Watauga Medics garners

county contract renewal
By Scott Nicholson

The Watauga County Board of Commissioners gave the go-ahead for an ambulance contract renewal and supported wind-energy development.

During a Monday meeting, the commissioners tentatively approved the third five-year contract with Watauga Medics Inc. to serve as the county’s ambulance provider. As negotiated over the course of the last few months, the deal will have built-in escalators based on the Consumer Price Index, with the first year granting a subsidy of $708,943.

Future years of the contract will be adjusted, with no guaranteed increases, and a maximum adjustment of 8 percent in any one year of the contract.

The contract also sets the required number of on-duty ambulances at two for any given time, with a third ambulance on call for an additional nine hours per day. Basic ambulance rates will remain the same, though mileage reimbursement will increase from $7.50 to $8.25 per mile. The contract was approved contingent upon attorney and county manager review.

The commissioners adopted a resolution opposing Senate Bill 1068, which would effectively ban wind-energy development in the mountains. The resolution advocated for responsible permitting of wind turbines.

The bill has been revised in committee to address mostly coastal development of wind turbines. Alternative-energy supporters, tourism-industry lobbyists, and divided opinions among mountain lawmakers led to the removal of wind turbines as part of the Ridge Law discussion, though the issue is expected to be addressed in a future session. Watauga County was the first in North Carolina to adopt its own ordinance regulating the construction of wind turbines.
The commissioners set public hearings for minor adjustments to two ordinances. An ordinance governing the height of structures will be revised to match definitions with those in the North Carolina Building Code, while the Animal Care and Control Ordinance will be revised to require annual training for departmental officers, as well as set a graduated fine schedule for ordinance violations.

The hearings will be held on Aug. 18 at 6 p.m.

The commissioners endorsed the school board’s application for $1.35 million in Qualified School Construction Bonds. The money will be used for roof repair at Bethel and Blowing Rock elementary schools in addition to the installation of wireless technology at all eight elementary schools.

A bid of $119,546 was accepted for restoration at 2,000 linear feet of stream banks in Cove Creek. The work will be done by Brushy Fork Environmental Consulting, Inc., and funded by the N.C. Division of Water Resources and the N.C. Agricultural Cost-Share Program.

County officials noted the upset-bid process has begun for the sale of a house at 282 Daniel Boone Drive. The house and its property were purchased as part of the accumulated lots that became the site of the new high school. Sealed bids will be accepted by mail until noon on July 31, and details of the property are available at www.wataugacounty.org.