The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, January 20, 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, County Manager Don Adams, and Clerk to the Board Karen Evans. Commissioner Graylen Blevins was present but arrived late. County Attorney Ed Woltz was absent.

Chair Eldon Edwards called the meeting to order.

Commissioner Warren Taylor opened the meeting with a prayer.

Commissioner Patrick Woodie made a motion to approve the agenda for this January 20, 2004, meeting. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 4:0.

AGENDA

Tuesday, January 20, 2004

10:00 AM

10:00 Meeting Called To Order

Motion on Agenda for January 20, 2004 meeting

Motion on Minutes for January 5, 2004 meeting

10:05 Public Hearing

RE: 911 Road Names

10:10 Wendy Williams

RE: 911 Road Names

10:15 Mary Walker

RE: Tax Releases & Refunds

10:30 David Isner

RE: Pesticide Information

10:40 April Caudill

RE: Transportation Grant

County Business

1. Building Permit Release

2. Fuel Oil Bids

3. Facility Study

4. Other Business

5. Public Comments—30 minutes

6. Adjourn

Commissioner Sandy Carter made a motion to approve the January 5, 2004, minutes. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 4:0.

Chair Eldon Edwards recessed the regular meeting at 10:02am and opened the public hearing regarding E-911 Road Names.

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

Wendy Williams, E-911 Coordinator/Mapper, presented two new road names, Shepherd Lane and Morningstar Drive, for the Board’s approval. She explained where each road is located.

Commissioner Graylen Blevins arrived at the meeting at 10:04am.

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

Chair Eldon Edwards closed the public hearing at 10:05am and reconvened the regular meeting.

Commissioner Patrick Woodie made a motion to approve the road names as presented by the E-911 Coordinator/Mapper. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Mary Walker, Tax Administrator, presented the tax requests for vehicles for December 2003 in the amount of $965.83 for releases and $337.95 for refunds.

Commissioner Patrick Woodie made a motion to approve the tax requests for vehicles for December 2003 in the amount of $965.83 for releases and $337.95 for refunds. Commissioner Sandy Carter seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Mary Walker, Tax Administrator, presented the tax requests for real property for December 2003 in the amount of $2,898.74 for releases and $3,300.47 for refunds.

Commissioner Sandy Carter made a motion to approve the tax requests for real property for December 2003 in the amount of $2,898.74 for releases and $3,300.47 for refunds. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Mary Walker, Tax Administrator, presented a motor-vehicle appeal for a 2000 Chevrolet S-10 pickup with a tax value of $10,260. She further explained that Trojan Chevrolet currently values the vehicle at $8,500, and she recommends the value be $8,500.

Mary Walker, Tax Administrator, presented a motor-vehicle appeal for a 2002 Buick Century with a tax value of $14,090. She further explained that Trojan Chevrolet currently values the vehicle at $8,250, and she recommends the value be $8,250.

Mary Walker, Tax Administrator, presented a motor-vehicle appeal for a 1992 Lincoln with a tax value of $4,780. She further explained that Trojan Chevrolet currently values the vehicle at $1,430, and she recommends the value be $1,430.

Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to accept the Tax Administrator’s recommendations on these three motor-vehicle appeals. Commissioner Patrick Woodie seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

David Isner with the Cooperative Extension Services gave the Board a brochure about pesticides and pest control that answers frequency asked questions on these subjects. He reviewed the content of the brochure for the Board.

Commissioner Sandy Carter and Chair Eldon Edwards asked about water testing and best management practices.

David Isner stated that Alleghany County wells and water ways have been tested and were not above allowable EPA guidelines. He explained how best management practices operate.

April Caudill, Transportation Director, came before the Board to present an amendment to AIM’s CTP grant application. She explained that she wishes to add an additional $2,000 in the employee development line. She further explained that these funds will be reimbursed by the State with the County paying the 15% match of $300. She stated these funds will be used for additional training for her employees.

Commissioner Patrick Woodie made a motion to approve request of an additional $2,000 for employee development. Commissioner Sandy Carter seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Manager Don Adams gave the Board an update about the Building Inspections office releasing $75 to John Woodruff because two permits were obtained for the same job.

County Manager Don Adams reviewed the fuel oil bids that were received on January 13, 2004. He stated that the County received two bids; G&B Energy and Hometown Fuel Services.

Commissioner Graylen Blevins stated that he is speaking on behalf of Hometown Fuel Services, and Hometown will withdraw the bid because of the legality of doing business with the County since he is a County Commissioner.

County Manager Don Adams informed the Board that this action leaves G&B Energy bidding on the fuel oil services.

Commissioner Patrick Woodie made a motion to approve the contract with G&B Energy for fuel oil, kerosene and off-road diesel. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 4:1 (Graylen Blevins).

County Manager Don Adams gave the Board a brief summary from the architect about remodeling the Piedmont Medical Building. He stated that a complete feasibility study would cost $25,300 and an additional $2,500 to $3,000 for an environmental assessment that would need to be completed. He reviewed the items that are included in the study. He further reviewed the preliminary costs for the Piedmont Medical Building in the amount of $5,251,000 not including purchasing the property and the environmental studies.

Commissioner Sandy Carter asked about the costs for the three buildings.

County Manager Don Adams stated that the Cash & Carry building and the Courthouse will costs approximately $2.5 million with the library costing approximately $1.2 million.

The Board of Commissioners and County Manager Don Adams discussed the square-foot costs for each of the buildings, remodeling in stages, price difference between the two scenarios, debt service for these projects, selling county buildings vacated by these projects and the library needs.

Commissioner Sandy Carter stated that she thinks the Piedmont Medical building needs to be tabled due to the amount of money difference between the two projects.

Chair Eldon Edwards asked if that is the consensus of the board.

Commissioner Sandy Carter further stated that she didn’t think the Board needs to spend the additional $25,000 to have study on the Piedmont Medical building completed when estimated prices are significantly higher than the other option.

Commissioner Graylen Blevins asked why table it and come back to this scenario later.

Commissioner Warren Taylor stated that he thinks the Board needs to proceed in giving the County Manager instruction to continue with the study on the Cash & Carry Building and Courthouse.

County Manager Don Adams stated that he is hearing the Board tell him to continue on finishing the study on the Cash & Carry building and Courthouse and put that project in the budget during the upcoming budget process and then the Board can decide about actually renovating those facilities at that time. He stated that he is also hearing that he needs to stop working on the Piedmont Medical building.

Commissioner Graylen Blevins made a motion to pursue the initial study of the Cash & Carry building and Courthouse. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion.

Commissioner Sandy Carter stated that the motion is not voting to do anything on these two buildings but rather to complete the study on those buildings.

County Manager Don Adams stated that is correct.

Commissioner Patrick Woodie talked about if remodeling these buildings will meet the County’s needs in 15 to 20 years.

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

Commissioner Patrick Woodie stated that Angelou Economics has completed the economic development study, the 8 counties have adopted the study and Alleghany County needs to do so as well. He stated he will give each Commissioner a copy of the study and hopefully act on it at the next meeting.

Commissioner Sandy Carter stated that she has received several comments from the public concerning the consolidation. She further stated that one person asked why the County couldn’t purchase the property next to the Courthouse and build the consolidated facility there.

County Manager Don Adams stated that there are several things that need to be looked at before you bring architects in on any type of project. He gave examples such as parking issues with the number of employees working in the consolidated building.

Commissioner Warren Taylor stated that he would like to comment about the article in the Alleghany News giving the Commissioners credit for the educational levels that the students have achieved.

Chair Eldon Edwards talked about citizens discussing the property next door to the Courthouse and the parking issues at that location.

Commissioner Patrick Woodie discussed that option would be removing retail space for the County’s use rather than retail use.

Chair Eldon Edwards stated that he placed a letter in everyone’s box about the western loop. He further stated that responses are due by February 6. He stated that the map shows a culvert crossing Bledsoe Creek. He further stated that he hopes the State knows there is a landfill on property that they will be crossing for this project.

County Manager Don Adams stated that the State owns the property in question, and he would write a letter talking about not disturbing the landfill and working on the erosion of the creek bank.

Chair Eldon Edwards mentioned a workshop in Raleigh on February 9-10. He stated the topic of the workshop is Creative Responses to Global Economic Changes with Grant Godwin as one of the speakers. He stated that he is leaving the information with Karen Evans if anyone is interested in attending this workshop.

Commissioner Patrick Woodie stated that he is pleased and appreciative of the working relationship with the Town and Tom Douglas and believes it will continue with Bryan Edwards as the Town Manager.

Commissioner Graylen Blevins asked about the Chamber and the revitalization efforts for the Town. He asked if they could report to the Board on the progress of the Chamber and revitalization efforts that are going on at this time.

The Board of Commissioners and County Manager discussed the Chamber reporting to the Commissioners quarterly.

County Manager Don Adams talked about the budget process. He asked the Board to set the budget hearings so he can work on the budget schedule. He stated that he would like to present the budget the first meeting in June. He explained last year’s budget timeline.

Chair Eldon Edwards, Commissioner Warren Taylor and County Manager Don Adams discussed going over the budget by line items with each department head.

The Board of Commissioners agreed to have the budget meetings like last year with the County Manager meeting with each department head to discuss their line items.

County Manager Don Adams asked the Board to bring their calendars to the next meeting to set the actual date the budget hearings will begin. He further asked the Board if they would like to hold a planning session in March or April to discuss the upcoming budget year.

Chair Eldon Edwards asked for public comments.

Dennis Smith asked if the Board had considered a large steel building for the consolidated facility.

Chair Eldon Edwards and Dennis Smith discussed the costs of a steel building to be used for the facility.

County Manager Don Adams stated that he hasn’t talked to the architect about a steel building or building a new facility at this time.

Bob Bamberg stated his appreciation of the Board for the careful consideration of the impact on the retail in Sparta by consolidating governmental services. He talked about the beautiful Courthouse building and how he wouldn’t like to see the building built onto. He stated that on behalf of Chamber, they will work out something on the report that Commissioner Graylen Blevins asked about earlier in the meeting.

Susan Reinhardt stated that she agrees with Mr. Bamberg’s comments concerning retail in Sparta. She further stated that retail needs an anchor to attract business and our Main Street’s anchor is government.

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

Being no further business, Commissioner Sandy Carter made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 11:38am. Commissioner Graylen Blevins seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Respectfully submitted,

Karen Evans

Clerk to the Board

Attest:

Eldon Edwards

Chairman