The Alleghany County Board of
Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, December 20, 2004 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 Manager Don Adams and Clerk to the Board Karen Evans. Commissioner
Graylen Blevins was present but arrived late.
County Attorney Ed
Woltz was absent.
Chair Eldon Edwards called the
meeting to order.
Commissioner
Sandy Carter Herndon opened the meeting with a prayer.
Chair Eldon Edwards stated that Mary Walker will not be in attendance today.
Chair Eldon Edwards made a motion to
approve the amended agenda for this December 20, 2004, meeting.
Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 4:0.
AGENDA
Monday, December 20,
2004
10:00 AM
10:00 Meeting
Called To Order
Motion on Agenda for
December 20, 2004 meeting
Motion on Minutes for December 6, 2004 meeting
10:05 Mary Walker (deleted)
RE: Tax Releases & Refunds
10:15 Bob Edwards
RE: Extension Director Position
10:25 Amy Pardue
RE: Subdivision Approval Request
10:35 Debbie Brewer
RE: Library Annex
County Business
1.
Budget
Amendment—Recreation
2.
Budget
Amendment—Refinancing Loan
3.
Budget
Amendment—Elections Grant
4.
Joint Meeting
with School Board
5.
Osborne
Road
Water Line
6.
Administrative
Building Construction & Financing Bids
7.
Other Business
8.
Public
Comments—30 minutes
9.
Closed Session—NCGS 143-318.11 (a)
(5)—Contracts to discuss real
property acquisition
NCGS
143-318.11 (a) (6)—Personnel
10. Adjourn
Commissioner
Sandy Carter Herndon made a motion to approve the minutes for the December 6,
2004, meeting. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 4:0.
Commissioner
Graylen Blevins joined the meeting at 10:06am.
Amy Pardue, Planner, presented a major subdivision plat for final
approval. She explained that this plat was
originally approved in August. She
further explained the changes from the original plat. She reviewed how this subdivision meets the
subdivision ordinance requirements.
Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon made a motion to approve the subdivision as
presented by the County Planner. Commissioner Warren
Taylor seconded the motion. Vote
5:0.
County Manager Don Adams presented budget amendment General Fund #19 in
the amount of $3,502 for the Adult Softball League. He explained that these monies do not include
any General Fund monies.
Commissioner Sandy
Carter Herndon made a motion to approve budget amendment
General Fund #19 in the amount of $3,502.
Commissioner Graylen Blevins seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
Bob
Edwards came before the Board requesting
that George Stancil be hired as Alleghany
County’s new Extension
Director. He reviewed the selection
process. He informed the Board of Mr.
Stancil’s background and qualifications.
Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon made a motion to approve the hiring of George
Stancil as the new Extension Director.
Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
The Board of Commissioners welcomed
George Stancil to the County.
George Stancil stated that he is
looking forward to working with everyone.
Bob Edwards stated his appreciation to David Isner and the entire
extension staff for covering for this vacant position.
County Manager Don Adams presented budget amendment General Fund #20 in
the amount of ($35,633). He explained
that this is decreasing the Sparta School/Jail Bond Payments due to the recent
refinancing of these loans.
Commissioner
Warren Taylor made a motion to approve budget amendment General Fund #20 in the
amount of ($35,633). Commissioner
Graylen Blevins seconded the motion.
Vote 5:0.
County Manager Don Adams presented budget amendment General Fund #21 in
the amount of $10,536 for a technology grant that the Board of Elections will
receive. He explained that these monies
do not include any General Fund monies.
Commissioner
Warren Taylor made a motion to approve budget amendment General Fund #21 in the
amount of $10,536. Commissioner Graylen
Blevins seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
County Manager Don Adams talked about a joint meeting with Board of
Education on January 24th or 31st. He reminded everyone of the joint meeting
with the Town Council on the 31st at 7:00pm. He asked the Board about a date and place for the joint
meeting with the Board of Education.
Chair
Eldon Edwards talked about holding the meeting here or at the Board of
Education’s conference room.
Commissioner
Sandy Carter Herndon talked about having the meeting on January 24th
rather than January 31st due to the other meeting on the 31st.
Commissioner
Graylen Blevins and County Manager Don Adams discussed the School’s architect
will be bringing ideas to the Boards concerning the space needs issue.
Commissioner
Ken Richardson talked about the meeting will be open to the public and should
be in an area large enough to hold a larger group. He talked about Sparta Elementary School or Alleghany High School. He said he would
like to have meetings at each school location.
The
Board of Commissioners talked about scheduling the meeting on January 24th
at 6:30pm and the agenda format for the meeting.
County Manager Don Adams stated that he will talk to Duane Davis about a
location for the meeting.
County Manager Don Adams reminded everyone that at the last joint meeting,
the Town was going to apply for State grant funding for the extension of water
lines to households on Osborne
Road. He reviewed a letter from The Rural Center
regarding the grant and matching funds.
He talked about the Town is willing to accept the ongoing costs for
these additional services. He stated
that he is asking for the County to provide the 10.1% match; which is $13,534.
Commissioner
Warren Taylor made a motion to approve a 10.1% match on The Rural Center grant
for the water line extension.
Commissioner Graylen Blevins seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
Debbie
Brewer came before the Board to thank the Board for their continued
support. She discussed a proposal
concerning the Library Annex and renting the facility where the rent would go towards
the next loan payment.
County Manager Don Adams stated that the building appears like it is in good
shape concerning the maintenance aspect.
County Manager Don Adams talked about the proposal being the County will
keep the lease money separate to be used towards the payment with any
maintenance costs being paid from the lease monies.
Commissioner
Ken Richardson talked about his idea is the library board working out the lease
details and the lease rates being $1000 for the entire facility or $500 for
half of building.
County Manager Don Adams talked about the library board pursuing this
action and the lease will come back before the Commissioners and reviewed by
the County Attorney before any final decisions are made.
Commissioner
Graylen Blevins, Commissioner Ken Richardson and County Manager Don Adams
talked about the length of the lease and the legality of different lease
scenarios.
Commissioner
Graylen Blevins and Commissioner Sandy
Carter Herndon
talked about lease rates being set by the Board.
Commissioner
Sandy Carter Herndon made a motion to approve this request. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the
motion. Vote 5:0.
County Manager Don Adams reviewed the bids received for renovations of the
Administration Building and financing interest rate bids. He reviewed the construction timeline. He further reviewed the budget for this
construction project including construction bid from Donald Neal Construction
Company being $1,111,768, basement wall repair for $127,332, architect fees
being $101,000 and miscellaneous/contingency being $109,900. He reviewed the miscellaneous costs including
funding for the phone system, legal fees and environmental fees.
County Manager Don Adams reviewed the interest rate bids for this project
with BB&T being the low bidder at 3.89% and the other bids received were
RBC Centura at 4.15%, Wachovia at 4.04% and Alleghany First at 6.25%. He further reviewed the bank fees and prepay
penalty for each bank.
The
Board agreed to hold a public hearing on January 3, 2005, concerning the Local Government Commission application and
the financing agreement with BB&T.
Commissioner
Ken Richardson wished everyone on the Board happy holidays.
Commissioner
Ken Richardson talked about working with County Manager Don Adams after the
November election to update him on County matters. He stated that he could not support the Administration Building at that time. He
talked about the lack of communication between the Board and citizens. He stated that he is glad a public hearing is
being held on this matter, and he wants everyone who has called to come to the
public hearing and express their concern about the Administration Building.
Commissioner
Graylen Blevins talked about Commissioner Ken Richardson’s comments at the last
meeting about the new commissioners failing to get the new jobs back into the
County. He further talked about he
hasn’t been aware of a Wal-Mart opportunity.
He stated that he has worked on getting a theatre here and couldn’t get
enough interest from the public to support a theatre. He further stated that he is always open to
public comments at any time. He reviewed
the positive things that has occurred during his term; Martin-Marietta,
Charleston Forge and NAPCO. He talked
about the Administration-side of having to spend money at every meeting and
major ADA issues at the Courthouse that must be dealt with. He further talked about how the Board is balanced. He stated that he is thankful for the County Manager that we have now with his business and construction
sense. He further stated that by no
means does he go along with everyone to just be going along with everyone, and
he votes the way he thinks is best regardless of how anyone else votes.
Commissioner
Sandy Carter Herndon and Commissioner Warren Taylor wished everyone safe
and happy holidays.
Chair
Eldon Edwards addressed Commissioner Ken Richardson’s concern about the public
not knowing what is going on at the Commissioners meetings. He stated that the Board has two regular meetings
a month, local newspaper articles about the meetings, the County’s web page has
minutes about the meetings, and everyone is welcome to come to all of the board
meetings.
Commissioner
Sandy Carter Herndon added that the public has access to Channel 50 to
view the Commissioners meeting.
Chair
Eldon Edwards wished everyone a happy holiday.
Chair
Eldon Edwards asked for public comments.
Charlie
Scott wished everyone a Merry Christmas.
Coby Larue wished everyone a Merry Christmas.
Chair
Eldon Edwards stated his appreciation to Coby Larue for doing a good job with the newspaper.
Commissioner
Warren Taylor made a motion to enter into closed session under NCGS 143-318.11
(a) (5)—contracts to discuss real property acquisition and (a) (6)—personnel at
10:55am. Commissioner Graylen Blevins
seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
Chair
Eldon Edwards called for a brief recess at 10:55am.
Charles
Joines and Duane Davis joined the Board for closed session.
Charles
Joines and Duane Davis left the meeting at 12:30pm.
Commissioner
Warren Taylor made a motion to adjourn closed session and reconvene the regular
meeting at 12:39pm. Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
Chair
Eldon Edwards stated that no action was taken during closed session.
Being no further business,
Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 12:40pm. Chair Eldon
Edwards seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
Respectfully
Submitted,
Karen Evans
Clerk to the Board
Attest:
Eldon Edwards
Chairman