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HomeMy WebLinkAbout112823 wsHARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Minutes of Work Session November 28, 2023 The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in work session on Tuesday, November 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: Christopher Appel, Senior Staff Attorney Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer Brent Trout, County Manager Melissa Capps, 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. Discuss award of Contract for 2026 Reappraisal; Christine Wallace, Tax Administrator 4. Discuss COVID and RSV Vaccination Rates; John Rouse, Health Director 5. Discuss the Historic Properties Commission Ordinance; Christopher Appel, Senior Staff Attorney 6. Discuss suspending the issuance of building permits in the Rawls Church Road area until certain safety concerns are addressed; William Morris, Vice Chairman 7. Approval of Amendment for Additional Wastewater Capacity Purchase for the Town of Fuquay-Varina; Steve Ward, Harnett Regional Water Director 8. Discuss the award of the North Harnett Wastewater Treatment Plant Capacity Upgrade Project Construction Contract; Steve Ward, Harnett Regional Water Director 9. Discuss the Recommended Capital Improvement Program; Lisa McFadden, Budget Director 10. Review applications to serve on Boards and Committees. 11. County Manager's Report — Brent Trout, County Manager • December 4, 2023, Regular Meeting Agenda Review Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session Minutes November 28, 2023 Pagel of 5 • Upcoming meetings and invitations 12. Closed Session 13. Adjourn Christine Wallace, Tax Administrator, reviewed a request to award the contract for the 2026 Reappraisal. The Harnett County Tax Department solicited a third Request for Qualifications (RFQ) from firms for contract services related to the furnishing of labor, material, and supplies along with the performance of all work required for the completion and delivery of a walk - around appraisal of all real property in Harnett County. Services would include assistance to the Tax Administrator and staff, the Board of County Commissioners, and the Board of Equalization and Review. Services would also include assistance to county legal staff for appeals to the Property Tax Commission. Ms. Wallace shared 13 registered firms were contacted by the procurement officer, 2 vendors did not respond via email or by phone; 6 vendors did not submit a bid due to the following reasons: current workload, inadequate staffing levels to complete the project, and do not work in residential reappraisals. There were 5 responses received. Ms. Wallace reviewed qualifications for each of the 5 responses received. Ms. Wallace recommended awarding the contract to Bidder 5 Vincent Valuations. Commissioner Matthews stated I would like to thank you Ms. Wallace for your exhaustive efforts and apologize for it going out a third time, I'll take responsibility for that, I probably did not communicate very well what I expected to see after the first time. This is what I wanted to see, what kind of response we would get and I have no problem going along with Ms. Wallace's recommendation and going with Bidder 5. Commissioner McKoy agreed and stated they are the most qualified. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next Consent Agenda. Gail Hobbs, Harnett County Health Department, reviewed a request to approve the fee increases for COVID and RSV vaccines as approved by the Board of Health at their meeting on November 16, 2023. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next Consent Agenda. Christopher Appel, Senior Staff Attorney, reviewed the following options regarding amendment to membership for the Historic Preservation Ordinance: Option 1: The HPC shall consist of five (5) regular members and two (2) alternate members appointed by the Board of Commissioners. All members must reside in Harnett County within the jurisdiction of the HPC, which shall include the area wherein the County and municipalities which adopt this ordinance have authority for planning and regulation of development. One (1) member from each of the five (5) Board of Commissioners' districts shall make up the regular members. If the Board of Commissioners does not receive a qualified candidate for a specific district, the Board of Commissioners may select an at -large member to fill the regular member vacancy. In no event shall there be more than two (2) regular members from the same Board of Commissioners' district. Alternate members shall be at -large members; however, both alternates shall not reside in Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session Minutes November 28, 2023 Page 2 of 5 the same district unless the Board of Commissioners do not receive qualified candidates from different districts. Option 2: The HPC shall consist of five (5) regular members and two (2) alternate members appointed by the Board of Commissioners. All members must reside in Harnett County within the jurisdiction of the HPC, which shall include the area wherein the County and municipalities which adopt this ordinance have authority for planning and regulation of development. One (1) member from each of the five (5) Board of Commissioners' districts shall make up the regular members. If the Board of Commissioners does not receive a qualified candidate for a specific district, the Board of Commissioners shall have the option of selecting an at -large member to fill the regular member vacancy. In no event shall there be more than two (2) regular members from the same Board of Commissioners' district. Alternate members shall be at -large members and may reside in the same district. Option 3: The HPC shall consist of five (5) regular members and two (2) alternate members appointed by the Board of Commissioners. All members must reside in Harnett County within the jurisdiction of the HPC, which shall include the area wherein the County and municipalities which adopt this ordinance have authority for planning and regulation of development. The regular members of the HPC should represent each of the five (5) Board of Commissioners' districts, but the Board of Commissioners may select no more than two qualified candidates from the same district. Alternate members shall be at -large members; however, both alternates shall not reside in the same district unless the Board of Commissioners do not receive qualified candidates from different districts. Consensus of the Board was to proceed with scheduling a public hearing for option 3 at the December 18, 2023 Board meeting. Vice Chairman Morris led a discussion on considering the suspension of the issuance of building permits in the Rawls Church Road area until certain safety concerns are addressed. Attorney Appel reviewed a memo regarding building permit moratoriums. The Board has the right, either through its police powers or zoning powers pursuant to § 160D-107, to issue a moratorium on any development approval. However, the Board must use caution in exercising its police powers and must be limited to extraordinary situations in which there is an immediate and specific threat to the public health, safety, and welfare. If the Board were to exercise its' statutory authority, it must ensure that all of the required statements are adopted and a public hearing on the matter is held prior to adoption. If a moratorium on all development is not necessary, then the Board can explore alternative solutions such as a temporary holding zone ordinance to allow the County to update its comprehensive land use plan. Mark Locklear, Development Services Director, shared Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session Minutes November 28, 2023 Page 3 of 5 there is a meeting with NCDOT scheduled for December 126' and there happens to be a work session that morning. It was suggested having NCDOT attend the work session to discuss concerns in the area of Rawls Church Road. Mr. Locklear shared they are holding stakeholders meetings for the Comprehensive Land Use Plan update and encouraged folks to come out and share comments and concerns. An item for discussion will be added to the December 12'' work session to discuss safety concerns in the Rawls Church Road area with NCDOT . Steve Ward, Harnett Regional Water Director, reviewed a request for the Board to consider approval of an amendment between Harnett Regional Water and the Town of Fuquay-Varina for the purchase of additional wastewater capacity. The Town's Board has approved this amendment which formalizes the purchase of additional wastewater capacity in the planned expansion of the North Harnett Wastewater Treatment Plant. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next Consent Agenda. Mr. Ward also reviewed a request for the Board to award the North Harnett Wastewater Treatment Plant Capacity Upgrade Project to Adams Robinson Enterprises, Inc. from Dayton, Ohio in the amount of $104,121,000. The bid was held on Thursday, November 9, 2023 and five bids were received at that time. Mr. Ward reviewed the certified bid tab showing the detailed results of the bid and a spreadsheet showing a breakdown of costs for each partner. A letter of recommendation was received from the engineering consultants on the project, MBD Consulting Engineers. PA. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next agenda as an individual action item. Lisa McFadden, Budget Director reviewed the recommended Capital Improvement Program. Additional discussion included Johnsonville Elementary cafeteria, Social Services Department 2nd floor upfit, bond sale, and animal shelter. A public input session is scheduled for the December 4, 2023 board meeting. The Board of Commissioners reviewed the applications for Harnett County Board of Equalization and Review. Consensus of the Board was to appoint Ashley Dunn as an at -large member and reappoint George Thurman as a District 1 member to the Harnett County Board of Equalization and Review. Commissioner Weatherspoon made a motion to go into Closed Session for the following purposes: 1. To consult with the County's legal counsel in order to preserve the attorney client privilege concerning the handling of a certain case, namely "Gray Wolfe Homes, LLC vs. County of Harnett" Harnett County File No 23CV004055-420, and 2. Consultation with and instructions to the County staff concerning the position to be taken by the County in negotiating the terms of a proposed contract for the acquisition of real property. Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session Minutes November 28, 2023 Page 4 of 5 This motion is made pursuant to NC General Statute Section 143-318.11 (a)(3) & (5). The motion was seconded by Vice Chairman Morris and carried unanimously. Following a motion to come out of Closed Session, Chairman Nicol called the meeting back into open session. Commissioner Weatherspoon made a motion to adjourn at 11:24 am. The motion was seconded by Commissioner McKoy and carried unanimously. Matthew B. Nicol, Chairman Meli sa D. Capps, Clerk Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session Minutes November 28, 2023 Page 5 of 5