HARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Minutes of Regular Meeting
September 3, 2013
The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, September 3, 2013, in the Commissioners Meeting Room, County Administration Building, 102 East Front Street, Lillington, North Carolina.
Members present: Jim Burgin, Chairman
Gary House, Vice Chairman
Beatrice B. Hill, Commissioner
Joe Miller, Commissioner
C. Gordon Springle, Commissioner
Staff present: Tommy Burns, County Manager
Joseph Jeffries, Deputy County Manager
Tony Wilder, Deputy County Manager
Dwight Snow, County Attorney
Kimberly Honeycutt, Interim Finance Officer
Margaret Regina Wheeler, Clerk to the Board
Chairman Burgin called the meeting to order at 9:00 am. Vice Chairman House led the pledge of allegiance and invocation.
Chairman Burgin called for additions and deletions to the published agenda. Commissioner Springle moved to approve the agenda as published. Commissioner Miller seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
Chairman Burgin requested an addition of a completion date to the Resolution Supporting NC DOT’s US 401 Improvement Project. Chairman Burgin also requested the addition of the presentation of the Proclamation Celebrating the Centennial Anniversary of Extension and Community Association to the agenda. Vice Chairman House requested that Public Utilities’ request for approval of an increasing final adjusting change order for Sanford Contractors/Fort Bragg Wastewater Project in the amount of $506,246.80 and Budget Amendment #29B Public Utilities PU0704 Ft Bragg W&WW in the amount of $513,595 be removed from the consent agenda to be voted on separately. Mr. Burns pointed out a correction to the proposed Fuel Card Usage Policy.
Commissioner Miller moved to approve the items listed on the revised consent agenda. Vice Chairman House seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
1. Budget Amendment:
45 Highland Middle School Project CP1301
Code 331-8300-480.47-30 General Contractor 27,277 increase
331-8300-480.47-62 Contingency 27,277 decrease
2. Tax refunds, rebates and releases (Attachment 1)
3. Sheriff’s Office requested permission to establish a fee of $150 to offer polygraph services to local law enforcement agencies.
4. Cooperative Extension requested permission to apply for a grant from North Carolina State University Family & Consumer Science Foundation in the amount of $1,000 to support kindergarten readiness program through the Parents As Teachers Program in Cooperative Extension.
5. County Engineer requested approval of easement to allow Duke Energy Progress to install power for the pump stations for the Dunn Erwin Corrective Action Project located at the Dunn Erwin Landfill.
6. County Engineer requested permission to decommission the fuel tank and pump at the County garage. County vehicles will be fueled at service stations using the Wright Express fuel cards. Fuel purchases will be in accordance with the NC State Contract Purchasing Program.
7. County Engineer requested adoption of the fuel card usage policy. County vehicles will be fueled at service stations using the Wright Express fuel cards. Fuel purchases will be in accordance with the NC State Contract Purchasing Program.
8. County Engineer requested approval of contract with Clark Nexen for preliminary feasibility study to address the reuse of Shawtown and Boone Trail schools.
9. Relay for Life of Harnett County requested waiver of room rental fees for the use of the Commons Area Meeting Room for their Planning Committee meetings.
10. The Harnett County Fair Board requested a fee waiver for the county landfill for 2 to 3 loads of demolition, estimated $100 - $150 in cost including $43.20 reimbursement to Mr. Chandler, to prepare for the upcoming livestock show. The Fair Board will hold a livestock show at Chandler’s Way Ranch located at 305 Creekside Drive in Angier. Owner Dave Chandler has waived the rental fee for the covered arena for the livestock show however some cleaning is needed to host the show. Volunteers and Fair Board members will work to prepare the site for the livestock show.
11. Finance Officer requested approval of new fees for Emergency Management for the 2013/2014 budget year for ABC Form Inspection of $35 and Foster Home Inspection of $20. The department had requested the new fees during the budget process but they were omitted from the budget package.
12. Administration requested approval of Resolution Supporting NC DOT’s US 401 Improvement Project (Attachment 2)
13. Cooperative Extension requested approval of Proclamation Celebrating the Centennial Anniversary of Extension and Community Association
Chairman Burgin opened the floor for informal comments by the public, allowing up to 3 minutes for each presentation up to 30 minutes. Chairman Burgin asked that things be kept civil during this time.
- Paul Long of 61 Old Buies Creek Road said he didn’t believe it was in good
style for a county commissioner to talk about county employees on Facebook. He also said he was disappointed that the County did not fund the Veteran’s Court and asked that they reconsider.
- Randy Rogers of Lillington said he supports free speech in any form and asked the Board to support our veterans any way they could. Mr. Rogers then asked why the Board is allowing hundreds of thousands of tax-payers/rate-payers dollars to be spent based on a biased report including false statements. He asked how long the Board would allow NC law to be violated related to public records requests. Third, Mr. Rogers asked how the Board could ask for any tax increase when there is a company from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, operating a tire mono-disposable field that receives tires from numerous states and with a franchise agreement that is from the citizens of this county that are paying nothing. Last, Mr. Rogers asked why this board would allow $500,000 to be spent with a change order without any questions.
- Patricia McKoy, representing the Harnett County Extension and Community Association, invited commissioners to join them at the Reunion Tea scheduled for September 4th to celebration their 100th anniversary.
- Joe Langley, 298 Kirk Adams Road, said he made a request in January for a timeline regarding the on-going legal matters associated with Public Utilities. He said he thought a specific timeline of facts would bring clarity to the issue and is still needed however Mr. Langley did note his request was not in compliance with the NC Public Information Law and the County is not required to compile the timeline.
Commissioner Hill said she is concerned about the $70.00 charge for waste on the property tax notice for the Henley Roberts Senior Center along with other senior centers. She said the concern is the County gave $6,000 to each senior center and is now asking for $70 back even though they are not generating trash. She also asked what they were doing about the Food Bank located on the same premises. Chairman Burgin said he has also received calls from churches but explained to them that the County has not been charging them this annual fee since the policy was approved in 1995 by a prior board. Commissioners will discuss this issue at their upcoming special session.
Regarding appointments, Chairman Burgin invited citizens present to consider volunteering to serve on boards and committees with vacancies. Commissioner Springle moved to approve the appointments listed below. Commissioner Hill seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
Mr. Robert Doberstein (nominated by Commissioner Springle) was reappointed to serve as an alternate on this board for a term of 3 years ending September 1, 2016.
JURY COMMISSION
Edith Cox (nominated by Commissioner Springle) was reappointed to serve on this Commission for a term of two years ending June 30, 2015.
Chairman Burgin presented the Proclamation Celebrating the Centennial Anniversary of Extension and Community Association to representatives present.
Commissioner Springle moved to approve Budget Amendment #29B Public Utilities PU0704 Ft Bragg W&WW in the amount of $513,595 and Public Utilities requests for approval of an increasing final adjusting change order for Sanford Contractors/Fort Bragg Wastewater Project in the amount of $506,246.80. The majority of the additional funding required for this change order resulted from an aerial crossing of Jumping Run Creek along Hwy 210 at the Cumberland and Harnett County line. Commissioner Miller seconded the motion which passed 4 to 1 with Vice Chairman House opposing.
29 Public Utilities Department PU0704 Ft Bragg W&WW
Code 568-9100-431.46-06 Sanford Contractors 506,247 increase
568-9100-431.46-03 Peters and White 7,348 increase
568-9100-431.90-30 Public Utilities 106,265 decrease
568-9100-431.45-80 Contingency 400,882 decrease
568-9100-431.33-48 American Water 6,448 decrease
Commissioner Springle moved to add-on to the agenda and approve the following items:
1) Finance Office requested approval of a lease purchase agreement with US Bank in the amount of $739,763 for the purchase of a wheel loader and compactor for the landfill. The interest rate for the transaction is 1.60%. The Board previously approved this agreement on June 28, 2013 but due to time constraints, the interest rate expired.
2) Staff Attorney, on behalf of the Sheriff’s Department, requested approval of the
Harnett County Detention Center Medical Plan. Harnett County contracts with Southern Health Partners to provide medical care to the Harnett County Detention Center. The medical plan is developed annually by Southern Health Partners and meets or exceeds the requirements of the North Carolina Jail Standards. The plan has been reviewed and approved by the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office, local Health Director of the Harnett County Department of Public Health and Harnett County Legal Services staff.
Commissioner Miller seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
Mr. Burns reminded the Board of the upcoming grand opening for the Medical School at Campbell University on September 19th. Chairman Burgin requested that a resolution be prepared to present to Campbell University that day. Mr. Burns gave an overview of upcoming special session items including a briefing by the Sheriff on a proposed project, discussion regarding the solid waste recycling fee for nonprofits and churches and an update on the early retirement incentive. Mr. Burns noted that departments have submitted their long range plans and they would like to go through a couple at upcoming work sessions. He noted the County would receive an audit update in October or November. Last, he reported the Finance Officer job advertisement had gone out and would be run for 30 days.
Chairman Burgin called for any new business. Commissioner Springle moved to authorize up to $15,000 to Animal Control to cover overtime. Vice Chairman House seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
Commissioner Springle asked for an update on sales tax for the schools at the upcoming special session. Also during that special session, Chairman Burgin said he and Commissioner Springle would like to give reports on the different committee meetings they attended at the NCACC annual meeting. He also mentioned an opportunity available to get help with an economic development study and a written request is due by September 15th. Commissioner Miller asked that staff invite Mr. Brian Rouse, a citizen making accusations about Animal Control via e-mail, to the upcoming special session to discuss his issues with Mr. Blevins and staff to try to find common ground.
There was no need for closed session.
Commissioner Hill moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:31 am. Vice Chairman House seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
______
Jim Burgin, Chairman Margaret Regina Wheeler, Clerk
September 3, 2013, Regular Meeting Minutes
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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