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HomeMy WebLinkAbout090109sHarnett County Board of Commissioners Minutes of Special Session Tuesday, September 1, 2009 The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in special session on Tuesday, September 1, 2009, in the Commissioners Meeting Room, County Administrative Building, 102 East Front Street, Lillington, North Carolina. Members present: Staff present: Timothy B. McNeill, Chairman Beatrice B. Hill, Vice - Chairman Dan B. Andrews, Commissioner Gary House, Commissioner Jim Burgin, Commissioner Scott Sauer, County Manager Wm. A. (Tony) Wilder, Assistant County Manager Dwight W. Snow, County Attorney Sylvia Blinson, Finance Officer Jennifer Slusser, Staff Attorney Trinity Faucett, Human Resources Director Gina Daniel, Acting Clerk Chairman Timothy B. McNeill reconvened the meeting at 9:00 am. Chaiiinan McNeill welcomed North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) staff: Willie Allen, Underwriter Penny Cummings, Meeting Coordinator Catherine Franklin, Customer Service Supervisor Nancy Johnson, Group Benefits Underwriter Judy Rhyne, Infounation Systems Director Rebecca Troutman, Intergovernmental Relations Director Tasha Williams, Accounting Technician Lisa Nolen, Outreach Coordinator Commissioner Burgin led the pledge of allegiance and invocation. Mr. Burgin announced that Chairman McNeill was recently presented with the Freedoms Guardian Award by General Joe Peterson. Rodney Tart, Director of the Department of Public Utilities, gave a presentation on the South Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant. Mr. Sauer shared a copy of the Town of Spring Lake's "nonbinding" letter of intent to connect. The Public Utilities Department briefed the commissioners on an upcoming request to approve two increasing change orders for the South Harnett WWTP. The two increasing change orders are in the amount of $3,121,953 to TA Loving Company. This increase is for the infrastructure upgrades and various modifications made to the South Harnett Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant to facilitate the inclusion of Fort Bragg into our regional wastewater partnership. Fort Bragg will reimburse HCDPU for these changes once the wastewater plant upgrade and transmissions improvements are bid. Mr. Sauer recognized Mrs. Frances Avery, Interim Town Manager for Coats. Mrs. Avery also serves on the Division of Social Services Board. Mr. Sauer announced Pat Cameron, Director of the Department of Social Services, would serve as Harnett County's local liaison to assist in preparing for the transfer of state - operated child support offices to county authority effective July 1, 2010. It was the consensus of the Board of Commissioners to bring the program in -house as opposed to privatization but asked that cost analysis be provided for both. Mr. Cameron asked the commissioners to consider reinstating staff bonuses for Child Protective Service employees. Mr. Cameron explained that the employees in the past would receive one lump sum bonus once a year, typically on their anniversary date, as a result of having performed at a certain level determined at evaluation. Ms. Christie Johnson, with the Department of Social Services, noted that the bonus is a great incentive for workers in this program. She said employees look at the bonus as part of salary and as a way of keeping them comparable to surrounding counties. The bonuses were put in place as a way to try to attract and retain employees for Child Welfare. Mr. Cameron noted 39 employees are eligible for the bonuses which totals $78,000 with the county's portion $39,000. Commissioner Andrews moved to reinstate staff bonuses. Burgin seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Mr. Cameron requested a 10% salary adjustment for Gerelene Goodman and C.M. Kelly. Mr. Cameron reported that in order to make reductions in the 2009 -2010 Department of Social Service's budget that he proposed not filling two vacant positions and asking the two supervisors, Gerelene Goodman and C.M. Kelly, to assume additional responsibilities. This recommendation was presented to and unanimously approved by the full Social Services Board. This allows for a savings of $80,928 as well as the comparable cost of fringe benefits to the Department of Social Services. Commissioner Burgin moved to approve the proposed salary adjustments and position changes. Commissioner House seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Mr. Sauer asked the Board to consider a voter referendum on Article 46 local option one quarter percent sales tax for school debt service. The Board of Education approved and provided the Harnett County Board of Commissioners with a "Resolution of the Harnett County Board of Education Regarding the Need to Build Schools, Possible Additional Sources of Funding and a Referendum on the Local Sales and Use Tax Option" Mr. Sauer noted that he had been briefed by Sherre Toler with the Board of Elections. Ms. Toler asked; given the tight schedule until the November municipal elections and the governing bodies desire to move forward with this, that the Board take action today so that the Board of Elections could begin the process and move forward with preparation to include this vote on the November ballets. Chaiiinan McNeill said the Board would also need to authorize the budget for the Board of Elections. The Board of Elections provide a calculate estimate of $40,400 for this county wide vote. Commissioner Burgin said he believe people have the right to vote but he is against any more taxes. Commissioner House said he would rather wait and include the vote in the county wide May 2010 elections, saving most of the requested allocation. The group was reminded of the December 1St deadline to issue bonds. Commissioner Andrews moved to approve the 1/4 cent county wide sales tax referendum be placed on the ballot for the upcoming November elections and authorized a budget of $40,400 for the Board of Elections to be able to include this vote on the ballet in November. Vice - Chairman Hill seconded the motion. Commissioner Burgin amended the motion to delay the vote until the May 2010 Primary elections. Commissioner House seconded the motion which failed 3 to 2. The original motion to approve the county wide 1/4 sales tax referendum for school constructions being placed on the ballet in November and authorize the appropriations to the Board of Elections to do this passed three to two. Mr. Sauer shared information regarding re- advertisement by the state for Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (QZAB) bond allocations. Mr. Sauer updated the board on the status of the feasibility study report regarding the inpatient psychiatric facility at Good Hope. Mr. Sauer was hoping to have the consultants present their findings around the middle of September. The Town of Erwin's application to the NC Rural Center Grant was not approved but they are planning to resubmit. Commissioner Andrews said Harnett County would miss LeeAnne Nance and thanked her for an outstanding job. The closing date for applications for the Economic Development Director is August 31, 2009. Mrs. Nance thanked the group for their support. Mrs. Nance updated the group on several economic development projects. She reported that we have received $260,000 grant to go toward placement of water and sewer at the Brightwater Science and Technology Business Park leveraging the 26 new jobs that are being created by First Choice. First Choice is constructing a 32,000 square foot primary care facility on lot #5 of the business park. Mrs. Nance said Harnett County is working with the Town of Lillington to provide the sewer to the park and then will use grant money for Harnett County to place water and sewer within the park. Mrs. Nance noted we also received encouraging news from EPA recently who awarded Harnett County with $1 Million grant and have now expanded the scope of that grant to allow the money to be used to put in roads within the business park. Engineering work is being done on the infrastructure now. Mrs. Nance reported that we would hopefully have construction easements for the hospital to begin construction this spring. Mrs. Nance noted that the NC DOT Board voted last week to allocate $2 Million to improvements and widening required on US 401 to accommodate the new hospital and other growth in the Brightwater Park. The funds can be used for design and construction and are the direct result of the allocation originally made by Congressman Etheridge. Mrs. Nance said they are working with the Coop of Engineers regarding wetlands. Due to an error they have had the land resurveyed and their mitigation fees are more than we originally thought but they are applying to the DENR's Ecosystem Enhancement Program for help with this. Mrs. Nance also announced that the Brightwater Board of Directors had recently approved Phase II Master Plan. Mrs. Nance reported, now under review by legal staff, is a draft interlocal agreement approved by the Department of Public Utilities and adopted by the Harnett Forward Together Committee Board that gives Public Utilities the right to administer the contracts for roads, water and sewer and construction and use of grant monies for Brightwater. Officials of the Town of Angier are meeting with folks to try to move the YMCA project along. Mrs. Nance noted the dentistry collaborative initiated by the Health Department with preliminary discussions to involve UNC -CH, ECU, Campbell University and First Choice Community Health to promote improved access for pediatric and adult services, and clinical research opportunities ECU dentistry looking at rural communities. John Rouse, Harnett County Health Department, would take the lead in this project. Angie Stewart with Economic Development reported that existing businesses are holding steady. Mr. Sauer shared the recently received request by Shawtown High School Alumni Association for written documentation of a lease for the building they are currently using on Shawtown Road, Lillington, NC. Mr. Wilder gave updates on several capital projects including Barbeque Park and the renovations of the former Law Enforcement Center for Emergency Services Chairman McNeill asked Mr. Wilder to investigate the cost of leveling the sloping field at the entrance of Barbeque Park. Commissioner House asked for a tour of the old law enforcement center. The Planning Department provided the Board with an aerial view of the proposed location for the upcoming Transportation Services Building. Mr. Wilder shared the 2009 N.C. Department of Revenue, Property Tax Division, Certification To Counties report. He also shared the Harnett County Tax Collections account receivable report for real - estate and DMV for the past 10 years. Both Chairman McNeill and Commissioner Burgin believe it would benefit the Board of Commissioners to tour Womak Army Medical Center as well as all of the construction at Fort Bragg. Mr. Sauer gave a program transition status regarding Workforce Development. Sylvia Blinson provided the commissioners with a bid tabulation sheet for printing services for FY 2009 -2010 for their information. Mrs. Blinson also provided the commissioners with an update on the Worker's Compensation reserve. The commissioners stressed the importance of awareness and safety prevention within county government. Mr. Sauer noted an article in the package provided regarding jail revenue and mentioned the potential for our county in housing federal in- mates. Mr. Sauer also noted in the distributed material, provided by Dr. Bill Atkinson with Wake Med, a summary of "destinations counties" showing Harnett County and their resident's hospital use trends, both for medical care and behavioral health. Also included in the distributed materials is a copy of the 2009 adopted legislation House Bill 1452 Ratified Bill "An act to require all cities, counties, local Boards of Education, unified governments, sanitary districts, and consolidated city - counties to adopt a code of ethics for the governing board and to require the members of those governing boards to receive education on ethics laws applicable to local government officials." Mr. Sauer noted that the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners is working on a code of ethics to share with all counties which should be available shortly in January 2010. Rebecca Troutman, NCACC, addressed the group. Commissioner Burgin moved to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Andrews seconded the motion and the meeting was adjourned. 7 Timothy Inc/ Neill, Chairman Y✓ Marg. -t Regi a D el, Acting lerk