MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2002
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting on Tuesday, October 15, 2002 at 7:00 P.M. in the Commissioners Meeting Room of the Watauga County Courthouse.
PRESENT: Jimmy Hodges, Chairman
James Coffey, Vice-Chairman
Jack Lawrence, Sr., Commissioner
Sue Sweeting, Commissioner
Pat Wilkie, Commissioner
Jeff Hedrick, County Attorney
Robert E. Nelson, Jr., County Manager
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board
Chairman Hodges called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. welcoming those in attendance.
A moment of silence was observed.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairman Hodges called for additions or corrections to the October 7, 2002 regular meeting and closed session minutes.
Commissioner Sweeting requested that the final sentence of the first paragraph under Miscellaneous Administrative Matters, Section D., read as follows for the sake of clarity:
“This Bill replaced the half-penny that was to be received by counties effective July 1, 2003.
Commissioner Sweeting, seconded by Commissioner Wilkie, moved to approve the October 7, 2002 regular meeting and closed session minutes as amended.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Chairman Hodges called for additions or corrections to the October 15, 2002 agenda.
Commissioner Wilkie, seconded by Commissioner Lawrence, moved to approve the October 15, 2002 agenda as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
PUBLIC HEARING – ANNOUNCED CABLE RATE INCREASE
A public hearing was opened at 7:02 P.M. to allow citizen input regarding the recent cable rate increases by Charter Communications.
Ms. Jerry Hayes spoke regarding concern for those on fixed incomes and stated that the cable rates should not be more than the average 2% cost of living increase.
Mr. Tony Barlage, Director of Charter Communications, was present to comment and to hear public comments regarding the recent rate increases.
There being no further public comment, Chairman Hodges declared the public hearing closed at 7:12 P.M.
No Board action was required and none was taken.
PUBLIC HEARING- CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF THE THIRD ONE-HALF CENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT SALES & USE TAX
A public hearing was opened at 7:12 P.M. to allow citizen input on the Third One-Half Cent Local Government Sales and Use Tax.
Two citizens spoke, one against the additional sales tax and one in favor of the additional sales tax.
There being no further public comment, Chairman Hodges declared the public hearing closed at 7:20 P.M.
After discussion, Vice-Chairman Coffey, seconded by Commissioner Lawrence, moved to adopt the Resolution Levying the Third One-Half Cent (1/2¢) Local Government Sales and Use Tax to be effective December 1, 2002.
VOTE: Aye-3 (Hodges, Coffey, Lawrence)
Nay-2 (Sweeting, Wilkie)
UPDATE ON “STOP THE LITTER” CAMPAIGN
Ms. Nancy Reigel of Mountain Keepers presented an update on the activities of the “Stop the Litter” Campaign and invited the Commissioners to a follow-up meeting on Wednesday, October 18, 2002, at the Agriculture Extension Center.
No Board action was required and none was taken.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT CHANGE ORDER AND PROJECT UPDATE
Mr. Randy Jones presented a project update on the new Health Department Building. Mr. Jones stated that the mild winter and dry summer allowed for the building to be “ahead of schedule”, which moves up the occupancy date to the first of the year.
Mr. Jones reviewed three change orders regarding the following: handling water that was encountered at the lower level, the addition of a sliding glass window per Health Department request, and rock removal. The total of the change orders were $225,788. The current fiscal year’s budget included $200,000 to address the anticipated rock removal.
Mr. Jones believed a substantial amount of additional rock would be encountered during the final weeks of excavation. An additional change order would be forwarded to address that extra amount.
Vice-Chairman Coffey, seconded by Commissioner Wilkie, moved to approve the change orders with the $200,000 budgeted amount and to release funds to cover the $25,788 out of the administrative contingency fund.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
WORK FIRST COUNTY PLAN 2003-2005
Mr. Jim Atkinson reviewed the County Work First Plan for 2003-2005. The public comment period ended on October 15, 2002, and the Plan had to be submitted to the State by November 1, 2002.
Commissioner Sweeting, seconded by Commissioner Lawrence, moved to adopt the County Work First Plan for 2003-2005.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
NC GOVERNOR’S HIGHWAY SAFETY PROGRAM PROPOSAL DISCUSSION
Sheriff Lyons reviewed the proposed grant from the North Carolina Governors Highway safety program for the 321 Connection Traffic Safety Team. The grant awarded $77,604 to Watauga County, which required a local match of $13,187 and funded one (1) deputy with a vehicle and equipment.
Commissioner Sweeting, seconded by Vice-Chairman Coffey, moved to approve the North Carolina Governors Highway Safety Program Grant and to release $13,187 from the fund balance for the required match.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
PARKWAY SETBACKS ORDINANCE APPEAL
Mr. Joe Furman discussed an appeal to the Board of Commissioners for an exception to the County’s Parkway Setback Ordinance. Mr. Furman presented a copy of the Ordinance, which was adopted to protect a 15-foot setback from the boundary lands of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The intent of the Ordinance was to help protect the Blue Ridge Parkway. Mr. Furman presented a letter from the Parkway Superintendent stating that he had no opposition to the requested setback exception. Mr. Furman recommended that the exception be granted.
Vice-Chairman Coffey, seconded by Commissioner Sweeting, moved to approve the exception based on the hardship found in the evidence presented by Mr. Furman.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
PROPOSED CONTRACTS FOR ARCHITECTURAL/DESIGN SERVICES
Assistant County Manager Geouque reviewed proposed contracts for Architectural/ Design services for the following projects and firms:
Brookshire Road Park contract with Municipal Engineers
Transfer Station contract with Draper Aden Associates
Law Enforcement Center/Jail contract with Hemphill and Associates
Commissioner Wilkie requested to table the Transfer Station contract decision until the next Board meeting due to information she was obtaining regarding the possibility of substantial savings on the total cost of the Transfer Station project. By consensus, the Board agreed to table consideration to the next scheduled Board of County Commissioner meeting.
Commissioner Sweeting, seconded by Commissioner Wilkie, moved to approve the contract with Municipal Engineers for the Brookshire Road Park project and the contract with Hemphill and Associates for the Law Enforcement Center/Jail project with both contracts contingent upon the County Attorney’s approval.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
MISCELLANEOUS ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
Announcements – County Manager Nelson stated that the 2003 NACo Legislative Conference was scheduled for February 28 - March 4, 2003, at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC, and that registration information would be made available upon receipt.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mr. Bill Moretz presented the Board with a letter regarding the High Impact Land Uses Draft Ordinance.
Mr. Mike Wagoner acknowledged Boy Scout Troop 109 for helping with the litter campaign discussed earlier by Ms. Nancy Reigel. The Troop stood and received a round of applause for their work in keeping Watauga County litter-free.
Mr. Wagoner announced that Watauga Opportunities and the Boone Sunrise Rotary Club were honoring Ms. Evelyn Noblett at the Broyhill Conference Center on October 29, 2002 at 7:30 A.M.
Mr. Wagoner also announced that the first annual Entrepreneur Expo was scheduled for November 1, 2002 from 10:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M. at the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center.
CLOSED SESSION
At 8:20 P.M., Commissioner Sweeting, seconded by Commissioner Lawrence, moved to enter Closed Session to discuss Personnel Matters, per G. S. 143-318-11(a)(6) and Land Acquisition, per G. S. 143-318-11(a)(5)(i).
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Sweeting, seconded by Commissioner Wilkie, moved to resume the open meeting at 8:58 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
ADJOURN
Commissioner Wilkie seconded by Commissioner Lawrence, moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:58 P.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Jimmy Hodges, Chairman
ATTEST:
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board