The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners met in
regular session on Monday, August 18, 2008, at 3:30pm in the Board Meeting Room
of the County Administration Building, 348 South Main Street, Sparta, North
Carolina.

Present:
Chair Ken Richardson, Vice-Chair Warren Taylor, Commissioner Randy
Miller, Commissioner Doug Murphy, Commissioner Milly Richardson, County
Attorney Donna Shumate, County Manager Don Adams, and Clerk to the Board Karen
Evans.

Chair Ken Richardson called the meeting to order.

Commissioner Doug Murphy led the Pledge of Allegiance
and opened the meeting with a prayer.

Chair Ken Richardson stated that a closed session for
personnel needs to be added to the agenda.

Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to
approve the amended agenda for this August 18, 2008, meeting.  Commissioner Doug Murphy seconded the
motion.  Vote 5:0.

AGENDA

Monday, August 18, 2008

3:30 PM

3:30                Meeting
Called To Order, Pledge of Allegiance and Prayer

Motion
on Agenda for August 18, 2008, meeting

Motion
on Minutes for August 4, 2008, meeting

Motion
on July Tax Releases & Refunds

3:35    A.        Public
Comments—30 minutes

B.
Public
Hearing         (Cancelled)

Re:
Economic Development – Etomic Steel Structures, Inc.

C.
John Blevins

RE:  Summer Care Funding, Work First Budget Amendment
and Child Support Incentive Request

D.        Mary
Walker

RE:  Vehicle Tax Appeal

E.        Kristen
Sinclair\James Padgett

RE:
North Carolina Natural Heritage Program

F.         Kathy
Murphy

RE:  Blevins Mobile Home Variance

Farris Subdivision Variance

Subdivision Plat

G.        Glade
Creek Volunteer Fire Department Annual Report

H.        County
Business

1.
Reschedule
September 1 Meeting

2.
Propane Bids

3.
Vet Agreement

4.
Board of
Elections Budget Amendment

5.
Tennis Donations
Budget Amendment

6.
Sod Seeder
Agreement

7.
Pay Plan
Discussions

8.
Defib Units

9.
Loader Budget
Amendment

10. Surplus Current Loader

11. Other Business

12. Closed Session—NCGS 143-318.11 (a) (6)—personnel   (added)

13. Adjourn

Commissioner
Milly Richardson made a motion to approve the minutes for the August 4, 2008,
meeting.   Commissioner Randy Miller seconded the
motion.  Vote 5:0.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson made a motion to approve the real and auto refunds for July.  Commissioner Doug Murphy seconded the
motion.  Vote 5:0.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson made a motion to approve the auto releases for July.  Commissioner Randy Miller seconded the
motion.  Vote 5:0.

Chair
Ken Richardson opened the public comments’ portion of the meeting.  He asked for public comments.  None were received.  He closed the public comments portion of
the meeting.

John
Blevins, Social Services Director, came before the Board to discuss budget
amendment General Fund #3 in the amount of $600.  He explained the budget amendment is for
additional work first revenues received.

Commissioner
Randy Miller made a motion to approve budget amendment General Fund #3 in the
amount of $600.  Commissioner Milly
Richardson seconded the motion.
Vote 5:0.

John
Blevins talked about receiving a child-support incentive that is to be used to
enhance the program.  He talked
about using some of the money for a desk for Angie Sexton because she is using
a co-worker’s personal desk.  He
explained how this would work, and the County would be required to pay 35%;
$167 for the desk.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson made a motion to approve the request.  Commissioner Doug Murphy seconded the
motion. Vote 5:0.

John
Blevins talked about summer care funding and the final allocations from the
State show that they will not have to take any children off of the support.  He explained the breakdown of the child
care monies.  He said he is requesting
the $5,913 remaining to be put into the daycare monies, and the money would go
to school-age children.

Commissioner
Doug Murphy made a motion to approve the request.  Commissioner Milly Richardson seconded
the motion.  Vote 5:0.

County
Manager Don Adams explained that the budget amendments will be coming before
the Commissioners at the next meeting.

Mary
Walker, Tax Administrator, presented a motor-vehicle appeal on a 2000 GMC
Jimmy.  She explained that she did not
see the vehicle but understands that it has been wrecked.  She stated her recommendation is $4,800.

Commissioner
Warren Taylor made a motion to approve the recommendation.  Commissioner Milly Richardson seconded
the motion.  Vote 5:0.

Kristen
Sinclair and James Padgett presented a PowerPoint presentation about the North
Carolina Natural Heritage Program is beginning a two-year natural area
inventory of Alleghany County.

Kathy
Murphy, Planner, presented a subdivision plat for preliminary approval for
Shadow Ridge subdivision.  She
explained that this is a 116-acre tract being divided into 16 lots during three
phases.  She explained the roads in
the subdivision and the phases.

Commissioner
Warren Taylor asked about previous discussions regarding this subdivision.

Kathy
Murphy explained that the Board granted a variance in December 2005 but he never
submitted the preliminary plat nor had the plat recorded.  She explained his options regarding this
subdivision.

Commissioner
Warren Taylor and Kathy Murphy discussed that preliminary plat is in order.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson made a motion to approve.
Commissioner Doug Murphy seconded the motion.  Vote 5:0.

Kathy
Murphy presented a request for a variance from Ray Farris & Barbara Farris
regarding the ¾ acre minimum lot size.  She reviewed the timeline of activities that
Mr. Farris has done.  She explained
that the County cannot issue a building permit because it doesn’t meet
the minimum lot.

Commissioner
Warren Taylor and Kathy Murphy talked about they have not dug a well but has
moved equipment in, work was stopped on the septic until the issue could be resolved.  Kathy Murphy talked about his
options.

Commissioner
Warren Taylor talked about the dates of Kathy Murphy’s letter, date property
transferred and Kathy Murphy’s solutions.  He asked about the Brannock’s
knowing of the subdivision ordinance.
Kathy Murphy explained that she sent letters to Michael Brannock, Karen
Brannock, Ronnie Rash, Nancy Rash and Kevin Brooks about the illegal transfer
of the property.

Commissioner
Doug Murphy clarified that the well and septic permit has been issued on the property.
Kathy Murphy stated that is correct.

Commissioner
Warren Taylor stated that the Farris couple did not know. Kathy Murphy stated
that the realtor and seller did.  She
stated that she talked with quite a few realtors about this parcel of land.

Commissioner
Warren Taylor asked if it is feasible for a well and septic to fit on this
land.  Kathy Murphy stated that the
health department looked at and thought they could.

Chair
Ken Richardson and Kathy Murphy discussed the well and septic permit numbers.

County
Attorney Donna Shumate explained that the problem is the Board cannot grant a
variance due to lot size.  She
stated that the grantor knew the property shouldn’t be conveyed.

County
Manager Don Adams talked about the size of land that will perk and there is no
magic number set in stone.

County
Attorney Donna Shumate stated that she doesn’t see a way to fix this
problem. She further stated that they may have other means that don’t deal
with the County.

County
Manager Don Adams talked about the Board could reduce lot size on all lots.

Kathy
Murphy stated that the problem is recording deeds by meets and bounds
descriptions.

The
Board of Commissioners and County Manager Don Adams talked about having
something in place now that addresses this problem.

Commissioner
Randy Miller made a motion to deny this request.  Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the
motion.  Vote 5:0.

Kathy
Murphy presented information about James and Daniell Blevins.  She explained that they are asking for a
variance to allow two manufactured homes on one parcel of land.  She explained the details regarding this
case.

Commissioner
Doug Murphy and Kathy Murphy talked about the number that designates a mobile
home park; two.

Kathy
Murphy explained the options, and they have already purchased the mobile home, obtained
a moving permit, no building permit has been issued, septic permit issued and
has been installed.

Commissioner
Doug Murphy talked about the septic being installed and meeting setback
requirements.

County
Attorney Donna Shumate talked about the Property Rights Protection Ordinance says
two, and if the ordinance says more than two rather than two, this would not
happen.

County
Manager Don Adams explained the difference between changing lot sizes to changing
the number of mobile homes.

Commissioner
Doug Murphy explained that he doesn’t have a problem to talk further about
this.

Commissioner
Warren Taylor stated that the Board would have to have a public hearing to
change the ordinance.  He asked can the
Board ask the Planning Board to review this.

County
Attorney Donna Shumate explained that they have to certify a change to the
ordinance.

Commissioner
Randy Miller made a motion to have the Planning Board look at this at
tonight’s meeting.
Commissioner Milly Richardson seconded the motion.

County
Attorney Donna Shumate stated that the Board still has the variance issue
before them.

Chair
Ken Richardson talked about taking it up at the next meeting.

The
Board voted on the motion on the floor.
Vote 5:0.

County
Manager Don Adams and the Board of Commissioners talked about more than two and
include RV’s in this discussion for the Planning Board.

David
Higgins, Chief of Glade Creek Volunteer Fire Department, presented their
roster, list of vehicles, looking at purchasing a mini-pumper, fundraisers
held, special events, community service, financial statement, camera showing
where the fire is at, displayed an air pack and explained how they are going to
the 45-minute bottles, need to look at a system to fill the bottles, annual
check on the bottles, smokehouse training at other places, money for the men to
do their training and limit it to $500, talked about certified training, having
no problem with members responding to calls, the need for a work channel, talked
with RayTech and for $7,000 to $10,000 they could have a separate channel that
could be recorded at dispatch, talked about Steve Allen’s presentation
being good information, ambulance base in Piney and Cherry Lane, what would
help more is having certified fireman as EMT-B in the station during the
daytime, Mr. Allen talked about departments’ needs, asked do we need to
continue to have fundraisers or slack off.
He talked about they took off the roof from their building and was
charged for it, and fire departments should be exempt from taking stuff to the
landfill.

Commissioner
Warren Taylor stated that he was impressed with the presentation and appreciated
all of the hard work.

Chair
Ken Richardson and David Higgins talked about the fire commission meetings.
Chair Ken Richardson talked about when preparing the request put the money in
your request and then if the County funds it, the fire department will
administer it.

David
Higgins stated his appreciation to Karen Evans for her efforts in helping all
of the fire departments.

County
Manager Don Adams asked does the variance need a motion.

Commissioner
Warren Taylor made a motion to table the variance.  Commissioner Randy Miller seconded the
motion.  Vote 5:0.

County
Manager Don Adams handed out papers regarding septic systems coinciding with
building inspections.  He explained
that he recommends attaching this paper to septic permits saying that approval
from Appalachian District Health Department does not guarantee that an
Alleghany County building permit will be issued for the proposed development
project, and it is highly recommended that the developer/contractor/owner
review the intended use of the property with the Alleghany County Planning
Department before installing a septic system or well.  He talked about this will be at the
health department.

The
Board agreed to more forward on this matter.

County
Manager Don Adams asked about rescheduling the Labor Day meeting.

The
Board discussed dates and agreed on September 4 at 6:30pm.

County
Manager Don Adams reviewed propane bids; Blue Ridge Energies, $2.36, G&B
Energies $2.20, Hometown Fuel $2.09.
He explained that the contract is from September 1 until April 30.

Commissioner
Warren Taylor made a motion to approve the low bid.  Commissioner Milly Richardson seconded
the motion.  Vote 5:0.

County
Manager Don Adams talked about the recently approved vet agreement and what was
agreed to was payments for educational loan payments.  He explained that currently this vet
owes $8,245.  He reviewed a spreadsheet
showing her parents’ expenses; $16,673.08.  He asked if the Board is willing to reimburse
for other the educational expenses.

Chair
Ken Richardson and County Manager Don Adams discussed how this works including
if the vet leaves.

Commissioner
Warren Taylor made a motion to include any educational expenses.  Commissioner Milly Richardson seconded
the motion.  Vote 5:0.

County
Manager Don Adams presented budget amendment General Fund #4 in the amount of
$2,738 for the Board of Elections travel expenses that was discussed at the
last meeting.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson made a motion to approve budget amendment General Fund #4 in
the amount of $2,738.  Commissioner
Doug Murphy seconded the motion.
Vote 5:0.

County
Manager Don Adams presented budget amendment General Fund #5 in the amount of
$400 for tennis donations.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson made a motion to approve budget amendment General Fund #5 in
the amount of $400.  Commissioner
Doug Murphy seconded the motion.
Vote 5:0.

County
Manager Don Adams explained that Linda Hash has received another sod seeder
from the State.  He reviewed the
difference between the new sod seeder agreement and the county sod seeder
agreement and combining them into one.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson made a motion to approve the rental agreement.  Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the
motion. Vote 5:0.

County
Manager Don Adams reviewed the issues he is having with the 2% raise and 7%
raise.  He reviewed how he has been
enforcing them.  He used the jailers
as an example going to full-time then going to part-time then going back to
full-time.  He explained how the personnel
policy addresses these situations.  He
said for this year only, any full-time jailer working today if they move from part
time to full time, the Sheriff wants them to have the 7%.

Commissioner
Warren Taylor stated that it appears to him that there should be a time limit
so staff won’t have to keep up with it all year.

Commissioner
Randy Miller talked about the pay grade is wrong and needs fixing.

The
Board of Commissioners and County Manager Don Adams discussed the different
scenarios including if an employee was here last year, they get 2% over the
starting salary, full time or part time.

Chair
Ken Richardson talked about starting with fixing the pay plan.  He further talked about using a 1%
table.  He explained that the current
policy is a part-time person with three years experience would be making the
same as a new person in that position.

County
Manager Don Adams gave an example of a part-time deputy coming into this year
got a 2% raise and is now going full time, would he start at the beginning
salary which is less per hour.  He
mentioned that if someone was employed last year full time or part time, the
employee would be 2% above starting salary.

County
Manager Don Adams and Clerk to the Board Karen Evans talked about the 2% raise
across the Board figured during the budget year.

County
Manager Don Adams discussed the 1% steps versus 2% steps.

Chair
Ken Richardson asked the County Manager to bring the Board back an example of
something that could fix this.

County
Manager Don Adams stated that this could only be for this year.  He explained that normally we
don’t have these transactions.
He talked about coming back with a written policy for this year.  He reiterated his recommendation.

Commissioner
Randy Miller and County Manager Don Adams talked about the 2% increase went to longevity.

The
Board of Commissioners discussed having a meeting to address solutions to this
issue.

Commissioner
Randy Miller stated that he will meet with Ken Richardson and the County
Manager to work on this.

County
Manager Don Adams talked about the three lifepacks, three radios and a
transmission system for a cost of $59,680.
He explained that he has been researching grants and found one that is
due on December 15 but the only thing eligible is the radios.  He talked about the loan for the loader
and scales.  He further talked about
the Board could purchase this EMS equipment or put it in with the loan.

The
Board of Commissioners discussed which way would be the most cost
effective.

County
Manager Don Adams estimated how much interest the County would pay for the loan
versus how much would be earned on the investment.

County
Manager Don Adams presented budget amendment Transfer Facility #1 in the amount
of $95,146 to budget for the loader.

Commissioner
Milly Richardson made a motion to approve budget amendment Transfer Facility #1
in the amount of $95,146.
Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion.  Vote 5:0.

County
Manager Don Adams explained that the current loader has to be declared surplus
in order to be able to trade it in on the new loader.

Commissioner
Randy Miller made a motion to declare the current loader surplus for the trade
in.  Commissioner Doug Murphy
seconded the motion.  Vote 5:0.

Commissioner
Randy Miller made a motion to go into closed session at 5:35pm under NCGS
143-318.11 (a) (6)—personnel.
Commissioner Milly Richardson seconded the motion.  Vote 5:0.

Commissioner
Randy Miller made a motion to adjourn closed session at 6:05pm and reconvene
the regular meeting.  Commissioner
Doug Murphy seconded the motion.
Vote 5:0.

Chair
Ken Richardson stated that no decisions were made during closed session.

Being
no further business, Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to adjourn the
meeting at 6:06pm.  Commissioner
Randy Miller seconded the motion.
Vote 5:0.

Respectfully Submitted,

Karen Evans

Clerk to the Board

Attest:

Ken Richardson

Chairman