&=
nbsp; The
Alleghany County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, November 2, 2009=
, at 6:30pm in the Board Meetin=
g Room of
the County Administration Buil=
ding,
348 South Main Street,
Sparta, North Caro=
lina.
=
Present: Chair Ken Richardson, Vice-Chair R=
andy
Miller, Commissioner Doug Murphy, Commissioner Steve Roten, County Attorney
Donna Shumate, County
Manager Don Adams, and Clerk to the Board Karen Evans. Commissioner Milly Richardson was p=
resent
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.
Commissioner Randy Miller made a mo=
tion
to approve the agenda for this November 2, 2009, meeting. Commissioner Doug
Murphy seconded the motion. Vote 4:0.
AGENDA
Monday,
No=
vember 2, 2009
6:30 PM
6:30 &=
nbsp; Meeting Called To Order <=
/o:p>
Pledge of Allegiance and Praye=
r
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Motion
on Agenda for November
2, 2009, meeting
Motion on Minutes for October 19, 2009, meeting
6:35 A. &nbs=
p; Public
Comments—30 minutes
&=
nbsp; B. Mary
Walker
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; RE:
Tax Appeals
&=
nbsp; C. Larry
Davis
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; RE: Loader at Transfer Facility <=
/o:p>
&=
nbsp; D. Rescue
Squad Annual Report
E. &nbs=
p; Martin
Starnes and Associates
=
RE: FY2008/2009 Audit Presentation
F. =
County B=
usiness
1. DSS Budget Amendment
2. Transportation Budget Amendmen=
t
3. EMS Project Ordinance<=
/span>
4. QSCB Update<=
/p>
5. Other Business
6. Closed Session—NCGS 143-=
318.11
(a) (6)—personnel
7. Adjourn
Commissioner Doug
Murphy made a motion to approve the minutes for the October 19, =
2009,
meeting. Commissioner Randy Miller seconded=
the
motion. Vote 4:0. =
Chair Ken Richard=
son asked
for public comments. None were
received. He closed the public
comments portion of the meeting.
=
Mary Walker, Tax
Administrator, came before the Board to present a late application for Fore=
stry
Use, and stated the Tax Office doesn’t have a problem with the
application other than it is late.
=
Commissioner Steve
Roten made a motion to approve late application. Commissioner Doug
Murphy seconded the motion. Vote 4:0.
=
Commissioner Milly
Richardson arrived at 6:35p=
m.
=
Mary Walker prese=
nted
a motor-vehicle appeal for a camping trailer with an
assessed value of $33,646. She talked about she called a camp=
ing
dealer who recommended $27,420, which is the retail value.
=
Commissioner Doug Murphy and Mary Walker talked about the
owner’s opinion of $20,000.
=
Commissioner Steve
Roten and Mary Walker talked about the property owner did not produce a bil=
l of
sale.
=
Commissioner Steve
Roten made a motion to approve the value the assessor recommended. Commissioner Milly
Richardson seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
=
Larry Davis, Publ=
ic
Works Director, came before the Board to discuss the situation of the loader
and its engine problems and can’t rebuild it because there is nothing=
to
build to.
=
Chair Ken Richard=
son
and Larry Davis discussed the reasons to repair this loader rather than
purchasing a new loader. Larry
Davis discussed how the loader is used.
=
Commissioner Steve
Roten and Larry Davis discussed the loader is a 963.
=
Chair Ken Richard=
son
and Larry Davis talked about the general condition of the loader, and Larry
Davis recommending the replacement of the engine rather than rebuilding.
=
County Manager Don Adams reviewed a copy of the bids; Carolina CAT $23,3=
97.24,
Advantage $25,304 with a new CAT motor, Advantage $18,054 with a rebuilt CAT
motor and Kemp Irwin $12,752.43 with a rebuilt private company motor. He further reviewed the warranty
information for each of the bids being 1 year for the Carolina CAT bid and 6
months for the other bids.
=
Commissioner Milly Richardson and Commissioner Steve Roten
discussed Kemp Irwin’s bid.
=
County Manager Don Adams explained that Kemp Irwin’s bi=
d is
through Iron Petal. He further
explained this motor isn’t a CAT motor. He explained that the other rebuilt
motor is through a CAT dealer.
=
Commissioner Steve
Roten and Larry Davis discussed having a new CAT motor.
=
Commissioner Doug Murphy and County Manager Don Adams discussed the shipping costs for the=
replacement
of the motor.
=
Chair Ken Richard=
son and
Larry Davis discussed having to currently rent a loader to get the work
completed.
=
Commissioner Milly Richardson and Larry Davis discussed las=
t time
the loader went to Carolina CAT.
=
County Manager Don Adams explained the differences in the
warranties.
=
Commissioner Steve
Roten made a motion to go with Carolina CAT for a new motor. Chair Ken Richardson seconded the
motion. Vote 5:0.<=
/span>
=
Brandon Jones,
Captain with the Rescue Squad, came before the Board to present their annual
report. He thanked the Board =
and
the County Manager for their assistance in the
emergency services area throughout the county. He talked about their budget last
year. He reviewed their numbe=
r of
calls this year versus last year, number of man hours, number of training
hours, types of calls, number of members and types of certifications.<=
/o:p>
=
Chair Ken Richard=
son
and Brandon Jones talked about efforts that went into the training activity=
on
Saturday.
=
Commissioner Milly Richardson talked about the value of the
rescue squad.
Brandon Jones tal=
ked
about their call volume versus any of the fire departments’ call volu=
me. He further talked about starting
treatments on scene to assist patients.&nb=
sp;
=
Chair Ken Richard=
son
and Brandon Jones discussed the number of rescue technicians and what happe=
ns
if the number drops below eight.
=
Commissioner Doug Murphy and Brandon Jones discussed traini=
ng
through the Community College and the Junior Rescue Squad.
=
The Board thanked=
Brandon
Jones.
=
J.P. Jones with
Martin Starnes and Associates presented the fiscal year 2008/2009 audit
report. He reviewed the first
portion of the audit. He desc=
ribed
the layout of the book. =
=
County Manager Don Adams
encouraged the Board to read through this section and page 57 starts the
section where the information is presented in the format that the Board is =
more
familiar with.
=
J.P. Jones contin=
ued
reviewing the audit including the compliance reports, audit process, fund
balances, ad valorem taxes, other taxes licenses, restricted intergovernmen=
tal
revenues, human services expenditures, public safety expenditures, general
government expenditures, debt service, other governmental funds and the
enterprise fund.
=
County Manager Don
Adams discussed the fund balance is higher than anticipated during budget
time.
=
J.P. Jones mentio=
ned
that the audit started the OPEB standard, as required.
=
Chair Ken Richard=
son
thanked J.P. Jones for the report.
=
J.P. Jones thanked
the Board and said for the County to contact him any time he is needed.
=
County Manager Don Adams provided an update to the Board rega=
rding current
sales tax figures, collected more property taxes at this point, investments
have decreased, Register of Deeds and Building Inspections fees are coming =
in
as projected, lottery monies came in this year that was withheld last year,=
EMS
receipts are right on the mark, federal inmates are down and housing Wilkes=
County
inmates offsetting federal inmates.
He talked about the budget as a whole, the County has collected more
monies than this time last year. He
explained that the next time to look at the budget will be when property ta=
xes come
in again in January. He reite=
rated
that the revenues are ok from where they were projected.
=
County Manager Don Adams presented budget amendment General F=
und #7
in the amount of $23,416 for additional child care funds.=
=
Commissioner Randy
Miller made a motion to approve budget amendment General Fund #7 in the amo=
unt
of $23,416. Commissioner Milly Richardson seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
=
County Manager Don Adams
presented budget amendment Transportation Fund #1 in the amount of $2,402.<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> He explained that this is for an
insurance claim regarding an accident involving a deer.
=
Commissioner Randy
Miller made a motion to approve budget amendment Transportation Fund #1 in =
the
amount of $2,402. Commissione=
r Milly Richardson seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
=
County Manager Don Adams
presented the EMS Building Fund in the amount of $244,519 and budget amendm=
ent
General Fund #8 in the amount of $45,128 to budget for the transfer to the =
EMS
Building Fund. He reviewed the
project fund.
=
Commissioner Doug Murphy and County Manager Don Adams discussed the contingency amount. The County Manager
explained that normally it is between 5-10%, this is 4.1% and used examples=
of
why contingency could be used.
=
Commissioner Randy
Miller made a motion to approve the EMS =
building
project ordinance. Commission=
er Doug Murphy seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
=
Commissioner Randy
Miller made a motion to approve budget amendment General Fund #8 in the amo=
unt
of $45,128. Commissioner Milly Richardson seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
=
County Manager Don Adams
reviewed revised analysis of the potential BB&T QSCB loan. He explained that after talking to=
Louis
Lloyd, the closing costs will be $17,000, costs for title insurance and sur=
vey
work plus the proposed loan will not over 2% interest rate. He further explained that BB&T =
will
have a pre-payment penalty associated with the loan, and there are no
provisions in the law that allows QSCB’s to be re-issued. He stated that the annual debt pay=
ments
will reduce by $235,674 from 2009/10 to 2010/11 then will reduce by $340,517
from 2010/11 to 2011/12. He
reviewed the QSCB loan amount of $3,339,586, amount of interest and payment=
s at
4.5% then 2% then 0%. He explained that the major differe=
nce is
between 4.5% and 2%. He talked
about the water/sewer amounts. He
said that it may be possible to find another bank next year but at no point=
has
he heard anyone thinking about 0%.
He explained that he went back to the national bank that may have an
interest next year and they stated a strong maybe, but they issued two this
year and will look at coupon rates.
He talked about they have to wait until the first quarter data comes=
in because
they will not consider this until March or April.
=
Commissioner Doug
Murphy, Commissioner Steve Roten and County Manager Don Adams discussed the=
debt
reduction amounts over a three year period and those being the Law Enforcement
Center and Sparta School.
=
Chair Ken Richard=
son
talked about the Board made the decision to go ahead and advertise for the
public hearing with the understanding to decide tonight which direction to =
go
on this project.
=
Commissioner Doug
Murphy stated that Commissioner Miller had a good point to keep looking, and
the Board has a decision to make on the data in front of us.
=
County Manager Don Adams
reminded the Board that this window of opportunity with BB&T is until <=
st1:date
Year=3D"2009" Day=3D"31" Month=3D"12" ls=3D"trans" w:st=3D"on">December 31,=
2009. He explained that he has asked mul=
tiple
times about next year and Louis Lloyd doesn’t know about next year.
=
Chair Ken Richard=
son talked
about how the closing costs and interest rate came down from Thursday’=
;s
meeting and explained that it is hard for him to imagine that the County wi=
ll
get better than 2% interest. =
=
Commissioner Doug
Murphy stated that the Board did instruct the County Manager
to pursue all things regarding the water/sewer issues.
=
Commissioner Steve
Roten stated that he will support the majority of the Board on this issue.<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> He asked what the school board thi=
nks of
this.
=
County Manager Don Adams stated that he hasn’t spoken t=
o the Board
of Education but did talk to Dr. Jeff Cox,
and they have experienced the same thing about not knowing of any other ban=
ks
out there. He talked about th=
is is
a timing issue because if the Board said go today, construction will be in
May.
=
Commissioner Doug
Murphy talked about the Board of Education has laid out a plan of what is
needed out there and he doesn’t think there are things that aren̵=
7;t
needed there. He said that he=
is ready
to proceed.
=
Chair Ken Richard=
son stated
that he feels like the needs are there and are necessary. He talked about moving forward and =
still
try to get the best rates possible.
=
Commissioner Randy
Miller stated that he doesn’t like it but it has to be done.
=
Commissioner Milly Richardson said that Commissioner
Miller’s comment summed it up.
=
Chair Ken Richard=
son
and County Manager Don Adams t=
alked
about the final decision will be the resolution after the public hearing. <=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> The County Manager
explained the steps that will have to occur and some expenses will be incur=
red.
=
Commissioner Randy
Miller made a motion to move forward.
Commissioner Doug Murphy seconded
the motion. Vote 5:0.
=
County Manager Don Adams informed the Board that he has recei=
ved a letter
of obligation of funds for the safety training facility.<=
/p>
=
Commissioner Randy
Miller made a motion to enter into closed session at 7:50pm under NCGS 143-318.11 (a)
(6)—personnel. Commissi=
oner Doug Murphy seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
=
Commissioner Steve
Roten made a motion to adjourn closed session at 8:10pm and reconvene the regular meeting. Commissioner Doug Murphy seconded =
the
motion. Vote 5:0. =
=
Chair Ken Richard=
son
stated that no decisions were made during closed session.=
=
Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to move forward=
to
fill the open position of full-time transportation driver. Commissioner Randy Miller seconded=
the
motion. Vote 5:0.
=
Being
no further business, Commissioner Doug Murphy made a
motion to adjourn at 8:12pm=
. Commissioner Milly
Richardson 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