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Home My WebLink About101524 wsHARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Minutes of Work Session October 15, 2024 The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in work session on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at 9:00 am, in the Commissioners Meeting Room, Harnett County Resource Center and Library, 455 McKinney Parkway, Lillington, North Carolina. Members present: W. Brooks Matthews, Vice Chairman Barbara McKoy, Commissioner Lewis W. Weatherspoon, Commissioner Matthew B. Nicol, Commissioner Member absent: William Morris, Chairman Staff present: Dwight Snow, County Attorney Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer Brent Trout, County Manager Melissa Capps, Clerk Vice Chairman Matthews called the Harnett County Board of Commissioners meeting to order at 9:00 am. Commissioner McKoy led the Pledge of Allegiance and provided the invocation. Vice Chairman Matthews recognized Commissioner McKoy who was recently awarded the prestigious President's Lifetime Achievement Award for her dedication and service she has given to our citizens in Harnett County but also the citizens of North Carolina and our nation. There was a celebration for Commissioner McKoy for which she was honored along with some other recipients, and we just wanted to congratulate you Commissioner McKoy and recognize you this morning. Commissioner McKoy thanked everyone and said it was all done with love. 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. Farm City Week and Cooperative Extension Update; Tim Mathews, County Extension Director 4. Operation Green Light for Veterans; Eric Truesdale, Veterans Services Director 5. Discuss the North Carolina Department of Transportation/Public Transportation Division (NCDOT/PTD) FY2025 Community Transportation Rural Formula Grant Program 5311 Administrative Agreement; Barry Blevins, General Services Director 6. Development Services briefing on the upcoming public hearing: • Proposed Zoning Change: Case # PLAN2408-0003 Landowner / Applicant: Linda Martinson Natole; 1.0 +/- acres; Pin # 0534-78-9229.000; From RA-20R to Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session Minutes October 15, 2024 Page 1 of 4 Commercial Zoning District; Anderson Creek Township; Intersection SR # 2045 (Elliott Bridge Road) & SR # 2048 (Bethel Baptist Road). 7. Discuss a request to accept the bid for 87 Stonewood Lane; Christopher Appel, Senior Staff Attorney 8. Discuss proposed updates to the Personnel Ordinance, Article VII. Employee Benefits, regarding Medicare Reimbursement; Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer 9. Review applications to serve on Boards and Committees. 10. County Manager's Report — Brent Trout, County Manager • October 21, 2024 Regular Meeting Agenda Review • Upcoming meetings and invitations 11. Closed Session 12. Recess and Reconvene 13. Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) Presentation and Discussion 14. Adjourn Tim Mathews, County Extension Director shared Harnett County Cooperative Extension will host Ag Day on Saturday, November 16, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. to kick off Farm City Week. Farm City Week has been celebrated for over 25 years and aims to celebrate the importance of agriculture to the economy, quality of life, and foodways. This year's celebration will take place from November 16-21. Ag Day will offer a farmers' market with produce and meat, a concert, baking competitions, kid -friendly activities and more. Farm City Week will also include a Farm - Fresh breakfast on Wednesday, November 20, from 7:30 — 9:30 a.m. in the Resource Center and Library. Farm City Week will conclude with a Farm -City Banquet on Thursday, November 21, at 6:30 p.m. to recognize the farming community with awards and scholarships. The banquet will take place at Lin Shire by the Pond, 4239 Cokesbury Rd, Fuquay-Varina. Dean Garey Fox from NC State University will be the keynote speaker. Mr. Mathews recognized Selena McKoy, Extension Agent. Ms. McKoy shared we have been awarded $800,000 for a farmers market. The next time you will be hearing from us will be when we receive the contract and ask for permission to receive the grant. Mr. Mathews thanked Selena for a great job on the grant. Eric Truesdale, Veterans Services Director, reviewed a request for the Board to consider adopting a Resolution Supporting Operation Greenlight from November 4, 2024 to November 11, 2024. We will light the Resource Center and Library and Courthouse with greenlights to recognize the importance of honoring all those who made immeasurable sacrifices to preserve freedom. We encourage our citizens to do the same. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the consent agenda. Barry Blevins, General Services Director, request the Board of Commissioners consider and approve the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) FY2025 5311 Administrative grant agreement in the amount of $400,312; total County match is $60,048. This Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session Minutes October 15, 2024 Page 2 of 4 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 September 18, 2023. Approved Fiscal Year 2025 budget contains the County match. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the consent agenda. Sarah Arbour, Planner II, provided a briefing on the following upcoming public hearing: • Proposed Zoning Change Case # PLAN2408-0003 Landowner / Applicant: Linda Martinson Natole; 1.0 +/- acres; Pin # 0534-78-9229.000; From RA-20R to Commercial Zoning District; Anderson Creek Township; Intersection SR # 2045 (Elliott Bridge Road) & SR # 2048 (Bethel Baptist Road). Christopher Appel, Senior Staff Attorney, reviewed a request for the Board to accept the bid for 87 Stonewood Lane, Sanford in the amount of $18,000 plus the cost of publication fees and survey for the real property. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the consent agenda. Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer, reviewed a request approve the updates to the Personnel Ordinance, Article VII. Employee Benefits, regarding Medicare Reimbursement. Effective January 1, 2025, revise the Medicare Supplement benefit from a reimbursement to a stipend. Employees who retire from Harnett County are provided, on a pro -rated basis for years of service, hospitalization coverage. Once a retiree becomes Medicare eligible, the County provides a Medicare supplement reimbursement, subject to certain requirements, based upon the same pro -rated basis. The standard amount of the supplement is determined by the Harnett County Board of Commissioners and is included in the annual budget ordinance. Due to the growing post -employment benefit liability, the County adjusted the service eligibility requirements effective July 1, 2015. Since that time, I have continued to monitor the impact of this change on the growing liability, as well as the efficiency of the current administrative procedures. Due to the growing number of retirees, as well as other issues mentioned later in this discussion, I would like to request that the Harnett County Board of Commissioners change the Medicare Supplement from a reimbursement to a stipend. If approved, effective January 1, 2025, revise the Medicare Supplement benefit from a reimbursement to a stipend with the following restrictions: • Retirees will receive a stipend equivalent to their retirement benefit, on or about the 1 Oth of each month. • Retirees must, during open enrollment each year, verify contact information, as well as payee information, or the benefit will discontinue at fiscal year-end. If a retired employee fails to update such information, and the supplement is stopped, the retiree shall not be eligible for the supplement until the next open enrollment period. Requiring annual contact with the appropriate County staff will ensure that payments are not misdirected. • This change may impact current participants. Current retirees must elect to continue with a reimbursement or switch to a stipend; once an eligible retiree selects the "stipend method" they will not be allowed to switch back to a reimbursement. Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session Minutes October 15, 2024 Page 3 of 4 Following some discussion, the consensus of the board was to place this item on the next agenda. The Board of Commissioners reviewed the application of Walter Massey for the reappointment to the Board of Adjustment as District 1 representative. The consensus of the Board was to place the reappointment of Mr. Massey on the next consent agenda. Brent Trout shared the Jetport Jamboree has been rescheduled to November 16th from 10:00 am — 2:00 pm. Commissioner Weatherspoon made a motion to go into Closed Session for the following purpose: to consult with the County's legal counsel in order to preserve the attorney -client privilege concerning the handling of certain claims including the workers compensation cases of Adam Isbell IC File No 24-019805, and IC File No. 24-769400. This motion is made pursuant to NC General Statute Section 143-318.11 (a)(4). The motion was seconded by Commissioner Nicol and carried unanimously. Following a motion to come out of Closed Session, Vice Chairman Matthews called the meeting back into open session. Jay Sikes, Development Services Assistant Director/ Manager of Planning Services, introduced Shelby Powell, Deputy Director of North Carolina Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO). Ms. Powell provided information regarding CAMPO and regional transportation planning services. Current studies include the North Harnett Transit Study where we are looking for some options for providing public transportation internal to Harnett County as well as counting you all to some of the services that are being provided in Wake County. Additional discussion included: • SPOT 7 Division Needs • NCDOT Funding • CAMPO boundaries, boundary update frequency and future potential expansions Commissioner Weatherspoon recognized Richie Hines, District Engineer with NCDOT. Mr. Hines introduced Rob Stone, Deputy Division Engineer, Lee Jernigan, Division Engineer, and Phillip Hart, Division Planning Engineer. Vice Chairman Matthews thanked CAMPO for an update and for visiting us this morning. I am excited that our 421 Corridor has been included in CAMPO. We have really sought to bring our Jetport to the point we believe it can be and ne the economic driver for our County. We welcome the relationship and the opportunity to work with y'all to meet the needs we see there. Commissioner Nicol made a motion to adjourn the Board of Commissioners at 10:07 am. Commissio er W thers oon s nded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. V. rooks Matthews, Vice -Chairman Melis �apps,Clerk Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session Minutes October 15, 2024 Page 4 of 4