The
Alleghany County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, October
16, 2006, 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 Herndon, Commissioner
Ken Richardson, County Manager Don
Adams and Clerk to
the Board Karen Evans. County Attorney Donna
Shumate was present
but arrived late. Commissioner Graylen
Blevins was absent.
Chair
Eldon Edwards called the meeting to order and opened with a prayer.
Commissioner
Sandy Carter Herndon made a motion to approve the agenda for this October 16,
2006, meeting. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the
motion. Vote 4:0.
AGENDA
Monday,
October 16, 2006
6:30 PM
6:30 Meeting
Called To Order
Motion on Agenda for October
16, 2006,
meeting
Motion on Minutes for October 2, 2006, minutes
6:35 Mary
Walker
RE: Tax Releases and Refunds
6:45 Senior
Services Annual Report
6:55 Planning/Recreation
Annual Report
7:05 Library
Annual Report
7:15 Martin
Starnes and Associates
RE: FY 05/06 Audit
County Business
1. Work First Plan
2. Budget Amendments—Social Services
3. Budget Amendment—School Capital
(ADM)
4. Budget Amendment—ROD Capital
Enhancement Fund
5. Budget Amendment—Revaluation Fund
6. Health Insurance
7. Other Business
8. Public Comments—30 minutes
9. Closed Session—NCGS 143-318.11 (a)
(3)—legal
NCGS 143-3188.11 (a) (6)—personnel
10. Adjourn
Commissioner
Sandy Carter Herndon made a motion to approve the minutes for the October 2,
2006, meeting. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the
motion. Vote 4:0.
Mary
Walker, Tax Administrator, presented the September 2006 real property requests
in the amount of $6,616.88 for refunds and $8,790.46 for releases.
County Attorney Donna
Shumate arrived at 6:35pm.
Chair Eldon Edwards made a motion to
approve the September 2006 real property requests in the amount of $6,616.88
for refunds and $8,790.46 for releases. Commissioner
Sandy Carter Herndon seconded the motion. Vote 4:0.
Mary Walker presented the September
2006 vehicle requests in the amount of $529.73 for refunds and $1,021.33 for releases.
Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon made a motion to approve the September 2006 vehicle
requests in the amount of $529.73 for refunds and $1,021.33 for releases. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the
motion. Vote 4:0.
Mary Walker talked to the Board
about tax office personnel. She reminded
the Board about when she came and asked for additional temporary personnel to
help with revaluation and during the budget meetings when she asked to make
this position permanent. She gave the
Board information regarding the actions in the Tax Office. She asked the Board to reconsider making the
position permanent. She stated that they
are working on procedures to start collecting Town’s taxes and new construction
is increasing, which will require more of Rita Miller’s time. She
explained that revaluation notices will be going out later this week and the
appeal process regarding the notices. She talked about the excellent job that Missy
Smith does and how she fits in with the Tax Office. She explained that $13,509 is the amount of
money needed for the remainder of the budget year. She talked about selling property because of
delinquent taxes and the upset bid process.
County Manager Don
Adams and Mary
Walker talked about cross training Missy Smith in collections. County Manager Don
Adams asked Mary
Walker if she is going to ask for another person to help in collections when
the County starts collecting Town taxes.
Mary Walker stated no.
County Manager Don
Adams updated the
Board on the status of collecting Town taxes.
Commissioner Warren Taylor stated
that he recommends the County Manager to review this and bring it back in November.
Rita Miller talked about the time and money spent on training Missy
Smith and her background in accounting.
County Manager Don
Adams stated that the
last time this conversation took place the employee hadn’t received any
training and cross training in areas of need wasn’t going to take place so it
was hard for him to recommend adding the position.
Chair Eldon Edwards asked Mary
Walker to get with Don
Adams before the
November 6 meeting.
Agnes Joines and Debbie Welborn came
before the Board to present the annual report for Senior Services. Debbie Welborn thanked the Board for their
support. She talked about their programs
help keep seniors active and feel involved in the community. Agnes Joines presented information about the
Foster Grandparent Program including the number of participants and hours
volunteered. Debbie Welborn presented
information regarding the Senior Companion Program including the number of
participants and hours volunteered.
Chair Eldon Edwards thanked them for
their actions helping the seniors.
Amy Pardue, Planning/Recreation Director, came before the Board to
present their annual report. She
reviewed the activities of the Planning Department including the number of new
ordinances, permits issued, minor and major subdivisions. She further reviewed the trainings she has
attended and plans to attend. She
presented the Recreation Department activities including the number of participants
for each sport. She reviewed the
workshops and conferences she has attended.
She talked about the PARTF grant for the renovations of Duncan Recreation Center.
Commissioner Warren Taylor and Amy Pardue talked about working with Kathy White and plans to attend
an accounting workshop about the project.
County Manager Don Adams talked about he is trying to get Amy some assistance to
oversee the actual project.
Chair Eldon Edwards thanked Amy Pardue for her report.
Debbie Brewer presented the annual
library report. She explained handouts
describing the statistics regarding library usage. She reviewed their
fundraising activities.
Chair Eldon Edwards thanked her for her
report.
County Manager Don
Adams presented the
proposed Work First Plan as approved by the Social Services Board. He stated that Alleghany County is remaining a standard county.
Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon made a motion to approve the Work First Plan. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the
motion. Vote 4:0.
County Manager Don
Adams presented
budget amendment General Fund #7 in the amount of $122,388 for Medicaid
transportation and budget amendment General Fund #8 in the amount $98,620 for
child care funds.
Chair Eldon Edwards made a motion to
approve budget amendment General Fund #7 in the amount of $122,388 for Medicaid
transportation and budget amendment General Fund #8 in the amount $98,620 for
child care funds. Commissioner Warren
Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 4:0.
County Manager Don Adams presented budget amendment School Capital Reserve Fund #1
in the amount of $163,609. He explained
a spreadsheet showing the current budget versus a new budget including this
budget amendment.
Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon made a motion to approve budget amendment School
Capital Reserve Fund #1 in the amount of $163,609. Chair Eldon Edwards seconded the motion. Vote 4:0.
Chris Cosner with Martin Starnes and
Associates presented the fiscal year 2005/2006 audit. He reviewed the highlights of the audit.
County Manager Don
Adams talked about
fund balance numbers for each fund.
Chris Cosner thanked the Board, Joy Hines and Don
Adams for their
hard work.
Chair Eldon Edwards thanked Chris
Cosner for his efforts.
County Manager Don
Adams stated that
the two recommendations in audit are concerns about the tax software package
and increasing the capital amount from $500 to $5,000.
County Manager Don
Adams presented
budget amendment Register of Deeds Enhancement Capital Reserve Fund #1 in the
amount of ($874). He stated that this
reduction accurately budgets the amount of money in that fund according to the
audited figures.
Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon made a motion to approve budget amendment Register
of Deeds Enhancement Capital Reserve Fund #1 in the amount of ($874). Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the
motion. Vote 4:0.
County Manager Don
Adams presented
budget amendment Revaluation Fund #1 in the amount of ($29,270). He stated that this reduction accurately
budgets the amount of money in that fund according to the audited figures.
Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion
to approve budget amendment Revaluation Fund #1 in the amount of
($29,270). Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon seconded the motion. Vote 4:0.
County Manager Don
Adams presented a
proposed change in the insurance retirement benefit. He read the current language for the insurance
retirement benefit. He discussed the
proposed version. He stated that
department heads agreed that changes should only apply to new hires and
retirees should have at least 20 years of service for insurance. He talked about issues with naming Medicare
as primary insurer. He read the proposed
changes.
Commissioner Warren Taylor and
County Manager Don Adams talked about how this benefit compares to other counties.
Commissioner Warren Taylor stated
that it is fair as long as employees are notified when hired, and it is fair to
existing employees.
Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon and County Manager Don Adams talked about years of service and meeting the Local
Government Employees Retirement System (LGERS) requirements.
Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon, Chair Eldon Edwards and County Manager Don Adams talked about using October 16, 2006, as the effective date of this change.
Commissioner Warren Taylor made a
motion to approve the new section of employee benefits, Article IX, effective
today. Commissioner Ken Richardson
seconded the motion. Vote 4:0.
Commissioner Ken Richardson stated
he had asked Karen Evans to make copies for the Board regarding his first NCACC
Board of Directors meeting for everyone to have as a reference.
Commissioner Ken Richardson stated
that he just came from the Ashe County Board of Commissioners’ meeting and will
be going to Wilkes County tomorrow.
Chair Eldon Edwards asked for public
comments. None were received.
Commissioner Warren Taylor made a
motion to enter into closed session at 8:04pm under NCGS 143-318.11 (a) (3)—legal and (a) (6)—personnel. Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon seconded the motion. Vote 4:0.
Chair Eldon Edwards called a 5-minute
recess at 8:04pm.
Commissioner Warren Taylor made a
motion to adjourn the closed session at 8:50pm and reconvene the regular meeting. Chair Eldon Edwards seconded the motion. Vote 4:0.
Chair Eldon Edwards stated that no decisions
were made during closed session.
Commissioner Ken Richardson made a
motion to allow one month of salary overlap for the Social Services Director’s
position. Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon seconded the motion. Vote 4:0.
Being no further business, Commissioner
Warren Taylor made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:51pm. Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon seconded the motion. Vote 4:0.
Respectfully
Submitted,
Karen Evans
Clerk to the Board
Attest:
Eldon Edwards
Chairman