POLK COUNTY



POLK COUNTY

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS’ PUBLIC HEARINGS (2) &

REGULAR MEETING

October 20, 2014 - 7:00 P.M.

R. Jay Foster Hall of Justice, Womack Building

Columbus, NC

MINUTES

PRESENT: Chair Owens, Vice-Chair Gage, Commissioner Gasperson, Commissioner Holbert and Commissioner Pack. Also in attendance were Interim County Manager Pittman, County Attorney Berg, Clerk to the Board Fehrmann, staff, media and citizens.

1. Call to Order of the Public Hearing on the Section 5311 FY 2016 Community Transportation Program Grant Application to the US Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration – Chair Owens called the public hearing to order. The purpose of the public hearing was to receive public comment on the proposed FY 2016 Section 5311 Community Transportation Program Grant Application. The public hearing was advertised in the Tryon Daily Bulletin. Dianne Timberlake, Transportation Director, was present to answer questions.

2. Citizen Comments – There were none.

3. Commissioner Comments – There were none.

4. Adjournment – Commissioner Holbert moved to adjourn the public hearing, seconded by Commissioner Pack and the motion carried unanimously.

5. Call to Order of the Public Hearing on the NC Department Of Transportation Federal Section 5310 (Enhanced Mobility of Seniors & Individuals With Disabilities Program) Grant Application Public Hearing – Chair Owens called the public hearing to order. The purpose of the public hearing was to receive public comment on the proposed NC Department of Transportation Federal Section 5310 Grant Application. The public hearing was advertised in the Tryon Daily Bulletin. Ms. Timberlake was present to answer questions.

6. Citizen Comments – There were none.

7. Commissioner Comments – There were none.

8. Adjournment – Commissioner Pack moved to adjourn the public hearing, seconded by Vice-Chair Gage and the motion carried unanimously.

9. Call to Order of the Regular BOC Meeting – Chair Owens called the meeting to order.

10. Invocation – Commissioner Gasperson gave the invocation.

11. Pledge of Allegiance – Commissioner Holbert led the pledge.

12. Approval of Minutes – Vice-Chair Gage moved to approve the October 6, 2014, public hearings and regular meeting minutes, seconded by Commissioner Pack and the motion carried unanimously.

13. Approval of Agenda – Commissioner Holbert asked that ”DSS Update” be added as Agenda Item #18.a.; Commissioner Pack asked that “Proposed Polk County-Inman Campobello Water District (ICWD) Water Contract Work Session” be added as Agenda Item #17.a. Commissioner Pack moved to approve the agenda as amended, seconded by Commissioner Holbert and the motion carried unanimously.

14. Citizen Comments – Renée McDermott, Kate Bond, Guy Greaves, Jamie Davidson, Tom Fitzgerald, Mac Bond, Mike Davidson, Pat Salomon, Dennis Hill, Glenn Grindstaff, Christel Walter, David Maxwell and Margaret Parker expressed concern about the proposed Polk County-ICWD Water Agreement, and asked the Board to be thorough, prudent, cautious, transparent, exercise due diligence, and to accept public input before entering into this proposed contract. Clint Blanton spoke in support of the proposed Hwy. 9 Sunny View School waterline extension, the proposed courthouse grounds beautification project, a future Pea Ridge waterline extension, and the Tryon International Equestrian Resort, and asked the Board not to change the name of the Pea Ridge Rd. exit off of Hwy. 74. Pat Salomon and Dennis Hill expressed concern regarding the ETDC resolution.

15. Section 5311 FY 2016 Community Transportation Program Resolution – Vice-Chair Gage moved to approve the Section 5311 FY 2016 Community Transportation Program Resolution, seconded by Commissioner Pack and the motion carried unanimously.

16. Public Transportation 5310 Program Resolution – Vice-Chair Gage moved to approve the Public Transportation 5310 Program Resolution, seconded by Commissioner Gasperson and the motion carried unanimously.

17. FY 2016 Appalachian Development Transportation Assistance Program (ADTAP) Grant Application Public Hearing – Commissioner Pack moved to schedule a public hearing for the grant application on November 17, 2014, at 7:00 P.M, seconded by Commissioner Gasperson and the motion carried unanimously.

17.a. Proposed Polk County-ICWD Agreement Work Session – Commissioner Pack said that since negotiations on this type of contract must be held in open session, he would like for the Board to schedule a work session to discuss the agreement. Commissioner Holbert moved to schedule a work session on the proposed agreement October 27, 2014, at 8:00 P.M. in the R. Jay Foster Hall of Justice, Womack Building, seconded by Vice-Chair Gage and the motion carried unanimously.

18. September Refund Request – Melissa Bowlin, Tax Administrator, presented the request. Commissioner Pack moved to approve the refund request in the amount of $942.65, seconded by Commissioner Holbert and the motion carried unanimously.

18.a. DSS Update – Commissioner Holbert informed the Board that repairs to the wall which had to be torn down, the fixtures which had to be removed, and the floor which had to be taken up in the men’s bathroom to replace the faulty plumbing are near completion. Copies of the photographs of the project Commissioner Holbert presented are hereby incorporated by reference into these minutes. Interim County Manager Pittman said HVAC repair work is also near completion; all other punch list items have been addressed and resolved.

19. Hwy. 9 Sunny View School Waterline Extension Bid – Two bids were received on the project. Dave Odom, Odom & Associates, presented the low bid from Steppe Construction, Inc., in the amount of $1,567,340. Commissioner Holbert moved to approve the bid from Steppe Construction, Inc., in the amount of $1,567,340, and further moved to approve the Sunny View Waterline Extension Project Budget Ordinance (General Fund Balance Appropriation) in the amount of $1,600,000 for construction of the waterline extension, seconded by Commissioner Pack. Commissioner Gasperson said he was not willing to vote for the waterline extension because the county did not attempt to negotiate with Lake Lure on water and sewer provision, nor was he willing to vote against the waterline extension because of the benefits the waterline will bring to that area of the county. Commissioner Pack said the county extension of the waterline is the most cost effective solution in the long term for the citizens of the county. With a motion and a second on the floor, the motion carried unanimously (Gasperson abstained). Commissioner Pack moved to reduce the 3/4” tap fee to $700 and waive the availability fee on the Hwy. 9 Sunny View School waterline section from Mill Spring to Sunny View for a six month period beginning October 20, 2014, seconded by Vice-Chair Gage and the motion carried unanimously.

20. Final Financial Report for Hwy. 9 Interconnect Project – Mr. Odom informed the Board that the project has been completed, new pump station is fully operational and running smoothly, and the project came in $3,548.26 under budget.

21. Appearance Commission Initiative – Joe Cooper, Appearance Commission Chair, gave a presentation on the proposed beautification of a portion of the courthouse grounds. Mr. Cooper asked the county to contribute $4,500 to this collaborative effort with the Town of Columbus. Commissioner Pack moved to approve funding the initiative in the amount of $4,500, seconded by Commissioner Gasperson and the motion carried unanimously.

22. Resolution to Support the Improvement of U.S. 74 to an Interstate Quality Corridor – Chair Owens, who asked that this item be placed on the agenda, read the resolution. Commissioner Pack moved to approve the resolution to Support the Improvement of US 74 to Interstate status from Asheville to Charlotte to Wilmington, seconded by Commissioner Gasperson and the motion carried unanimously. Commissioner Pack informed the Board that Polk County will know in December 2014 if funding for the I-26/Hwy. 74 interchange project will be approved. The project will entail the construction of exit ramps and bridges which will by-pass the roundabouts, and is estimated to take 5-7 years to complete.

23. Economic & Tourism Development Commission (ETDC) Ordinance Ad Hoc Committee Report – County Attorney Berg presented the report. An ad hoc committee created by the BOC on October 6, 2014, met to discuss the repeal of the existing ordinance and for the adoption of a resolution to re-create the ETDC. It was the committee’s recommendation that Board of Commissioners repeal the current ETDC ordinance, and adopt a resolution to create and reorganize the Economic & Tourism Development Commission. The committee further recommended that the new commission consist of the nine currently active ETDC members, with their initial terms being staggered in accordance with their prior expiration dates, and that the one vacant alternate position (three year term) be advertised for. Commissioner Pack moved to pass an ordinance repealing the ordinance entitled “An Ordinance Repealing the New Article II of Chapter 8 of the Polk County Code Entitled Economic and Tourism Development Commission”, seconded by Vice-Chair Gage and the motion carried unanimously. Commissioner Holbert moved to adopt a resolution entitled “A Resolution Creating the Polk County Economic and Tourism Development Commission”, seconded by Commissioner Gasperson and the motion carried unanimously. Commissioner Gasperson moved to immediately appoint the former 9 members of the previous Economic and Tourism Development Commission with their initial terms being staggered in accordance with their prior expiration dates, and that those members appointed to an initial terms of less than 3 years may serve 2 consecutive 3 year terms upon the expiration of their initial term of less than 3 years, seconded by Commissioner Holbert and the motion carried unanimously.

24. Volunteer Board for Review – One application for the JCPC was reviewed.

25. Manager’s Report – Mr. Pittman reported that the Tax & Tag Office grand opening was a success.

26. Commissioner Comments – Commissioner Gasperson recommended the Board hold a non-required public hearing regarding the proposed Polk County-ICWD water agreement, and to ask former Henderson County Commissioner Bill Moyer to assist the county in the process. Commissioner Pack thanked Columbus for partnering with the county on the courthouse grounds beautification project, and thanked the Board for fixing the ongoing problems at the DSS building. Commissioner Holbert said that back in the 1960s there was a sand pit on the Green River, west of the Silver Creek bridge, which controlled the silt going into Lake Adger; the sand pit was removed when Lake Adger was bought by a developer and the lake subsequently began to silt up. Vice-Chair Gage thanked Columbus for working with the county on the beautification initiative, and thanked the ETDC ad hoc committee for working together. Chair Owens said he has no desire to ever let Polk County’s water resource be taken advantage of.

27. Adjournment – Commissioner Pack moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Gasperson and the motion carried unanimously.

ATTEST: POLK COUNTY BOARD

OF COMMISSIONERS

__________________________ __________________________

Beth Fehrmann Ted B. Owens

Clerk to the Board Chair

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