031423 ws HARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Minutes of Work Session
March 14, 2023
The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in work session on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at
9:00 am, in the Commissioners Meeting Room, Harnett County Resource Center and Library, 455
McKinney Parkway, Lillington,North Carolina.
Members present: Matthew B. Nicol, Chairman
Barbara McKoy, Commissioner
W. Brooks Matthews, Commissioner
Lewis W. Weatherspoon, Commissioner
Absent: William Morris, Vice Chairman
Staff present: Dwight Snow, County Attorney
Brent Trout, County Manager
Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer
Melissa Capps, County Clerk
Chairman Nicol called the Harnett County Board of Commissioners meeting to order at 9:00 am.
Commissioner Matthews led the Pledge of Allegiance and invocation.
Brent Trout, County Manager, asked that the Board of Commissioners add an item to the agenda.
We had a request come from the Town of Angier for letters of support for some grant
applications they are pursuing. If you could add that as a new number 10 and move those items
down it would be appreciated. The deadline for those applications is the 17t. Consensus of the
Board was to add the item to the agenda. Commissioner Weatherspoon asked about the request
regarding the location of a DMV office in the Lillington area. Consensus was to add that item to
the agenda as number 11 and move down the other items.
The following agenda was before the Board of Commissioners:
1. Call to order—Chairman Matt Nicol
2. Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation—Commissioner Brooks Matthews
3. Presentation on Harnett Promise Program; Jon Matthews, Provost, Harnett County,
Central Carolina Community College
4. Presentation on the status of WWTP for accepting septic and port-a-john waste;
Steve Ward, Harnett Regional Water Director
5. Development Services briefing on upcoming public hearings:
• Proposed Zoning Change: Case#PLAN2301-0001; Landowner/Applicant:
Charles W Harwell; 9.15 +/- acres; Pin# 9576-43-9434.000; From
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Work Session Minutes
March 14, 2023
Page 1 of 4
Commercial/Conservation to RA-20R/Conservation Zoning District;NC Hwy 87
S; Barbecue Township
• Proposed Zoning Change: Case#PLAN2302-0001; JPF Properties,LLC; 10.91
+/-acres;Pin#'s 1537-26-3967.000& 1537-27-3212.000;From RA-30 to
Commercial Zoning District; SR# 1709(Hodges Chapel Rd); Averasboro
Township
• Proposed Zoning Change: Case#PLAN2302-0002;JPF Properties, LLC; 8.88
+/-acres;Pin#'s 1538-32-2851.000; From RA-20R to Commercial Zoning
District; SR# 1840(Robin Hood Rd);Averasboro Township
• Proposed Text Amendment: Case#PLAN2302-0003; Applicant: Harnett County
Development Services;Harnett County Unified Development Ordinance; Article
XII, Sections 2.6.1. To amend Harnett County's U.D.O Land Use Plan
Amendments Section.
6. Economic Development Update; Christian Lockamy, Economic Development Director
7. Discuss Nonprofit Funding Agreement($1.5 Million State Appropriations);Ally
Fouts, Lead for North Carolina Fellow
8. Discuss Hazard Mitigation Grant Program; Christopher Appel, Senior Staff Attorney
9. Discuss Lobbying Firm RFQ; Brent Trout, County Manager
10. Letters of Support for the Town of Angier
11. Letter of Support related to the addition of a DMV Office in the Lillington area
12. County Manager's Report-Brent Trout, County Manager
• March 20,2023 Regular Meeting Agenda Review
• Upcoming meetings and invitations
13. Closed Session
14.Adjourn
Jon Matthews,Provost,Central Carolina Community College,provided an update to the Board
on the Harnett Promise Program which included quick facts about the Fall 2019 to Fall 2022
cohorts,average cohort demographics and most popular program pathways. He also reviewed
the proposed revisions to the Memorandum of Understanding. Consensus of the Board was to
place this item on the agenda as an individual action item.
Steve Ward,Harnett Regional Water(HRW) Director,provided an update to the Board on North
Harnett Waste Water Treatment Plant receiving septic/porta-john waste. On Friday February 17,
2023 we suspended septage/porta-john receiving at the plant due to the condition of our sludge
stabilization and storage lagoon. The lagoon is vital to not only to the septage/porta-john settling
necessary for treatment but also to all wastewater influent tributary to the plant. We have been
receiving record amounts of septage/porta-john waste in the last two years. In 2020 the plant
averaged 285,942 gallons per month. In 2022 that amount has increased to 450,108 gallons per
month. That is an increase of 57%in just two years. HRW's consulting engineer prepared a
detailed memo explaining the issues we are experiencing at the plant as the result of the amounts
of septage/porta-john waste we are receiving. NHWWTP does not have the assimilative capacity
to handle these large volumes of septic/porta-john waste. Chemicals present in porta john waste
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Work Session Minutes
March 14,2023
Page 2 of 4
that inhibit the process microbial organisms breaking down solids,regular septage received from
septic tanks do not cause these issues. Last week,we resumed receiving septic waste only at the
plant as the two and half week rest actually helped the lagoon. We also started a pilot process to
see if we can mix the porta.john waste with sludge from the water treatment plant. The early
results from this pilot have not been promising as the water we return to the lagoon from the
sludge removal process is still colored blue like the chemicals found in the porta john waste
stream. If the results from the pilot study do not improve our plan is to limit and regulate the
receiving of porta john waste by issuing haulers of such waste an industrial user permit. This is
the same process that is followed for any waste stream we receive containing constituents that
are not easily removed with our waste treatment process. HRW's obligation is to serve all the
sewer customers,both residential and commercial,that this plant serves. That includes Angier,
Coats, Erwin, Lillington, Campbell University and Buies Creek in Harnett County and partially
the Town of Fuquay-Varina in Wake County.
Sarah Arbor,Planner II, Development Services provided a briefing on the following upcoming
public hearings:
• Proposed Zoning Change: Case#PLAN2301-0001; Landowner/Applicant:
Charles W Harwell; 9.15 +/-acres;Pin#9576-43-9434.000;From
Commercial/Conservation to RA-20R/Conservation Zoning District;NC Hwy 87
S; Barbecue Township
• Proposed Zoning Change: Case#PLAN2302-0001;JPF Properties,LLC; 10.91
+/-acres;Pin#'s 1537-26-3967.000& 1537-27-3212.000; From RA-30 to
Commercial Zoning District; SR# 1709(Hodges Chapel Rd); Averasboro
Township
• Proposed Zoning Change: Case#PLAN2302-0002;JPF Properties, LLC; 8.88
+/-acres;Pin#'s 1538-32-2851.000;From RA-20R to Commercial Zoning
District; SR# 1840(Robin Hood Rd);Averasboro Township
Jay Sikes, Assistant Development Services Director/Manager of Planning Services,provided a
briefing on the following upcoming public hearing:
• Proposed Text Amendment: Case#PLAN2302-0003; Applicant: Harnett County
Development Services; Harnett County Unified Development Ordinance; Article
XII, Sections 2.6.1. To amend Harnett County's U.D.O Land Use Plan
Amendments Section.
Christian Lockamy,Economic Development Director,provided an update to the Board which
included information on forward progress,product development,workforce development,
business retention and expansion, funding and staff,external and internal marketing and quality
of life.
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Work Session Minutes
March 14,2023
Page 3 of 4
Ally Fouts, Lead for North Carolina Fellow, a request for approval of the funding agreement
with Central Carolina Community College as a part of the$1.5 million received from the State
which was allocated to Harnett County to be passed along to 46 entities,as decided by Senator
Burgin. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda.
Chris Appel, Senior Staff Attorney reviewed information regarding three properties involved
with the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program as a result of Hurricane Florence which include 109
Coats Road, Linden,NC; 149 Coats Road, Linden,NC and 78 Burnett Lane, Linden,NC. These
properties are located on Anderson Creek. Discussion included the size of the lots. Legal would
ask the Board to approve the acceptance of these properties as they are presented to the County.
Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda.
Mr. Trout stated I have conducted a request for proposal process and received seven proposals
for providing lobbying services. The proposals identified their qualifications and background as
a lobbying firm. I interviewed four different firms regarding their experience and services. It was
a close competition but I have determined the firm that is best qualified to lead our lobbying
efforts is Kairos Government Affairs. I am seeking the board's approval of this recommendation
and permission to negotiate contract terms for a two year contract. We have the funds budgeted
in contingency for this item for this year and we will include the necessary funds in next year's
budget. I attached the score sheet with my evaluations of the proposals and the proposal
submitted by Kairos Government Affairs for your information to the memo. Commissioner
McKoy stated I personal do not see why we need to pay for a lobbyist, I personally feel we have
a good relationship with our representatives,but if that is the way the Board would like to go, I
am fine. Consensus of the Board was to place this as an individual item on the next agenda.
Mr. Trout shared information regarding a request from the Town of Angier regarding letters of
support for grant applications for water and infrastructure projects,the construction of Town Hall
and a community center. Commissioner Weatherspoon made a motion to approve the letters of
support for the Town of Angier's grant applications. The motion was seconded by
Commissioner Matthews and carried unanimously.
Commissioner Weatherspoon shared he was contacted by a citizen that would like to establish a
DMV Office in the Lillington area. He has received support from Senator Burgin,Mayor
McFadden and I think he has support from the Lillington Chamber. He would like a letter of
support from the Board of Commissioners. Consensus of the Board was to approve a letter of
support for the establishment of a DMV Office in the Lillington area.
Commissioner Matthews made a motion to adjourn at 10:52 am. The motion was seconded by
Commissioner Weatherspoon. The motion carried unanimously.
Matthew B.Nicol, Chairman Meliss . Capps,Clerk
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Work Session Minutes
March 14,2023
Page 4 of 4