The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners met in
regular session on Monday, April 21, 2008, at 3:30pm in the Board Meeting Room
of the County Administration Building, 348 South Main Street, Sparta, North
Carolina.

Present:
Chair Ken Richardson, Vice-Chair Warren Taylor, Commissioner Randy
Miller, Commissioner Doug Murphy, Commissioner Milly Richardson, County Manager
Don Adams, and Clerk to the Board Karen Evans.  County Attorney Donna Shumate was
present but arrived late.

Chair Ken Richardson called the meeting to order.

Commissioner Milly Richardson led the Pledge of
Allegiance and opened the meeting with a prayer.

Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to
approve the agenda for this April 21, 2008, meeting.  Commissioner Randy Miller seconded the
motion.  Vote 5:0.

AGENDA

Monday, April 21, 2008

3:30 PM

3:30                Meeting
Called To Order, Pledge of Allegiance and Prayer

Motion
on Agenda for April 21, 2008, meeting

Motion
on Minutes for April 7, 2008, meeting

Motion
on March Tax Releases & Refunds

3:35    A.        Public
Comments—30 minutes

B.
John Blevins

RE:  DSS
Lease

Annual Report

C.
Gerald
Leftwich

RE:  LEPC Annual Report

D.
Recreation
Department Annual Report

E.        Wellness
Center Annual Report

F.         Larry
Davis

RE:  Maintenance/Transfer Facility Annual
Report

Transfer Facility Budget

G.        County
Business

1.
Budget
Amendment—Building Inspections

2.
Budget
Amendment—Training Facility Assessment

3.
Budget
Amendment—Sheriff’s Department

4.
Pool Request

5.
Dates To
Schedule Joint Meeting with Board of Education

6.
Fiscal Year
2008/2009 Budget Requests Summary

7.
Other Business

8.
Closed
Session—NCGS 143-318.11 (a) (3)—legal

NCGS
143-318.11 (a) (4)—economic development

9.
Adjourn

Commissioner
Milly Richardson made a motion to approve the minutes for the April 7, 2008,
meeting.  Commissioner Randy Miller seconded
the motion.  Vote 5:0.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson made a motion to approve the real property releases and
refunds for March.  Commissioner
Randy Miller seconded the motion.
Vote 5:0.

Commissioner
Randy Miller made a motion to approve the auto refunds and releases for March.  Commissioner Doug Murphy seconded the
motion.  Vote 5:0.

Chair
Ken Richardson opened the public comments’ portion of the meeting.  He asked for public comments.

Paul
Reeves asked the Board about the enforcement of the zoning laws.  He asked if the laws aren’t going
to be enforced, then why have them.
He talked about two junk yards; one in the Glade Valley flats and the
other one on top of Twin Oaks Mountain.
He asked why have this ordinance if it
isn’t being enforced.

Brandon
Hawks explained that he has been in a lot of activities since he was at the
last Commissioners meeting.

County
Attorney Donna Shumate joined the meeting at 3:37pm.

Brandon
Hawks talked about the number of graduating seniors this year and years to
come.  He further talked about where
these students go when they graduate.
He talked about the number of students attending the community college
and the need to work.  He further
talked about the need for a full-time economic developer.  He asked the Board will this county be
the same in 2015 as it is now.  He
thanked the Board for their time.

Chair
Ken Richardson asked for further public comments.  None were received.  He closed the public comments’
portion of the meeting.

John
Blevins, DSS Director, came before the Board to discuss the DSS lease
agreement.  He explained the
differences in the new lease; length of lease, $3,800 monthly, improvements requested
to be made to the facility.  He said
that the Mr. Blevins is in full agreement to the lease/improvements.

Chair
Ken Richardson and County Attorney Donna Shumate discussed that Appendix I
should be referenced in the lease under item number 9.

John
Blevins stated that this will meet their needs for five years.

Commissioner
Doug Murphy and County Manager Don Adams discussed getting out of the lease
before the five years are up and the need to have further discussions with Mr.
Blevins in regards to changing the term, if needed.

County
Manager Don Adams explained that the next major discussion with John Blevins
will be additional space for DSS.
He further explained that he ran the numbers of building a facility
versus leasing a facility.  He said
that the numbers showed the difference in one year is about $41,000 to build a
building rather than leasing it.

Commissioner
Warren Taylor made a motion to approve the lease.  Commissioner Doug Murphy seconded the
motion.  Vote 5:0.

John
Blevins presented the DSS annual report.
He presented the highlights; Health Choice program review,
food/nutrition program, foster parents, child support applications, reduced
back log of foster homes, number of adoptions, need of foster homes,
guardianship program.  He reviewed
the current trends including child abuse numbers, Medicaid caseload increases,
Medicaid benefits increases, applications for Medicaid, adoption assistance, foster
care, special assistance, food/nutrition caseload increase, child support
collection increased, number of calls/visitors monthly, child daycare spending,
work first case loads and benefits and Medicaid transportation.

Chair
Ken Richardson thanked John Blevins for the report.

Gerald
Leftwich came before the Board to present the Local Emergency Planning
Commission (LEPC) annual report.  He reviewed
the highlights of the LEPC report.

The Board of Commissioners thanked
Gerald Leftwich for his report.

David Evans, Recreation Director, came
before the Board to present the annual report for the Recreation Department.  He discussed the types of sports offered
and the number of participants per sport.
He talked about the Duncan Recreation Center will be opening this
summer.  He explained his ideas
about starting other activities.  He
talked about conversations through Linda Hash about creating a natural wetland
environmental area near the Ropes Course.

Commissioner Doug Murphy stated that he
has received questions about mountain bike trails through Sam Brown Park.

David Evans explained that they have
applied for a trail grant.  He
talked about how the grant would work.

The Board thanked Mr. Evans for his
report.

Joe Potts with the Wellness Center came
before the Board to present their annual report.  He stated their appreciation to the
Board for their support.  He further
stated that he has taken another position, and Ted Orton will be taking his
place at the Wellness Center.  He
explained activities at the Wellness Center.  He talked about their membership numbers
and fundraising activities.  He
talked about the increase in utilities.
He urged the Board to come meet the new director.  He reiterated his appreciation to the
Board.

Chair Ken Richardson thanked Joe Potts
for his service to Alleghany County.

Larry Davis came before the Board to
present the Maintenance/Transfer Facility annual report.  He reviewed the activities during the
past year for Maintenance, Animal Control and the Transfer Facility.

Commissioner Warren Taylor and Larry
Davis talked about waste water.

Commissioner Doug Murphy and Larry
Davis talked about the scrap tire program.

Chair Ken Richardson talked about the
Business after Hours held at the Senior Center.  He thanked the Maintenance Department
for their work.

Larry Davis continued his annual
report.

County Manager Don Adams presented
Transfer Facility budget amendment #1 in the amount of $14,900 for grinding
wood waste.

Larry Davis talked about having to make
the place to store the wood waste smaller due to regulations.  He further talked about the ice and wind
storms plus the burning ban has brought in more wood waste.

County Manager Don Adams talked about
the inspector has said the County needs to grind more often.  He further talked about regulations that
are changing about the Transfer Facility regarding the wood waste.

Commissioner Milly Richardson talked
about ways to work with the wood waste pile and the mulch piles.

Commissioner Warren Taylor made a
motion to approve Transfer Facility budget amendment #1 in the amount of
$14,900.  Commissioner Milly
Richardson seconded the motion.
Vote 5:0.

County
Manager Don Adams presented General Fund budget amendment #31 in the amount of
$4,528 for the Building Inspections auto repairs.

Commissioner
Warren Taylor made a motion to approve General Fund budget amendment #31 in the
amount of $4,528.  Commissioner Doug
Murphy seconded the motion.  Vote
5:0.

County
Manager Don Adams presented General Fund budget amendment #32 in the amount of
$6,800 for the training facility.
He talked about this is coming from the General Fund and when the 911
revenues are budgeted, that will offset this cost.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson made a motion to approve General Fund budget amendment #32 in
the amount of $6,800 for the training facility.  Commissioner Doug Murphy seconded the
motion.  Vote 5:0.

County
Manager Don Adams presented General Fund budget amendment #33 in the amount of
$2,825 for the fingerprint printer.

Commissioner
Randy Miller made a motion to approve General Fund budget amendment #33 in the
amount of $2,825.  Commissioner Doug
Murphy seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County
Manager Don Adams provided an update on the pool project about what has been
completed to date.  He talked about
the plaster problems.  He stated
that they should be here tomorrow to finish chipping out the plaster and re-plaster
by the end of the month.  He talked
about the additional costs needed for the pool in the amount of $5,393; fencing
$2,515, lifeguard chair $1,370, 12 lounge chairs $1,008, 2 weather proof picnic
tables $500.  He explained that
there had been $4,000 originally budgeted to replace the boiler.  He further explained that amount will
not replace the boiler, and they are refitting the boiler.  He talked about ways to address the
floor to make it not so slick when it is wet.  He further talked about taking the boiler
money to fix the floor.  He said
that the County will have to fix the boiler when it is needed later.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson made a motion to allow the County Manager to go forward with
the request.  Commissioner Doug
Murphy seconded the motion.  Vote
5:0.

County
Manager Don Adams presented potential dates for a meeting with the Board of
Education.

The
Board of Commissioners discussed dates.
They decided on May 15 at 6:30pm at the County Administration Building.

County
Manager Don Adams presented the General Fund 2008-2009 budget requests in the
amount of $16,596,133.  He reviewed
the special appropriations, requested new positions/salary increases and
capital/capital improvements.  He
further reviewed the group benefits insurance renewal rates and the alternates.

Commissioner
Warren Taylor asked about how the 2% cost of living raise (COLA) compares to
alternate #4.

County
Manager Don Adams explained that it is hard to compare because each employee is
different.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson talked about alternate #5 savings and providing the money for the
COLA with that savings.

Commissioner
Warren Taylor explained that the alternate #5 is closer to the retired State
employees plan.

Chair
Ken Richardson stated that this is helpful information, and the Board needs to
review it before decisions are made.

County
Manager Don Adams explained that a decision has to be made by June 1 in order
to comply with the NCACC’s requirements.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson talked about discussions she had with farmers and the County
Manager about the grass that is growing at the Transfer Facility.  She explained a process of offering the
hay land to farmers; interested farmers can submit their name and use a lottery
drawing to award the hay.

Commissioner
Warren Taylor and Commissioner Milly Richardson discussed the condition of the
land being suitable to mow.

Chair
Ken Richardson asked could this be a liability issue.

County
Attorney Donna Shumate stated people would sign a liability waiver.

The
Board of Commissioners discussed the hay scenario.  The Board stated that they don’t
have any problem with this.

County
Manager Don Adams presented information from Bryan Edwards regarding Tommy
Edwards’ sewer issues.  He
explained that he had just received this information about 3:00pm today.  He further explained that Tommy Edwards
will pay the Town for the sewer usage.
He passed out information to the Board regarding the area. He explained
the area that the Town is asking for a right of way from the County is on the
Fairgrounds property.  He explained
the concerns he had.

County
Attorney Donna Shumate stated that after reviewing the information, she
didn’t see a problem with this.

Commissioner
Warren Taylor stated that he didn’t feel comfortable approving this until
the County Manager has time to review it.

County
Manager Don Adams talked about allowing Bryan Edwards to proceed without doing
anything on County property.

Commissioner
Warren Taylor made a motion to approve this with the condition that the County
Manager doesn’t see an obstacle when he reviews it.  Commissioner Milly Richardson seconded
the motion.  Vote 5:0.

Commissioner Milly Richardson made a
motion to enter into closed session at 5:10pm under NCGS 143-318.11 (a)
(3)—legal and (a) (4)—economic development.  Commissioner Randy Miller seconded the
motion.  Vote 5:0.

Commissioner Milly Richardson made a
motion to adjourn closed session at 5:53pm and reconvene the regular
meeting.  Commissioner Warren Taylor
seconded the motion.  Vote 5:0.

Chair Ken Richardson stated that no
decisions were made during closed session.

County Manager Don Adams presented a
proposal from Applied Resource Management in the amount of $7,940, which is
$3,400 for professional service, $2,400 for drilling and $2,200 for laboratory
costs.  He explained that this is
prompted by positive test results at the Transfer Facility, and the County has
been requested by the State to perform these tests.

Commissioner Warren Taylor made a
motion to approve the expenditure.
Commissioner Randy Miller seconded the motion.  Vote 5:0.

Being
no further business, Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to adjourn the
meeting at 5:55pm.  Commissioner
Randy Miller seconded the motion.
Vote 5:0.

Respectfully Submitted,

Karen Evans

Clerk to the Board

Attest:

Ken Richardson

Chairman