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HomeMy WebLinkAbout031026 MHARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Regular Meeting Minutes March 10, 2026 The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 9:00 am, in the Commissioners Meeting Room, Harnett County Resource Center and Library, 455 McKinney Parkway, Lillington, North Carolina. Members present: Duncan E. Jaggers, Chairman Matthew B. Nicol, Vice Chairman Barbara McKoy, Commissioner William Morris, Commissioner Absent: W. Brooks Matthews, Commissioner Staff present: Brent Trout, County Manager Dwight Snow, County Attorney Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer Melissa Capps, Clerk Chairman Jaggers called the meeting to order at 9:00 am. Vice Chairman Nicol led the Pledge of Allegiance and provided the invocation. Amy Noel, Veterans Services Assistant Director, presented information regarding Harnett County Heroes Remembrance recognition. We are recognizing and honoring veterans that appear on our Wall of Heroes. These individuals have received awards for acts of individual heroism, not as a unit. Ms. Noel read Cook 011ie R. Link's citation. Chairman Jaggers presented a certificate to the family members of Cook Link. Chairman Jaggers called for any additions or deletions to the published agenda. Commissioner Morris made a motion to approve the agenda as published. The motion was seconded by Vice Chairman Nicol and carried unanimously. Vice Chairman Nicol made a motion to approve the consent agenda. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Morris and carried unanimously. The following item was on the consent agenda: A. Regular Meeting Minutes of March 2, 2026 Mike Morrow, Assistant County Manager provided information on the recently conducted Community Survey and introduced Jason Morado, Vice President and Director of Community Research with ETC Institute. Mr. Morado presented the following information: Harnett County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting Minutes March 10, 2026 Page 1 of 8 • ETC Institute is a National Leader in Market Research for Local Governmental Organizations • Purpose o To objectively assess resident satisfaction with the delivery of major County services o To help determine priorities for the community o To set a baseline for future surveys o To compare the County's performance with other communities regionally and nationally • Methodology o Survey Description ■ Five -page survey ■ Took an average of 12 to 15 minutes to complete o Method of Administration ■ By mail and online to randomly selected sample of County residents o Sample Size ■ 502 completed surveys ■ Margin of error: +/- 4.4% at the 95% level of confidence Location of Survey Respondents o Good representation throughout the County o Demographics of survey respondents reflects the actual population of the County What We Learned o Respondents Gave High Satisfaction Ratings for County Services o Harnett County Rates 23% Above the U.S. Average in Providing Customer Service o Top Priorities for Core County Services ■ Development Services ■ Parks and Recreation Services ■ Social Services o Top Community Priorities for the Future ■ Providing Access to Quality Healthcare ■ Improving Water Quality ■ Increasing Public Safety • Topic #1 — Perceptions and County Services • Topic #2 — Medical Health Care • Topic 43 — Behavior Health Care • Topic #4 — Top Priorities • Summary o Respondents Gave High Satisfaction Ratings for County Services o Harnett County Rates 23% Above the U.S. Average in Providing Customer Service o Top Priorities for Core County Services ■ Development Services ■ Parks and Recreation Services ■ Social Services o Top Community Priorities for the Future ■ Providing Access to Quality Healthcare ■ Improving Water Quality ■ Increasing Public Safety Harnett County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting Minutes March 10, 2026 Page 2 of 8 Christine Wallace, Tax Administrator, and Ryan Vincent with Vincent Valuations provided a final update on the 2026 Reappraisal. Information included: General Information o Reappraisal is required at least once every eight years per North Carolina general statute o The process resets all real property tax values to current market value, as of January 1 of the reappraisal year. This reappraisal cycle is based on an effective date of January 1, 2026. o Reappraisal distributes the overall property tax burden equitably across the county based on current market value o Property tax values generally do not change from year to year until the next reappraisal. Exceptions include new construction, parcel splits/recombination and permitted changes. o There are currently over 80,000 parcels of real property in Harnett County Reappraisal Objective o Appraise all real property in the county at 100% of its current fair market value, as defined by statute o G.S. 105-283: "All property, real and personal, shall as far as practicable be appraised or valued at its true value in money." o True value in money is "the price estimated in terms of money at which the property would change hands between a willing and financially able buyer and a willing seller, neither being under any compulsion to buy or sell and both having reasonable knowledge of all the uses to which the property is adapted and for which it is capable of being used." • Market Value • 2026 Reappraisal Timeline • Where Our Values Come From • Why We Do It This Way • Disclaimer • Sales Ratio Results • What Does this Mean? • Jurisdictional Change Estimates o Countywide:42-46% o Town of Lillington: 48-52% o City of Dunn: 44-48% o Town of Angier: 34-38% o Town of Erwin: 49-53% o Town of Coats: 54-58% • Different Areas, Different Changes • Personal Property Valuation Considerations • Appraised Value vs Tax Rates • Appeals: What to do if you Disagree • How to Support Your Appeal • Key Appeal Date - All appeals must be submitted online or in writing by 5:00p.m. on May 8, 2026. • Tax Relief Programs Harnett County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting Minutes March 10, 2026 Page 3 of 8 • Next Steps o January 1, 2026 — Effective date of countywide reappraisal o March 2026 — Mail value notice o March 2026 — Begin accepting appeals o April 2026 — BOER hearings begin o May 8, 2026 — Deadline to submit appeals o August 2026 — Tax bills mailed o November 301h — Last day for BOER to hear appeals Sarah Arbour, Planner II, provided a briefing on the following upcoming public hearings: • PLAN2512-0003 Proposed Zoning Change from the Industrial & Conservation Zoning District to the RA-30 & Conservation Zoning District, and a proposed future land use classification change from the Employment Growth Area & Conservation future land use classification to the Rural/Agricultural & Conservation future land use classification • PLAN260 1 -0001 Proposed Zoning Change from the Commercial Zoning District to the RA-20R Zoning District • PLAN2601-0002 Proposed Zoning Change from the RA-30 Zoning District to the Commercial Zoning District • PLAN2512-0002 Proposed Text Amendment - Harnett County Unified Development Ordinance; Article IV, Sections 1.0 - 14.0 to include Subsections 3.1-3.9, 4.1-4.4, 5.1-5.6, 6.1-6.5,7.1-7.5, 11.1-11.2, 12.1-12.6, 13.1-13.5, 14.1-14.5; Article XIII, Section 6.0, Subsection 6.2; Article XIV, Section 2.0, Subsection 2.2 "Conditional Zoning" Mark Locklear, Development Services Director, presented the current policy regarding when sidewalks are required. Information included: • Sidewalk requirements are more common in municipal settings than in county jurisdictions • Sidewalks were not a priority for leadership at the time • Many existing subdivisions, particularly in W. Harnett County, were established prior to the Compatibility Design Concept (2007) • Following adoption, sidewalks in standard subdivisions are not required, however, sidewalks are incentivized through the "Compatibility Subdivision" option for higher density development • Sidewalk, path, trail, and bike route regulations are determined by: o Harnett County Unified Development Ordinance 0 2011 Harnett County Comprehensive Transportation Plan o Harnett County Bicycle, Pedestrian, & Greenway Plan • Current Sidewalk Requirements by Development Type o Conventional Subdivisions o Compatibility Subdivisions o Multifamily Development o Planned Unit Developments o Non-Residential/Commercial Development Harnett County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting Minutes March 10, 2026 Page 4 of 8 • Future of Sidewalk Policy o Harnett Horizons 2040 Land Use Plan recommends expanded pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure o Focus on improved connectivity, safety, and multimodal transportation options o Staff is currently working with a transportation consultant to compare transportation standards with peer communities o Review will identify best practices and potential updates to current standards o Staff is interested in obtaining Board direction on priorities and policy consideration for sidewalks o Staff will present enhanced regulations to the Board late summer Tommy Burns, Harnett Regional Water (HRW) Director reviewed a request for approval of Task Order 4 with CDM Smith to provide a Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the County's water system. The PER will establish and verify the basis of design criteria, site layout, estimated costs, and implementation timelines. This contract will also provide a feasibility analysis on how HRW could potentially utilize existing Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC) infrastructure as a PFAS treatment method. The total amount of this PER is $500,000 and will provide the technical basis needed to advance design and ensure continued compliance with evolving federal and state regulations. Board consideration and acceptance of this contract will authorize staff to proceed with the next phase of engineering as recommended. Commissioner Morris made a motion to approve Task Order 4 with CDM Smith to provide a Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the County's water system. The motion was seconded by Vice Chairman Nicol and carried unanimously. Commissioner McKoy asked what the percentage of PFAS in our water now. Mr. Burns stated we stay right around the threshold but there make be occasions when we have a spike if we have an upstream discharge. Mr. Burns stated once we finish this process, we will be at or below the threshold level limit and will be in full compliance. Brent Trout, County Manager, stated regarding the LIFE St. Joseph of the Pines PACE Program Update, I have been unable to reach the state contact. Once I hear back from them, I will provide the information. The detailed report from the community survey discussed earlier will be online on our website. Mr. Trout recognized our Emergency Management Services Department as they were recently awarded by the American Heart Association the Lifeline EMS Gold Status Achievement Award for proven dedication to ensuring access to best practices and life-saving care. A blank copy of the project funding request list was placed at each of your desks, please return it to me. Our legislative luncheon will be on March 31 st. I also provided the mobile health unit schedule for the month. We served 172 scoops of ice cream for the Employee Appreciation event last week. You were also presented with an invitation to attend the Harnett Management Academy graduation on April 15th at noon. Commissioner McKoy made a motion to approve the Budget Amendments as requested by the Finance Officer. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Morris and carried unanimously. (Attachment 1) Harnett County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting Minutes March 10, 2026 Page 5 of 8 Commissioner Morris stated there have been two situations brought to my attention regarding system development fees for commercial situations. One is a developer who is building a hangar at the Harnett County Airport and he is a licensed public utilities contractor, who installed water and sewer tap at no cost to the County and he has received a bill for $7,500. Another scenario, a gentlemen bought a lot, the taps were already in place and he received a bill for $10,000. Commissioner Morris stated what I would like to see in these very limited commercial settings, that staff be granted the authority in these situations to waive system development fees because we have nothing invested and we are going to benefit largely from the tax base that they are creating and it sends a message that we want to encourage commercial growth. Discussion included current policy, setting a threshold and who they would grant that authority to. Commissioner Morris made a motion to grant the County Manager authority to waive system development fees for $10,000 or less without Board approval. The motion was seconded by Vice Chairman Nicol and carried unanimously. Commissioner Comments Commissioner Morris thanked staff for everything and the accurate reports. Commissioner McKoy thanked Melissa for providing us with all these dates on upcoming meetings and invitations. This is very important. Vice Chairman Nicol thanked staff. I feel like with each one of these meetings, each year, we are starting to learn things all together and things are starting to flow. We are beginning to see lights at the end of the tunnels. We are approaching goals we have set and it feels good to be up here for each meeting. Chairman Jaggers thanked Christine and staff for their work and effort on the reappraisal. We appreciate the work. We are very aware of what is going on in the legislature and we do not know how that will affect the county. I think the state trying to get into dictating to the county how we get money to fund county functions, especially when they are cutting back funding they are giving us. The county is growing and we want to provide services. The county employees are doing a great job. We are really impressed with everything you are doing. We are thankful that we have a county that is growing but it is tough when it gets to tax time and understanding how everything works. We sit up here and we might act like we are just conducting business but we are all very concerned about the tax rates. We're all very concerned about the reappraisal rates. We are looking at every option we can to keep the burden of the citizens of this county as low as we can. Commissioner Morris made a motion to go into Closed Session for the purpose to discuss and consider a personnel matter. This motion is made pursuant to NC General Statute Section 143-318.11 (a) (6). The motion was seconded by Vice Chairman Nicol and carried unanimously. Following a motion to come out of Closed Session, Chairman Jaggers called the meeting back into open session and recessed the meeting at 10:45 am to reconvene downstairs in Training Room 103 A for the Joint Meeting with the Board of Elections. Harnett County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting Minutes March I0, 2026 Page 6 of 8 Chairman Jaggers reconvened the meeting at 10:51 am. Members present: Duncan E. Jaggers, Chairman Matthew B. Nicol, Vice Chairman (arrived at 11:05 am) Barbara McKoy, Commissioner William Morris, Commissioner Absent: W. Brooks Matthews, Commissioner Staff present: Brent Trout, County Manager Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer Melissa Capps, Clerk Dwight Snow, County Attorney Christopher Appel, Senior Staff Attorney Coley Price, Deputy County Manager Mike Morrow, Assistant County Manager Lisa McFadden, Assistant County Manager Harnett County Board of Elections Members Members Present: Danny Moody, Chairman Rickie L. Day, Secretary Russ Ugone Allison Fenderson Betsy McCormick Staff Present: Claire Jones, Elections Director Sarah Rathke, Assistant Director Danny Moody, Chairman for the Board of Elections called the Harnett County Board of Elections meeting to order at 10:5lam. Chairman Moody moved that the County Board of Elections go into Closed Session to prevent disclosure of information that is privilege or confidential pertaining to election security. This motion is made under NCGS 143-318.11 (a) (1). Mr. Day made a motion to go into Closed Session with the Harnett County Board of Commissioners. The motion was seconded by Mr. Ugone and motion carried unanimously. Commissioner Morris made a motion to go into Closed Session to prevent disclosure of information that is privilege or confidential pertaining to election security. This motion is made under NCGS 143-318.11 (a) (1). Chairman Jaggers seconded the motion. Following a brief discussion, Chairman Jaggers called for a vote on the motion to go into Closed Session. The motion carried unanimously. Following a motion to come out of Closed Session the Harnett County Board of Elections came back into to open session and adjourned. Harnett County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting Minutes March 10, 2026 Page 7 of 8 Following a motion to come out of Closed Session, Chairman Jaggers called the meeting back into open session. Commissioner Morris made a motion to adjourn at 11:25 am. The motion was seconded by Vice Chairman Nicol and carried unanimously. Duncan E. Jaggers, r Melissa Capps, Clerk Harnett County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting Minutes March 10, 2026 Page 8 of 8 COUNTY OF HARNETT ATTACHMENT 1 BUDGET ORDINANCE REVISION BE IT ORDAINED by the Governing Board of the County of Harnett, North Carolina, that the following amendment be made to the annu, budget ordinance for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. Section 1. To amend the AGING department of the GENERAL fund. The appropriations are to be changed as follows: AMnITNT ORG OBJECT PROJECT TASK 1105260 504010 SMP 1105260 521030 SMP 1105260 526010 SMP 1105260 1105260 1105260 537010 539030 544080 SMP SMP SMP 1105260 1105260 1105260 1105260 544095 521030 522010 544080 SMP SHIIP SHIIP SHIIP 1105260 544095 SIMP 11 ORG OBJECT PROJECT I TASK 1105260 1105260 330210 330210 SMP SHIIP EXPLANATION: SUB -TASK L JOB DESCRIPTION OF CODE FXPF.NSE ALLOWANCE . FICE SUPPLIES :)VERTISING 3MPORARY HELP SERVICES ASTE HANDLING & PROVISIONS E HANDLING DESCRIPTION OF CODE ;TRICTED - FEDERAL 3TRICTED - FEDERAL INCREASE I DECREASF $870 $500 $1,000 $3,730 $1 To allocate Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) funding from the Department of Insurance and to reallocate previously budgeted SMP funds from the SHIIP program to the SMP program. r APPROVALS: / Z� 4Dbp,cnHea Date d Du or D to -IAJ Finance Officer Date County Manager Date Section 2. Copies of this budget amendment shall be furnished to the Clerk to the Board, and to the Budget Officer and the Finance Officer for their direction. Adopted this day of CYN , 20 .rt�hA\pih-1 >r s Duncan E. Jagger , ultrman Melissa Capps F l ^ y Board of Commissioners Clerk to the Board<< _ iY ,..,r Date: February 26, 202< Prepared by: Shobbs ` Page 1 of 1 3 J $670 $800 1,400 2,730 5600 COUNTY OF HARNETT BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENT BE IT ORDAINED by the Governing Board of the County of Harnett, North Carolina, that the following amendment be made to the annual budget ordinance for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. Section 1. To amend the GENERAL GOVERNMENT DEBT SERVICE fund The annronriations are to be changed as follows: EXPLANATION: BUDGET FOR UNFORSEEN DEBT SERVICE CHARGE FROM US BANK APPROVALS: Department ead Date Finance ulcer Date G �1 sly ud Director Date County Manager Date Section 2. Copies of this budget amendment shall be furnished to the Clerk to the Board, and to the Budget Officer and the Finance Officer for their direction. Adopted this 1dorl% day of l 4lissaEapp, Clerk to the Board Prepared by: jrcel &I.nd "L-� Dunca�Ch.�.n Board of Commissioners Date: March 2, 2026 COUNTY OF HARNETT BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENT BE IT ORDAINED by the Governing Board of the County of Harnett, North Carolina, that the following amendment bi made to the annual budget ordinance for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. Section 1. To amend the Opioid Fund, the appropriations are to be changed as follows: ORG OBJECT PROJECT TASK SUB -TASK DESCRIPTION OF CODE INCREASE DECREASE 2655202 519030 Services - Medical $ 20,000 ORG OBJECT PROJECT TASK SUB -TASK DESCRIPTION OF CODE 2653300 330510 Restricted - Other EXPLANATION: INCREASE I DEC $ 20,000 Resolution by the County of Harnett to Direct the Expenditure of Opioid Settlement funds approved on August 4, 2025. These funds will be used for Evidence -Based Addiction Treatment, Strategy 2 by Cape Fear Valley Health for Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). APPROVALS: De ar ment ad Date Budge irector Date Finance Officer Date County Manager Date Section 2 Copies of this budget amendment shall be furnished to the Clerk to the Board, and to the Budget Officer and the Finance Officer for their direction. Adopted this day of M�eUissaCapps'pM�•�lSS�p�' ; Duncan E. Daggers, a an `��'� 'Y s&�` Clerk to the Board Board of Commissioners ;a`�$;" �a�h ORDINANCE NO.2026-7 ST MATT -HEWS RD UTILITY EXTENSION PROJECT CAPITAL PROJECT ORDINANCE AMENDMENT BE IT ORDAINED by the Board of Commiss ioheirs of Harnett County, North Carolina, sitting as the governing board for Harnett County. t of 8 inch water main along St Section 1. This project consists of the construction of II increaseximately 2,700 linear availableava I ble fire flowen the area under high demand Matthews Road in Erwin. The new main conditions and include a connection for development in that area of town and county. the sewer portion of the project will connect two parallel sewer interceptors to provide additional capacity to the northern side of town and US 421. Section 2. The following expenditures are hereby appropriated for this project: Engineering Construction - Capital Outlay Contingency Tranfer to Capital Reserves Total Current Ordinance $ 155,000 715,318 Amended _Adjustment Ordinance $ 75,000 $ 230,000 843,965 1,559,283 129,682 (10,000) 119,692 $ 1,000,000 $ 908,965 $ 1,908,965 Section 3. The following revenues are hereby appropriated for this project: Current Amended Ordinance Adjustment Ordinance $ 1,000,000 $ - $ 1,000,000 $ - $ 908,965 $ 908,965 $ 1,000,000 $ 908,965 $ 1,908,965 S.L. 2022-74 ARPA Grant Capital Reserves Total Section 4. To amend project ordinance to add 75,000 to Meyers Engineering contract for the potential sewer project and a potential force main project on the sout east part of Erwin. Add addition funds for sewer construction project to interconnect two sewer interceptors to increase conveyance capacity in the north Section 5. Duly adopted this 10`*`Ii� day of 'ACXCV-N ATTEST: Melissa Capps, Cle�khe Boar 2026 Duncan E Jaggers, Chairman ++ rnilnfy Board of Commissioners qj$bJ ORDINANCE NO. 2026-8 2024 Transportation Reserve Directed Funds (TRDF) Jetport Runway Extension (JRE24) CAPITAL PROJECT ORDINANCE AMENDMENT BE IT ORDAINED by the Board of Commissioners of Harnett County, North Carolina, sitting as the governing board for Harnett County. Section 1: This project will consists of multiple facets o5 planning,land feet to 5,500 feequistition and constrution to extend the runway at harnett Regional Jetport from 5,00 Section 2. The following expenditures are hereby appropriated for this project: Current Amended Ordinance Adjustment Ordinance $ 830,000 $ - $ 830,000 Professional Services 900,000 2,102,046 3,002,046 Land Purchase 13,870,000 13,870,000 Construction - - 3,457,934 3,457,934 Contingency $ 15,600,000 $ 5,559,980 $ 21, 159,980 Total Section 3. The following revenues are hereby appropriated for this project: Transportation Reserve Directed funds Interfund Transfer - Capital Reserves Interest Total Current Amended _ Ordinance Adjustment Ordinance $ 15,600,000 $ - $ 15,600,000 - 4,200,334 4,200,334 1,359,646 1,359,646 $ 15,600,000 $ 5,559,980 $ 21,159,980 Section 4. To amend project ordinance to budget interest earnings through January 2026. Also to budget funds transferred from capital reserves to cover acquisition of property for the runway extension. Section S. Copies of this capital project ordinance shall be furnished to the Clerk to the Board, the Budget Director and the Finance Officer for direction in carrying out this project. Duly adopted this day of 12026. Duncan E Jaggers, Chairma Harnett County Board of Commissioners ATTEST: Meliss apps, Clerk to th Bard 04 COUNTY OF HARNETT BUDGET ORDINANCE REVISION ow-, 1 ) b-3 BE IT ORDAINED by the Governing Board of the County of Harnett, North Carolina, that the following amendment be made to the annua budget ordinance for the fiscal year ending 126. Section 1. To amend the Parks and Recreation The appropriations are to be changed as follows: EXPENDITL O ORG BJECT PROJECT FTASK SUB -TASK 6110 1 583000 ORG IOBJECT PROJECT 7 5053900 390990 EXPLANATION: APPROVALS: department of the Parks Capital Reserve JOB DESCRIPTION OF CODE NON -CAP ASSET - LARGE EQU➢ fund. INCREASE I DECREASE T900 SUB -TASK JOB DESCRIPTION OF CODE I INCRE FUND BALANCE APPROPRIATED 1 $7 funds to purchase bleachers for ballfields at Benhaven Community Center and Gym. 2/26/2026 Department Head Date I A Finance Officer ate 32 udget Director Date Cou ry Manager Date Section 2. Copies of this budget amendment shall be furnished to the Clerk to the Board, and to the Budget Officer and the Finance Officer for their direction. Adopted this O 1"day of J�r�-+ 1 _ 120 ap Melissa Capps lerk to the Board Prepared by: abolder Duncan E. Jaggers, daila@l Board of Commissioners Date: February 26, 2026 1 63,