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09-23-2019 Meeting Minutes BOC September 23, 2019 1 PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SEPTEMBER 23, 2019 MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT David B. Newell, Sr. Heidi York, County Manager Gordon Powell C. Ronald Aycock, County Attorney Jimmy B. Clayton Brenda B. Reaves, Clerk to the Board Kyle W. Puryear B. Ray Jeffers The Board of Commissioners for the County of Person, North Carolina, met in regular session on Monday, September 23, 2019 at 9:00am in the Commissioners’ meeting room in the Person County Office Building. Chairman Newell called the meeting to order and asked for a moment of silence in memoriam for the passing of former Commissioner Samuel Kennington’s son. Commissioner Powell offered an invocation and Commissioner Puryear led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. DISCUSSION/ADJUSTMENT/APPROVAL OF AGENDA: A motion was made by Vice Chairman Jeffers and carried 5-0 to approve the agenda. RECOGNITION: RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION FOR COUNTY RETIREE DEBRA DUNN- WILKINS: Chairman Newell read and presented a Resolution of Appreciation to Person County Retiree, Debra Dunn-Wilkins. September 23, 2019 2 September 23, 2019 3 INFORMAL COMMENTS: There were no comments from the public. DISCUSSION/ADJUSTMENT/APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA: A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to approve the Consent Agenda with the following items: A. Approval of Minutes of September 9, 2019, B. Budget Amendment #6, and C. Budget Amendment Purchase Carryforwards NEW BUSINESS: PROPOSED FOURTH AMENDMENT SOLID WASTE CONTRACT WITH REPUBLIC SERVICES: County Attorney, Ron Aycock presented to the Board a proposed Fourth Amendment to the County’s existing landfill contract with Republic Services. It incorporates all of the changes negotiated by the County. Mr. Aycock explained the original contract continues, subject to the changes contained in this amendment. The agreed points are as follows:  Republic Services will provide an annual contribution of $100,000 to the County for community development projects in collaboration with Republic, to benefit the County and to highlight the partnership between the County and Republic.  Five-year extension of the term of the host agreement beyond the current expiration date.  Fixed host fee of $2.75 for all municipal solid waste tonnage on which Republic receives a tipping fee.  Republic Services will provide a $5,000 annual allowance for “free disposal” for residents who drop off waste at the Landfill.  An easement for wireless monopoles and a one-time contribution of $30,000 for the County’s broadband project.  Increase of Republic’s annual appropriation for litter management on local highways to $24,000.  Republic will continue to contribute $25,000 for recycling support to the County.  Increase of the average maximum annual disposal rate to 780,000 tons per year. Mr. Aycock said the Fourth Amendment provides that it will go into effect when Republic receives the necessary approvals, certifications and enactments from the County and also receives all of the necessary permits and approvals from the State of North Carolina. The approvals, certifications and enactments from the County are three-fold: September 23, 2019 4 1- The approval of and execution of the Fourth Amendment; 2- Certification by the County that the site meets all the County planning rules (It does so meet those rules since it is the very same site where the landfill is located); 3- The enactment of a Solid Waste Disposal Franchise Ordinance consistent with the agreement. State law requires a public hearing on the above noted franchise after a 30-day public notice, and adoption of the said ordinance at the second of two regular board meetings. In order to comply with the 30-day notice requirement, the earliest date the public hearing and first vote could be scheduled is at the November 4, 2019 Board meeting, with a final vote at the November 18, 2019 Board meeting. Mr. Aycock noted the State of North Carolina must issue a permit for the operations as agreed to. It is unclear whether the State will require an additional site study. The County may be required to convene a public meeting on the state action at a later time. Mr. Aycock provided staff recommendation to: 1- Approve the Fourth Amendment and authorize its execution. 2- Authorize county staff to execute any additional documents necessary to proceed based on Board action including but not limited to provision of the necessary planning certifications. 3- Set a public hearing for the Board’s November 4, 2019 meeting to hear public comments on a Solid Waste Disposal Franchise Ordinance to effectuate the Fourth Agreement, and to conduct the first vote on the Franchise Ordinance. A motion was made by Vice Chairman Jeffers and carried 5-0 to approve the Fourth Amendment and authorize its execution, to authorize county staff to execute any additional documents necessary to proceed including but not limited to provision of the necessary planning certifications, and to set a public hearing for the Board’s November 4, 2019 meeting to hear public comments on a Solid Waste Disposal Franchise Ordinance. Commissioner Powell advocated for any new revenue to be earmarked for Education and Economic Development. September 23, 2019 5 September 23, 2019 6 September 23, 2019 7 September 23, 2019 8 September 23, 2019 9 September 23, 2019 10 September 23, 2019 11 September 23, 2019 12 September 23, 2019 13 RESOLUTION DECLARING TWO STRANDS OF FIBER SURPLUS PROPERTY AND AUTHORIZING LEASE OF TWO STRANDS OF FIBER: Information Technology Director, Chris Puryear presented a request the County has received for the lease for two (2) strands of dark fiber to NC Wireless/RiverStreet (GREAT Grant recipient). Mr. Puryear noted that NC Wireless has deployed broadband service in remote areas of Person County the last two years and received positive feedback from customers. Person County has invested approximately $250,000 in assisting NC Wireless deploy broadband service off the Mt. Tirzah, Bethel Hill, Bushy Fork and Woodland Towers. In addition, in May 2019, NC Wireless secured $560,000 in State funding to expand its service in Person County to certain underserved areas. Mr. Puryear stated the proposal was as follows:  20-year lease for an indefeasible right of use of two (2) strands of dark fiber,  $750 per strand mile (one-time), and  $175 per linear mile annual maintenance The proposal represented a lease fee of $78,000 paid at the lease signing and then an annual maintenance fee of $9,100 for the first five (5) years of the lease. Per NCGS 160A-272 (a1): Property may be rented or leased only pursuant to a resolution of the council authorizing the execution of the lease or rental agreement adopted at a regular council meeting upon 30 days' public notice. Notice shall be given by publication describing the property to be leased or rented, stating the annual rental or lease payments, and announcing the council's intent to authorize the lease or rental at its next regular meeting. Mr. Puryear said staff recommended the Board to accept this offer and to adopt a Resolution Declaring Two (2) Strands of Fiber Surplus Property and Authorizing Lease of Two (2) Strands of Fiber with NC Wireless/RiverStreet thereby advertising the intent to enter into a lease agreement per NCGS 160A-272 (a1) upon approval at the Board of Commissioners’ meeting on November 4, 2019. A motion was made by Commissioner Clayton and carried 5-0 to adopt a Resolution Declaring Two (2) Strands of Fiber Surplus Property and Authorizing Lease of Two (2) Strands of Fiber with NC Wireless/RiverStreet and to direct staff to advertise the County’s intent to enter into a lease agreement. September 23, 2019 14 September 23, 2019 15 ACTION TO RELOCATE THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS’ NOVEMBER 4, 2019 REGULARLY SCHEDULE MEETING TO THE COUNTY OFFICE BUILDING AUDITORIUM: Chairman Newell requested the Board’s consideration to add to the agenda to relocate the Board’s regularly scheduled meeting on November 4, 2019 to be held in the County Office Building Auditorium. A motion was made by Chairman Newell and carried 5-0 to relocate the Board’s regularly scheduled meeting on November 4, 2019 to be held in the County Office Building Auditorium. COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS: Planning Director, Lori Oakley stated the Land Use Plan Steering Committee is a joint partnership for the county and city to update its Land Use Plan that is approximately 20 years old. Ms. Oakley said the Request for Proposals (RFP) to hire a consultant for the project was released on September 6, 2019 and staff anticipated presenting those proposals to the Board at one of the November board meetings. Ms. Oakley said as a part of the process for updating the Land Use Plan, the county and city planning staff recommended each jurisdiction to establish a joint Land Use Plan Steering Committee to be comprised of ten (10) appointed individuals (5 from the city and 5 from the county). Of those five individuals for each jurisdiction, three will be citizen representatives, one representative will be from the governing body and one representative will be from each jurisdictions’ Planning Board. Ms. Oakley noted an ad was published in the local newspaper on Aug. 17 and 21 soliciting interested citizens to serve on the committee; the ad was also posted to the County’s Facebook page on Aug. 21 and to the City’s Facebook page on Aug. 22 as well as the County’s webpage on Aug. 23. Ms. Oakley reported that the County received seven applications and the City received one application by the advertised deadline on Aug. 26. September 23, 2019 16 Interested citizen applications received to represent the County were: (1) Margaret Bradsher (city resident) (Ms. Oakley noted staff recommendation was to allow the City of Roxboro to nominate and appoint Ms. Bradsher), (2) Glen Brent, (3) Lacy Winstead, Jr., (Ms. Oakley stated Mr. Winstead withdrew his application from consideration), (4) Bruce Whitfield, (Ms. Oakley stated Mr. Whitfield withdrew his application from consideration), (5) Phillip Reams, (6) James (Jamie) Daniel, II, (7) C. Bernard Obie, (8) Barry Foushee (Ms. Oakley stated Mr. Foushee’s application was received after the advertised deadline). Ms. Oakley noted that since each jurisdiction was looking to fill three (3) citizen seats, the City chose to extend their deadline through the month of September to recruit for the two remaining committee members. Ms. Oakley said staff asked the Planning Board members at their August 8, 2019 Planning Board meeting who would be interested in serving on the Land Use Plan Steering Committee. Robert Allen was the only Planning Board member who requested to be appointed to the committee. Lastly, Ms. Oakley requested that one Commissioner be appointed to serve on the committee as well. Ms. Oakley requested the Board to nominate and appoint three citizens from the interested citizen applications, appoint Robert Allen as the Planning Board representative and one Commissioner to serve on the Land Use Plan Steering Committee. Chairman Newell made a motion to re-advertise to correlate with the City’s deadline which he later withdrew prior to consideration. A motion was made by Vice Chairman Jeffers and carried 5-0 to appoint C. Bernard Obie to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan Steering Committee. A motion was made by Commissioner Clayton and carried 5-0 to appoint Barry Foushee to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan Steering Committee. A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to appoint James Daniel, II to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan Steering Committee. September 23, 2019 17 A motion was made by Chairman Newell and carried 5-0 to appoint Robert Allen, Planning Board representative to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan Steering Committee. A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to appoint Commissioner Powell to serve on the Comprehensive Land Use Plan Steering Committee. ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS: Clerk to the Board, Brenda Reaves presented the following for consideration of appointment noting the Animal Advisory Committee has an unspecified term.  Deputy Heath Gill will replace Deputy Ben Massey as the Sheriff’s Department representative.  Cathy Williams (citizen-at-large representative) resigned from the Animal Advisory Committee in August and after advertisement on the county website the following two citizens expressed interest to serve: 1) Cynthia Martin 2) Patti Byrd A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to appoint Deputy Health Gill to serve as the Sheriff’s Department representative, and to appoint Cynthia Martin as the citizen-at-large representative. September 23, 2019 18 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT: Chairman Newell had no report. MANAGER’S REPORT: County Manager, Heidi York reported that she would be on conference call later this date with the YMCA’s representative to discuss the County engaging with a consultant to complete a feasibility study. COMMISSIONER REPORT/COMMENTS: Vice Chairman Jeffers commented that he desired to call-in for the Board’s October 7, 2019 regular scheduled meeting as he would be out of town. Commissioner Clayton commented that he desired to call-in for the Board’s October 21, 2019 regular scheduled meeting as he would be out of town. There were no reports from Commissioners Puryear and Powell. ADJOURNMENT: A motion was made by Commissioner Puryear and carried 5-0 to adjourn the meeting at 9:27am. _____________________________ ______________________________ Brenda B. Reaves David B. Newell, Sr. Clerk to the Board Chairman