MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2005
 
            The Watauga County Board of Commissioners and the Ashe County Board of Commissioners held a special meeting on Monday, December 12, 2005, at 4:00 P.M. in the Ashe County Courthouse in the second floor conference room.
 
PRESENT:       Jim Deal, Chairman
                        William R. Winkler, Vice-Chairman
                        Keith Honeycutt, Commissioner
                        Robert E. Nelson, Jr., County Manager
                        Deron Geouque, Assistant County Manager
                        Joe Furman, Planning and Inspections Director
 
                        Richard Blackburn, Ashe County Vice Chairman
                        Richard Calhoun, Ashe County Commissioner
                        Judy Poe, Ashe County Commissioner
                        Gerald Price, Ashe County Commissioner
                        Dan McMillan, Ashe County Manager
                        Patricia Mitchell, Ashe County Economic Development Director
                        Zach Edwardson, Ashe County Planning Director
                        Ann Clark, Ashe County Clerk to the Board
                        Barbara McCoy, Ashe County Deputy Clerk
            [Clerk's Note: Chairman Deal arrived 4:10 pm and Vice Chairman Winkler arrived at 4:12 P.M.]
                [Clerk's Note: AsheCounty Commissioner Calhoun left the meeting at 5:22 P.M.]
 
            Vice Chairman Richard Blackburn called the meeting to order at 4:03 P .M. in the Commissioners' courtroom.  The meeting was then moved to the second floor conference room. Vice Chairman Blackburn welcomed the Watauga County Board of Commissioners and Administrative staff.  The purpose of the meeting was to determine mutual interest in providing water and sewer service in the unincorporated areas of both counties.
 
            Chairman Deal explained that Watauga County has begun to explore ways to supply future water needs of the County.  He stated that the Watauga County Board of Commissioners has met with the Town of Boone, the Town of Blowing Rock, and Appalachian State University concerning future water needs in the area.  Since the New River is the primary water source available, it was determined that a line of communication should be opened with Ashe County to see if there was interest in working jointly toward a regional water system.  Commissioner Keith Honeycutt stated that Board members visited Orange County and were very impressed with their regional water authority.  Chairman Deal added that growth would occur most rapidly in the Hwy 221/Hwy 421 area.  Ashe County Commissioner Calhoun stated that long range planning was important.  Ashe County Commissioner Blackburn believed there was a need for industrial sites and would like to look at the possibility of a joint venture with Watauga County.  Chairman Deal wanted to see a system that helped citizens in both counties; a cooperative organization in which the one who uses the most services would pay the most. Members of the Ashe County Board of Commissioners expressed their interest in exploring the possibility of a joint venture with the Watauga County Board of Commissioners.  The Watauga County Board of Commissioners welcomed Ashe County Commissioners to meet with their municipalities and attend future meetings for continued discussion.
 
            Ashe County Commissioner Price, seconded by Ashe County Commissioner Poe, moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:25 P.M.  The vote carried unanimously.
 
            The Watauga County Board of Commissioners having further business reconvened their meeting at 5:31 P.M.
 
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
 
            The following names were given for consideration to the Watauga Medical Center Board of Trustees was presented:
 
Doctor Representative (1)                               Dr. Cecilia Grasinger
                                                                      Dr. Yvonne Mack
 
Watauga County Representative (3)                Mr. Armfield Coffey
                                                                      Mr. John Councill
                                                                      Mr. Council Main
                                                                      Mr. Paul Miller, Jr.
                                                                      Mr. Dennis Quinn
                                                                      Dr. Harry Williams
 
            This being the first reading of the names no action was required.
SCHEDULING OF SPECIAL MEETING
 
            The County Manager informed the Board that Watauga County was eligible to receive $264,410 in state money for the replacement of the County's voting machines.  Board of Elections Director, Jane Ann Hodges, was of the opinion that if the County did not enter into a signed contract with an approved vendor prior to January 1, 2006, that the already received federal money, approximately $44,000, may be revoked.  The County Manager recommended the Board set a date a time for this meeting prior to the January 1, 2006 deadline.
 
            The Board set a meeting for December 29, 2005 at 12:00 P.M. in the Board Room of the Watauga County Courthouse to consider a vendor for the County's voting machines.
 
EWP CHANGE ORDER REQUEST
 
            Joe Furman presented an EWP change order for the White Laurel Project. The change order in the amount of $197,855 was to improve existing drainage that was not part of the original contract. The change order was necessitated to stabilize the bank and protect the work already completed.
 
            Commissioner Honeycutt, seconded by Commissioner Winkler, moved to approve the change order as presented by Mr. Furman.
 
VOTE:   Aye -3
              Nay- 0
              Absent -2
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
            The County Manager announced the Legislative Reception was scheduled for Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 6:00 P .M. at Chetola Resort.
            Chairman Deal adjourned the meeting by consensus at 5:40 P.M.
 
 
 
Jim Deal, Chairman
 
ATTEST:
Deron Geouque, Assistant County Manager