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, November 16, 2009, at 3:30pm in the Board Meeting Room of the County Administration Building, 348 South Main Street, Sparta, North Carolina.

Present: Chair Ken Richardson, Commissioner Doug Murphy, Commissioner Milly Richardson, Commissioner Steve Roten, 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, led the Pledge of Allegiance and opened the meeting with a prayer.

Chair Ken Richardson stated that Joy Hines and = closed session for personnel needs to be added to the agenda.

Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to = approve the agenda for this November 16, 2009, meeting. Commissioner Doug Murphy seconded t= he motion. Vote 4:0.<= /span>

AGENDA

Monday, November 16, 2009

3:30 PM

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

= M= otion on Agenda for November 16, 2009, meeting

Motion on Minutes for October 29 and November 2, 2009, meetings<= /p>

Motion on October Tax Releases and Refunds

3:35 A. = Public Comments—30 minutes

B. &n= bsp; Mary Wa= lker

RE: Tax Appeal

Debt Setoff Program

Joy Hines = (added)

RE: Smoky Mountain Mental Health Quarterly Report

C. Health Department Annual Report

D. Public Hearing

RE: QSCB Project for Glade Creek School

E. &n= bsp; County Business

1. &n= bsp; Updated EM= S Drug & Alcohol Policy

2. &n= bsp; Sheriff= 217;s Record Retention Schedule Update

3. &n= bsp; Budget Amendment—Transfer Facility

4. &n= bsp; Long Term = Care Community Advisory Appointment

5. &n= bsp; Other Busi= ness

6. &n= bsp; Closed Session—NCGS 143-318.11 (a) (3)—legal

NCGS 143-318.11 (a) (6)—personnel (added)

7. &n= bsp; Adjourn

Commissioner Steve Roten made a motion to approve the minutes for the October 29, and November 2, 2009, meetings. <= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Commissioner Milly Richardson secon= ded the motion. Vote 4:0.

Commissioner Doug Murphy made a motion to approve the real refunds and releases for Octo= ber. Commissioner Milly Richardson seco= nded the motion. Vote 4:0.

Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to approve the auto refunds and releases for= October. Commissioner Doug Murphy seconded = the motion. Vote 4:0.<= /span>

Mary Walker, Tax Administrator, presented a motor vehicle appeal for a 2000 Ford= which has been appraised for $8,500. She talked about her recommendation of $8,500.

Commissioner Steve Roten and Mary Walker talked about the assessed value, value from NAD= A, the pricing book used for taxes and high mileage adjustments.=

Commissioner Randy Miller arrived at 4:36pm.

Commissioner Doug Murphy made a motion to approve the tax administrator’s recommendation. Commissioner = Milly Richardson seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Mary Walker talked about the debt set-off program. She explained that the debt set-off program is where the tax office can garnish individuals from their State in= come tax return. She further expla= ined that the account has been set up at the State level. She continued explaining how the p= rogram works including the bill has to be $50 and the taxpayer is charged an additional $15 fee. She said = she has talked to the Town Manager and the County Attorney about this. She continued explaining how the p= rogram works.

Commissioner Doug Murphy asked would this be creating a new position of a hearing office= r.

Mary Walker answered not necessarily. She explained that she was at a meeting recently where they suggested different people to serve as the hearing officer.&nb= sp; She talked about Missy Smith in the Tax Office could devote time to = this to serve as the hearing officer. She further talked about there is a lot of information involved with this progr= am, and this is something she would like to have completed before she retires.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>

County Manager Don Adams and Mary Walker talked about the amount of the bill has t= o be $50 and the number of people that this could apply to.

Commissioner Randy Miller, Commissioner Milly Richardson and Mary Walker talked about the outstanding motor vehicle bills from 1999-2009 being $400,000 to $500,000.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Mary Walker explained why part of = this cannot be collected.

Commissioner Randy Miller and Mary Walker discussed how much of that she thinks could be collected; 35%-40%.

Commissioner Steve Roten and Mary Walker talked about the motor vehicle bills are the problem with collections. She explained that in July 2011 DMV will start collecting the taxes when the ta= gs are issued but they won’t take over delinquent taxes.

Mary Walker stated that she wanted to make the Board aware of this project and s= ee if she has the Board’s approval for this project.

Commissioner Milly Richardson talked about the amount of time and postage spent sending = out the bills/notices multiple times and not getting any response. <= /span>

Mary Walker talked about how some counties handle motor vehicles by dropping them off the books after three years but previous boards didn’t want to do that. She talked about she is working on this and will continue.

Chair Ken Richardson asked Mary Walker to bring back a proposal to the Board. He talked about anything to help to= bring in additional money will be helpful.

Commissioner Milly Richardson talked about how the county could use the additional money without having to raise other fees or taxes.

Joy Hines, Finance Officer, came before the Board to present information from M= ental Health. She explained that re= cently we learned that she has to present information periodically to the Commissioners. She reviewed t= he handout that she provided to the Board that contained Mental Health’s financial information including the percentage collected and spent at this time. She presented informati= on about their account receivables. She reviewed the explanation of the line items over/under and their fund balanc= e of expected appropriations and designations for the year.

Commissioner Doug Murphy and Chair Ken Richardson discussed this is regarding Smoky Moun= tain rather than New River Behavioral Healthcare.

Danny Staley, Appalachian District Health Department, presented their annual repo= rt. He talked about the different type= s of flu shots this year, new no smoking law taking effect January 2010, reaccre= dited for the next four years, environmental health functions, WIC has changed th= eir programming focusing on fresh fruits/vegetables and low fat, reviewed the s= tate of the district information including leading concerns of cause of deaths, suicide, access to healthcare, H1N1 and Eat Smart Move More program. He informed the Board of a grant opportunity that they are involved with where the Health Department is one = of two communities selected to move forward about obesity.

Commissioner Milly Richardson thanked Danny Staley for the good job that is done. <= /o:p>

Chair Ken Richardson opened the public hearing at 4:07pm regarding the QSCB proje= ct and asked for public comments.

Clarence Crouse, Chairman of the Board of Education, along with Board of Education members Betsy Dillon and Brad Mabe, stated their support for the project. He talked about the needs at= Glade Creek Elementary School. He f= urther talked about looking at the current needs as well as planning for the future. He said that he hopes= that everyone recognizes the amount of hard work that has been put into working = on these plans. He said that he = strongly supports this project and this method of funding.

Betsy Dillon talked about this is an example of the wonderful effort between the = two boards. She further talked ab= out their needs, and this is a way to address those needs.

Brad Mabe thanked the Board for their support.&= nbsp; He said that people shouldn’t short cut the kids. He talked about this being a joint venture.

Dr. Jeff Cox, Superintendent, said that he echoes what the Board of Education members said in thanking the Board of Commissioners. He talked about the amount of time= and effort spent for getting these funds. He further talked about he greatly appreciates the fact that the Commissioners support this project. He explained that these needs will grow and will only get more as ti= me goes by if nothing is done. He talked about this project wasn’t able to get a 0% loan since no one is offering 0% but the interest rate that we are getting is better than a regu= lar loan. He said that he is exci= ted about getting the project moving.

Janice Linker, Principal at Glade Creek Elementary School, stated on behalf of the staff and kids at Glade Creek Elementary School she wanted to thank the Boa= rd for their support on this project including adding additional monies. She reiterated their appreciation.=

Chair Ken Richardson asked for additional public comments. No one spoke.

Chair Ken Richardson declared the public hearing closed at 4:13pm and reconvened = the regular meeting.

County Manager Don Adams presented the resolution for final approval of terms and documents for the QSCB financing for Glade Creek Elementary School. He reviewed the resolution includi= ng this is for $3,339,585 to renovate existing classroom space, renovate office area to make the school more secure, renovate gym into new cafeteria, add n= ew gym, renovate existing cafeteria into three classrooms and nine new classro= oms for a total of 15,044 square feet new construction and 26,333 square feet renovated space. He continued reviewing the resolution including the proposed terms of the loan being 15 years at 1.97% interest with BB&T.&nbs= p; He said that he is requesting the Board approve this resolution whic= h will give the County Manager, Clerk to the Board and Chairman permission to proc= eed with the loan closing which is scheduled during the week of December 14.

Commissioner Randy Miller made a motion to move forward with this project. Commissioner Doug Murphy seconded = the motion. Vote 5:0. =

County Manager Don Adams presented an update to the Sheriff’s Records Retent= ion Schedule.

Commissioner Randy Miller made a motion to approve.&nbs= p; Commissioner Milly Richardson seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Manager Don Adams presented budget amendment Transfer Facility #1 in the am= ount of $23,398 for the loader repairs.

Commissioner Steve Roten made a motion to approve budget amendment Transfer Facility #1 = in the amount of $23,398. Commis= sioner Doug Murphy seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Manager Don Adams presented a letter requesting that Inez Worrell be reappointed to serve on the Alleghany County Long Term Care Community Advis= ory Committee. He reminded the Bo= ard of the committee’s purpose regarding nursing homes.

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

Commissioner Randy Miller made a mo= tion to go into closed session at 4:20pm under NCGS 143-318.11 (a) (3)—leg= al and (a) (6)—personnel. Comm= issioner Milly Richardson seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Commissioner Milly Richardson left = the meeting at 4:28pm.

Commissioner Doug Murphy made a mot= ion to adjourn closed session at 4:44pm and reconvene the regular meeting. Commissioner Steve Roten seconded = the motion. Vote 4:0. =

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

Chair Ken Richardson mentioned that= on Friday, December 4 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Blue Ridge Electric there will = be the closing of the sesequicenntial. He invited everyone to attend.

Chair Ken Richardson and County Man= ager Don Adams discussed a summary of the surplus sale that was held on Saturday, November 14.

Being no further business, Commissi= oner Doug Murphy made a motion to adjourn at 4:46pm. Commissioner Steve Roten seconded = the motion. Vote 4:0. =

Respectfully Submitted,

Karen Evans

Clerk to the Board

Attest:

Ken Richardson

Chairman