061009sHarnett County Board of Commissioners
Minutes of Special Session
June 10, 2009
The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in special session on Wednesday, June 10,
2009, in the Commissioners Meeting Room, County Administrative Building, 102 East Front
Street, Lillington, North Carolina.
Members present:
Staff present:
Timothy B. McNeill, Chairman
Beatrice B. Hill, Vice - Chairman
Dan B. Andrews, Commissioner
Gary House, Commissioner
Jim Burgin, Commissioner
Scott Sauer, County Manager
Wm. A. (Tony) Wilder, Assistant County Manager
Dwight W. Snow, County Attorney
Sylvia Blinson, Finance Officer
Gina Daniel, Acting Clerk
Chairman McNeill called the meeting to order at 9:00 am and Vice Chairman Hill led the pledge
of allegiance and invocation.
Commissioner Burgin moved to go in to closed session to discuss certain personnel matters and
consult with legal staff regarding a potential claim. This motion is made pursuant to N.C.
General Statute Section 143- 318.11(a) (3). Vice Chairman Hill seconded the motion and the
Board went in to closed session.
Commissioner Andrews moved for the Board to come out of closed session. Commissioner
Burgin seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Mr. Scott Sauer, County Manager, encouraged the Board to adopt the recommended strategy of
60 day Interim Budget for Harnett County. Mr. Sauer said the 60 day budget would cover July
and August and with the concurrence of the board, staff would begin to develop documentation.
Mr. Sauer said adopting the 60 day interim budget would give staff time to monitor state
activities, budget impacts and other unknown factors. If approved, staff will start the process of
extending operation agreements and contracts for 60 days instead of 12 months.
Commissioner Andrews moved to adopt the 60 day Interim Budget Plan. The motion was
seconded by Vice Chairman Hill. Mr. Sauer we are basically extending last year's budget with
two exceptions which he would bring forward later and the commissioners would discuss and
vote on individually. The motion passes unanimously.
Mr. Sauer said we are hoping the state will see fit to leave the lottery funds in the budget. Our
Association of County Commissioner has performed an analysis of what would happen if the
secondary road maintenance is transferred to the commissioners which is legislation currently on
the floor. There are 858.5 miles of secondary paved roads in Harnett County. Our cost would be
$6.1 million if the maintenance of these roads were transferred to our county.
Mr. Sauer discussed the two exceptions to the normal interim budget strategy. First, the July 1,
2009, transfer for the Department of Aging under the Health Department and second, the
transition of the tax office under the supervision of Mr. Tony Wilder serving as Deputy County
Manager and both the tax administrator effective July 1, 2009.
Commissioner House asked how many counties in North Carolina have their Department of
Aging within the Health Department. Mr. Sauer said the Department of Aging could easily be
combined with many different departments.
Mr. Sauer said if the board accepts the proposal for Mr. Wilder to assume the responsibilities of
Tax Administrator with the elevated status as Deputy County Manager, staff would come back to
them with letters of appointment for Mr. Wilder to serve a four year cycle as both.
Mr. Sauer explained that Mr. Wilder would maintain most of his duties as assistant County
Manager including the airport and animal control. Mr. Sauer said over the years a large part of
most of Mr. Wilder's time was consumed with construction projects. Mr. Sauer said Mr.
Wilder's office would be in tax office. He said there is also a provision to maintain Mr. Wilder's
car allowance as well as a $6,000 dollar increase in pay.
Mr. Tony Wilder, Assistant County Manager, said he would have to go back to school and would
have two years to get his certification. Mr. Sauer reminded that we are looking at a cost saving
by not filling the previously vacated tax administrator of approximately $90,000 as Betty Smith
would no longer be working for us. Mr. Wilder said they have discussed the move with the tax
staff. Commissioner House questioned if anyone in the tax office already has these certifications
and was told Mr. Keith Faulkner does.
Commissioner Andrews made a motion to accept these two transitions. The motion was
seconded by Vice Chairman Hill. Mr. Burgin confirmed that the staff with the Department of
Aging and the Tax Department had been talked to about this. Mr. Sauer announced that Ms.
May Marshbanks had retired as of June 1, 2009. The motion passes 4 to 1 with Commissioner
House opposed.
Mr. Jerry Blanchard, Director of General Services, reported that he has been looking at changing
the hours of operation of the convenience sites as a potential way to save money. He has
researched times of low volume and light traffic
Mr. Blanchard distributed a fee schedule and mentioned the possibility of adjusting the tipping
fee. Mr. Blanchard also shared a table with the commissioners that showed our fee schedule is
lower than most surrounding counties.
Mr. Blanchard reported that General Services is require to have a reserve in the solid waste fund
and it has not been kept up and now more is required by the state. State mandates are changing
and requiring and an increase in the capability for recycling. Beginning October 2009, pallets
cannot be disposed of at the land fill but must be recycled. Also starting in October we cannot
knowingly dispose of used oil filters in the landfill and must provide a place and means of
recycling those filters. In 2011 electronics will no longer be allow in the landfill. Mr. Blanchard
said household hazardous waste is very expensive to dispose of.
Mr. Blanchard explained to the commissioners for each dollar the tipping fee is increased it
would produce $50,000. Mr. Blanchard said when cost elevated they didn't change the prices.
Mr. Blanchard said they would like to close the landfills sites at noon on Saturdays. He said
there is very little low volume and light traffic from noon until 3:30 pm. He said the new hours
would eliminate over -time for regular employees. Landfills are open 54 hours a week. Mr.
Blanchard said eliminate most of the over -time for his staff would save approximately $35,000.
Mr. Blanchard said he would like to close the convenience centers on Wednesdays and at noon
on Saturdays which would save approximately $27,000. Chairman McNeill said Saturdays are
busy at the convenience sites and the only day the general public can take their trash. Mr.
Blanchard reported Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the slowest days at the convenience sites.
The commissioners asked Mr. Blanchard to look at days other than Saturday to possibly close the
landfill and convenience sites. They said closing during week doesn't affect the general public
as much but haulers may have a problem with it because they are not suppose to keep trash in
their trucks over night and run all day long. Chairman McNeill asked Mr. Blanchard to consider
alternating schedules between the two landfills.
Commission Andrews move to adopt the increase in the rate schedule for tipping fees to $6.00
per ton. This motion was seconded by Commissioner House and passed unanimously. These
changes will take affect when July 1, 2009,
The commissioners asked Mr. Blanchard to work on a proposed plan for closing the landfills and
convenience centers and come back to them. Commissioner Burgin asked Mr. Blanchard to get
input from some haulers.
Mr. Blanchard told the Commissioners that he understands that the One -On -One program will
not be funded by the state this year.
The Commissioners took a short break to serve themselves lunch and continued to work.
Mr. Ward updated the commissioner regarding current and future capital projects by Harnett
County Public Utilities.
Mr. Ward reported the water treatment plant upgrade, almost $29 million, is in full force and is
estimated to be completed in October 2009. This project was funded with a combination of
sources including Fort Bragg, Holly Springs and Johnston County.
Mr. Ward said the Fort Bragg Water Transmission project is underway and Fort Bragg is totally
funding the $18 million for this project.
Mr. Ward said the Public Works Business Center is under construction and scheduled to be
completed in the spring of 2010 with staff transition complete by July 2010. Mr. Ward said NC
Department of Transportation had committed to paving from in front of McKinney Parkway all
of the way to the intersection.
Mr. Ward said we are selling Johnston County more water than we have in the past. Johnston
County is buying capacity in our water treatment plant and is contributing close to $5 Million
dollars to our water treatment plant project.
Planned rate increases as follows:
Water
$.50 increase - $17/2,000 min to $17.50/2000 min
$.25 increase - $4.30/1,000 gal above min to $4.55/1,000 gal above min
$.05 increase - $1.95 bulk rate to $2.00 bulk rate charge to other towns and communities
Sewer
$.30 increase - $4/1000 gal to $4.30/1000 gal
Totaling 4.2% increase for water and sewer for the year.
Commissioner Burgin asked if Public Utilities considered increasing the bulk rate to others and
leave the rate the same for Harnett County citizens. Mr. Ward said when you adjust the whole
sale rate you affect all of the towns because they pay more. Mr. Ward said the whole sale
portion is less than 30 % of Public Utilities revenues. Most of our revenue is based on
residential retail rates. Mr. Ward reported that Holly Springs made $15 Million investment in
our water plant as a result of agreements and selling water to other communities.
Commissioner House asked Mr. Ward to make contractors aware that we want local people used
as much as possible.
Mr. Ward explained the Harnett County Department of Public Utility's Capital Improvement
Plan. Mr. Ward said this is a plan developed annually which is a working tool to give guidance
toward the County's water and sewer infrastructure development and capital needs program. Mr.
Ward said approval of the plan would not commit the board to these projects. The plan is only a
planning document.
Commissioner House moved to accept the Capital Improvement Plan as presented by Harnett
County Public Utilities. Commissioner Burgin seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Commissioner Andrews moved to approve the proposed rate increase for water and sewer. Vice
Chairman Hill seconded the motion.
Commissioner Burgin asked that Mr. Ward to go back and see if there is something else they can
do to use the bulk rate to offset costs. Commissioner Burgin moved to table the public utilities
rate increases. The motion was seconded by Commissioner House and passed unanimous.
Mrs. Trinity Faucett, Human Resources Director, distributed handouts and provided a cost
analysis for proposed risk management coverage for property, general liability and workers
compensation. Mrs. Jennifer Slusser, Staff Attorney, explained other differences between the
two providers. The Commissioner's heard presentations from both Mike Kelly with NCACC
Risk Management Services and Dal Snipes with Snipes Insurance Services, Inc. Chairman
McNeill said the Board would defer this issue until the work session on Friday, June 12, 2009.
At 1:15 pm, the Commissioners were joined by the following Harnett County Board of
Education Members for a joint session:
Donna McNeill, Chairman
Vivian Bennett
Billy B. Tart
Craig Matthews
Thomas A. Womble
Staff present:
Phil Ferrell, Superintendent
Bob Troutman, Finance Officer
Sylvia Wallace, Clerk
Chairman Donna McNeill called the Board of Education to order and thanked the
Commissioners for the allowing for them to show and tell their needs. Chairman D. McNeill
stated the Board of Educations budget requested is basic needs only. She said their budget could
change depending on what the state does.
Mr. Phil Ferrell, Superintendent, distributed handouts including their initial budget request to
open schools next year. The budget includes project utility cost increase and additional buses to
meet growth. Mr. Ferrell reported that temporary class rooms have been built as well as leasing
of mobile classrooms.
Mr. Ferrell explained that the state allots the counties a pre - planning allotment and the number of
teachers is based on positions. The state figures the A.D.M. and the number of students per ratio.
Mr. Ferrell alerted if the state adopts the house budget we will have larger class size in every
grade span. Mr. Ferrell discussed the affects of the house budget proposal if adopted.
Mr. Bob Troutman, Harnett County Schools Finance Office reported on revisions, reductions and
loss of state funding in the current year.
Mr. Ferrell assured the board that the Harnett County Schools' submitted budget request is what
is needed to meet obligations next year. He said this budget request does not include the new
middle school desperately needed.
The Board of Education adjourned. At 1:54 pm Chairman McNeill announced that the Harnett
County Board of Commissioners would stand recessed until 9:00 am on Thursday, June 11,
2009.
111.4. _ 1
Timothy :-McNeill, Chairman Margaret Regina Daniel, cting Clerk to the Board