MINUTES
Town of Blowing Rock
Intergovernmental Retreat
May 24, 2007
The
Town of Blowing Rock Board of Commissioners attended an Intergovernmental
Retreat hosted by the Town of
Blowing Rock Council Members: Mayor
Pro-tem Terry Lentz, Commissioners Bobby Ball, Keith Tester, Rita Wiseman,
Tommy Klutz
Blowing
Boone Council Members: Mayor
Loretta Clawson, Commissioners Lynne Mason, Bunk Spann, Dempsey Wilcox, Janet
Pepin
Boone Town Staff: Town
Manager Greg Young, Deputy Town Clerk Kim Tester, Utilities Director Rick
Miller, Development Services Director John Spear, Public Works Director Blake
Brown, Police Captain Curtis Main, Town Attorney Sam Furgiuele
Seven Devils Council Members: Mayor Bob
Dodson, Commissioners Richard DeMott, Kathy Copley
Watauga
Appalachian
Facilitator: Dr.
Garry Cooper, Christy DeStefano
Call to Order
Mayor
Loretta Clawson called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m. and welcomed those in
attendance then turned the floor over to Council member Lynne Mason. Council member Mason stressed the need for
cooperation among all entities present.
Ms. Mason stated this was a critical time for the High Country and the
decisions being made at the present time would greatly impact future
generations. Ms. Mason stated her goal
was to leave the retreat with an action plan to work through major issues that
affected the entire region. Ms. Mason
asked Dr. Cooper to begin the facilitation.
Dr.
Cooper began with posting the following two-part focus question to those
present:
Dr.
Cooper asked all attendees to introduce themselves and share their issues of
concern.
Dr.
Cooper listed the following meeting guidelines:
1) Everyone should hear and be heard, 2) there are no wrong answers, 3)
everyone has wisdom, 4) the use of wisdom results in the wisest outcome, 5)
there are creative ways to solve issues. The items of concern were as follows:
1.
Zero Waste: Chairman Deal stated this issue encompassed both
environmental and economic impacts.
Council Member Mason voiced her concerns regarding the county landfill
and stated that a joint endeavor was needed to resolve the problem.
2.
Public Transportation: Mayor
Clawson stressed the need for people to use the Appalcart system as a way to
reduce traffic. Council Member Mason
mentioned alternative means of transportation such as greenways, etc. Council Member Pepin stated this issue
affected parking as well.
3.
Water and Sewer: Pollution of our rivers and
streams in the area were discussed.
Chairman Deal stated water and sewer was a critical issue and how it also
affected the affordable housing market.
Council Member Spann advised the Town of
4.
Greenways/Recreational Opportunities: Chairman
Deal conveyed that he felt there was a strong interest for an interconnected
trail that eventually extended from mountains to the sea and how this issue
affected tourism.
5.
Preservation of Out Heritage: Mayor
Clawson expressed her concerns with the preservation of the local history as
well as historical sites within the County.
Council Member Pepin stated the Boone Historical Commissioner’s main
priority at the present time was an inventory of historic sites in the
area.
6.
Regional Healthcare: Commissioner Tester spoke of
the following challenges for healthcare: small community hospitals vs. regional
healthcare systems, rising health care costs, and rapid growth of the
area. Commissioner Moretz voiced the
need for more community care clinics to treat the needy.
7.
Alternative/Saving Energy Opportunities: Mayor
Clawson stated the Town of
8.
DOT Proposal/Highway 421: Several
present felt this was a major priority and that all entities needed to focus on
ensuring that details such as sidewalks, crosswalks, and landscaped medians
were part of the project’s plan.
9.
Environmental
and View Shed protection: Mayor Clawson conveyed that the Town of
10.
Affordable Housing: Chairman Deal inquired as to how local governments could deal with all
of these issues and create and maintain affordable housing.
11.
Consolidation of Communication Services: County Manager
Rocky Nelson conveyed that Watauga County Emergency Management Services
Committee had recommended the consolidation of three current dispatch centers
into one emergency communications center, stating this would provide better
service to citizens as well as save money.
Commissioner Kinsey felt that fire protection and safety issues also
needed to be further discussed.
12.
Economic Development and Tourism: It was
consensus of those present that this item had been discussed during the
discussion of previous issues.
13.
Smart Growth: Council Member Spann suggested
smart growth principles such as those used in
14.
Boone By-Pass:
Commissioner Cooper stated
the need of a Boone by-pass was growing daily and costs were increasing as the
project was delayed.
15.
University Growth: Chairman Deal stated the key
issues are where and how the university grows.
It was consensus of the group that the following
issues were time-sensitive: DOT/Highway
421 project, public education, and university growth. Dr. Cooper pointed out that several of the
issues that were listed closely related to others. The catalytic issues were the following:
water/sewer, university growth, economic development, affordable housing, and
the Highway 421 Project. Dr. Cooper
asked everyone to prioritize the list according to what they felt was most
important. Most everyone agreed that
university growth, water/sewer issues, and public education were the most
urgent; although alternative energy, consolidation of a communication center as
well as preserving the area heritage were very important also.
The final step in the process according to Dr. Cooper
was to decide what needed to be done and create an action plan. After a brief discussion, the group decided
more time was needed to further discuss the issues and create an action plan
for the two most important issues of public education and the Highway 421 Project. All members present decided to meet on
Thursday, June 7, 2007, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the
Upon a motion by Commissioner Ball, seconded by Commissioner
Wiseman, the Town of Blowing Rock Board of Commissioners moved to enter into a
joint closed session at 8:02 p.m. with Town of Boone Board of Commissioners and
Watauga County Board of Commissioners to discuss economic development pursuant
to N.C.G.S. 143-318.11a)(4). Unanimously
approved.
A motion to exit the closed session meeting and
resume the open meeting at 8:50 p.m. was made by Commissioner Wiseman seconded
by Commissioner Tester. Unanimously
approved.
Adjournment
With no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at
8:51 p.m.
Mayor Pro-tem____________________
Terry Lentz
Attest:
________________________
Sharon Greene, Town Clerk