The Alleghany
County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, October 20, 2003, at 3:30pm in the
Conference Room of the County Office Building, 90 South
Main Street, Sparta, North
Carolina.
Present: Vice-Chair Warren Taylor, Commissioner Sandy Carter, Commissioner
Patrick Woodie, County Manager Don Adams, and Clerk to
the Board Karen Evans.
Commissioner Graylen Blevins was present but arrived late. Chair Eldon Edwards and County Attorney Ed Woltz were
absent.
Vice-Chair
Warren Taylor called the meeting to order and opened with a prayer.
Commissioner Sandy Carter made a motion
to approve the agenda for this October 20,
2003, meeting.
Commissioner Patrick Woodie seconded the
motion. Vote 3:0.
AGENDA
Monday,
October 20, 2003
3:30
PM
3:30 Meeting Called To Order
Motion on Agenda for
October 20, 2003 meeting
Motion on
Minutes for September 29 & October 6,
2003, meetings
3:35 Mary Walker
RE: Tax Releases & Refunds
3:45 Susanne Irwin
RE: Library Expansion Needs
4:00 Bill Neil
RE: Annual Probation Report
County Business
1. Budget
Amendment—Insurance Proceeds
2. Budget
Amendment—Workers Comp Audit
3. Transfer
Facility Waste Disposal
4. Recreation
Recommendations
5. Other Business
6. Public
Comments—30 minutes
7. Adjourn
Commissioner Patrick Woodie made a motion
to approve the September 29 & October
6, 2003, minutes.
Commissioner Sandy Carter seconded the
motion. Vote 3:0.
Mary Walker, Tax
Administrator, presented the tax refund requests for September 2003 in the
amount of $7,695.02 for real property and $1,101.16 for vehicles.
Commissioner Patrick
Woodie made a motion to approve the tax refund
requests for September 2003 in the amount of $7,695.02 for real property and
$1,101.16 for vehicles. Commissioner Sandy
Carter seconded the motion. Vote 3:0.
Mary Walker, Tax
Administrator, presented the tax release requests for September 2003 in the
amount of $3,775.47 for real property and $580.43 for vehicles.
Commissioner Sandy
Carter made a motion to approve the tax release
requests for September 2003 in the amount of $3,775.47 for real property and
$580.43 for vehicles. Commissioner Patrick
Woodie seconded the motion. Vote 3:0.
Mary Walker, Tax Administrator,
presented a motor-vehicle appeal for a 1995 Chevrolet Truck with a tax value of
$7,200, appraised value of $4,500 and NADA book value of $6,675, which is her
recommendation.
Commissioner Sandy Carter made a motion
to approve the Tax Administrator’s recommendation of $6,675 for this
appeal. Commissioner Patrick
Woodie seconded the motion.
Vote 3:0.
Mary Walker, Tax Administrator,
discussed hiring an Assistant Tax Appraiser.
She explained the process of her moving to the Tax Administrator’s
position and Rita Miller moving to Assistant Tax
Administrator/Appraiser. She stated that
at the time they moved into the new positions, a discussion was held regarding
having an assistant tax appraiser. She
explained the need to reclassify the vacant Tax Clerk’s position to the
Assistant Tax Appraiser’s position.
Commissioner Patrick Woodie made a motion
to give Mary Walker permission to advertise and hire
an assistant tax appraiser. Commissioner
Sandy Carter seconded the motion. Vote 3:0.
Susanne Irwin gave the Board a
presentation about the public library and the need for a public library in Alleghany County. She discussed the current building and
facility needs of the Alleghany County Library.
Pat Polley came before the Board to
give an overview of the Friends of the Library.
She explained that the Friends of the Library try to earn money to
assist in providing the public library services.
Commissioner
Graylen Blevins arrived at 3:50pm.
Pat Polley continued to discuss ways
the Friends of the Library help in providing assistance to the Library.
Commissioner Sandy Carter asked if any
plans have been started in finding out what is needed by the Library.
Ken Richardson stated that a
feasibility study has been completed and determined the need is there.
Commissioner Sandy Carter asked is the
Library Board knows an approximate dollar amount for this project.
Ken Richardson stated that the experts
have determined that the current building is not a feasible solution to remodel
to suit their building needs. He
explained the need and costs of a new building with approximately 10,000 square
feet.
Commissioner Warren Taylor asked about
any other source of revenue other than County funds.
Ken Richardson stated that the Library
Board is looking at any and all of other funding sources.
Commissioner Sandy Carter asked how
many square feet is in the current building.
Ken Richardson estimated about 3,500
square feet. He explained that parts of
the library can’t be used except for certain functions and that limits the
usage.
Commissioner Patrick
Woodie stated that Alleghany County has a high
circulation rate per capita compared to the region. He talked about the current building is not
suited well for another renovation.
Ken Richardson talked about this will
be a joint effort between the library and the Genealogical Society.
Commissioner Graylen Blevins mentioned
the programs that are offered through the library and the need to accommodate
these programs.
Ken Richardson
stated that the new facility would definitely address these needs.
Bill Neil came before the Board to
present the annual probation report for Alleghany County.
The Board of Commissioners and Bill
Neil discussed statistics for Alleghany County and
preventive measures.
County Manager Don Adams presented
budget amendment General Fund #10 in the amount of $2,326 for lightening damage
at Green Mountain radio
communication tower.
Commissioner Sandy Carter made a motion
to approve budget amendment General Fund #10 in the amount of $2,326. Commissioner Graylen Blevins seconded the
motion. Vote 4:0.
County Manager Don Adams presented
budget amendment General Fund #11 in the amount of $17,972 for the Workers Comp
Audit.
Commissioner Patrick
Woodie made a motion to approve budget amendment General Fund #11
in the amount of $17,972 for the Workers Comp Audit. Commissioner Graylen Blevins seconded the
motion. Vote 4:0.
County Manager Don Adams presented the
Citizen Participation Plan for the Scattered Site Housing grant. He explained the plan to the Board.
Commissioner Sandy Carter made a motion
to approve the Citizen Participation Plan for the Scattered Site Housing
grant. Commissioner Patrick
Woodie seconded the motion. Vote 4:0.
County Manager Don Adams talked to the
Board about the garbage contract that is set to expire next Spring. He gave the Board a review of past events, no
current competition for BFI at this time and BFI is willing to extend their
contract. He stated that he is
requesting the Board to extend the current contract for six months or a year to
see if competition increases during that time.
He stated that he is just letting the Board know about this at this
time, and the Board can go out to bid if they are interested in doing so.
Commissioner Sandy Carter talked about
BFI coming here to make the offer.
County Manager Don Adams talked about
the previous bidding cycle and the bids that were received at that time.
Commissioner Graylen Blevins stated
that the Board doesn’t have to make a decision until December to give the County Manager time to bid
this out if the Board decides to do so.
County Manager Don Adams stated that
the only reason he brought this subject up at this time was to let the public
know that the County may extend the current contract and see if there is public
interest in the transportation of the garbage.
County Manager Don Adams stated that
he has put together his final recommendations regarding creating a recreation
department. He handed out documents that
explain the current operations of the Recreation Commission and Little League
Commission. He gave an overview of these
documents. He reviewed his
recommendations of the recreation programs including consolidating recreation
in the County.
Commissioner Patrick
Woodie stated that the latest edition of Blue Ridge Country
features Commissioner Sandy Carter and also has
several articles about Alleghany County.
Commissioner Sandy Carter left the
meeting at 4:48pm.
County Manager Don Adams handed out
papers regarding the timeline and budgets of creating a County recreation
department. He explained the timeline
and budgets in detail.
Commissioner Warren Taylor stated
that the key to this program will be the recreation director meaning the
director could make this program or cause this program to fail.
County Manager Don Adams stated that
this program will be met with some resistance but also several groups are
supporting this program.
The Board of Commissioners and
County Manager Don Adams discussed the
current recreation commission and little league commission acting as advisory
boards to the new consolidated recreation department.
County Manager Don Adams reminded the
Board that he isn’t looking for any action on this matter now. He stated that he just wanted to get the
information to the Board for them to start thinking about moving to a
consolidated recreation system if the Board decides to do so.
Commissioner Patrick
Woodie asked the County Manager to meet with Travis
Sturgill to find out what needs to be done to ensure the Commissioners
meetings will be videotaped.
The Board of
Commissioners and County Manager Don Adams discussed
different ways to ensure an individual is here to videotape the meetings.
Vice-Chair
Warren Taylor asked for public comments.
None were received.
Being no further business, Commissioner
Patrick Woodie made a motion
to adjourn the meeting at 5:21pm. Commissioner Graylen Blevins seconded the
motion. Vote 3:0.
Respectfully
submitted,
Karen Evans
Clerk
to the Board
Attest:
Eldon Edwards
Chairman