062816wsaHARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Minutes of Work Session
June 28, 2016
The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in work session on Tuesday, June 28, 2016, in
the County Manager's Conference Room, County Administration Building, 102 East Front
Street, Lillington, North Carolina.
Members present:
Staff present:
Jim Burgin, Chairman
Gordon Springle, Vice Chairman
Abe Elmore, Commissioner
Barbara McKoy, Commissioner
Joe Miller, Commissioner
Joseph Jeffries, County Manager
Paula Stewart, Deputy County Manager
Dwight Snow, County Attorney
Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer
Margaret Regina Wheeler, Clerk
Chairman Burgin called the meeting to order at 9:00 am. Vice Chairman Springle led the Pledge
of Allegiance and invocation.
The following agenda was before commissioners:
➢ Agricultural and Economic Development Discussion
➢ Municipal Fiber Video
y County Manager's Update:
1) NC DOT widening & stop light project at the Hwy 210 & Harnett
Central Road intersection
2) Old Boone Trail facility update
3) Update from Piedmont Natural Gas
4) Update regarding proposed Economic Development positions
5) Request for support in the designation of a portion of Hwy 87 in the
Olivia area in honor of Herb Thomas
Closed session
• Site visit regarding proposed zoning change: Case # RZ-16-116,
Landowner/Applicant: Johnny Faircloth; 2.52 +/- acres (consisting 5 parcels)
Pin's # 9575-24-1972, 9575-24-4817, 9575-24-4764, 9575-25-2300; 9575-25-1192;
From RA -20R to Commercial Zoning District; Off NC Hwy 24 (on Red Bird
Drive & Chipmunk Court); Johnsonville Township.
Adjourn
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Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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Ted Abernathy joined the board to discuss Agricultural and Economic Development. Mr.
Jeffries noted the Board has talked about the possibility of holding a multi jurisdictional
Agriculture Summit.
Chairman Burgin said agriculture is still the number one business in Harnett, Johnston, Lee,
Chatham and Sampson Counties. He said agriculture manufacturing is something he believes we
have a great potential for because we have plenty of land and tons of water. Chairman Burgin
said anything we could put here; processing of any style, where we take the raw products that we
are shipping to other places and do something with them to make them worth more and then
prepare to ship them.
Chairman Burgin said a lot of people want to be involved with this endeavor which has the
support of our legislative delegation as well as the delegations of the five counties. He said if the
five counties would all agree to put in $50,000 or so much per person in their county to form a
group and they could then start the favorable taxation part of it for people to come here.
Chairman Burgin says he wants to look at forming an Agriculture District. Discussions
continued. They also discussed the state's ports.
The group discussed the process needed to plan and hold a successful summit. Mr. Abernathy
noted 10 weeks was an aggressive timeline. He said, regarding sites, all of the
counties have inventories of sites for manufacturing because each knows where they have zoned
industrial and where utilities are. He said they could already map the five counties with those
available sites. Mr. Abernathy suggested working backwards assuming a bill would be needed
by November 2016. He will scope a framework for timing and tasking and get back with the
County Manager.
Mr. Jeffries made the board aware that NC DOT will soon start the widening and stop light
project at the intersection of Hwy 210 and Harnett Central Road.
Vice Chairman Springle and Mrs. Stewart updated the group on their recent meeting with
citizens regarding the old Boone Trail facility. They noted there is a lot of interest about the old
school and how it may be used in the future. Mrs. Stewart said some people want to keep the
school building, some had no opinion and some wanted to tear it down. They said citizens are
concerned about the athletic facilities out there. Vice Chairman Springle said he was really
shocked that when they moved to new elementary school it looked like they left everything in the
building. He said the sale of the furniture could be a potential source of revenue for work on the
building and gym. The noted citizens want to be involved and are willing to create a community
organization. Discussions continued. Staff will meet with citizens to discuss parks and
recreation and will come back to the board with a plan.
Mr. Jeffries reported Bob McCune with Piedmont Natural Gas communicated that it could cost
approximately $3 Million a mile to extend natural gas to Hwy 87 from their existing facility. He
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Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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noted Mr. McCune said they no longer take high pressure lines in right-of-ways. Mr. Jeffries
shared preliminary information regarding compressed natural gas which he said would be
cheaper than propane. Discussions continued. Mr. Jeffries noted staff has really been exploring
fiber and natural gas. He said they have talk about trying to identify a position within our I.T.
Department that would focus on fiber in the county.
Chairman Burgin update the board on the 6 cents Tourism Tax which he said looked like it was
going to pass this week.
Mr. Jeffries said, regarding the two new economic development positions approved in the
budget, staff proposes changing the titles of both positions to Economic Developer. He said staff
will start the recruiting process this week. Mr. Jeffries said they will have fairly the same job
descriptions but each position will have primary and separate responsibilities.
Mr. Jeffries noted that family and friends of Herb Thomas have requested support from the
County in the designation of a portion of Hwy 87 in the Olivia area in honor of Herb Thomas.
It was the consensus of the Board to consider approval of a resolution supporting designation of
a portion of Hwy 87 in the Olivia area in honor of Herb Thomas at their upcoming regular
meeting.
Mr. Jeffries reported that he had spoken with Superintendent Stan Williams who said they do not
have any available huts at this time. He also said Mr. Williams is waiting for direction from his
board on how to proceed with the RFP.
Mr. Jeffries informed the Board that staff is holding off on signing the service contracts
recently approved. He said staff may recommend that the Board reject the fire extinguisher and
exterminator bids but noted further research and evaluation was needed.
Mr. Wheeler asked commissioners if they were interested in meeting with Rick Lanier who is the
Vice Chairman of the US MOTTO ACTION COMMITTEE whose sole purpose is to promote
patriotism by encouraging elected officials to "Vote Yes" to displaying IN GOD WE TRUST in
and on their governmental buildings at no cost to their organization. It was the consensus of the
Board to invite Mr. Lanier to an upcoming work session for a short presentation.
Vice Chairman Springle asked about having a surplus sale of all the stuff the County has stored.
Mr. Jeffries responded that he didn't think there was much given staff posts some surplus on
GovDeals.com but tries to save and reuse as much as possible.
Staff shared the "Amrnon's Model, The Virtual End of Cable Monopolies" video regarding
municipal fiber with the group. Mr. Jeffries stressed that we don't have the legislative authority
to do fiber county -wide.
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Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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Mr. Jeffries announced Angela McCauley is the new Harnett County Library Director.
Commissioners discussed their upcoming site visit noting they could not depend on what the
applicant might do yet what rezoning would allow him to do. Chairman Burgin said he also
wanted to go by the Hairfield tract while they were out.
Commissioner Miller moved that the Board go into closed session for the following purposes:
1) Consultation with the County legal staff in order to preserve the attorney-client privilege
concerning the handling of certain claims and litigation including the following case: IN
RE: Estate of John David Livingston, II, et als, Petitioners vs Harnett County Sheriff's
Office, Harnett County File No.: 16 CVS; and
2) To discuss matters relating to the location or expansion of industries or other businesses
in Harnett County; and
3) To instruct the County staff concerning the position to be taken by the County in
negotiating a contract for the acquisition of real property.
This motion is made pursuant to N.C. General Statute Section 143-318.11(a)(3)&(4)&(5). Vice
Chairman Springle seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
Commissioner Elmore moved that the Board come out of closed session. Vice Chairman
Springle seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
At the request of Attorney Dan Boyce, Commissioner Elmore moved that the Board go back into
closed session. Vice Chairman Springle seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
Commissioner Elmore moved that the Board come out of closed session. Vice Chairman
Springle seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
Commissioners decided to reschedule their site visit regarding the proposed zoning change to
July 12, 2016. Commissioner Elmore moved to adjourn the meeting at 12:30 pm. Vice
Chairman Springle seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
Burgin, Chai - 'an
t Regina Weler, Clerk
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Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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