MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Location: file:///C:/DD1D14E7/06-06-07bdg.htm Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners reconvened the recessed budget meeting from Wednesday, May 31, 2006, on Thursday,

The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners reconvened t= he recessed budget meeting from Tuesday, June 5, 2007, on Wednesday, June 6, 2007, <= span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>at 5:00pm in the Commissioners Meeting Room of the County Administration Building, 348 South Main Street, Sparta, NC.

 

        &= nbsp;   Present:  Chair Ken Richardson, Vice-Chair W= arren Taylor, Commissioner Doug Murphy, Commissioner Milly Richardson, County Manager Don Adams and Clerk to the Boa= rd Karen Evans.  Commissioner Randy Miller was pres= ent but arrived late.  County Atto= rney Donna Shumate was absent.

 

Chair Ken Richardson reconvened the recessed meeting at = 5:00pm.

 

Joe Potts came before the Commissioners regarding the Wellness Center.  He talked about the Wellness Center’s pool is now being used as the community pool since <= st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Duncan Recreation Center is being renovated.  He updated some information that he presented in April including upcoming events.  He talked about an increase in activities.

 

Commissioner Randy Miller arrived at 5:07pm.

 

Joe Potts continued updating the Board about the Wellness Center’s activities.  He talked about a grant through the schools regarding school safety.  He further talked about a project with a developer that will tie a Wellness Center membership to people who pu= rchase lots that will be paid on a monthly basis through a homeowners association.  He stated that t= hey are continuing to work on increasing revenues and decreasing expenses.  He thanked the Commissioners for t= heir time.

 

Kate Cosner, Elections Director, gave information to the Board.  She= came before the Board to formally request the position of Deputy Director.  She talked about her assistant work= s 60 hours per period.  She stated = that she is requesting to make the position full time at a grade 57 or full time at a grade 59 as Deputy Director.  = She talked about laws that have come down in 2006, and she will be out of the office a lot; therefore, the need for someone to be in the office full time= who is knowledgeable about the elections office.  She gave examples of Jenny Billings’ work experience plus her knowledge of the equipment and bei= ng a rover on Election Day more than qualifies her as a deputy director.  She gave the Board figures in rega= rds to how much this position change would costs.=   She talked about election expense requested versus the recommended amount.  She further talked ab= out probable elections that are being discussed in the General Assembly and the likelihood of having a second primary.&nbs= p; She explained reasons that will likely cause a second primary.  She reminded the Board that the Co= unty is reimbursed for the municipal election, and if there is an election in November, it will be reimbursed by the State.  She talked about if the November election money is included in the budget, the request doesn’t have to= come back before the Commissioners.  She further talked about if they find out an election will not be held then the= money will be turned back over to the County.

 

County M= anager D= on Adams talked about the election expense spreadsheets that were turned in by the B= oard of Elections for the different elections.

 

Kate Cosner explained the expenses for the elections: municipal election, $1,205; primary election, $4,440; November 2= 007 referendums, $2,940; presidential preference primary election, $4,440.=

 

Commissioner Doug Murphy and Kate Cosner talked about the spreadsheet format was received f= rom the State Board.

 

County M= anager D= on Adams clarified the number that she is asking for the election expense line item.=

 

Kate Cosner stated that they are requesti= ng $18,000, and they are estimating to have 6,000 voters.

 

County M= anager D= on Adams referenced a cover letter from Kate Cosner explaining the requested election expenses.

 

Kate Cosner stated that they need a minim= um of $15,000 for the primary with their preference being $18,000.  She explained the difference with = the bulk being the increase in the ballots.  <= /span>She talked about the upcoming year will be a very intensive election year, and = she is anticipating major growth in voter registration.   She stated that the money wi= ll be used for elections. 

 

Rudy McKnight, Election Board Member, reemphasized the n= eed to have Jenny Billings put on full time.  He talked a= bout things that have come from the State, and two people aren’t enough.  He further talked about things tha= t will be added to directors and deputy directors.  He stated that he thinks that Kate Cosner put together a straight-forward bu= dget request.  He requested that the Board take a close look at their requests.=   He talked about Jenny Billings was instrumental in putting together = the Kids Vote program through the schools.  He said that Kate Cosner is recog= nized as a leader in the State.  He reiterated the importance in keeping staff.

 

Ed Adams, Chairman of Elections Board, talked about seve= ral law changes since the 2000 elections including the touch-screen machines not ha= ving a paper trail.   He state= d that North Carolina has a good state board of elections.  He explained that county boards report to the state board.  He informed the Board that the cou= nty is going to get laptops that will replace the sign-in books at the elections a= nd the need to train prescient officials to operate them.   He talked about Kate Cosner’s responsibility to train th= em for the next election.  He reminded everyone that this budget request has to cover the Spring primary.  He talked about one-stop voting me= ans elections will last almost a month.  He further talked about the wonderful situation for one-stop voting = now in this building, and they are grateful for that.  He talked about referendums being = decided on by the General Assembly.  He further talked about laws put a lot on county boards and staff.  He requested that the Commissioner= s look at the pay-grade plan in regards to the elections supervisor, which title h= as been changed to elections director, at a grade 66.  He listed out a couple of position= s on the grade 66.  He stated that = this election position is misclassified.  He talked about she has to keep the Board of Elections on cycle with the elect= ions, and the Commissioners need to seriously consider reclassifying this positio= n at a higher level.  He stated tha= t they are very proud of her.  He tha= nked the Commissioners for their time.

 

John Hedrick, Library Director, came before the Board to discuss the establishment of a pay plan for the library system.  He explained that they have never = had a pay plan.  He further explaine= d that over the last 13 months they have had 30% turnover.  He stated that the MAPS group has d= one an independent study in Alle= ghany County showing libr= ary personnel are almost 23% below.  He explained that they would like to complete this proposed plan is two years;= 50% this year, 50% next year.  He further explained that 78% of their request is going for salaries.  He stated that Surry County is going to fund the pay plan, and if not put in place, turnover will get worse.  He further stated that= they are not getting quality people because of the pay.  He explained a spreadsheet regardi= ng salaries.  He stated that he h= opes the Commissioners will read and consider this.

 

Commissioner Doug Murphy asked if any other counties have agreed.

 

John Hedrick stated that Stok= es County will probably go forward = with it, and he is unsure about Yadkin County.  He further stated that if all of t= he counties don’t sign on, that the monies will be given to the counties that agree.  He talked about ways t= o cut their budget in order to provide the pay plan like their book budget but th= ey don’t want to go that route.

 

Sandy Carter stated that she has been on t= he library board since 2002.  She further stated that people don’t have the skills needed because of the pay.  She spoke of the importa= nce of the library in this county.  S= he reiterated that Alleghany County money stays in Alleghany County.  She talked about the need to do ex= actly what has been done for the county employees.  She respectfully asked that this r= equest be considered.  She thanked the Commissioners for their time.

 

John Hedrick provided library statistics for Alleghany County.

 

Joan Sherill talked about libraries are on the cutting e= dge for technology and the need for someone trained.

 

County M= anager D= on Adams stated that the difference is $4,300 from the requested to the recommended.=

 

Jane Phipps Boger with Wilkes Community Co= llege thanked the Commissioners for the continued support.  She handed out a list of their acc= omplishments in 2006-2007.  She reviewed the highlights of the accomplishments.  <= /span>

 

Commissioner Doug Murphy and Jane Phipps Boger talked ab= out the trend is growing regarding high school students taking courses and getting = college credit.  She gave examples.

 

Jane Phipps Boger talked about an additional line in the= ir budget for maintaining the facility.

 

Dr. Gordon Burns, President of Wilkes Community College, talked about the value of the College to the region and the county.   He applauded the Commissioners for = the reappointment of Dr. Irwin on the Board of Trustees.  He stated that Jack Martin and Suz= anne Irwin are excellent leadership people.&nbs= p; He talked about college staff has fallen behind in salaries and comm= unity college salaries lag behind universities and public schools.  He further talked about the need to retain staff, be able to replace retiring personnel with qualified people a= nd the need for the salaries to be kept up.&n= bsp; He provided statistics on the community college salaries versus statewide salaries.  He talked= about Wilkes Community College’s plan reg= arding salaries.  He urged the Commissioners to consider ½ of 1%; $1,738.  He stated that he is confident tha= t Wilkes County will approve 1 ½%.  He further stated that they have tried to keep personnel alike across the board regardless of which counties they work for or money comes from.  He stated that Alleghany County money goes to Alleghany County employees.  He talked about 5% parity.  He stated that Ashe County has approved the 5%.  He furth= er stated that Wilkes is at 1½%, and Alleghany County is at 1½%.

 

Commissioner Warren Taylor, Dr. Burns and Jane Phipps Bo= ger talked about the additional $1,738 will make Alleghany County 2%.

 

Dr. Burns stated that all they ask for is to get all counties to 5%.

 

Commissioner Milly Richardson stated that the College do= es a good job.

 

Dr. Burns and Jane Phipps Boger talked about working very closely with Ashe County.  She explained that they are trying= to offer as many classes here as possible.

 

Dr. Burns talked about Wilkes Community Co= llege two-year transfers have a higher success rate. 

 

Jane Phipps Boger thanked the Commissioners for the cont= inued support.

 

Gerald Leftwich, Emergency Management Coordinator, gave = the Board information about the fee schedule for fire inspections.  He explained the North Carolina Ge= neral Statutes regarding fire prevention inspection schedule, and each county mus= t have a fire inspector.  He gave background information about fire inspections.  He explained the schedule of inspe= ctions according to the fire code.  H= e gave examples of what he does regarding inspections.  He described the fees and continued providing examples of his fire inspections work. 

 

County M= anager D= on Adams talked about the request before the Board regarding fire inspections fees.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>  He stated that the Board has three choices; leave as is, adopt a blanket fee schedule or a fined schedule.  He asked does the County stay with= the current schedule or change it.

 

Commissioner Warren Taylor <= /st1:PersonName>and Gerald Leftwich talked about the building was completely in use at the time= of the inspection.  Mr. Leftwich explained that if part of the building is used for storage then that part c= an be defined as storage.

 

County M= anager D= on Adams stated that the request is asking why pay such a high fee if nothing is wrong.  He further stated that= if the Board is concerned about fees charged to larger industries, the Board n= eeds to look at whether to change the fee schedule to a fined schedule.

 

Chair Ken Richardson, Commissioner Warren Taylor and Gerald Leftwich talked about capping the size = of buildings and the fee schedule formula was followed.  Mr. Leftwich talked about how often inspections must be performed for different types of businesses.=

 

Chair Ken Richardson and Gerald Leftwich talked about th= ey have been told that it helps with the businesses’ insurance rates.  Mr. Leftwich talked about the mini= mum standards and minimum codes.

 

Gerald Leftwich stated that his recommendation is to lea= ve the fee schedule as it is.  <= /o:p>

 

Commissioner Doug Murphy, Commissioner Warren Taylor and Gerald Leftwich talked about changing the fee schedule, and how it affects = businesses.  

 

Gerald Leftwich gave the Board statistics regarding the number of inspections.

 

The Board thanked Gerald Leftwich.

 

County M= anager D= on Adams stated that he will ask tomorrow for the Board to schedule more meetings to work on the budget. 

 

Chair Ken Richardson recessed this meeting at 6:44pm until Thursday, Jun= e 7 at 5:00pm.

 

Res= pectfully Submitted,

 


Karen Evans<= /p>

Cle= rk to the Board

 

Att= est:


Ken Richardson

Cha= irman