The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, December 1, 1997 at 6:30 PM in the Conference Room of the County Office Building, 90 South Main Street, Sparta, North Carolina

The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, December 5, 2005, 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 Ken Richardson, County Attorney Donna Shumate, County Manager Don Adams, and Clerk to the Board Karen Evans.

County Manager Don Adams called the meeting to order and explained the organizational meeting procedures.

Chair Eldon Edwards opened the meeting with a prayer.

Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to approve the agenda for this December 5, 2005, meeting. Commissioner Eldon Edwards seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

AGENDA

Monday, December 5, 2005

6:30 PM

6:30 Meeting Called To Order

Motion on Agenda for December 5, 2005 meeting

Motion on Minutes for November 21, 2005 meeting

6:35 Elect Chair/Vice-Chair

Meeting Procedures

County Attorney

Board Appointments

6:50 Public Hearing

RE: Community Transportation Program Grant Application

7:00 Public Hearing

RE: Scattered Site Budget Amendment

7:15 Public Hearing

RE: 911 Road Names

7:20 911/Mapping Annual Report

7:35 Amy Pardue

RE: Major Subdivision Approval

Variance Procedures

7:45 Karen Leys

RE: Amersco Contract

8:00 Piney Creek Volunteer Fire Department Annual Report

County Business

1. 2006 Joint Meeting Schedule

2. Alleghany in Motion Budget Amendment

3. Extension Service Budget Amendment

4. Other Business

5. Public Comments—30 minutes

6. Closed Session—NCGS 143-318.11 (a) (3)—legal

7. Adjourn

Commissioner Eldon Edwards made a motion to approve the minutes for the November 21, 2005 meeting. Commissioner Graylen Blevins seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Commissioner Warren Taylor stated that he would like to nominate Eldon Edwards for Chairman.

Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon stated that she would like to nominate Warren Taylor for Vice-Chairman.

Commissioner Ken Richardson seconded both motions. Vote 5:0.

Chair Eldon Edwards voiced his appreciation to the Board for their confidence in him to be Chairman for another year.

Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon made a motion to approve the rules and procedures as presented. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

The Board of Commissioners discussed the position of County Attorney.

Commissioner Ken Richardson made a motion to retain the present County Attorney for another year. Commissioner Graylen Blevins seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

The Board of Commissioners discussed the board appointments.

Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to approve the list of board appointments as presented. Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Manager Don Adams presented the joint meeting schedule for 2006 with the Sparta Town Council.

Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon made a motion to approve the joint meeting schedule as presented. Chair Eldon Edwards seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Chair Eldon Edwards recessed the regular meeting at 6:45pm and opened the public hearing regarding the Community Transportation Program grant application.

April Choate, Transportation Director, presented the 2006/2007 Community Transportation Program grant application. She explained the Administrative budget is remaining the same as the current year except for the addition of vehicle insurance. She explained how this will help in the Operating budget. She further explained the total budget, reimbursement amounts and costs to the County. She talked about the Capital portion of the grant including the needs when the department moves to the County Office Building and five vans that need to be replaced. She explained the total budget, reimbursement amounts and costs to the County.

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

Chair Eldon Edwards closed the public hearing at 6:53pm and reconvened the regular meeting.

Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon made a motion to approve the grant application as presented by the Transportation Director. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

April Choate stated that they had recently received a new lift van from last year’s grant. She explained that this is replacing a standard van that came from ADAP. She stated that they would like to receive this van for their long trips; such as, trips to the Carowinds and the beach.

County Manager Don Adams explained that the County can donate things like this van to non-profit organizations. He stated that the van must be declared surplus with the idea that it will be donated to ADAP.

Commissioner Ken Richardson made a motion to declare the van surplus and donate it to ADAP. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Manager Don Adams presented budget amendment General Fund #16 in the amount of $2,120 and Transportation Fund #1 in the amount of $2,119. He explained that this is to pay out the annual leave and comp time to a retiring employee and allow training time for the new employee.

Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon made a motion to approve budget amendment General Fund #16 in the amount of $2,120 and Transportation Fund #1 in the amount of $2,119. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Manager Don Adams presented budget amendment General Fund #17 in the amount of $2,932 for the Extension Service. He reminded the Board that this is a follow-up from the last meeting.

Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon made a motion to approve budget amendment General Fund #17 in the amount of $2,932. Commissioner Graylen Blevins seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Manager Don Adams presented the variance meeting procedures prepared by Amy Pardue from written literature by David Lawrence. He explained the procedures.

The Board of Commissioners, County Manager Don Adams and County Attorney Donna Shumate discussed the 4/5 voting rule, being allowed to ask questions during the variance meeting, what happens if a Commissioner is contacted by the individual prior to the meeting, conflict of interest clause and time limit for decisions to be made.

Chair Eldon Edwards recessed the regular meeting at 7:00pm and opened the public hearing regarding the Scattered Site program budget amendment.

County Manager Don Adams explained that Michelle Ball was unable to attend this meeting. He reminded everyone what the Scattered Site program is. He read Ms. Ball’s summary sheet explaining that the budget amendment will increase the relocation line by $37,000 to $252,000 and the lines to be reduced to cover the $37,000. He continued reviewing the summary sheet explaining why this action is necessary.

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

Chair Eldon Edwards closed the public hearing at 7:04pm and reconvened the regular meeting.

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

Chair Eldon Edwards reminded everyone that a variance meeting has been scheduled for 6:00pm on December 13 and a joint meeting with the Board of Education has been scheduled for December 9 at 9:00am.

Commissioner Warren Taylor talked about the water meeting that was scheduled in Lenoir. He stated that it is his understanding that this has stemmed from the drought conditions in the Piedmont area. He talked about a meeting scheduled in Raleigh to discuss this further. He stated that he thinks that this is the beginning to get a water bond years down the road.

Chair Eldon Edwards talked about Medicaid relief. He stated that a committee has been appointed, and they are looking at doing the study for providing relief in the short session.

Commissioner Ken Richardson talked about North Carolina is the only state that requires the counties to pay a portion of Medicaid expenses. He further talked about services that are provided in other states must be provided by the counties; whereas, North Carolina provides those services now. He stated that it is a good idea to attend these meetings to see what direction things are going and to contact the legislators.

Chair Eldon Edwards recessed the regular meeting at 7:13pm and opened the public hearing regarding the E-911 Road Names.

Wendy Williams, E-911 Coordinator/Mapper presented four road names for approval. She explained where each road is located in the County.

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

Chair Eldon Edwards closed the public hearing at 7:16pm and reconvened the regular meeting.

Commissioner Graylen Blevins made a motion to approve the new E-911 road names as presented by the E-911 Coordinator/Mapper. Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon seconded the motion.

Commissioner Ken Richardson asked if a subdivision has been approved and the names of the roads are on the plat, does the Board have to approve the names again.

Amy Pardue, Planner, stated that they are working on a new process to incorporate the road information into the subdivision consideration discussions.

Wendy Williams explained the guidelines for naming roads in a subdivision prior to subdivision approval.

The Board voted on the motion on the floor. Vote 5:0.

Amy Pardue presented a final plat for Turtle Ridge. She explained that this is a 41.66-acre tract being divided into 20 lots using one existing state maintained road, a Private Road, one county standard road and one private driveway.

Commissioner Ken Richardson made a motion to approve the final plat as presented by the Planner. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Wendy Williams presented the annual report for the Mapping and E-911 departments. She explained the activities that the departments do, training received during the past year, major accomplishments during the past year and statistics concerning the workload for each department.

Chair Eldon Edwards asked about road signs being torn down.

Wendy Williams talked about the road signs, fire departments reinstalling them, relying on the public and fire departments to let them know when road signs are missing and beginning to physically inventory the road signs.

County Manager Don Adams and Wendy Williams discussed the small number of corrections needed for 911 records.

Commissioner Graylen Blevins commented that this was a very impressive report.

Karen Leys presented a revised Amersco resolution to the Board. She explained that the Local Government Commission didn’t approve for them to go through a third party to borrow the money for the energy savings contract. She further explained that the change is the contract will only be between Amersco and the Board of Education.

Commissioner Warren Taylor and Karen Leys discussed the timeline and payments won’t be made until the project is complete.

County Manager Don Adams asked if the payments are coming out of the current expense.

Karen Leys stated that yes it is coming from current expense.

Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to approve the resolution that changes the financing end of the energy savings contract. Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Chair Eldon Edwards asked for public comments.

Mickey Hall talked about the 911 sign brackets and other ways to fasten the signs to the posts.

Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon asked about the newspaper doing an article on the vandalism problems with the 911 signs.

Coby Larue stated that they had been working on an article, and it will appear in this week’s newspaper.

Rick Proffit asked if questions/comments can be made on things other than topics discussed at tonight’s meeting.

The Board of Commissioners stated that the public comment section is for topics that were discussed at this meeting.

Larry Adams, Chief with Piney Creek Volunteer Fire Department, presented the fire department’s annual report. He reviewed how many members they have, types of vehicles, number and types of calls received during the past year, hours of training, coverage area, fire rating and annual fund raisers held.

Chair Eldon Edwards stated that all of the fire departments do a tremendous job for Alleghany County.

The Board of Commissioners and Larry Adams discussed recruiting new firemen and working closely with other departments.

Chair Eldon Edwards stated his appreciation for their contributions.

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

Chair Eldon Edwards thanked everyone for attending this meeting.

Commissioner Ken Richardson made a motion to enter into closed session at 8:01pm under NCGS 143-318.11 (a) (3)—legal. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

The Board took a brief recess at 8:02pm.

Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to adjourn the closed session at 8:35pm and reconvene the regular meeting. Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Chair Eldon Edwards stated no action was taken during closed session.

Being no further business, Chair Eldon Edwards made a motion to adjourn at 8:36pm. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Respectfully submitted,

Karen Evans

Clerk to the Board

Attest:

Eldon Edwards

Chairman