The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, February 19, 2007, at 3:30pm in the Commissioners Meeting Room of t= he County Administration Building, 348 South Main Street, Sparta, North Caroli= na

The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners met= in regular session on Monday, August 20, 2007, at 3:30pm in the Commissioners Meeting Room of the County Administration Building, 348 South Main Street, Sparta, North Carolina.

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

Chair Ken Richardson called the meeting to orde= r.

Commissioner Milly Richardson led the Pledge of Allegiance and opened the meeting with a prayer.

Chair Ken Richardson stated that Kate Cosner ne= eds to be removed from the agenda.

Commissioner Doug Murphy made a motion to approv= e the amended agenda for this August 20, 2007, meeting. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconde= d the motion. Vote 4:0.<= /o:p>

AGENDA

Monday, August 20, 2007

3:30 PM

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

= M= otion on Agenda for August 20, 2007, meeting

Motion on Minutes for August 6, 2007, meeting

Motion on July’s Tax Releases & Refunds

3:35 A. = Public Comments—30 minutes

B. Mary Walker

= R= E: Tax Appeals

C. Dr. Jeff Cox

&= nbsp; RE: Capital Funding =

D. Amy Pardue

&= nbsp; RE: Subdivisions

E. &n= bsp; Kate Co= sner <= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:2'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; (deleted)

RE: Elections Budget=

F. = County Business

1. &n= bsp; Maximus Co= ntract

2. &n= bsp; Propane Bi= ds

3. &n= bsp; Annual Rep= orts

4. &n= bsp; Cleaning of Public Buildings

5. &n= bsp; Phone Syst= ems Quotes

6. &n= bsp; Other Busi= ness

7. &n= bsp; Closed Session—NCGS 143-318.11 (a) (6)—personnel

8. &n= bsp; Adjourn

Commissioner Randy Miller arrived at 3:32pm.

Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to approve the minutes for the August 6, 200= 7, meeting. Commissioner Warren = Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0= .

Commissioner Doug Murphy made a mot= ion to approve the July Tax Releases and Refunds. Commissioner Milly Richardson seco= nded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Chair Ken Richardson opened the pub= lic comments’ portion of the meeting.&nb= sp; He asked for public comments. None were received. He closed the public comments’ portion.

Mary Walker, Tax Administrator, came before the Board to present a motor vehicle appeal. She stated that her recommendation= is $21,975.

Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to accept the Tax Administrator’s recommendation. Commissioner Doug Murphy seconded = the motion. Vote 5:0. =

Mary Walker presented letters from James Richardson and David Richardson on behalf of their father regarding a late application for farm use. She reviewed the North Carolina General Statutes regarding late applications.

Commissioner Randy Miller made a mo= tion to grant farm use for this property. Commissioner Milly Richardson seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Mary Walker presented a letter from Donald Davis regarding his mother’s home and the solid waste fee. She explained that he is asking fo= r the solid waste fee to be released because no one lives there since she went to= the nursing home.

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

Dr. Jeff Cox, Superintendent, came before the Commissioners to request funding for bleachers at the High School and Sparta Elementary School in the total amount of $68,769.42. He explained that they are seeking permission to go ahead and complete these projects, and these projects are = in the QZAB funding. He updated = the Commissioners regarding the status of the air-conditioning projects. He explained reasons that they are requesting these funds now. <= o:p>

Chair Ken Richardson stated that th= ese monies would fall under the same criteria as the other monies, air-conditio= ning project.

Dr. Cox agreed by stating that if something happens with the QZAB funding, they will take the money from thei= r current capital monies.

County Manager Don Adams and Dr. Cox talked about the Piney Creek Elementary School gym project. County Manager Don Adams updated t= he Board regarding requirements of the Local Government Commission. Dr. Cox explained the difficulty g= etting the timeline together between the Local Government Commission and the Piney= Creek Elementary School gym project.

Chair Ken Richardson asked that Dr.= Cox work with the County Manager on this project.

County Manager Don Adams explained problems with banks not wanting to issue QZAB loans. He talked about a lead from Dr. Co= x from a bank in Chicago, which requires supplement interest on the loan.

Dr. Cox explained that the bleacher= s at Sparta Elementary School are unusable.&nbs= p; He further explained that both projects are high priorities.

Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to approve the request. Commissioner Doug Murphy seconded the motion. Vote 5:0. <= /span>

Amy Pardue, Planner, presented a pr= eliminary subdivision plat for The Boulders at Cherry Lane showing a 143.4-acre tract located in the Cherry Lane Township with 25 lots. She explained the roads in the subdivision. She explained the phases in the subdivision, dry hydrants, community building and park area/g= reen space.

Mike Dockery stated that the first = 12 lots are hoped to be underway this Fall.

&nb= sp; Comm= issioner Doug Murphy made a motion to approve the preliminary subdivision plat as presented by the Planner. Com= missioner Randy Miller seconded the motion.

&nb= sp; Comm= issioner Doug Murphy and Mike Dockery talked about potential erosion issues in this area.

&nb= sp; The Board voted on the motion on the floor.&nb= sp; Vote 5:0.

Amy Pardue, Planner, presented a fi= nal subdivision plat for New River Stables showing a 45.70-acre tract located in the Gap Civil Township with 9 lots. She explained the roads in the subdivision. She further explained that lots 5 = and 6 are in Virginia.

&nb= sp; Comm= issioner Doug Murphy made a motion to approve the subdivision as presented by the Planner. Commissioner Randy M= iller seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

&nb= sp; Chair Ken Richardson stated that this is Amy’s last official appearance bef= ore the Board as the Planner/Recreation Director. He thanked her for all of her serv= ices.

&nb= sp; The Board of Commissioners agreed.

County Manager Don Adams presented = the Maximus contract. He explaine= d that this contract is to create the allocated-cost plan. He further explained how the allocated-cost plan is used throughout the departments. He stated that the County has been= with Maximus for several years. He stated that the contract is for three years for $3,500 each year, and Social Services gets reimbursed for this cost from the State.

Commissioner Milly Richardson and County Manager Don Adams talked about the importance of this report and how= it benefits the County.

Commissioner Doug Murphy and County Manager Don Adams talked about the pricing of the contract for three years.=

Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to approve the contract as presented by the County Manager. Commissioner Milly Richardson seco= nded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Manager Don Adams presented information about the recent propane bids.= He explained that the County went out to bid for propane services. He reviewed that propane rates can= be locked in from September to April. He talked about it saves us money during the winter time. He stated that most of the tanks a= re owned by G&B Energy. He reviewed the prices of the tanks to purchase them; $8,775.50, which is G&B’s depreciated value. He reviewed the bids from Blue Ridge Energies, G&B Energy and Hometown Oil & LP Gas. He further reviewed the two options that the Board has; G&B Energy for $1.= 599 per gallon or buy the tanks and receive the propane for $1.505 per gallon.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> He talked about if the Board wants= to make this an annual thing, the best thing to do is buy the tanks. He further talked about additional= maintenance issues that the County would assume if the County buys the tanks. He stated that it could be built i= nto the contract to check the valves annually.= He talked about this includes tanks for the Group Homes, Mental Heal= th and the Health Department.

Commissioner Doug Murphy stated tha= t it will take approximately 3 ½ years to pay for the tanks.

Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to buy the tanks. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion.

Commissioner Doug Murphy stated tha= t it is a good idea as long as there is a savings.

County Manager Don Adams stated that this is more of a policy issue rather than a money-saving issue. He talked about asking the supplie= rs to make sure the tanks are in good condition.

The Board voted on the motion on the floor. Vote 5:0. <= /span>

Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to award the bid to the low bidder; Hometown Oil & LP Gas, for propane services. Commissioner Milly Richardson seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Manager Don Adams asked the Board if they would like to continue with having each department present an annual report at Commissioners’ meetings and how they would like to proceed.

The Board agreed. Chair Ken Richardson asked that the annual reports be limited to 5 to 10 minutes.

County Manager Don Adams and Clerk = to the Board Karen Evans stated that everyone is told to limit their comments = to 10 minutes.

Commissioner Milly Richardson stated that the County has one lady that cleans all of the buildings. She talked about issues at the Cou= rthouse. She said she wasn’t aware th= at one person does all of the cleaning.

County Manager Don Adams explained = the cleaning schedule. He talked = about the number of buildings that she cleans.&n= bsp;

Commissioner Milly Richardson talked about the new Courthouse and the new County Administration Building. She asked if this one person does = all of this.

County Manager Don Adams stated tha= t if the Board is asking if more help is needed, then yes.

Commissioner Milly Richardson expla= ined that is what she is saying. S= he talked about having these nice buildings, and the County might need more he= lp.

Commissioner Doug Murphy stated that she does a good job.

County Manager Don Adams talked abo= ut the cleaning schedule being a tight schedule allowing for only light cleani= ng. He stated that she does a very good job. He further stated that he could go to the departments to find out what type of cleaning is needed and report back to the Board.

County Manager Don Adams presented telephone quotes for the Law Enforcement Center, Social Services and the Co= unty Office Building. He reviewed = the existing prices for the three locations. He explained that the 60-month quotes are from Skyline Telephone and Embarq. He reviewed the bids of Emba= rq’s purchase price being $48,903.70 and Skyline’s purchase price being $54,266.90. He further review= ed the bids for Embarq’s capital lease at a 5.7% interest rate being $54,424= .92 and Skyline’s lease price at an 8% interest rate being $62,810.40. He explained that all of these pri= ces include maintenance for the entire 60 months. He stated that if the Board wants = to purchase the system, he would recommend purchasing it from Embarq and if the Board decides to lease the system, he would recommend leasing the systems f= rom Embarq. He stated that if the= Board elects to lease the equipment, he will bring a budget amendment back to show the reduction in costs. =

Chair Ken Richardson clarified that= if the Board elects to go with the lease from Embarq that the County will save money over the next five years.

The Board of Commissioners and Coun= ty Manager Don Adams talked about the $1 buy-out clause and the phones lasting= six to eight years.

The Board of Commissioners agreed to lease the phones.

Commissioner Doug Murphy made a mot= ion to move forward with Embarq’s lease prices. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconde= d the motion. Vote 5:0. =

County Manager Don Adams updated the Board that Social Services must advertise for bids in the newspaper. He stated that the County met the bidding laws.

Commissioner Doug Murphy asked wher= e the County stands in updating the 911 system.

County Manager Don Adams talked abo= ut he understands that the law did pass. He further talked about meeting with the Sheriff and Ryan Lane to discuss the needs. He talked = about creating a master safety plan. He stat= ed that replacing the equipment can be from the ongoing 911 monies and using t= he fund balance monies for safety needs.

Commissioner Milly Richardson and B= elva Miller talked about equipment issues for the County.

County Manager Don Adams explained = the problems with the outdated equipment. He stated that he would like to talk = to several people about the equipment and the Sheriff about these concerns.

Belva Miller talked about the backup system and the current system.

Commissioner Milly Richardson asked that the County Manager get more information and come back at the next meet= ing.

Chair Ken Richardson talked about attending the State conference and would like to see a workshop set up befo= re the next meeting regarding several issues.= He talked about setting up a workshop during the last week in August= .

The Board agreed to August 29 at 3:30pm.

Commissioner Randy Miller stated th= at everyone needs to stay on top of the air-conditioning and the gym projects.=

Commissioner Milly Richardson talked about the Cattleman Association’s meeting at Bittersweet Farms. She further talked about George St= ancil is working for the farmers regarding the drought situation.

Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to enter into closed session at 4:49pm under NCGS 143-318.11 (a) (6)—personnel. Commissi= oner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Attorney Donna Shumate left = the meeting at 5:13pm.

Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to adjourn closed session at 5:20pm. Commissioner Randy Miller seconded= the motion. Vote 5:0. =

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

&nb= sp; Being no further business, Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 5:22pm. Chair Ken Richardson seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

&nb= sp;

Respectfully Submitted,

Karen Evans

Clerk to the Board

Attest:

Ken Richardson

Chairman