HomeMy WebLinkAbout040924 wsHARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Minutes of Work Session
April 9, 2024
The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in work session on Tuesday, April 9, 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 Weatherspoon 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 Lewis Weatherspoon
3. Discuss a request to approve the fireworks application from Pyro East Coast, Inc.
for Anderson Creek POA; Larry Smith, Emergency Services Director
4. Discuss a request to approve the fireworks application from Pyro East Coast, Inc.
for the Lillington 4th of July Fireworks Shoot; Larry Smith, Emergency Services
Director
5. Discuss a request to approve Benson responding to EMS calls as First Responders;
Larry Smith, Emergency Services Director
6. Development Services briefing on upcoming public hearing:
a. Proposed Text Amendment: Case #PLAN2401-0066 Applicant: Harrington
Companies, LLC; Harnett County Unified Development Ordinance; Article V,
Section 1.2; 7.6.2 & 7.6.3. Applicant requests that Outdoor Flea Markets be
added to Article V, Section 1.2 "Table of Use Regulations."
7. Discuss a request to approve a Resolution authorizing investment of idle funds with
NC Investment Pool; Kimberly Honeycutt; Finance Officer
8. Discuss a request to approve the award of a Glock model 17 service weapon to
Major Robert Wilson upon his retirement; Major Gary McNeill
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Work Session Minutes
April 9, 2024
Page 1 of 11
9. Discuss a request to apply for and if awarded receive the NC OSBM Register of
Deeds Preservation Grant; Matthew Willis, Register of Deeds
10. Discuss the Request for Proposals (RFP) for Jetport Security; Ira Hall, Chief
Information Officer
11. Discuss county owned property on Ponderosa Road; Chad Beane, Solid Waste
Director
12. County Manager's Report — Brent Trout, County Manager
a. April 15, 2024 Regular Meeting Agenda Review
b. Upcoming meetings and invitations
13. Closed Session
14. Recess and reconvene in Training Room 103 B/C
15. Growth Management Workshop; Chairman William Morris
16. Adjourn
Larry Smith, Emergency Services Director, presented a request regarding the approval of the
fireworks application from Pyro East Coast, Inc. for Anderson Creek POA. East Coast
Pyrotechnics meets all requirements and has met fire code compliance for the event. The event
will take place on 6/29 at 9 pm at Anderson Creek Club. Consensus of the Board was to place
this item on the next consent agenda.
Mr. Smith also presented a request for the approval of the fireworks application from Pyro East
Coast, Inc. for the Lillington 4th of July Fireworks Shoot. East Coast Pyrotechnics meets all
requirements and has met fire code compliance for the event. The event will take place on 7/4 at
9:15 p.m. at Lillington Park. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent
agenda.
Mr. Smith also presented a request on behalf of Benson Fire Department, requesting approval of
Benson responding to EMS calls as First Responders. These responses will be within the area
within Harnett County that we contract Fire Response with Benson. This requires no additional
funding from the County. In July they will begin EMT level response within the county.
Consensus of the Board was to place this item as an individual action item at the next meeting.
Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer, reviewed a request to approve a Resolution authorizing
investment of idle funds with NC Investment Pool. 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 Investment Pool "NCIP", 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 NCIP as an investment tool will not violate any statutes that restrict the investments that
we are allowed to utilize, as NCIP only invests in those types of instruments with the proper
credit ratings as authorized by the NC General Statutes. Discussion included access to the funds
if needed and the interest rate. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent
agenda.
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Work Session Minutes
April 9, 2024
Page 2 of 11
Sarah Arbour, Planner II, reviewed a Proposed Text Amendment: Case #PLAN2401-0066
Applicant: Harrington Companies, LLC; Harnett County Unified Development Ordinance;
Article V, Section 1.2; 7.6.2 & 7.6.3. Applicant requests that Outdoor Flea Markets be added to
Article V, Section 1.2 "Table of Use Regulations." A public hearing is scheduled for the April
15, 2024 board meeting.
Brent Trout, County Manager, reviewed a request to award a service weapon to Major Robert
Wilson upon his retirement. Sheriff Wayne Coats requested to award a Glock model 17, serial
number BGYD505 service weapon to Major Robert Wilson upon his retirement. Consensus of
the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda.
Matthew Willis, Register of Deeds reviewed a request to apply for and if awarded receive the
OSBM Register of Deeds Preservation Grant to be used for restoration and preservation of
records. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda.
Ira Hall, Chief Information Officer, reviewed a request to award an RFP for Jetport Security.
Proposals were received from Kognition, Securitas Technology and Vector Security. Mr. Hall
reviewed the selection criteria used for the RFP assessment. He also provided the following list
of pros and cons for each vendor:
VENDOR
PROS
CONS
• Lower overall costs
• Chemical detection system proposed did not have full range of
Kognition
• Chose option 1 that allowed us to use our current hardware
capabilities in one sensor
and software
. Included HALO smart sensor that detects multiple chemical and
• Highest overall cost
Securkas
issues
• Replaces camera system hardware and software
Technology
• Chose option2 to replace part of our hardware and software
Vector Security.
• Current Harnett County Vendor
• Chose option 3 to replace both door access and camera system
Did not include chemical sensors in the response
Discussion also included the quality of cameras and software. Staff is recommending Kognition.
Commissioner Weatherspoon requested the item be placed as an individual action item.
Consensus of the Board was to place this item as an individual action item on the next agenda.
Chad Beane, Solid Waste Director, provided historical information on the Ponderosa Road
convenience site and park location. Commissioner Nicol stated the reason we are discussing this
is the County received an offer to purchase the property across the street, it is a long, skinny strip
across the street. Concerns regarding the park's location next to the convenience center had been
shared. I've talked with staff about possibly putting in some screening and addressing the
ingress and egress to the convenience center. Commissioner Nicol recommended going ahead
and having this property advertised for the upset bid process and use the funds of the property
sale to go towards addressing the entrance for the park and possibly another ingress/egress for
the convenient center. Following some discussion regarding the use of the park, consensus of the
Board was to place this item as an individual action item at the next meeting.
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Work Session Minutes
April 9, 2024
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Mr. Trout stated last week I went to the North Carolina Airport Association Conference. I made
a lot of good contacts, there are some new vendors that are coming along that provided some
services that I think will enhance our Jetport, so I look forward to discussing those items with
Greg and the Jetport Board. We received some good updates from the Department of Aviation.
He also provided a reminder that the Lillington Rotary Club will be having their Annual
Cornelius Harnett Gala here in the Resource Center Library, Saturday. Tickets are still available.
Commissioner Weatherspoon made a motion to go into Closed Session to consult with the
county legal staff in order to preserve the attorney -client privilege concerning the handling of
certain litigation including the following listed case: "Grey Wolf Homes, LLC vs County of
Harnett." Harnett County Superior Court File No. 23CVS004055-420. This motion is made
pursuant to NC General Statute Section 143-318.11 (a)(3). 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 and recessed to reconvene downstairs in Training Room 103 B/C for the
Growth Management Workshop.
Chairman Morris reconvened the meeting at 10:26 am. Those present included the following:
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
Coley Price, Deputy County Manager
Mike Morrow, Assistant County Manager
Mark Locklear, Development Services Director
Jay Sikes, Assistant Director of Development Services/
Manager of Planning Services (arrived at 11:10 am)
Sarah Arbour, Planner II
Brad Sutton, Manager of Building Services
Christine Wallace, Tax Administrator
Sara Tyree, Assistant Tax Administrator
Seth Purvis, GIS Analyst
Dr. Aaron Fleming, Harnett County Schools Superintendent
Lynn Lambert, Natural Resources Director/Conservation Education
Coordinator
Tim Mathews, County Extension Director
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Work Session Minutes
April 9, 2024
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Allen Coats, Deputy Finance Officer
Stephen Barrington, Economic Development Director
Ira Hall, Chief Information Officer
Ben Pollock, Computer Support Technician
Larry Smith, Emergency Services Director
Christopher Appel, Senior Staff Attorney
Steve Ward, Harnett Regional Water Director
Lisa McFadden, Budget Director
Other: Jake Petrosky, Stewart Inc.
Mark Locklear, Development Services Director, shared information regarding the following
items:
• Harnett County Populations and Projects 1990-2038
• NC Population Change by County: 2010 — 2019
• New Lots FY 2020-2024
o Preliminary Finance and Minor Subdivision Lots
• Planned Unit Developments Available Lots — 6,082 available lots
• Total Estimate Available Lots County -wide (22,632)
o City of Dunn ----
o Town of Erwin 409
o Town of Coats 681
o Town of Angier 2,220
o Town of Lillington 9,928
o Unincorporated Harnett County 9,394
• Certificates of Occupancy Issued FY 2020-2024
• Map of Residential Permit Intensity — 2019-2024
• Future Land Use Map
Christine Wallace, Tax Administrator, shared information regarding the following items:
• Historical Parcel Count
o
1998
45,000
o
2002
53,855
o
2010
61,938
o
2020
67,299
o
2021
68,033
o
2022
69,391
o
2023
71,561
o
2024
73,865
o
2025
74,076 As of 2-16-2024
• Present Use Value in Harnett County
o
Parcels in PUV
— 5,522
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Work Session Minutes
April 9, 2024
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o Agriculture Acres — 42,299
o Forestry Acres — 93,588
o Horticulture Acres — 393
o Wasteland/Wetland—10,174
o Total—146,455
• Parcels enrolled in Exemption/Exclusions
o 5,284 — this number has seen steady increases with the number of new residents
each year.
Seth Purvis, GIS Analyst, reviewed a map of cost of services for 2023.
Coley Price, Deputy County Manager, suggested bringing in the municipalities at a workshop to
hear their growth plan or strategic plan.
Lynn Lambert, Natural Resources Director/Conservation Education Coordinator, shared
information on the following:
• Agricultural Economic Impact
o Agricultural Receipts: $251,473,000
36% Crops and 64% Livestock
Up 23% from 2017
Top 20% of all U.S. Counties
Down 135 U.S. Counties Since 2017
o Forestry Economic Impact: $52,000,000
#15 in NC for production of timber products
Number of Farms: 563 (Operations)
o Down 12% from 2017
0 95% are Family Owned
0 5,407 Tract Owner (Includes Managed Forestland)
■ Down 22 from 2020
0 58 Average Age of Harnett Farmers
o — 20% With Military Service
o —30% New & Beginning Farmers
• Noteworthy Agricultural Production Statistics
o Tobacco - #6 Highest Producing County in U.S.
o Cotton/Cottonseed — Top 50% of U.S. Counties
o Sweet PotatoesNegetables/Melons
■ Up 26 Counties from 2017 —Top 10% of U.S. Counties
o Nursery/Greenhouse/Floriculture/Sod
Up 65 Counties from 2017 — Top 15% of U.S. Counties
o Poultry — Top 7% of US. Counties
■ Down 49 Counties from 2017
o Hogs/Pigs — Top 10% of U.S. Counties
Hamett County Board of Commissioners
Work Session Minutes
April 9, 2024
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Voluntary Ag District (VAD) Enrollment Summary
o Total Acres Enrolled: 26,239
o Parcels Enrolled: 692
Ms. Lambert highlighted the following as to why we should have Ag friendly planning:
• Ag is major economic contributor to the Harnett economy
• NC ranks 2nd in the Nation for potential agricultural land lost by 2040.
• 4 NC Counties rank in the top 40 nationwide for ag land conversion by 2040: Johnston,
Union, Wake, Iredell
• Agriculture and the scenic atmosphere it provides is a major draw for County residents
(lifelong and new)
• Agricultural lands serve to buffer and maintain the water quality within the Cape Fear
River and its associated tributaries, therefore supporting the wellbeing of the Harnett
Regional Water public utility
• Productive agricultural lands are a matter of national security ensuring the ability to feed
a growing population in times of distress/conflict both at home or abroad
Ms. Lambert also shared the following as to what we can do to support Ag friendly planning:
• Support the Present Use Value Tax Program as currently applied
• Plan for agricultural buffers in Development Services site plans- set distance from farm
property line with vegetated berms, not at the expense of farmland owner
o Allows for farmers/forestland owners to continue required management practices
for successful production — herbicide, insecticide and fertilizer application, serves
as dust and odor barrier, prescribed burns for forest management
o Current development site plans have ignored the initial setback that poultry and
swine operations were required to follow when they were constructed (established
in 1993 and updated in 2001 by Harnett County) and therefore void the initial
designed buffer area that farmers were required to follow
• Promote and Support Farmland Preservation Programming
o Voluntary Agriculture District (VAD) & Enhanced VAD Programs— Promote
Ag, Recognizes Farmers, Creates Agricultural Awareness, Reduces Land
Conversion Threat
o Place Voluntary Ag District written notice in visible location on documents from
Development Services for projects adjacent to VAD enrolled property or within 1
mile buffer
o Development project adjacent to VAD enrolled property — Organize meeting with
VAD landowners to review project including stormwater plan. Include VAD
County staff representative.
o Identify agricultural development zones in land use plan
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Work Session Minutes
April 9, 2024
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o Fund voluntary farmland conservation easements — Provide match funds for NC
ADFP Agricultural Conservation Easements
■ This funding comes from rollback taxes in several other NC Counties and
allows applications for agricultural conservation easements to be more
competitive during grant funding consideration and creates a more
efficient process for citizens and managing staff
• This program enables landowners to have options if they so choose
to maintain land for agricultural purposes while providing a
financial incentive to offset some of what may be received from
the sale of property for development (landowner retains ownership
and remains responsible for all taxes and all other responsibilities
associated with land ownership)
Provide County staffing to support programs needed to support agriculture and natural
resources programming
o Future Soil and Water Conservation staffing needs: Conservation Education
Specialist, Watershed Conservationist (residential natural resources concerns and
cost share programs), Farmland Preservation Specialist
Encourage strengthening of local foods system — Promote and financially support a
farmers market program managed by our Harnett agriculture agencies
o This provides:
■ A recognizable and consistent location for citizens to purchase local
agricultural products
■ A known venue for citizens to connect with local farmers to educate
themselves about their food choices (increases consumer knowledge and
understanding of the farming communities within our County)
■ A platform for large and small scale farmers to market their products —
Keeps money more local
■ An opportunity for local farmers to participate in organized programs to
give back to their community and those in need
■ A known location for agricultural education and other special events
Additional discussion included the value of land, staffing, land use plan and conservation
districts.
Steve Ward, Harnett Regional Water provided the following information:
Current Harnett Regional Water (HRW)Cpital Projects:
• Replacing all 45,000 meters in inventory with advanced metering infrastructure. Project
now complete with cost of $15 million.
• Connect Northwest Harnett Elementary school in County to sewer at cost of $1.5 million.
Estimated completion later this year.
• Upgrade NHWWTP in Lillington from 7.5 MGD to 16.5 MGD at a cost of $111 million.
Most expensive construction project in County history.
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Work Session Minutes
April 9, 2024
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HRW Planned Projects in Next Few Years
• Buies Creek/Coats PS & FM Upgrade at a cost of approximately $8 million.
• Wake County Distribution Upgrade. Estimated cost of $22 million.
• Northeast Harnett Regional Water Treatment Plant construction. Estimated cost of $70
million.
• Southwest Hwy 87 PS & FM Upgrade at a cost of $8.5
• HRWTP PFAS Removal Treatment Upgrade -current pilot study being done to estimate
cost of project
Summary
• HRW is one of the largest County water/wastewater utilities in NC and has planned for
this growth. Water and wastewater master plans go out to year 2040.
• HRW is regional in focus as we provide both water & wastewater treatment/supply to
surrounding towns, counties and federal installations.
• HRW will continue to expand our services to meet the needs of our citizens and our
region in adherence with the Harnett Co Board of Commissioners directives.
Additional discussion included water quality, water treatment and wastewater treatment
capacities, capital reserve funds and fire flow regulations.
Stephen Barrington, Economic Development Director, presented the following information:
Immediate Impact Industrial Sites
• Ensure all existing industrial property that is owned by the County for the purpose of
industrial development is market -ready.
• Defining "Market -Ready"
o Environmental Due Diligence is completed/updated
o Clear, grub, and grade
Future Industrial Sites
• 2,500 + acres
o Hwy 87
354
o Lillington
— 427
o Jetport
— 695
o I-95/Longbranch Rd.
— 650
o I-95/Other
350+
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Work Session Minutes
April 9, 2024
Page 9 of 11
Commercial Development
• Brightwater Dr.
o Acquire land to extend to Hwy 210
Autumn Fern Trail
o Environmental Due Diligence is completed/updated
o Clear, grub, and grade
Larger Class A Industrial Buildings
• Class A Industrial Buildings 800,000 SF
o 120,000 SF—160,000 SF
• Distribution & Logistics 1.3M+ SF
o IM+ SF
o 300,000+ SF
Smaller Industrial Buildings
• Opportunity for smaller -to -mid -size light industrial buildings of 10,000 SF — 35,000 SF
across the county and in every municipality
Wastewater Need
• Wastewater — northern area of I-95
o Expansion project
o Two new property opportunities
Product Development Summary
Investments in product development activities will be recouped to the County via new
and expanding companies.
The goal of our product development activities correlates with the County Board of
Commissioners' mission to grow smart, increase the tax base, and grow good quality
jobs.
Dr. Aaron Fleming, Harnett County Schools Superintendent, thanked the Commissioners for
moving forward with Flatwoods Middle Schools and we are appreciative of your past support.
Dr. Fleming provided an update on the number of students enrolled in Harnett County Schools,
current status of facilities, draft facilities needs list for 2024-22025 and out -of -capacity table.
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Work Session Minutes
April 9, 2024
Page 10 of 11
Chairman Morris stated you have heard a lot of information, a lot of data, you can see where our
concerns are. Coley and Mark are right, if we are going to make adjustments, putting it in this
land use plan, is the time to do it. Chairman Morris stated what we would like for you to do is go
back and find us some ideas, some solutions, and bring it to the board. We do need some smart
growth, we need some good guidance for agriculture and we need to create an environment to
make it easier for Stephen to recruit industry.
Commissioner McKoy stated we are in need of affordable housing.
Brent Trout, County Manager, thanked Coley and all the staff, this is one of those things that is
our responsibility to advise the board so that they can have the information that is necessary and
you all have done a great job of drawing eyes and ears to issues and concerns
Commissioner Nicol made a motion to adjourn at 12:29 pm. The motion was seconded by Vice
Chairman Matthews and carried unanimously.
"IlAam -
William Morris, Chairman
Melissa Capps, Clerk
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Work Session Minutes
April 9, 2024
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