092617wsmHARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Minutes of Work Session
September 26, 2017
The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in work session on Tuesday, September 26,
2017, in the Commissioners Meeting Room, County Administration Building, 102 East Front
Street, Lillington, North Carolina.
Members present:
Staff present:
Gordon Springle, Chairman
Joe Miller, Vice Chairman
Barbara McKoy, Commissioner
Abe Elmore, Commissioner
Howard Penny, Commissioner
Joseph Jeffries, County Manager
Paula Stewart, Deputy County Manager
Dwight Snow, County Attorney
Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer
Margaret Regina Wheeler, Clerk
The Board of Commissioners were joined by the following Board of Education members and
staff:
Bill Morris, Chairman
Roger Farina, Member
Jason Lemon, Member
Vivian Bennett, Member
Charles Bullock, Board Attorney
Aaron Fleming, Superintendent
Brooks Matthews, Deputy Superintendent
Brookie Ferguson, Assistant Superintendent
Monica Thompson, Assistant Superintendent
Tammy McGill, Finance Officer
Terry Byrd, Clerk to the Board
Chairman Springle called the meeting to order at 9:00 am. Chairman Morris called the Board of
Education meeting to order. Commissioner Elmore led the Pledge of Allegiance and invocation.
The following agenda was before the Board:
> Joint meeting with the Board of Education
> Boys and Girls Club Presentation
• County Manager's Report:
- October 2, 2017 Agenda Review
- North Harnett Primary School Road Update
> Closed session
> Adjourn
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Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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Chairman Morris briefly reviewed Harnett County Schools current Summary of Facility Needs
as follows:
Tier 1
Replacement for Erwin Elementary School $22,359,287.00
Addition to LaFayette Elementary School $16,441,000.00
(Or Potential Northwest Harnett Elementary School - $21,859,287.00)
New Middle School South of Lillington No total provided
- New High School South of Lillington No total provided
Tier II
- Replacement for Buies Creek Elementary School $21,859,287.00
- New West Harnett Middle School No total provided
Tier III
- Replace bus garage No total provided
- New North Harnett Elementary School No total provided
- New North Harnett Middle School No total provided
Commissioners asked about alternatives to building a new school in Erwin. Commissioner
Penny reference the ORAD information recently shared with commissioners. Commissioners
questioned if things could be done to eliminate schools or reduce costs. Discussions continued
regarding the list of facility needs presented by the Board of Education, the relationship between
the two boards, seating capacity, relocating students, renovations verses building new facilities,
growth, funding, impact aid and ORAD information. Chairman Springle acknowledged we are
behind on building schools however he said raising taxes is not something any of us really want
to do. He asked what we can do with what we have to provide the best education possible for
our students. Mr. Jeffries reviewed Summary of Financing Cases prepared by Davenport and
Company, Financial Advisors, showing debt affordability analysis in an effort to communicate
the tax impact. They acknowledged there is an assumption that the tax base will increase. The
Board of Commissioners stressed the County has a financial policy they much follow.
The Board of Education left the meeting at 10:35 am.
Harnett County Parks and Recreation Director Carl Davis Carl introduced Boys and Girls Clubs
of Central Carolina Chief Executive Officer Daniel Simmons, NCSU Park Scholar Emily
Neville, Advisory Council member Joe Langley and Neal Inman from Representative David
Lewis's Office. Ms. Neville presented "Harnett County Committee to Start a Boys and Girls
Club". She said opening a Boys and Girls Club in Harnett County could:
- Offer safe, affordable and accessible after-school care for Harnett County students;
- Improve the county's education rankings through tutoring; studying and homework time
for students;
- Succeed through state and federal grants; and
- Offer name recognition and established connections with other Boys and Girls Clubs and
similar organizations throughout the state.
Ms. Neville proposed transforming the old Shawtown School facility into a Boys and Girls Club.
She said there would be no additional expectations from the County once basic renovations are
covered. Mrs. Neville said start-up funds would be raise by their Advisory Council and annual
September 26, 2017 Work Session Minutes
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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operating funds would come from several outlets including individual and corporate donations,
government and non-government grants, membership fees, and fundraising events. Mr.
Simmons said they are looking at $225,000 a year for full operation. Discussions continued.
Commissioners encouraged Ms. Nevil to talk to community leaders, as community participation
is key.
Mr. Jeffries noted that the County already has a budget in place to replace windows at Shawtown
and some asbestos removal. He said staff is currently working on lease arrangements with the
HeadStart Program and need to also work on lease arrangements with Harnett United PAL. Mr.
Jeffries proposed a five- year lease for the HeadStart Program. The Boys and Girls Club will
coordinate a survey to identify needed renovations at the facility and come back to the Board
with a cost estimate. Joe Langley also addressed the Board.
Mr. Jeffries reviewed the proposed October 2, 2017 regular meeting agenda.
Mr. Jeffries provided an update regarding the second entrance to North Harnett Primary School.
He said the property owners are willing to donate the land and construction costs are estimated at
$500,000. He noted Representative Lewis had gotten $200,000 in contingency monies to go
toward construction of the road with the potential for an additional $100,000 in funding through
Senator Rabon's Office. Mr. Jeffries sought direction from the board regarding the remaining
$200,000 for construction. He said there were monies in contingency that could possibly be use
for this. It was the consensus of the commissioners, given growth and the need to address the
ingress and egress at the school, to fund up to $200,000 towards construction of the second
entrance to North Harnett Primary School and to move forward with this project.
Vice Chairman Miller announced, as part of the NC Hunters for the Hungry program, there is
now a donation site in Harnett County where hunters may drop off legally harvested deer during
the fall hunting season. The deer will be process locally and distributed to the Harnett Food
Pantry in Lillington where it will be made available to hungry families in Harnett County.
Commissioner McKoy moved that the Board go into closed session to discuss with and to
instruct the County staff concerning the position to be taken by the County in negotiating a
contract for the acquisition of real property by lease. This motion is made pursuant to N.C.
General Statute Section 143-318.11(a)(5). Vice Chairman Miller seconded the motion which
passed unanimously.
Commissioner Elmore moved that the Board come out of closed session. Commissioner McKoy
seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Commissioner Elmore moved to adjourn the meeting at 11:44 pm. Commissioner Penny
seconded the motion that passed unanirn
Regina i ee r, C erk
epteber 26, 2017 Work Session Minutes
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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