HomeMy WebLinkAbout082818wsmHARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Minutes of Work Session
August 28, 2018
The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in work session on Tuesday, August 28, 2018,
in Conference Room A, County Administration Building, 420 McKinney Parkway, Lillington,
North Carolina.
Members present:
Gordon Springle, Chairman
Howard Penny, Vice Chairman
Abe Elmore, Commissioner
Barbara McKoy, Commissioner
Member absent: Joe Miller, Commissioner
Staff present:
Paula Stewart, County Manager
Dwight Snow, County Attorney
Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer
Margaret Regina Wheeler, Clerk
Brian Haney, Assistant County Manager
Allen Coats, Deputy Finance Officer
Chairman Springle called the meeting to order at 9:00 am. Commissioner McKoy led the Pledge
of Allegiance and invocation.
The following agenda was before commissioners:
➢ Joint Meeting with Harnett County Properties Corporation
➢ 2018/2019 Legislative Goals, Brian Haney
➢ 2019 Schedule of Meetings of the Harnett County Board of Commissioners
➢ Airport Committee Bylaws, Monica Jackson and Barry Blevins
➢ Animal Services full-time position request, Barry Blevins
➢ Proposed Issuance by the Public Finance Authority - Public Hearing and Approval
of Resolution for Regional Housing & Community Service Corporation, Jeffrey A.
Poley, Park Poe
• Harnett County Marketing Video Presentation
➢ County Manager's Report:
- September 4, 2018 Regular Meeting Agenda Review
September 11, 2018 Work Session Agenda Review
- Invitations and upcoming meetings
- Requests from NCDOT to relocate graves
➢ Closed session
➢ Adjourn
August 28, 2018 Work Session Minutes
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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Vice Chairman Penny moved that the Board go into closed session to discuss certain economic
development matters. This motion is made pursuant to N.C. General Statute Section 143-
318.11(a)(4). Commissioner McKoy seconded the motion that passed 4 — 0. The Board was
joined in closed session by members of the Harnett County Properties Corporation.
Commissioner Elmore moved that the board come out of closed session. Vice Chairman Penny
seconded the motion that passed 4 — 0.
Mr. Haney reviewed Harnett County's 2018/19 Legislative Priorities. He noted NCACC is
asking counties to submit their 2019-2020 legislative proposals before September 21, 2018.
Legislative priorities were reviewed and discussions continued. Mr. Haney said he has reached
out to department heads to see if they have any legislative items to include and he will bring a
final list back to the Board before submittal.
Mrs. Stewart presented several 2019 Schedule of Meeting options for the Board to consider.
Discussions continued and the Board, in the near future, will consider approval of the proposed
2019 Schedule of Meetings that includes two regular meetings and one work session per month.
Jeffrey A. Poley with Park Poe, on behalf of his client, presented the following memorandum:
> Introduction: On behalf of our clients Regional Housing & Community Service
Corporation and its affiliates (the "Borrowers"), we are requesting the Board of
Commissioners of Harnett County listed above to hold a public hearing and adopt a
resolution to help the Borrowers finance the acquisition and expansion of the Senter's
Memory facility in the County.
y The Borrowers: The Borrowers are nonprofit entities and organizations described under
Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Borrowers have acquired (or will
acquire) Senter's Memory Care and intend to expend and improve the facility (between
$3.5MM to $4MM will be used for the expansion/improvements). The extra beds and
construction will provide jobs from the County. The timing of the final construction of the
facility is unknown at this time but is expected within the next year. The Borrowers' intend
to finance the facilities with the help of "qualified 501(c)(3) bonds" issued by the Public
Finance Authority.
> The Public Finance Authority: The Public Finance Authority ("PFA") is a commission
created under the Wisconsin statutes that has the authority to issue conduit bonds for public
and private entities nationwide. PFA is sponsored by the National Association of Counties,
the National League of Cities, the Wisconsin Counties Association and the League of
Wisconsin Municipalities. Any debt issued is not debt of the County or the PFA, but rather
is payable solely from debt service payments received from the Borrowers.
> Requirement for County Action: Federal tax laws and the laws governing the PFA require
that the elected legislative body (or highest elected representative) of the governmental unit
that has jurisdiction over the area in which a facility to be financed with tax-exempt bonds
issued by the PFA is located approve the issuance of the bonds by the PFA and the financing
of the facility. Prior to this approval, a public hearing must be held so that the public is given
the opportunity to continent on the bonds and the facility. Note that since the facility is in an
August 28, 2018 Work Session Minutes
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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unincorporated portion of the County, the County is the only entity able to approve the
project. The Bonds are not and will not be deemed to constitute a debt of the County or a
pledge of the faith and credit of the County, and are payable solely from the revenues and
other funds generated by the assisted living facility. Because no taxes or other revenues of
the County are pledged to pay these bonds, the staff of the County does not need to do
financial analysis of the Bonds, the Borrowers or the assisted living facility.
D Request of Harnett County: We request the County to hold a public hearing on the assisted
living facility and their related bonds. After the public hearing, we request the Board of
Commissioners to adopt a resolution that approves PFA's issuance of the bonds and the
financing of acquisition of expansion of the assisted living facilities. The resolution will
provide that: (1) the bonds do not constitute a debt of the County; nor a change against its
general credit or taxing power, and (2) the bonds are not an obligation or liability of the
County.
Mr. Leo Daughtry, former NC Representative, addressed the Board expressing his support for
this project. Mr. Poley concurred with removing "public benefit" from the proposed resolution
as suggested by Staff Attorney Christopher Appel. The Board will hold a public hearing on
Monday, September 17, 2018 and consider a resolution regarding the issuance by the Public
Finance Authority of its assisted living revenue bonds, in one or more series, in the principal
amount not to exceed $8,500,000, for the purpose of fmancing or refinancing the acquisition and
construction of certain assisted living facilities located in the county; and other related matters.
Senior Staff Attorney Monica Jackson and General Services Director Barry Blevins presented
revised Airport Committee Bylaws for discussion purposes. Staff suggested in lieu of
disbanding the Airport Committee that commissioners consider amending the bylaws including
revising the membership requirements and appointing new people to serve on the committee.
Discussions continued. Staff will discuss the revised bylaws with the Airport Committee in
October and then come back to the Board.
Mr. Blevins requested approval of a new full-time position in Animal Services for shelter
operations and an additional $7,100 to fund the position in FY2019. Mr. Blevins briefly shared
background information of Animal Services and discussed duties of Animal Control and Animal
Services. He said this request is in response to positive changes in shelter operations and
additional animal intake resulting from the separation of Animal Control and Animal Shelter.
Mr. Blevins noted shelter operations tempo has increased due to increased testing, disease
testing, higher demand for vaccinations, public outreach and behavior testing.
The group watched Harnett County's new marketing video.
Mrs. Stewart reviewed the proposed September 4, 2018 regular meeting agenda and draft
September 11, 2018 work session agenda. She also reviewed invitations and upcoming
meetings. The group discussed the County's Mid -Carolina COG membership.
August 28, 2018 Work Session Minutes
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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Mrs. Stewart noted the County has been approached by NC DOT about relocating graves that are
located in the proposed right of way of the planned widening of I-95. She said there are statutes
that govern how this must be done and in the near future NC DOT will request that the Board
approve the necessity to disinter and re -inter the deceased.
Mrs. Stewart presented a letter asking the Board to approve Brian Haney, Assistant County
Manager, as the person designated to exercise the powers and perform the duties of county
manager while she is out of the country August 31St through September 9th. She clarified that
Chairman Springle has signature authority if any items need to be signed during that time.
Mr. Haney announced Harnett County Parks and Recreation had been awarded the LGFCU 2018
Excellence in Innovation Award and $1,000 for development and implementation of the Boone
Trail Community Center and Library. He said NCACC will schedule a check presentation
during a future board meeting. Mr. Haney also noted that during the NCACC Annual Awards
Luncheon that Commissioners McKoy and Penny were presented their Local Elected Leaders
Academy Practitioners Certifications.
Staff reported that more asbestos has been found at Shawtown which is further delaying the
project. It was noted that Jimmy Riddle, Harnett County Emergency Services, will make his
safety report for all school buildings in the middle of September. Staff believes they will know
soon if anything has been repaired or modified at Erwin School; Benhaven is still not ready.
Regarding the SROs town agreements, Mr. Haney said the towns are interested in how they will
be reimbursed. Mrs. Honeycutt stated the invoices will be routed through two SRO sergeants
and the County will get credit for current expense; approximately $50 a child increase.
Mrs. Stewart updated the Board on the recent flooding at the CCCC Health Sciences Building.
Discussions continued. She said CCCC staff and County staff worked well together and our
Facilities staff really did a great job. She responded that the County leases the building from Red
Rock but the County is responsible for the building.
There was no need for closed session.
Commissioner Elmore moved to adjourn the meeting at 11:23 am. Vice Chairman Penny
seconded the motion, which passed 4 - 0.
Commissioners were scheduled to tour the Harnett County's Animal Shelter/Animal Control
immediately following the meeting,
and Penny Jr, Chairm
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Regina v; eeler, Clerk
August 28, 2018 Work Session Minutes
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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