The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners met in regular session = on Monday, December 1, 1997 at 6:30 PM in the Conference Room of the County Of= fice Building, 90 South Main Street, Sparta, North Carolina

&= nbsp; The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners met in regul= ar session on Monday= , June 4, 2007, at 6:30pm= in the Commissioners Meeting Room of the County Administrati= on Building, 348 South Main Street, Sparta, North Carolina.

&= 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.

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

Chair Ken Richardson stated that John Miller needs to be added with Item G and the So= lid Waste Management Act of 2007, Senate Bill 1492/House Bill 1233, added under County Business.

= ;

Commission= er Milly Richardson made a motion to approve the amended agenda for this June 4, 2007, me= eting. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

AGENDA

Monday, June 4, 2007

6:30 PM

6:30 &= nbsp; Meeting Called To Order, Pledg= e of Allegiance and Prayer

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; Motion on Agenda for Jun= e 4, 2007, meeting

Motion on Minutes for May 15, 2007, & May 21, 2007, meetings=

6:35 A. &nbs= p; Public Comments—30 minutes

&= nbsp; B. Wendy Williams=

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; RE: E-911 Funding

&= nbsp; C. Bill Maxwell

RE: Liability Issues

D. &nbs= p; Gleason James

RE: Citizens for Fairness

E. &nbs= p; Page Richardson

= RE: FY 07/08 Budget =

F. &nbs= p; Sandy Carter

= RE: FY 07/08 Budget

G. &nbs= p; Ralph Castillo/John Miller = (added)<= /o:p>

= RE: Alleghany Memorial<= /st1:PlaceName> Hospital Update and Proposed Resolutions

&= nbsp; H. County Business

1. Surplus Sale

2. Clean Water Act Resolution

3. DSS Board Appointment

4. WCC Board of Trustees Board Appointment

5. Region D Development Corporati= on Appointments

6. Jury Commission Appointment

7. Solid Waste Management Act of = 2007 &= nbsp; (added)

8. Brief Recess by Board

9. FY 07/08 Budget Presentation

10. Other Business

= 11. = Adjourn

Commissioner Randy Miller made a motion to approve the minutes for the May 15, 2007, and May 21, 2007, meetings. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion.&nb= sp; Vote 5:0.

Chair Ken Richardson opened the public comments portion of the meeting and asked = for public comments. None were received. He closed the public comments portion of the meeting.

Wendy Williams, E-911 Coordinator/Mapper, came before the Board to talk about 911 monies. She explained the two sources of revenues; $1.50 on telephone bills and the 70&cen= t; surcharge on cell phones. She explained how the monies are collected and received by the County. She stated that 911 funds are governed by North Carolina General Statutes (NCGS) 62A. She read subsection 8. She talked abou= t the wireless funds and the State sets the wireless fees. She explained that she submits exp= enses for the 911 budget just like any other department. She talked about the monies goes i= nto an account and is managed separately.

County Manage= r Don Adams = stated that it is accounted for separately for accounting purposes and is combined with other monies to invest.

Chair Ken Richardson and = Wendy Williams talked about the State mandates what the 911 monies can be spent on, and the Commissioners cannot deviate f= rom those guidelines. She stated = that it is her understanding that there is a bill before the General Assembly th= at may allow for additional uses.

Commissioner Warren Taylor and Wendy Williams talked about Dispatch equipment being purchased from 911 monies. She gave the Commissioners copies = of NCGS 62A for their review.

Commissioner Doug Murphy and County Manager= Don Adams talked about the restrictions on the= se funds and requests are handled the same way all the other budgets are handl= ed.

County Manage= r Don Adams = stated that the dispatch console equipment is borderline as a 911 expense, and it = must be completely integrated with the other 911 system. He reiterated that under some circumstances that it can qualify as a 911 expense. Wendy Williams agreed, if the system is an integrated system.

Chair Ken Richardson thanked Wendy Williams for this information and the j= ob that she does.

Billy Maxwell gave the Commissioners pictures of public property and stated that = he isn’t here to criticize the Commissioners or ask them any questions.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> He further stated that he wants to= ask Administration who has the responsibility for this and who enforces the cou= nty ordinances.

= County Manager Don Adams stated that it is the County Manager and then the Department Head that oversee the particular department. He further stated that in this cas= e it is planning and recreation.

Billy Maxwell and County Manager Don Adams talked about no one has been given permission to override the ordinances. Mr. Maxwell asked why this is cont= inuing. County Manager Don Adams stated this is the first he has seen this.

Billy Maxwell talked about prior examples and asked about liability insurance that will protect the County.

County Manage= r Don Adams = stated that he would have to talk to the Planning/Recreation Department about this case.

Chair Ken Richardson thanked Mr. Maxwell for bringing this to the Commissioners&#= 8217; attention. He stated that thi= s will be on the next agenda.

Billy Maxwell talked about the county’s liability if a drunk driver kills someone from drinking at a public building.

Chair Ken Richardson and Billy Maxwell talked about this information will be discussed at the next meeting.

Gleason James gave the Commissioners a handout covering his topics for this meeting= . He stated that he wanted to discuss items that he has reviewed regarding information from the County Manager’s office. He talked about three= loans that could be paid off with the money in savings. He further talked about the amount= paid in interest for these loans and the total amount of debt. He said that the Board has already approved another $2,000,000. = He stated the need to look at many areas in the budget. He further stated that they have a= round 1,000 signatures asking for a fair tax rate.&nbs= p; He said that they speak for the silent majority of the citizens. He talked about it has been indica= ted that the County needs at least three months of operating expenses in reserve and that shouldn’t be $3,000,000. He further talked about the amount put into the fund balance and amo= unt borrowed from BB&T. He said it doesn’t make sense to put monies i= nto the fund balance then borrow money. He asked the Commissioners to look at the budget and let their consc= ious be their guide.

Chair Ken Richardson stated that he has requested Mr. James to meet with him to d= iscuss these requests.

Gleason James stated that he will meet with all five Commissioners for this discuss= ion.

Chair Ken Richardson and Gleason James talked about their reasons regarding havin= g a meeting.

Page Richardson stated that he can’t find in the last 10 years where the tax rate has been c= ut but expenses have increased during the 10 years with approximately the same population. He urged the Commissioners to cut some of the fat and anything above 20&cen= t; will be an increase for most taxpayers. He thanked the Commissioners for t= heir time.

Chair Ken Richardson invited Page Richardson to come to the budget meetings on Ju= ne 5, 6 and 7.

Sandy Carter stated that she has been in the silent majority but has decided to become in the non-silent majority. <= /span>She further stated that she came to talk about organizations that have been discussed by the Citizens for Fairness group. She talked about the hardships that would be created with a 20-25¢ budget, and the County cannot operate at a 20-25¢ tax rate. She said the lowest anyone could remember, in her conversations, was a 32&cen= t; tax rate in the 70’s. She addressed a few of the organiz= ations that was mentioned by the Citizens for Fairness group and how these organizations would be impacted; Recreation, Planning, Library, Revaluation Fund, Veterans Administration, Council on Aging, Animal Control, Debt Service. She talked about this group does not speak for her, her family or her friends. She further talked about Citizen f= or Fairness members having personal reasons for these actions. She stated that she trusts the Commissioners will do the right thing in setting the tax rate.

Ralph Castillo with Alleghany Memorial Hospital provided a handout to the Commissioners.&n= bsp; He reviewed the handouts including employment numbers, local vendors purchased services from, average emergency wait times, measures comparing A= lleghany Memorial Hospital to Hugh Chatham Hospital, Baptist, Twin County Hospital, = all hospitals and North Carolina hospitals, a graph regarding the Hospital̵= 7;s charges, Hospital volume, summarized Hospital revenues & expenses, obtaining cri= tical access status and making hardcore cuts.&nb= sp; He read a card from a family regarding an emergency-room visit. He stated that they care about wha= t they do and take care of their patients. He further stated that the County’s allocation received last y= ear greatly helped the Hospital, as well, as the continued support. He explained that with the County&= #8217;s help, Alleghany Memorial Hospital was able to recruit a new surgeon. He further explained that they are in the process of recruiting an internal medicine doctor.

John Miller, Chairman of the Hospital Board, stated that he has been associated = with the Alleghany Memorial Hospital Board since 1972. He talked about providing good medical care and having to work harder to continue providing good care= . He stated that he is proud of the = Hospital for the good job they do. He further stated his appreciation to the Commissioners for providing assistan= ce to Alleghany Memorial Hospital.

= County Manager Don Adams presented two resolutions regarding = Alleghany Memorial Hospital. He reviewed the Hospital’s r= equest for $500,000 last year with Alleghany County providing $1= 00,000 which went directly to the Hospital and Blue Ridge Electric and Skyline provided the remaining $400,000 to be paid back interest-free over a four-y= ear period. He explained that the resolutions reconfirm the County’s commitment to repay these loans by budgeting $100,000 each year.

Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to approve the Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation resolution. Commissioner Milly Richardson seco= nded the motion. Vote 5:0.

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

County Manage= r Don Adams presented a list of surplus items to be sold at the surplus sale on June 23. He stated the list needs = to be declared surplus. He provided a list of guns, that have been seized, which = will be sold through the Sheriff’s Department.

Commissioner Warren Taylor and Clerk to the= Board Karen Evans talked about the auctioneers are not going to charge a fee for the auction as long as the Co= unty provides enough manpower to work at the auction.

County Manager Don Adams and Commissi= oner Warren Taylor talked about which fund the moni= es go in. County Manager Don Adams gave an example of t= he transportation vans. = County Manager Don Adams read the resolution = about surplus sale.

Commissioner Warren Taylor asked about items that aren’t sold. County Manager Don Adams explained how sales = have happened in the past.

Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to approve the resolution as read by the County Manager. Commissioner Randy Miller sec= onded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to declare the list of items surplus. Commissioner Randy Miller seconded= the motion. Vote 5:0. =

County Manage= r Don Adams presented a resolution and information regarding a request to support the C= lean Water Act of 2007.

Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to approve the resolution as presented by th= e County Manager. Commissioner Randy Miller sec= onded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Manage= r Don Adams = presented a letter from the Social Services Board explaining that Graylen BlevinsR= 17; term on their board is expiring June 30, 2007. He stated that the letter requests= that Ken Richardson be appointed to fill the vacancy.

Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to appoint Ken Richardson to serve on the So= cial Services Board. Commissioner = Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Manage= r Don Adams presented a letter from Dr. Gordon Burns requesting that Dr. Suzanne Irwin = be reappointed to serve on the Wilkes Community College Board of Trustees.

Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to reappoint Dr. Suzanne Irwin to serve on the Wilkes Community College Board of Trustees. Commissioner Randy Miller seconded = the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Manage= r Don Adams presented a letter from Phil Trew requesting that Don Adams, Bryan Edwards, Russell Sheets and Dennis Gambill be reappointed to serve on the Region D Development Corporation Board. He reviewed the activities that the Corporation is involved in.

Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to reappoint Don= Adams, Bryan Edwards, Russell Sheets = and Dennis Gambill to serve on the Region D Development Corporation Board. Commissioner Doug Murphy seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Manage= r Don Adams = presented a letter from Susie Gambill asking that Virginia Van Hampton be reappointed= to serve on the Jury Commission.

Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to reappoint Virginia Van Hampton to the Jury Commission. Commissioner Randy Miller seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Manage= r Don Adams = provided an information sheet regarding Senate Bill1492/House Bill1233, Solid Waste Management Act of 2007. He explained two areas that are a concern with these bills; implementation of a $2.50 per ton charge and rules regarding C&D landfill areas. He further explained how these con= cerns could impact Alleghany County. =

Chair Ken Richardson stated that it sounds like the County Manager is asking for permission to respond with our concerns.

Commissioner Warren Taylor asked about the stance of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners on this issue.

County Manage= r Don Adams = stated that they are involved and are opposed to these bills. He explained that it is his understanding that the additional revenues would be spent for regulation enforcement by NCDENR. He fur= ther explained the history of the bills beginning as a way to assist with orphan= ed landfills. He told the Commissioners the current status of the bills, and he is asking for permiss= ion to let our representatives know our concerns.

Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to allow the County Manager to respond with our concerns regarding these bills. Commissioner Randy Miller seconded= the motion. Vote 5:0. =

&= nbsp; Chair Ken Richardson declared a brief recess at 7:35pm.

&= nbsp; County Manager Don Adams asked about setting a public hearing date regarding the 07/08 budget.

&= nbsp; The Board talked about when to schedule the meeting. They decided to hold the budget pu= blic hearing on June 18 at 6:00pm.

= County Manager Don Adams started reviewing his budget message for FY 07/08. = He explained the revenues and expenditures of the General Fund in the amount o= f $14,545,585. He reviewed the revenue highlights= , expenditures categories including personnel, insurance/retirement, capital, capital improvements, debt service, Board of Education, special appropriations and special fund highlights.

&= nbsp; Chair Ken Richardson stated that he will personally thank Senator Don East for attempting to resolve the driver’s license office issue.

&= nbsp; Chair Ken Richardson stated that he wants to make sure that the Board understands that he has made himself available to answer questions and, so far, no one = has taken that offer.

&= nbsp; County Manager Don Adams presented what a 20<= /span>&cen= t; budget would look like. He reviewed the 12 departments that would be removed including 40 full-time employees would be laid off, 28 part-time employees would be laid off, departments that would be reduced including the number of employees affected. He continued reviewing special appropriations that would have 20 organizations eliminated, number of organizations with appropriations frozen, number of special appropriation people laid off, 10 full time and 15 part time. He talked about this is an $11,317= ,447 unbalanced budget that would lay off 50 full time employees and 43 part time employees. He reviewed revenu= es affected by a 20¢ budget. He reiterated that this is not a balanced budget, and a 20¢ budget will require all the cuts mentioned and use $1,180,075 of the fund balance. He talked about at t= hat rate of spending, taxes would have to be greatly increased the following ye= ar or the County will have cash-flow issues.

&= nbsp; Being no further business, Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to adjourn= at 8:50pm. Commissioner Randy Mi= ller 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

NO= RTH CAROLINA = ; )

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; )

ALLEGHANY COUNTY )

RESOLUTION

&= nbsp; WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners of Alleghany Co= unty, North Carolina have formally committed financial support to Alleghany Memorial<= /st1:PlaceName> Hospital; and,=

&= nbsp; WHEREAS, the Alleghany County Economic Development Corporation has entered into a loan agreement with Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation to obtain $200,000 in loan funds that will be u= sed to help finance Alleghany Memorial Hospital’s recruitment of a surgeon and two internal medicine physicians.

&= nbsp; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED = that the Board of Commissioners of Alleghany County, North Carolina reconfirms i= ts pledge to provide four annual payments of $50,000 to the Alleghany County Economic Development Corporation, with the first payment due the tenth day = of August, 2007 and thereafter on the tenth day of each succeeding August until the $200,000 loan is repaid to Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation; = and,

&= nbsp; FURTHER, that the Board of Commissioners of Allegha= ny County will annually vote on a resolution and pledge in support of the loan agreement between Alleghany County Economic Development Corporation and Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation and that the resolution will be revie= wed in June of each year prior to the beginning of each new fiscal year of the county until such time as the loan between the parties mentioned above is repaid.

= ; Adopted this 4^th day of June, 2007.

NO= RTH CAROLINA = ; )

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; )

ALLEGHANY COUNTY )

RESOLUTION

&= nbsp; WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners of Alleghany Co= unty, North Carolina have formally committed financial support to Alleghany Memorial<= /st1:PlaceName> Hospital; and,=

&= nbsp; WHEREAS, the Alleghany County Economic Development Corporation has entered into a loan agreement with Skyline Telephone Corporation to obtain $200,000 in loan funds that will be used to help fina= nce Alleghany Memorial Hospital’s recruitment of a surgeon and two intern= al medicine physicians.

&= nbsp; FURTHER, that the Board of Commissioners of Allegha= ny County will annually vote on a resolution and pledge in support of the loan agreement between Alleghany County Economic Development Corporation and Sky= line Telephone Corporation and that the resolution will be reviewed in June of e= ach year prior to the beginning of each new fiscal year of the county until such time as the loan between the parties mentioned above is repaid.<= /span>

= ; Adopted this 4^th day of June, 2007.

Alleghany= County<= /o:p>

North Carolina

Resolution <= /b>

WHEREAS, the Alleghany County B= oard of Commissioners proposed to dispose of surplus personal property; and,

W= HEREAS, a lis= t of property to be disposed of has been made and approved for sale; and,

WHEREAS, = the County Manager has been instructed to dispos= e of said property and property valued under $500 at public auction on June 23, = 2007 at 10:00am; and,

WHEREAS, = notice of the sale of = said property will be duly published at least 10 days prior to said auction; and,

THEREFORE= BE IT RESOLVED, that Alleghany= County shall dispose of surplus pr= operty as prescribed in G.S. 160A-270 (b) on June 23, 2007 at 10:00am.

Adopted this the 4= ^th day of June, 2007.

Alleghany= County<= /o:p>

North Carolina

Resolution of Support for the Clean Water Act of 2007

WH= EREAS, North C= arolina's continued prosperity depends on protecting the State's water resources for current use and future generations; and,

W= HEREAS, North Carolina is expected to g= row by 3.5 million people to exceed 12 million by the year 2030, placing pressures= on the State's water resources and local water providers; and,

WHEREAS, = North Carolina's businesses, traditional and eme= rging industries all depend on reliable supplies of clean water, reasonable utili= ty costs, well maintained water infrastructure and an attractive natural environment; and,

WHEREAS, = the 1998 Clean Water Bonds delivered significant benefits to North Carolina communities and citizens, supporting 1,103 proje= cts in 97 counties, which

= ·Helped create or retain 42,000 jobs

= ·Corrected major regulatory violations in 97 communities

= ·Addressed failing septic systems and contaminated wells in 59 counties

= ·Resulted in 50 communities receiving sewer servi= ce for the first time

= ·Encouraged regional efficiencies, sound planning= and conservation practices; and,

WHEREAS, North Carolina's public water, sewer and storm water utilities will require investments tota= ling $16.63 billion to keep pace with necessary improvements and population grow= th over the next 25 years, including $6.85 billion in investments within the n= ext five years;

NOW THEREF= ORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Alleghany = County Board of Commissioners urges the North Carolina General Assembly to enact t= he "Clean Water Act of 2007", which provides for a $500 million bond issue to be expended over the next five years, and an annual appropriation = of $50 million in recurring funding to address urgent needs.=

=

Adopted this the 4= ^th day of June, 2007.

=