032922 wsHARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Minutes of Work Session
March 29, 2022
The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in work session on Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at
9:00 am, in the Commissioners Meeting Room, Harnett County Resource Center and Library, 455
McKinney Parkway, Lillington, North Carolina.
Members present: Lewis W. Weatherspoon, Chairman
Matt B. Nicol, Vice Chairman
Barbara McKoy, Commissioner
Mark B. Johnson, Commissioner
W. Brooks Matthews, Commissioner
Staff present: Dwight Snow, County Attorney
Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer
Brent Trout, County Manager
Melissa Capps, Clerk
Chairman Weatherspoon called the Harnett County Board of Commissioners meeting to order at
9:00 am.
Commissioner Johnson led the Pledge of Allegiance and invocation.
The following agenda was before the Board of Commissioners:
1. Call to order — Chairman Lewis Weatherspoon
2. Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation — Commissioner Mark Johnson
3. Discuss request to approve the contract for the audit firm Martin Starnes &
Associates, CPA, PA to audit the County's accounts for fiscal year ending 06/30/22;
Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer
4. Discuss proposed text amendment: Case # PLAN2112-0004 Harnett County Unified
Development Ordinance; Article VII, Section 6.4.1. To amend Harnett County's
UDO in order to add specifics such as a duration for water flow, as associated with
fire hydrants and fire protection; Mark Locklear, Development Services Director
5. Veterans Treatment Court Program Update and Grant Application Request; Zane
Campbell, Veterans Treatment Court Program Director
6. Discuss Harnett Regional Water Write-offs for 2nd quarter of 2021; Steve Ward,
HRW Director
7. Economic Development Project Update, Christian Lockamy, Economic Development
Director
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8. Discuss Mid -Carolina Workforce Development Consortium Agreement and
Resolution Approving the Consortium Agreement, Coley Price, Assistant County
Manager
9. Discuss Draft Funding Plan for Harnett County's American Rescue Plan (ARP)
Allocation — Brian Haney, Assistant County Manager
10. Discuss Harnett County's Local Government Infrastructure Grant from State
Budget — Brian Haney, Assistant County Manager
11. Discuss Upcoming GREAT Grant Deadline and Partnership Recommendations —
Ira Hall, Chief Information Officer (**please note: action could be taken on this item to
authorize grant submissions)
12. Discuss Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Airport Infrastructure Grant for Terminal
Building); Coley Price, Assistant County Manager & Brent Trout, County Manager
(* *please note: action could be taken on this item to authorize grant submission)
13. Discuss Revision to Rules of Procedure, Rule 29. Public Comment Period; Lewis
Weatherspoon, Chairman
14. Discuss the appointment of Christian Lockamy as the Harnett County
representative on the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Economic
Development Commission; Brent Trout, County Manager
15. County Manager's Report- Brent Trout, County Manager
• April 4, 2022 Regular Meeting Agenda Review
• Review applications to serve on Boards and Committees
• Upcoming meetings and invitations
16. Closed Session
17. Adjourn
Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer, reviewed a request to approve the County's audit contract
as required by NC General Statutes. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next
consent agenda.
Mark Locklear, Development Services Director, shared we are back on the proposed text
amendment: Case # PLAN2112-0004 for Harnett County Unified Development Ordinance;
Article VII, Section 6.4.1. which would amend Harnett County's UDO in order to add specifics
such as a duration for water flow, as associated with fire hydrants and fire protection. Mr.
Locklear introduced Rodney Daniels, Fire Marshal, who shared information on residential water
supply requirements from surrounding counties and municipalities. Mr. Daniels also shared
information regarding NC Fire Code and ISO standards. Discussion included number of
hydrants in Harnett County, requiring one hour versus two hours of minimum duration, large lot
subdivisions and residential versus commercial project standards. Brent Trout, County Manager,
stated if two hours seems too far, I would request we at least consider the one hour time frame.
Consensus of the Board included a one hour duration and to place on the agenda as an action
item. Mr. Locklear stated the text amendment would require a public hearing. Commissioner
Matthews requested the item come back for further discussion at a work session in April.
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Chairman Weatherspoon asked the Clerk to place it on the work session agenda for April 25,
2022.
Zane Campbell, Veterans Treatment Court Program Director, provided an update on Veterans
Treatment Court staffing and programming. He also shared information regarding a request to
apply for two BJA grants and the AOC Court Pilot Program grant that would provide funding in
the amount of $200,000 annually from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2023 for the expansion of
services, an additional case manager, incentives for participants and crisis intervention.
Consensus of the Board was to place approval of the Veterans Treatment Court applying for two
BJA Grants and the acceptance of the AOC Court Pilot Program grant on the next consent
agenda.
Steve Ward, Harnett Regional Water Director, shared information regarding a request for
approval of write-offs for the second quarter of 2021 in the amount of $33,133.08. Consensus of
the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda.
Mr. Ward also shared he would be bringing two items to the Commissioners' Work Session on
April 12'', a Resolution/Authorization to Apply for Loan/Grant funding from NCDEQ for the
NHWWTP Capacity Upgrade Project and a request for approval of the Town of Fuquay-Varina
Water Purchase Agreement.
Christian Lockamy, Economic Development Director, provided an update on the progress of the
annual workplan and shared some information on projects. Mr. Lockamy shared staff is working
with two life science companies, three companies in the construction industry, with all you are
looking at potentially 370 new jobs.
Coley Price, Assistant County Manager, shared the Harnett County Commissioners adopted a
Resolution in December, 2021 that Mid -Carolina Regional Council become the grant
administrator for the Mid -Carolina Workforce Area/Workforce Development Board. Mr. Price
introduced Justin Hembree, Executive Director, Mid -Carolina Regional Council. Mr. Hembree
stated you adopted a resolution, voicing the County's intent to move forward with the formation
of the new local workforce development area. Mr. Hembree stated we are asking for your
consideration to adopt a Resolution to enter into workforce development consortium agreement
pursuant to North Carolina General Statues, Section 160A-461 with the North Carolina counties
of Cumberland and Sampson to organize a workforce development area. Mr. Hembree reviewed
the consortium agreement. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the consent agenda.
Brian Haney, Assistant County Manager, stated I am here to revisit the Draft funding plan for
Harnett County's American Rescue Plan (ARP) Allocation. My goal today is to solicit Board
input and direction regarding the draft funding plan in terms of any project you would like to see
removed, added or changed. Mr. Haney reviewed each of the ARP Eligible Projects. Discussion
included space needed for Probation and Parole Department, Space Needs Study, the Animal
Shelter and staff retention. Chairman Weatherspoon asked the Board can we agree with
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whatever we decide to fund, we will agree unanimously. Commissioners McKoy and Matthews
stated we will give it our best shot. Vice Chairman Nicol and Commissioner Johnson agreed
they will give it a try. Mr. Haney reviewed the requests received during the public input session.
The Shawtown Alumni Association requested funding for the extension of water and sewer lines
to the properties owned by the Shawtown Alumni Association, funding to add a paved driveway
and parking lot on the property, and funding for a multi-purpose athletic complex. In terms of a
waterline this area is served by the Town of Lillington, in terms of water and sewer. Mayor
McFadden provided a conservative estimate for the extension to the property; an amount just
under $63,000. There is no cost estimate at this time for the paved drive and parking lot. Mr.
Haney stated he spoke with Mr. Smith in regards to the multi-purpose athletic complex and he
clarified this is for a multi-purpose athletic field for football, baseball, etc. with lighting as well
as a walking track on the property. Mr. Haney stated in addition to these items, I would like to
note that we have received requests from multiple organizations and citizens over the past year.
I can provide you with a listing of the agencies that have reached out if you would like.
Commissioner Matthews stated I have also received several requests from people about helping
with their business, it is my understanding none of this funding may be used for private
businesses is that correct? Mr. Haney stated that is my understanding, per state statute we are
not allowed to provide grants to private businesses, we can potentially provide grants to non-
profits to carry out public purposes.
Chairman Weatherspoon stated he would be interested in knowing who the other organizations
are that have requested funding. Chairman Weatherspoon also inquired about the Shawtown
multipurpose field.
Commissioner McKoy stated I would like to provide a reminder for the County part of
Shawtown, they tore down the gym and there was a promise to build another gym. Mr. Haney
provided an update on the Parks and Recreation plan for the County's portion of the Shawtown
site.
Additional discussion continued and included who maintains the existing multi-purpose field on
the Shawtown Alumni's property and a request to get an estimate for lighting for the multi-
purpose field.
The Board took a recess from 11:13 am to 11:24 am.
Chairman Weatherspoon called the meeting back to order.
Mr. Haney reviewed the ARP Eligible Projects. The consensus of the Board was to hold the
Courthouse 3rd Floor Upfit and hold the Low Emission X -Ray Scanner for Detention Center,
place $300,000 in for Providing Premium/Retention Pay for County Employees (EMS).
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Mr. Haney reviewed the Supplanted Lost Revenue (Not ARP Funds) and the consensus of the
Board was to hold on funding for greenway development. Staff will bring back the items agreed
upon at the time to the regular meeting.
Mr. Haney stated Harnett County received a number of directed grants in the State Budget.
Among these was a Local Government Infrastructure Grant from the State Capital and
Infrastructure Fund (SCIF) in the amount of $630,000. The grant is administered by the Office of
State Budget and Management (OSBM). The Local Government Infrastructure Grant may only
be spent on capital improvements as defined by North Carolina General Statute 143C -1-1(d)(5)
to include "real property acquisition, new construction or rehabilitation of existing facilities, and
repairs and renovations." We were later informed there was an intended purpose when this
funding was included in the state budget for the following:
• Shaw House $50,000
• Averasboro Battlefield $100,000
• Sheriff s Office $100,000
• Harnett Fire Chiefs Association $120,000
• Carvers Creek State Park $100,000
• Other County Projects $160,000
Mr. Haney shared there are some issues with eligibility, with timing and management and
oversight. Mr. Haney stated staff s recommendation that would eliminate or minimize those
issues, would be to allocate $470,000 from the County's General Fund balance to make the
purchases on behalf of those agencies or provide the intended grant amount to the agencies
directly from the County. We would have to develop basic grant agreements. The County
would in turn use the SCIF grant for eligible County projects. Mr. Haney asked if the Board was
comfortable with the recommendation to take the funds out of fund balance to move those
projects forward for the agencies designated to receive them. Consensus of the Board was to
take $470,000 out of fund balance to be used to provide grants to these entities for the intended
purposes.
Mr. Haney shared information on the following County capital projects that could be used for the
SCIF grant: Neills Creek Park concession/restroom/storage facility and window replacement at
the former Benhaven School two-story classroom building. Mr. Haney stated if additional funds
remain, they could be used to offset costs related to renovation of the former Benhaven School
media center for County service provision. The Board of Commissioners discussed projects.
Consensus of the Board was to proceed with the projects as recommended by staff and to place
items on the consent agenda.
Ira Hall, Chief Information Officer, provided information on the GREAT Grant and partnership
recommendations. The application deadline is May 4a'. $8 million per County, up to $4 million
per project and the grants must be applied for by an internet service provider. Mr. Hall reviewed
the grant point structure for county partnerships. $750,000 ARP funds are proposed for
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matching in this grant round. There are six internet service providers that have reached out to
partner with the County. Mr. Haney stated one option we discussed was to offer to partner with
all of them but we would only partner if they received a grant to maximize grant funds.
Coley Price, Assistant County Manager, provided information on the Bipartisan Infrastructure
Law (Airport Infrastructure Grant for Terminal Building). It is a new program that aims to
address aging infrastructure at the nation's airports. Mr. Coley shared it had a very tight
timeframe. The pre -application was due yesterday at 5:00 pm. We are requesting $7 million
dollars, to help build the terminal for Harnett Regional Jetport. There is a 10% match. Mr.
Coley stated what we are asking for is the Board's support of the pre -application and anything
moving forward, you would give Mr. Trout and myself permission to move forward. You will
hear from the grant application in June. Chairman Weatherspoon shared if we were to receive
the federal grant, it would allow us to use the state funds for other airport improvements.
Chairman Weatherspoon made a motion to authorize Mr. Price and Mr. Trout apply for this
grant. Commissioner Nicol seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
Chairman Weatherspoon asked if everyone had a chance to review the proposed revisions to the
Rules of Procedure, Rule 29. Public Comment Period. Brent Trout, County Manager, reviewed
the proposed changes. Commissioner McKoy stated she would like to see a deputy here as well.
Discussion included proper decorum and profanity. Commissioner McKoy suggested "No
profanity." Christopher Appel, Senior Staff Attorney, suggested rewording proper decorum to
maintain proper order. Consensus of the Board was to place this on the next consent agenda.
Brent Trout, County Manager, reviewed a request to appoint Christian Lockamy as the Harnett
County representative on the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Economic Development
Commission. Consensus of the Board was to place this on the next consent agenda.
Chairman Weatherspoon stated a question has been raised about appointments, I hope they are
coming to the Board for approval before being reinstated for another term.
Appointment recommendations were reviewed, terms and reappointments were also discussed.
Vice Chairman Nicol moved to adjourn the meeting at 1:25 pm. Commissioner Johnson
seconded the motion that passed unanimously.
4wis �WAWe e poon, Chairman elissa D. Capps, Clerk
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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March 29, 2022
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