The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, July 6, 2004, 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 Herndon, 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.

Commissioner Patrick Woodie opened the meeting with a prayer.

Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon made a motion to approve the agenda for this July 6, 2004, meeting. Commissioner Graylen Blevins seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

AGENDA

Monday, July 6, 2004

6:30 PM

6:30 Meeting Called To Order

Motion on Agenda for July 6, 2004 meeting

Motion on Minutes for June 2, 3, 4, 11 and 21, 2004 meetings

6:35 Public Hearing

RE: 911 Road Names

6:45 Mary Walker

RE: Tax Appeal

County Business

1. Administrative Assistant—Recreation/Planning Job Description

2. Register of Deeds Contract (added)

3. Other Business

4. Public Comments—30 minutes

5. Adjourn

Commissioner Patrick Woodie made a motion to approve the minutes for the June 2, 3, 4, 11 and 21, 2004 meetings. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

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

Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to approve the road name requests as presented by the E-911 Coordinator/Mapper. Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon seconded the motion.

The motion died due to lack of holding the required public hearing on road names before taking action.

Chair Eldon Edwards recessed the regular meeting at 6:33pm and opened the public hearing regarding E-911 Road Names.

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

Chair Eldon Edwards closed the public hearing at 6:35pm and reconvened the regular meeting.

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

Mary Walker, Tax Administrator, presented two tax appeals to the Board about penalties on discoveries for vacation rental property in the County. She explained that the Tax Office has sent out discovery notices on vacation rental properties in Alleghany County that have not previously been taxed. She further explained that the two appeals are only appealing the penalties not the actual taxes due. She gave the Board two letters concerning the appeals in the amount of $27.10 for Owen and $109.40 for Pulley.

The Board of Commissioners and Mary Walker discussed vacation rental properties, taxation; releasing taxes, interest, penalties; actions the Board may take on releasing the penalties; deferred taxes; taxes being comprised and readjusted for all of the vacation rental properties and the Board being held personally liable for compromised taxes. Mary Walker reminded everyone that the taxes are not being appealed, only the late listing penalty.

Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon stated that she is removing herself from this vote because she owns a vacation rental property and has a direct financial interest in this matter.

The Board of Commissioners and Mary Walker discussed the taxpayer’s responsibility of listing taxes every January and process of appealing the discovery.

Commissioner Patrick Woodie made a motion to deny the two tax appeals for Owen and Pulley. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 4:0. (Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon abstained from voting due to her financial interest in the matter).

Chair Eldon Edwards stated that a Register of Deeds contract needs to be added to the agenda under County Business.

County Manager Don Adams presented a job description for the Administrative Assistant’s position in the Recreation/Planning Department. He explained that this position is included in this year’s budget.

Commissioner Patrick Woodie made a motion to approve the job description for the Recreation/Planning Administrative Assistant. Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Manager Don Adams presented the proposed contract for the Register of Deeds office and Logan Systems. He reminded everyone that this contract was discussed during the budget process and has been reviewed by our County Attorney. He reviewed the highlights of the contract; three-year term extendable for an additional two years, $2,730 per month for the first two years and then 4% each year thereafter.

Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon made a motion to approve the Logan Systems contract. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Chair Eldon Edwards stated that everyone has received a copy of the jail report for their review. He asked about the T&K Food Service contract renewing annually and reviewing the annual medical plan and locks not working on cell blocks.

County Manager Don Adams stated that he would have to talk with the Sheriff about this report.

Chair Eldon Edwards mentioned an article in the Winston-Salem Journal about solid waste tonnage per person decreasing in Alleghany County when comparing 1991-1992 to 2002-2003. The Board briefly discussed the impact of this reduction and commended everyone for these efforts.

Chair Eldon Edwards asked for public comments.

Travis Sturgill apologized for being late for filming this meeting.

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

Being no further business, Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:07pm. Commissioner Graylen Blevins seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Respectfully submitted,

Karen Evans

Clerk to the Board

Attest:

Eldon Edwards

Chairman