022718prmHARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Minutes of Planning Retreat
February 27, 2018
The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in work session on Tuesday, February 27,
2018, in Conference Room A, County Administration Building, 420 McKinney Parkway,
Lillington, North Carolina.
Members present:
Gordon Springle, Chairman
Howard Penny, Vice Chairman
Barbara McKoy, Commissioner
Joe Miller, Commissioner
Member absent: Abe Elmore, Commissioner
Staff present:
Paula Stewart, Interim County Manager
Dwight Snow, County Attorney
Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer
Margaret Regina Wheeler, Clerk
Steve Ward, Capital Projects Director
Brian Haney, Public Relations Director
Allen Coats, Deputy Finance Officer
Chairman Springle called the meeting to order at 9:00 am. Commissioner McKoy led the Pledge
of Allegiance and invocation.
The following agenda was before commissioners:
• Financial Presentation, Davenport & Company
• Library Master Plan, Angela McCauley and Karen Dash Consulting
• Parks and Recreation Funding Options, Carl Davis
• Governmental Complex, Little Diversified Architectural Consulting
• County Facilities, Paula Stewart
• Financial Discussion, Kimberly Honeycutt
• Volunteer Appreciation
• Wrap-up/Adjourn
Chairman Springle distributed a letter from the Harnett County Mayor's Committee regarding
parity in funding for Harnett County Parks and Recreation Services. He noted he and Mrs.
Stewart recently met with the group to discuss the YMCA.
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Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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Ted Cole with Davenport & Company gave a financial presentation. Davenport & Company
serves as financial advisor for the County. Mr. Cole stressed his presentation was about capital
planning/capital budgeting; tax supported debt and tax supported projects with no assumption
about operating impacts.
Mr. Cole provided material and briefly reviewed:
✓ Credit Rating Overview and Peer Comparatives
1 General Fund Operations and Fund Balance
✓ Existing Tax Supported Debt Profile (no Utility or new debt)
✓ Capital Funding Analysis
o Potential Capital Funding Needs and Financing Assumption
Materials provided also included:
✓ Appendix A: Existing Tax Supported Debt
✓ Appendix B: Department of Public Utilities Debt Profile
✓ Appendix C: Solid Waste Debt Profile
✓ Appendix D: Financial Policies
✓ Appendix E: Rating Reports
Mr. Cole discussed the concept of debt capacity - the county's ability to take on debt, and debt
affordability - how does the county pay for it.
Harnett County Library Director Angela McCauley and Karen Dash with Karen Dash Consulting
presented the Harnett County Public Library Master Plan and Feasibility Study 2018 — 2023.
The master plan included the following Summary of Goals & Objectives:
• Goal 1. Empower the economic development, student success, and personal
growth of our communities.
• Goal 2. Create consistently exemplary patron experience.
• Goal 3. Create library spaces that are welcoming to all.
• Goal 4. Develop and build strategic collaborations to strengthen the library
and our communities.
• Goal 5. Build a collaborative and supportive work environment that
encourages innovation.
The Plan recommended key implementation milestones regarding consolidation of municipal
libraries, establishing a western Harnett library branch, developing strategic partnerships, and
building staff and instructional capacity. The Board will consider adoption of the Harnett
County Library Master Plan during their upcoming regular meeting.
Harnett County Parks and Recreation Director Carl Davis introduced the option of a recreation
tax as a funding alternative for parks and recreation in Harnett County. He briefly reviewed the
current parks and recreation amenities in the county as well as acknowledging deficiencies noted
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Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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in the 2017 Harnett County Comprehensive Master Plan. The plan estimated improvement costs
for parks and recreation at $84.5 Million over a 15 -year period. Mr. Davis briefly reviewed how
a service district could be established, projected service district revenue, excluding
municipalities, and how the money could be spent as well as proposed recovery costs. The
Board will discuss recreation taxes during an upcoming work session.
Judy McLaurin, AIA, with Little Diversified Architectural Consulting and Tom Planishek with
Balfour Beatty presented plans for a new addition to the Division of Social Services (DSS)
building and lobby renovation. The new two-story addition would include Child Support
Services and flex space and is estimated to cost $1,673,298 with the potential for 60%
reimbursement over 40 years. The DSS lobby renovation is estimated to cost
$302,514.
Ms. McLaurin and Mr. Planishek also presented plans for a new library and administration
building located at the governmental complex. The proposed building would include the
Library, Administration, Finance, Veteran's Affairs, Legal, Human Resources, Parks and
Recreation, General Services, Aging, JobLink, shared spaces and building systems with an
estimated cost of $14,726,062. Suggested furniture, fixtures & equipment cost is $1,800,000
with a total cost estimate of $18,501,874. The proposed building would be placed at Veteran's
Park. A study is also being done to see if additional parking would be needed, estimated cost
of $3,000 per car.
Harnett County Engineer Amanda Bader, Mr. Ward and Mrs. Stewart responded to questions
and concerns. The group discussed traffic patterns and future interconnectivity within the
complex. Staff sought input and direction from the Board. Discussions continued. They
discussed shared spaces, connectivity and benefits to a campus atmosphere. The group
discussed, at length, this concept verses building a new DSS building. Mrs. Stewart noted the
county could potentially save $100,000 a year in rent with this concept as it would
allow other programs to shift into county -owned space. The Board will consider at their
upcoming meeting approval of contracts with Little Diversified Architectural Consulting for
design services and Balfour Beatty for Construction Manager at Risk for the addition to the
DSS building and new library and administration building at the governmental complex.
Mrs. Stewart reviewed property currently in use by Harnett County government services. She
discussed and proposed demolition of the old Harnett County jail, the old Anderson Creek
Primary School gym and cafeteria, the main building of the old Shawtown Elementary School,
and the Old Boone Trail School. Staff will get quotes for the cost of demolishing the above
properties and come back before the board.
Mrs. Stewart reminded the Board, regarding the old Benhaven Elementary School, the County
has the right of first refusal to obtain this property but does not have to take it. She said if the
County plans to accept this property they could negotiate with the school system now regarding
up -fits before transferring, demolish some parts and renovate some of the facility for a library
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Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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and parks and recreation program. She also noted county facilities staff is currently walking
through all county -owned buildings and evaluation them for maintenance needs to start being
strategic in maintaining our buildings.
Mrs. Stewart asked what to do with the remaining Shawtown facility. Following discussions, it
was the consensus of the Board to allow Harnett United PAL, Shawtown High School Alumni
Association, JobLink and Johnston -Lee -Harnett Community Action to use space in the renovated
Shawtown facility. Regarding the proposed Boys and Girls Club in Harnett County,
commissioners and staff shared concerns regarding the long-term sustainability of the program.
Mrs. Stewart received permission to go ahead and use funds allocated for Shawtown
improvements.
Mrs. Stewart noted the County currently rents space for Probation and Parole and is working
with the landlord on much needed repairs to that space. Staff proposes to move Probation and
Parole into the current library space after the new Library and Administration Building is built.
Mr. Haney provided an update on Harnett County Animal Control. Staff discussed future plans
for the facility including the Animal Services Building Addition and Adoption Center, estimated
to cost $360,000, that was approved for 2018/19 within the Capital Improvement Plan.
Commissioners ask staff to consider participating in the Annual WRAL "Clear the Shelter"
campaign. Staff also noted a new Animal Control Ordinance is forthcoming for consideration.
Mrs. Honeycutt provided a financial update. She reported that the fund balance is
approximately $2 million over the recommended amount. Mrs. Honeycutt said she would like to
set up a debt service fund to shift money from the general fund balance to keep it near 20%.
She also reported the collection of $274,000 in interest income as of January 2018.
Mrs. Honeycutt shared a handout: Education Capital Funding, Funding Formula Proposals, Sales
Tax Based. The Board discussed capital funding at 20% of Article 39, net. Mrs. Honeycutt
shared Sales Tax Expansion Activity Analysis. Commissioners discussed
teacher bonuses. Commissioners Penny and Miller noted Representative Lewis said he wants the
money to go into the supplement and not as a bonus. It was the consensus of the Board to give
the Board of Education $2 Million of the sales tax expansion each year. Mrs. Honeycutt was
instructed to include the $2 Million for teacher supplement in 2018/19 budget.
Mrs. Stewart shared a letter from Board of Education requesting that all remaining current
expenses and capital outlay funds for the remainder of the fiscal year be paid to them in monthly
appropriations. Discussions continued. It was the consensus of the Board that staff continue to
reimburse invoices as submitted by Harnett County Schools if they have the funds. Mrs.
Honeycutt suggested that the Board of Education increase their capital outlay limit to $10,000.
Commissioners expressed concerns that Harnett County Schools are not maintaining and
keeping up schools. They also said they are not budgeting for early college this year because
they have not discussed funding early college.
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Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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Staff shared plans for the volunteer appreciation reception being hosted by commissioners on
May 21, 2018.
Mrs. Stewart reviewed the proposed March 5, 2018 regular meeting agenda. Mr. Haney
discussed the proposed occupancy tax. He noted staff met with the two affected businesses
and tried to explain the benefits of the tax however they are still not on -board at this time. The
occupancy tax would be effective May 1, 2018 if approved. Staff also mentioned air B&B's in
Harnett County.
Vice Chairman Penny moved to adjourn the meeting at 2:58 pm. Commissioner McKoy
seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Regina r er, Clerk
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Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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