041321 ws HARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Minutes of Work Session
April 13, 2021
The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in work session on Tuesday, April 13, 2021, 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
Mark B. Johnson, Commissioner
Barbara McKoy, Commissioner
Matt Nicol, Commissioner
Staff present: Paula Stewart, County Manager
Dwight Snow, County Attorney
Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer
Lindsey B. Lucas, Interim 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
➢ Good Hope Hospital Update,Matthew Bertagnole
> Discuss Bus Patrol, Christopher Appel, Senior Staff Attorney
Workforce Development Update, Charlotte Leach
➢ Harnett County Growth Update, Mark Locklear
> Development Services:
Proposed Rezoning: Case# PLAN2101-0001 & 0002
- Landowner/Applicant: Fred Turlington,CIO Ray Womble/Hal Long; 20.06
+/- acres; Pin #'s 1508-08-2742.000& 1508-08-1016.000 ; From Commercial
to RA-30 Zoning District; Intersection of NC 55 E & SR#2009 (Prospect
Church Road); Grove Township.
- Text Amendment: Case# PLAN2103-0001
Harnett County Unified Development Ordinance; Article V, Sections 11.0.
To amend Harnett County's U.D.O.where it pertains to allowing a covered
addition on a home in a manufactured home park.
- Text Amendment: Case#PLAN2103-0003
Harnett County Unified Development Ordinance; Article V, Section 1.2. To
amend Harnett County's U.D.O. use regulations that pertain to required
parking spaces for public elementary& middle schools
• Discuss the renaming of NC Highway 87
➢ The Agricultural Advisory Board requests a statement of support on the
recommendations concerning Voluntary Agricultural District enrolled parcels
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(PIN 0673-21-2847,0673-32-4623,0673-33-3479) being impacted by the DOT
project R-5705 (Highway 55 expansion), Lynn Lambert
➢ Broadband Update, Ira Hall
> Designation of Harnett County Symbols,Ashley Bauer
> Discuss the possible sale of land to City of Dunn,Dwight Snow
➢ Diversity, Equity& Inclusion Update, Paula Stewart
➢ One-time Benefit Supplement for Employees- $1,000 full-time/$500 part-time,
Paula Stewart
County Manager's Report:
- April 19,2021 Regular Meeting Agenda Review
- Review applications to serve on Boards and Committees
> Upcoming meetings and invitations
➢ Adjourn
Matthew Bertganole, Executive Director of Good Hope Hospital stood before the Board to give
an update on the Good Hope Hospital and gave an overview of services available and
improvements that are being made on the hospital. Questions were asked by the commissioners
and discussions were continued.
Charlotte Leach, Director of Workforce Development and Anitra Hart, Workforce Development
Specialist, came before the Board to give an update on Workforce Development. Ms. Hart went
over all the services that are provided through NCWORKS. Ms. Hart stressed how important
NCWORKS is to the people of Harnett County to help them find employment.
Director of Development Services Mark Locklear gave an update to the Board about the growth
happening in Harnett County. Mr. Locklear went over a report his department provided which
shows the number of single-family residential permits that have been issued along with the
certificates of occupancy and the report also showed how many commercial projects are going
on in the county. Questions were asked by the Commissioners and discussions were continued.
Mr. Locklear presented to the Board a proposed rezoning located at PIN#'s1508-08-2742.000 &
1508-08-1016.000. The property owner Fred Turlington, C/O Ray Womble is requesting the
property go from Commercial to RA-30 Zoning District. He also proposed to the Board two text
amendments, first one being Article V, Sections 11.0 to amend the Harnett County U.D.O where
is pertains to allowing a covered addition on a home in a manufactured Park. The second text
amendments Article V, Section 1.2 to amend the Harnett County's U.D.O., where it pertains to
required parking spaces for public elementary and middle schools.
Mr. Locklear discussed the renaming of NC Highway 87. Mr. Locklear read a letter that was
written to him by Drew with the NCDOT. The letter said that the NCDOT would not be involved
in the renaming of NC Highway 87. The responsibility would be on the County. E911/GIS
Director Clint Williams informed the Board that usually 75%of property owners have to agree
or it's under total discretion of the Commissioners. He said the main kickback would be the
readdressing of property. Mr. Williams said he does think there will be property owners that
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would be upset about address changes but does think it would be a big help to change the name
of NC Highway 87 in the long run.
Director of Soil and Water Lynn Lambert stood before the Board on behalf of the Agricultural
Advisory Board. Ms. Lambert explained there are several qualifying factors that have to be made
to qualify for the Voluntary Agricultural District Program. As a result of the Highway 55
expansion project a public hearing was held concerning the Gardner family properties enrolled in
the Voluntary Agricultural Advisory Program that will be impacted by the Highway 55
expansion near Angier,NC. The first recommendation is Right of ways be kept to an absolute
minimum to lessen the impact on farm infrastructure including center pivot and underground
irrigation system to allow properties to remain as economically sustainable as possible with
fields large enough to continue crop production. The second recommendation is access to water
resources for crop irrigation to be maintained by placement of a pipe under the road by DOT
allowing for irrigation to be continued for maximum crop yields on both sides of the road. The
final recommendation is consideration be given to redesign the new route of Matthews Mill Pond
Road enabling farm equipment to cross from one side of the farm to the other without danger of
traveling with slow moving farm equipment pulling implements along a 60mph zone.
Director of IT Ira Hall came before the Board to give an update on Broadband in Harnett County.
Mr. Hall went into great detail on updates regarding Cloudwyze. Mr. Hall estimates early 2022
will be the first stage of deployment. Questions were asked by the Board.
Communications Coordinator Ashley Bauer discussed with the Board the Designation of County
Symbols. Mrs. Bauer asked for guidance from the Board on suggestions for domestic animals
and non-domestic animals. Mrs. Bauer will be sending a draft to the commissioners to review so
they can decide what they would like as the County Symbols.
County Attorney Dwight Snow came before the Board to discuss the City of Dunn's desire to
purchase adjoining parcels of land near the City of Dunn's existing water treatment plant. City
Manager of Dunn, Steven Neuschafer, spoke on the benefits of obtaining the property and
Director of Harnett Regional Water, Steve Ward, spoke on the benefits of having a plant on that
side of the river in order to meet the ongoing demands. Snow Bowden of the town of Erwin
commented that he and his staff support Harnett Regional Water and their efforts. Questions
were asked by the Commissioners and discussions were continued.
County Manager Paula Stewart gave an update to the Board on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Mrs. Stewart explained she has partnered with Kit Sanders to come up with a plan to lead this
effort and get guidance from the Board on how they would like to see this effort go.
Commissioner Mckoy expressed that she is in favor of the moves Mrs. Stewart has made towards
these efforts. Chairman Matthews commented he is also in favor of the direction Mrs. Stewart is
taking.
Mrs. Stewart spoke to the Board about a One-time Benefit Supplement for Employees of
$1,000.00 full time/$500 part-time. This benefit would go only to general local government
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employees. Chairman Matthews would like to like to revisit this topic after talking some more on
it.
Mrs. Stewart reviewed the draft April 19, 2021 regular meeting agenda.
Mrs. Stewart discussed reopening the building to the public and that date is planned for be April
26, 2021.
Commissioner Vice Chairman Weatherspoon moved to go into closed session to
1.) To discuss certain personnel matters; and
2.) To instruct the County staff concerning the position to be taken by the County in
negotiating a contract for the acquisition of Real Property.
Commissioner Nicol seconded the motion that passed unanimously.
Vice Chairman Weatherspoon made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 1:02 pm. Commissioner
Nicol seconded the motion that passed unanimously.
W. Brooks Matthews, Chairman Lindsey B. Lucas, Interim Clerk
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