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HomeMy WebLinkAbout031125 wsHARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Minutes of Work Session March 11, 2025 The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in work session on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 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 Duncan "Eddie" Jaggers, Commissioner Staff present: Dwight Snow, County 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 Jaggers led the Pledge of Allegiance and provided the invocation. The following agenda was before the Board of Commissioners: 1. Call to order — Chairman Matt Nicol 2. Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation — Commissioner Eddie Jaggers 3. Provide an update on the Animal Shelter and Adoption Center Project and discuss a request for approval of land purchase for the project; Barry Blevins, General Services Director and Coley Price, Deputy County Manager (please note action may be taken on this item) 4. Discuss a request for approval to accept 123 Investment in Performance Management Funding in the amount of $12,190 from NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS); Ainsley Johnson, Health Director 5. Discuss a request for Department of Social Services (DSS) to use the remaining amount of Displaced American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding that was designated for the DSS upfit to purchase furniture; Paul Polinski, Social Services Director 6. Development Services briefing: • Proposed Text Amendment: Case # PLAN 2501-0002 Applicant: Harnett County Development Services; Harnett County Unified Development Ordinance; Article IV "Zoning & Overlay Districts" Section 2.0 "Zoning Map". • Proposed Text Amendment: Case # PLAN 2502-0001 Applicant: Harnett County Development Services; Harnett County Unified Development Ordinance; Article III "Development & Subdivision Review, Permitting & Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session Minutes March 11, 2025 Pagel of 5 Approval Requirements" Section 8.2.3 "Subdivision & Plat Requirements" & 8.4.1 "Review for Minor Subdivision" 7. Discuss a request for permission to apply for a $20,000 NC Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) Grant for County Veteran Offices; Eric Truesdale, Veteran Services Director 8. Discuss a request to approve the contract with Martin Starnes & Associates, CPAs, P.A. for the completion of the County's required audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025; Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer 9. Discuss a request to adopt a Resolution approving an installment financing contract and delivery thereof and providing for certain other related matters as it relates to the construction of a new middle school following the public hearing scheduled for March 17, 2025; Kimberly Honeycutt; Finance Officer 10. Discuss a request to approve the work authorization for Parrish and Partners to conduct Pre-NEPA studies for the Harnett Regional Jetport Runway 5-23 Improvement Project; Bradley Abate, Jetport Director and Brent Trout, County Manager 11. Discuss a request for approval of a Pepper Spray policy to provide guidance to eligible non -law enforcement employees of the County; Christopher Appel, Senior Staff Attorney 12. Discuss roadside litter in Harnett County; Commissioner Eddie Jaggers and Chad Beane, Solid Waste Director 13. Review applications to serve on Boards and Committees. 14. County Manager's Report — Brent Trout, County Manager • March 17, 2025 Regular Meeting Agenda Review • Upcoming meetings and invitations 15. Closed Session 16. Adjourn Coley Price, Deputy County Manager and Barry Blevins, General Services Director, provided an overview of the proposed property for the Animal Shelter and Adoption Center Project. Information included: • 10-acre parcel — Site Suitable for Adoption Center • NCDOT Preliminarily Indicates NO Issue with Permits • Board of Adjustment - No Opposition from Adjacent Landowners — Special Use Permit approved • Phase 1 - No Identifiable Contaminants / No History of Environmental Hazards • Soil Analysis - Soils Suitable for Wastewater Disposal • Property Survey — Underway / Boundary Completed Commissioner Matthews made a motion to approve the request for the purchase of land for the Animal Shelter and Adoption Center Project. The motion was seconded by Vice Chairman Morris and carried unanimously. Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session Minutes March 11, 2025 Page 2 of 5 Ainsley Johnson, Health Director, reviewed a request for the approval to accept 123 Investment in Performance Management Funding in the amount of $12,190 from NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). These were issued by North Carolina Division of Public Health to enhance and strengthen performance management, and quality improvement in local health departments. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda. Paul Polinski, Social Services Director, reviewed a request for the approval to use the remaining amount of Displaced American Relief Plan Act (ARPA) funding that was designated for the DSS upfit to purchase furniture. We would like to purchase furniture for the remaining offices in our main building. This would complete the renovation of DSS. The cost of the desks and installation are $85,145. The amount of ARPA funding remaining for the upfit is $95,736. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda. Sarah Arbour, Planner II, provided a briefing on the following upcoming public hearings: • Proposed Text Amendment: Case # PLAN 2501-0002 Applicant: Harnett County Development Services; Harnett County Unified Development Ordinance; Article IV "Zoning & Overlay Districts" Section 2.0 "Zoning Map". • Proposed Text Amendment: Case # PLAN 2502-0001 Applicant: Harnett County Development Services; Harnett County Unified Development Ordinance; Article III "Development & Subdivision Review, Permitting & Approval Requirements" Section 8.2.3 "Subdivision & Plat Requirements" & 8.4.1 "Review for Minor Subdivision" Eric Truesdale, Veteran Services Director, reviewed a request for approval to apply for a $20,000.00 NC Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) Grant for County Veterans Offices. Grant funds can be used for training and education, conferences, compensation for personnel service, office supplies and public relations. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda. Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer, reviewed a request for approval of the contract with Martin Starnes & Associates, CPAs, P.A. for the completion of the County's required audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda. Ms. Honeycutt also reviewed a request for the Board to adopt a Resolution approving an installment financing contract and delivery thereof and providing for certain other related matters as it relates to the construction of a new middle school (Flatwoods Middle School) following the public hearing scheduled for March 17, 2025. Consensus of the Board was to place this as an individual action item following the public hearing on March 17, 2025. Bradley Abate, Harnett Regional Jetport Director, reviewed a request for the approval of a work authorization for the work to conduct the necessary Pre-NEPA studies. Harnett County received a $15.6 million grant to extend the existing runway by 500 feet. The first step of the project is to conduct Pre-NEPA studies for project approvals. Parrish and Partners, our engineer of record, has prepared a scope of work to conduct the necessary Pre-NEPA studies. The work Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session Minutes March 11, 2025 Page 3 of 5 authorization for the studies is presented to the board for review and approval. The cost of the study work is $107,024.00. The cost of the study will be paid with grant funding. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda. Christopher Appel, Senior Staff Attorney, reviewed a request for the approval of a Pepper Spray policy. The purpose of the policy is to provide guidance to eligible non -law enforcement employees of the County regarding the possession and use of County -issued Pepper Spray in the course of their employment. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda. Commissioner Jaggers stated riding through Harnett County you can see there's a lot of things we need to do to stop or try to help correct the problem we have regarding roadside litter. Commissioner Jaggers stated the main roads leading to the landfill are some of the worst roads. Vice Chairman Morris shared concerns regarding tires that had been dumped on Byrds Pond Road. Chad Beane, Solid Waste Director shared some of the steps they have taken include: • Keep Harnett Beautiful (staff coordinator and volunteers) • Building strong communication and cooperation with NCDOT • Met with NCDOT officials last May to understand their responsibilities and plan of action • Increased patrolling and investigations into illegal dumping • Programs in place through Keep Harnett Beautiful such as Fall and Spring Litter Sweeps as well as Education and Outreach programs at schools, civic groups, churches, etc • Organize and assist volunteers with supplies needed for cleanups • Field any complaints from citizens of problematic areas to get those areas cleaned up • Adopt a highway program — NCDOT • SWAT a litterbug program — NCDOT Additional discussion included extending hours of operation for landfill, potentially adding an additional environmental officer, fines, asking NCDOT to add signage regarding fines for littering, additional convenience sites or more containers at convenience sites, the fee schedule and getting information out to encourage people not to litter. Mr. Beane shared the spring litter sweep will be held in April by Keep Harnett County Beautiful. The Board reviewed applications received for boards and committees. Consensus of the Board was to hold until the next work session to allow time for additional review. Brent Trout, County Manager, stated in our budget process we do have plans to add an expansion request that will allow us to extend the landfill hours so that the board can look at that; it will change staffing requirements, and we could look at the fee schedule and how changes might affect revenue. The Board of Elections is in process of conducting their move to the building on Alexander Drive. The electrical vehicle charging station at the Jetport is now open. Tonight, at Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session Minutes March 11, 2025 Page 4 of 5 the Angier Train Depot, Commissioners Matthews and Jaggers will be hosting at Town Hall meeting that starts at 6:00 pm. Budget meetings are ongoing this week. Commissioner Jaggers made a motion to go into Closed Session for the following purposes: 1. To discuss certain economic development matters; and 2. Consultation with and instructions to County staff concerning the position to be taken by the County in negotiating a proposed contract for the acquisition of real property. This motion is made pursuant to NC General Statute Section 143-318.11 (a)(4) and (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 Jaggers requested a discussion item regarding fluoride be added to next work session, April 1st Vice Chairman Morris made a motion to adjourn the Board of Commissioners at 10:19 am. Commissioner Jaggers seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. Matthew B. Nicol, Chairman Meliss Capps, Clerk Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session Minutes March 11, 2025 Page 5 of 5