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Home My WebLink About061025 wsHARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Minutes of Work Session June 10, 2025 The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in work session on Tuesday, June 10, 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 Members absent: 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. Vice Chairman Morris led the Pledge of Allegiance and provided the invocation. Chairman Nicol called for any additions or deletions to the published agenda. Mr. Trout stated with a couple of the members out, we would like to reschedule the North Harnett Wastewater Treatment Plant Tour. Vice Chairman Morris made a motion to approve the agenda. The motion was seconded by Commissioner McKoy and carried unanimously. The following agenda was before the Board of Commissioners: 1. Call to order — Chairman Nicol 2. Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation — Commissioner Brooks Matthews 3. Consider any additions and/or deletions to the published agenda. 4. Discuss a request for the approval of the fireworks application from Pyro East Coast, Inc. for the Lillington July 4th fireworks display; Larry Smith, Emergency Services Director 5. Discuss a request for the approval of the fireworks application from Pyro East Coast, Inc. for the Anderson Creek July 4th fireworks display; Larry Smith, Emergency Services Director 6. Discuss a request for approval to pursue a county -wide EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant of $500,000 in partnership with Terracon; Stephen Barrington, Economic Development Director 7. Discuss a request to approve the Harnett County Sheriffs Office Detention Center's Health Plan; Gary McNeill, Major Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session Minutes June 10, 2025 Page 1 of 5 8. Discuss a request to approve NCDOTAMD Certifications and Assurances for FY2026 funding applications to complete the FY2026 Community Transportation Program (CTP) Grant applications; Barry Blevins, General Services Director 9. Discuss a request to approve a vehicle disposition to assign title of transit vehicle #7593 to NCDOT/IMD in order to maintain HARTS' grant eligible inventory; Barry Blevins, General Services Director 10. Development Services briefing on an upcoming public hearing: • Proposed Zoning Change: Case #PLAN2505-0001 Landowner / Applicant: Blissful Properties & Realty, LLC / Morningstar Law Group C/O Hunter Winstead; 1.96 +/- acres; Pin # 0655-41-5460.000; From RA-40 to Commercial Zoning District; Hector's Creek Township; Intersection of SR # 1414 (Piney Grove Rawls Road) & US 401 N. 11. Discuss a request to approve Harnett Regional Water Write-offs as of December, 2024; Tommy Burns, Harnett Regional Water Director 12. Discuss a request to approve a land purchase agreement and related budget amendment to acquire 42+- acres of property located adjacent to the current property owned by Harnett Regional Water in Erwin; Tommy Burns, Harnett Regional Water Director 13. Discuss a request to approve a land purchase agreement and related budget amendment to acquire 9.12 acres of property located adjacent to the Anderson Creek Landfill and Termination of Easement from Poplar Drive to the Anderson Creek Landfill; Christopher Appel, Senior Staff Attorney 14. Discuss America's 250 NC Grant; Brent Trout, County Manager 15. Discuss FY 2025-2026 Recommended Budget; Brent Trout, County Manager and Lisa McFadden, Assistant County Manager 16. County Manager's Report — Brent Trout, County Manager • June 16, 2025 Regular Meeting Agenda Review • Upcoming meetings and invitations 17. Closed Session 14 North II.,..nett Wastewater Treatment Plant Tom..... 19. Adjourn Larry Smith, Emergency Services Director reviewed a request for the approval of the fireworks application from Pyro East Coast, Inc. for the Lillington July 4th fireworks display. East Coast Pyrotechnics meets all requirements have along with fire code compliance for the event. The events will take place on July 4th showtime will be 9:15 p.m. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda. Mr. Smith also reviewed a request for the approval of the fireworks application from Pyro East Coast, Inc. for Anderson Creek Club fireworks display. East Coast Pyrotechnics meets all requirements along with fire code compliance for the event. The events will take place on July 4th showtime will be 9:15 p.m. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda. Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session Minutes June 10, 2025 Page 2 of 5 Stephen Barrington, Economic Development Director reviewed a request for the approval to pursue a county -wide EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant of $500,000 in partnership with Terracon, who will write the grant application at no costs to the County, and work with our team per implementation and grant administrative activities should the County be awarded a grant. Assessment Grants provide funding for a grant recipient to inventory, characterize, assess, conduct a range of planning activities, develop site -specific cleanup plans, and conduct community engagement related to Brownfield sites. Community -wide Assessment Grants • A Community -wide Assessment Grant is appropriate for communities that are beginning to address their brownfield challenges, as well as for communities that have ongoing efforts to bring sites into productive reuse. • An applicant may request up to $500,000 to assess sites contaminated by hazardous substances, pollutants, contaminants (including hazardous substances co -mingled with petroleum), and/or petroleum. • The performance period for these grants is up to four years. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda. Major Gary McNeill reviewed a request for the approval of the Harnett County Sheriffs Office Detention Center's Health Plan. The Health Plan has been reviewed and approved by Harnett County Health Department, Southern Health Partners, and Sheriff Coats. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda. Barry Blevins, General Services Director, reviewed a request to approve NCDOT/IMD Certifications and Assurances for FY2026 funding applications to complete the FY2026 Community Transportation Program (CTP) Grant applications. Certifications and Assurances are required to process, approve and disburse 5311, 5339 funding for FY2026. The Board of Commissioners approved the application for grant funding on September 16, 2024 for the amount of $688,470 with local match of $88,865. The 5311, 5339 funding and match for FY2026 was included in the HARTS FY26 budget request. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda. Mr. Blevins also reviewed a request for the approval of a vehicle disposition to assign title of transit vehicle #7593 to NCDOT/IMD in order to maintain HARTS' grant eligible inventory. 2018 Lift -Equipped Transit Vehicle VIN# 1FTBW3XN XJK37788 is considered a total loss as a result of an accident during pandemic. Received insurance payout of $25,350; no replacement vehicle available -new or used, due to manufacturer slow down & transit systems maintaining their current inventory. Kept insurance monies in MUNIS account while determining disposition. NCDOT-IMD policy states in event of a Casualty Loss, if vehicle has not met useful life (100,000 miles) and if insurance proceeds are submitted to the state, then it is considered to be a "Voluntary Reduction in Fleet" and NO grant funding would be allowed to replace that vehicle in the future. Purposed to IMD moving county -owned lift vehicle, 2017 Transit VIN # 1FTBW3XM5HKA84656, current mileage 315,000 to IMD's HARTS assigned grant eligible Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session Minutes June 10, 2025 Page 3 of 5 inventory; requires sending title to IMD until vehicle is grant -funded replaced and title released back to the County. Once final acceptance is confirmed, replacement vehicle becomes eligible to request replacement on FY2027 Capital application due October 2025. Benefit: Keep original $25,350 for HARTS match funds; replace 2017 with new lift -equipped vehicle with 10% match. Maintain current grant eligible inventory at current levels. Consensus of the Board was to place this item as an individual action item to allow time for legal to review. Sarah Arbour, Planner II, provided a briefing on the following upcoming public hearing: Proposed Zoning Change: Case #PLAN2505-0001 Landowner / Applicant: Blissful Properties & Realty, LLC / Morningstar Law Group C/O Hunter Winstead; 1.96 +/- acres; Pin # 0655-41-5460.000; From RA40 to Commercial Zoning District; Hector's Creek Township; Intersection of SR # 1414 (Piney Grove Rawls Road) & US 401 N. Tommy Burns, Harnett Regional Water Director reviewed a request for approval of write-offs as of December 2024 in the amount of $39,916.23. The facilitation of these write-offs is an important step in continuing the effort to effectively manage HRW s collections and bad debt. HRW is currently using the Local Government Debt Setoff Program and On -Line Collections, Inc. to help collect our delinquent accounts. To date, we have recovered $933,857.17 in bad debt previously written off through the Debt Setoff Program. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda. Mr. Burns also reviewed a request for the approval of the purchase of real property from Zachary and Arielle Angle and the related budget amendment from HRW cash reserves to finalize this land acquisition prior to June 30, 2025. 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 land purchase agreement and related budget amendment to acquire 9.12 acres of property located adjacent to the Anderson Creek Landfill and Termination of Easement from Poplar Drive to the Anderson Creek Landfill. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda. Brent Trout, County Manager shared information regarding the America's 250 NC Grant. He asked if anyone was interested in serving on the committee to please email him at btroutAhamett.org. Lisa McFadden, Assistant County Manager, reviewed information regarding changes to the recommended 2025-26 Fiscal Year Budget. (Attachment 1) Consensus of the Board was to add the recommended changes to the recommended 2025-26 Fiscal Year Budget as detailed on pages 3, 4 and 5 of Attachment 1. Discussion items included: • A request was received Johnston -Lee -Harnett Community Action Group in the amount of $25,000450,000 in unrestricted support to provide support for job training, childcare assistance, back -to -school programs, emergency utility and rent support, and much more. Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session Minutes June 10, 2025 Page 4 of 5 • New Harnett Water Recommended Fees o Water Quality Lab Fee — Fecal Coliform - $30 • New Harnett Regional Jetport Recommended Fees (included in attachment 1) Commissioner McKoy requested the Nonprofit Committee Bylaws be added to an upcoming Work Session. Additional discussion included EMS funding. Consensus of the Board was add the Water Quality Lab Fee — Fecal Coliform - $30 and the Harnett Regional Jetport Recommended Fees to the recommended 2025-26 Fiscal Year Budget. Mr. Trout shared information regarding a beam signing at the renovated Magnolia School building, stop by today if you are interested in signing. He also shared staff will be attending Advocacy Day in Raleigh today. Commissioner McKoy made a motion to go into Closed Session to discuss a certain economic development matter and consultation with the County staff concerning the possible acquisition of real property by the County. 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. Vice Chairman Morris made a motion to adjourn the Board of Commissioners at 10:15 am. Commissioner McKoy seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. Matthew B. Nicol, Chairman Melissa Capps, Clerk Harnett County Board of Commissioners Work Session Minutes June 10,• 2025 Page 5 of 5 46, Mir. FY 2025-2026 ' n� Recommended Budget Budget Work Session June 10, 2025 _ E�i Budget Work Session Follow-up Items Harnett County School Adjustments • Funds in Contingency pending low -wealth funding Current Expense Continuation Expansion Total Contingency Total FY 2026 - Budgeted Amount 34, 304, 606.00 5, 690, 687.00 $ 39,995,293.00 5, 721, 341.00 45,716,634.00 Changes to the Recommended Budget General Fund: Revenues • Increased Appropriated Fund Balance to balance the budget [+$11,976,208] • Increased Aging Department continuation budget to account for a Mid -Carolina grant [+$42,345] • Increased Department of Social Services -Administration division expansion budget to account for 50% reimbursement for Social Worker III position [+$29,847] Expenses • Increased Harnett County Schools continuation budget [+$3,500,000] • Increased Harnett County Schools expansion budget [+$2,690,687] • Increased Contingency expansion budget to account for pending low -wealth funding [+$5,721,341 ] Changes to the Recommended Budget • Increased Aging Department continuation budget to account for a Mid -Carolina grant expense line [+$42,345] • Increased Department of Social Services -Administration division expansion budget to account for operating expenses of Social Worker III position [+$2,999] • Increased Department of Social Services -Adult Service division expansion budget to account for new Social Worker III position [+$56,695] • Increased Mental Health to correct allocation to Alliance Health [+$4,328] Enterprise Fund: Expenses • Increased Harnett Regional Water continuation budget to repair equipment [+$60,000] • Decreased Harnett Regional Water continuation budget for Capital Outlay— Improvements [-$60,000] IChanges to the Recommended Budget Capital Reserve Fund: Revenues Increased Appropriated Fund Balance (General Capital Reserve) to balance the budget [+$200,000] • Increased Appropriated Fund Balance (Sheriff Capital Reserve) to balance the budget [+$281,340] Expenses • Increased Facilities- Projects expansion budget for GIS/IT Office relocation and renovation [+$200,000] • Increased Sheriff's expansion budget for Capital Outlay -Vehicles — Enterprise Fleet [+$281,340] General Fund: $195,506,342 Harnett Regional Water: $50,595,000 Solid Waste: $8,972,554 Fund Balance 0 FY 2026 Appropriated Fund Balance - $20,018,244 t� FY 2026 Estimated Fund Balance — 17% Board Discussion Items • Non-profit funding • Johnston -Lee -Harnett Community Action Group Request • Requesting $25,000-$50,000 in unrestricted support • Provide support for job training, childcare assistance, back -to -school programs, emergency utility and rent support, and much more • New Harnett Water Recommended Fees • Water Quality Lab Fee — Fecal Coliform - $30 • New Harnett Regional Jetport Recommended Fees 8 Board Discussion Items - New HRJ Recommended Fees Department Increase Fee Name Amount Amount Units Justification Revenue Hamett Regional Jetport New Cabin Class Tie- 10 50 Per day HRJ currently uses the same 500 Down ovemighttie-down rates for all aircraft, regardless of size (cabin -class or small prop Harnett Regional Jetport New Aircraft Towing 0 25 Per tow HRJ currently offers 3,000 complimentary aircraft towing. However, our Jetporter towing device needs maintenance and battery replacement. Implementing a lowing fee will help offset these costs and boast HRJ s revenue. Harnett Regional Jetport New Aircraft Towing- 0 100 Per month for Use of letporter for based 2.400 Monthly non-SASOs tenant use. on call. Harnett Regional Jetport New Monthly vehicle 0 100 Per month HRJ is experiencing significant 3,600 parking parking limitations. Frequent use of our conference room and classroom, coupled with vehicles from airport and economic development operations, often fills our lot to Cape* This rate aligns with charges at other general aviation airports and is a reasonable way to manage our limited parking resources. Harnett Regional Jetport New Aircraft Wash 0 25 Perwash The new cost is cover water 250 Station (non- costs and equipment wear. based aircraft) Hamett Regional Jetport New Aircraft Mash 0 10 Per wash The new cost is cover water 200 Station (based costs and equipment wear. aircraft) 9 Questions/Discussion/Feedback Next Steps • Budget Approval by —June 16th Thank You