032823 ws HARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Minutes of Work Session
March 28, 2023
The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in work session on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at
9:00 am, in the Commissioners Meeting Room, Harnett County Resource Center and Library,455
McKinney Parkway, Lillington, North Carolina.
Members present: Matthew B. Nicol, Chairman
William Morris, Vice Chairman
Barbara McKoy, Commissioner
W. Brooks Matthews, Commissioner
Lewis W. Weatherspoon, Commissioner
Staff present: Dwight Snow, County Attorney
Brent Trout, County Manager
Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer
Melissa Capps, County Clerk
Chairman Nicol called the Harnett County Board of Commissioners meeting to order at 9:00 am.
Commissioner Matthews led the Pledge of Allegiance and invocation.
The following agenda was before the Board of Commissioners:
1. Call to order— Chairman Matt Nicol
2. Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation— Commissioner Brooks Matthews
3. Report to the People; Tim Mathews, Harnett County Extension Director
4. Space Needs Study Update; Brent Trout, County Manager
5. Discuss the GREAT Grant; Ira Hall, Chief Information Officer
6. Paramedic Program Update; Larry Smith, Emergency Services Director
7. Discuss Cape Fear Ambulance Franchise; Larry Smith, Emergency Services Director
8. Discuss the reclassification of a Deputy's position ( Pay Grade 107) to a new position
Computer Forensic Analysis (Pay Grade 112); Major McNeill, Sheriff's Office
9. Discuss a request to approve the 2023 Harnett County Health Plan for the Harnett
County Detention Center; Major McNeill, Sheriffs Office
10. Discuss a request to accept additional funds from DOA and approve an amendment
to project ordinance for Apron Jetport project; Natalie Pusser, Harnett Regional
Jetport Director
11. Discuss ARPA Funding;Ally Fouts, Lead for North Carolina Fellow and Brent Trout,
County Manager
12. Discuss Community Funding Grant for corporate hangar infrastructure
development for the Jetport; Brent Trout, County Manager
13. County Manager's Report-Brent Trout, County Manager
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Work Session Minutes
March 28, 2023
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• April 3, 2023 Regular Meeting Agenda Review
• Upcoming meetings and invitations
14. Closed Session
15. Adjourn
Tim Mathews, Harnett County Extension Director, shared highlights from this year's extension
programs. The following people spoke on behalf of Cooperative Extension Programs:
• Dudley Langdon spoke on behalf of the Agricultural Program.
• Fred Robinson spoke on behalf of the Horticulture Program.
• Veronica Smith spoke on behalf of the CRD Program.
• Matthew Denver spoke on behalf of the 4H Program
Brent Trout, County Manager, introduced Kim Pierson with Dewberry. Ms. Pierson introduced
David Carey with HH Architecture. Ms. Pierson and Mr. Carey provided an update on the Space
Needs Study and presented the following information to the Board:
• Scope of the Project
• Overview of Findings
• Life Safety Concerns
• Facility Condition Assessments
• Construction Cost Estimate for Department of Social Services Shell Upfit
• Space Planning
• Feasibility Studies
o Department of Social Services/Health Department
o Harnett County Courthouse
o Emergency Services
Discussion included fire alarm systems, other needs such as affordable housing, schools, present
needs versus future needs, and economic development needed to increase tax base.
Ira Hall, Chief Information Officer, provided an update on the GREAT Grant. The GREAT
Grant has been delayed, CloudWyze included residents outside of Harnett County within their
application. CloudWyze had to revise and resubmit the application. We hope to hear from the
State by the end of the month and provide another update at a future work session. Mr. Hall also
provided on update CloudWyze's expansion of broadband throughout the County.
Larry Smith, Emergency Services Director, provided an update on the Paramedic Program.
Mr. Smith also provided information on an inquiry for Cape Fear Ambulance Franchise for a
non-emergency transport in between the two hospitals in the County. No formal request has
been submitted at this time. Discussion included the process for an ambulance franchise, loss
revenue and if current needs were being met.
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Work Session Minutes
March 28, 2023
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Major McNeill with the Sheriffs Department reviewed a request to reclassify a Deputy's
position (Pay Grade 107) to a new position Computer Forensic Analysis (Pay Grade 112). At
present, the Sheriff's Office has one Detective assigned to the Forensic examination of cellphone
and computers. Computer Forensic Analysis use forensic tools and investigative methods to find
and extract specific electronic data, including Internet use history, word processing documents,
images and other files. Just about every case that is investigated involves cellphones and/or
computers which results in a large number of phones being seized for examination. A second
Computer Forensic Analysis is need to enable the timely examination of seized cellphones and
computers. No additional funding is required. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on
the next consent agenda.
Major McNeill also reviewed a request for the Board of Commissioners to approve the 2023
Harnett County Health Plan for the Harnett County Detention Center. The plan has been
approved by Sheriff Coats and John Rouse, Harnett County Health Director. Consensus of the
Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda.
Natalie Pusser, Harnett Regional Jetport Director, reviewed a request to accept an additional
$41,000 awarded by the North Carolina Department of Transportation/Division of Aviation and
approve the amended capital project ordinance for the Aircraft Apron and Helipad Design and
Construction project. This award requires a local match of$4,100. These funds were awarded to
bring the remainder of Work Authorization 2203 for Talbert and Bright's professional-services
under the NCDOT/DOA Apron Expansion Grant. Consensus of the Board was to place this item
on the next consent agenda.
Ally Fouts, Lead for North Carolina Fellow provided an update on ARPA funding which
included the following information:
• Total Allocation - $26,411,744
o ARPA—Eligible Projects - $16,411,744
o Displaced Funds - $10,000,000
• ARPA Eligible Uses
o Response to Pandemic
o Infrastructure Investments
o Premium Pay
o Lost Revenue Replacement
• Funds must be obligated by December 31, 2024 and expended by December 31,
2026.
• What's Left?
o$3,625,646 remaining for ARPA Eligible Projects
o$4,140,997 remaining for displaced funds
Brent Trout, County Manager, reviewed the following information:
• ARPA Eligible Proposed Projects for remaining funds
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Work Session Minutes
March 28,2023
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o Additional broadband grant matches (if we are offered more)
o VIPER radios for police departments
o Additional contribution to NHWWTP upgrade
o Greenway project contribution
• Displaced Funding Proposed Projects for remaining funds
o Additional funding for broadband
o Animal Shelter upgrade
o Board of Elections upgrade
o Economic Development property/building
o Greenway project(s)
o Land for recreation
o Restoring employment
o Shawtown sewer project
o Solid waste sites
Discussion included affordable housing, Riverside Flood Project, VIPER Radios for police
departments and Shawtown sewer project. Consensus of the Board was to place the approval of
VIPER Radios for police departments on the next consent agenda.
Mr. Trout provided information regarding the Community Funding Grant for corporate hangar
infrastructure development for the Jetport which would include construction of a taxiway and
pad ready sites for the construction of corporate plane hangars. The deadline for the grant
submission was March 24, 2023. Mr. Trout stated due to the deadline the application was
submitted but would require Board authorization. Consensus of the Board was to place this item
on the next consent agenda.
Mr. Trout also shared information regarding a request to appoint a Commissioner to serve on the
Board of Equalization and Review. In December, the Board agreed to hold the appointment of
Michael Jackson, District 3 to the Board of Equalization and Review until his case is completed.
In the 2021 resolution, at the end of Section 5 it states "If the Commissioners do not select an
individual to fill a vacancy or if the Commissioners do not receive a qualified candidate to fill a
vacancy, the vacancy shall be filled by a Commissioner." In the original resolution which is
attached to the 2021 resolution, a commissioner serving in the Board of E&R may vacate their
seat by requesting that the Board of Commissioners appoint a replacement. Until that
replacement is appointed, the Commissioner must continue to serve. Consensus of the Board of
Commissioners was to place the appointment of Commissioner Brooks Matthews to the Board of
Equalization and Review on the next consent agenda.
Vice Chairman Morris made a motion to adjourn at 11:01 am. The motion was seconded by
Commissioner McKoy. The motion carried unanimously.
o
Matthew B. Nicol, Chairman MelissaCapps, Clerk
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Work Session Minutes
March 28, 2023
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