The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, February 16, 2004, at 10:00am in the Conference Room of the County Office Building, 90 South Main Street, Sparta, North Carolina.

Present: Chair Eldon Edwards, Vice-Chair Warren Taylor, Commissioner Sandy Carter, Commissioner Patrick Woodie and County Manager Don Adams. Commissioner Graylen Blevins was present but arrived late. County Attorney Ed Woltz and Clerk to the Board Karen Evans were absent.

Chair Eldon Edwards called the meeting to order.

Commissioner Sandy Carter opened the meeting with a prayer.

Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to approve the agenda for this February 16, 2004, meeting. Commissioner Patrick Woodie seconded the motion. Vote 4:0.

AGENDA

Monday, February 16, 2004

10:00 AM

10:00 Meeting Called To Order

Motion on Agenda for February 16, 2004 meeting

Motion on Minutes for February 2, 2004 meeting

10:05 Mary Walker

RE: Tax Releases & Refunds

10:15 Joe Vogel

RE: Roadside Hunting

10:30 Joy Hines

RE: Annual Audit Contract

10:40 Sandy Ashley

RE: Community Child Protection Team Annual Report

County Business

1. Meth Lab Resolution

2. Community Advisory Committee Board Appointment

3. BROC Board Appointment

4. COA Budget Revision

5. Animal Shelter Contract

6. Northwest North Carolina CEDS Report

7. Other Business

8. Public Comments—30 minutes

9. Adjourn

Commissioner Patrick Woodie made a motion to approve the February 2, 2004, minutes. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 4:0.

Mary Walker, Tax Administrator, presented the tax refund requests for January 2004 in the amount of $186.23 for real property and $110.22 for vehicles.

Commissioner Patrick Woodie made a motion to approve the tax refund requests for January 2004 in the amount of $186.23 for real property and $110.22 for vehicles. Commissioner Sandy Carter seconded the motion. Vote 4:0.

Mary Walker, Tax Administrator, presented the tax release requests for January 2004 in the amount of $1,968.77 for real property and $1,084.09 for vehicles.

Commissioner Sandy Carter made a motion to approve the tax release requests for January 2004 in the amount of $1,968.77 for real property and $1,084.09 for vehicles. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 4:0.

Mary Walker, Tax Administrator, presented a motor-vehicle appeal for a 2003 Buick Century, and she recommends the value be $12,900. She explained she got the value from the NADA book. She further explained why her recommendation is higher than the purchase price which included a trade-in.

Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to accept the Tax Administrator’s recommendation on this motor-vehicle appeal. Commissioner Patrick Woodie seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Mary Walker, Tax Administrator, discussed tax certifications for mobile homes. She gave the Board information regarding mobile-home listings and obtaining building permits. She asked the Board to review the information so the Board can discuss it at a later date.

County Manager Don Adams asked Mary Walker to have further discussions with Randy Blankenship to have this process in the building permit issuance stage.

Commissioner Graylen Blevins arrived at 10:06am.

Joe Vogel came before the Board to discuss changing the hunting laws in Alleghany County. He gave several examples of people hunting from the edge of the road and the dangers associated with road hunting.

Brian Blankenship stated that they are asking the Board for support in changing Alleghany County’s laws to add the wording hunt or discharge a firearm from a public right-of-way. He explained to the Board the importance of changing the wording.

The Board of Commissioners and Brian Blankenship continued to discuss examples of road hunting and the process for getting the law changed.

Commissioner Patrick Woodie made a motion to authorize the County Manager to write a letter to our representatives asking them to introduce a bill changing the law to no hunting or discharging a firearm or any other weapon from a public right-of-way. Commissioner Sandy Carter seconded the motion.

The Board of Commissioners and County Manager Don Adams discussed sending a letter to the representatives. County Manager Don Adams stated that he will bring a letter to the Board at the next meeting.

Commissioner Warren Taylor stated that final approval will be given once the Board has reviewed the letter from the County Manager.

The Board voted on the motion on the floor. Vote 5:0.

Joy Hines, Finance Officer, presented the annual audit contract for fiscal year 2003-2004 with Martin Starnes and Associates.

Commissioner Patrick Woodie made a motion to approve the audit contract for fiscal year 2003-2004 with Martin Starnes and Associates. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Sandy Ashley, Social Services Director, presented the annual report from the Child Protection Team/Child Fatality Prevention Team. She reviewed the deficiencies in the Alleghany County child protection system. She stated that some of the deficiencies are being addressed by agencies within the County.

The Board of Commissioners and Sandy Ashley discussed ways to meet the deficiencies in the child protection system including the need for Hispanic assistance/support.

County Manager Don Adams presented a resolution regarding stronger laws in regards to meth labs.

Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to approve the resolution as presented by the County Manager. Commissioner Graylen Blevins seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Manager Don Adams presented a letter from Alex Jernigan requesting that Betty Nichols be reappointed to the Alleghany County Joint Community Advisory Committee.

Commissioner Patrick Woodie made a motion to approve the reappointment of Betty Nichols to the Alleghany County Joint Community Advisory Committee. Commissioner Sandy Carter seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Manager Don Adams presented a letter from Dare Stromer with Blue Ridge Opportunity Commission asking the Board to appoint someone to replace George Mack Irwin on the BROC Board.

The Board of Commissioners and County Manager Don Adams discussed the vacancy on the BROC Board.

County Manager Don Adams informed the Board that Council on Aging has received an additional $848 in federal funds. He stated that the matching portion for the federal funds is so small that COA is not asking the County to pay the local match.

Commissioner Sandy Carter made a motion to approve the budget revision for the Community Block Grant. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Manager Don Adams presented the proposed Animal Shelter contract with Twin Oaks Veterinary Hospital for the operation of the Animal Shelter. He stated that the County Attorney and Dr. Nash Williams have reviewed the contract. He reviewed the highlights and the purpose of the contract. He stated that the contract is effective January 1, 2004.

Commissioner Sandy Carter made a motion to approve the contract as presented by the County Manager. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Commissioner Patrick Woodie stated that the Commissioners have been asked to adopt the Alleghany County Economic Development Strategies and the Northwest North Carolina Regional Economic Development Strategies.

Commissioner Patrick Woodie made a motion to approve the Alleghany County Economic Development Strategies and the Northwest North Carolina Regional Economic Development Strategies.

Commissioner Warren Taylor stated that he has reviewed the Alleghany County plan and agrees with the visions and goals. He further stated he doesn’t think the County should go along with all of the actions on these goals rather than the County needs to look at each action as it comes up.

The Board of Commissioners discussed the CEDS Report.

Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion on the floor. Vote 5:0.

County Manager Don Adams asked the Board if they want to hold a budget planning session. He explained that a budget summary will be presented to the Board on April 19.

The Board of Commissioners and County Manager Don Adams discussed the budget planning meeting. The Board decided to have the budget planning meeting immediately following the regular meeting on April 19.

Commissioner Patrick Woodie mentioned a letter everyone received from Bob Edwards stating that he has accepted the District Director’s position. He stated that he wants to make sure that Alleghany County receives a full-time agent to work with existing staff.

Commissioner Warren Taylor stated that they are working on filling that vacancy as soon as possible.

Commissioner Sandy Carter stated that she serves on the Northwestern Regional Library Board. She further stated that John Hedrick had been appointed to serve as the Interim Director and recently accepted the position of Director.

Commissioner Patrick Woodie stated that the Blue Ridge BDC is now serving the entire nine branch libraries in the system.

Chair Eldon Edwards mentioned the NACo conference in Washington, DC.

Chair Eldon Edwards talked about the impact fees that Durham County Board of Commissioners has taken action on. He explained the purpose of the fees is to raise revenues through residential construction fees to support new schools in their County.

Chair Eldon Edwards asked for public comments. None were received.

Being no further business, Commissioner Sandy Carter made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 11:28am. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Respectfully submitted,

Karen Evans

Clerk to the Board

Attest:

Eldon Edwards

Chairman

ALLEGHANY COUNTY

NORTH CAROLINA

RESOLUTION

URGING STRONGER PENALTIES FOR OFFENDERS THAT SELL AND MANUFACTURE METHAMPHETAMINE IN NORTH CAROLINA

WHEREAS, the use, sale, and manufacture of methamphetamine is becoming more evident in North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, the operation of manufacturing methamphetamine poses extreme danger, not only to children who may inhabit the premises, but to law enforcement officers and firemen who may be called to the scene; and

WHEREAS, the availability of methamphetamine drugs needs to be completely eradicated through all means possible.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Alleghany County Board of Commissioners urge the North Carolina Legislature to adopt laws that impose stronger penalties for offenders who operate clandestine methamphetamine labs, and for the sale and/or offer for sale of methamphetamine.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that adequate state and federal funding for law enforcement agencies be a top priority in the Legislature and that fire departments have availability to grants and other sources in order to maintain necessary equipment for dealing with the dangers posed by dealing with methamphetamine labs.

Adopted this the 16^th day of February, 2004.