HomeMy WebLinkAbout021324 wsHARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Minutes of Work Session
February 13, 2024
The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in work session on Tuesday, February 13, 2024,
at 9:00 am, in the Commissioners Meeting Room, Harnett County Resource Center and Library,
455 McKinney Parkway, Lillington, North Carolina.
Members present: William Morris, Chairman
W. Brooks Matthews, Vice Chairman
Barbara McKoy, Commissioner
Lewis W. Weatherspoon, Commissioner
Matthew B. Nicol, Commissioner
Staff present: Dwight Snow, County Attorney
Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer
Brent Trout, County Manager
Melissa Capps, Clerk
Chairman Morris called the Harnett County Board of Commissioners meeting to order at 9:00
am.
Commissioner McKoy led the Pledge of Allegiance and invocation.
The following agenda was before the Board of Commissioners:
1. Call to order — Chairman William Morris
2. Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation — Commissioner Barbara McKoy
3. Discuss a location for a Farmers Market; Tim Mathews, Cooperative Extension
4. Discuss a location for the Animal Shelter; Barry Blevins, General Services Director
5. Discuss a request to consider a revised Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan
(PTASP) as required by Federal Transportation Administration and North
Carolina Department of Transportation / Integrated Mobility Division
(NCDOT/IMD); Barry Blevins, General Services Director
6. Discuss a request to consider a revised Drug & Alcohol (D&A) Policy for HARTS as
requested by North Carolina Department of Transportation / Integrated Mobility
Division (NCDOT/IMD); Barry Blevins, General Services Director
7. Discuss a request to accept the Edward Byrne Grant from the Department of
Justice in the amount of $22,060; Major McNeill, Sheriff's Office
8. Discuss the report of unpaid taxes and request an order from the Board of
Commissioners to allow for the advertisement of unpaid taxes for the fiscal year
2023-2024 as set forth in the statute; Christine Wallace, Tax Administrator
9. Discuss a request for the Board of Commissioners to make a decision in regards to
the late applications for Elderly/Disabled and Disabled Veteran exclusions in which
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Work Session Minutes
February 13, 2024
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the applicant did not qualify for the exclusion benefit as of January 1, 2023;
Christine Wallace, Tax Administrator
10. Discuss a request for the Board of Commissioners to make a decision in regards to
the acceptance or denial of late applications for Elderly/Disabled and Disabled
Veteran exclusions; Christine Wallace; Tax Administrator
11. Development Services briefing on the following upcoming public hearings:
• PLAN 240-0043 text amendment to allow public services to exceed the max
percentage of sign space for an LED sign; Harnett County Unified Development
Ordinance; Article VII, Section 10.5.C.2 & 10.9.
• PLAN 240-0055 text amendment to allow for Off -site Recreational and Cultural
Interest signs; Harnett County Unified Development Ordinance; Article VII, Section
10.8 & 10.8.13.
12. Discuss a request for permission to apply for Round 2 of Streamflow Rehabilitation
Assistance Program funds from the NC Department of Agriculture; Lynn Lambert,
Natural Resources Director
13. Discuss a request that the Harnett County Board of Commissioners approve a
Distribution Request to draw down $949,657.64 from the Needs -Based Public
School Capital Fund of the North Carolina Education Lottery; Kimberly Honeycutt;
Finance Officer
14. Discuss a request from the Saleeby Family branch of the YMCA of the Sandhills to
consider a pledge of up to $295,000 so they can begin construction on a childcare
addition; Matt Nicol, Commissioner
15. Discuss a request for security equipment at the Jetport; Brooks Matthews, Vice
Chairman
16. Discuss tap fees, waterline on Antioch Church Road and Old Hamilton Road and
waterline on Hwy. 421 (Dunn City limits) to Red Hill Church Road; William Morris;
Chairman
17. Review applications to serve on Boards and Committees.
18. County Manager's Report — Brent Trout, County Manager
• February 19, 2024 Regular Meeting Agenda Review
• Upcoming meetings and invitations
19. Closed Session
20. Adjourn
Tim Matthews, Cooperative Extension Director and Lynn Lambert, Natural Resources Director,
presented information regarding the proposed Farmers Market. Information included feedback
received from the Harnett County Citizen Survey and the Harnett County Agricultural Producer
Survey as well as, the proposed phases for the project. Site location proposed was the parcel of
land beside Harnett Regional Water and identified in the 2014 Government Complex Park
Master Plan for the Farmers Market. Selena McKoy, Extension Agent, reviewed a request for
permission to apply for a for the Tobacco Trust Fund Grant in the amount of $1 million.
Additional discussion included multi -purpose space that could be used for meeting space.
Commissioner Nicol recommended that we put the approval of the parcel of land beside Harnett
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February 13, 2024
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Regional Water and identified in the 2014 Government Complex Park Master Plan for the
Farmers Market and give permission to apply for the Tobacco Trust Fund Grant on the Consent
Agenda. Commissioner McKoy seconded the recommendation. Consensus of the Board was to
place this item on the next consent agenda.
Barry Blevins, General Services Director, reviewed information regarding the New Animal
Shelter Site Planning for "Animal Adoption Center." Mr. Blevins reviewed the following options
and provided pros and cons for each site:
• Site 1 —1100 McKay Place
• Site 2 — Beside HRW
• Site 3 — Across 200 Alexander Drive
• Site 4 — Near RCL & Detention Center
• Option 5 — Find & Purchase Land
Consensus of the Board was to ask staff to work with the consultant to see if Site 4 — Near RCL
& Detention Center would work for the proposed Animal Adoption Center and bring back an
update.
Mr. Blevins reviewed a request for approval of a revised Public Transportation Agency Safety
Plan (PTASP) as required by Federal Transportation Administration and North Carolina
Department of Transportation / Integrated Mobility Division (NCDOT/IMD. The plan
specifically addresses transit safety through Safety Management Systems (SMS) development
and execution. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda.
Mr. Blevins reviewed a request for approval of a revised Drug & Alcohol (D&A) Policy for
HARTS as requested by NCDOT/IMD. The revised policy is consistent with new Federal
Transportation Administration (FTA) guidelines required for transit organizations receiving
federal and NCDOT /IMD funds. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next
consent agenda.
Brent Trout, County Manager, reviewed a request to accept the Edward Byrne Grant from the
Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance. The grant is for $22,060.00 with no
matching funds. The funds will be used to purchase automatic License Plate Reader cameras.
Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda.
Christine Wallace, Tax Administrator, reported unpaid taxes for fiscal year 2023-2024 is
$3,529,041.99 as of January 31, 2024 and requested approval of an order from the Board of
Commissioners to allow for the advertisement of unpaid taxes for the fiscal year 2023-2024 as
set forth in the statute. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent
agenda.
Ms. Wallace reviewed a request for the Board of Commissioners to make a decision in regards to
the late applications for Elderly/Disabled and Disabled Veteran exclusions in which the applicant
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February 13, 2024
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did not qualify for the exclusion benefit as of January 1, 2023. Consensus of the Board was to
place this as an individual action item on the next agenda.
Ms. Wallace reviewed a request asking the Board of Commissioners make a decision in regards
to the acceptance or denial of late applications for Elderly/Disabled and Disabled Veteran
exclusions. Applications are due June I' each year per NCGS 105-282.1. The list of applicants
have submitted an application after the deadline. The applicants met all other required
qualifications per General Statute as of January 1st and would have been approved for the
exclusion had the application been timely. Consensus of the Board was to approve the
acceptance of late applications for Elderly/Disabled and Disabled Veteran exclusions that met all
other required qualifications per General Statute as of January I' and place this item on the next
consent agenda.
Jay Sikes, Development Services Assistant Director/ Manager of Planning Services, reviewed
the following upcoming public hearings:
• PLAN 240-0043 text amendment to allow public services to exceed the max
percentage of sign space for an LED sign; Harnett County Unified Development
Ordinance; Article VII, Section 10.5.C.2 & 10.9.
• Public Hearing — PLAN 240-0055 text amendment to allow for Off -site Recreational
and Cultural Interest signs; Harnett County Unified Development Ordinance; Article
VII, Section 10.8 & 10.8.13.
Lynn Lambert, Natural Resources Director, reviewed a request for permission to apply for
Round 2 of Streamflow Rehabilitation Assistance Program (StRAP) funds from the NC
Department of Agriculture. Funds are intended to remove vegetative debris from streams in
order to increase waterflow during heavy rain events reducing lowland flooding. No match is
required. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda.
Commissioner McKoy asked if any of these funds would be used in Riverside area. Ms. Lambert
stated they do not feel that StRAP meets the needs of that particular area.
Vice Chairman Matthews asked that staff provide an update on the Riverside Community
Drainage Project at the next work session.
Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer, reviewed a request for approval of a Distribution Request
to draw down $949,657.64 from the Needs -Based Public School Capital Fund of the North
Carolina Education Lottery. These funds will be used to cover a prorated share of the expense
incurred for the construction of the Northwest Harnett Elementary School located at 736 Rollins
Road, Fuquay-Varina, Harnett County, North Carolina. This will be the final request for this
grant and will complete the $10,000,000 allocation to the school construction project. Consensus
of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda.
Commissioner Nicol shared information regarding a request from the Saleeby Family branch of
the YMCA of the Sandhills to consider a pledge of up to $295,000 so they can begin
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February 13, 2024
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construction on a childcare addition. He also introduced Jeff Darling, CEO, for the Saleeby
Family branch of the YMCA of the Sandhills. Mr. Darling shared information regarding
programs, the number of children served and cost estimates for the proposed addition. Consensus
of the Board was to add this as an individual action item on the next agenda.
Ira Hall, Chief Information Officer, reviewed information regarding security equipment at the
Jetport. The terminal completion timeline was discussed. Consensus of the Board was to place an
RFP out for security equipment for the Jetport.
Commissioner Weatherspoon requested to be excused from the meeting at 10:28 am. Chairman
Morris excused Commissioner Weatherspoon and asked that it be noted in the minutes.
Steve Ward provided information on system development fees. Following some discussion
regarding the rates, Chairman Morris asked that this item be added to the next agenda for further
discussion.
Chairman Morris shared on the next item, his daughter lives on that road, and stated I have no
fiduciary interest in that property. What brought this to light, Chief Blackman came to me when
Warren Cricket Farm burned and they sucked the line dry, apparently that is a dead end or
something. There is no water down Antioch Church Road to Old Hamilton, none on Old
Hamilton until you get to NC Hwy 82. There is an old landfill over there and they are still taking
water samples from various houses. Mr. Ward provided an update on how they process line
extensions when they receive a request. Mr. Ward also reviewed the estimated cost to do a line
extension for Old Hamilton Road. Consensus of the Board was to place the approval of the
extension of a waterline on Antioch Church Road to Old Hamilton Road to NC Hwy 82 on the
next consent agenda.
Waterline and sewer from Red Hill Church Road to 421 (Dunn city limits) was discussed.
The Board of Commissioners reviewed applications received for boards and committees.
Consensus of the Board was to place the reappointment of Lillie Mae Bailey to the Mid -Carolina
Aging Advisory Committee, the reappointment of Victoria Rodriquez to the Cemetery Board of
Trustees and the appointment of Steve Koontz to the Cemetery Board of Trustees on the next
consent agenda.
Commissioner McKoy stated at one point we agreed to bring back nonprofit organizations
requests. Commissioner Nicol stated I have been working with Deputy County Manager Price
and we plan to address the Board at an upcoming meeting on that issue.
Commissioner McKoy made a motion to go into Closed Session to discuss certain personnel
matters. This motion is made pursuant to NC General Statute Section 143-318.11 (a)(6). The
motion was seconded by Commissioner Nicol and carried unanimously.
Following a motion to come out of Closed Session, Chairman Morris called the meeting back
into open session.
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February 13, 2024
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Commissioner Nicol made a motion to adjourn at 11:19 am. The motion was seconded by Vice
Chairman Matthews and carried unanimously.
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William Morris, Chairman
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Melis apps, Clerk
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February 13, 2024
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