032817wsmHARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Minutes of Work Session
March 28, 2017
The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in work session on Tuesday, March 28, 2017,
in the County Managers Conference 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
Howard Penny, Commissioner
Abe Elmore, Commissioner
Joseph Jeffries, County Manager
Paula Stewart, Deputy County Manager
Dwight Snow, County Attorney
Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer
Margaret Regina Wheeler, Clerk
Chairman Springle called the meeting to order at 9:00 am. Vice Chairman Miller led the Pledge
of Allegiance and invocation.
The following agenda was before the group:
A Development Services: 1) Explosives Detonation Ordinance
2) Firearms Discharge Ordinance
3) Noise Ordinance
A Sheriff's Office: 1) Request for two new Lieutenant positions
2) Request for new Environmental Officer position
A Social Media Policy
A 2017/2018 Budget Discussion: 1) Property Reval. Update
2) Capital Improvement Plan
3) New position requests
4) Department budget requests
A County Manager's Report: 1) April 3, 2017 Regular Meeting Agenda Review
2) Upcoming meetings:
- NCACC's April District Meetings, April 20th
- County Assembly Day, May 10th
A Closed Session
A Adjourn
March 28, 2017 Work Session Minutes
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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Mark Locklear, Director of Development Services, noted revisions to the following ordinances
as requested by the Sheriff's Department, County's Legal Department and citizens:
1) Explosives Detonation Ordinance
2) Firearms Discharge Ordinance
3) Noise Ordinance
Randy Baker, Enforcement Officer, reviewed proposed changes clarifying the purpose of the
requested amendments is to decriminalize the enforcement and establish a method of appeal and
settlement for violations. Staff responded to questions and discussions continued. The
ordinances will go before the Planning Board before coming back before the Board of
Commissioners.
Harnett County Sheriff's Office requested approval of two new Lieutenant Positions, pay grade
74, effective immediately. No new funds are requested in the 2016/2017 budget to cover the
$5,314 increase. Sheriff Coats explained the promotions are due to an increase in responsibilities
for these two career officers, Mr. Jeffries pointed out the difference between a promotion and a
reclassification; saying technicality with our Personnel Ordinance the Sheriff will fill these two
new positions and the two old positions will go away.
Mr. Jeffries asked to table the request for a new Environmental Officer position. He said the
proposal was for Solid Waste to fund the position in the Sheriffs Office however Solid Waste
does not have the funding at this time. He noted we currently have only have one environmental
officer covering the county. The group continued to discuss ways to deal with litter.
Staff Attorney Christopher Appel briefly reviewed proposed updates to the County of Harnett
Social Media Use Policy. He noted the updated policy includes language regarding the
allowance and deletion of comments on County social media pages and the retention and
maintenance of records related to posts and comments to reflect recent developments in case law.
Commissioners will consider approval of the updated social media policy during their upcoming
regular meeting.
Mr. Jeffries led the 2017/2018 Budget Discussion which included:
1) Property Reval. Update
2) Capital Improvement Plan
3) New position requests
4) Department budget requests
Staff provided an overview of department requests, new positions, tax reval numbers, and capital
needs. During the Property Reval. update Mr. Jeffries said we are in a sound position moving
forward; staff believes we have a value gain of 1.2% in dollar amounts totaling $612,218.60
however some areas will lose revenue. He believes, with the potential for school construction
projects in the future, we still need a fiscally responsible budget for growing expenditures and
maintaining a healthy reserve while contining to fund capital needs.
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Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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Mr. Jeffries stressed one of the biggest concerns in the upcoming budget is the unpredictability
of Health insurance. He said initial projections are an 18% increase costing approximately $1
Million.
Mr. Jeffries reviewed the General Government Capital Improvement Plan. He also provided an
update on HeadStart at Shawtown. Mr. Jeffries distributed the Board of Education's Capital
Requests notebooks to commissioners, noting that the Board of Education is still working on
their numbers. Mr. Jeffries reminded the group that we already have a funding formula for the
Board of Education.
He briefly reviewed the 20 new position requests that total $1.1 Million. Discussions
continued regarding the assistant DA position as well as funding for the Expanded Food
Nutrition Education position. Ms. Honeycutt provided an overview of departmental requests.
Regarding the Springsted Study, Mr. Jeffries said we must address the 3/5 issue.
Mr. Jeffries announced that Moody's increased our ratings however it remained the same
with Standard & Poor's. Commissioners said they appreciate the level of detail staff is sharing
with them regarding their 2017-18 proposed budget. Public Utilities and Solid Waste Enterprise
Funds are forthcoming.
Mrs. Honeycutt presented for consideration the possibility of the County once again providing
dental benefits for retired employees who are not yet of Medicare age. She said providing this
benefit would cost the County approximately $61,168 over the next 13 years.
Mr. Jeffries reviewed the proposed April 3, 2017 regular meeting agenda and upcoming
meetings.
Brian Haney provided a brief summary on Senate Bill 363. This proposed legislation would
revise NCGS 105-322 concerning the powers and duties of the Board of Equalization and
Review and NCGS 105-290 concerning Appeals to the Property Tax Commission. Mr. Haney
changes would basically strip the Board of Equalization and Review, as well as the Board of
Commissioners and the Property Tax Commission, of its power and duty to make decisions
based on the merits of the case. Staff believes this would place an undue burden on the County.
It was the consensus of the Board to let legislators know they were against this proposed
legislation.
Vice Chairman Miller moved that the Board go into closed session for the following purposes:
1) To discuss certain personnel matters; and
2) To discuss matters relating to economic development in Harnett County; and
3) Consultation with the County's legal staff in order to preserve the attorney-client
privilege concerning the handling of certain claims and litigation including the following
cases: a) County of Harnett vs Randy D. Rogers, Harnett County File No: 12 CVS 890;
March 28, 2017 Work Session Minutes
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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b) Anderson Creek Partners, LP, et als vs County of Harnett, Harnett County File
No. 17 CVS 363;
c) the Workers Compensation claim of Douglas Jones, IC File No. 14057653.
This motion is made pursuant to N.C. General Statute Section 143-318.11(a)(6),(4)&(3).
Commissioner Penny seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Commissioner Elmore moved that the Board come out of closed session. Vice Chairman Miller
seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Vice Chairman Miller moved to adjourn the meeting at 12:27 pm. Commissioner Penny
seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
eeler, Clerk
March 28, 2017 Work Session Minutes
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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