030921 ws HARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Minutes of Work Session
March 9, 2021
The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in work session on Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in the
Commissioners Meeting Room, Harnett County Resource Center and Library Building, 455 McKinney
Parkway, Lillington,North Carolina. Due to COVID-19 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.
Members present: W. Brooks Matthews, Chairman
Lewis W. Weatherspoon Vice Chairman
Mark B. Johnson, Commissioner
Barbara McKoy, Commissioner
Matt Nicol, Commissioner
Staff present: Paula Stewart, County Manager
Coley Price, Assistant County Manager
Dwight Snow, County Attorney
Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer
Lindsey B. Lucas, Deputy Clerk
Chairman Matthews called the meeting to order at 9:00 am. Commissioner Johnson led the
Pledge of Allegiance and invocation.
The following agenda was before the Board:
• Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation
➢ Nonprofit Annual Presentations:
- Partnership for Children
- Rise and Shine Pit Bull Rescue
- Ronald McDonald House
- SAFE of Harnett County
- Habitat for Humanity
- South Wake Conservationist
➢ Harnett County Schools Energy Performance Contract Presentation,Harnett
County Schools Maintenance Director Steve Matthews and Jonathan Locklear
➢ Employee Survey Results, Dr. Leisha DeHart-Davis, UNC School of Government
➢ New Northwest Harnett Station Update, Emergency Services Director Larry
Smith
> Harnett-Cumberland Boundary Line Proposal, Clint Williams,GIS/E-911
Operations Administrator
> Discuss First Amendment of Tolling Agreement, Senior Staff Attorney
Christopher Appel
➢ Discuss Airfield Lighting Rehabilitation & AWOS Replacement, General
Services Director Barry Blevins
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➢ Harnett Regional Jetport Fixed Based Operator (FBO) Discussion
➢ County Manager's Report:
-March 15, 2021 Regular Meeting Agenda Review
-Review applications to serve on Boards and Committees
-Upcoming meetings and invitations
➢ Closed Session
Adjourn
Updates were given on the following non-profit organizations:
- Partnership for Children
- Rise and Shine Pit Bull Rescue
- Ronald McDonald House
- SAFE of Harnett County
- Habitat for Humanity
- South Wake Conservationist
Harnett County Schools Maintenance Director, Steve Matthews and Jonathan Locklear came
before the Board to present to them the Harnett County Schools Energy Performance Contract
Presentation. Mr. Matthews stated that this would be very beneficial for Harnett County schools
and Harnett County because it is a way to take the money that we are already spending on energy
and allow us to get some better equipment into the schools which would obviously help reduce
energy bills in the future and put the children and teachers in a better environment. Mr. Locklear
gave a lengthy overview of what Performance Contracting is and how it will help Harnett
County Schools. Mr. Locklear explained there would be an evaluation of potential savings from
upgraded existing infrastructure to newer more efficient infrastructure, Monthly savings on
utility bills are realized, and savings are used to finance and pay for improvements. Mr. Locklear
also wanted the Board to know the benefits to the County which are the County will have no out
of pocket expenses, the County will not be required to oversee or do anything throughout the life
of the project, some of the items that will be covered under this process are already in need of
repair and are on the CIP project list and if covered under this process these items could be
removed from that list, and this contract will not show up on the County's books; the school
would be responsible for getting all financing for this project. Mr. Locklear asked the Board to
consider passing a Resolution stating that they will not lower the school's utility allocation for
the life of this contract. County Manager Paula Stewart suggested trying to do some of this
through a pay as you go concept through our CIP process, Mrs. Stewart stated she would like a
little more time for our budget staff to work with Harnett County Schools and instead of doing
every single piece of the project which is over$20 million dollars,maybe do part of it through
the Performance Contract and the other part through our Capital Improvement Project and still
get it funded within that time frame. Mrs. Stewart asked the Board if they would consider a
hybrid approach to this, if they were even considering it at all. Mr. Locklear wanted to add that
he thought this would be a great approach. Chairman Matthews called for any questions and
there were none. Chairman Matthews thanked Mr. Matthews and Mr. Locklear for their time.
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March 9, 2021 Work Session
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Dr. Leisha DeHart-Davis with UNC School of Government went over with the Board the results
of the Harnett County Employee Work Place Survey. Dr. DeHart-Davis stated that overall the
results were positive.
Director of Emergency Services Larry Smith came before the Board to give an update on the
New Northwest Harnett Station. Questions were asked by the Board and discussions were
continued.
GIS/E-911 Operations Administrator Clint Williams stood before the Board to discuss the
Harnett-Cumberland Boundary Line Proposal. Mr. Williams asked the Board if they would want
to continue with this project,he explained the project would help with data accuracy. It was the
consensus of the Board to continue working on this project.
Senior Staff Attorney Christopher Appel came before the Board to discuss the First amendment
of Tolling Agreement. Mr. Appel explained that the original tolling agreement was entered into
in 2019 with the engineers,the County and the water and sewer districts. Mr. Appel stated that
the tolling agreement tolls the statute of limitations and any other defenses it may have. The
current agreement is set to expire March 12,2021 and the amendment it to extend it another two
years. It was the consensus of the Board to add this to the upcoming regular meeting agenda.
General Services Director Barry Blevins approached the Board to discuss the Airfield Lighting
Rehabilitation and AWOS Replacement.
The Board of Commissioners discussed the Harnett Regional Jetport Fixed Base Operator.
Discussions were continued. Vice Chairman suggested moving to issue Warren Aviation a notice
of 90 day termination. It was the consensus of the Board to add this as a discussion item at the
upcoming regular meeting.
Mrs. Stewart went over the March 15, 2021 regular meeting agenda.
Vice Chairman Weatherspoon moved to go into closed session to
1.) To consult with the County's legal counsel in order to preserve the attorney client
privilege in the handling of certain litigation or claims including the following case RCG
Dunn LLC v. Harnett County—Property Tax Commission File#19 PTC130;
2.) Discuss a personnel matter
Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion that passed unanimously.
Vice Chairman Weatherspoon made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 11:47 am. Commissioner
McKoy seconded the motion that passed unanimously.
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W. Brooks Mal ews, Chairman Lindsey B. Lucas, Deputy Clerk
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