MINUTES

 

WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022

 

The Watauga County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting, as scheduled, on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, at 5:30 P.M. in the Commissioners’ Board Room located in the Watauga County Administration Building, Boone, North Carolina.

 

Chairman Welch called the meeting to order at 5:31 P.M.  The following were present:

 

PRESENT:                  John Welch, Chairman

Billy Kennedy, Vice-Chairman

                                    Carrington Pertalion, Commissioner

                                    Larry Turnbow, Commissioner

                                    Charlie Wallin, Commissioner

                                    Anthony di Santi, County Attorney

Deron Geouque, County Manager

Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board

 

Commissioner Wallin opened with a prayer and Commissioner Pertalion led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Approval of Minutes

Chairman Welch called for additions and/or corrections to the February 15, 2022, regular meeting and closed session minutes.

 

Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to approve the February 15, 2022, regular meeting minutes as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to approve the February 15, 2022, closed session minutes as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Approval of Agenda

Chairman Welch called for additions and/or corrections to the March 1, 2022, agenda.

 

County Manager Geouque requested to add “Possible Action After Closed Session.”

 

Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Pertalion, moved to approve the March 1, 2022, agenda as amended.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Appalachian Theatre Update

Mr. Keith Martin, Appalachian Theatre of the High Country (ATHC) Chair, thanked the Board for being the first governmental entity to show support.  Mr. Martin announced that the ATHC topped the $10 million goal of their capital campaign which allowed them to pay off loans.  Now the ATHC would focus funds on daily operations.  Mr. Martin stated that the ATHC also planned to create a Performance Subsidy Fund; in part with the Town of Boone, County of Watauga, and private funders; however, this would be a future request. 

 

Vice-Chairman Kennedy suggested the back wall of the Theatre building as a good place for a professional mural.  Mr. Martin stated that he would propose the idea to the Downtown Boone Development Association and Watauga County Arts Council.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Community Update

Ms. Jennifer Greene, AppHealthCare Director, provided an update on the Coronavirus (COVID-19).  The report was for information only and, therefore, no action was required.

State of Emergency (SOE) Update

County Manager Geouque reviewed the County’s current State of Emergency (SOE) and stated that the Governor planned to remove mask mandates for State facilities on Monday, March 7, 2022.   The Town of Boone, Board of Education, and Town of Blowing Rock either were or already had lifted their mask mandates as well.

 

Each Commissioner shared thoughts regarding mask mandates.

 

County Manager Geouque stated that, if the Board lifted the current mask mandate for County facilities, it would be best for masks to still be worn in certain situations including at the County Jail, the clinical areas of the Health Department, and for employees and volunteers with the Project on Aging who entered client homes.

 

After lengthy discussion, Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Welch, moved to terminate the County’s current State of Emergency (which included the mask mandate) effective at 12:01 A.M. on Monday, March 7, 2022, with the County Manager to provide policy regarding the wearing of masks at the County Jail, in the clinical areas of the Health Department, and for employees and volunteers with the Project on Aging who entered client homes.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

2022 Revaluation Update

Mr. Ryan Vincent with Vincent Valuations presented an update on the 2022 Revaluation process and stated that values would continue to be monitored up until notices were mailed to homeowners around the 17th of March, 2022.  The results of the revaluation process were based on 2,165 sales from 2021 with a Median Sales Ratio of 99.35.  The Mean (average) Sales Ratio was 98.32 with a Coefficient of Deviation at 11.13.

 

Mr. Vincent reviewed the following jurisdictional change estimates which were based on taxable value:  County Wide (46-51%), Boone (52-57%), Blowing Rock (39-44%), Seven Devils (53-58%), and Beech Mountain (82-87%).  Overall countywide change was estimated to be between 46-51% with 82% of properties having a value higher than in 2014 and 18% of properties having a value lower than in 2014.  19% of all properties changed by +/-15% or less.

 

Mr. Vincent reviewed the appeal process, encouraged those with questions to call the Tax Office, and shared the following key dates:

 

Effective Date of Reappraisal                        January 1, 2022

Reappraisal Notices Mail Date                       March 17, 2022

Board of Equalization and Review                 Convenes on April 5, 2022 (hearings to follow)

Deadline to Submit Real Property Appeals   5:00 p.m. on April 26, 2022

First Tax Bills Impacted by Reappraisal        Summer 2022

 

Mr. Vincent reiterated that the amount of property taxes owed would not be determined until the Board of Commissioners set the tax rate which would occur by June 30, 2022.  The first tax bills impacted by the reappraisal would be mailed to property owners in the Summer of 2022.

 

The report was given for information only and, therefore, no action was required.

Requested Allocation from the Economic Development Capital Reserve Account

Mr. Joe Furman, Planning and Inspections/EDC Director, stated that the Economic Development Commission (EDC) approved a $10,000 allocation for the inaugural "Boonerang Music and Arts Festival," planned for June 18, 2022.  The funds required Board of Commissioner approval to be allocated from the Economic Development Capital Reserve Account.

 

Commissioner Pertalion, seconded by Commissioner Turnbow, moved to approve the release of $10,000 from the Economic Development Capital Reserve for the "Boonerang Music and Arts Festival" as presented by Mr. Furman.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Ancient Oaks Preserve Subdivision Performance Guarantee

Mr. Joe Furman stated that, pursuant to Chapter 18, Article VIII, Section 3 of the Planning & Development Ordinance, the developer of Ancient Oaks Preserve had requested approval of a cash deposit of $5,040.00, which was the estimated cost of gravel needed to finish the road, plus 20% as specified in the ordinance.

 

Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Pertalion, moved to accept the cash deposit of $5,040.00 from the developer of Ancient Oaks Preserve for road completion as presented by Mr. Furman.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Proposed Agreement on Potential Valle Crucis School Borrowing

Ms. Misty Watson, Finance Director, presented a proposed engagement letter with Parker Poe for services, at a cost of $60,000, to provide for the financing of the debt for the new Valle Crucis Elementary School.  Ms. Watson stated that the County had utilized Parker Poe for previous financing projects and was satisfied with the services provided.   The County Attorney had reviewed the engagement letter.

 

Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Vice-Chairman Kennedy, moved to approve the engagement letter with Parker Poe for the financing of debt for the new Valle Crucis Elementary School as presented by Ms. Watson.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Miscellaneous Administrative Matters

A.    Habitat for Humanity Road Request

 

County Manager Geouque stated that discussions were previously held with Habitat for Humanity regarding assistance from the County with construction of a new road which would allow additional sites for construction of housing.  The discussion focused around the use of County forces as was previously done in lieu of a monetary contribution.  Due to staffing shortages the County was unable to provide an in-kind services match; therefore, Habitat for Humanity requested a $20,000 match, allocated from the Administrative Contingency Fund, for assistance with the road construction.

 

Commissioner Turnbow, seconded by Commissioner Pertalion, moved to allocate $20,000, from the County’s Administrative Contingency Fund, to Habitat for Humanity as matching funds for the construction of a new road.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

 

B.    Boards and Commissions

 

County Manager Geouque presented the following for consideration:

 

Tourism Development Authority (TDA)

The terms of Mr. Tony Gray and Ms. Kim Rogers were scheduled to expire February 28, 2022.  One of the seats must be occupied by someone representing a business that collects occupancy tax in Watauga County.  The other seat does not have a restriction.  Both were willing to continue to serve an additional three-year term if reappointed.

 

Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to waive the second reading and reappoint Mr. Tony Gray and Ms. Kim Rogers to three-year terms on the Tourism Development Board as presented.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

C.    Announcements

 

County Manager Geouque announced the following:

 

·       A four-session series to discuss the safety, accessibility, and affordability of housing in Watauga County will be held in March and April 2022.  Information on the series is included in the packet.

 

·       Budget Work Sessions are scheduled for Thursday, May 12, 2022, beginning at 12:00 noon and Friday, May 13, 2022, beginning at 9:00 A.M.

Public Comment

There was no public comment.

Closed Session

At 6:58 P.M., Commissioner Pertalion, seconded by Vice-Chairman Kennedy, moved to enter Closed Session to discuss Attorney/Client Matters, per G. S. 143-318.11(a)(3).

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

Commissioner Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Pertalion, moved to resume the open meeting at 7:43 P.M.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Possible Action After Closed Session

County Attorney di Santi gave a brief summary of the County’s lawsuit against the Town of Boone regarding water allocations.

 

Vice-Chairman Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Wallin, moved to execute the “Memo of Settlement Agreement” which will settle the lawsuit by the County against the Town of Boone regarding water allocations.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

Adjourn

Commissioner Wallin, seconded by Commissioner Pertalion, moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 P.M.

 

VOTE:  Aye-5

             Nay-0

 

John Welch, Chairman

 

ATTEST:

Anita J. Fogle, Clerk to the Board