MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2022
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting, as scheduled, on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, 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 5:33 P.M. The following were present:
PRESENT: John Welch, Chairman
Billy Kennedy, Vice-Chairman
Carrington Pertalion, Commissioner
Larry Turnbow, Commissioner
Charlie Wallin, Commissioner
Anthony di Santi, County Attorney
Deron Geouque, County Manager
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board
Commissioner Wallin opened with a prayer and Commissioner Turnbow led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of Minutes
Chairman Welch called for additions and/or corrections to the March 15, 2022, regular meeting and closed session minutes.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Pertalion, moved to approve the March 15, 2022, regular meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Pertalion, moved to approve the March 15, 2022, closed session minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Approval of Agenda
Chairman Welch called for additions and/or corrections to the April 5, 2022, agenda.
Commissioner requested a discussion regarding County Ordinances under Attorney/Client Matters in Closed Session.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to approve the April 5, 2022, agenda as amended.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Proposed Resolution in Memory of Sheriff’s Deputy Logan Fox and Sergeant Chris Ward
Chairman Welch read a proposed resolution in memory of Deputy Sheriff Logan Fox and Sergeant Chris Ward which requests citizens, businesses, nonprofits, and State and local governments to illuminate a blue light and observe a moment of remembrance on April 28, 2022.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to adopt the resolution as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Letter to NC DHHS Secretary Kinsley Requesting A Delay in the Issuance of the Request for Proposal
Mr. Dustin Burleson, Community Relations Regional Director with Vaya Health, stated that the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) planned to create a specialty Medicaid waiver for children in foster care as well as children & youth involved with Social Services. The Child & Family Specialty Plan (CFSP) would be a single, statewide plan available to the children, youth, and families served by the child welfare system regardless of their location. The design would create a central accountable entity for providing services with only a Standard Plan or a Tailored Plan being allowed to bid to operate the CFSP; however, there were concerns with the proposed system.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy stated that concerns with the statewide CFSP (formerly called the Foster Care Waiver) would be the loss of local contact with a plan that would no longer be regional. There is also a concern of trying to do this while also incorporating Cardinal into Vaya.
A proposed letter was presented to be sent to NCDHHS Secretary Kody Kinsley requesting delaying issuance of the CFSP Request for Proposal. Vice-Chairman Kennedy also requested the proposed letter be addressed and sent to Senator Deana Ballard and Representative Ray Pickett.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Pertalion, moved to approve the letter to be sent to Secretary Kody Kinsley, Senator Deana Ballard, and Representative Ray Pickett.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Zionville Baptist Church Request to Use Human Services Parking Lot
Ms. Pam Greer, on behalf of Zionville Baptist Church, a non-profit organization, requested use of the parking lots of both the Social Services and Health Department on Saturday, July 30, 2022, from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. The purpose of the request was to host a fundraiser for Safe Harbor, a recovery center for women that provides assistance programs and resources. They will provide all trashcans, caution cones, and porta-johns for the event but do need access to electricity for events on the stage. They will have generators for the bouncy houses.
County Manager Geouque stated that a license agreement was typically signed for use of the parking lot with a $200 fee which could be waived if the Board so chose. Mr. Geouque asked if the Board wished to waive the fee. The County Manager stated that, if approved, the County Attorney could draw the agreement.
Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Commissioner Pertalion, moved to waive the $200 fee and allow Zionville Baptist Church to sponsor the fundraiser event for Safe Harbor as requested.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Information Technologies Proposed Back Up Solution
Mr. Drew Eggers, Information Technologies Director, requested approval of the purchase of a new backup system for the County’s computer system. The quote, from Katalyst was for a complete Rubrik backup system to protect the County’s data. Total cost for the solution was $76,608.50 which could be paid for out of available ARPA funds.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to approve the Rubrik backup system in the amount of $76,608.50 with funds to come from existing ARPA funds.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Miscellaneous Administrative Matters
A. Interlocal Government Agreement Regarding Consolidation of 911 Dispatch Services for Watauga County and the Town of Boone
County Manager Geouque stated that County and Town of Boone staff have been developing a plan to consolidate 911 dispatch services. The County Manager presented a proposed agreement to take over the Town of Boone 911 dispatch services in the amount of $415,940 annually, adjusted by the CPI index. As part of the agreement, the Town of Boone would transfer six full-time telecommunicator positions to the County. The employees would then become County employees and would be eligible for all County benefits. The effective date of the agreement was to be May 1, 2022. The Town of Boone had already approved the agreement. The County Attorney and County Manager have reviewed and approved the agreement.
Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Commissioner Pertalion, moved to approve the agreement for the County to assume 911 consolidated dispatch with the Town of Boone as presented by the County Manager.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. Boards and Commissions
County Manager Geouque presented the following:
Parks and Recreation Commission
The Town of Boone unanimously recommended Ms. Kalie Eppley to serve as their representative on the Parks and Recreation Commission. Ms. Eppley would be succeeding her father, Mr. West Eppley, in the position.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Pertalion, moved to waive the second reading and appoint Ms. Kalie Eppley as a Town of Boone representative on the Watauga County Parks and Recreation Commission.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
C. Announcements
County Manager Geouque announced the following:
· The Board of Commissioners will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, at 5:00 P.M. to discuss a proposed application for a Parks and Recreation Trust Fund Grant from the NC Division of Parks and Recreation.
· The last two sessions of the series to discuss the safety, accessibility, and affordability of housing in Watauga County will be held in April 2022.
· Budget Work Sessions are scheduled for Thursday, May 12, 2022, beginning at 12:00 noon and Friday, May 13, 2022, beginning at 9:00 A.M.
· Registration for the 2022 Watauga Compassionate Community Initiative (WCCI) Conference is now open and available at www.wataugacci.org. Registration closes Monday, April 25, 2022.
Vice-Chairman Kennedy commended the Children’s Playhouse on their Shout and Build Fest which was held on Saturday, April 2, 2022.
Public Comment
There was no public comment.
Closed Session
At 6:24 P.M., Commissioner Pertalion, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to enter Closed Session to discuss Attorney/Client Matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(3) and Personnel Matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(6).
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Pertalion, moved to resume the open meeting at 8:53 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Adjourn
Commissioner Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Pertalion, moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:53 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
John Welch, Chairman
ATTEST:
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board