The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners met in regular session = on Monday, December 1, 1997 at 6:30 PM in the Conference Room of the County Of= fice Building, 90 South Main Street, Sparta, North Carolina

&= nbsp; The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners met in regul= ar session on Monda= y, October 1, 2007, at 6:30pm= 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 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 order.

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

Chair Ken Richardson asked that item #4 under county business be moved to the beginning of the agenda after public comments and that a fire commission request be added under county business.

Commission= er Milly Richardson made a motion to approve the amended agenda for this October 1, 2007, meeting. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

= ;

AGENDA

Monday, October 1, 2007

= 6:30 PM

6:30 &= nbsp; Meeting Called To Order, Pledg= e of Allegiance and Prayer

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; Motion on Agenda for Oc= tober 1, 2007, meeting

Motion on Minutes for September 17, 2007, regular meeting and = September 17, 2007, special meeting

6:35 A. &nbs= p; Public Comments—30 minutes

B. = Public Hearing

RE: E-9= 11 Road Names

&= nbsp; C. Alleghany Connections Annual Report

&= nbsp; D. Rescue Squad Annual Report

&= nbsp; E. Council on Aging Annual Report

&= nbsp; F. = County Business

1. Joint Meeting with Town Remind= er

2. Budget Amendment—Soil &a= mp; Water

3. Budget Amendment—Building Inspections

4. Tom Doughton Proclamation &= nbsp; (moved to beginning of meeting)

5. Natural Dam Site

6. QZAB/Bond Attorney/Schedule

7. Board of Education Workshop Da= te

8. Fire Commission Request &= nbsp; (added)<= o:p>

9. Other Business

10. Closed Session—NCGS 143-= 318.11 (a) (3)—legal

NCGS 143-318.11 (a) (4)—economic development =

= 11. = Adjourn

Commissioner Doug Murphy made a motion to a= pprove the minutes for the September 17, 2= 007, meetings. Commi= ssioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.<= /span>

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.

Chair Ken Richard= son asked if the Board has had an opportunity to review the proclamation for Tom Doughton, a former County= Commissioner.<= /o:p>

Commissioner Doug Murphy made a motion to approve the proclamation for Tom Doughton. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Wendy Williams, E-911 Coordinator/Mapper, c= ame before the Board to present six road names; Amanda Way, Chris Way, Welters = Way, Gallery Lane, Harris View Lane, Spurlin Place. She explained where each road is located.

Chair Ken Richardson opened the public hearing regarding the 911 road names at 6:33pm.

Chair Ken Richardson asked for public comments.&= nbsp; None were received.

Chair Ken Richardson closed the public hearing at 6:34pm and reconvened the regul= ar meeting.

&= nbsp; Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to approve the road names as presented by the E-911 Coordinator/Mapper. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

LeAnn Joines with Alleghany Connections presented their annual report. She gave a brief overview of their program including how many students they are assisting, funding sources, fu= ndraisers, number of referrals and trainings.

Commissioner Warren Taylor and LeAnn Joines talked about th= eir capacity versus the number they serve.

Richard Caudill c= ame on behalf of the Rescue Squad to present their annual report. He talked about the history of the rescue squad. He updated the = Board about the number of members and their qualifications, type of equipment, tr= aining received, number of calls during the year and total man hours provided to <= st1:place w:st=3D"on">Alleghany County citizens.=

The Board of Commissioners thanked Mr. Caudill for the rescue squad’s effort.=

Janis Fender, Director of Council on Aging, presented their annual report. She presented information includin= g the amount of meals served, in-home services provided, transportation services provided, hours of operation, activities, eligibility to participate in the= ir activities, number of staff members including their volunteers.<= /span>

Commissioner Doug Murphy and Janis Fender talked about the = number of part-time staff.

County Manager Don Adams reminded the Board about the joint m= eeting with the Town on October 29 at 7:00pm in the Commissioners Meeting Room.

County Manager Don Adams presented General Fund budget amendm= ent #6 in the amount of $420. He exp= lained that this is to budget for additional State grant funds for Soil and Water.=

Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to approve General Fund budget amendment #6 in the amount of $420. Commissioner = Randy Miller seconded the motion. V= ote 5:0.

County Manager Don Adams presented General Fund budget amendm= ent #7 in the amount of $5,000. He explained that this is a follow-up to Randy Blankenship’s prior conversations concerning the Building Inspections auto line.

Commissioner Warr= en Taylor made a motion to approve General Fund budget amendment #7 in the amo= unt of $5,000. Commissioner Doug = Murphy seconded the motion. Vote 5:0= .

County Manager Don Adams presented a letter from the North Ca= rolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) regarding the road at the natural dam site. He reminded everyone th= at Dean Joines offered to donate land to the county to be used as a park, road doesn’t meet NCDOT requirements, and the Board asked him to write a letter to the NCDOT asking them to waive those requirements. He reviewed the response letter fr= om NCDOT and read portions concerning they would give credit for a county park= and would analyze the anticipated traffic that it would generate to determine i= f it was sufficient to offset the lack of other qualifying activities but they w= ould not be able to waive the right-of-way requirement. He explained that according to Dean Joines that James Joines would not provide the additional right-of-way. He asked the Board for direction o= n the issue.

Commissioner Warr= en Taylor talked about if there is no way to get additional right of way, then= everyone is at a stalemate.

Commissioner Doug Murphy stated that the County is not in the road business.

County Manager Don Adams reminded the Board about a couple of issues regarding this property including if Mr. Joines solely owns the natu= ral dam.

Chair Ken Richard= son stated that he thinks the County= Manager has done everything possible in this situation.&nbs= p;

County Manager Don Adams talked about being approached by the Rotary Club about this project. He stated that he will present the same information to the Rotary Club, and th= ey may want to take it on as one of their projects.

The Board of Commissioners agreed.

County Manager Don Adams presented information from Bob Jessup regarding a schedule for QZAB school financing. He stated that he hasn’t hea= rd back from BB&T to see if they are interested. He reviewed the timeline and expla= ined the items on the schedule. He talked about there are costs associated with the timeline. He presented information about hir= ing a bond attorney for $6,500. He = reviewed everything the bond attorney will be required to do.

Commissioner Warren Taylor and County Manager Don Adams talked about the need to hire a bond attorney. <= /p>

County Manager Don Adams reviewed the County’s experien= ce with Bob Jessup. He talked ab= out he has been in contact with LaSalle Bank, and LaSalle Bank requires additional= paperwork. He reviewed items that the County = could spend money on during the timeline; public hearing advertisement and LGC application fee. <= /span>

Commissioner Warr= en Taylor talked about the costs not being more than $6,500.

Commissioner Doug Murphy and County Manager Don Adams talked about the two different scena= rios with LaSalle Bank and BB&T. County Manager Don Adams stated that if BB&am= p;T comes back with 0% interest, the process will start over. They talked about the risks are sp= ending money and then find out we have to change banks because of the interest rat= es.

= County Manager Don Adams gave the Board the School’s timeline regarding their construction schedule for the Piney Creek Elementary School gym.

Commissioner Warren Taylor talked about the Board needs to = decide about the entire $2,000,000 or decrease the amount because of the additional interest.

Commissioner Randy Miller and County Manager Don Adams talked about the timing of the construction of the gym. County Manager Don Adams stated that it would drive the timeline back to wai= t on BB&T and the other question is if the Board wishes to proceed and how m= uch to proceed with; $2,000,000 or $1,700,000.

Commissioner Doug Murphy and Commissioner Warren Taylor talked about the difference in the interest rates = and how it impacts the loan.

= Chair Ken Richardson said that the Board needs to decide whether to proceed and h= ow much money the Board will finance. He talked about all of the QZAB items are necessary and valid.

= Commissioner Doug Murphy made a motion to proceed with the original $2,000,000 in QZAB money. Commissioner Milly Richardson seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

= Commissioner Doug Murphy added that= he wants it understood that we are assuming this at a 1.5% interest rate.=

= Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to hire Sanford Holshouser, Bob Jessup, as b= ond attorney. Commissioner Doug Murphy seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

= County Manager Don Adams said he will go back= and work with the Board of Education about the timeline.

= County Manager Don Adams talked about setting= a workshop to further discuss the September 17 Board of Education meeting bef= ore the October 15 meeting. He re= viewed things that he thought the Commissioners might want to discuss.<= /span>

The Board of Commissioners talked about having a workshop and how are the Commissioners going to fund a $5,000,000 middle school with the first step being to see i= f the public wants it through a referendum, the public will ask how the Commissio= ners are going to pay for this, having a May referendum and the need for firm numbers.

County Manager Don Adams quickly reviewed the timeline for a = May referendum including when the County would have to start making payments.

The Board of Commissioners talked about the need to know more information from the Board= of Education regarding the actual construction costs, recurring costs and whet= her they are presenting 7-8 grades or 6-8 grades for the middle school.

County Manager Don Adams used the example of the savings from Medicaid. He talked about the= re are several ways to finance this including property tax, Medicaid savings and transfer tax.

Commissioner Milly Richardson reiterated that she thought the Board had already agreed to pay = down debt and look at the safety needs.

Commissioner Warr= en Taylor asked what happens if the middle school passes and the transfer tax doesn’t.

Chair Ken Richard= son stated that the County’s work really begins after the referendum is held, if= it passes. He said that a worksh= op might be needed later on. He = stated that it is up to the Board of Education to bring information back to the Commissioners and rally the public to show the need for a middle school.

County Manager Don Adams presented a request from the fire commission for $1,800 for GPS units for each fire department and the rescue squad. He explained the reaso= n to put the money in the fire commission line item and the need for the units.=

Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to fund the GPS units for the fire departments and= the rescue squad per their request. Commissioner Doug Murphy seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Commissioner Milly Richardson mentioned that Sam Lovelace has grown the State championship pum= pkin weighing in at 1,185 pounds. = She talked about Alleghany County is now the h= ome to the State’s largest pumpkin. <= /span>

Commissioner Warr= en Taylor talked about information on HB811 concerning the impact of the new voting equipment which could be forthcoming to the County. He suggested that the County respo= nd to Virginia Foxx stating that the County doesn’t want to face buying new machines again.

Chair Ken Richard= son and County Manager Don Adams t= alked about whether our new machines would qualify or not.

Chair Ken Richard= son asked the County Manager to write a letter and have= each Commissioner sign it for Virginia Foxx.

Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to enter into closed session under NCGS 143-318.11= (a) (3)—legal and (a) (4)—economic development at 7:28pm. Commissioner Randy Miller se= conded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Commissioner Doug Murphy made a motion to adjourn the closed session and reconvene the regular meeting at 7:58pm. 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 7:59pm. Commissioner Randy Miller seconded= the motion. Vote 5:0. =

Respectfully submitted, &= nbsp;

Karen Evans &= nbsp; &nbs= p;

Clerk to the Boar= d &= nbsp;

Attest:

Ken Richardson

Chairman

ALLEGHANY COUNTY

NORTH CAROLINA<= /b>

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, Alleghany Coun= ty wishes to express sincere apprec= iation to Tom Doughton; and,

&= nbsp; WHEREAS, he served this community= well for many years in numerous capacities as a business and community leader, i= ncluding serving as a County Commissioner from 1974-1982; and

WHEREAS, service to this community was given with such devotion that it won the respect and admirati= on of all with whom he was associated; and,

WHEREAS, he had genuine concern for the w= elfare of his fellow citizens and constantly strived for peace and harmony; and

WHEREAS, he was always willing to offer = his time and assistance to any person, and he served the citizens of Alleghany County as their friend and representative; and

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT PROCLAIMED by the Board of Commissioners of the County of Alleghany, North Carolina, that we hereby express= our deepest gratitude and appreciation to Tom Doughton.

&= nbsp;

Adopted this the 1^st d= ay of October, 2007.

=