The
Alleghany County Board of Commissioners and Sparta Town Council held a joint meeting
on Monday, March
30, 2009, at 7:00pm
in the Board Meeting Room of the County
Administration Building,
348 South Main Street,
Sparta, North Carolina.

Present:
Chair Ken Richardson, Vice-Chair Randy Miller,
Commissioner Doug Murphy, Commissioner Milly Richardson, Commissioner Steve
Roten, Mayor John Miller, Town Council Members Agnes Joines, Robert Andrews,
Lois Sheets, John Brady and County
Manager Don Adams.

Chair
Ken Richardson called the meeting to order for the County at 7:00pm and welcomed everyone.

Mayor
John Miller called the meeting to order for the Town at 7:01pm and welcomed everyone.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson made a motion to approve the agenda for this March 30, 2009,
meeting.  Commissioner Doug Murphy
seconded the motion.  Vote 5:0.

Joint County/Town Meeting

March 30, 2009

Agenda

7:00pm           Meeting
Called to Order

Motion on Agenda

7:05pm           Cliff Phillips

RE: Senior Tar Heel Legislature 15th
Anniversary

7:15pm           Proclamation Presentations

Dental
Recruitment

Pedestrian
Plan

Greenway Project

Water Authority Project Update

Other Business

Adjourn

Cliff
Phillips updated everyone about the Senior Tar Heel Legislature’s 15th
anniversary celebration.  He talked
about their meetings during the year and actions.  He explained that each county has one
delegate and one alternate.  He
asked the Board/Council to review the packet of information showing their
resolutions that have been introduced and actions taken since 1994.  He talked about their priorities for
2009 and asked everyone to contract our representatives in Raleigh to request assistance.  He stated his appreciation to Karen
Evans for her help to generate this information.  He thanked them for their time.

Mayor
John Miller talked about the benefits of this group.

Chair
Ken Richardson presented a proclamation to Ernest Joines signed by the County Commissioners
and Town Council for his efforts in creating four CDs of Alleghany County music
in conjunction with the 150th anniversary celebration.

Mayor John
Miller presented Ernest Joines with a key to the town.

Chair Ken Richardson presented a proclamation to David
Joines signed by the County
Commissioners and Town
Council for his efforts in creating a commemorative fiddle for the 150th
anniversary celebration.  Mayor John
Miller presented David Joines with a key to the town.

Chair
Ken Richardson presented a proclamation to Grayson Lucas signed by the County Commissioners
and Town Council for his efforts in engraving on the commemorative fiddle for
the 150th anniversary celebration.  Mayor John Miller presented Grayson
Lucas with a key to the town.

County Manager Don Adams presented the proposed
dental recruitment agreement.  He
talked about the County has applied for grants funds to assist with renovations
if they locate here.  He stated that
he has had discussions with the Town Manager and the Mayor.  He explained that the proposal is to
provide $21,000 over a 36-month period with $15,000 coming from the County and
$6,000 coming from the town.  He
reiterated that he had asked the Commissioners to consider a previous incentive
agreement to recruit a dentist.  He
reminded everyone that this deal has not been completed and once it is, these
agreements will be presented to the governing bodies for their approval.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson
talked about this is a much needed service.

County Manager
Don Adams explained that this will be a full-time dental office providing
Medicaid services, and they are familiar with the area.

Mayor
John Miller talked about how long everyone has been trying to get another
dentist to the area.  He further
talked about this is very positive.

County Manager
Don Adams explained that they are putting together the financing for the
project.  He talked about they are
far enough along for the County to apply for a grant to assist with the
renovations.

County Manager
Don Adams talked about the pedestrian plan.  He stated that he talked to the Town Manager
about this since he has been getting questions, and unfortunately he is unable
to attend tonight due to a death in the family.  He explained that Bryan Edwards had
asked David Isner and Joe Ward to come to this meeting to provide the update.

David
Isner talked about the pedestrian plan that has been completed.  He explained that the purpose of this update
is to get the Commissioners’ support for the project prior to going to
the public.  He provided an overview
of the pedestrian plan for the Commissioners including how the plan began.  He talked about the project of the
greenway trail to link some of the county properties to the pedestrian
plan.  He further talked about the
benefits of the greenway project and how that links to the pedestrian plan.  He explained the Step program, and the
Town has received a clean water management trust fund grant in the amount of
$200,000 for this project.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson talked about the locations of the sidewalks and the increasing
amount of pedestrian traffic.  She
asked about any plans for sidewalks to connect the apartment complexes to
town.  She further asked about how the
handicap accessible the sidewalks are.

David
Isner explained and displayed attachments in the plan regarding existing sidewalks,
proposed sidewalks including the existing right of ways.  He showed a map of the area describing
potential sidewalks.

The
Board of Commissioners, Sparta Town Council, David Isner and Joe Ward discussed
the needs for additional sidewalks.
David Isner talked about the clean water management grant is mainly for
planning and right of way acquisitions.

County
Manager Don Adams talked about grants have to tie into a larger picture.  He further talked about taking advantage
of grants as they are available.

County Manager
Don Adams provided a water authority update stating that three contracts have
been awarded.  He explained the
three contracts and the remaining contracts left.

Mayor
John Miller stated that he remembers when this project started and how fast
this project has moved along.

Agnes
Joines updated everyone about the sesquicentennial celebration.   She talked about a Native American
celebration on August 15.  She
further talked about kick-off event on February 12.  She stated their appreciation for the
kick-off event attendance/support.
She continued providing everyone information about the sesquicentennial
celebration and the county’s heritage.

Mayor
John Miller displayed a color brochure of all of the events in Alleghany County this year that will be printed
and distributed.

Agnes
Joines talked about the marine band will be coming on September 26 as part of
the grand finale events.

Mayor
John Miller talked about the Chief Justice coming on May 16.  He explained that the fiddle that was
discussed earlier will be raffled off for $1 per ticket.

Chair
Ken Richardson publicly thanked the Mayor and Agnes Joines, as well as everyone
else, for their work on these activities.
He reiterated that the Chief Justice is coming on May 16 at 3:30pm as part of the
sesquicentennial celebration and to re-dedicate the courthouse.

Commissioner
Doug Murphy and Commissioner Milly Richardson thanked the sesquicentennial
committee members for their work.

Mayor
John Miller thanked everyone for being at this meeting.

Robert
Andrews made a motion to adjourn the Town’s meeting at 7:47pm.
John Brady seconded the motion.
Vote 4:0.

Commissioner
Doug Murphy made a motion to go into closed session at 7:47pm under NCGS 143-318.11 (a)
(6)—personnel.  Commissioner Randy Miller seconded the motion.  Vote 5:0.

Commissioner
Randy Miller made a motion to
adjourn the meeting at 8:05pm
and reconvene the regular meeting.
Commissioner Doug Murphy seconded the motion.  Vote 5:0.

Chair
Ken Richardson stated that no action was taken during closed session.

Being no further
county business, Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to adjourn the
meeting at 8:06pm.  Commissioner Randy
Miller seconded the motion.  Vote 5:0.

Respectfully submitted,

Karen Evans

Clerk to the Board

ATTEST:

Ken Richardson

Chairman