MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2024
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting, as scheduled, on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at 5:30 P.M. in the Commissioners’ Board Room located in the Watauga County Administration Building, Boone, North Carolina.
Chairman Turnbow called the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M. The following were present:
PRESENT: Larry Turnbow, Chairman
Charlie Wallin, Vice-Chairman
Todd Castle, Commissioner
Braxton Eggers, Commissioner
Ray Russell, Commissioner
Andrea Capua, County Attorney
Deron Geouque, County Manager
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board
Commissioner Castle opened with a prayer and Commissioner Eggers led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairman Turnbow called for additions and/or corrections to the February 29 & March 1, 2024, special meeting minutes as well as the March 19, 2024, regular minutes and closed session minutes.
Commissioner Eggers, seconded by Commissioner Castle, moved to approve the February 29 & March 1, 2024, special meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Eggers, seconded by Commissioner Castle, moved to approve the March 19, 2024, regular meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Eggers, seconded by Commissioner Castle, moved to approve the March 19, 2024, closed session minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Chairman Turnbow called for additions and/or corrections to the April 2, 2024, agenda.
County Manager Geouque requested to add a closed session for attorney/client matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(3) and possible action after closed session.
The County Manager also requested to add a discussion regarding a Town of Boone parking proposal.
Vice-Chairman Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Russell, moved to approve the April 2, 2024, agenda as amended.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
PROPOSED CMT AND ENGINEERING CONTRACT WITH INTERFACE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS FOR MIDDLE FORK GREENWAY
Ms. Wendy Patoprsty, Middle Fork Greenway, requested approval of a contract with Solid Rock Engineering in the estimated amount of $32,000. The contract was for materials testing and engineering services for the Middle Fork Greenway (Section 4) Tweetsie Railroad Underpass. Ms. Patoprsty stated that construction would begin on April 15, 2024, which was the date the trout moratorium would expire. County Attorney Capua stated that she had no issues with the agreement. Ms. Patoprsty also stated that there will be a per-day fine if the work isn’t completed by July 7, 2024. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be scheduled for the summer. All expenses associated with this contract will be paid by Middle Fork Greenway. County funds were not required.
Commissioner Russell, seconded by Commissioner Eggers, moved to approve the contract with Solid Rock Engineering with an estimated amount of $32,000 with Middle Fork Greenway to pay all expenses related to this contract.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
SHERIFF’S OFFICE COVID GRANT FUND FOR FLOCK SAFETY
Captain Preston Russell, Watauga County Sheriff’s Office, requested approval for the expenditure of the remainder of the COVID assistance grant for Flock Safety in the amount of $50,650. The contract total was $50,650 which included service and installation fees for a five-year period. No county match was required.
Vice-Chairman Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Russell, moved to approve the contract and terms for a five-year period in the amount of $50,650 for Flock Security.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
MISCELLANEOUS ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
A. Proposed Audit Contract for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2024
Mr. Deron Geouque, County Manager/Finance Director, requested approval of the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 audit contract and engagement letter with C. Randolph CPA, PLLC. The contract amount of $49,200 covers the annual audit. Adequate funds were available to cover the expenditure.
Commissioner Russell, seconded by Vice-Chairman Wallin, moved to accept the contract with C. Randolph, CPA, PLLC for the County’s Fiscal Year 2023-2024 audit in the amount not to exceed $49,200.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. Appointment of New County Attorney
County Manager Geouque stated that the County was recently made aware of the dissolution of di Santi Capua & Garrett, Attorneys at Law, current County Attorney. As such, the Board is required to appoint a new county attorney/firm. Ms. Capua of di Santi Capua & Garrett, Attorneys at Law will be joining the law firm of Capua Law and is interested in continuing as the County Attorney with her new firm.
Chairman Turnbow, seconded by Vice-Chairman Wallin, moved to appoint Capua Law as the County’s Attorney.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
C. Boards and Commissions
County Manager Geouque presented the following:
Blowing Rock Planning Board and Board of Adjustment ETJ Representative
The Blowing Rock Town Council recommends Mr. Joseph "Woody" Hubbard be appointed to serve as an Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) representative on Blowing Rock’s Planning Board and Board of Adjustment. The County Manager shared that, due to time constraints, the Town of Blowing Rock had respectfully requested a waiver of the first reading so the recommendation can be considered for a vote at the April 2nd meeting which would allow Mr. Hubbard to be appointed at the April 18th Blowing Rock Planning Board meeting.
Commissioner Castle, seconded by Commissioner Eggers, moved to waive the second reading and appoint Mr. Joseph “Woody” Hubbard as the Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) representative on the Blowing Rock Planning Board and Board of Adjustment.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
EMS Advisory Committee
The EMS Advisory Committee recommends the reappointment of Mr. Floyd Hicks and appointment of Mr. Bob Pudney to fill two At-Large positions. Mr. Hicks has served the EMS Advisory Board for many years and Mr. Pudney is the Manager of the Town of Beech Mountain as well as the Fire Chief of the Beech Mountain Volunteer Fire Department.
Commissioner Eggers, seconded by Commissioner Castle, moved to reappoint Mr. Floyd Hicks and appoint Mr. Bob Pudney to fill two At-Large positions on the EMS Advisory Committee.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
D. Town of Boone Parking Proposal
County Manager Geouque stated that he, Commissioner Eggers (as a downtown business owner), and Mr. Charles Haynes, Clerk of Court, recently met with Town of Boone representatives who shared the Town’s parking proposal which included the following:
Recover Downtown Parking Spaces (effective January 1, 2025):
· 30 spaces on Queen Street to be removed from County use when deck is complete (Est. Dec 2024), and converted to permit parking
· 30 Library spots to be returned to County control
· Juror pass parking at town meters will end when deck is complete
County Manager Geouque stated that staff wanted to keep the spaces near the Courthouse. There are more parking needs near the Courthouse than at the Library where there is a 20% vacancy rate of the spaces currently used for Library attendees. The County also does not agree with ending the juror pass parking. Mr. Geouque stated that the parking deck will benefit the Town by allowing parking after 5:00 P.M. on weekdays and all day on Saturdays and Sundays. The County Manager stated that the Town of Boone said that the Human Services parking lot could be used for juror parking.
Commissioner Eggers stated that juror parking was needed near the Courthouse as it was not easy for many to walk long distances to get to the Courthouse to serve their civic duty. Vice-Chairman Wallin stated that he shared the same concern when the Town and County discussed parking several years ago. Commissioner Eggers stated that the parking deck would be beneficial even if he wasn’t in favor of spending funds for the construction. Commissioner Russell stated that it made no sense to make parking more difficult for jurors.
Chairman Turnbow stated that the proposal made no sense for the Town to want to switch parking spaces when they currently draw income by leasing the spaces behind the Library building. Also, if the 30 spaces near the Courthouse were taken from the County’s use, that parking would be absorbed into the parking deck leaving less for jurors.
After discussion and by consensus, the Board agreed to have Chairman Turnbow and Commissioner Castle meet with Mayor Futrelle and a Town Councilperson to discuss the issue further.
E. Announcements
County Manager Geouque announced the following:
The Board of Commissioners are invited along with the School Board to a tour of the new Valle Crucis School on April 19, 2024, at 2:00 P.M. Following the tour, at 3:30 P.M., Chairman Turnbow will tour the current Valle Crucis School with a group interested in retaining the building for historical purposes. There may be a quorum present at one or both of the tours.
CLOSED SESSION
At 6:01 P.M., Vice-Chairman Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Russell, moved to enter Closed Session to discuss Attorney/Client Matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(3).
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Vice-Chairman Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Castle, moved to resume the open meeting at 6:38 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
POSSIBLE ACTION AFTER CLOSED SESSION
Chairman Turnbow, seconded by Commissioner Russell, moved to terminate Dr. Jennifer Stoeber as the County’s Medical Director.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Chairman Turnbow, seconded by Commissioner Russell, moved to appoint Dr. Kaitlyn Hinshaw as the EMS System Medical Director and Dr. Deborah Rogers as the EMS System Assistant Medical Director.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
ADJOURN
Commissioner Eggers, seconded by Commissioner Castle, moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:42 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Larry Turnbow, Chairman
ATTEST: Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board