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HomeMy WebLinkAbout110122 ws HARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Minutes of Work Session November 1, 2022 The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in work session on Tuesday, November 1,2022 at 9:00 am, in the Commissioners Meeting Room, Harnett County Resource Center and Library, 455 McKinney Parkway, Lillington, North Carolina. Members present: Lewis W. Weatherspoon, Chairman Matt B. Nicol, Vice Chairman Barbara McKoy, Commissioner Mark B. Johnson, Commissioner W. Brooks Matthews, Commissioner Staff present: Dwight Snow, County Attorney Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer Brent Trout, County Manager Melissa Capps, County Clerk Chairman Weatherspoon 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 Lewis Weatherspoon 2. Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation— Commissioner Brooks Matthews 3. Board of Elections Update; Claire Jones, Elections Director 4. Harnett County Sheriff's Office PAL Program Update; Deputy Hornsby 5. Consider and award Airport Terminal Contract and grant County Manager signature authority on the contract; Brent Trout, County Manager **Please note this will be a voting item.** 6. Discuss Terminal Construction Capital Project Ordinance; Brent Trout, County Manager **Please note this will be a voting item.** 7. Discuss the Library's request to apply for a one-time non-reoccurring state aid from the NC Department of Cultural Resources, the State Library; Angela McCauley, Library Director 8. Discuss a request from Harnett County Emergency Services seeking Board approval for a new Deputy Fire Marshal, 40 hr. per week position; Larry Smith, Emergency Services Director 9. Discuss a request to accept funding from the Assistance to Firefighters grant to purchase mobile and portable radios; Larry Smith, Emergency Services Director Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session Minutes November 1,2022 Page 1 of 8 10. Discuss awarding a bid contract for the replacement of hot water heaters at the Detention Center; Kenneth Snipes, Facility Maintenance Manager 11. Discuss a Resolution requesting NCDOT add Long Meadow Lane and Old Maple Court in Lafayette Meadows to the State's Secondary Road System;Jay Sikes, Assistant Development Services Director/Manager of Planning Services 12. Discuss Proposed Zoning Change: Case# PLAN2209-0001 Landowner/Applicant: Katheryn T Medley & Jeffery B Thomas / R.P. Wellons Land & Development, LLC; 94.12 +/- acres; Pin 9691-91-1036.000; From Commercial to RA-30 Zoning District; SR# 1291 (Old US 421) ; Upper Little River Township;Jay Sikes, Assistant Development Services Director/Manager of Planning Services 13. Discuss Comprehensive Land Use Plan; Mark Locklear, Development Services Director 14. Discuss the ARPA/CSLFRF Property Management Policy;Ally Fouts, Lead for North Carolina Fellow 15. Discuss request from the Town of Broadway regarding a Resolution requesting NCDOT reduce the speed limit on SR 1289 (Seminole Road); Brent Trout, County Manager 16. Discuss budget amendment for Harnett County Sheriff's Office salary adjustments; Brent Trout, County Manager 17. Discuss budget amendment for school salary adjustments; Brent Trout, County Manager 18. Discuss IT's River Fiber Project 2022 RFP response; Ira Hall, IT Director 19. Discuss Harnett County Sheriff's Office requests for approval to accept NC DHHS grant funds for COVID-19 Support for County Confinement Facilities; Wayne Coats, Sheriff 20. Review applications to serve on Boards and Committees. 21. County Manager's Report- Brent Trout, County Manager • November 7, 2022 Regular Meeting Agenda Review • Upcoming meetings and invitations 22. Closed Session 23. Adjourn Claire Jones, Election Director provided on update on election statistics and needs for their department. Additional discussion included voting locations and restroom facilities. Deputy Hornsby provided an update on the PAL Program and shared items needed for the program. Commissioner McKoy thanked Deputy Hornsby for his work with the PAL Program. Brent Trout, County Manager, provided information regarding the bids received for the Airport Terminal project. Coley Price, Assistant County Manager, provided an update on the lighting project and Phase II of the Apron Project for the Jetport. Mr. Price reviewed the bids received for construction of the Terminal. Jackson Builders was the low bidder. Administration requests Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session Minutes November 1,2022 Page 2 of 8 the Board consider awarding the terminal contract to Jackson Builders, Inc. and consider granting Mr. Trout signature authority for the contract. Chairman Weatherspoon stated the Jetport Advisory Board concurs with staff and recommends Jackson Builders, I make a motion to award the bid to Jackson Builders, Inc. Vice Chairman Nicol seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. Chairman Weatherspoon made a motion to authorize County Manager, Brent Trout authority to sign the Jackson Builders, Inc. contract. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Johnson and carried unanimously. Mr. Price reviewed the Harnett Regional Jetport Project Ordinance for the terminal construction. The county will be utilizing the State Capital and Infrastructure funds (SCIF) awarded to the County. These funds do not require a local match. Chairman Weatherspoon made a motion to approve the Terminal Construction Project Ordinance. The motion was seconded by the Vice Chairman Nicol. The motion carried unanimously. (Attachment 1) Angela McCauley, Library Director, reviewed a request to apply for one-time non-recurring state aid from the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, the State Library. These funds are separate from, and in addition to annual State Aid. Non-recurring State Aid funds originated from the US Treasury Office as part of the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds under the American Rescue Plan Act. The amount to be awarded to Harnett County is $108,352. Matching funds are not required. These funds will be added to allowable expense lines of the library's operating budget to help offset the cost of library consolidation. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next Consent Agenda. Larry Smith, Emergency Services Director, reviewed a request seeking Board approval for a new Deputy Fire Marshal, 40 hr per week position. This full time Deputy Fire Marshal position primary responsibilities would be fire code enforcement, inspections, plan reviews and technical consultation for the City of Dunn. We have recently taken over these responsibilities from Dunn via a contract with the city. We conducted a street by street inventory of occupancies that will require fire inspections and this has added 892 occupancies that will require reoccurring inspections to our jurisdiction. This positon would allow a single point of contact for operations in the City of Dunn. The current contract with the City of Dunn will provide$45,850 (with 3% annual increase) revenue a year from the city. We would like to apply these funds towards this position, we would require an additional $12,603 to cover benefits for the position for the remainder of this fiscal year. Discussion included review and revision of the current contract to cover the costs of the requested position. Consensus of the Board was for staff to look at renegotiating the contract with Dunn to cover the full cost of the requested position. Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session Minutes November 1,2022 Page 3 of 8 Mr. Smith also reviewed a request to accept a funding award for the FY 21 Assistance to Firefighters Grant. This grant has a 10% county match. The grant funding amount is $427,536.36. The overall grant including the county's 10% ($42,753.64) will be $470,290.00. These funds will be utilized to purchase an estimated (cost variables) 26 mobile radios and 56 portable radios for the EMS Division. These funds will allow us to complete the VIPER replacement program. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next Consent Agenda. Kenneth Snipes, Facility Maintenance Manager, reviewed a request for permission to move forward with replacing two hot water heaters at the Detention Center. Dail Mechanical has been awarded the bid from the recent RFP. The references listed by the vendor were verified and all have been satisfied with this vendors services. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next Consent Agenda. Jay Sikes, Assistant Development Services Director/Manager of Planning Services, reviewed a Resolution requesting NCDOT add Long Meadow Lane and Old Maple Court in Lafayette Meadows to the State's Secondary Road System. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next Consent Agenda. Mr. Sikes also reviewed the proposed Zoning Change: Case# PLAN2209-0001 Landowner/ Applicant: Katheryn T Medley&Jeffery B Thomas/R.P. Wellons Land & Development, LLC; 94.12 +/- acres; Pin 9691-91-1036.000; From Commercial to RA-30 Zoning District; SR # 1291 (Old US 421) ; Upper Little River Township; which was previously tabled at the October 17`" regular meeting. Discussion included utilities needed for commercial zoning, residential development and road frontage. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next agenda as an individual action item. Mark Locklear, Development Services Director, presented information regarding the Comprehensive Plan Update. Harnett County Development Services is requesting to update the Grow Harnett County 2015 Comprehensive Plan. The plan will assess current and emerging conditions in order to develop land use concepts and policies for coherent growth. A consulting firm will be chosen to assess inventory, analyze the data, and synthesize the information to form the essential comprehensive plan elements: Land Use, Transportation, Infrastructure, Economic Development, and Affordable Housing. The consultants, with direction from the County and its residents, will engage the community in a participatory process; facilitate public meetings; prepare the proposed plan for review by County departments and elected officials; and, based on collective information and input, finalize the updated Comprehensive Plan. County Commissioners will adopt the Comprehensive Plan in order to provide direction to County officials, staff, residents, businesses, and the development community to implement the County's goals. Funding: Approximately$300,000 project cost from Fund Balance appropriation. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda. Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session Minutes November 1, 2022 Page 4 of 8 Ally Fouts, Lead for North Carolina Fellow, presented a request regarding the ARPA/CSLFRF Property Management Policy which is one of a few policies that the County should adopt in order to ensure that all projects utilizing American Rescue Plan Act/Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (ARPA/CSLFRF)monies will be implemented in compliance with federal Uniform Guidance requirements. This policy specifically establishes standards in relation to property that is purchased with ARP/CSLFRF funds. The main reason we are requesting approval of this policy is to ensure the VIPER radios for emergency response staff are purchased and managed properly. These radios are considered "equipment" within this policy, referred to in section IV. The federal Uniform Guidance requires that Harnett County retains the title to the VIPER radios throughout the term of ARPA/CSLFRF funding(until December 31, 2026). The provision about Leasing Equipment will allow the County to lease all VIPER radios, and related equipment, to local fire departments during the award term. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda. Brent Trout, County Manager, stated the Town Board of the Town of Broadway adopted a resolution on August 22, 2022 requesting the North Carolina Department of Transportation consider a speed limit reduction on SR 1289 (Seminole Road)Town of Broadway and has requested the Harnett County Board of Commissioners consider adopting a similar resolution supporting their request. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda. Mr. Trout reviewed a request from the Sheriffs Office requesting a salary increase for selected staff categories in amount of 5%on November 16, 2022 and 5% on March 16, 2022. The categories impacted by the increase are the Deputy Sheriff, Sergeant Deputies, Detective Deputies, School Resource Officers, Detention Center, Detention Assistant Shift Supervisor, Booking Intake Technician, Telecommunicator, and Telecommunications Shift Supervisor. The Sheriffs Office currently has 42 vacancies in the following areas: Sheriff Admin: 5 vacant Detective positions 4 vacant Deputy Sheriff positions (patrol division) School Resource Officers: 9 vacant Deputy Sheriff positions Detention Center: 13 vacant Detention Officer positions 1 vacant Detention Center Administrator position 1 vacant Detention Assistant Shift Supervisor position 1 vacant Booking Intake Technician positions Communications: 6 vacant Telecommunicator positions Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session Minutes November 1, 2022 Page 5 of 8 1 vacant Telecommunications Shift Supervisor position 1 vacant Communications Manager position The current starting salary for the primary positions in Harnett county are: Deputy Sheriff 41997.00 Detention Officer 36289.00 Telecommunicator I 38092.00 The current environment for recruiting staff to fill the vacancies listed above is very challenging. The current starting pay is considered an issue for recruiting staff. A recent call to neighboring counties revealed that our starting salaries are below Chatham, Cumberland, Johnston and Lee counties. Our starting salaries are higher than Sampson County. The percentage below other counties ranges from around 5% lower to 23%lower. The proposed increase would move us higher than all but Johnston County. The November 5% increase would cost approximately $401,128.20 against our FY 23 budget and the 5% increase in March would cost $196,385.36 against our FY 23 budget. The total cost in FY 23 for this increase is approximately $597,513.56. The impact of this salary increase in the FY 24 budget will be an increase of $1,324,508. The current budget has available fund balance that can cover this mid-year budget increase. Staff is currently preparing an RFP for conducting a Compensation Study in 2023. The approval of this salary increase is an advance increase based on best available knowledge of other counties current salary numbers similar to what will occur from the completion of the study. We will be utilizing the compensation study information to consider increases for other positions once the study is complete. The Sheriffs Office requests approval of a salary increase on select positions in the amount of 5%on November 16, 2022 and an additional 5%on March 16, 2022. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda. Mr. Trout also reviewed a request that the Harnett County Board of Commissioners approve the implementation of a decompressed pay scale for Harnett County Schools and the additional funding needed for implementation. Background: • As required by law (Session Law 2022-74), all classified school employees are required to receive an increase to $15 per hour or 4%, whichever is the greater for the 2022-23 school year. • As such, the Harnett County Schools approved a compressed classified pay scale on September 12, 2022 to be effective July 1, 2022 to meet this requirement. • Because the County is responsible for a portion of the funding of classified positions, the schools approved a compressed scale until further discussions could be held with the Harnett County Board of Commissioners. 0 o A compressed scale means that many grades/classifications are paid the same, with no differentiation between job responsibilities. For example, a custodian Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session Minutes November 1,2022 Page 6 of 8 supervisor or cafeteria manager could earn the same pay as the custodian or cafeteria worker they supervise. • The Options for HCS Classified Scale FY23 proposes four options based upon a compressed or decompressed approach for implementing this law. o A compressed classified scale will allow the schools to meet the minimum requirements of the law (employees receive an increase to $15 per hour or 4%, whichever is greater). o A decompressed classified scale will allow the schools to meet the requirements of the law but take it a step further. The plan would allow for the implementation of the$15 per hour but would also allow increases as the grades/job responsibilities increase and steps for"experience"and would prevent "compression" issues in the future. o To address this issue, the Harnett County Schools have requested the use of current year county expansion funding($740,985), additional funding from the county and use of the school's fund balance. The attached Options for HCS Classified Scale FY23 identifies the funding impact of each approach for the 2023 and 2024 fiscal years. If the Commissioners agree, it is requested that the Harnett County Board of Commissioners consider approving the Decompressed Scale, Option 3. • If approved, the following funding is requested: o Fiscal Year 2023: • Allow the Harnett County Schools to use all expansion funding already provided by the County through current expense funding; • Provide an additional $700,000 in current expense funding to the schools (requires approval of attached budget amendment to appropriate fund balance); and • Harnett County schools would use $700,000 of their fund balance. o Fiscal Year 2024: • Harnett County would increase the current expense appropriation to the schools by$850,000 (continues support of$700,000 and provides $150,000 for progressing through the grades and steps for experience). Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda approving the Decompressed Scale, Option 3. Ira Hall, Chief Information Director, shared the IT Department has reviewed the Fiber Optic Cable Installation proposals we received on October 4th, 2022. I am recommending the Fiber Optic Cable Installation Proposal to be awarded to Performance Cabling Technologies. The bid amount of$118,991.52 will be funded by supplanted lost revenue ARP funds as approved by the board earlier this year. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda. 1 Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session Minutes November 1, 2022 Page 7 of 8 Mr. Trout reviewed a request from the Sheriff's Office requesting approval for the County of Harnett to accept grant funds awarded from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Specific grant funding sought for funding priority of COVID-19 Support for County Confinement Facilities. The grant award is for a funding period of June 1, 2022 through May 31, 2024 for an amount of$47,000 annually and $94,000 for the entire project over a 2-year period. Grant funds are to purchase COVID-19 testing kits for the local county jail. No local or match funding required. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda. The Board of Commissioners reviewed Board and Committee vacancies. The following items were asked to be placed on the consent agenda: • Reappoint Jonathan Pope for District 3 on the Board of Adjustment. • Appoint Dr. Rose Smith-Williams as the Older Consumer Representative and Marvin Tawney with Harnett County Veteran's Services as the Harnett County Employee Representative to the Home and Community Block Grant Committee. • Accept the resignation of Shirley Allen from the Mid-Carolina Aging Advisory Committee. • Reappoint Dr. Amanda Langdon as the Veterinarian and reappoint Dr. Kim Fowler for the Professional Engineer on the Board of Health. • Accept the resignation of Tonya Gray on the Sandhills Center Board of Directors. Mr. Trout shared at the next meeting staff will be providing a brief presentation on the Capital Improvement Plan with a more in-depth discussion at the following meeting. December Board meeting dates were discussed. Vice Chairman Nicol moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:43 am. Commissioner McKoy seconded the motion that carried unanimously. ewis W. We. erspoon, Chairman Melissa D. Capps, Clerk Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session Minutes November 1, 2022 Page 8 of 8 Attachment 1 Terminal Construction CAPITAL PROJECT ORDINANCE BE IT ORDAINED by the Board of Commissioners of Harnett County, North Carolina, sitting as the governing board for Harnett County. Section 1. This project consists of constructing a new terminal building at the Harnett Regional Jetport. The existing terminal was constructed in the early 1980s and has reached its capacity of utilization.The county will be utilizing the State Capital and Infrastructure(SCIF)funds,which does not require a local match. Section 2. The following expenditures are hereby appropriated for this project: Original Ordinance Professional Services $ 409,350 Construction 5,116,877 Capital Outlay - Contingency 473,773 Total $ 6,000,000 Section 3. The following revenues are hereby appropriated for this project: Original Ordinance State Capital and Infrastructure Funds $ 6,000,000 Section 4. Copies of this capital project ordinance shall be furnished to the Clerk to the Board,the Budget Officer and the Finance Officer for direction in carrying out this project. Duly adopted this I day of 6q12022. 0/j - wis Weatherspoon, Mgr an Harnett County Board of Commissioners A IThST: 4 Q 4phf Nei•, °/vac' Melissh Capps,Clerk to th oard o;.