, Pertalion, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Welch)
Tax Matters
A. Monthly Collections Report
Tax Administrator, Mr. Larry Warren, presented the Tax Collections Report for the month of November 2021. The report was presented for information only and, therefore, no action was required.
B. Refunds and Releases
Mr. Warren presented the Refunds and Releases Report for November 2021 for Board approval:
TO BE TYPED IN MINUTE BOOK
Commissioner Pertalion, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to approve the Refunds and Releases Report for November 2021 as presented.
VOTE: Aye-4(Kennedy, Pertalion, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Welch)
Miscellaneous Administrative Matters
A. Animal Care and Control Vehicle Bid Award Request
County Manager Geouque requested authorization for the purchase of one (1) new 4x4 F150 Pickup Truck in the amount of $28,306.94, including tax and tag, from Capital Ford, Inc. The vehicle costs more than originally budgeted due to rising costs; however, funds were available in the current Animal Care and Control budget and administrative contingency fund to cover the expense. The County Manager stated that the kennel from the current vehicle would be transferred by staff to the new vehicle.
After brief discussion, Commissioner Pertalion, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to authorize the purchase of one (1) new 4x4 F150 Pickup Truck for Animal Care and Control in the amount of $28,306.94 from Capital Ford, Inc.
VOTE: Aye-4(Kennedy, Pertalion, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Welch)
B. Announcements
County Manager Geouque announced the following:
· The Watauga Compassionate Community Initiative sent a “save the date” for their Annual Spring Conference which was scheduled to be held on Friday, May 13, and Saturday, May 14, 2022.
· The January 4, 2022, regular Board meeting has been cancelled and the next regular meeting would be held on January 18, 2022, at 5:30 P.M.
There was no public comment.
Closed Session
At 6:36 P.M., Commissioner Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to enter Closed Session to discuss Attorney/Client Matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(3).
VOTE: Aye-4(Kennedy, Pertalion, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Welch)
Commissioner Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Pertalion, moved to resume the open meeting at 9:44 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-4(Kennedy, Pertalion, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Welch)
Possible Action After Closed Session
There was no action after closed session.
Adjourn
Commissioner Pertalion, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:45 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-4(Kennedy, Pertalion, Turnbow, Wallin)
Nay-0
Absent-1(Welch)
Billy Kennedy, Vice-Chairman
ATTEST:
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board