072721 wsmHARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Minutes of Work Session
July 27, 2021
The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in work session on Tuesday, July 27, 2021 at
9:00 am in the Commissioners Meeting Room, Harnett County Resource Center and Library
Building, 455 McKinney Parkway, Lillington, North Carolina.
Members present: W. Brooks Matthews, Chairman
Lewis W. Weatherspoon, Vice Chairman
Barbara McKoy, Commissioner
Mark B. Johnson, Commissioner
Matt Nicol, Commissioner
Staff present: George Wood, Interim County Manager
Dwight Snow, County Attorney
Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer
Melissa D. Capps, Clerk
Chairman Matthews called the meeting to order at 9:00 am. Vice Chairman Weatherspoon led
the Pledge of Allegiance and invocation.
The following agenda was before the Board:
• Discuss Harnett County's Legal Department Request for Approval of the Bylaws of
Administrative Appeals Board for School Bus Stop Arm Violations, Christopher
Appel
• Discuss a Requested Utility Easement along the Dunn -Erwin Rail Trail for a
Proposed Solar Farm, Christopher Appel
• Discussion of Facility Rental Policies and Staffing Needs, Brian Haney
• Discuss Funding Options for NTIA Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program,
Brian Haney
• Discuss American Rescue Plan Act Funding, Brian Haney
• Recommendation on Septic Tank Hauler and Portable Toilet Wastewater
Treatment Plant Fees, George Wood
• Review of the Executive Search Firms' Responses to the Request for Proposals for
the County Manager Recruitment Process, George Wood
• County Manager's Report:
- August 2, 2021 Meeting Agenda Review
- Review applications to serve on Boards and Committees
- Upcoming meetings and invitations
• Closed Session
• Adjourn
Chairman Matthews thanked Vice Chairman Weatherspoon for leading in his absence and
thanked the commissioners for moving on. He also thanked Mr. Price, Mr. Haney and staff for
filling in for Mr. Wood.
July 27, 2021 Work Session Minutes
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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Christopher Appel, Staff Attorney reviewed the Bylaws of Administrative Appeals Board for
School Bus Stop Arm Violations. Discussion included membership, qualifications and stipends.
Commissioner Johnson stated for anyone who applies you may want to make sure they are not in
any kind of litigation with the county. It was also discussed that if the Commissioners are unable
to find a qualified candidate to fill the Harnett County resident position, the Commissioners may
appoint another Harnett County employee or Harnett County Schools employee to fill the
position. The consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next regular meeting consent
agenda. Meeting time and space was also discussed. Attorney Appel suggested meeting the
second Wednesday of every month. Vice -Chairman Weatherspoon suggested the Appeals Board
meet in the training room of the Harnett County Resource Center and Library Building.
Attorney Appel also shared information regarding a requested utility easement along the Dunn -
Erwin Rail trail for a proposed solar farm. Discussion included how utilities would be ran,
removal of trees, access to the parcel, closures and timeline of installation and compensation for
the easement if the Board decides to move forward. Staff will work on drafting an easement and
will bring back at a later date to discuss language and compensation.
Brian Haney, Assistant County Manager, shared information regarding county facility rentals
and staffing needs. The Commons, the training rooms located in the Harnett County Resource
Center and Library Building, classrooms in the Shawtown Community Development Center, and
additionally, the library maintains a meeting room and a study room. Parks and Recreation
manages rentals of the Anderson Creek Senior Center, the Barbecue Creek Park multi-purpose
room and the Boone Trail Community Center meeting room; they have their own policy and
rental packet for those spaces. In looking at the space at Shawtown, it is very similar to the other
spaces that parks and recreation already manages. If there are no objections from the Board staff
would recommend including that space in with the other locations they have in their rental
package. Discussion continued regarding The Commons and training rooms in the Harnett
County Resource Center and Library Building. Vice Chairman Weatherspoon requested this
item be tabled until the work session in August. Chairman Matthews also asked that staff bring
back cost information for staffing if we were to come up with some guidelines for public use of
the facility.
Mr. Haney also discussed possible funding options for the required match of the NTIA
Broadband Infrastructure Grant, if awarded. It is our understanding that funding would not need
to be appropriated unless the county receives the grant. Discussion included use of local, county
and state funding. The consensus of the Board was for staff to note on the application use of
general funds.
Mr. Haney provided an overview of the American Rescue Plan Act funding. We are planning to
come back to dive into the eligible uses. Harnett County will receive $26,411,744 from the
American Rescue Plan; half of that amount is supposed to be dispersed somewhat upfront with
the other half, to be disbursed at least one year after dispersal. The funds received must be
obligated by December 31, 2024 and must be expended by December 31St of 2026. The Board
will need to adopt a Resolution to request American Rescue Plan funds. The consensus of the
Board was to place this item on the next regular meeting consent agenda.
July 27, 2021 Work Session Minutes
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Page 2 of 4
George Wood, Interim County Manager, reviewed information pertaining to septic tank hauler
and portable toilet wastewater treatment plant fees. Discussion included current fees, landfill
fees and hours of operation. Commissioner Nicol recommended reducing the rate to $65. Vice
Chairman Weatherspoon agrees the rate should be reduced to $65; maintain the $20 per load; to
open the septic pump receiving station from 7:00 am — 6:00 pm; and for HRW to develop a
written policy for emergency situations from 6:00 pm — 7:00 am; as well as state of emergencies
due to hurricanes, tornados and other acts of God. Commissioner Johnson stated he agreed.
Commissioner McKoy stated I do not understand why we would reduce it since we've had it at
these rates for so many years. The consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next
agenda.
Mr. Wood also discussed the executive search firms' responses to the request for proposals for
the county manager recruitment process. Mr. Wood stated what 1 would like to see by next
Monday, the Board narrow down to the top two or three so we can schedule interviews with
them. Discussion included the number of submittals received and the process of selecting a
manager. The consensus of the Board to place this item on the next agenda.
Mr. Wood asked that the Commissioners consider adding discussion of the Tax Collection
Settlement for FY2020 and prior years from the Tax Administrator. The Board agreed. Mr.
Wood reviewed the report that showed a list of unpaid taxes, as of June 30, 2021, constituting
liens on real property and a list of unpaid taxes on personal property not constituting liens on real
property and settlement for the 2020 taxes. Mr. Wood shared 98.75% of taxes levied were
collected. It was the consensus of the Board to place this item on the next regular meeting
consent agenda.
Mr. Wood reviewed the draft agenda for the August 2, 2021 meeting, applications to serve on
Boards and Commissions and a list of upcoming meetings and invitations were provided.
Mr. Haney shared the Facilities Department currently has $26,318 budgeted for part-time staff.
This covers one part-time staff member that manages the courthouse and it also has funding
intended to cover part-time staffing for The Commons area, since that policy requires staff to be
in attendance. The employee at the courthouse recently retired. We have had some issues
recently recruiting for part-time positions. The request from the Facilities Department is to
potentially combine those two part-time positions into a single full-time position. It was the
consensus of the Board to bring back that request when the facility rental policies and staffing
needs are discussed.
Mr. Haney stated the Board approved a one-time bonus for employees at the June 21" meeting.
We had initially intended to provide these supplements as a separate payment that employees
would have received in July, however, late last week we learned of an issue where employees
who have a specific dollar amount deducted from their paychecks to contribute to their 401k
would also see that amount deducted from their bonus. For many employees, this would be
minimal, but for others it could be a substantial amount and greatly reduce the amount of the
supplement they receive. The intended goal of these supplements is that employees receive the
maximum amount possible in their paychecks. In order to make this happen, the one-time
supplement will be included in employees' August 31 paycheck.
July 27, 2021 Work Session Minutes
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Page 3 of 4
Commissioner McKoy stated I received a letter from employees of this county asking that you
reconsider your decision on the diversity training.
Vice Chairman Weatherspoon moved to adjourn the meeting at 11:04 am. Commissioner Nicol
seconded the motion that passed unanimously.
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W. Brooks Matthews, Chairman
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Melissa D. Capps, Clerk to the Board
July 27, 2021 Work Session Minutes
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Page 4 of 4