The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners met=
in
regular session on Monday, June 15, 2009, at 3:30pm in the Board Meeting Ro=
om
of the County Administration Building, 348 South Main Street, Sparta, North
Carolina.
Present:
Chair Ken Richardson, Vice-Chair Randy Miller, Commissioner Doug Mur=
phy,
Commissioner Steve Roten, County Attorney Donna Shumate, County Manager Don
Adams and Clerk to the Board Karen Evans.&=
nbsp;
Commissioner Milly Richardson was present but arrived late.
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 that EMS Fee Schedu=
le
needs to be added to the agenda, delete item #7 and add Budget Discussions.=
Commissioner Randy Miller made a motion to appr=
ove
the amended agenda for this June 15, 2009, meeting. Commissioner Doug Murph=
y seconded
the motion. Vote 4:0.
AGENDA
Monday, June 15, 2009
3:30 PM
3:30 =
Meeting
Called To Order, Pledge of Allegiance and Prayer
=
M=
otion
on Agenda for June 15, 2009, meeting
Motion
on Minutes for June 1, 2009, meeting
Motion
on May Tax Releases & Refunds
3:35 A. =
Public
Comments—30 minutes
B. &n=
bsp;
Linda E=
dwards
RE:
Ambulances Bids
&=
nbsp; EMS
Fee Schedule &=
nbsp; (added)
C. &n=
bsp;
County
Business
1. &n=
bsp;
Surplus 19=
98
Ambulance
2. &n=
bsp;
Surplus
Ambulances Bids
3. &n=
bsp;
Alleghany
Memorial Hospital Resolutions
4. &n=
bsp;
Joint Meet=
ing
with Town Reminder
5. &n=
bsp;
Solid Waste
Management Plan Update Resolution
6. &n=
bsp;
Board of
Education Van
7. &n=
bsp;
Merchant M=
arine
Seamen of WWII Resolution =
(deleted)
8. &n=
bsp;
BROC Board
Appointment
9. &n=
bsp;
Year-End B=
udget
Amendments
10. Other Business
11. Closed Session—NCGS 143-318.11 (a)
(4)—economic development
12. Budget Discussions (added)
13. Adjourn
Commissioner
Doug Murphy made a motion to approve the minutes for the June 1, 2009,
meeting. Commissioner Randy Miller seconded =
the motion. Vote 4:0.
Commissioner
Doug Murphy made a motion to approve the real refunds and releases for May.=
Commissioner Randy Miller seconded=
the
motion. Vote 4:0.
Commissioner
Randy Miller made a motion to approve the auto refunds and releases for May=
. Commissioner Doug Murphy seconded =
the
motion. Vote 4:0.
Chair
Ken Richardson opened the public comments’ portion of the meeting.
Linda Edwards, EMS Administrative
Supervisor, came before the Board to discuss the recent ambulance bids. She reviewed the bid summary for T=
ype I
and Type III trucks: Type I, Southern Emergency Vehicles $110,716 for Dodge
4500, Wheeled Coach $114,332 for Dodge 4500, First Class Fire Apparatus
$115,977 for Sterling Bullet Chassis, Northwestern Emergency Vehicles $116,=
541
for Dodge 4500; Type III Southern Emergency Vehicles $96,250 for Chevy G450=
0,
Wheeled Coach $105,257 for Chevy 3500, First Class Fire Apparatus $99,894 f=
or
Chevy 3500, Northwestern Emergency Vehicles $105,296 for Chevy G4500She
explained the differences between the types of trucks including delivery
times. She talked about the n=
eed
for a backup truck now.
Commissioner Doug Murphy and Linda
Edwards talked about why she is recommending one two-wheel drive and one
four-wheel drive.
Chair Ken Richardson and Linda Edwa=
rds
talked about these vehicles are diesels.&n=
bsp;
Linda Edwards talked about the
insurance replacement cost coverage of $85,000. She explained where that amount ca=
me
from including the purchase of the most recent remount. She further explained that Federal
regulations have changed making the prices increase.
Commissioner Doug Murphy and Linda
Edwards discussed the Type III trucks.
Commissioner Doug Murphy made a mot=
ion
to approve purchasing the Southeastern Emergency Vehicles for Type III in t=
he
amount of $96,250. Commission=
er
Randy Miller seconded the motion.
Vote 4:0.
Linda Edwards talked about the
differences in prices of Type I and the delay of the chassis.
Commissioner Doug Murphy, County
Manager Don Adams and Linda Edwards discussed that they wouldn’t prov=
ide
a cost break to purchase both from the same company.
Commissioner Steve Roten and Linda
Edwards talked about gas mileage being worse but brake wear being better.
Chair Ken Richardson and Linda Edwa=
rds
talked about warranty coverage for the box and the chassis.
County Manager Don Adams talked abo=
ut
the warranty work being done in Ashe County.
Commissioner Doug Murphy made a mot=
ion
to go with Southeastern for the Type I truck. Commissioner Steve Roten seconded =
the
motion. Vote 4:0.
Linda Edwards presented information
regarding the EMS fee schedule. She
talked about the current fee schedule and proposed rates for 2009-2010. She talked about the Medicare ruli=
ng,
and Medicare is the lead organization for all insurance companies. She talked about the County hasn&#=
8217;t
adjusted rates in the past three to four years. She talked about 65% of patients a=
re
Medicare patients.
Commissioner Milly Richardson arriv=
ed
at 3:45pm.
Linda Edwards continued talking abo=
ut
the proposed rates for 2009-2010.
She talked about the mileage rate of $9 per mile or $10 per mile.
County Manager Don Adams and Linda
Edwards talked about allowable charges.&nb=
sp;
Linda Edwards provided a breakdown =
of EMS
clientele. She talked about t=
he
proposal with $9 per mile increase will provide an opportunity to bill an
additional $54,900 and probably collect around $40,000 to $45,000.
Commissioner Doug Murphy and Linda
Edwards talked about the allowable charges for Medicare.
Chair Ken Richardson and Linda Edwa=
rds
talked about typical costs for ambulance services for in-county trips and o=
ut-of-county
trips. They talked about very=
few are
private pay. They further tal=
ked
about the Medicaid enhancement of $40,000 through NCACC. She explained that the per cost tr=
ip is
a little over $500.
County Manager Don Adams requested =
for
the Board to have all of the fee schedules reviewed at the next budget meet=
ing.
Linda Edwards stated that they have
approximately 26,000 loaded patient miles a year. She talked about Ashe County has a
private service and charge $10.41 per mile. She further talked about the costs=
of
medical supplies.
Commissioner Steve Roten and Linda
Edwards talked about the mileage fee starts when the patient is loaded. They discussed the maximum per mil=
e rate
is $10.41.
County Manager Don Adams explained =
that
one bid had been received for the 2003 Chevrolet ambulance of $4,126 from O=
ld
Quarry Auto and there were no bids on the other ambulances.
Commissioner Milly Richardson made a
motion to approve the bid from Old Quarry Auto. Commissioner Doug Murphy seconded =
the
motion.
Commissioner Steve Roten excused
himself from the vote because this is his son.
The Board voted on the motion on the
floor. Vote 4:0.
County Manager Don Adams and Chair =
Ken
Richardson talked about the 1998 ambulance and taking offers on it.
Commissioner Doug Murphy made a mot=
ion
to declare the 1998 ambulance surplus.&nbs=
p;
Commissioner Randy Miller seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
County Manager Don Adams presented =
two
resolutions for Skyline Telephone and BREMCO regarding Alleghany Memorial
Hospital. He reviewed the loan
terms to repay the loans.
Commissioner Doug Murphy made a mot=
ion
to approve the resolutions. Commissioner Randy Miller sec=
onded
the motion. Vote 5:0.
County Manager Don Adams reminded t=
he
Board of the joint meeting with Town on June 29 at 7:00pm at the Sparta Town
Hall.
County Manager Don Adams presented a
resolution for the solid waste management plan update.
Commissioner Milly Richardson made a
motion to approve the resolution.
Commissioner Doug Murphy seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
County Manager Don Adams talked abo=
ut a
request from the Board of Education regarding if the County wanted a 1989 D=
odge
12 passenger van. He explaine=
d that
they have to check to see if the County is interested in a vehicle before it
can be sold. He said that he
doesn’t know of any use for it.
Commissioner Doug Murphy made a mot=
ion
to reject the offer from the Board of Education on the van. Commissioner Milly Richardson seco=
nded
the motion. Vote 5:0.
County Manager Don Adams talked abo=
ut a
request to reappoint Mike Parlier to the BROC board.
Commissioner Milly Richardson made a
motion to reappoint Mike Parlier.
Commissioner Doug Murphy seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
County Manager Don Adams presented
budget amendment General Fund #35 in the amount of $17,955. He explained that this was the dra=
w down
from the ADM funds that were spilt with the Board of Education. He further explained that the Coun=
ty
kept $10,000 for the prior agreement regarding the PEG grant. He said that he has discussed this=
with
Dr. Cox.
Commissioner Milly Richardson made a
motion to approve budget amendment General Fund #35 in the amount of
$17,955. Commissioner Doug Mu=
rphy
seconded the motion. Vote 5:0=
.
County Manager Don Adams presented
budget amendment General Fund #36 in the amount of $2,052. He explained that this is budget f=
or
additional costs for retaining Ed Woltz on legal issues.
Commissioner Doug Murphy made a mot=
ion
to approve budget amendment General Fund #36 in the amount of $2,052. Commissioner Milly Richardson seco=
nded
the motion. Vote 5:0.
County Manager Don Adams presented
budget amendment General Fund #37 in the amount of $258 for roaring gap
deputies.
Commissioner Doug Murphy made a mot=
ion
to approve budget amendment General Fund #37 in the amount of $258. Commissioner Milly Richardson seco=
nded
the motion. Vote 5:0.
Commissioner Doug Murphy talked abo=
ut
dental clinic that was recently held and the wonderful response received.
Commissioner Milly Richardson made a
motion to go into closed session at 4:08pm under NCGS 143-318.11 (a) (4)=
212;economic
development. Commissioner Doug
Murphy seconded the motion. V=
ote
5:0.
Commissioner Doug Murphy made a mot=
ion
to adjourn closed session at 4:28pm and reconvene the regular meeting. Commissioner Randy Miller seconded=
the
motion. Vote 5:0.
Chair Ken Richardson stated no
decisions were made during closed session.
Chair Ken Richardson talked about
asking each Commissioner to bring their budget priorities to this meeting.<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> He reviewed his previous discussio=
ns
about how to proceed with the budget.
He talked about providing time for the County Manager and Clerk to w=
ork
on the Board’s recommendations in order to discuss them on June 22.
Chair Ken Richardson explained his =
priorities
with the budget: keep employees in the LEC, tax office, DSS; restore longev=
ity;
freeze hiring of county employees except with approval from the Commissione=
rs;
restoring funding to 2008/09 level for the Board of Education, library, hea=
lth department,
Council on Aging, Group Homes, Wilkes Community College, Smoky Mountain; no
department cut more than 10%; only one year commitment on cuts; move forward
with any programs that are needed.
Commissioner Randy Miller explained=
his
priorities with the budget: number one priority is personnel; need to keep =
jobs
in health department, ADAP; education, maybe $150,000; don’t cut
Sheriff’s department; Volunteer Fire Department’s $90,000; try =
to
find some way for the Wellness Center to stand on own two feet, find ways to
get pool covered; look at lower the cuts from 35% to 15% or 20%; support
library and Wilkes Community College; 15% on fund balance and realize have =
to
pay the money back; don’t take services away.
Commissioner Milly Richardson expla=
ined
her priorities with the budget: agree with the comments regarding personnel=
in
LEC, tax office and DSS; keep longevity; agree with Ken’s list of spe=
cial
appropriation but wants to add ADAP; open to what the Board wants to do;
concern for fire departments, if the Board can find the money that will be =
good
or she has some cuts in special appropriations for it; don’t want to =
go
to 15% but will if needed; no tax increase; rather have 16% or 17% fund
balance.
Commissioner Doug Murphy explained =
his
priorities with the budget: keep tax office, LEC, DSS employees; provide
$175,000 to schools, more if possible; look at fire commission for safety
needs; leave longevity alone; find the money for holiday pay; in favor of A=
DAP
and mental health; Wilkes Community College’s need for the family
literacy program; library; look at secondary funding for the Family Resourc=
e Center,
Connections and Senior Services; Wellness Center-don’t have a problem
with the phase out but need to look to find a way to help this groups be se=
lf
supportive; no tax increase; move ADAP out of secondary functions because of
their association with mental health.
Commissioner Steve Roten explained =
his
priorities with the budget: will not support a tax increase; look at some u=
ser
fees or something like that; cannot support cut in pay; not cut longevity; =
no
pay reduction—cut other places; keep all of the employees—offer
other positions if they are available; secondary functions is where cuts sh=
ould
be made.
Commissioner Doug Murphy stated tha=
t he
is support of the hiring freeze if the County takes care of the current
advertised positions first.
Commissioner Randy Miller stated he
agreed.
Commissioner Doug Murphy stated tha=
t he
would be comfortable with the fund balance going to 16% or 17%.
Chair Ken Richardson thanked the Bo=
ard
of Commissioners for this information.&nbs=
p;
The Board talked about times for the
meeting on June 22 and decided on 7:00pm.&=
nbsp;
Chair Ken Richardson stated that th=
e County
Manager and Clerk will bring back items for more discussions.
Chair Ken Richardson recessed the
meeting at 4:55pm until June 22 at 7:00pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Karen Evans
Clerk to the Board
Attest:
Ken Richardson
Chairman