MINUTES

 

WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

 

SPECIAL MEETING, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011 &

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2011

 

 

            The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a special meeting on Friday, February 25, 2011, and Saturday, February 26, 2011, in order to conduct a retreat to review goals and objectives for the County.  The meetings were held in the Watauga County Board of Commissioners’ Conference Room, Boone, N.C.

 

PRESENT:          Nathan Miller, Chairman

David Blust, Vice-Chairman

Jim Deal, Commissioner

Tim Futrelle, Commissioner

Vince Gable, Commissioner

Robert E. Nelson, Jr., County Manager

Deron Geouque, Deputy County Manager

Margaret Pierce, Finance Director 

 

            Chairman Miller called the meeting to order on Friday, February 25, 2011, at 12:03 P.M., welcoming those in attendance.

              

            The following topics were discussed:

 

                         REVIEW OF CURRENT (FY 2011) BUDGET – MS. MARGARET PIERCE 

 

1)      Revenues

a)   Sales & Property Taxes

b)   Departmental (Register of Deeds, Planning & Inspections, Parks & Recreation)

2)      Expenditures         

3)      Fund Balance        

4)      Debt Service Report          

 

                         DISCUSSION OF FY 2012 BUDGET – MS. MARGARET PIERCE

 

1)      Budget Drivers      

a)   Department of Social Services – Including Child Support Enforcement     

b)   School Board    

2)      Expenditures          

a)      Cost of Insurance          

b)      Retirement Contributions           

3)      Funding of Non-County Departments          

4)      Special Appropriations (Private Non-Profits)           

5)      Fire District Funding           

6)     Schedule   

 

                         REVIEW OF CURRENT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN (CIP) – 

                         MR. DERON GEOUQUE AND MR. ROBERT MARSH

 

1)      Current CIP Status Report 

2)      Future Projects for Consideration   

3)      Pool Status Report – Robert Marsh

4)      YMCA Discussion

5)      Maintenance Costs for New Parks 

6)      Aho Container Site

7)      AppalCART Building

8)      Communications

A.     Code Red Discussion   

B.     VIPER Update           

C.     E911 Funds Discussion

9)      Review of County Lessor/Lessee Property

 

                         TAX MATTERS – MR. KELVIN BYRD

 

1)     Tax Reval Report  

2)     Tax Base Projections         

 

                         SCHOOL BOARD FUNDING ISSUES

 

1)        Schools’ Capital Improvement Plan            

2)        FY 2012 Funding Needs    

 

                         CALDWELL COMMUNITY COLLEGE & TECHNICAL INSTITUTE 

                         2012 FUNDING NEEDS – DR. KEN BOHAM           

 

                         EMS REPORT/DISCUSSION – MR. CRAIG SULLIVAN

 

                         LANDFILL ENERGY PROJECTS DISCUSSION

 

1)      Report on Recycling and Methane to Electricity Project – Ms. Lisa Doty     

2)      Review of Energy Tax Credits – Mr. Deron Geouque         

 

                         HEALTH DEPARTMENT REPORT/ISSUES – MR. DANNY STALEY

 

A recess was declared at 6:09 P.M.  The meeting reconvened on Saturday, February 26, 2011, at 9:03 A.M.

 

                         WATAUGA HOUSING TRUST REPORT – MR. SCOTT EGGERS

 

                         BROOKSHIRE PARK PROJECT UPDATE – MR. JOE FURMAN

 

                         EDC REPORT/DISCUSSION – MR. KEITH HONEYCUTT

 

                         RURAL BROADBAND INITIATIVE

 

                         ENTERPRISE CENTER DISCUSSION

 

                         PLANNING AND INSPECTIONS MATTERS – MR. JOE FURMAN

 

1)      Reynolds Blue Ridge Report

2)      Daniel Boone Parkway Discussion

3)      Cell Tower Ordinance Review

4)      Comprehensive Plan Discussion

5)      Abandoned Mobile Home Program

 

                         TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY – MR. ROB HOLTON, 

                         MR. WRIGHT TILLEY, AND MR. ERIC WOOLRIDGE 

 

1)      Report 

2)      Outdoor Recreation Plan 

3)      Discussion

 

                         MISCELLANEOUS & COMMISSIONER MATTERS

 

1)      Manager’s Notice/Continuation Plan

2)      Farmers’ Market

3)      Courthouse Security           

4)      Fire Department Access to Gated Communities

5)      Lobbyist Discussion           

6)      Discussion of the Process of ¼¢ County Sales & Use Tax   

7)      Consolidated Dispatch

8)      Discussion of Old High School Property

a)      Use Policy for Old High School 

b)      Water Allocation          

c)      Special Zoning District

9)      State Issues           

 

                         WRAP UP, GOALS & OBJECTIVES, BOARD DIRECTIVES           

 

            The County Manager concluded the retreat by reviewing the issues addressed and seeking direction from the Board for Fiscal Year 2012.

 

            Vice-Commissioner Blust, seconded by Commissioner Gable, moved to adjourn the meeting at 12:00 P.M.

 

VOTE:    Aye-4(Miller, Blust, Deal, Gable)

               Nay-0

               Absent-1(Futrelle)

 

                [Clerk’s note:  Commissioner Futrelle left at 11:42 AM for a prior commitment.]

 

 

Nathan A. Miller, Chairman

 

ATTEST:

Deron Geouque, Deputy County Manager