MINUTES

 

WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2016

 

The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting, as scheduled, on Tuesday, August 2, 2016, at 8:30 A.M. in the Commissioners' Board Room of the Watauga County Administration Building, Boone, North Carolina.

 

                        PRESENT:      Jimmy Hodges, Chairman

                                                David Blust, Vice-Chairman

                                                Billy Kennedy, Commissioner

                                                John Welch, Commissioner

Perry Yates, Commissioner

Stacy C. Eggers, IV, County Attorney

                                                Deron Geouque, County Manager

                                                Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board

 

Chairman Hodges called the meeting to order at 8:30 A.M.

 

Commissioner Yates opened the meeting with a prayer and Vice-Chairman Blust led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Approval of Minutes

Chairman Hodges called for additions and/or corrections to the July 19, 2016, regular meeting and closed session minutes.

 

Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to approve the July 19, 2016, regular meeting minutes as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to approve the July 19, 2016, closed session minutes as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Approval of Agenda

Chairman Hodges called for additions and/or corrections to the August 2, 2016, agenda.

 

County Manager Geouque requested to add the following to the agenda:

 

·       Proposed Purchase of Sheriff’s Office Body Cameras

·       Proposed Purchase of Sheriff’s Office Vehicles

·       Proposed Lease with Appalachian State University for Use of Parking Facilities

 

Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to approve the August 2, 2016, agenda as amended.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Proposed Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG)

Mr. Jeff Virginia, Communications and Emergency Services Director, stated that the North Carolina Department of Public Safety provides grant money each year for Counties completing certain emergency planning activities.  These activities serve as the base amount and in the case of Watauga County amounts to $20,625.  The optional components for additional funding have not yet been determined.  This is a yearly program in which the County has participated for over thirty (30) years.

 

Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Kennedy, moved to approve the submission of the grant application to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety and complete the required activities to receive the $20,625.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Sheriff’s Office Matters

A.  Body Camera Bid Award Request

 

Captain Kelly Redmon stated that in 2015 Watauga County Sheriff's Office applied for, and was awarded a grant from the NC Governor's Crime Commission for the purchase of Body Cameras for officers. The grant award totaled $14,916.00 (Project# 011096).  Captain Redmon stated that test and evaluation were performed on numerous body camera types and storage options with the best camera being deemed the Taser Axon Body Camera which is head or shoulder mounted.  Along with the camera system, Taser offers cloud based storage and software that allows the video footage to be uploaded and saved securely and redundantly.

 

Captain Redmon stated that the startup cost of purchasing 12 body cameras, downloading docks, storage and training is $29,568.32.  County Manager Geouque stated that the upkeep associated with 12 cameras would be approximately $15,000 annually for the first five years and approximately $30,000 for 24 cameras.

 

Commissioner Yates, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to authorization the purchase of body cameras using budgeted funds and grant funds from the Governor's Crime Commission as presented by Captain Redmon.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

B.  Vehicle Bid Award Request

 

Captain Redmon presented vehicle prices from Asheville Ford for six (6) new Ford All-Wheel Drive Police Interceptor SUVs and one (1) new T-350 Prisoner Transport Van.  The price for each All-Wheel Drive Police Interceptor SUV is $26,166.69 and the price for the T-350 is $25,910.67.  The total cost including $5,529.33 for taxes and tags is $188,440.14.  Bids will be forthcoming for both the purchase and installation of the equipment in the new vehicles at a future meeting.  Adequate funds have been budgeted to cover the cost of the vehicles. 

 

Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to accept the bid from Asheville Ford in the amount of $182,910.81 plus $5,529.33 for taxes and tags for a total amount of $188,440.14.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Proposed Lease with Appalachian State University for Use of Parking Facilities

County Manager Geouque presented a proposed lease with Appalachian State University (ASU) for use of County-owned parking facilities from September 10-17, 2016.  Commissioner Welch stated that the need for additional parking was anticipated due to upcoming football games.

 

By consensus, the Board agreed to recuse Commissioner Welch from action regarding this item as he is an employee with ASU Athletics.

 

Commissioner Yates, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to approve the proposed lease as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-4(Hodges, Blust, Kennedy, Yates)

             Nay-0

             Recused-1(Welch)

Miscellaneous Administrative Matters

A.  Appointment of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners’ (NCACC) Annual Conference Voting Delegate

 

County Manager Geouque stated that the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners' (NCACC) Annual Conference is scheduled for August 11-14, 2016, in Forsyth County.  Each county in attendance is required to select a voting member for representation at the annual business meeting which is conducted as a part of the conference.  Submission of the voting delegate is due August 5, 2016.

 

No Board members were available to attend.

 

B.  Boards and Commissions

 

County Manager Geouque presented the following information regarding Boards and Commissions appointments:

 

Watauga County Board of Adjustment

Janet Beck has resigned from the Board of Adjustment.  Her 3-year term was set to expire in November.  She is an at-large appointee. The Commissioners have the option of appointing someone to finish the term or to make a new 3-year appointment that would expire in November, 2019.  An application was received from Mr. Crawford Cleveland who expressed interest in serving on the Watauga County Board of Adjustment.  No action was required, nor taken, as this was a first reading.

 

Economic Development Commission

There are two vacancies on the Economic Development Commission.  One vacancy is an unfulfilled term expiring June, 2017, and the other is an unfulfilled term expiring June, 2018. Those seats were occupied by individuals who have moved from Watauga County.  The EDC has fourteen members; nine are appointees, the other five serve by virtue of their organizations, including one Commissioner.  All members vote.  No applications have been received.

 

Watauga County Library

The Watauga County Library Board recommends Jaime Money be appointed to the Watauga County Library Board to replace Tish Rokoske, who plans to resign effective August, 2016.  

 

The Watauga County Library Board recommends Dr. Scott Elliott be appointed to the Watauga County Library Board to replace Billy Ralph Winkler, who plans to resign effective August, 2016.  Dr. Elliot’s Volunteer Application is attached.

 

Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to waive the second reading and appoint Ms. Jamie Money and Dr. Scott Elliott to serve on the Library Board

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

Town of Boone’s Board of Adjustment Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) Appointment

The Boone Town Council recommends Mr. Stephen Taylor for appointment to the Town's Board of Adjustment as a representative of the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ).  Mr. Taylor’s Volunteer Application is attached.  No action was required, nor taken, as this was a first reading.

 

C.  Announcements

 

County Manager Geouque announced the following:

 

·       The High Country Council of Governments’ Annual Banquet is scheduled for Friday, September 5, 2015, at Linville Ridge.

 

·       County Manager Geouque stated that, due to not anticipating a heavy agenda again for the second meeting in August, the Board may wish to consider cancelling the August 16 meeting as regularly scheduled.  If cancelled, the next regular meeting would be on Tuesday, September 6, at 8:30 A.M.  A special meeting could be called, if necessary, in the interim.

 

Vice-Chairman Blust, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to cancel the second regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners in August 2016.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Public Comment

There was no public comment.

Closed Session

At 9:10 A.M., Commissioner Welch, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to enter Closed Session to discuss Attorney/Client Matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(3) and Personnel Matters – G. S. 143-318.11(a)(6).

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Vice-Chairman Blust, moved to resume the open meeting at 9:40 A.M.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Adjourn

Commissioner Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Yates, moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:40 A.M.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

Jimmy Hodges, Chairman

 

ATTEST:

Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board