121520wsmHARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Minutes of Work Session
December 15, 2020
The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in work session on Tuesday, December 1,
2020, in the Commissioners Meeting Room, County Administration Building, 420 McKinney
Parkway, Lillington, North Carolina. Due to COVID-19 this meeting was not open to members
of the public to attend in person however, citizens and staff were provided options to listen to the
meeting live. Only County staff necessary to conduct the meeting or to speak on scheduled
agenda items were in attendance, stationed in the meeting chambers to maintain the
recommended social distancing of six feet, as the Board demonstrated compliance with State law
and prudent public health practices.
Members present:
Staff present:
W. Brooks Matthews, Chairman
Lewis W. Weatherspoon, Vice Chairman
Barbara McKoy, Commissioner
Mark B. Johnson, Commissioner
Matthew B. Nicol, Commissioner
Paula Stewart, County Manager
Dwight Snow, County Attorney
Kimberly Honeycutt, Deputy Finance Officer
Margaret Regina Wheeler, Clerk
Lindsey B. Lucas, Deputy Clerk
Chairman Matthews called the meeting to order at 9:00 am and Commissioner Johnson led the
Pledge of Allegiance and invocation.
The following agenda was before the Board:
➢ Call to order, Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation
➢ Presentation of County Audit for the Fiscal Year Ending 2020
> Review Legislative Priorities
➢ Discuss proposed changes to the Board's Rules of Procedures regarding Public
Hearings
> Overview of Harnett Regional Water
> Bus Patrol Discussion
➢ Broadband Discussion
> Review Boards and Committees on which Commissioners Serve
> County Managers Report
o - COVID-19 Update
o —January 4, 2021 Regular Meeting Agenda Review
o — Review applications to serve on Boards and Committees
o — Upcoming Meetings and Invitations
> Closed session
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➢ Adjourn
Matt Braswell and Paula Hodges, with Martin Starnes and Associates presented to the Board the
County Audit Presentation for the Fiscal Year Ending 2020 via Zoom. Ms. Hodges explained
that the county received an unmodified audit opinion, which means the county received a clean
audit opinion. Ms. Hodges went over the county's fund balance and showed the Board how it
increased from the prior year. Mr. Braswell presented to the Board an in depth look at the
county's financial picture which included a look at the general fund summary. Mr. Braswell
noted that there was a general fund increase as well as expenditures increase in the current year.
Questions were asked by the Board and discussions continued.
Brian Haney, Assistant County Manager, discussed the County's Fiscal year 2021-2022
legislative priorities. Commissioners will finalize and approve an updated list of priorities
during their January 19, 2021 regular meeting.
Chris Appel, Senior Staff Attorney, came before the Board to present proposed changes to the
Board's Rules of Procedures regarding Public Hearings. Mr. Appel explained that General
Statute 153A-52 allows you to run public hearings in the same manner as a public comment
period. The statutes essentially mirror each other regarding setting a maximum time allotted for
each speaker, designating a spokesman for groups of people providing for the maintenance of
order and the decorum of a hearing. As of now we do not have a maximum time limit in the
Board's Rules of Procedures for public hearings and Mr. Appel believes this should be put in
writing to confirm the proper procedures. It was the consensus of the Board for Mr. Appel to
make the changes to the Board's Rules of Procedure and present them at the next upcoming
regular meeting.
Steve Ward, Director of Harnett Regional Water, Stood before the Board to give them an update
of Harnett Regional Water. Mr. Ward went over in depth the core functions of Harnett Regional
Water, which is to provide superior drinking water to customers, provide wastewater services for
customers with sewer and treat that wastewater to the highest of standards before discharging
into our rivers. Non-core functions include administering water and wastewater construction for
subdivision development in the county. Questions were asked by the Board and discussions
continued.
Jean Souliere, CEO and Founder of Bus Patrol, gave a background on Bus Patrol and who they
are to the Board via Zoom. Mr. Souliere explained that this is a new, innovative way to deliver
safety to kids while also making sure additional technologies are available because safety is
about more than just issuing a ticket. Mr. Souliere stressed it's about how you plan your routes
more effectively, how you manage training both the students and the drivers, and how you hold
careless vehicles responsible for driving around school buses carelessly. Mr. Souliere informed
the Board that there would be a need for cooperation from the Sheriff's department and the local
police department in order for the program to work. Questions were asked by the Board and it
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was the consensus of the Board to have this same presentation presented to the Sheriff and
anyone else who would play a role in this.
Chris Utesch, Business Development Manager with CloudWyze and Adrian Wilson, VP and
Chief Development Officer with CloudWyze, discussed broadband in Harnett County to the
Board. Mr. Wilson explained the importance of broadband internet in the counties rural areas,
especially in these times during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Utesch went over how
CloudWyze planned to deploy their network in Harnett County and also explained if the Great
Grant is awarded, how it would be used to offset some of the costs. Questions were asked by the
Board and discussions continued.
Commissioners reviewed and discussed the list of boards and committees they serve on and will
formally approve the appointments during their upcoming meeting.
Mrs. Stewart reviewed the draft January 4, 2021 regular meeting agenda, upcoming meetings
and invitations. Commissioners reviewed applicants wishing to be appointed to serve on boards
and committees.
There was no need for Closed Session
Vice Chairman Weatherspoon moved to adjourn the meeting at 12:33 pm. Commissioner
Johnson seconded the motion that passed unanimously.
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W. Brooks Matthews, Chairman
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Lindsey.. Lucas, Deputy Clerk
December 15, 2020 Work Session Minutes
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