The Alleghany
County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on
Present: Chair Eldon Edwards, Vice-Chair Warren
Taylor, Commissioner Graylen Blevins, Commissioner Patrick Woodie,
Chair Eldon Edwards called the meeting
to order.
Commissioner
Chair Eldon Edwards stated that closed
session for legal needs to be added to the agenda.
Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to approve the
amended agenda for this
AGENDA
Motion on Agenda for
April 19, 2004 meeting
Motion on
Minutes for April 5, 2004 meeting
RE: 911 Road Names
RE: Tax Releases & Refunds
1. Budget
Amendment—Emergency Management
2. Budget
Amendment—
3. Commissioners/School
Board Meeting
4. Community
Advisory Board Appointment
RE: Occupancy Tax
RE: Annual DSS Report and DSS Board Appointment
5. Budget Summary
6. Other Business
7. Public
Comments—30 minutes
8. Closed
Session—NCGS 143-318.11 (a) (3)—legal
(added)
9. Adjourn
Commissioner
Chair
Eldon Edwards recessed the regular meeting at
Chair
Eldon Edwards asked for public comments.
None were received.
Commissioner
Chair
Eldon Edwards closed the public hearing at
Mary Walker, Tax Administrator,
presented a motor-vehicle appeal for a 2001 GMC Sonoma with a tax value of
$10,780. She further explained that
Trojan Chevrolet currently values the vehicle at $6,500, and she recommends the
value be $6,500.
Commissioner
Mary Walker, Tax Administrator, talked
to the Board about an error on the February recap sheet stating Mrs. Harrell
Edwards was due a refund for $357.76 and the name should be Chandler
Concrete. She asked if the Chairman can
sign showing the name change. She
reminded the Board that the amount of money doesn’t change. The Board agreed.
Mary Walker, Tax Administrator, presented the tax
requests for real property for March 2004 in the amount of $1,127.70 for
releases and $453.16 for refunds.
Commissioner
Mary Walker, Tax Administrator, presented the tax
requests for vehicles for March 2004 in the amount of $2,441.40 for releases
and $201.92 for refunds.
Commissioner Warren Taylor
made a motion to approve the tax requests for vehicles for March 2004 in the
amount of $2,441.40 for releases and $201.92 for refunds. Commissioner Graylen Blevins seconded the
motion. Vote 4:0.
Mary Walker, Tax Administrator,
mentioned that the tax collection rate is 95.46% as of this morning. She stated that she will be advertising delinquent
taxes on May 6. She stated that the Tax
Office will be starting Present-Use Value audits soon.
Commissioner Warren Taylor made a
motion to approve budget amendment General Fund $19 in the amount of
$4,556. Commissioner Graylen Blevins
seconded the motion. Vote 4:0.
Commissioner
Commissioner
The Board of Commissioners and County
Manager
Chair Eldon Edwards asked Leanne Murray
to review information about the draft bill for the occupancy tax changes.
Leanne Murray reviewed the changes to
the occupancy tax law.
Commissioner
Leanne Murray continued to review the
changes to the occupancy tax law. She
discussed the creation of Tourism Development Authority when the annual
revenues from occupancy tax reach $100,000.
She further reviewed the other changes; money must be spent on tourism, 3%
rate staying the same, all money going to the Chamber and collections from
every accommodation provider regardless of the number of units.
Chair Eldon Edwards and Leanne Murray
discussed the 3% occupancy tax rate and the General Assembly must change the
rate if the County decides to raise the rates.
Leanne Murray mentioned that the draft
bill format from the General Assembly staff is trying to streamline occupancy
tax laws across the State.
Commissioner Warren Taylor and Leanne
Murray discussed the section that deletes repealing the occupancy tax.
Leanne Murray reviewed the next steps
to have the draft bill adopted in the General Assembly.
Commissioner Warren Taylor and County
Manager
Chair Eldon Edwards recessed the
regular meeting at
Vonnie Cook asked about this change
applying to all vacation rentals including bed and breakfast and the amount of
occupancy tax to be collected.
Leanne Murray mentioned that the
occupancy tax will be charged for all units and the amount of the tax will
remain the same.
Bob Alexander asked what advantages
there are to increase the collections.
He talked about people not coming to the County due to taxes. He further talked about refocusing the
efforts of the occupancy tax to get more “bang for the buck”.
Leanne Murray talked about how the
occupancy tax money has been spent. She
gave examples of ads that been purchased with the occupancy tax money.
Bob Alexander asked about all units
charging occupancy tax money then more money will be generated for the Chamber
to properly promote the County.
Leanne Murray talked about the ad
campaign that the Chamber has put together to keep
Bob Alexander mentioned that three or
four years ago, he received benefits, since then he hasn’t.
Leanne Murray discussed the County
keeping the 50% resulting in reduction in ads for
Bob Alexander discussed the referral
system that used to work in
Leanne Murray and Bob Alexander
discussed how the occupancy tax changing the vacation rental collections
procedures. Leanne Murray mentioned the
accommodation providers’ meeting with 20 people supporting this action.
Vonnie Cook mentioned that the weather
affected travel and tourism last year.
Commissioner
Commissioner
Graylen Blevins and Leanne Murray talked about the benefits from the occupancy
tax should be benefiting everyone not just benefiting Chamber members.
Commissioner
Leanne Murray
and Bob Alexander discussed making this tax fairer across the Board.
Vonnie Cook
asked about solid waste fees.
Chair Eldon
Edwards stated that the fees are used for transporting the waste to
Vonnie Cook
asked about recycling reducing the fees.
Chair Eldon
Edwards stated that any time anyone recycles reduces the amount of waste
therefore saves money.
Chair Eldon Edwards asked for further
public comments. None were received.
Chair Eldon Edwards adjourned the
public hearing and reconvened the regular meeting at
Commissioner
Commissioner Graylen Blevins talked
about the numerous comments that he gets in relation to the operations of the
Chamber.
Commissioner
The Board voted on the motion on the
floor. Vote 5:0.
Commissioner Graylen Blevins and Leanne
Murray discussed comments that the Commissioners are receiving about the
operations of the Chamber, and people should be talking to the Chamber about
Chamber problems rather than to the Commissioners.
Sandy Ashley, Social Services Director,
presented the annual Department of Social Services report. She reviewed the accomplishments for 2003 and
goals for 2004.
Sandy Ashley, Social Services Director,
presented a letter to the Board requesting that someone be appointed to the DSS
Board since Ken Richardson’s term is expiring.
Sandy Ashley, Social Services Director,
discussed a letter from the State Personnel Office reclassifying a Social
Worker III to Social Worker of Investigations/Assessment and Treatment with a
recommended pay grade at Grade 70. She
discussed the pay grade for this position that affects two people. She stated that the DSS Board recommended
this position be paid at a Grade 70.
Commissioner Warren Taylor and Sandy
Ashley discussed the salary pay plan and the classification for this position.
County Manager
Commissioner
Commissioner Warren Taylor gave the
Board an update about a meeting he attended concerning
Commissioner
Chair Eldon Edwards stated that he shared
Commissioner Herndon’s concerns as well as the program doesn’t have FDA
standards and inspections.
Commissioner
Chair Eldon Edwards mentioned the
district meeting about Mental Health next Tuesday in
Chair Eldon Edwards mentioned the
Legislative Briefing on May 19 in
Chair Eldon Edwards and County Manager
Chair Eldon Edwards mentioned a letter
from Cliff Phillips requesting that May be proclaimed as Older American’s Month
and the need for an alternate for the Senior Tarheel Legislators.
Chair Eldon Edwards asked for public
comments. None were received.
Commissioner Warren Taylor made a
motion to enter into closed session at
Commissioner Warren Taylor made a
motion to adjourn closed session and reconvene the regular meeting at
Chair Eldon Edwards stated no action
was taken in closed session.
Being no further business, Commissioner
Respectfully
submitted,
Clerk
to the Board
Attest:
Eldon
Edwards
Chairman