031224 mHARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Minutes of Work Session
March 12, 2024
The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in work session on Tuesday, March 12, 2024,
at 9:00 am, in the Commissioners Meeting Room, Harnett County Resource Center and Library,
455 McKinney Parkway, Lillington, North Carolina.
Members present: William Morris, Chairman
Barbara McKoy, Commissioner
Lewis W. Weatherspoon, Commissioner
Matthew B. Nicol, Commissioner
Member absent: W. Brooks Matthews, Vice Chairman
Staff present: Dwight Snow, County Attorney
Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer
Brent Trout, County Manager
Melissa Capps, Clerk
Chairman Morris called the Harnett County Board of Commissioners meeting to order at 9:00
am.
Commissioner McKoy led the Pledge of Allegiance and invocation.
The following agenda was before the Board of Commissioners:
1. Call to order — Chairman William Morris
2. Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation — Vice Chairman Brooks Matthews
3. Discuss a request for the Board of Commissioners to consider and approve a site for
the future Animal Services Adoption Center; Barry Blevins; General Services
Director
4. Discuss a request to accept the Neills Creek Park Masterplan developed by
WithersRavenel; Carl Davis, Parks and Recreation Director
5. Discuss requests from the Department of Social Services; Paul Polinski, Social
Services Director
• Positions needed for Medicaid expansion
• Renovation projects and office furniture
6. Development Services briefing on upcoming public hearing:
• Proposed Text Amendment: Case # PLAN2402-0003 Harnett County Development
Services; Harnett County Unified Development Ordinance; Article XI, Section
10.2.1, Review Officer Appointment. To revise the ordinance to be fully compliant
with NC GS 47-30.2.
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Work Session Minutes
March 12, 2024
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7. Discuss a request for the approval of the fireworks application from Pyro East
Coast, Inc. for Campbell University's fireworks displays; Larry Smith, Emergency
Services Director
S. Discuss a request for approval of West Area responding to EMS calls as First
Responders; Larry Smith, Emergency Services Director
9. Discuss a request to approve the contract with Martin Starnes & Associates, CPAs,
P.A. for the completion of the County's required audit for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 2024; Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer
10. Discuss the SRO Contract with the Town of Lillington; Brent Trout, County Manager
11. Discuss furniture donation from Southeastern Interiors for Jetport Terminal; Brent
Trout, County Manager
12. Discuss legislative priorities; Brent Trout, County Manager
LDiscuss adding 100% Total and Permanent Disabled Veterans Tax Exemption
13. iscuss the lobbying services contract with Kairos; Chairman William Morris
14. Review applications to serve on Boards and Committees.
15. County Manager's Report — Brent Trout, County Manager
• Discuss a request to adopt a resolution requesting NCDOT add Cottles Lake Drive;
Gillis Court, Modlin Court, Vic Mcleod Court within Cottlestone Estates Subdivision
to the State's Secondary Road System.
• Discuss a request to adopt a resolution requesting NCDOT add English Oak Drive,
Burr Oak Circle, Angel Oak Drive, Wood Point Drive, Southern Oak Court and Silk
Oak Drive within Forest Oaks Phase 4 & 5 Subdivision to the State's Secondary Road
System.
• March 18, 2024 Regular Meeting Agenda Review
• Upcoming meetings and invitations
16. Closed Session
17. Adjourn
Barry Blevins, General Services Director, reviewed a request for the Board to consider and
approve a site for the future Animal Services Adoption Center. Mr. Blevins reviewed the options
and provided pros and cons for each site. Consensus of the Board was to place the preliminary
approval of Sites 2 & 3 (RCL Main Campus) and approve issuance of a Request for
Qualifications (RFQ) for interested Architect/Engineer firms for the design of the future Animal
Services Adoption Center on the next consent agenda.
Carl Davis, Parks and Recreation Director, provided the history of Neills Creek Park. Mr. Davis
introduced Jon Blasco with WithersRavenel. Mr. Blasco reviewed information which included
site analysis, initial concepts, community engagement, master plan, cost estimate and a phasing
plan. Parks and Recreation requests the acceptance of the Neills Creek Park Master Plan
developed by WithersRavenel. This plan will guide program and facility improvements of Neill's
Creek Park through a phased approach to enhance amenities, elevate field availability, alleviate
traffic and parking issues, and maximize outside funding. WithersRavenel developed the plan
using public and staff input, as well as, national and state trends in park development. The
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Work Session Minutes
March 12, 2024
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proposed Master Plan will benefit programming for both the County Parks and Recreation
Department and School System. Consensus of the Board was to place this item on the next
consent agenda.
Paul Polinski, Social Services Director, reviewed a request to add 8 additional new positions and
reclass a current position to assist with Medicaid Expansion. Medicaid Expansion began
December 1, 2023. In the last three months DSS has had 10,142 new Medicaid Expansion cases
added to our numbers. We now have a total of 35,029 Medicaid cases in Harnett County. We
were projected to receive around 9,700 cases. We can cover the cost of the new positions and the
reclass for the months of May and June through lapsed salaries. The total for all 8 positions and
the reclass would be $89,262. This does not include the 75% reimbursement from the state.
County cost would be $22,315. 5-Income Maintenance Caseworker II's are needed to take new
Medicaid applications, process them and do annual recertification's. 2-Quality Assurance/
Trainer positions are needed to monitor the work being produced to ensure accuracy/timeliness
and prevent County paybacks. Provide training where areas need improvement. 1-Income Main.
Supervisor II is needed to manage the increase in new employees, monitor cases, train staff,
monitor reports, perform evaluations on employees and work with State monitors while being
audited. Reclass one Data Entry Operator to an Income Maintenance Tech. The county will be
reimbursed 75% from the state for each employee's salary and benefits. This increased from
50%. Consensus of the Board was to place approval of this item on the next consent agenda.
Mr. Polinski also reviewed a request to use lapsed salary to install carpet, pull down wallpaper,
and paint walls. We have one estimate for $79,944. Consensus of the Board was to place this
item as an individual action item on the next agenda in order to verify funds available.
Mr. Polinski also shared information regarding a request to replace 134 desks. This will be an
Expansion in the coming budget. Cost is estimated at $213,000. The Board requested they look
at other options available in order to lower costs.
Sarah Arbour, Planner II, reviewed a Proposed Text Amendment: Case # PLAN2402-0003
Harnett County Development Services; Harnett County Unified Development Ordinance; Article
XI, Section 10.2.1, Review Officer Appointment. To revise the ordinance to be fully compliant
with NC GS 47-30.2. The item is scheduled for a public hearing at the March 18, 2024 meeting.
Larry Smith, Emergency Services Director, reviewed a request for the approval of the fireworks
application from Pyro East Coast, Inc. for Campbell University's fireworks displays. East Coast
Pyrotechnics meets all requirements and has met fire code compliance for the event. The events
will take place on 3/22, 4/5, 4/12, 4/26, and 5/17/24 at the Irwin Belk Track. Consensus of the
Board was to place this item on the next consent agenda.
Mr. Smith also reviewed a request on behalf of West Area Volunteer Fire Department,
Emergency Services is requesting approval of West Area responding to EMS calls as First
Responders. These response will be within the 3 areas within Harnett County that we contract
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March 12, 2024
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Fire Response. This requires no additional funding from the County. Consensus of the Board was
to place this item on the next consent agenda.
Kimberly Honeycutt reviewed a request that the Harnett County Board of Commissioners
approve the contract with Martin Starnes & Associates, CPAs, P.A. for the completion of the
County's required audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. Consensus of the Board was to
place this item on the next consent agenda.
Brent Trout, County Manager, reviewed information regarding an SRO contract with the Town
of Lillington. Mr. Trout shared he was informed by the Town Manager that the Board had tabled
the item. Mr. Trout stated he would bring back the contract to a work session if there were any
requested changes and to a regular meeting if there were no changes.
Mr. Trout reviewed a request to approve the acceptance of furniture donation for the Jetport
Terminal from Southeast Interiors. The Jetport Terminal project is moving into its final stages of
construction. We therefore needed to plan for purchasing new furniture to go into the new
building. In the process of selecting the furniture I was approached by Jerry Milton of Southeast
Interiors about donating furniture for the first -floor conference room. The furniture donated is a
large conference table and ten conference task chairs. The cost of the donated furniture is
$11,463.35, which includes tax, delivery and set up. Consensus of the Board was to place this
item on the next consent agenda.
Mr. Trout provided a draft of the Legislative Priorities. Mr. Trout introduced Scott Laster,
Partner and Senior Political Advisor for Kairos, Chris Stock, General Counsel with Kairos and
KJ Stancil of Eagle Eye Consulting. He asked commissioners to prioritize their top five projects
from a list of projects and return to him. Additional discussion included adding a tax exemption
for 100% Total and Permanent Disabled Veterans to the legislative priorities. Currently there are
2,337 DAV exclusion recipients in the county. If the legislature were to allow for a 50%
exclusion of value, there would be a loss of revenue to Harnett County in the amount of
$1,859,299. If the legislature were to allow for a 100% tax exclusion of value, there would be a
loss of revenue in the amount of $3,718,598. Commissioner McKoy stated senior citizens should
also be considered. Consensus of the Board was to bring this item back for further discussion at
the March 26, 2024 work session.
The lobbying services contract with Kairos was discussed. Chris Stock, General Counsel shared
information regarding the contract.
The Commissioners reviewed recommendations from the Community Child Protection Team
(CCPT). Discussion included the MCO representative from Sandhills since the contract is now
with Alliance. Consensus of the Board was to remove the proposed representative from Sandhills
and add the following recommendations to the consent agenda: appoint Wayne Coats or other
designee from the Harnett County Sheriff's Office; Thomas Hill or designee from the Family
Advocacy Program at Fort Liberty as one of their optional members; Susana Rodriquez or
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March 12, 2024
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designee as the Executive Director of SAFE as one of their optional members; and Tara Fish, an
optional member from the Harnett County Partnership for Children.
Mr. Trout shared staff is deep into the budget process and he has 16 different meetings with
departments this week.
Mr Trout reviewed a request to adopt a resolution requesting NCDOT add Cottles Lake Drive;
Gillis Court, Modlin Court, Vic Mcleod Court within Cottlestone Estates Subdivision to the
State's Secondary Road System and a Road System and a resolution requesting NCDOT add
English Oak Drive, Burr Oak Circle, Angel Oak Drive, Wood Point Drive, Southern Oak Court
and Silk Oak Drive within Forest Oaks Phase 4 & 5 Subdivision to the State's Secondary Road
System. Consensus of the Board was to place this on the next consent agenda.
Commissioner Weatherspoon made a motion to go into Closed Session to instruct the County
staff concerning the position to be taken by the County in negotiating a contract for the
acquisition of real property. This motion is made pursuant to NC General Statute Section 143-
318.11 (a)(5). The motion was seconded by Commissioner Nicol and carried unanimously.
Following a motion to come out of Closed Session, Chairman Morris called the meeting back
into open session.
Commissioner Nicol made a motion to adjourn at 10:50 am. The motion was seconded by
Commissioner McKoy and carried unanimously.
William Morris, hairman
�M�eeli sa Capps, Cler c
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
Work Session Minutes
March 12, 2024
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