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 Wednesday, June 6, 2007, on Thursday, June 7, 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, Commissioner= Doug Murphy, Commissioner Milly Richardson, County Manager Don Adams and Clerk to the Boa= rd Karen Evans. Commissioner Randy Miller was present but arrived late. Vic= e-Chair Warren Taylor and County Attorney Donna Shumate were absent.

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

Linda Hash with the Soil and Water office gave the Board additional information regarding the Soil and Water budget. She came before the Board to discu= ss her concern about the new position and gave a brief description about their nee= d.

Commissioner Randy Miller arrived at 5:06pm.

Linda Hash continued explaining the brief description of what this position would do in regards to job duties. She further explained what the Fed= eral employees do in relation to the Alleghany office, and Alleghany employees a= re taking up the slack where the Federal budget has been cut. She reviewed their programs. She talked about the coop line ite= m and the EEP line item. She further talked about using these monies as the district board elects to do so. She explained that these lines rol= lover each year. She talked about t= heir technical and educational programs.

County M= anager D= on Adams and Linda Hash talked about the rollover lines and the amount needed to rollover for the upcoming budget ye= ar. She talked about the increasing wo= rkload for both staff members.

Commissioner Milly Richardson and Linda Hash talked about the number of people assisted during the year, the number of children participating in educational activities, Farml= and Preservation Program and federal helpers.

Commissioner Doug Murphy talked about the balance between farm and development.

Linda Hash talked about her duties and Janie’s position was added two years ago.

The Board of Commissioners thanked Linda Hash.

Stacy Henderson, Captain of the Rescue Squad, talked abo= ut receiving grants to assist with last year’s funding needs. He stated that they are a volunteer organization, and they are trying to replace the first-out truck. He further stated that the price of the truck is $162,000. He said that they have applied for = numerous grants but hasn’t heard back. He talked about they had a RV donated, and it will be used as a comm= and post. He stated that the recommended 3% increase won’t take care of their fuel costs. He talked about their membership n= umbers and losing members in the upcoming year.&n= bsp; He further talked about the number of hours that are required which = makes it harder on people to volunteer for the rescue squad. He said that he knows it is out of= the realm to ask for $235,000, but anything received would greatly be appreciat= ed.

Commissioner Doug Murphy, County Manager Don Adams, Stacy Henderson and Brandon Jones t= alked about a USDA loan.

County M= anager D= on Adams reminded the Board that he recommended 3%.= He talked about the release of 911 funds to be used on safety. He further stated that the 3% does= not meet the needs of the fire departments and the rescue squad but is a starti= ng place.

Stacy Henderson talked about future building expansion.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>

County M= anager D= on Adams stated that the Board will be seeing a lot more requests from the fire departments. He talked about = the need to have a master report.

Chair Ken Richardson and Stacy Henderson talked about ha= ving to have eight people to maintain certification. Stacy Henderson stated the number = of people that will be leaving in the fall and the spring will leave three.

= County= Ma= nager Don Adams talked about the imp= act to EMS in regards to the rescue squad providing backup services for EMS.

Commissioner Doug Murphy and Stacy Henderson talked about volunteer hours are running people off.

Commissioner Milly Richardson and Stacy Henderson talked about one rescue squad covers five fire departments plus provide mutual aid= for other counties. Mr. Henderson reminded everyone that the rescue squad has the only dive team in Northwest North Carolina.

Commissioner Milly Richardson stated that they do an excellent job.

Tommy Sports with the Forestry Service gave the Board information regarding the proposed forestry service budget for 07/08 and 06= /07. He reviewed the differences betwee= n the two proposed budgets. He expl= ained that he cut where cuts could be made on the expenses. He reviewed his budget explanation including telecommunications and other equipment needed. He talked about operational costs = that are an added benefit that are not incorporated in the budget and come witho= ut any additional costs to the county. He asked the Board to compare the 06/07 budget and the proposed 07/08 budget.

Chair Ken Richardson and Tommy Sports talked about the C= ounty provides 40% of the funding and the State provides 60%.

Chair Ken Richardson asked what happens to money that wasn’t spent on the County Ranger position. Tommy Sports stated that it should= not have been billed. County Manager Don Adams stated that they didn’t request it.

County M= anager D= on Adams talked about the amount of his recommended budget versus the reque= sted budget.

The Board of Commissioners and County Manager Don Adams talked about how monies are calculat= ed that haven’t been spent.

Bob Bamberg provided the Board publicatio= ns from the Chamber of Commerce. He described the publications. He gave the= Board information about their budget. He talked about areas in their budget that are increasing; people want the off= ice open on holidays and Saturdays, so they put in a part-time position and put= in five hours a month for Peggy Choate to assist with their finances, medical insurance premium increases and incr= eased utilities. He talked about occupancy tax monies and restrictions on the occupancy tax monies. He reviewed the Chamber’s to= tal membership numbers.

Chair Ken Richardson asked about becoming more of a tour= ism industry.

Bob Bamberg talked about Alleghany County being a weekend getaway or a day-trip place. He stated that the other demand is= from people buying second homes or weekend homes here. He agreed about becoming more of a tourism industry.

Chair Ken Richardson stated that out of a $131,000 budge= t, the County funds $24,000 of that.

Bob Bamberg agreed and stated that the Town provides $9,= 000.

The Board took a brief recess at 6:10pm.

Randy Blankenship, Chief Building Inspector, gave the Bo= ard information regarding his personnel request. He explained his first request is regarding the Administration Assistant’s position. He gave reasons for increasing the= pay grade to 61. He further expla= ined that the construction industry is booming.= He talked about the request of adding an additional inspector. He further talked about he recomme= nded revising the fee schedule to accommodate some of the increase of costs. He explained the changes in the fee schedule.

Commissioner Milly Richardson and Randy Blankenship talk= ed about the total in fee increases will not cover the entire costs by approximately $10,000-$12,000. He stated that the fees were last raised in 2005.

Commissioner Doug Murphy and Randy Blankenship talked about fees still being lower than the surrounding = counties. Randy Blankenship explained his meeting with the construction industry, and stated that he recommends if the position isn’t approved that the fees aren’t raised.

Commissioner Milly Richardson asked about raising the ra= te this year to prepare to add the position next year.

Randy Blankenship talked about the amount of backlash th= at would be received from the construction industry.

Chair Ken Richardson and Ran= dy Blankenship talked about the amount of training required = to become a Level III inspector.

Commissioner Milly Richardson and Randy Blankenship talked about taking six years of training, an= d he has around 7½ years until he can retire.

Randy Blankenship stated his appreciation to the Commissioners.

Commissioner Randy Miller asked about the meeting in Apr= il, and if the health issue is getting better.

Randy Blankenship stated that it is getting better.=

County M= anager D= on Adams stated that it is approximately two to three weeks out.

Commissioner Randy Miller and Randy Blankenship talked about problems with well issues.<= /o:p>

The Board of Commissioners stated their appreciation for Randy Blankenship.

Chair Ken Richardson stated that David Higgins will not = come before the Board to discuss his budget request. He talked about meeting again on T= uesday to have another budget meeting.

Commissioner Doug Murphy and County Manager Don Adams talked about researching the forestry service.

The Board of Commissioners talked about holding the next budget meeting on Tuesday at 6:00pm.

Chair Ken Richardson recessed this meeting at 6:40pm until Tuesday, June= 12 at 6:00pm.

Res= pectfully Submitted,

Karen Evans<= /p>

Cle= rk to the Board

Att= est:

Ken Richardson

Cha= irman