The
Present: Chair Eldon Edwards, Vice-Chair Warren
Taylor, Commissioner Graylen Blevins, Commissioner
Chair Eldon Edwards called the meeting
to order.
Commissioner
Commissioner Warren Taylor made a
motion to approve the agenda for this September 15, 2003, meeting. Commissioner
AGENDA
Monday,
September 15, 2003
3:30 PM
3:30 Meeting Called To Order
Motion on Agenda for
September 15, 2003 meeting
Motion on
Minutes for September 2 & 3, 2003 meetings
3:35 Public Hearing
RE: 911 Road Names
3:45
RE: 911 Road Names and Procedures
4:15
RE: Tax Releases & Refunds
4:30 Jim Hobbs & Buck Montgomery
RE: The Joe Place
4:45 Myrtle Taylor
RE: Angelou Economics Study
5:00
RE: Plat Approval
5:15
RE: FY02/03 Annual Audit
County Business
1. Reminder of Joint
Meeting
2. Budget
Amendment—Social Services
3. Wilkes
Community College Lease Agreement
4. Cooperative
Extension request
5. Other Business
6. Public
Comments—30 minutes
7. Adjourn
Commissioner
Commissioner Graylen Blevins asked that
the minutes be amended to reflect that Commissioner
Clerk to the Board
The Board of Commissioners voted on the
motion on the floor. Vote 5:0.
Commissioner
Chair
Eldon Edwards asked for public comments.
Marie
Wedden talked about how her and her husband picked the names of
Chair
Eldon Edwards,
County
Manager
Marie
Wedden talked about how proper procedures were not followed for the road name
changes.
County
Manager
Warren
McHone stated that he lives on Weddens Way and is in favor of the road name
change. He stated that other property
owners could not be in attendance at today’s meeting. He further stated that other property owners
have asked that letters be read at this meeting. He read letters from the following property
owners on Weddens Way and Betko Boulevard; Louisa Lewis, Tobias Morgan and
James & Lynn Koehneke, who are in favor of changing the road names to Irwin
Farm Lane and Windy Hill Lane. He
mentioned that boulevard does not meet the criteria of a road name in
Dr.
Wade Irwin talked about the Weddens were invited to the meetings of the
property owners on Weddens Way and Betko Boulevard, and if they didn’t receive
the invitation, then the mail did not deliver the letters. He stated that he watched everyone sign the
petitions in his presence, and his signature was authentic. He further stated that three parcels on
Warren
McHone stated that he doesn’t understand how the property owners’ access can be
owned by the Weddens.
Jay
Wedden talked about this property is their baby and how they worked hard to get
the development where it is today. He
further talked about this development is his mark on the world. He explained where the names
Dr.
Wade Irwin stated that each property owner paid $200 last year for road
maintenance and $52 was returned back to each property owner.
Marie
Wedden stated that when the property owners purchased the property, it was
stated that the property owners would pay $200 each year for road
maintenance. She stated that the money
wasn’t collected in 2000, 2001 or 2002.
She explained that the $200 was collected for 2003 and $52.14 was
returned to each property owner meaning $50 was the amount that each property
owner has in the road maintenance per year.
Warren
McHone discussed how the road has not been maintained adequately since he
bought his property in 2000. He further
stated that the deed has restrictions stating that no forestry activity will be
on the performed on of the property. He
talked about how Mr. Wedden cut trees and had them hauled out damaging the
roads.
Chair
Eldon Edwards asked for further public comments. None were received.
Commissioner
Commissioner
Warren Taylor stated that the purpose of having a road name is for our 911
system. He further stated that the
residents on the road are more affected than the property owners.
Commissioner
Warren Taylor and County Manager
Dr.
Wade Irwin asked how the original name was created.
Chair
Eldon Edwards talked about 50% plus one is how the decision should be made.
County
Manager
Commissioner
Jay
Wedden talked about that this is not fair.
He stated that the Board should go by their heart to make this decision.
Chair
Eldon Edwards stated that the Board has to go by the ordinance.
Commissioner
Jay
Wedden asked if the Board wants to settle this in court? He stated that a judge could make the
decision. He further stated that he is
willing to negotiate on the road names.
Chair
Eldon Edwards stated that is something the Board cannot do.
Commissioner
The
motion died for lack of a second.
The
Board of Commissioners talked about the interpretations of current ordinance
and the staff coming back to the Board with recommendations on developing
guidelines for renaming roads.
County
Manager
Commissioner
Commissioner
Warren Taylor made a motion to change the current names to the new requested
names using the present ordinance as the guidelines and if any changes are made
to the ordinance in the future the changes will affect future requests that
come before the Board. Commissioner
Graylen Blevins seconded the motion.
County
Manager
The
Board of Commissioners agreed.
The
Board of Commissioners voted on the motion on the floor. Vote 5:0.
Chair
Eldon Edwards asked if the people have any comments on these new roads.
Scott
Craven asked what the guidelines are to have a road named.
Commissioner
Warren Taylor made a motion to approve the two road names. Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner Warren Taylor
made a motion to approve the tax refund requests for August 2003 in the amount
of $84.78 for real property and $388.84 for vehicles. Commissioner Graylen
Blevins seconded the motion. Vote
5:0.
Commissioner Warren Taylor
made a motion to release the solid waste fee for Anna Lee Ausley. Commissioner
Commissioner Warren Taylor made a
motion to accept the Tax Administrator’s recommendation of $2,500. Commissioner
Commissioner
Chair Eldon Edwards called for a
5-minute recess at 5:25pm.
Jim Hobbs explained that he is here
today to discuss the road situation at The Joe Place developed by Miles
Consolidated. He read a letter from
Miles Consolidated stating they would maintain the road until the road is taken
over by the State. He reviewed his
concerns over the road. He read the deed
restrictions on the property.
Commissioner
Chair Eldon Edwards told Mr. Hobbs that
the County does not have any authority on any private roads in the County.
Jim Hobbs stated that he has contacted
an attorney. He discussed a housing
committee for the subdivision.
D.W. Miles stated that the housing
committee is in the process of getting the road up to State standards so it can
be turned over to the State.
Myrtle Taylor stated that she is here
to represent the Whitehead Community Center and concerned citizens. She talked about the Angelou Economics study
talking about letting atheists into the County.
She asked the
Commissioner
Chair Eldon Edwards reminded everyone that
there is a 30-minute public comment time at the end of the meeting for anyone
to speak on any topic discussed tonight.
County Manager
Commissioner
County Manager
Commissioner Warren Taylor made a
motion to approve the budget amendment as presented by the County Manager. Commissioner
County Manager
Commissioner
County Manager
Commissioner Graylen Blevins made a
motion to approve paying the pro-rated share of the bonus money. Commissioner
Commissioner
Chair Eldon Edwards asked for public
comments.
Scott Craven said that Myrtle Taylor’s
statement asked that the
Chair Eldon Edwards reminded everyone
that the County doesn’t have a contract with Angelou Economics.
Scott Craven stated that the group is
asking that the Board would not be associating with the Angelou Economics.
Jim Winfield stated that he doesn’t
think this is the opinion of the majority of the citizens.
Clarence Crouse stated that he attended
the meeting in question. He further
stated that the presenter made a comment to liven the meeting up. He asked that the Board get the opinions of
the citizens. He said that he is for
growth of the County. He explained how
he felt the comment was meant. He stated
that he would love to see the County Commissioners continue and make the best
decision on the situation.
Chair Eldon Edwards said that this
study from Angelou Economics is just a recommendation, and the Board does not
have to go with anything that is recommended.
Scott Craven said that it is his
understanding that the Commerce Department could award a grant without this
study being completed.
Commissioner
Scott Craven asked if Angelou Economics
would be making recommendations to the Commerce Department if the County doesn’t
go by Angelou’s recommendations.
The Board of Commissioners stated that
once Angelou’s study is completed, they are completing out of the picture.
Winnie Craven asked about the priority
ranking linked to money.
Commissioner
Winnie Craven asked who is paying
Angelou Economics.
Commissioner
Stewart Taylor talked about keeping
Christian communities in the County.
Winnie Craven talked about Mr.
Bamberg’s comments in the newspaper.
Commissioner
Commissioner
Scott Craven spoke about a letter in
the newspaper from Richard Burr and a letter from Virginia Foxx.
Chair Eldon Edwards stated that Richard
Burr was talking about the comment that was made at the Angelou meeting.
Chair Eldon Edwards and Commissioner
Scott Craven talked about Angelou’s
response in the newspaper talking down to the people in the County.
Stewart Taylor said that people has
voted to gather petitions, and the Board will hear from the Christian
community.
Commissioner
Scott Craven asked if anything that was
in the survey would be beneficial for the County.
Commissioner
Scott Craven and
Chair Eldon Edwards stated that the
Board appreciated everyone coming and expressing their concerns. He further stated that the County does not
have any ties with Angelou Economics.
Being no further business, Commissioner
Warren Taylor made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:53pm. Commissioner
Graylen Blevins seconded the motion.
Vote 5:0.
Respectfully
submitted,
Clerk
to the Board
Attest:
Eldon
Edwards
Chairman