STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA                                        JOINT MEETING

ALLEGHANY COUNTY                                                      JANUARY 31, 2005

TOWN OF SPARTA                                                 7:00 P.M.

 

 

 

THOSE PRESENT:               TOWN COUNCIL:  JOHN H. MILLER, MAYOR; ROBERT ANDREWS, JOHN BRADY, AGNES JOINES, LOIS SHEETS, AND  MIKE PARLIER, COUNCILMEMBERS;  AND BRYAN EDWARDS, TOWN MANAGER.

 

                                                COUNTY COMMISSIONERS:  ELDON EDWARDS, CHAIRMAN;  SANDY CARTER HERNDON, WARREN TAYLOR, KEN RICHARDSON, GRAYLEN BLEVINS, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS;  AND DON ADAMS, COUNTY MANAGER.

 

OTHERS PRESENT:            COBY LARUE, ALLEGHANY NEWS AND SHANE FENDER,  CYBER CAMPUS, WILLIAM RING, GRAYSON COUNTY, KENNETH VAUGHT, TOWN OF INDEPENDENCE, PATRICK WOODIE, NEW RIVER COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND LESLIE MOZINGO, THE FERGUSON GROUP.

 

The Sparta Town Council and the Alleghany County Commissioners met at the Sparta

Town Hall for their informal joint meeting to discuss items of interest to both

Alleghany County and the Town of Sparta.  Mayor John Miller presided.  Warren Taylor,

County Commissioner, gave the invocation.  Mayor Miller recognized the guests.

 

First item on the Agenda for discussion was The Ferguson Group.  Patrick Woodie

passed  out a handout of the Alleghany County Economic Development Corporation’s

Federal Agenda  (See Attached).  He then introduced Leslie Mozingo, the Ferguson

Group representative.  Leslie told the members of the County Commission and Town

Council that she had already met with some of the staff members of Senator Dole and

Burr in Washington, DC to discuss the Teapot project.  She explained the dollar amount

being requested for each project did not represent the total amount necessary to fully fund

the cost of the project, but the amounts represented what the Ferguson Group felt was an

amount that had a reasonable chance of receiving a favorable review by the appropriation

committee.  She explained the different questionnaires required by different committees

and the fact that the Ferguson Group would have the responsibility of insuring that each

committee had the correct information in the correct form. Leslie stressed that there are

no guarantees of funding for any of the projects, and that even the projects that were

funded might not be funded at the requested amount.   Initial reaction was good and

contracting with the Ferguson Group was well timed.  Ideally you would want to be in

both the House and the Senate appropriation bills simultaneously, but sometimes you

might be in  only one.  Even after the bills are passed they still have to be signed by the

President and actual funds appropriated would not be available until the next year (Spring

of 2006).   Mrs. Mozingo asked for any questions and pointed out that a small local

delegation to Washington sometime in the future would  be beneficial.  She also pointed

out how important the timing of deadlines were in federal appropriations.

 

At this time Patrick Woodie explained the contract with the Ferguson Group through the

Alleghany County Economic Development Corporation with the different entities

funding the cost.  The Teapot Group has agreed to contribute $30,000, the hospital has

been asked to contribute $20,000, the regional Virginia water  $25,000 and the balance

would be $25,000 each from the Town and the County to fund the annual contract.  He

explained that during the joint water project meetings they had asked the Virginia

Attorney General’s office to express an opinion if two Counties, two States, and two

Towns could enter into a joint water authority.  The opinion came back in the affirmative

basically giving them a green light to set up such an authority.  They have been

discussing guidelines for such an authority with a Roanoke Attorney, Webster Day.

Wednesday, February 2nd, would be the next meeting.  All four governments would be

represented equally.  Don Adams wanted to make clear that this authority would be a

Virginia Board and would not take away any authority from the County Commissioners

or Town Council.  Don also pointed out that this is the first step in creating an authority

and it would be a long process.  Patrick Woodie added that the design process had

already been funded by the Mount Rogers Planning Commission which puts them a year

ahead on the scheduling process.  This design phase also shows the appropriations

committee that they are committed and moving ahead with this project.  Mayor Miller

stated that down the road the Town would need this window of opportunity.

 

Mayor Miller was impressed with the success of the meeting they had at the Methodist

Church with Senator Virginia Fox and the business leaders of the community.  He

thought it would be a good idea to have such a meeting at least once or twice a year. 

Everyone agreed. 

 

Both boards expressed their appreciation to Grayson County and the Town of

Independence for attending and their willingness to work with Alleghany County and the

Town of Sparta on joint projects that projected foresight of all those represented.

 

There being no other business the Mayor declared the meeting closed.

 

 

 

                                                                                    ___________________________

                                                                                    John H. Miller, Mayor

 

 

___________________________

Kay Cox, Town Clerk