MINUTES
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MONDAY, MARCH 5, 2007
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting on Monday, March 5, 2007, at 9:00 A.M. in the Board Room of the Watauga County Administration Building.
PRESENT: Jim Deal, Chairman
William R. Winkler, III, Vice-Chairman
John Cooper, Commissioner
Winston Kinsey, Commissioner
Mary Moretz, Commissioner
Anthony di Santi, County Attorney
Robert E. Nelson, Jr., County Manager
Deron Geouque, Assistant County Manager
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board
Chairman Deal called the meeting to order at 9:01 A.M., welcoming those in attendance.
Vice-Chairman Winkler opened the meeting with a prayer.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairman Deal called for additions or corrections to the February 12, 2007, special meeting and closed session minutes; February 19, 2007, special meeting minutes; and February 20, 2007, regular meeting and closed session minutes.
Commissioner Kinsey, seconded by Commissioner Cooper, moved to approve the February 12, 2007, special meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Cooper, seconded by Commissioner Moretz, moved to approve the February 12, 2007, closed session minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Moretz, seconded by Commissioner Kinsey, moved to approve the February 19, 2007, special meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Commissioner Kinsey, seconded by Commissioner Cooper, moved to approve the February 20, 2007, regular meeting minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Vice-Chairman Winkler, seconded by Commissioner Kinsey, moved to approve the February 20, 2007, closed session minutes as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Chairman Deal called for additions and/or corrections to the March 5, 2007, agenda.
County Manager Nelson requested to change item # 8 to Planning and Inspection Matters and include a Public Hearing Request to Consider New Private and Public Road Names.
Vice-Chairman Winkler, seconded by Commissioner Moretz, moved to approve the March 5, 2007, agenda as amended.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
PROPOSED WAMY COMMUNITY ACTION 2007 APPLICATION FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT
Ms. Marnie Werth presented the WAMY Community Action 2007 Application for the Community Services Block Grant. Prior to submission, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services required a presentation for Commissioners’ review.
This presentation was for information only and therefore no action was required.
FY 2007 HOME AND COMMUNITY CARE BLOCK GRANT (H&CCBG) BUDGET REVISION REQUEST
Ms. Angie Boitnotte, Director of the Watauga County Project on Aging, presented a Home and Community Care Block Grant (H&CCBG) budget revision which increased funding to Watauga County by $1,098.00. This amount required $122 in local match and was to be used to increase hours of In-Home Aide Level I Service. The local match was present in the existing budget.
Commissioner Moretz, seconded by Vice-Chairman Winkler, moved to approve the Home and Community Care Block Grant budget revision as presented by Ms. Boitnotte.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
FINANCE MATTERS
A. Budget Amendments – Ms. Isaacs presented the following budget amendments for Board approval:
Account # Description Debit Credit
219800-498010 Transfer to Debt Service $8,686
219930-461100 Emergency Communications $8,686
104311-451000 Capital Outlay-Equip. $8,686
103980-398121 Transfer from Cap. Reserve $8,686
The amendment recognized the transfer of funds from the Capital Reserve Fund to the General Fund for the repair and replacement of Channel 5, a component of the Sheriff’s communications system.
Account # Description Debit Credit
103300-352100 Criminal Justice Part. Program $2,949
105210-469820 CJPP-NRBHC $2,949
The amendment recognized reallocated funds from the state to the Criminal Justice Partnership Program.
Account # Description Debit Credit
103835-343800 Animal Control Fees $6,161
104380-449902 Spay/Neuter Expenses $6,161
103839-389000 Misc. Other $15,553
109800-498021 Transfer to Capital Reserve $15,553
213980-398100 Transfer from General Fund $15,553
219930-443800 Animal Control Facility $15,553
The amendment recognized additional revenue from Animal Adoptions to be used to cover any spay/neuter expenses associated with new adoptions. The amendment also recognized funds received from the Watauga Humane Society Spay/Neuter Fund which will be transferred to the Capital Reserve Fund to assist in funding the new Animal Control Facility.
Account # Description Debit Credit
219800-498030 Transfer to Capital Reserve $48,000
219930-459121 Wat.Co.School Facility $48,000
433980-398121 Transfer from Cap. Reserve $48,000
435911-469199 Professional Services-Other $48,000
The amendment recognized the appropriation and transfer of Capital Reserve funds to the Watauga County-New High School Capital Project Fund for the traffic study to be performed by Kimly-Horn and Associates, Inc.
Account # Description Debit Credit
103300-345000 Elerly & Disable Tran. Assist. $10,919
103300-345002 Rural General Public $27,096
103300-345001 Work First $1,813
143300-345000 Elderly & Disabled Tran. Assits. $4,028
145310-469845 E & D Trans Grant $4,028
104500-469843 RGP-Transportation $27,096
104500-466944 Work First $1,813
105500-431301 E&D Transportation $4,577
105210-469845 Carolina Friendship-E & D $1,847
105890-469846 Wat. Opportunities-E & D $4,495
The amendment recognized supplemental transportation grant funds received from the state.
Account # Description Debit Credit
145850-440900 Subsidized Child Care $7,003
143585-323000 Title XX & FSA Childcare $7,003
The amendment recognized additional allocation for subsidized child care funds from the state.
Account # Description Debit Credit
233839-389002 Cont. Substance Dist.-Federal $14,500
234310-455000 Capital Outlay-Other Equip. $14,500
The amendment recognized the transfer of funds from the Federal Substance abuse account to be used for equipment (vehicle, body wires, etc.) and drug buys per request of the Narcotics Division of the Sheriff’s Department.
Account # Description Debit Credit
143839-358900 Misc.-JCPC-Fund Raiser $3,700
145890-469820 JCPC-Fund Raiser $3,700
The amendment recognized funds raised by the JCPC to be expended at the discretion of the JCPC.
Account # Description Debit Credit
143531-323000 Admn. Cost. Reimb. $580
145410-440802 LINKS $580
The amendment recognized state funding to acquire a computer for the LINKS program.
Commissioner Kinsey, seconded by Vice-Chairman Winkler, moved to approve the budget amendments as presented by Ms. Isaacs.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. Proposed Resolution/Signatory Authorization – Ms. Isaacs stated that the previous Board had approved for the Sheriff’s Department to enter into a contract with Keefe, Inc. for jail commissary services. A separate bank account to handle the jail commissary funds was opened at the Bank of Granite. The account required two signatures for each check issued. Ms. Isaacs stated that Sheriff Hagaman recommended that Juanita Miller, Lt. Jeff Virginia, Pat Thomas and himself be approved for signatory authority.
Commissioner Cooper, seconded by Commissioner Moretz, moved to authorize Juanita Miller, Lt. Jeff Virginia, Pat Thomas and Sheriff Hagaman for signatory authority for the Bank of Granite Account for the jail commissary funds.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
TAX MATTERS
A. Monthly Collections Report – Tax Administrator Kelvin Byrd presented the Tax Collections Report for the month of February 2007.
B. Releases and Refunds – Mr. Byrd presented the following Refunds and Releases for February 2007 for Board approval:
TO BE TYPED IN MINUTE BOOK
Vice-Chairman Winkler, seconded by Commissioner Kinsey, moved to approve the Refunds and Releases Report for February 2007 as presented.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
C. Proposed Resolution Establishing the Board of Equalization – Mr. Kelvin Byrd, Tax Administrator, presented the opportunity to create a special Board of Equalization and Review that was to serve this spring. Mr. Byrd stated that last year, during the revaluation process, the Board was incorporated to include the Manager and Assistant Manager as alternates.
The Board agreed by consensus that the Board of Equalization and Review was to remain the same as the previous year with the five Board members serving and the County Manager and Assistant County Manager serving as alternates.
PLANNING AND INSPECTION MATTERS
A. Proposed Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Appalachian Enterprise Center Project Ordinance – Mr. Joe Furman reviewed a proposed Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Project Ordinance for renovations to the Appalachian Enterprise Center. The ordinance was required to receive grant funds.
Commissioner Cooper, seconded by Vice-Chairman Winkler, moved to adopt the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Appalachian Enterprise Center Project Ordinance as presented by Mr. Furman.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. Public Hearing Request To Consider New Private and Public Road Names – Mr. Furman stated that a public hearing was required by Statute to be conducted prior to officially establishing new road names or renaming current ones. Mr. Furman requested that a public hearing be scheduled for proposed road names for the March 20, 2007, Board meeting.
Vice-Chairman Winkler, seconded by Commissioner Moretz, moved to set a public hearing for the proposed road names at 6:00 P.M. at the March 20, 2007, Board meeting.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
MAINTENANCE MATTERS
A. Proposal for Courthouse Sound System – Mr. Robert Marsh reviewed the following proposals received for the Courtroom #1 sound system: Southwestern Communications in the amount of $15,280 and Boone Audio in the amount of $13,311.87.
Mr. Marsh stated that this was a planned installation in conjunction with the ongoing Courthouse renovations and funds were available in the Capital Reserve Account for this expenditure. Mr. Marsh recommended the Board accept the low bid in the amount of $13,311.87 from Boone Audio.
Commissioner Kinsey, seconded by Commissioner Cooper, moved to award the bid for the Courtroom # 1 sound system to Boone Audio in the amount of $13,311.87 contingent upon the County Attorney’s review.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. Proposal for Anne Marie Drive Park Materials – Mr. Marsh reviewed the following proposals for supplies needed in providing drainage to the Anne Marie Drive Park: David Miller Farm Supply in the amount of $29,105.78 plus tax and National Waterworks in the amount of $26,646.72 including tax. Mr. Marsh recommended that the low bid from National Waterworks in the amount of $26,646.72 be accepted. Mr. Marsh stated that funds were available in the Maintenance budget for this purchase and construction was to begin in March.
Commissioner Moretz, seconded by Commissioner Kinsey, moved to award the bid for supplies needed in providing drainage to the Anne Marie Drive Park to National Waterworks in the amount of $26,646.72.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
PROPOSED “TAKE YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS TO WORK WEEK” PROCLAMATION
Assistant County Manager Geouque presented a proclamation denoting the week of April 9-13, 2007, as “Take Your Sons and Daughters to Work Week” in Watauga County.
Commissioner Cooper, seconded by Vice-Chairman Winkler, moved to adopt the “Take Your Sons and Daughters to Work Week” Proclamation as presented by Mr. Geouque.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
MISCELLANEOUS ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
A. Proposed Architectural Design Services for the Sanitation Department Scales Office and Scales Replacement – County Manager Nelson reviewed a proposal from David R. Jones Architecture for design and construction supervision services for the Sanitation Department Scale House and Scales replacement project. The proposed fee for the architectural design services was on a time or materials basis with a fee not to exceed $28,000 or 10% of the $280,000 building and site construction costs that were projected. The contract also included civil engineering which was to be provided by Joyce Engineering, Inc., in the amount of $3,800.
Vice-Chairman Winkler, seconded by Commissioner Kinsey, moved to approve contracting with David R. Jones Architecture in an amount not to exceed $28,000 for design and construction supervision services for the Sanitation Department Scale House and Scales replacement project and including $3,800 for civil engineering services by Joyce Engineering, Inc.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
B. Proposed Courthouse Addition Change Orders – County Manager Nelson reviewed Change Orders # 10, 11, and 12 for the courthouse renovation project all of which were previously discussed with the Board. Change Order # 10 was in the amount of $59,501; Change Order # 11 was in the amount of $53,795; and Change Order # 12 was in the amount of $44,568.
Commissioner Cooper, seconded by Commissioner Moretz, moved to approve Change Order # 10 in the amount of $59,501; Change Order # 11 in the amount of $53,795; and Change Order # 12 in the amount of $44,568 for the Courthouse Addition Project.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
C. Joint Meeting Request – County Manager Nelson stated that the Boone Town Council had requested a joint meeting with the other municipalities in the county, Appalachian State University and Watauga County with a suggested date for the meeting of May 4, 2007.
After discussion and by consensus, the Board directed the County Manager to relay to the Town of Boone that any date the week of May 4, other than Friday, May 4, worked and to suggest that the meeting begin at 4:00 P.M. The Board also directed the County Manager to contact Dr. Lorin Baumhover with ASU.
D. Announcements – County Manager Nelson announced that the Department of Transportation was conducting a public hearing for the widening of US 421 (King Street) from US 321 to NC 194 in Boone. Representatives were to be available for questions between 4:00 P.M. and 6:30 P.M. with the formal presentation to begin at 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, March 13, 2007, at the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center
County Manager Nelson announced that the Annual Pre-Budget Retreat was scheduled for Friday, March 9, 2007, at 8:00 A.M. and Saturday, March 10, 2007, at 8:00 A.M.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
COMMISSIONER COMMENT
Vice-Chairman Winkler brought attention to the national recognition which was bestowed upon Ms. Jackie Cornett who operates the Library at the Western Watauga Community Center.
CLOSED SESSION
At 9:46 A.M., Commissioner Cooper, seconded by Vice-Chairman Winkler, moved to enter Closed Session to discuss Attorney/Client Matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(3); and Land Acquisition, per G. S. 143-318.11(5)(i).
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
Vice-Chairman Winkler, seconded by Commissioner Cooper, moved to resume the open meeting at 10:05 A.M.
VOTE: Aye-5
Nay-0
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned, by consensus, at 10:05 A.M.
Jim Deal, Chairman
ATTEST:
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board