The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners met=
in
regular session on Monday, May 19, 2008, at 3:30pm in the Board Meeting Roo=
m 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
Attorney Donna Shumate, County Manager Don Adams, and Clerk to the Board Ka=
ren
Evans.
Chair Ken Richardson called the meeting to orde=
r.
Commissioner Doug Murphy led the Pledge of Alle=
giance
and opened the meeting with a prayer.
Chair Ken Richardson stated the following items=
needs
to be added to the agenda; closed session for (a) (3)—legal, pool upd=
ate,
farmers market and schedule for budget hearings.
Commissioner Randy Miller made a motion to appr=
ove
the amended agenda for this May 19, 2008, meeting. Commissioner Milly Richardson secon=
ded
the motion. Vote 5:0.
AGENDA
Monday, May 19, 2008
3:30 PM
3:30 =
Meeting
Called To Order, Pledge of Allegiance and Prayer
=
M=
otion
on Agenda for May 19, 2008, meeting
Motion
on Minutes for May 5, 2008, meeting
Motion
on April Tax Releases & Refunds
3:35 A. =
Public
Comments—30 minutes
B. &n=
bsp;
Public
Hearing
RE: Transfer of School Property
C. &n=
bsp;
Mary
Walker/Rita Miller
RE: Appeals, Town Tax Collections and =
Tag
Office
D. &n=
bsp;
Barry M=
aines
RE: Forestry Service Budget
E. &n=
bsp;
John Bl=
evins
RE: Summer Child Care
F. &n=
bsp;
Soil and
Water Department Annual Report=
G. &n=
bsp;
Sandy
Walker/Sherry Cahn
RE: CJPP
Annual Report
CJPP
Budget Amendment
H. Glade
Creek Volunteer Fire Department Annual Report
I. &=
nbsp; Kate
Cosner
RE:
Elections Annual Report
Elections Budget Request
J. =
County
Business
1. &n=
bsp;
Recycling
Contract
2. &n=
bsp;
June Jambo=
ree
Request
3. &n=
bsp;
County Web=
site
4. &n=
bsp;
Ropes Cour=
se
Budget Amendment
5. &n=
bsp;
Pool Updat=
e &=
nbsp; (a=
dded)
6. &n=
bsp;
Farmers Ma=
rket &=
nbsp; (added)
7. &n=
bsp;
Schedule B=
udget
Meetings =
; (added=
)
8. &n=
bsp;
Other Busi=
ness
9. &n=
bsp;
Closed
Session—NCGS 143-318.11 (a) (6)—personnel
NCGS 143-318.11 (a) (3)—legal (added)
10. Adjourn
Commissioner
Milly Richardson made a motion to approve the minutes for the May 5, 2008,
meeting. Commissioner Randy M=
iller seconded
the motion. Vote 5:0.
Commissioner
Doug Murphy made a motion to approve the real property releases and refunds=
for
April. Commissioner Randy Mil=
ler seconded
the motion. Vote 5:0.
Commissioner
Milly Richardson made a motion to approve the auto refunds and releases for=
April. Commissioner Randy Miller seconded=
the
motion. Vote 5:0.
Chair
Ken Richardson opened the public comments’ portion of the meeting.
Brandon
Hawks came before the Board. =
He
reminded the Board that he is a college student and a substitute teacher.
Chair
Ken Richardson asked for additional public comments. None were received. He closed the public comments port=
ion of
the meeting.
Chair
Ken Richardson opened the public hearing at 3:35pm regarding transfer of sc=
hool
property. He asked for public
comments. None were received.=
He closed the public hearing and
reconvened the regular meeting.
Mary
Walker, Tax Administrator, discussed the elderly exemption audits. She presented a letter from Ms. Ea=
ster
requesting that the penalties be released on her audit. She explained why Ms. Easter was
disqualified and the reason why this request is coming before the Board.
Commissioner
Warren Taylor made a motion to deny the request. Chair Ken Richardson seconded the
motion. Vote 4:1 (Milly
Richardson).
Commissioner
Doug Murphy and Mary Walker talked about there is an application that people
have to complete to be considered for the exemption. They discussed what happens if the
taxpayer does not reside in Alleghany County all year.
Mary
Walker talked about a Board of Equalization and Review (E&R) appeal that
was heard during the Board of E&R that was not decided on. She explained the reasons for the
property owner’s request of decreasing the value from $833,800 to $77=
9,300.
Commissioner
Doug Murphy made a motion to approve the request. Commissioner Randy Miller seconded=
the
motion. Vote 5:0.
Mary
Walker discussed another Board of E&R appeal where a decision was not m=
ade;
Reynolds property along the Sparta bypass.
Commissioner
Randy Miller made a motion to accept the recommendation of $280,000. Commissioner Doug Murphy seconded =
the
motion. Vote 5:0.
Mary
Walker stated that she has been working with the Town about collecting the
Town’s taxes. She expla=
ined
that the Town is working on the contract.&=
nbsp;
She further explained what is involved in collecting the Town’s
taxes including the Town taxes will appear on the County bill in July.
Commissioner
Warren Taylor and Mary Walker talked about the data already being in the
computer system.
Commissioner
Randy Miller made a motion to approve this action. Commissioner Milly Richardson seco=
nded
the motion. Vote 5:0.
County
Manager Don Adams stated that the main thing that has to be worked out is t=
he
tax certification process on the Town’s part.
Mary
Walker stated that the County has an interview with DMV on Thursday regardi=
ng
the tag office. She further s=
tated
that they are working on job descriptions and have visited Ashe County to s=
ee
how they operate their tag office.
John
Blevins, DSS Director, came before the Board to discuss child care fees.
County
Manager Don Adams stated that the previous request to the Board was would t=
he
Board be willing to pay half of the summer parent fees. He reminded everyone about the act=
ion
taken by the Board previously for summer care.
Linda
Hash presented the Soil and Water’s annual report. She presented information about th=
eir
activities and program throughout the year including new programs and grant
opportunities plus the new sod seeder received for the Soil and Water distr=
ict.
Commissioner
Doug Murphy and Linda Hash discussed the best way for individuals to find o=
ut
about these programs.
Kate
Cosner came before the Board to present the Board of Elections’ annual
report. She talked about the =
number
of new registrations, voter changes, voter turnout for each election during=
the
past year, trainings attended, Kids Vote and bringing polling places into
compliance with HAVA.
Kate
Cosner presented information regarding the second primary, which will be on=
June
24. She reviewed the timeline=
for
the second primary. She talked
about the second primary will cost $9,455.=
She explained that this is $3,000 less than a normal primary because
there won’t be any assistants working at the polls and coding is less=
.
Commissioner
Doug Murphy made a motion to approve budget amendment General Fund #40 in t=
he
amount of $9,455. Commissioner
Milly Richardson seconded the motion.
Vote 5:0.
Kate
Cosner invited the Board to the district meeting of the election supervisors
tomorrow at the County Administration Building.
County
Manager Don Adams presented information regarding the Forestry Service̵=
7;s
budget. He talked about they =
have overruns
like other departments, and the contract amount is 40% of the budget. He explained that he is recommendi=
ng
$3,000 and why.
Chair
Ken Richardson and County Manager Don Adams talked about the 40% share of t=
he
overrun.
County
Manager Don Adams talked about how the burning ban affected the Forestry
Service.
Commissioner
Milly Richardson made a motion to approve the request. Commissioner War=
ren
Taylor seconded the motion. V=
ote
5:0.
Sandy
Walker came before the Board to present the annual Criminal Justice Partner=
ship
Program (CJPP) report. She re=
viewed
their activities including the number of clients served. She reminded the Board that this p=
rogram
is an alternative to placing people in jail.
Sandy
Walker explained the CJPP requested $3,000 from the State to use for additi=
onal
training.
Commissioner
Milly Richardson made a motion to approve budget amendment General Fund #38=
in
the amount of $3,000. Commiss=
ioner
Doug Murphy seconded the motion.
Vote 5:0.
County
Manager Don Adams asked the Board if they had any changes on the recycling
contract. He stated that he r=
ecommends
extending the contract for one year.
Commissioner
Milly Richardson made a motion to approve the County Manager’s
recommendation. Commissioner =
Randy
Miller seconded the motion. V=
ote
5:0.
County
Manager Don Adams presented a letter from John Spicer asking for the Commis=
sioners’
support for the June Jamboree in the amount of $800 to $1000.
Commissioner
Milly Richardson made a motion to approve $800. Commissioner Doug Murphy seconded =
the
motion. Vote 5:0.
Commissioner
Milly Richardson said that the County has a website. She talked about what information =
is
available. She urged people t=
o use
the website. She provided the=
web
address; www.alleghanycounty=
-nc.gov.
County
Manager Don Adams explained how the website was created. He further explained the additional
information available on the website.
He talked about the next steps for the website; tax collections,
inspection applications.
County
Manager Don Adams presented budget amendment General Fund #39 in the amount=
of
$950 for the ropes course for a donation.
Commissioner
Milly Richardson made a motion to approve budget amendment General Fund #39=
in
the amount of $950. Commissio=
ner
Randy Miller seconded the motion.
Vote 5:0.
County
Manager Don Adams provided a pool update.&=
nbsp;
He explained the plaster issues and concrete issues. He reviewed the proposed schedule =
from the
owner to get the pool in operational order. He explained that the target openi=
ng date
is June 7.
Commissioner
Warren Taylor talked about the amount of work and effort put forth by our
maintenance department at the pool.
Commissioner
Milly Richardson talked about the Farmers market. She explained issues regarding the=
Farmers
market last year. She stated =
that
they are asking to have the Farmers market here. She reminded everyone that i=
t was
here in the past and did well. She
explained reasons for using this location.=
She further explained that her recommendation is to let the people u=
se
the parking lot since it belongs to the people. She stated that they have criteria=
about
what can be sold.
Chair
Ken Richardson and Mr. Connors talked about the Farmers market will be from
8:00am to Noon on Saturdays. =
Mr.
Connors stated that they understand that there will be no access to the bui=
lding.
Commissioner
Milly Richardson made a motion to approve request. Commissioner Doug Murphy seconded =
the
motion. Vote 5:0.
Mr.
Connors talked about the Farmers market and the items that were available t=
his
past weekend. He further talk=
ed
about he hopes to have Jack Minor join them this year, and other products w=
ill
be there as they become available. <=
/span>
Commissioner
Doug Murphy and Mr. Connors talked about there are two pages of rules and
guidelines.
County
Manager Don Adams clarified if the Board is authorizing the Farmers market =
to
determine who can participate.
Commissioner
Milly Richardson stated that it is the Farmers market, and it will not be o=
pen
for private yard sales.
Mr.
Connors agreed. He explained =
that
they have a committee. He tha=
nked
the Board for their approval, and stated that they have their own liability
insurance.
Clerk
to the Board Karen Evans read the proposed dates for budget hearings; June =
11,
12, 13, 25, 26, 27 and 30.
The
Board discussed the dates to have the meetings.
County
Manager Don Adams reviewed the number of meetings needed.
The
Board decided to have budget meeting on June 11, 12, 25 and 27 beginning at
4:00pm with the public hearing to be scheduled on June 30 immediately after=
the
joint meeting with the Town.
Chair
Ken Richardson stated that he was in Raleigh for two days receiving informa=
tion
about the legislative session and what is predicted to happen.
County
Manager Don Adams asked the Board about the insurance quotes.
Chair
Ken Richardson made a motion to keep the employees insurance the same as it=
has
been. Commissioner Warren Tay=
lor
seconded the motion.
Commissioner
Milly Richardson talked about option #5 for 90/10 plan.
County
Manager Don Adams and Commissioner Milly Richardson talked about the differ=
ent
options.
The
board discussed the insurance alternatives.
Chair
Ken Richardson restated his motion of leaving the plan the same as it is
currently.
The
Board voted on the motion on the floor.&nb=
sp;
Vote 4:1 (Milly Richardson).
Commissioner
Doug Murphy talked about the timing of signing the insurance quotes. He suggested everyone to remember =
this,
and this needs to be an item of conversation next year. He talked about the Board hasnR=
17;t
had time to address other issues.
County
Manager Don Adams talked about the timing of bidding out insurance will alw=
ays
be around mid-April to receive bids, and the Board can discuss alternatives
before then.
Commissioner
Doug Murphy reiterated that this is an issue to be aware of for next year. =
Commissioner Milly Richardson made a
motion to enter into closed session at 5:08pm under NCGS 143-318.11 (a)
(3)—legal and (a) (6)—personnel. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconde=
d the
motion. Vote 5:0.
Commissioner Milly Richardson made a
motion to adjourn closed session at 5:13pm 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.
Being
no further business, Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to adjourn=
the
meeting at 5:14pm. Commission=
er
Randy Miller seconded the motion.
Vote 5:0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Karen Evans
Clerk to the Board
Attest:
Ken Richardson
Chairman