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 present
but arrived late.

Chair Ken Richardson called the meeting to order, 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 the
motion.  Vote 4:0.

AGENDA

Monday, November 16, 2009

3:30 PM

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

Motion
on Agenda for November 16, 2009, meeting

Motion
on Minutes for October 29 and November 2, 2009, meetings

Motion
on October Tax Releases and Refunds

3:35    A.        Public
Comments—30 minutes

B.
Mary Walker

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.
County
Business

1.
Updated EMS Drug
& Alcohol Policy

2.
Sheriff’s
Record Retention Schedule Update

3.
Budget
Amendment—Transfer Facility

4.
Long Term Care
Community Advisory Appointment

5.
Other Business

6.
Closed
Session—NCGS 143-318.11 (a) (3)—legal

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

7.
Adjourn

Commissioner
Steve Roten made a motion to approve the minutes for the October 29, and
November 2, 2009, meetings.   Commissioner Milly Richardson seconded
the motion.  Vote 4:0.

Commissioner
Doug Murphy made a motion to approve the real refunds and releases for October.  Commissioner Milly Richardson seconded
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.

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 NADA, 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 income
tax return.  She further explained
that the account has been set up at the State level.  She continued explaining how the program
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 program
works.

Commissioner
Doug Murphy asked would this be creating a new position of a hearing officer.

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.
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 program,
and this is something she would like to have completed before she retires.

County
Manager Don Adams and Mary Walker talked about the amount of the bill has to 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.  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 tags
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 see 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.

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 Mental
Health.  She explained that recently
we learned that she has to present information periodically to the
Commissioners.  She reviewed the
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 information
about their account receivables.  She
reviewed the explanation of the line items over/under and their fund balance of
expected appropriations and designations for the year.

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

Danny
Staley, Appalachian District Health Department, presented their annual report.  He talked about the different types of
flu shots this year, new no smoking law taking effect January 2010, reaccredited
for the next four years, environmental health functions, WIC has changed their
programming focusing on fresh fruits/vegetables and low fat, reviewed the state
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.

Chair
Ken Richardson opened the public hearing at 4:07pm regarding the QSCB project
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 further
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 about
their needs, and this is a way to address those needs.

Brad
Mabe thanked the Board for their support.
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 time
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 regular
loan.  He said that he is excited
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 Board
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 including
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 new
gym, renovate existing cafeteria into three classrooms and nine new classrooms
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.
He said that he is requesting the Board approve this resolution which will
give the County Manager, Clerk to the Board and Chairman permission to proceed
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 Retention
Schedule.

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

County
Manager Don Adams presented budget amendment Transfer Facility #1 in the amount
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.  Commissioner
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 Advisory
Committee.  He reminded the Board 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 motion
to go into closed session at 4:20pm under NCGS 143-318.11 (a) (3)—legal and
(a) (6)—personnel.  Commissioner
Milly Richardson seconded the motion.  Vote 5:0.

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

Commissioner Doug Murphy made a motion
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 Manager
Don Adams discussed a summary of the surplus sale that was held on Saturday,
November 14.

Being no further business, Commissioner
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