The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners reconvened t=
he
recessed budget meeting from Tuesday,
June 12, 2007, on Monday,
June 18, 2007, at 6:25pm
in the Commissioners Meeting Room of the County Administrati=
on
Building, 348 South Main Street, Sparta, NC.
&=
nbsp; Present: Chair Ken Richardson, Vice-Chair W=
arren
Taylor, Commissioner Randy Miller, Commissioner Doug Murphy, County Attorney
Donna Shumate, County
Manager Don Adams and Clerk to the Board Karen Evans. Commissioner Milly Richardso=
n was present
but arrived late.
Chair Ken Richardson reconvened the recessed meeting at =
6:25pm.<=
/p>
County M=
anager D=
on Adams
handed out surrounding counties’ building inspection fees.=
&=
nbsp; Randy
Blankenship, Chief Building Inspector, gave the Board a sample of a permit =
with
the proposed increases and the surrounding counties’ prices. He stated that he can’t say =
how
much money will be generated from the proposed fee schedule increase becaus=
e of
the uncertainty of the number of permits to be issued.
Chair Ken Richardson stated that the Board understands
that. He talked about looking=
at
what will be the best for the county in two to three years.
=
County=
Ma=
nager
Don Adams and Randy Blankenship
talked about the examples provided; Alleghany
County’s current and propo=
sed fees,
Yadkin County,
Wilkes County
and Ashe =
County. Randy Blankenship stated that thes=
e are
current year rates.
County A=
ttorney D=
onna
Shumate left the meeting at 6:30pm.
County M=
anager D=
on Adams
and Randy Blankenship talked about fees changing from $325 to $350 and leave
the remaining amount of increases the same.
Commissioner Warren Taylor <=
/st1:PersonName>talked
about an increase in permits would generate more revenues. He stated that he doesn’t th=
ink the
fees should go to $350. =
Chair Ken Richardson, County Manager Don
Adams and Randy Blankenship <=
/st1:PersonName>talked
about the $12,000 shortfall with the original proposed rates. Randy Blankenship stated his
recommendation is to leave the proposed rates there, which should be able to
cover the $12,000 shortfall as long as the permits keep coming in.
Commissioner Warren Taylor <=
/st1:PersonName>and
Commissioner Randy Miller agreed.
Commissioner Randy Miller stated that he has talked to the contracto=
rs,
and they are willing to pay the additional fees for the additional help.
Commissioner Warren Taylor <=
/st1:PersonName>and
Randy Blankenship talked about=
the
timeline for Brian Killon and the new person to be out in the field. Randy Blankenship stated that it t=
akes two
years for someone to certify at level one.=
County M=
anager D=
on Adams
talked about trends since June 2003 regarding the total number of permits
issued.
Commissioner Warren Taylor and Randy Blankenship talked
about staying up with the new construction demand.
Chair Ken Richardson informed Randy Blankenship that they
will probably approve the rates tonight and is leaning towards adding the n=
ew
person when the budget is passed.
Commissioner Warren Taylor <=
/st1:PersonName>made
a motion to approve the $325 proposed fee schedule. Commissioner Randy Miller seconded=
the
motion. Vote 4:0.
Chair Ken Richardson talked about the regional tourism
group, Blue Ridge Heartland. =
He
further talked about the purpose of the regional group, and they are not to=
the
point where it is self-sufficient. <=
/span>He
stated that Alleghany County provided $7,500 this current year, if Alleghany
County provides funding this upcoming year, it will be made clear that
Alleghany County will not provide additional money if they are not
self-sufficient by year end. =
He
explained that Surry
County is the drivi=
ng
force, and the monies would come from the economic development fund.
County Manager Don Adams
talked about two new requests in the economic development fund; $15,000 for=
a
speaker system at the fairgrounds and the $7,500 for the tourism group. He explained the revenues and expe=
nses
in the economic development fund.
Commissioner Warren Taylor stated that he thinks the tou=
rism
group warrants a second year by agreeing to fund it for one more year.=
Chair Ken Richardson reviewed the counties that have agr=
eed.
County M=
anager D=
on Adams
and the Board of Commissioners talked about being a member of High Country =
Host
versus the Blue Ridge Heartland. County Manager
Don Adams talked about their
marketing plan.
Chair Ken Richardson explained that this money doesnR=
17;t
come from any tax dollars.
Commissioner Warren Taylor <=
/st1:PersonName>made
a motion to approve the $7,500.
Commissioner Randy Miller seconded the motion. Vote 4:0.
County M=
anager D=
on Adams
talked about the fairgrounds requests of $15,000. He explained the request for the s=
peaker
system.
Commissioner Milly Richardson arrived at 6:53pm.<=
/p>
County M=
anager D=
on Adams
reviewed the fairgrounds budget, and explained how they will be using the m=
oney
in the fairgrounds budget. He
stated that he thinks the fairgrounds board is doing a good job<=
/span>
Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to approve t=
he
sound system. Commissioner Ra=
ndy
Miller seconded the motion. V=
ote
5:0.
Commissioner Randy Miller and Chair Ken Richardson talked
about the members of the Blue Ridge Heartland board. They talked about this organizatio=
n has
to prove itself before Al=
leghany
County can put
advertising monies into it. C=
hair
Ken Richardson explained that the group is working on creating a brand to p=
ut on
any type of products coming from Northwestern North Carolina and Southeastern Virginia.
County M=
anager D=
on Adams
reviewed the other funds, Scattered Site and Fairgrounds. He talked about the Drug Fund, and=
monies
will be coming into the fund from a drug bust in another county soon.
Commissioner Randy Miller and County Manager Don Adams talked about expenses from the Drug =
Fund
must be agreed upon by the Sheriff and the Board. County Manager
Don Adams explained that the m=
onies
cannot be tied to personnel and must be tied to drug enforcement.
County M=
anager D=
on Adams
explained the Register of Deeds fund has to be associated with technology.<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> He talked about the library agency=
fund. He explained the Blue Ridge BDC fu=
nd
having $5,000 transferred from the General Fund, and budgeting $15,000 that=
was
left over from the building project to use these monies to open up the trai=
l between
Wilkes Community
College and Alleghany
High School. He talked about this amount probab=
ly
won’t take care of the entire trail.=
He reviewed items that the monies will be used for.
Commissioner Warren Taylor and County Manager Don Adams talked about getting the high school
involved in assisting with the trail.
Commissioner Taylor stated the need to move ahead with this and it h=
as been
discussed for a couple of years.
County M=
anager D=
on Adams
reviewed the revaluation fund.
Chair Ken Richardson talked about the General Assembly m=
ay enact
law stating that counties must do revaluation every four years, instead of =
eight
years. He explained the reaso=
n for
putting the money into this fund a little each year.
County M=
anager D=
on Adams
reviewed the QZAB funds and conversations with Dr. Cox about the fiber
connectivity and the e-rate funding.
He reviewed the projects that would be taken care of with the QZAB
funding. He explained the amo=
unt of
funding requested versus his recommendation regarding the capital needs.
Chair Ken Richardson stated that he just came from the s=
tate
board meeting where they have been talking about in exchange for Medicaid r=
elief;
the State is considering taking ADM monies.
=
County=
Ma=
nager
Don Adams explained what that =
means
to Alleghany County.
Chair Ken Richardson talked about other options that are
being discussed for Medicaid relief.
County Manager Don Adams
stated that the schools should be excited about this recommended budget bec=
ause
it is the largest budgeted capital funding provided by the County. He reminded the Board that they al=
so
have rollover monies, and the majority of it will be already obligated.
Commissioner Warren Taylor <=
/st1:PersonName>talked
about safety needs that should be addressed, and hopes that by supporting t=
his
funding those safety needs can be addressed.
Chair Ken Richardson talked about when this budget meeti=
ng
is done, the Board needs to set a time when they can come back to approve t=
his
budget for 2007/2008.
Being further business, Commissioner Warren Taylor made a
motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:26pm.&n=
bsp;
Commissioner Randy Miller seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
Res=
pectfully
Submitted,
Karen Evans<=
/p>
Cle=
rk to
the Board
Att=
est:
Ken Richardson
Cha=
irman