Here’s a list of some highlights from the June 5 meeting of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners. We’ll have a full report in the June 13 issue of Xpress.
• Commissioners voted 4–1 to allow Waste Pro to raise garbage–pickup rates by 4 percent. In contract with Buncombe County, the company provides pickup services in unincorporated areas; the change will increase the basic monthly rate from $14.20 to $14.77. Company officials told the commissioners they would’ve preferred an 8 percent increase, which would help offset the rising price of fuel and other costs.
• Commissioners voted 3–2 to approve a motion made by Commissioner Carol Peterson to maintain board members’ own salaries at their current levels until at least after the November elections. Commissioner Bill Stanley seconded the measure and Commissioner K. Ray Bailey joined them. Board Chair David Gantt and Holly Jones voted against it. At the board’s last meeting, Jones pitched the idea of lowering commissioner pay to a level she thinks would be more in line with what their counterparts make in other North Carolina counties. When their travel and technology stipends are taken in to account, Buncombe’s commissioners are among the highest paid in the state.
(Mike Fryar, candidate for District 2 in the Commissioner elections, commented on county manager pay. Photo by Max Cooper.)
• The commissioners denied a motion Jones made to lower the amount of time newly hired county employees must wait to receive health insurance benefits to 30 days. They currently must wait 180 days. As written, the budget for the next fiscal year calls for lowering the wait to 90 days — starting Jan. 1 — a year before the county is required to do so by federal law. No commissioners seconded Jones’ motion, so it wasn’t voted on by the board.
• The board held a public hearing on the county’s $337.7 million budget proposal for the 2012-13 fiscal year, which starts July 1. The board will vote on the proposal at its next meeting on June 19.
• The board voted 5–0 to sell a building and 0.49 acres of adjacent county-owned property at 34 Compton Drive to Eliada Homes for $279,650.
• The board voted 5–0 to accept a $5 million state grant to help fund a wastewater pre-treatment system and an additional bio-reactor at the county landfill.
• Commissioners voted 5–0 to approve an application for roughly $333,000 in state Rural Operating Assistance Program grants that would go to Mountain Mobility, the county’s transit system.
(Buncombe County Commissioner Carol Peterson)
Yes… another exciting Buncombe County Commissioners meeting. If this resolution would not have been brought to the attention of the County Attorney… See if you can catch the “TYPO” …………………….. RESOLUTION #____________________
RESOLUTION DELEGATING APPROVAL AUTHORITY OF
CERTAIN CONTRACTS TO THE COUNTY MANAGER
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Whereas, pursuant to Memorandum of Understanding approved by and between
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF ASHEVILLE?BUNCOMBE TECHNICAL
COMMUNITY COLLEGE and COUNTY OF BUNCOMBE, NORTH CAROLINA
dated March 20, 2012, The Board of Trustees and the Board of
Commissioners agreed to jointly make certain final decisions regarding
construction projects for the College, including the selection, fee and
approval of architects; final construction contract(s) as permitted by law;
and approval or denial of change orders in excess of $50,000; and
WHEREAS, by said Memorandum of Understanding, it was agreed that the County
would act as agent for the College and be designated as the “owner’s
representative” in all documents requiring such a designation for
construction activities; and
WHEREAS, the parties further agreed that the design of all improvements shall
conform to the programming and educational needs as identified by the
College with County participation, subject to budget constraints; and
WHEREAS, this Board is of the opinion that given the checks and balances in place
with respect to programming and budget that it would be in the best
interest of all parties to streamline the approvals under said Memorandum
of Understanding.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners for the County of
Buncombe as follows:
1. That the County Manager, or her designee, is hereby authorized to make
final decisions and approvals for the Asheville?Buncombe Technical
Community College construction projects for the College as contemplated
by the Memorandum of Understanding dated March 20, 2012, including
the selection, fee and approval of architects; final construction contract(s)
as permitted by law; and approval or denial of change orders in excess of
$50,000 on behalf of Buncombe County.
2. That this resolution be effective upon its adoption.
ADOPTED this the 5th day of June, 2012.
ATTEST BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR THE
COUNTY OF BUNCOMBE
_________________________ By: ____________________________
Kathy Hughes, Clerk David Gantt, Chairman
APPROVED AS TO FORM
___________________________
Michael C. Frue, County Attorney
I wish I got to vote on how much I got paid…