051220wsmHARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Work Session Minutes
May 12, 2020
The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in work session on Tuesday, May 12, 2020, in
the Commissioners Meeting Room, County Administration Building, 420 McKinney Parkway,
Lillington, North Carolina. Due to COVID-19 this meeting was not open to members of the
public to attend in person however, citizens and staff were provided options to listen to the
meeting live. Only County staff necessary to conduct the meeting or to speak on scheduled
agenda items were in attendance and stationed in the meeting chambers to maintain the
recommended social distancing of 6 feet, as the Board demonstrated compliance with State law.
Members present:
Howard Penny, Chairman
Mark B. Johnson, Commissioner
Barbara McKoy, Commissioner
Gordon Springle, Commissioner
Member absent: Joe Miller, Vice Chairman
Staff present:
Coley Price, Assistant County Manager
Brian Haney, Assistant County Manager
Dwight Snow, County Attorney
Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer
Margaret Regina Wheeler, Clerk
Chairman Penny called the meeting to order at 9:00 am and led the Pledge of Allegiance and
invocation.
The following agenda was before the Board:
> Call to order, Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation
D Fire Districts & EMS Rescue Budgets
> HRW Budget and Smart Metering Project
D General Budget Discussion
D Request from District 11A Veterans Treatment Court to Apply for a 3 -year,
$500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance
> Proposed revisions to the Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Rules of Procedures regarding electronic meetings
D County Manager's Report:
- May 18, 2020 Regular Meeting Agenda Review and meeting logistics
Discuss upcoming Board of Adjustment meetings in June
Review applications to serve on Boards and Committees
- Invitations and upcoming meetings
D Closed session
D Adjourn
May 12, 2020 Work Session Minutes
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Page 1 of 4
Harnett County Emergency Services Director Larry Smith reviewed the following request for
increases:
o Coats -Grove Fire and Rescue, Inc. requested an increase of .02 cents tax levy (0.11 cents)
o Godwin -Falcon Volunteer Fire Department requested an increase of .05 cents tax levy
(0.15 cents)
o Cypress Creek Fire Department requested an increase of .01 cents tax levy (0.095)
o Buies Creek EMS requested an increase of $23,927.
o Coats Grove EMS requested an increase of $43,196.
o Benhaven EMS requested an increase of $18,000.
o City of Dunn EMS requested an increase of $338,000
County Manager Paula Stewart, in her budget message, did not recommend any Fire Tax District
increases or any increase in funding for the EMS Rescue Districts this fiscal year, primarily due
to the current recession within the FY 2020-2021 recommended budget. It was the consensus of
the Board to leave the budget as recommended by the County Manger and not include any of
these requested increases in the FY 2020-2021 budget.
Mr. Smith thanked Administration for including an increase for supplies within Harnett County
Emergency Service's FY 2020 budget. He also updated the group regarding the contracted EMS
billing company; saying he believes we will see a better revenue stream from EMS billing this
year.
Steve Ward, Director of Harnett Regional Water (HRW), talked about HRW's Smart Metering
Project which consists of the replacement of all existing water meters in the HRW inventory.
HRW currently has approximately 45,000 manual and drive by read meter in their system. The
replacements will be "smart meters" and will utilize advanced metering infrastructure technology
to allow HRW and its customers to monitor their usage multiple times per day through their
website portal to quickly discover leaks, usage changes, etc. Mr. Ward said this project, that will
take over 2 1/2 years to implement, will allow their meter reading personnel to devote their time to
customer service and repair issues entirely. He explained this project would be done at no cost to
the customer; it will not affect their rates and will be funded entirely from HRW reserves. Mr.
Ward responded to comments and questions from commissioners who will consider approval of
the HRW Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project Ordinance totaling $13,887,945 during their
upcoming regular meeting.
Mr. Ward talked about HRW's proposed budget including HRW's revised Capital Improvement
Plan which he will resubmit shortly. He noted revenue increases were from planned rate
increases for bulk water and sewer. Mr. Ward said they budgeted conservatively as HRW's
budget fluctuates due to revenue and capital projects.
Mr. Ward also talked about the effects of COVID-19 and Governor Cooper's Executive Order
124. He reported in April 2020 delinquencies went up 12 1/2 percent compared to last year and
6,736 accounts were past due. Mr. Ward estimates the loss of over $150,000 as a direct impact
thus far and expects May will be worse. He said the State will be collecting this information
through the end of May when the executive order expires.
May 12, 2020 Work Session Minutes
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Page 2 of 4
Mr. Price led the general budget discussion. He noted five (5) fee increase requests that had
inadvertently been left out of the budget that will now be included within Appendix
1: Recommended Fee Changes.
Mr. Price also said staff would like to increase the annual amount charged to the
municipalities for the Interlocal Agreement for Animal Control Services to $12,000 per year
from $10,000 per year. He said staff has already discussed the increase with the town managers.
It was the consensus of Board for staff to move forward with the increase as presented.
Thomas Royer, Staff Attorney, reviewed proposed revisions to the Harnett County Board of
Commissioners Rules of Procedures. Most of the recommended changes were due to Session
Law 2020-3 regarding Remote Meetings. It was reiterated that remote participation is only
allowed by session law during a state of emergencies. Discussions continued. Commissioners
agreed to limit their participation in quasi-judicial hearings but wish to participate and vote
remotely during closed sessions while under a state of emergency.
Mark Teachey, Program Director with District 11A Veterans Treatment Court in Harnett County,
requested approval to apply for an additional 3 -year $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of
Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance. He said staff was pleasantly surprised to find out that they
were able to apply for an additional grant while they have a current grant. Mr. Haney provided a
brief background on the funding of the Veterans Treatment Court. Mr. Teachey reviewed some
of the goals for the program included within the grant application. It was the consensus of the
Board that Mr. Teachey be allowed to move forward with applying for this grant.
Mr. Price and Mr. Haney reviewed the May 18, 2020 regular meeting agenda as well as
meeting and public hearing logistics. The Board reviewed applications to serve on boards and
committees.
Mr. Haney reported that Harnett County will receive $2,462,374 from the Coronavirus Relief
Fund (CRF) to be used for expenses related to addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds
must be spent on purposes that were not accounted for in the County's most recently approved
budget as of March 27, 2020, and must be used for expenditures incurred between March 1,
2020, and December 30, 2020. This funding cannot be used to replace lost revenue.
Mr. Haney stated that the County is required to put together a plan for how it will spend these
funds and submit that to the State by June 1. He said Administration has ask departments and
municipalities to share any COVID-19 expenses they have incurred to date along with any
anticipated expenses going forward. Staff will provide commissioners with a report on how
funds are being spent.
May 12, 2020 Work Session Minutes
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Page 3 of 4
Mr. Price reported that Harnett County Development Services would like to move forward with
June Planning Board and Board of Adjustment meetings. These boards typically meet in
Lillington Town Hall which is now open to the public. It was the consensus of the Board to
allow staff to move forward with these meetings while adhering to current guidelines.
There was no need for closed session.
Commissioner McKoy moved to adjourn the meeting at 11:15 am. Commissioner Johnson
seconded the motion which passed 4 - 0.
�- WA,
Penny, Jr.. Chairm
t Regina eler, Clerk
May 12, 2020 Work Session Minutes
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Page 4 of 4