The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, October 6, 2003, at 6:30pm 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 Graylen Blevins, Commissioner Sandy Carter, Commissioner Patrick Woodie, County Manager Don Adams, and Clerk to the Board Karen Evans. County Attorney Ed Woltz was absent.

Chair Eldon Edwards called the meeting to order and opened with a prayer.

Chair Eldon Edwards stated that the agenda needs to be amended to delete patio solid waste fees and add closed session under NCGS 143-318.11 (a) (1)—confidential information.

Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to approve the amended agenda for this October 6, 2003, meeting. Commissioner Sandy Carter seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

AGENDA

Monday, October 6, 2003

6:30 PM

6:30 Meeting Called To Order

Motion on Agenda for October 6, 2003 meeting

Motion on Minutes for September 15, 2003 meeting

6:35 April Caudill

RE: Transportation Lease

6:45 Jack Conaway

RE: Junk Cars & New Subdivision

7:10 Arnold Wagoner

RE: Junk Cars

County Business

1. CJPP Board Appointments

2. Farmland Preservation Board Appointment

3. Budget Amendments

4. Patio Solid Waste Fees (deleted)

5. Transportation Improvement Plan

6. Other Business

7. Public Comments—30 minutes

8. Closed Session—NCGS 143-318.11 (a) (6)—personnel

NCGS 143-318.11 (a) (1)—confidential information (added)

9. Adjourn

Commissioner Patrick Woodie made a motion to approve the September 15, 2003, minutes. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

April Caudill, Transportation Director, came before the Board to explain the parking problems at the Transportation office. She explained that the property owner, Bill Blevins, is willing to pay to have additional parking made at the location. She further explained that Mr. Blevins is asking for the County to sign a new three-year lease increasing the lease amounts by $160 per month. She reminded the Board that 85% of her administrative budget is reimbursed by the State meaning it will cost the County $24 per month for the additional parking.

Commissioner Sandy Carter made a motion to approve the additional funding and to sign the new lease. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Jack Conaway, Planner, presented a subdivision for approval. He reviewed the subdivision plat and explained the criteria from the ordinance concerning the usage of driveways. He stated that the subdivision meets and exceeds the Subdivision Ordinance.

Commissioner Patrick Woodie made a motion to approve the James D. Halsey subdivision final plat. Commissioner Sandy Carter seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Jack Conaway, Planner, came before the Board to start a dialogue about abandoned or junked vehicles and mobile homes. He gave the Board the positives and negatives of having a voluntary program and having a mandatory program. He reviewed NCGS 153A-132 giving the Board the authority to enact an ordinance dealing with abandoned or junked vehicles. He explained the definitions of abandoned vehicles and junked vehicles. He gave the Board an overview of Scotland County’s ordinance on this matter.

The Board of Commissioners and Jack Conaway talked about having voluntary and mandatory programs starting with a voluntary program, costs of the programs being a burden to the taxpayers, budgets for both programs, economic factors and unemployment numbers, pros and cons of both programs and the Town of Sparta’s ordinance dealing with these matters.

The Board of Commissioners asked that more in depth information be obtained before the Board goes forward on this concept including budgets and amount of activity performed for that amount of money, total amount of time involved in the dismantling process and soil contaminants from junk cars.

Arnold Wagoner came before the Board to discuss the health hazards of abandoned and junked vehicles. He read NCGS 20-137.6 defining the hazards of junked vehicles and old mobile homes. He stated that the volunteer system would never work in this County. He gave examples of junkyards in his community, his support for dealing with abandoned and/or junk vehicles, the health hazards of such vehicles and getting revenues from personal property taxes to pay for the removal of these vehicles.

Chair Eldon Edwards and Commissioner Warren Taylor discussed the County’s limitations on vehicle taxes.

Arnold Wagoner continued discussing the health hazards of junk cars.

Chair Eldon Edwards reminded everyone that the public comment session at the end of the public meeting is for comments related to topics discussed at tonight’s meeting.

County Manager Don Adams presented a letter from Tom Kilby requesting that Josh Marion and Nelson Oliver be appointed to serve on the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council.

Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to approve the recommendations by Tom Kilby for JCPC. Commissioner Graylen Blevins seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Manager Don Adams presented a letter from Paul Edwards requesting that Lewis Upchurch be appointed to serve on the Farmland Preservation Program Advisory Board.

Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to approve the recommendation by Paul Edwards. Commissioner Patrick Woodie seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Manager Don Adams presented budget amendment General Fund #5 in the amount of $134,608 for childcare subsidy. He stated that this amendment does not require any County money.

Commissioner Patrick Woodie made a motion to approve budget amendment General Fund #5 in the amount of $134,608. Commissioner Sandy Carter seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Manager Don Adams presented budget amendment General Fund #6 in the amount of $16,088 for Emergency Management to purchase equipment for emergency services in the County. He stated that this amendment does not require any County money.

Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to approve budget amendment General Fund #6 in the amount of $16,088. Commissioner Graylen Blevins seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Manager Don Adams presented budget amendment General Fund #7 in the amount of $21,514 for JCPC programs that were incurred last year. He stated that this amendment does not require any additional County funds.

Commissioner Sandy Carter made a motion to approve budget amendment General Fund #7 in the amount of $21,514 for JCPC. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Manager Don Adams presented budget amendment General Fund #8 in the amount of $20,000 and the Memorandum of Understanding for an E-Communities grant to help update the County’s website and assist the County with enhancing the Building Inspections website. He explained the plans for the Building Inspections website.

Commissioner Patrick Woodie made a motion to approve budget amendment General Fund #8 in the amount of $20,000 and authorize the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding for this grant. Commissioner Sandy Carter seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Manager Don Adams reviewed the latest Transportation Improvement Plan for the Department of Transportation.

Commissioner Sandy Carter asked how projects can be moved up.

Commissioner Warren Taylor and County Manager Don Adams discussed the Rural Transportation Planning Organization.

The Board of Commissioners discussed putting an emphasis on moving projects up and attending the Division 11 meeting in Hudson on October 15.

Chair Eldon Edwards asked for public comments.

DW Miles stated that we can get the media involved in getting a voluntary junk car program started and be creative to get the public interested including letting fire departments use the old trailers for training exercises.

DW Miles asked the Board to get the State to look at having the bypass come back into Highway 21 near Kentucky Fried Chicken to decrease the need of having to build two bridges.

Chair Eldon Edwards stated that he mentioned this idea a few years ago and didn’t get any results.

Chair Eldon Edwards asked for further comments.

Robbie Lucke asked if the Western Loop would complete the bypass around Sparta.

Chair Eldon Edwards stated that the bypass would be complete at that time.

Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to enter into closed session under at NCGS 143-318.11 (a) (6)—personnel and (a) (1)—confidential information at 7:59pm. Commissioner Sandy Carter seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

The Board of Commissioners had a 5-minute recess at 7:59pm.

Mary Walker, Tax Administrator, joined the Board during closed session until 8:15pm.

Commissioner Sandy Carter made a motion to adjourn closed session at 8:37pm and reconvene the regular meeting. Commissioner Patrick Woodie seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Chair Eldon Edwards stated no action was taken during closed session.

Being no further business, Commissioner Graylen Blevins made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:38pm. Commissioner Patrick Woodie seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Respectfully submitted,

Karen Evans

Clerk to the Board

Attest:

Eldon Edwards

Chairman