&=
nbsp; The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners met in regul=
ar
session on Monday=
, January 7, 20=
08,
at 6:30pm in the=
Board
Meeting Room of the Count=
y
Administration Building,
348 South Main Street,
Sparta, North Caro=
lina.
=
&=
nbsp; Present: Chair Ken Richardson, Vice-Chair W=
arren
Taylor, Commissioner Randy Miller, Commissioner Doug Murphy, Commissioner M=
illy
Richardson, County Attorney Donna Shumate, =
County Manager
Don Adams, and Clerk to the Bo=
ard Karen Evans.
Chair
Ken Richardson called the meeting to order, led the Pledge of Allegiance and
opened the meeting with a prayer.
Chair
Ken Richardson stated that a budget amendment for the Sheriff’s
Department and a discussion about the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP)=
needs
to be added to the agenda under county business.
Commission=
er
Randy Miller made a motion to approve the amended agenda for this January 7, 200=
8,
meeting. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
AGENDA
Monday,
Jan=
uary 7, 2008
=
6:30 PM
6:30 &=
nbsp; Meeting Called To Order <=
/o:p>
Pledge of Allegiance and Praye=
r
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Motion
on Agenda for January
7, 2008, meeting
Motion on Minutes for December 17, 2007, meeting=
6:35 A. &nbs=
p; Public
Comments—30 minutes
B. =
Public Hearing
RE: Community Transportation Program
C. =
Alleghany in Motion Annual Report
D. =
Mary Walker
RE: Late-U=
se
Application
Debt
Set-Off Program
E. =
Sheriff David Edwards/Belva Miller
RE: Govern=
ors
Crime Commission Grant
F. =
E-911/Mapping Annual Report
G. =
Laurel S=
prings Volunteer Fire Department Ann=
ual
Report
H. =
County B=
usiness
1. Reschedule January 21, 2008=
, Meeting
2. Budget Amendment—Plannin=
g
3. Inspections—New Procedur=
e
4. PEG Channel Grant Update<=
/o:p>
5. Transfer Facility—OSHA
6. FY 2008/2009 Budget Calendar
7. Budget
Amendment—Sheriff’s Department&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; (adde=
d)
8. Transportation Improvement Plan
Discussions &n=
bsp; (added)
9. Other Business
10. Closed Session—NCGS 143-=
318.11
(a) (6)—personnel
11. Adjourn
=
Commissioner
Milly Richardson made a motion to approve the minutes for the December 17<=
span
style=3D'mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial'>, 2007, meeting. Commi=
ssioner
Randy Miller seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
Chair
Ken Richardson opened the public comments’ portion of the meeting and
asked for public comments.
Gerald
Davis, President of Alleghany County Home Builders Association, came before=
the
Board to discuss a letter that was sent out last week about any building pe=
rmits
issued would have to go before the Planning Board. He talked about how this would imp=
act
the building industry and discussing this action with them before making th=
is
final.
Chair
Ken Richardson asked for further public comments.
Scott
Smith talked about he went through the Planning Board, and it took four mon=
ths
to get approval. He talked ab=
out State
standards and county ordinances. He
further talked about if State standards are met, then that should be
enough. He said he didn’=
;t see
additional reasons to go through the Planning Board.
Chair
Ken Richardson asked for further public comments. None were received. He closed the public
comments’ portion of the meeting.
=
Chair Ken Richard=
son
stated that the County
Manager had made him
aware of the letter that went out, and it is slated for discussions later on
the agenda. He further stated=
that
things that have been pointed out will be discussed. He said that he recommends to the
Commissioners not to adopt anything tonight until the County Manager,
Randy Blankenship
and Kathy Murphy
work out the procedures.
=
April
Choate, Alleghany in Motion (AIM) Director, presented the Community
Transportation Program (CTP) Grant for 2008/2009. She talked about the request is
primarily the same except she is requesting that one part-time billing cler=
k go
to full time. She reviewed the
budget in the amount of $137,593 and read the justifications for the full-t=
ime position.
Chair
Ken Richardson opened the public hearing regarding the CTP grant at 6:40pm.<=
/p>
Chair
Ken Richardson asked for public comments.&=
nbsp;
None were received.
Chair
Ken Richardson closed the public hearing at 6:41pm and reconvened the regular meeting.
April
Choate explained the capital portion of the grant of two lift vans slated f=
or replacement.
Commissioner
Warren Taylor and April Choate
discussed the indirect costs line item.&nb=
sp;
County Manage=
r Don Adams
explained that it associates a cost to operate her department, for example,=
a
percentage of the finance office, administration, maintenance expenses that
don’t actually come from the transportation budget.=
Commissioner
Warren Taylor stated that the reimbursement amount for the indirect costs
almost covers the 15% match.
County
Manager Don Adams reviewed the
actual costs to the County is $2,326 for this budget.
Commissioner
Warren Taylor made a motion to
approve the CTP grant application. <=
/span>Commissioner
Milly Richardson seconded the motion.
Vote 5:0.
Commissioner
Milly Richardson asked about drivers offering assistance for passengers to =
get
into the doctor’s office.
April
Choate explained that AIM has a door-to-door policy.
April
Choate presented AIM’s annual report including the number of staff
members, number/types of vehicles, grant funding received, rates for
transportation, contracts for transportation services, number of miles driv=
en
last year and number of hours staff spent driving last year.
Mary
Walker, Tax Administrator, presented a late tax application for Mr. Handy.<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> She explained that she received th=
is
application on December 31, the deadline for 2007 taxes. She reviewed the Board’s opt=
ions.
Commissioner
Milly Richardson made a motion to approve the late application. Commissioner Doug
Murphy seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
Commissioner
Doug Murphy, Commissioner Milly Richardson and =
Mary
Walker discussed the deadline for current year taxes late
applications are due December 31 of that year and regular 2008 applications=
are
being accepted until January 31.
Mary Walker presented information about the <=
st1:place
w:st=3D"on">North Carolina debt set-off program. She explained that this is a way t=
o collect
past-due taxes by attaching it through the Department of Revenue. She reviewed the steps that the Co=
unty
must follow to use the debt set-off program.
County Manage=
r Don Adams =
reminded
everyone that this was one of the justifications for Missy Smith to be put =
on as
a full time person.
Mary Walker agreed and stated Mrs. Smith will be the manager of this
program.
Commissioner
Warren Taylor and Mary Walker
talked about this has become law to
allow this action and there is staff and equipment to do this.
Belva Miller talked about a Governors Crime Commission Grant that th=
ey
are working on. She explained=
that
they are asking for receivers, transmitter, guns, body armor, drug dog and
automated fingerprint system for a total of approximately $100,000 with the=
County
match being around 25%. She f=
urther
explained that they are still putting together pricing. She stated that they have been wor=
king
with Kelly Coffey at High Coun=
try
Council of Government to write the grant.
Sheriff
David Edwards explained the importance of the live-scan with fingerprints.<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> He said that hopefully this can be
obtained through the SBI.
Commissioner
Warren Taylor asked the Sheriff if they have the matching funds.=
Sheriff
David Edwards stated not right now.
County Manage=
r Don Adams =
asked
if this grant is awarded is the Sheriff willing to use funds that are avail=
able
at that time.
Sheriff
David Edwards agreed and stated that they will probably have it in time.
Commissioner
Doug Murphy talked about the paperwork has to be in before the budget proce=
ss.
Commissioner
Randy Miller and Belva Miller =
talked
about the most the County would spend would be $25,000.
Commissioner
Warren Taylor asked if this grant is awarded, will items be sold.
Sheriff
Edwards stated yes. He explai=
ned
that different deputies carry different weapons, and he wants all of them t=
he
same. He talked about surplus=
items.
County Manage=
r Don Adams
presented budget amendment General Fund #14 in the amount of $500 to make a=
donation
available in the Sheriff Department’s supply line item.
Commissioner
Milly Richardson made a motion to approve budget amendment General Fund #14=
in
the amount of $500. Commissio=
ner Doug Murphy seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
Belva Miller stated that she plans to be on next agenda for final gr=
ant
approval.
Wendy Williams, E-911 Coordinator/Mapper, presented the E-911/Mapping
annual report. She reviewed t=
he
trainings, major accomplishments during the year, and statistics for each
department.
Chair
Ken Richardson asked about the 911 fee that changed on January 1.
Wendy
Williams explained that the new law is a flat state-wide 911 fee instead of
each county charging their own rate.
She said the new rate is 75¢. She stat=
ed
that she has been told that the County will not receive less revenues. She explained that the 911 fee was=
$1.50
and now is 75¢.
Chair
Ken Richardson stated that Item G needs to be rescheduled.
County Manage=
r Don Adams
discussed the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). He reviewed the County’s pri=
ority
listings. He explained the re=
gional
rankings of Alleghany
County’s main=
roads
through the Rural Planning Organization.&n=
bsp;
He reviewed the draft TIP schedule and how it affects Alleghany County. He talked about Alleghany
County’s priorities; Highw=
ay 21
South, Western Loop for Sparta Bypass. He explained why the feasibility s=
tudy on
Roaring <=
st1:PlaceName
w:st=3D"on">Gap Mountain
is a higher priority than Highway 18 South and Highway 93. He stated that the study was sched=
uled
last time and will ask that NCDOT finish the study to put numbers on that
project. He talked about the =
safety
projects all are along Highway 18.
He reviewed the list of all safety projects including responses to t=
hose
projects. He talked about the=
bridge
projects follow what the State recommends.=
He asked the Board if the Board’s priorities are still the same
and if there are any extra safety projects to add to the request. He stated that the public hearing =
is
scheduled on January 22 in Dobson, and everyone has until the end of March =
to
provide information.
Commissioner
Warren Taylor stated that he normally attends the public hearing but he has=
a
conflict on the 22nd.
Chair
Ken Richardson talked about the County
Manager can attend =
if no
one else can.
County Manage=
r Don Adams =
discussed
long-term goals, and the County can have more immediate impacts with the sa=
fety
projects and intersections. <=
o:p>
Commissioner
Doug Murphy and County Manager Don Adams
discussed that the Board’s priorities will be publicly presented at t=
he
public hearing on January 22 and the deadline for comments is the end of Ma=
rch.
County Manage=
r Don Adams =
reminded
everyone that the next meeting falls on a County holiday. He asked the Board about reschedul=
ing
the January 21 meeting.
The
Board discussed dates. They d=
ecided
on January 23 at 3:30pm.
Commissioner
Milly Richardson made a motion to move the meeting to Wednesday, January 23=
at 3:30pm. Commissioner Randy Miller seconded =
the
motion. Vote 5:0. =
County Manage=
r Don Adams =
presented
budget amendment General Fund #13 in the amount of $807 for postage for the
Planning Department. He expla=
ined
why the money is needed.
Commissioner
Warren Taylor made a motion to
approve budget amendment General Fund #13 in the amount of $807. Commissioner Doug
Murphy seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
County Manage=
r Don Adams =
talked
about a letter sent from the Inspections Department about permit
procedures. He stated that the
letter is effectively being rescinded. He explained that the letter was se=
nt out
prematurely. He stated the ne=
ed to
talk to the builders. He furt=
her
stated that it was never intended to make all building permits go before th=
e Planning
Board because conditional-use permits are the only thing that go before the=
Planning
Board. He explained the purpo=
se is
to review projects to make sure they meet all of the County’s ordinan=
ces. He further explained that he think=
s it
can be taken care of during the time it takes to get septic permit approval=
. He talked about the need for time =
to
review what is going to be built to ensure that it meets the ordinances. He reiterated that it can be as si=
mple
as when you apply for a septic permit, fill out the building permit. He stated that there are no additi=
onal
fees.
Commissioner
Doug Murphy stated that people had some concerns about adding time and cost=
s.
Chief
Building Inspector Randy Blankenship
stated that it will not cost more money because these are laws that have be=
en
in place. He stated that his =
office
has always tried to be customer friendly.&=
nbsp;
He further stated that requirements were brought to their attention,=
and
they weren’t aware of them. He
gave an example of building in the floodplain, and actions another county h=
ad
to take because they allowed homes to be built in the floodplain. He stated that his office and staff
aren’t qualified to determine whether the permits meet all of the
regulations.
Commissioner
Milly Richardson and Randy Blankenship
discussed that the Mapping Department is working on adding a floodplain lay=
er.
County
Manager Don Adams talked about=
it
would be more appropriate for the Planner to sign off on permits. He talked about the procedures and=
everything
takes health department approval.
He explained that instead of waiting on the septic permit then apply=
for
the building permit to apply for a building permit when applying for a heal=
th
department permit.
Commissioner
Randy Miller explained that this is another person everyone will have to go
through for everything.
Jason
Williams used an example of getting a septic permit then the Planner turns =
it
down, who will refund his septic permit monies.
County Manage=
r Don Adams
reviewed his idea about applying for a building permit when applying for a =
septic
permit to allow time to review the project to make sure it follows the
ordinances.
The
Board of Commissioners talked about the need to have further discussions on
this matter.
Jason
Williams asked about a letter that he provided to the Commissioners. He further asked how many letters =
have
been sent out.
Commissioner
Doug Murphy talked about getti=
ng
feedback from the people involved. <=
/span>
Chair
Ken Richardson asked in the future to bring the letter to the County Manager.
Jason
Williams stated that he wanted it brought to the Commissioners’
attention. =
Randy Blankenship talked about discussing the permit procedures further.<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>
=
County Manager Don Adams informed everyone that Alleghany County
was awarded the PEG channel grant in the amount of $25,000. He explained the required match be=
ing
$15,000 from the County and $10,000 from the Schools. He explained what the grant will b=
e used
for.
County Manage=
r Don Adams =
explained
that the Transfer Facility had an OSHA inspection in November. He reviewed the citations noted by=
OSHA
including no forklift training, horn was not working and seatbelt was missi=
ng
from forklift, no forklift checklist, open-sided floors at the White Goods
building, exterior stairs not equipped with handrail, fire extinguishers not
being visually inspected, circuit breaker box was not labeled, face plate on
electrical outlet wasn’t attached tightly, use of an electrical cord,=
and
unlabeled containers. He talk=
ed
about one citation for forklift training resulted in a fine of $1,375. He explained that he and Gerald
Leftwich, the safety officer, had an informal conference with OSHA about the
inspection, and the fine was reduced to $950. He further explained the reasoning=
for
negotiating the fine.
Commissioner
Milly Richardson made a motion to accept the settlement agreement. Commissioner Doug
Murphy seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
County Manage=
r Don Adams
presented the proposed budget calendar for 2008/2009. He asked about the calendar schedu=
le
working for the Board, and do they want to schedule a planning meeting befo=
re
mid-March. =
Chair
Ken Richardson talked about scheduling the meeting for February.=
Commissioner
Milly Richardson asked for clarification on the proposed school bond paymen=
t being
$841,000 for the first payment and $575,000 for the recurring costs; which =
is 9&cen=
t; on the tax rate.
County Manage=
r Don Adams =
said
yes that is correct if taxes are used to pay for it.
Commissioner
Milly Richardson made a motion to enter into closed session at 7:55pm under NCGS 143-318.=
11 (a)
(6)—personnel. Commissi=
oner
Randy Miller seconded the motion.
Vote 5:0.
Commissioner
Milly Richardson made a motion to adjourn closed session at 8:08pm and reconvene the regular meeti=
ng. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconde=
d the
motion. Vote 5:0. =
Chair
Ken Richardson stated that no decisions were made during closed session.
Commissioner
Randy Miller asked about the schedule regarding the transfer tax going to a=
public
vote.
Chair
Ken Richardson stated that the Board hasn’t scheduled a date yet.
Commissioner
Warren Taylor stated that would be a good thing to discuss during the budget
meeting.
&=
nbsp; Being
no further business, Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to adjourn=
at 8:10pm. Commissioner Randy Miller seconded=
the
motion. Vote 5:0. =
Respectfully
submitted, &nb=
sp;
=
=
Karen Evans &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
Clerk to the Boar=
d &=
nbsp;
=
Attest:
=
=
Ken Richardson
Chairman