MINUTES
 
WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2009
 
            The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting on Tuesday, February 17, 2009, at 6:00 P.M. in the Commissioners’ Board Room of the Watauga County Administration Building.
 
                        PRESENT:       Jim Deal, Chairman
                                                William R. Winkler, III, Vice-Chairman
                                                John Cooper, Commissioner
                                                Tim Futrelle, Commissioner
                                                Winston Kinsey, Commissioner
                                                Anthony di Santi, County Attorney
                                    Robert E. Nelson, Jr., County Manager
                                                Deron Geouque, Deputy County Manager
                                                Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board
 
            Chairman Deal called the meeting to order at 6:02 P.M., welcoming those in attendance.
 
            Commissioner Kinsey opened the meeting with a prayer.
 
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
 
            Chairman Deal called for additions and/or corrections to the January 17, 2009, special meeting minutes; January 26, 2009, special meeting minutes; and the February 2, 2009, regular meeting and closed session minutes.
 
            Commissioner Cooper, seconded by Commissioner Futrelle, moved to approve the January 17, 2009, special meeting minutes as presented.
 
VOTE:   Aye-5
              Nay-0
 
            Commissioner Kinsey, seconded by Vice-Chairman Winkler, moved to approve the January 26, 2009, special meeting minutes as presented.
 
VOTE:   Aye-5
              Nay-0
 
            Vice-Chairman Winkler, seconded by Commissioner Cooper, moved to approve the February 2, 2009, regular meeting minutes as presented.
 
VOTE:   Aye-5
              Nay-0
 
            Commissioner Cooper, seconded by Commissioner Futrelle, moved to approve the February 2, 2009, closed session minutes as presented.
 
VOTE:   Aye-5
              Nay-0
 
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
 
            Chairman Deal called for additions and/or corrections to the February 17, 2009, agenda.
 
            County Manager Nelson requested adding a Proposed Retention Schedule for the Sheriff’s Office and stated that Mr. Jeff Tiller was present to join in discussion of Item # 9.B.
 
            Commissioner Cooper, seconded by Vice-Chairman Winkler, moved to approve the February 17, 2009, agenda as amended.
 
VOTE:   Aye-5
              Nay-0
 
PUBLIC HEARING TO ALLOW CITIZEN COMMENT ON THE CLOSEOUT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) SCATTERED SITE HOUSING PROGRAM #06-C-1541
 
            Chairman Deal declared the public hearing open at 6:07 P.M. to allow citizen comment on the closeout of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Scattered Site Housing Program #06-C-1541.
 
            Ms. Michelle Ball with High Country Council of Governments stated that the public hearing was scheduled to allow citizen comment on the closeout of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Scattered Site Housing Program # 06-C-1541. Ms. Michelle Ball gave an overview of the project and stated that six homes received assistance with three being relocated and three being rehabilitated.
 
            There being no public comment, Chairman Deal declared the public hearing closed at 6:09 P.M.
 
            Vice-Chairman Winkler, seconded by Commissioner Futrelle, moved to approve the close out of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Scattered Site Housing Program #06-C-1541 as presented by Ms. Ball.
 
VOTE:   Aye-5
              Nay-0
 
PROPOSED AMENDED RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A BOONE FIRE DEPARTMENT SERVICE DISTRICT TO PROVIDE FIRE PROTECTION, RESCUE, & IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE TO MEDICAL EMERGENCIES
 
            Chief Reggie Hassler with the Boone Fire Department presented an amended resolution to add rescue and immediate medical assistance services to the fire protection services offered in the Boone service district. Currently, citizens residing in the ETJ portion of the service district did not receive First Responders or dual dispatch for emergency calls. The Watauga County Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board as well as the Medical Director had approved the dual dispatch of both Boone Fire Department and Watauga Rescue Squads for all emergency calls in the emergency district. The Boone Fire Department was to also respond to emergency calls in the contracted area for service in the Blowing Rock district that was previously approved under a service arrangement.
 
The resolution was required to allow the additional services to be provided by the Fire Department and funded by the service tax in the district. County Manager Nelson stated that the effective date was March 1, 2009.
 
            Commissioner Kinsey, seconded by Commissioner Futrelle, moved to adopt the amended resolution as presented by Chief Hassler.
 
VOTE:   Aye-5
              Nay-0
 
W.A.M.Y. COMMUNITY ACTION 2009 APPLICATION FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT
 
Ms. Marnie Werth representing W.A.M.Y. Community Action presented their Community Services Block Grant Application and Budget for FY 2010. Their operating standards required that this information be presented to the Board of Commissioners for any comments.
 
As this was presented for information only, no Board action was required at this time.
 
FINANCE MATTERS
 
A.        Budget Amendments – County Manager Nelson presented the following budget amendments for Board approval:
 
            Account #                    Description                                                           Debit             Credit
143583-333000           State Shared-JCPC Funds                                                        $2,319
145890-469803           Project Challenge-JCPC                                    $1,755
145890-469809           WYN-JCPC                                                        $564
 
            The amendment recognized State JCPC expansion funds for local JCPC programs. Local match was provided by the programs. 
 
            Account #                    Description                                                           Debit             Credit
103612-385503           BREMCO-Tot Lot Donation                                                    $6,667
104281-457001           Capital Outlay-Land Improvements                    $6,667
 
            The amendment recognized the award of $10,000 in grant funds from BREMCO for a climbing wall at the Tot Lot. Two-thirds of the funds were paid to the County in the current fiscal year with the balance to be paid in FY 2009-10.
 
            Account #                    Description                                                           Debit             Credit
663991-399101           Retained Earnings Approp.-New                                            $28,250
667420-469199           Professional Services-Other                             $28,250
 
            The amendment recognized the appropriation of retained earnings for engineering, surveying, and coordination with DENR to obtain a permit and approval for a new cell to extend the LCID Landfill.
 
            Commissioner Cooper, seconded by Vice-Chairman Winkler, moved to approve the budget amendments as presented.
 
VOTE:   Aye-5
              Nay-0
 
B.         Surplus Property Request – County Manager Nelson presented a list of property and requested it be surplused and subsequently sold through GovDeals, recycled, or scrapped.
 
            Commissioner Futrelle, seconded by Commissioner Cooper, moved to surplus the property as presented and to authorize the property to be recycled, scrapped, or listed for sale on GovDeals.com as requested.
 
VOTE:   Aye-5
              Nay-0
 
PROPOSED CONTRACT FOR AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY
 
Mr. Joe Furman stated that, after following the statutory requirements for the selection of a service provider, staff recommended that the County enter into a contract with Surdex Corporation in the amount of $93,890 for aerial mapping for all of Watauga County. The Town of Boone agreed to pay $7,041.75 leaving a balance to be paid by Watauga County of $86,848.25. The County portion of this contract was eligible to be paid with 911 surcharge funds.
 
            Commissioner Kinsey, seconded by Commissioner Futrelle, moved to approve staff recommendation that the County enter into a contract with Surdex Corporation for new aerial mapping of the County as presented by Mr. Furman.
 
VOTE:   Aye-5
              Nay-0
 
HIGH SCHOOL MATTERS
 
A.        Proposed Options for Greenway Connector Trail at the New High School – Chairman Deal stated that one of the requirements placed on the conditional zoning awarded by the Town of Boone in allowing the construction of the new high school was the granting of an easement for Greenway construction on the County-owned property. More recently, the Appalachian District Health Department received a Childhood Obesity Grant which was to partially fund the construction of a Greenway Connector in the high school area.
 
Chairman Deal stated that there were two options for location of the Greenway Connector with the Board of Education having endorsed option 2 and the Greenway Committee having endorsed option 1. Both options were reviewed on a map developed by the Town of Boone. The Town of Boone preferred option 1 which had an approximate construction cost of $92,000. Option 2 had an approximate cost of $236,000.
 
            After lengthy discussion, Commissioner Cooper, seconded by Commissioner Futrelle, moved to chose option 1 with the following conditions: no parking in the adjoining cul-de-sac; relocation of the connector in the future if necessary; after the trail crosses the culvert near the river, the trail was to be designed and routed in a location that would allow the back field to be used for high school activities; the Town of Boone share in the cost of the fence; and if a survey was necessary, the Town of Boone bear that expense.
 
VOTE:   Aye-5
              Nay-0
 
B.         Proposed Contract for LEED Certification Services for the New High School – County Manager Nelson presented a proposed contract for the LEED Certification and Commissioning, services for the Watauga County High School from Mr. Jeff Tiller, Coordinator of Building Science at the Department of Technology at ASU, who agreed to perform the service for a fee of $60,000. The County Manager stated that this amount offered the County substantial savings in the commissioning process. Mr. Tiller presented the Board with his qualifications for the services. Mr. Tiller stated that the $60,000 figure was to include advice from outside agencies as/if needed.
 
            Commissioner Kinsey, seconded by   Commissioner Cooper, moved to enter a contract with Appalachian State University Energy Center for Mr. Jeff Tiller’s services for LEED Certification and Commissioning modified to include outside agency input and contingent on the County Attorney’s review.
 
VOTE:   Aye-5
              Nay-0
 
C.        Change Order Request # 20 – County Manager Nelson presented change order proposal # 20 in the amount of $35,147.14 from Barnhill/Vannoy. This change order was to make revisions to the teaching walls in the classroom wings as directed by the Watauga County Board of Education. The programming was omitted during the design phase as conducted by the Architect and the School Board; however, it needed to be corrected to provide an optimum teaching environment using the available technology at the time of construction and into the future.
 
            Vice-Chairman Winkler, seconded by Commissioner Futrelle, moved to approve Barnhill/Vannoy Change Order # 20 in the amount of $35,147.14 as presented by the County Manager.
 
VOTE:   Aye-5
              Nay-0
 
MISCELLANEOUS ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
 
            A.        Proposed Retention Schedule for the Sheriff’s Office – County Manager Nelson stated that a new Retention Schedule for the Sheriff’s Office was developed and forwarded by the State of North Carolina and each County was required to either adopt the State schedule or prepare their own. The County Manager presented the Executive Summary of the plan and stated that the entire 95-page plan was available in the County Manager’s Office for review.
 
            Commissioner Cooper, seconded by Commissioner Kinsey, moved to adopt the State Retention Schedule for the Sheriff’s Office as presented by the County Manager.
 
VOTE:   Aye-5
              Nay-0
 
B.         Proposed Preliminary Joint Venture Agreement with Watauga County, High Country Soccer Association, & Appalachian State University Foundation – County Manger Nelson presented a one-year joint venture agreement between Watauga County, the Soccer Association and ASU for the use and maintenance of the Brookshire Road “Ted Mackorell Soccer Park.” This agreement had been agreed upon by the sub-committee with Commissioners Deal and Cooper, in attendance. Chairman Deal stated that this agreement was to stand for one year and to formalize verbal agreements already in place. A final, long-term agreement was to be discussed and agreed upon by the three parties.
 
            Commissioner Cooper, seconded by Vice-Chairman Winkler, moved to enter into a one-year joint venture agreement between Watauga County, High Country Soccer Association, and the Appalachian State University Foundation as presented.
 
VOTE:   Aye-5
              Nay-0
 
C.        Proposal for Architectural Design Services – County Manager Nelson presented a substitute proposal from Mr. David R. Jones for architectural services for the Howard’s Knob Communications Building. Mr. Jones requested a fee of $19,000 with a future fee not to exceed $4,000 to cover construction and administration services should the project be completed.
 
            Vice-Chairman Winkler, seconded by Commissioner Cooper, moved to approve the $19,000 payment to Mr. Jones which included reimbursables.
 
VOTE:   Aye-5
              Nay-0
 
D.        Proposed Dates for Future Intergovernmental Retreats – County Manager Nelson stated that Mr. Phil Trew, Director of Planning and Development at the High Country Council of Governments, was scheduling Intergovernmental Retreats for 2009 and recommended the dates of May 18 and September 28, 2009. Mr. Trew requested alternate dates if those recommended were not available.
 
            By consensus, the Board directed the County Manager to let Mr. Trew know that June 1 and September 28 were good dates for the Board of Commissioners.
 
E.         Boards and Commissions – County Manager Nelson stated that the Town of Boone had recommended that Ms. Liz Aycock be appointed as their representative on the Watauga County Economic Development Commission.
 
            County Manager Nelson stated that the Watauga 4 Youth Strategic Council had recommended that Ms. Nancy Reigel be appointed to their Board by the Board of County Commissioners.
 
            County Manager Nelson stated that the Emergency Medical Services Board had recommended that Mr. David Paine be appointed to their Board as a representative of the Blowing Rock Rescue Squad.
 
            Commissioner Futrelle, seconded by Commissioner Kinsey, moved to waive the second readings and appoint Ms. Liz Aycock to the Watauga County Economic Development Commission as the Town of Boone’s representative; Ms. Nancy Reigel to the Watauga 4 Youth Strategic Council; and Mr. David Paine to the Emergency Medical Services Board as the Blowing Rock Rescue Squad’s representative.
 
VOTE:   Aye-5
              Nay-0
 
            County Manager Nelson stated that the Watauga County Tourism Development Authority (TDA) had two terms expiring in the near future. Mr. Rob Holton was willing to continue to serve; however, due to other commitments, the other member was not available for reappointment. The County Manager stated that the TDA had offered the following three recommendations for the two appointments available: Mr. Rob Holton, Mr. Mike Hall, and Mr. Thad Taylor.
 
            The above was a first reading and, therefore, no action was required at this time.
 
F.         Announcements – County Manager Nelson announced that the Annual Budget Retreat was scheduled for Thursday, February 19 and Friday, February 20, 2009, beginning at 4:00 P.M. on Thursday and approximately 12:00 P.M. on Friday.
 
County Manager Nelson announced that the National Association of Counties’ 2009 Annual Legislative Conference was scheduled for March 7-11, 2009, in Washington DC.
 
County Manager Nelson announced that the Cooperative Extension’s next Report to the People was scheduled for Monday, March 2, 2009, at 11:45 A.M. and included a catered meal prior to the meeting.
 
County Manager Nelson announced that a Congressional Breakfast was scheduled for Wednesday, March 11, 2009, on Capitol Hill.
 
County Manager Nelson announced that the NCACC District Meeting was scheduled for April 16, 2009, in Iredell County at the County Agricultural Resource Center in Statesville.
 
County Manager Nelson announced that a workshop entitled “Voluntary Agriculture Districts: The Next Generation” was to be held in Smithfield at the Johnston County Ag Center on February 24, 2009.
 
County Manager Nelson announced that the NC Rural Communities Assistance Project had a workshop scheduled entitled “SMART about Water – A Public Drinking Water Protection Workshop” on March 4, 2009, at the High Country Council of Government offices.
 
County Manager Nelson announced that the 6th Annual North Carolina Sustainable Energy Conference entitled “The New Reality: A Time to Act” was scheduled for April 14 & 15, 2009, at the McKimmon Conference and Training Center in Raleigh.
 
PUBLIC COMMENT
 
There was no public comment; however, Chairman Deal recognized, welcomed, and thanked Boy Scout Troop # 100 for attending the meeting.
 
ADJOURN
 
            The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 7:26 P.M.
 
 
 
Jim Deal, Chairman
 
ATTEST:
Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board