HomeMy WebLinkAbout081523 wsHARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Minutes of Work Session
August 15, 2023
The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in work session on Tuesday, August 15, 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
Lewis W. Weatherspoon, Commissioner
W. Brooks Matthews, Commissioner
Staff present: Dwight Snow, County Attorney
Brent Trout, County Manager
Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer
Melissa Capps, Clerk
Chairman Nicol called the Harnett County Board of Commissioners meeting to order at 9:00 am.
Commissioner Weatherspoon 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 Lewis W. Weatherspoon
3. Discuss a request regarding the approval of the North Carolina Department of
Transportation (NCDOT) FY2024 5311 Capital grant agreement in the amount of
$405,973; Barry Blevins, General Services Director
4. Discuss a request to approve the North Carolina Department of Transportation
(NCDOT) FY2024 5311 Administrative grant agreement in the amount of $381,250;
Barry Blevins, General Services Director
5. Discuss a request to approve multiple service contracts for FY 2024; Steve Ward,
Harnett Regional Water Director
6. Discuss a request to approve Harnett Regional Water write-offs from first half (two
quarters) of 2022; Steve Ward, Harnett Regional Water Director
7. Discuss a request for permission to apply for and if awarded, receive annual state
aid from the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, the State Library;
Angela McCauley, Library Director
8. Discuss a request for approval of the selection of The Greer Group as part-time
temporary staffing agency to provide payroll services for part-time seasonal election
workers for the County; Janice Lane, Human Resources Director
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Work Session Minutes
August 15, 2023
Page 1 of 6
)pment Services briefing on the following upcoming public hearings:
Proposed Zoning Change: Case # PLAN2307-0001 Landowner / Applicant: Jean
& Mark Thomas/ Andy Priolo; 7.52 +/- acres of 22.02 +/- acres; PIN # 9681-93-
0580.000; Proposed rezoning from RA-30 to the Commercial zoning district; 190
McArthur Rd., Broadway, Upper Little River Township.
Proposed Zoning Change from RA-30 to RA-20R: Case # PLAN2307-0003
Landowner / Applicant: Harriette Lee Ray/ Triangle Land Partners, LLC.; +/- 73
acres of+/-95.9 acres; PIN# 0538-88-6399.000; Rezoning request from RA-30 to
the RA-20R zoning district; 4155 NC 27 W.; Upper Little River Township.
Proposed Text Amendment: Case # PLAN2307-0004 Applicant: Harnett County
Development Services; Harnett County Unified Development Ordinance; Article
V. Sections 1.1.A. To amend Harnett County's UDO Use Regulations Section.
10. Discuss an amendment to the Comprehensive Lane Use Plan Contract to include
Retail Strategies; Mark Locklear, Development Services Director and Coley Price;
Deputy County Manager
11. Discuss a request for approval of the contract amendment with Smith Gardner,
Inc.; Chad Beane, Solid Waste Director
12. Discuss a request for approval of the Neills Creek Park Development Project
Ordinance and Master Plan Design Services Contract; Carl Davis, Parks and
Recreation Director
13. Discuss a request to approve Moseley Architects for Department of Social Services
upfit; Ally Fouts, Management Analyst
14. Discuss a request to adopt a Resolution authorizing investment of idle funds with
NC CLASS; Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer
15. Discuss a request for approval of the fireworks permit request for Campbell
University Football Season; Larry Smith, Emergency Services Director
16. Discuss a request to increase signature authority for the County Manager;
Christopher Appel, Senior Staff Attorney
17. Discuss a request to approve a Resolution for a project to signalize the intersection
of US 401 and SR 1415 (Rawls Church Road); Brent Trout, County Manager
18. County Manager's Report — Brent Trout, County Manager
• Consider requests from North Carolina Department of Transportation concerning
the addition of roads to the state's secondary road system:
i. Magnolia Crest
ii. The Reserve
• August 21, 2023 Regular Meeting Agenda Review
• Upcoming meetings and invitations
19. Closed Session
20. Adjourn
Barry Blevins, General Services Director, reviewed a request regarding the approval of the North
Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) FY2024 5311 Capital grant agreement in the
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Work Session Minutes
August 15, 2023
Page 2 of 6
amount of $405,973; total County match is $40,598. This grant provides funding for the Capital
expenses associated with providing public transportation for the citizens of Harnett County. The
Board of Commissioners approved the application on December 5, 2022. Approved Fiscal Year
2024 budget contains the County match. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the
next consent agenda.
Mr. Blevins also reviewed a request regarding the approval of the North Carolina Department of
Transportation (NCDOT) FY2024 5311 Administrative grant agreement in the amount of
$381,250; total County match is $57,188. This grant provides funding for the administrative
expenses associated with providing public transportation for the citizens of Harnett County. The
Board of Commissioners approved the application on December 5, 2022. Approved Fiscal Year
2024 budget contains the County match. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the
next consent agenda.
Steve Ward, Harnett Regional Water Director, reviewed a request for requests approval of
multiple services contracts for FY 24 including Charles R. Underwood, Inc; Dun -Right Services,
Inc; Huffstetler Group, Inc; Clearwater Sales, Inc; and Temple Grading and Construction Co.
Inc. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda.
Mr. Ward also reviewed a request for approval of Write-offs for first half (two quarters) of 2022
in the amount of $52,952.80. All these accounts have been delinquent for more than three years.
The facilitation of these write-offs is an important step in a continuing effort to effectively
manage our collections and bad debt. HRW is currently using the Local Government Debt Setoff
Program and On -Line Collections, Inc. to help collect our delinquent accounts. We are happy to
report that we have recovered over $850,000 in bad debt previously written off through the Debt
Setoff Program. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda.
Angela McCauley, Library Director, reviewed a request for permission to apply for and if
awarded, receive annual state aid from the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, the
State Library. The State Library appropriates funds each year for local libraries intended to
promote, aid, and equalize public library services in North Carolina. The amount estimated for
this fiscal year is $191,144. There is no match required. Consensus of the Board was to place
this item on the next consent agenda.
Janice Lane, Human Resources Director, reviewed a request for regarding the selection of The
Greer Group as part-time temporary staffing agency to provide payroll services for part-time
seasonal election workers for the County. The staffing agency would assume the responsibility
for onboarding, payroll and liability for any workers' compensation claims. A RFP was placed
out for bid and four (4) bids were received. The Human Resources Department chose The Greer
Group and their markup is 23.6%. The staffing agency selected currently works with another
County Board of Elections so they have experience in this area. This new process would not
affect the appointment process for the judges, the recruitment process for election workers nor
would it affect the assigned location for each election worker. In the future, the use of an outside
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Work Session Minutes
August 15, 2023
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staffing agency could also afford the County a broader pool of election workers as the County
voter population increases. Ms. Lane also shared comments received from the Finance Officer:
"The use of an outside staffing agency for election worker activity would provide many benefits
to the County. Two significant benefits would be the reduced impact on the Human Resources
staff for onboard activity and the liability and internal control issues associated with the payment
of election workers by the Finance Department." Additional discussion included voter ID cards.
Consensus of the Board was to place this as an individual action item on the next agenda.
Sarah Arbor, Planner II, Development Services provided a briefing on the following upcoming
public hearings:
• Proposed Zoning Change: Case # PLAN2307-0001 Landowner / Applicant: Jean & Mark
Thomas/ Andy Priolo; 7.52 +/- acres of 22.02 +/- acres; PIN # 9681-93-0580.000;
Proposed rezoning from RA-30 to the Commercial zoning district; 190 McArthur Rd.,
Broadway, Upper Little River Township.
• Proposed Zoning Change from RA-30 to RA-20R: Case # PLAN2307-0003 Landowner /
Applicant: Harriette Lee Ray/ Triangle Land Partners, LLC.; +/- 73 acres of +/-95.9
acres; PIN# 0538-88-6399.000; Rezoning request from RA-30 to the RA-20R zoning
district; 4155 NC 27 W.; Upper Little River Township.
Jay Sikes, Development Services Assistant Director/ Manager of Planning Services, provided a
briefing on the following upcoming public hearing:
Proposed Text Amendment: Case # PLAN2307-0004 Applicant: Harnett County
Development Services; Harnett County Unified Development Ordinance; Article V.
Sections 1.1.A. To amend Harnett County's UDO Use Regulations Section.
Mark Locklear, Development Services Director provided a brief update on the Comprehensive
Land Use Plan Study. Coley Price, Deputy Manager, reviewed a request to approve an
amendment to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan contract to include Retail Strategies in the
amount of $65,000. Mr. Price shared information regarding the company, their approach and
methodology, recruitment deliverables, and success stories with local governments in North
Carolina. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda.
Chad Beane, Solid Waste Director, reviewed a request for the approval of the contract
amendment with Smith Gardner, Inc. The contract amendment, if approved, will extend the
contract for one year. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda.
Carl Davis, Parks and Recreation Director, reviewed a request for approval of the Neills Creek
Park Development Project Ordinance. The current funding of $70,000 is for the Site Master Plan
and will be funded through the Parks Capital Reserve Fund. Parks and Recreation also requests
the approval of a contract with WithersRavenel for Professional Landscape Architecture
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Work Session Minutes
August 15, 2023
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Services. WithersRavenel will develop the Master Plan for Neill's Creek Park based on input
from citizens, park users, adjacent schools, and staff. The Master Plan will guide staff with
future development and renovation of the park. The Contract for Design Services is $65,000.
Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda.
Ally Fouts, Management Analyst, reviewed a request for approval of a contract with Moseley
Architects to create a design for the shell space in the second -floor extension of the Department
of Social Services building. This project will utilize ARPA funds, as approved in ARPA funding
plans. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda.
Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer, reviewed a request for approval of a Resolution
authorizing the investment of idle funds with NC CLASS. N.C. General Statute Section 159-30
authorizes the Finance Officer to invest idle funds of the County in a commingled investment
pool. North Carolina Cooperative Liquid Assets Securities System "North Carolina CLASS", is
such an investment pool and would be a good tool for the finance office to use to ensure that we
are maximizing our return on the investment of the County's idle funds in as safe a way as
possible. Adoption of the resolution authorizing the use of North Carolina CLASS as an
investment tool will not violate any statutes that restrict the investments that we are allowed to
utilize, as North Carolina CLASS only invest in those types of instruments with the proper credit
ratings as authorized by the NC General Statutes. Consensus of the Board was to place this item
on the next consent agenda.
Larry Smith, Emergency Services Director, reviewed a request for the approval of the fireworks
application from Pyro East Coast, Inc. for Campbell University's football season fireworks
displays. East Coast Pyrotechnics meets all requirements and has met fire code compliance for
the event. The events will take place on 8/31, 9/23, 10/21 and 11/11. Consensus of the Board was
to place this item on the next consent agenda.
Christopher Appel, Senior Staff Attorney reviewed a request to increase the county manager's
signature authority. North Carolina General Statute §153A-12 requires that the rights granted to
counties are exercised by the board of commissioners or the board's delegated representative.
The current delegation of authority pursuant to the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Ordinance allows
for the County Manager to enter into contracts on behalf of the County for contracts that are less
than $100,000.00 and for a term of three years or less. Consensus of the Board was to place this
item on the next agenda as an individual item.
Brent Trout, County Manager, reviewed a request to approve a Resolution for a project to
signalize the intersection of US 401 and SR 1415 (Rawls Church Road). Consensus of the Board
was to place this item on the next consent agenda.
Mr. Trout reminded everyone that Community Day will be held Thursday, August 17`". Mr.
Trout also shared based on information received, the Board of Elections will be able to start
printing ID's tomorrow.
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Work Session Minutes
August 15, 2023
Page 5 of 6
Commissioner Weatherspoon made a motion to convene into Closed Session for the following
purposes: to consult with the County's legal counsel in order to preserve the attorney -client
privilege concerning the handling of certain litigation including the following case: Harnett
County versus CAD Enterprises, Inc. This motion is made pursuant to NC General Statute
Section 143-318.11 (a)(3). Vice Chairman Morris asked to add personnel and seconded the
motion. The motion carried unanimously.
Following a motion to come of Closed Session, Chairman Nicol called the meeting back into
open session.
Vice Chairman Morris a motion to adjourn at 10:40 am. The motion was seconded by Chairman
Nicol and carried unanimously.
Matthew B. Nicol, Chairman
Melissa D. Mapps��'�
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Work Session Minutes
August 15, 2023
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