The
Alleghany County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, September
19, 2005, 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 Herndon,
Commissioner Ken Richardson, County Attorney Donna Shumate, County Manager Don
Adams and Clerk to
the Board Karen Evans. Commissioner
Graylen Blevins was present but arrived late.
Chair
Eldon Edwards called the meeting to order and opened with a prayer.
Commissioner
Warren Taylor made a motion to approve the agenda for this September 19,
2005, meeting. Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon seconded the motion. Vote 4:0.
AGENDA
Monday,
September 19, 2005
10:00 AM
10:00 Meeting
Called To Order
Motion on Agenda for
September 19, 2005 meeting
Motion on Minutes for September 13,
2005 meeting
10:05 Mary
Walker
RE: Tax Releases & Refunds
10:15 George Stancil
RE: Copier Expense
10:25 Gerald Leftwich
RE: NIMS Resolution
10:35 Amy Pardue
RE: Preliminary Plat Approval
Land-Use Committee Update
10:45 Randy
Blankenship
RE: Building Inspections Annual Report
11:00 Health
Department
RE: Annual Report
County Business
1. Social Services Budget Amendment
2. Building Inspections Vehicle-Budget
Amendment
3. Laurel Springs Volunteer Fire Department Relief
Fund
4. First Charter Banking Resolution
5. Planning Board Discussions
6. Other Business
7. Public Comments—30 minutes
8. Closed Session—NCGS 143-318.11 (a)
(3)—legal
9.
Adjourn
Commissioner
Sandy Carter Herndon made a motion to approve the minutes for the September 13,
2005, meeting. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the
motion. Vote 4:0.
Mary
Walker, Tax Administrator, presented the August 2005 real property requests in
the amount of $3,140.50 for refunds and $6,300.15 for releases.
Commissioner Warren Taylor made a
motion to approve the August 2005 real property requests in the amount of $3,140.50
for refunds and $6,300.15 for releases. Commissioner
Sandy Carter Herndon seconded the motion. Vote 4:0.
Mary Walker presented the August 2005 automobile requests in the amount
of $52.94 for refunds and $321.76 for releases.
Commissioner
Sandy Carter Herndon made a motion to approve the August 2005 automobile
requests in the amount of $52.94 for refunds and $321.76 for releases. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the
motion. Vote 4:0.
Mary Walker presented a vehicle tax appeal for a motor home. She explained the vehicle has an assessed
value of $61,563, the owners’ opinion is $50,000 and the purchase price was
$47,059 which included a trade-in value of $16,047.78 for a tag-along trailer. She stated that isn’t recommending changing
the assessed value due to the original price of the motor home was $63,467, which
is, greater than the assessed value.
Commissioner
Sandy Carter Herndon made a motion to accept the Tax Administrator’s
recommendation on the motor home.
Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 4:0.
Mary Walker talked to the Board about the debt set-off program. She explained that this is a program that
will garnish people’s state income taxes if they owe delinquent taxes. She stated that there is a $15 processing fee
that must be paid by the delinquent party.
She talked about the process, and she must send a letter to the
delinquent account holders to notify them of the garnishment action.
Commissioner
Graylen Blevins arrived at 10:10.
Mary Walker continued explaining the debt set-off program. She stated that she will be attending a
meeting in Salisbury on September 28 about the program. She talked about the process of joining the
debt set-off program.
Commissioner
Warren Taylor and Mary
Walker talked about
the amount of postage needed to mail letters for the delinquent accounts. Mary Walker further talked about this program will include delinquent
motor vehicles accounts.
Commissioner
Sandy Carter Herndon talked about a brochure she received about the
program that states that any debt owed to a town or county over $50 is eligible
for the program. She stated that she
thinks the County should pursue this in order to get the back log off of the
books.
Commissioner
Warren Taylor and Mary
Walker talked about
the delinquent account holders must pay the $15 charge. Commissioner Warren Taylor stated the only
thing the County will provide will be the postage and labor.
Commissioner
Sandy Carter Herndon made a motion for the Tax Administrator to pursue
the debt set-off program for delinquent accounts. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the
motion. Vote 5:0.
Mary Walker talked about Official Payments Corporation. She stated that this will allow the Tax
Office to collect payments by credit or debit cards. She talked about the number of requests that
she receives for this service. She
stated that Sheila Rebels will come to a County Commissioners’ meeting to explain the program in more detail and answer
any questions the Board may have.
George Stancil, Extension Services Director, came before the Board to discuss
a copier/printer that the Extension Service received from another department a
couple of years ago. He talked about it
may have been sufficient for that department but it isn’t for the Extension
Service. He gave examples of the types
of things that they produce with a copier.
He talked about the price for the maintenance on their new copier versus
the costs of the parts and maintenance for the old copier/printer. He stated that money is still owed on the
copier/printer.
County
Manager Don Adams explained in more detail how the Extension Service got the
copier/printer from the Register of Deeds office. He further explained that the Register of
Deeds didn’t need the equipment after her system was switched over. He talked about there is one more payment due
on the copier/printer.
George Stancil stated that the copier/printer is a good piece of equipment
if they get a backordered part in to put on the copier. He further stated that it couldn’t handle
their volume.
County
Manager Don Adams talked about the last payment of $4,400 is still due on the
equipment.
The
Board of Commissioners and County Manager talked about what to do with the piece of equipment.
Commissioner
Sandy Carter Herndon made a motion to approve the payment of
$4,400. Commissioner Graylen Blevins
seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
Commissioner
Graylen Blevins asked the County Manager to find a department that needs a copier/printer.
Gerald Leftwich, Emergency Management Coordinator, presented the National
Incident Management System (NIMS) resolution to the Board. He explained the purpose of the
resolution. He talked about conforming
to the NIMS requirements and foresees no problems with the training
aspect. He stated that the training can
be combined, and the County should be compliant by the October 1,
2006, deadline.
County
Manager Don Adams and Gerald
Leftwich talked about
any costs associated with the upgrades and training.
Commissioner
Ken Richardson made a motion to approve the resolution as presented by the
Emergency Management Coordinator.
Commissioner Graylen Blevins seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
Amy Pardue, Planner, presented a subdivision for preliminary plat
approval. She explained that this is a
41.66 acres tract with 21 lots off of Ridgeglen Road. She further explained
the proposed subdivision concerning the roads, phases, erosion control plan and
driveway intersection permit.
Commissioner
Ken Richardson made a motion to approve the preliminary plat as presented by
the County Planner. Commissioner Warren
Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
Amy Pardue gave the Board an update on the land-use committee
meetings. She explained that they are
having meetings twice a month with the next meeting tonight. She talked about the speakers who are coming
to the meetings to share their experiences and expertise on the matter.
County
Manager Don Adams mentioned that the meetings are public meetings and when
they became public meetings one member resigned; John Hampton.
The
Board of Commissioners, County Manager and Amy
Pardue talked about
an alternate member for the committee, even number of members and almost being too
far into the process to appoint people to the committee.
Commissioner
Ken Richardson stated that this is an advisory board and whoever appointed John
Hampton should have a chance to submit someone else’s name for the committee.
Commissioner
Graylen Blevins stated that he appointed John Hampton. He further stated that the committee has good
overall county representation, and he is not opting to appoint any one else.
Chair
Eldon Edwards stated that the committee would be left as it is.
Randy
Blankenship, Chief Building Inspector, came before the Board to present the
annual report for the Building Inspections department. He gave the Board information regarding the
number of inspections per day and per year, number of permits per year, number
of complaints per year, number of customers’ visits and telephone calls daily
and the average number of miles driven each year per inspector. Also, he told the Board about things that
they had accomplished through the year including reorganizing all of the
records, quarterly newsletters and the new permitting system.
Commissioner
Ken Richardson, County Manager Don
Adams and Randy Blankenship talked about the total construction costs.
Commissioner
Sandy Carter Herndon and Randy
Blankenship talked about
the recovery fund.
Commissioner
Graylen Blevins and Randy
Blankenship talked about
Toni Williams being an asset to the department, and she is attending
certification classes.
Randy Blankenship thanked the Board for their support of his department.
The
Board of Commissioners thanked Randy
Blankenship for his
report.
Eva
Wooten gave the Board a pamphlet concerning the annual report for the Health
Department. She reviewed the pamphlet
showing the concerns, achievements and statistics of the Appalachian District
Health Department.
Commissioner
Ken Richardson stated that he and Commissioner Taylor serve on this board. He further stated that 15% to 20% of the
citizens depend upon the Health Department for their primary healthcare.
Commissioner
Warren Taylor commented about the nice concise format for the report.
Eva
Wooten expressed her appreciation of the Commissioners for supporting the
Health Department and for their new building.
The
Board of Commissioners thanked Eva Wooten for the report.
County Manager Don
Adams presented
budget amendment General Fund #8 in the amount of $46,511 for the new Social
Services position that was previously approved.
He explained the expenses related to this new position and this being funded
100% by the State.
Commissioner
Graylen Blevins made a motion to approve budget amendment General Fund #8 in
the amount of $46,511. Commissioner
Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote
5:0.
County Manager Don
Adams presented
budget amendment General Fund #9 in the amount of $2,940. He explained that this budget amendment is to
replace the transmission in Jeff Cornett’s truck. He further explained that this pickup has
63,000 miles on it and the new transmission has a warranty.
Commissioner
Sandy Carter Herndon made a motion to approve budget amendment General
Fund #9 in the amount of $2,940. Commissioner
Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote
5:0.
County Manager Don
Adams talked about
the Local Fireman’s Relief Fund Trustees.
He explained that the Commissioners need to appoint two trustees for the
Laurel Springs Volunteer Fire Department.
He stated that the two proposed trustees are Danny Brooks and Muriel
Woodward with Danny Brooks replacing Don Tucker.
Commissioner
Ken Richardson made a motion to approve the trustees for the Laurel Springs
Volunteer Fire Department. Commissioner
Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote
5:0.
County Manager Don
Adams presented a
resolution from First Charter certifying who can sign banking documents on
behalf of the County. He stated that normally
the Finance Office staff, the Chairman and the County Manager sign these documents.
He explained the internal policy about each check must be signed by two
individuals with one individual being from the Finance Office and the other
signature being the Chairman or the County Manager.
Commissioner
Ken Richardson made a motion to approve the First Charter resolution. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the
motion. Vote 5:0.
Commissioner
Warren Taylor made a motion to approve budget amendment General Fund #10 in the
amount of $4,400 for the copier/printer payment. Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
County Manager Don
Adams talked to the
Board about a Planning Board to review a polluting industries ordinance. He explained that the Commissioners can serve
as the Planning Board. He stated that
the Planning Board must be created by ordinance and hold a public hearing about
the creation of the Planning Board. He
explained changes in the law regarding the Planning Board submitting
information to the Board of Commissioners and how the process will change after
January 1. He stated that he is
recommending holding a public hearing to appoint a planning board then proceed
with the moratorium to take up any action then take it before the Commissioners. He talked about actions in January to hold a
public hearing and have the Board of Commissioners serve as the review
agency. He explained the timeline for
the moratorium.
Commissioner
Ken Richardson asked about Amy
Pardue starting the
preliminary work on the polluting industries ordinance.
Commissioner
Warren Taylor talked about the Board of Commissioners serving as the planning
board, meeting as a separate group and then come back to the Board of
Commissioners with the information.
Commissioner
Ken Richardson suggested meeting each Monday morning at 9:00am in October to discuss the ordinance.
County Manager Don
Adams stated that
he will schedule the public hearing on October 3.
Commissioner
Ken Richardson clarified that the meetings on Monday would start after the
public hearing.
The
Board of Commissioners talked about appointing all five members but all five
members don’t have to come to each meeting, only three, like the Board of
E&R.
County Manager Don
Adams stated that
he will give the Commissioners copies of Ashe County and Wilkes County’s ordinances. He
reiterated that the planning board will meet on Mondays at 9:00am during October starting October 10.
Commissioner
Ken Richardson talked about the article in the Alleghany News concerning the
school system. He stated that a joint
meeting still hasn’t been set.
Commissioner
Ken Richardson talked about attending the open house at the Family Resource Center and the asset it is to the County.
Commissioner
Warren Taylor stated that he stopped by, also, and it was very nice.
Commissioner
Sandy Carter Herndon mentioned that there is a Commissioner vacancy on
the Partnership for Children’s board.
Chair
Eldon Edwards and Commissioner Warren Taylor talked about getting in contact
with Charles Joines, Chairman of the school board, about a joint meeting.
Chair
Eldon Edwards asked for public comments.
Charlie
Scott talked about the land-use committee being a well-balanced committee. He further talked about the need to express
this to the citizens.
County Manager Don
Adams talked about possibly
creating a marketing plan but it is hard to talk to the citizens when the
committee is still working on the direction they are taking with the plan.
Commissioner
Warren Taylor stated that they are meeting regularly and making progress, and
that is all the Commissioners can ask of them.
County Manager Don
Adams reviewed the
progress of the committee.
Chair
Eldon Edwards and County Manager Don
Adams talked about
certain agriculture exemptions defined by the law.
Commissioner
Warren Taylor talked about being proactive when using the change of use
concept.
Chair
Eldon Edwards asked for further public comments. None were received.
Chair
Eldon Edwards declared a brief recess at 11:42am.
Commissioner
Ken Richardson made a motion to enter into closed session at 11:45am under NCGS 143-318.11 (a) (3)—legal. Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
Commissioner
Ken Richardson made a motion to adjourn closed session at 12:24pm and reconvene the regular meeting. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the
motion. Vote 5:0.
Chair
Eldon Edwards stated that no action was taken during closed session.
Commissioner
Warren Taylor made a motion to allow Nedra Barker to repay her back taxes over
a five-year period without any penalties or interest since this error is due to
a revaluation error. Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon seconded the motion.
Chair
Eldon Edwards stated that the amount owed is $552.
The
Board voted on the motion on the floor.
Vote 4:1 (Graylen Blevins).
Being
no further business, Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to adjourn the
meeting at 12:26pm. Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
Respectfully
Submitted,
Karen Evans
Clerk to the Board
Attest:
Eldon Edwards
Chairman
ALLEGHANY COUNTY
NORTH
CAROLINA
RESOLUTION
DESIGNATION OF THE NATIONAL INCIDENT
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (NIMS)
AS THE BASIS FOR ALL INCIDENT
MANAGEMENT IN ALLEGHANY COUNTY
WHEREAS, the
President of the United States in Homeland Security Directive (HSPD)-5 directed
the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to develop and administer
a National Incident Management System (NIMS), which would provide a consistent
nationwide approach for Federal, State, and Local governments to work together
more effectively and efficiently to prevent, prepare for, respond to and
recover from domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size or complexity;
WHEREAS, the
collective input and guidance of all Federal, State and Local Homeland Security
partners has been, and will continue to be, vital to the development and
effective implementation and utilization of a comprehensive NIMS;
WHEREAS, it is
necessary that all Federal, State, and local emergency agencies and personnel
coordinate their efforts to effectively and efficiently provide the highest
level of incident management;
WHEREAS, the NIMS
standardized procedures for managing personnel, communications, facilities, and
resources will improve the County’s ability to utilize funding to enhance local
readiness, maintain first responder safety, and streamline incident management
processes,
WHEREAS, the
Incident Command System components are already an integral part of various
incident management activities throughout the county, including the Alleghany
County Emergency Operations Plan,
WHEREAS, the
National Commission on Terrorist Attacks (9-11 Commission) recommends adoption
of a standard Incident Command System;
NOW, THEREFORE,
let it be resolved that the Alleghany County Board of Commissioners does hereby
establish the National Incident Management System (NIMS) as the County standard
for incident management, and that all emergency agencies under County control,
by being County Agencies, under contract with Alleghany County, or by a
signatory to a Mutual Aid Agreement with Alleghany County, will function under
the standards of the National Incident Management System.
Adopted this the 19th
day of September, 2005.