09161996
-,--r---'--~"~ - ._---~-----. .-~--- -- - ----~-------.-" .-~- - --- -~-------~~-~---~-.
484
HARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING, SEPTEHBER 16, 1996
The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in regular session
on Monday, September 16, 1996, in the Commissioners Meeting Room,
County Office Building, Lil1ington, North Carolina.
Members present: H. L. Sorrell, Jr., Chairman
Beatrice Bailey Hill, Vice Chairman
Dan B. Andrews
Joseph T. Bowden
Walt Titchener .
Staff present: Neil Emory, County Manager
Wm. A. (Tony) Wilder, Assistant County Manager
Dwight W. Snow, County Attorney
Vanessa W. Young, Finance Officer
Kay S. Blanchard, Clerk to the Board
Chairman Sorrell called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. and
Commissioner Andrews led the pledge of allegiance and prayer.
Commissioner Titchener moved to approve the agenda as published
with the following additions: proposed contract regarding the
Harnett County Airport and appointment to the Economic
Development Commission. Commissioner Andrews seconded the motion
and it passed with a unanimous vote.
Upon motion by Commissioner Titchener and seconded by
Commissioner Bowden, the Board unanimously approved the following
items on the consent agenda:
CONTRACT WITH 1. Contract with Cary Stewart, Eastern Auction & Realty, for
AUCTIONEER FOR auctioneering services for the Harnett County Annual Surplus
SURPLUS SALE Sale, October 5, 1996
2. Final Subdivision Plats:
FINAL SUBDIVISIONS
SPRINGFIELD A. Springfield, 22 lots owned by The Quest Development Co.,
SR 1513, Neill's Creek Township, RA-30 Zoning District,
15.0 acres .
OVERVIEW ESTATES B. Overview Estates, Phase VI, 27 lots owned by Pine Grove
Development Corp., SR 1114, Barbecue Township, 19.38
acres, unzoned
APPOINTMENT Commissioner Andrews made a motion to appoint Robert E. Smith to
the Economic Development Commission for a 3-year term to expire
09/01/99.
PUBLIC HEARING ON Chairman Sorrell called to order a public hearing on a zoning
change request for Effie and Leon Carroll, from RA-20M to RA-30
ZONING CHANGE REQ. Zoning District, Buckhorn Township, SR 1403, 31. 0 +/- acres.
EFFIE & LEON George Jackson presented the application and stated that the
CARROLL purpose of the public hearing was to obtain comments from the
public concerning the zoning change request. Chairman Sorrell
opened the meeting for comments from the public. Comments were
received from the applicants. There being no further comments,
Chairman Sorrell closed the public hearing. The Planning Board
recommended approval of the zoning change request. Commissioner
Andrews moved to approve the change as requested from RA-20M to
RA-30 Zoning District. Commissioner Hill seconded the motion and
it passed with a unanimous vote.
UPDATE ON FRAN UPDATE'ON HURRICANE FRAN DISASTER AND RECOVERY
DISASTER & RECOVERY
Neil Emory, County Manager, expressed appreciation to volunteers,
especially firemen, the military, and others working together .
during and since Hurricane Fran passed through Harnett County on
Thursday, September 5th. All five Board members came to the
Emergency Operations Center during the storm to make emergency
decisions to respond to the disaster situation. Having emergency
plans in place and having practice drills certainly paid off.
All plans and skills are essential when we experience a real
emergency. The Department of Social Services, Public Utilities,
and Emergency Services were certainly tested by Fran. Now that
we have survived, the questions are "Where do we go from here?
and How can we help citizens recover?"
Gary Pope, Emergency Services Director, presented an overview of
the hurricane experience in Harnett County. Emergency Services
started preparing 3 or 4 days in advance, keeping a close watch
on weather stations' hurricane tracking. The day of the storm,
towns were briefed on the potential emergency that could occur,
and the County Emergency Operations staff was called in for
briefings and preparation. Shelters were activated at Western
-----..- -~~~_._--_.- .
,!1 .~1l:~
-J
Harnett Middle School and Triton High School. The coordination
between all organizations, DOT, Forestry, DSS, Mental Health,
Animal Control, Sheriff's Department, and others was essential
during and after the storm. Power outage in the County was
estimated at 95%. Tax Department appraisers, with the help of
volunteer firemen, performed an early morning assessment of
damage throughout the County on Friday. They reported
approximately 50 houses were totally destroyed, with 450 having
major damage, and 2,500 receiving minor damage, totalling an
estimated $150,000,000. Mr. Pope praised the military for the
tremendous support removing debris, and for providing generators
for the County's water plant, rest homes, farmers, businesses,
. private homes and a radio station. The military also provided
water buffaloes (tanks of water) at fire stations to supply
drinking water f~r citizens that were without water. The NC
Forestry Service removed debris from roads with assistance of
fire departments. In addition to large limbs and other debris,
thousands of trees were uprooted and many were blocking roads and
were on houses and vehicles. Some roads had to be closed due to
electrical wires downed by the trees and some roads ~nd bridges
were washed out due to flooding as the County received record-
breaking rainfall. The prison provided road crews to assist
clearing roads and provided many bag lunches for volunteers and
others. Few injuries and no storm-related deaths were reported
in Harnett County. Supplies and food were requested from the
state. Food from the State Food Bank was sent and distributed by
a hastily formed volunteer group involving churches and civic
groups, who were "up and running" very quickly providing meals to
citizens. The Retired Senior Volunteer Program provided 4,100
meals in two days, many being delivered to shut-ins. Campbell
University and the Buies Creek Fire Station opened their
facilities for anyone needing a hot shower. The Health
Department checked on migrant camps to ensure basic needs were
met. Constantly updated news releases from the Emergency
Operations Center were sent to all area media to keep citizens
informed of the current situation and instructions to obtain
basic needs. Ham radio operators provided an invaluable service
as communications by any other means was at times not reliable.
The 800 Radio System worked very well, even after the
communications tower went down. Federal Emergency Management
Agency assessment began and in two days Harnett County was
. formally declared a disaster area. FEMA provided a phone number
for citizens to call for individual assistance. Three hundred
National Guardsmen set up camp at Harnett Central Middle School
and Dunn Middle School with 93 vehicles to clear school yards of
debris and to help other areas with clean-up. The Corps of
Engineers is to assist residents in getting trees off their
houses. Mr. Pope concluded by stating that the County is now in
the recovery stage and citizens can call Emergency Services for
information about sources of assistance. It will be months,
possibly years, before the County fully recovers from the
destruction caused by Hurricane Fran.
Commissioner Titchener thanked Gary Pope for a job well done.
Commissioner Hill stated that she hopes people in the communities
realize that folks working together makes things better.
Rodney Tart, Public Utilities Director, reported that all
operations at the water plant lost power during the storm.
Communications had to be established, large horsepower generators
obtained, three major line breaks repaired, and debris removed
from equipment. Other obstacles had to be addressed, such as 3
to 4 feet of flooding of the raw water pump station as the river
rose. There were rumors that the Jordan Dam had burst and after
water was restored on Saturday, rumors started that the water was
contaminated and not fit for human consumption. Citizens were
reassured by news releases and by staff at the Emergency
Operations Center answering phone calls. Mr. Tart thanked Gary
Pope and his staff, and the military for the tremendous job
. getting safe water to Harnett County citizens in such a short
time. At no time was the water unsafe to drink. Mr. Tart
concluded by praising the community of volunteerisn.
Chairman Sorrell commended the water department employees for
working around the clock to get folks water.
Jack Bryan, Department of Social Services Director, reported that
108 DSS employees participated to staff the shelters. Many were
Red Cross trained in shelter operations. The two facilities
sheltered 900 people Thursday night. Mr. Bryan reported that due
to power outages causing loss of food, all August food stamps
would be replaced. Also, one-time disaster relief food stamps
would be issued. Harnett County received 6,000+ applications at
8 locations set up throughout the County. Food stamps will be
provided to serve 14,620 citizens of Harnett County, with total
food stamp value of $2,000,000. Mr. Bryan shared an amusing
~___~_.n~_____.. -- ~ T_____ __
Il nc..
~~,Jf' ~\;~~ ;t ~
~ 'L.-' ..../
story that happened during the worst part of the hurricane: The
transportation staff employee at the EOC received a call from a
woman who stated that she had 14 people in her mobile home and
they wanted someone to come to the mobile home park and pick them
up and transport them to the shelter at Western Harnett (she
lives near the Moore County line). An 18 passenger van was
dispatched to rescue the 14 people in the mobile home. The van
arrived at the mobile home park, passengers got on, and the
driver proceeded to the shelter. The van arrived safely, and 38
people stepped off the van.
Neil Emory, County Manager, briefly summarized relief and
recovery activities by other County departments and
organizations: .
- Solid Waste - two sites for disposal of debris at no
charge
- Health Department - called rest homes to arrange places
for ill citizens who were being discharged from the
hospital. They also stayed abreast of reports of
anything that might affect public health.
- Cooperative Extension - organized volunteer effort
and continues with this work
- Towns - working together to provide relief and recovery
- School System - worked to locate electricians to assist
with generators, fueled patrol and emergency vehicles,
and provided hot meals for citizens
- Finance Department's work begins now - to report costs
for reimbursement by FEMA
- Media - thanks for the coverage and keeping the public
informed
In conclusion of the Hurricane Fran update, Mr. Emory stated that
Harnett County can and did respond to disaster and that we can do
better. We will assess for future disasters. We have learned
much from this experience. Again, he thanked the Board and the
staff for all the support. .
The Board directed the staff to develop a resolution to thank the
military for their assistance. The Board thanked Mr. Emory and
Mr. Pope for their leadership during this difficult time for
Harnett County.
LOW WEALTH FUNDS In the County Manager's report, Mr. Emory noted that the Board
needs to discuss options for a solution to the problem associated
with failure to receive Low Wealth Monies for the schools; then
have a joint meeting with the Board of Education to discuss the
matter.
PARALLEL TAXIWAY Wm. A. (Tony) Wilder, Assistant County Manager, reported to the
Board on the parallel taxiway project at the Airport.
PROJECT Commissioner Titchener made a motion to authorize staff to
negotiate a contract with Barnhill Contracting Company to
construct the parallel taxiway. Commissioner Hill seconded the
motion and it passed with a unanimous vote.
CLOSED SESSION Commissioner Hill moved that the Board go into closed session for
the purpose of discussing a personnel matter in accordance with
N.C.G.S. 143-318.11(a)(6). Commissioner Bowden seconded the
motion and it passed with a unanimous vote.
Commissioner Titchener moved that the Board come out of closed
session. Commissioner Hill seconded the motion and it passed
with a unanimous vote.
ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Commissioner Titchener moved for.
adjournment of the Harnett County Board of Commissioners Meeting,
September 16, 1996. The meeting adjourned at 9 p.m.
/( tek~irman
Ka1~Bi~c~e Board
'- ~~ .~~. .-- -