The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, August 18, 2003, at 3:30pm in the Conference Room of the County Office Building, 90 South Main Street, Sparta, North Carolina.

 

            Present:  Chair Eldon Edwards, Vice-Chair Warren Taylor, Commissioner Graylen Blevins, Commissioner Patrick Woodie, County Manager Don Adams, and Clerk to the Board Karen Evans.  Commissioner Sandy Carter was present but arrived late.  County Attorney Ed Woltz was absent. 

 

Chair Eldon Edwards called the meeting to order.

 

Commissioner Graylen Blevins opened the meeting with a prayer.

 

Chair Eldon Edwards stated that Wendy Williams needs to be added to the agenda.

 

Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to approve the amended agenda for this August 18, 2003, meeting.  Commissioner Patrick Woodie seconded the motion.  Vote 4:0.

 

AGENDA

Monday, August 18, 2003

3:30 PM

 

3:30                 Meeting Called To Order

                        Motion on Agenda for August 18, 2003 meeting

Motion on Minutes for August 4, 2003 meeting

3:30                 Wendy Williams  (added)

                        RE:  911 Road Names

3:35                 Mary Walker

                        RE:  Tax Refunds & Releases

3:45                 Public Hearing

RE:  Scattered Site Grant

3:50                 Barbara Conrad

                        RE:  Ward Road

4:00                 Public Hearing

                        RE:  Farmland Preservation Program Ordinance

4:15                 Bill Maxwell

                        RE:  Fairgrounds Usage

4:25                 Jack Conaway

                        RE:  New Subdivision & Junk Discussion

                        County Business

1.      Reminder of September 1st meeting

2.      Special Called Meeting

3.      High Country COG Annual Banquet

4.      Other Business

5.      Public Comments—30 minutes

6.      Adjourn

 

Commissioner Patrick Woodie made a motion to approve the August 4, 2003, minutes.  Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion.  Vote 4:0.

 

Wendy Williams, 911 Coordinator/Mapper, explained that she is asking the Board to rescind a motion taken on July 18, 2003, concerning renaming Weddens Way and Betko Boulevard because a public hearing should have been held before officially changing the names.

 

Commissioner Sandy Carter arrived at 3:32pm.

 

Commissioner Patrick Woodie made a motion to rescind the motion from July 18, 2003, and hold a public hearing on September 15, 2003.  Commissioner Graylen Blevins seconded the motion.  Vote 5:0.

 

            Mary Walker, Tax Administrator, presented the tax release requests for July 2003 in the amount of $8,875.75 for real property and $1,916.13 for vehicles.

 

Commissioner Patrick Woodie made a motion to approve the tax release requests for July 2003 in the amount of $8,875.75 for real property and $1,916.13 for vehicles.  Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion.  Vote 5:0. 

 

Mary Walker, Tax Administrator, presented the tax refund requests for July 2003 in the amount of $383.33 for real property and $247.67 for vehicles.

 

Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to approve the tax refund requests for July 2003 in the amount of $383.33 for real property and $247.67 for vehicles.  Commissioner Sandy Carter seconded the motion.  Vote 5:0. 

 

Mary Walker, Tax Administrator, presented two motor vehicle appeals.  She explained that one appeal is for a 1998 Subaru Forrester, purchased for $6,900, tax value $10,100 with a $7,000 as the assessor’ s recommendation.  She further explained the other appeal is for a 2000 GMC Jimmy, purchased for $12,498, tax value $14,900 with a $12,000 value as the assessor’s recommendation.

 

Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to approve the assessor’s recommendations for these two motor vehicle appeals.  Commissioner Graylen Blevins seconded the motion.  Vote 5:0.

 

Mary Walker, Tax Administrator, presented a letter from John Wayne Davis asking for relief from his household solid waste fees.  She explained that this property is located on the Alleghany/Grayson line.  She further explained that they receive all of their services from Grayson County.

 

The Board of Commissioners, County Manager Don Adams and Mary Walker talked about county lines, other property being affected on county lines near this property and property addresses.

 

Commissioner Patrick Woodie made a motion to release the solid waste fee in question.  Commissioner Sandy Carter seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

 

Commissioner Sandy Carter made a motion to open the public hearing at 3:49pm on the Scattered Site grant.  Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion.  Vote 5:0.

 

County Manager Don Adams turned the meeting over to Rebecca Bloomquist with High Country Council of Governments to further explain the program.

 

Rebecca Bloomquist handed out pictures to show the Board the progress of the 2001 grant.  She reviewed the 2004 grant application, requirements of the grant and the deferred loan program.

 

County Manager Don Adams talked about the selection committee’s meeting.

 

Rebecca Bloomquist stated that applications are due to her or the County Manager’s office by September 5, 2003.  She reviewed how the selection committee will pick the homes to be repaired. 

 

Commissioner Sandy Carter asked about if someone is selling their home, how the money would be recaptured.

 

Rebecca Bloomquist stated that the amount has to be added to the selling price of the home.

 

Commissioner Warren Taylor asked about home loans.

 

Rebecca Bloomquist stated that after speaking to people in Raleigh, if the loan is not part of the selection criteria, then it does not come into the process.  She explained that she will present a resolution to the Town Council for their approval of the program and schedule the second public hearing right before the grant deadline of October 24. 

 

            Chair Eldon Edwards asked for public comments.  None were received.

 

            Chair Eldon Edwards closed the public hearing at 3:59pm and reconvened the regular meeting.

 

            Barbara Conrad talked about road damage on Ward Road that hasn’t been resolved in 15 years.  She passed around pictures showing the damage on the road.  She explained the damage on the road.  She stated that she needs help getting the situation resolved. 

 

            Commissioner Sandy Carter asked for Ms. Conrad to write a letter to the Board explaining her problems.

 

            Linda Hash gave a brief overview of the voluntary Farmland Preservation Program Ordinance.  She reviewed the advantages for farmers to join the program.  She further reviewed the change about recessing public hearings no more than seven days.

 

Chair Eldon Edwards recessed the regular meeting and opened the public hearing at 4:18pm concerning the Farmland Preservation Program Ordinance.

 

            Chair Eldon Edwards asked for public comments.

 

            Paul Edwards stated they have prepared a list of members for the Advisory Board for the Alleghany Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program.

 

            Linda Hash handed out the list of members and asked if the ordinance is passed, would the Board adopt the steering committee members.

 

            Chair Eldon Edwards asked for additional public comments.  None were received.

 

            Chair Eldon Edwards closed the public hearing at 4:22pm and reconvened the regular meeting.

 

            Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to adopt the Alleghany Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program and the steering committee members as presented by the Soil & Water staff.  Commissioner Patrick Woodie seconded the motion.  Vote 5:0.

 

            Bill Maxwell handed out letters to the Board that was presented to the Commissioners three years ago.  He reviewed the problems that he has had with the PA system at the Fairgrounds; noise and parking on his property.  He stated that this problem has turned into harassment.  He stated that he filed his formal complaint on July 2000 to the Board of Commissioners at which time it was turned over to Eldon Edwards.  He reviewed his actions and events at the Fairgrounds since that time.

 

            County Manager Don Adams stated that he would ask the Sheriff’s Department to enforce a curfew if the Board decides to adopt a curfew.

 

            Chair Eldon Edwards stated that his recommendation would be to get with the Fairgrounds committee before deciding any action.

 

            Commissioner Patrick Woodie talked about the County is in the process of running the Fairgrounds and how the County needs to settle this issue.

 

            Chair Eldon Edwards stated that he was only suggesting consulting the Fairgrounds and leaving the actual action to the Commissioners.

 

            County Manager Don Adams stated that he would bring rules and procedures for the operation of the Fairgrounds back to the Board.

 

            Jack Conaway, Planner, came before the Board to ask for final approval on a subdivision in High Meadows by High Meadows Land Company.  He reviewed the plat and stated that the plat meets and exceeds the Subdivision Ordinance requirements.

 

            Commissioner Patrick Woodie made a motion to approve the High Meadows Land Company subdivision plat.  Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

 

            Jack Conaway, Planner, came before the Board to continue the discussion on junk, junk yards, junk cars, etc.  He stated that he has received and reviewed other counties ordinances regarding these issues.   He gave the Board a summarization of his research and recommends the County looking into some type of voluntary program if the Board wishes to proceed on this matter. 

 

            Commissioner Sandy Carter asked about abandoned mobile homes.

 

            Jack Conaway, Planner, stated that he will have to do more research on that topic.  He cited that health reasons would be one reason that the County could get involved in this issue.

 

            The Board of Commissioners and Jack Conaway talked about abandoned mobile homes, health concerns from abandoned mobile homes, property-owner issues and the old land-use plan having a section about junk cars.

           

            Commissioner Sandy Carter made a motion for the County to continue researching the issue including voluntary programs. 

 

Jack Conaway, Planner, asked for a clarification of researching old abandoned, junk vehicles instead of junk yards. 

 

Commissioner Sandy Carter agreed. 

 

Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion.  Vote 5:0.

 

            Commissioner Sandy Carter left the meeting at 5:00pm.

 

            County Manager Don Adams reminded the Board that the next regular scheduled meeting is on Labor Day and according to the Board’s Rules of Procedures, the next regular meeting will be on Tuesday, September 2, 2003, at 6:30pm.

 

            County Manager Don Adams talked to the Board about having a special called closed session meeting on September 3 or 4 to update the Board and the Town Council on the Bristol Compressors lawsuit.

 

            The Board agreed to have the meeting on September 3, 2003, at 10:00am at the County Office Building. 

 

            County Manager Don Adams reviewed a letter from High Country Council of Governments inviting the Board to attend their annual banquet and to let Karen Evans know if anyone is planning on attending.

 

            Chair Eldon Edwards talked about attending the Charleston Forge cookout and touring the new facility.

 

            Commissioner Warren Taylor talked about his attendance at the NCACC Annual Conference. 

 

            Commissioner Warren Taylor stated that he had spoken to John Hauser about Wilkes Community College is training employees to work at Martin Marietta.

 

            Commissioner Warren Taylor talked about an article where Blue Cross/Blue Shield is offering medical insurance to displaced workers.  He asked that County Manager Don Adams look into this matter for our displaced workers.

 

            Commissioner Graylen Blevins asked about the Transfer Facility floor and the operation of the Recycling Center.

 

            County Manager Don Adams talked about the floor and explained that the Transfer Facility was re-opened on Friday afternoon.  He stated that he had instructed Larry Davis to talk to Mr. Brady about keeping the stock down by selling the materials and the Recycling Center being kept clean.

 

            Commissioner Patrick Woodie stated that Angelou Economics was in the county on Thursday, August 14.  He reviewed the meeting.  He further stated that the next meeting will be late September or early October and would encourage the Board to attend this meeting.

 

            Chair Eldon Edwards asked for public comments. 

 

            Jay Widen discussed renaming Weddens Way and Betko Boulevard. and the process that was completed in renaming.  He stated that he and his wife were not aware of any of the name changing until after it had happened.  He explained that he and his wife developed the land.  He reviewed the process of completing the forms and renaming of the roads.  He thanked the Board for their action today keeping the original road names. 

 

            County Manager Don Adams stated that he has told Wendy Williams to contact all property owners on these roads and let them know of this situation plus to verify the signatures.  He stated that the land is deeded to each property owner to the center of the road.  He reviewed private roads.

 

            Jay Widen read the definition of an easement.  He told the Board that he built the road and maintains the road.

 

            County Manager Don Adams talked about deeds going to the center of the roads and told Mr. Widen that he might want to research the deeds to see how the deeds were recorded.

 

            Jay Widen talked about why people would want to change any road names.

 

            Marie Widen talked about the same people voting to change the names on both roads. 

 

            County Manager Don Adams stated that he would have further conversations with Wendy Williams and the County Attorney before the public hearing.

 

Commissioner Graylen Blevins stated that at the public hearing, the Board will listen to both side of this requested name change.

 

Jay Widen asked if fraud has been committed, what would happen.

 

County Manager Don Adams asked the Board not to comment since that is a legal question for our County Attorney.

 

Chair Eldon Edwards talked about this is the first road name change and was unaware that the name change required a public hearing, and the Board will try to resolve this matter.

 

Being no further business, Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 5:32pm.  Commissioner Graylen Blevins seconded the motion.  Vote 4:0.

 

Respectfully submitted,                     

 

 

 

Karen Evans                          

Clerk to the Board                  

 

Attest:

 

 

 

Eldon Edwards

Chairman