&=
nbsp; The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners met in regul=
ar
session on Tuesda=
y, September
4, 2007, at 6:3=
0pm
in the Commissioners Meeting Room of the County Administrati=
on
Building, 348 South Main Street, Sparta, North Carolina.
=
&=
nbsp; Present: Chair Ken Richardson, Vice-Chair W=
arren
Taylor, Commissioner Randy Miller, Commissioner Doug Murphy, Commissioner M=
illy
Richardson, County Attorney Donna Shumate, =
County Manager
Don Adams, and Clerk to the Bo=
ard Karen Evans.
Chair
Ken Richardson called the meeting to order.
Commissioner
Randy Miller led the Pledge of Allegiance and opened the meeting with a pra=
yer.
Chair Ken
Richardson stated that changes to be made to the agenda are to delete #5 fr=
om County Business
and add QZAB discussions under County
Business.
=
;
Commission=
er
Milly Richardson made a motion to approve the amended agenda for this September 4, 2007,
meeting. Commissioner Doug Murphy seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
=
;
AGENDA
Tuesday,
September 4, 2007
6:30 PM
6:30 &=
nbsp; Meeting Called To Order, Pledg=
e of Allegiance
and Prayer
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Motion
on Agenda for Sep=
tember 4,
2007, meeting
Motion on Minutes for August 20, 2007, meeting
6:35 A. &nbs=
p; Public
Comments—30 minutes
B. =
Mary Walker
RE: Late Tax Applications
&=
nbsp; C. Jimmy
Phipps
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; RE:
Management
&=
nbsp; D. Nadia
Shahrik
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; RE: Management Decision/April 4 Letter=
&=
nbsp; E. Jeremiah
Johnson
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; RE: Concerns about Management
&=
nbsp; F. =
County Business
1. Budget Amendment—Social
Services
2. Budget Amendment—Propane=
Tanks
3. Firemen’s Relief Fund
Appointment
4. Laurel Springs VFD Resolution & Agreemen=
t
5. E-911 Discussions &=
nbsp; (deleted=
)
6. QZAB Discussions &=
nbsp; (a=
dded)
7. Other Business
8. Closed Session—NCGS 143-=
318.11
(a) (6)—personnel
=
9.&n=
bsp;
Adjourn
Commissioner
Randy Miller made a motion to approve the minutes for the August 20, 2007, meeting. Commissioner Doug
Murphy seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
Chair
Ken Richardson opened the public comments’ portion of the meeting and
asked for public comments. No=
ne
were received. He closed
the public comments’ portion of the meeting.
=
Mary Walker, Tax
Administrator, presented late tax applications for farm-use and elderly
exemptions. She listed out the
applications for farm-use; Nancy Tucker, Gary Miles, Leota Jones, Colonel
Brown, Barry Atwood, Caroline West, Jack and Betty Staley, Lucy LaRue, Baise
LaRue, David Gillions, Carol Kennedy, Elsie Wagoner.
Commissioner Milly
Richardson made a motion to approve the late applications for farm use. Commissioner Warren
Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
=
Mary Walker prese=
nted
late tax applications for elderly exemptions. She listed out the applications; A=
ndrea
Caudill, Evelyn Toliver, Ima Shupe, Tina and Franklin Hash and Clay Crouse.=
=
Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to approve the eld=
erly
exemption applications. Commissioner Milly Richardson seconded the motion.<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Vote 5:0.
=
County Manager Don Adams informed the Board that Mary Walker,=
Rita Miller and he are working on educational
information for the public.
=
Chair Ken Richard=
son stated
that this Board welcomes the opportunity for citizens to speak and be heard=
by
the Commissioners. He reviewe=
d the
procedures for talking with the Board.&nbs=
p;
He explained that personnel concerns should be addressed with the County Manager
first then the Board of Commissioners.&nbs=
p;
He talked about if the concerns are about the County Manager,
then people should come to the Board of Commissioners. He stated that personnel matters a=
re
discussed in closed session.
=
Jimmy Phipps came
before the Board to discuss several issues about management. He talked about hating to see the =
County
let Amy Pardue leave. He further talked about having spe=
nt
time training an individual for two jobs that didn’t have anything to=
do
with each other. He explained=
the
importance of her work in the Planning/Recreation department. He said that he heard that an empl=
oyee
couldn’t get enough hours to get benefits. He talked about employees are
disgruntled and people on the street are disgruntled. He further talked about people need=
to be
heard. He asked about the
possibility of meeting in each precinct to allow the people to be heard. He talked about supporting the land
transfer tax, and it is a fair tax to build the middle school. He stated that there are things th=
at
management needs to look at. =
He
stated his appreciation for the Board’s time.
=
Nadia Shahrik sta=
ted
that her attorney advised her not to say anything at this meeting.
=
Jeremiah Johnson =
gave
the Board information that he planned on speaking about. He explained the items that he gav=
e to
the Board including photos of the EMS
building’s condition. H=
e said
that attention needs to be given to the facility. He talked about employees are ther=
e for
24-hour shifts. He asked why
subject yourself to these conditions.
He talked about the moral issues.&n=
bsp;
He said that someone needs to be responsible for these conditions. He said that he was told that
maintenance is up to the shift supervisors/department head to come to the C=
ommissioners
with their comments and concerns. He
further said that no one else lets employees decide. He said this needs to be looked int=
o. He talked about wanting to get invo=
lved
with economic development, and Don is working with him on it. He further talked about contacting=
acplanning@skybest.com by email =
about
the Planning Board, and his email hasn’t been answered. He said that the county wants to g=
row
and bring new businesses and grow as a community. He asked why his email hasn’=
t been
answered. He talked about All=
eghany
County’s and Town of Sparta’s economic and re-development plan
about bringing industrial plants into the area, how the economy will be boo=
sted
and redeveloping downtown but he hasn’t seen anything that has come f=
rom
this in a positive way. He pr=
ovided
the Board statistics about the economy.&nb=
sp;
He asked who goes back to follow-up on these reports. He stated that he is coming here t=
o make
the county better and thinks it needs some improvement. He further stated that if employees
aren’t interested in making the county better, then the County should=
find
someone who does.
=
County Manager Don Adams presented budget amendment General F=
und #3
in the amount of $724. He exp=
lained
that this budget amendment is to budget for additional Work First monies for
Social Services.
=
Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to approve budget
amendment General Fund #3 in the amount of $724. Commissioner Milly Richardson seco=
nded
the motion. Vote 5:0.
=
County Manager Don Adams presented budget amendment General F=
und #4
in the amount of $8,776. He s=
tated
that this is to purchase propane tanks that G&B currently owns. He reviewed that the County is goi=
ng out
to bid for propane services annually.
=
Commissioner Milly
Richardson made a motion to approve budget amendment General Fund #4 in the
amount of $8,776. Commissione=
r Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
=
County Manager Don Adams talked about Sid Carrier is up to be
appointed to the Firefighter’s relief fund for the Piney Creek Volunt=
eer
Fire Department.
=
Commissioner Doug
Murphy made a motion to appoint Sid Carrier to the Firefighter’s reli=
ef
fund. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
=
County Manager Don Adams stated that Laurel Springs Volunteer=
Fire
Department is planning to purchase a new pumper truck. He explained that the bank is requ=
iring a
resolution passed by the Board of Commissioners. He further explained that these re=
solutions
do not obligate Alleghany=
County to finance t=
his.
=
Commissioner Milly
Richardson made a motion to approve the resolutions as presented by the County Manager. Commissioner Doug
Murphy seconded the motion. Vote 5:0. =
=
County Manager Don Adams reviewed the QZAB monies are for the
schools and presented information about QZAB. He said that these were no-interest
loans but the federal law has changed, and now it is not a good deal for ba=
nks.
He talked about this is a nationwide problem and no banks are interested in=
0%
loans. He stated that he has =
been working
with the Local Government Commission trying to find an interested bank. He further stated that Bank of Ame=
rica
was the only bank that he knew that offered these loans and they have made a
policy decision to not offer any 2006 or 2007 QZAB loans. He explained that Dr. Jeff Cox has also been working to find a bank
willing to offer these loans, and with help from the Department of Public
Instruction, he found one bank that will offer this type of loan with a
supplemental interest rate. He
reviewed the options; wait to see if the law is changed or send out request=
for
proposals and the start Local Government Commission process.
=
Commissioner Doug Murphy and County Manager Don Adams talked about the amount of money req=
uired
for the interest. County Manager
Don Adams said that it would
decrease the $2,000,000 by approximately $150,000 or increase the annual
payments from $146,000 to approximately $170,000.
=
=
County
Manager Don
Adams explained how the federal law change has hurt Alleghany County, as well as the banks.
=
Chair Ken Richard=
son
talked about all of the QZAB items were needed at all four schools.
=
County Manager Don Adams explained the timeline and the final=
vote will
be at the first meeting in October in order to meet the Local Government
Commission’s timeline. =
=
Commissioner Warren Taylor talked about meeting with the Sc=
hool
Board to discuss this.
=
County Manager Don Adams explained that it will take 60 days =
to get
access to the money. He said =
he
wanted to let everyone know the timing of the process.
=
Chair Ken Richard=
son
and Commissioner Warren Taylor talked
about providing direction to Don Adams
before the joint meeting with the School Board.
=
County Manager Don Adams talked about the direction will star=
t the
process with the Local Government Commission. He said that the costs will be for=
the
public hearing ad and the $500 application fee to the Local Government
Commission. He asked if the B=
oard
is interested in this type of a loan.
=
Chair Ken Richard=
son
and Commissioner Warren Taylor talked
about this is probably the cheapest money that we will get.
=
County Manager Don Adams stated that this starts the process.=
He talked about the possibility of=
needing
to hire a bond attorney. He s=
tated
that this will start the process if the Board wants to but he won’t s=
pend
any money before the next meeting.
=
Commissioner Randy
Miller talked about the need to start some of this work soon.
=
Chair Ken Richard=
son stated
that he is hearing nothing against going forward at this point.<=
/span>
=
Commissioner Doug Murphy and County Manager Don Adams talked about the timing of the reque=
st for
proposals and the banks interest rates will be good for 60 days.=
=
County Manager Don Adams stated that Dr. Cox has requested fo=
r the
Commissioners to have a joint meeting the Board of Education.
=
The Board discuss=
ed
dates for the meeting with the Board of Education; Sept 11 and Sept 17 at
5:30pm with the 17th being preferred.
=
Commissioner Warren Taylor asked about the pool renovations=
.
=
County Manager Don Adams updated the Board about the pool
renovations. He talked about
getting a couple of free things in the contract. He further talked about withholding
payments. He said that work is
beginning on the site and should be noticeable soon. He explained the free items; baby =
pool
and steps/ladder. He talked a=
bout he
is withholding their money.
=
Commissioner Doug Murphy asked about the status of the natu=
ral
dam.
=
County Manager Don Adams said he sent letters to NCDOT asking=
that
the requirements be waived to put the road back on the state maintenance sy=
stem
and is waiting for their answer.
=
Chair Ken Richard=
son
said that there are letters in the Commissioners’ mailboxes asking hi=
m to
be on the NCACC risk management pool.
He talked about it would give Alleghany
County a seat at th=
e table.
=
Commissioner Milly Richardson made a
motion to enter into closed session under NCGS 143-318.11 (a)
(6)—personnel at 7:14pm.
Commissioner Doug Murphy seconded
the motion. Vote 5:0.
Commissioner
Milly Richardson made a motion to adjourn the closed session and reconvene =
the
regular meeting at 7:20pm. Co=
mmissioner
Warren Taylor seconded the motion.
Vote 5:0.
Chair
Ken Richardson stated that no decisions were made during closed session.
&=
nbsp; Being
no further business, Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to adjourn=
at 7:22pm. Commissioner Randy Miller seconded=
the
motion. Vote 5:0. =
Respectfully
submitted, &nb=
sp;
=
=
Karen Evans &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
Clerk to the Boar=
d &=
nbsp;
=
Attest:
=
=
Ken Richardson
Chairman