The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, December 4, 2006, at 6:30pm in the Conference Room of the County Office Building, 90 South Main, Sparta, North Carolina.

Present: Chair Ken Richardson, Vice-Chair Warren Taylor, Commissioner Randy Miller, Commissioner Doug Murphy, Commissioner Milly Richardson, County Attorney Donna Shumate, County Manager Don Adams, and Clerk to the Board Karen Evans.

County Manager Don Adams called the meeting to order.

Commissioner Warren Taylor opened the meeting with a prayer.

County Manager Don Adams explained the organizational meeting procedures.

County Manager Don Adams asked that closed session for personnel and legal and scheduling the Department of Transportation’s secondary road public hearing be added to the agenda.

Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to approve the amended agenda for this December 4, 2006, meeting. Commissioner Milly Richardson seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

AGENDA

Monday, December 4, 2006

6:30 PM

6:30 Meeting Called To Order

Motion on Agenda for December 4, 2006, meeting

Motion on Minutes for November 20, 2006, meeting

6:35 Election of Chair and Vice-Chair

Sheriff Bond

County Attorney

Clerk to the Board

Board Appointments

Rules of Procedures

County Business

1. JCPC Board Appointments

2. Legislative Goals Conference

3. Planning Board Meeting

4. DOT Secondary Road Public Hearing (added)

5. Other Business

6. Public Comments—30 minutes

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

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

8. Adjourn

Commissioner Ken Richardson made a motion to approve the minutes for the November 20, 2006, meeting. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Manager Don Adams opened the floor for discussions about electing the Chair and Vice-Chair for the upcoming year.

Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to nominate Ken Richardson for Chair. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Chair Ken Richardson thanked his fellow Commissioners for the opportunity to serve as the Chairman of this Board.

Commissioner Doug Murphy made a motion to nominate Warren Taylor to be the Vice-Chair. Commissioner Milly Richardson seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Manager Don Adams presented information regarding the Sheriff’s bond in the amount of $25,000 for an annual premium of $125. He stated that he has provided information for all of the bonded positions.

Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to approve the Sheriff’s bond. Commissioner Doug Murphy seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Manager Don Adams stated that Donna Shumate has been serving as the County Attorney. He explained that the County pays $1,250 per month for her services.

Commissioner Doug Murphy made a motion to retain Donna Shumate as the County Attorney. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Manager Don Adams stated that Karen Evans has been serving as the Clerk to the Board. He further stated that she also serves as his Administrative Assistant.

Commissioner Doug Murphy made a motion to retain Karen Evans as the Clerk. Commissioner Milly Richardson seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

The Board of Commissioners reviewed the list of Boards and Commissions. They discussed the following appointments:

Alleghany Group Homes—Doug Murphy

Council on Aging—Milly Richardson

Court Security Committee—Randy Miller

Extension Advisory Leadership Council—Randy Miller

Fairgrounds—Milly Richardson

Fire Commission—Milly Richardson

High Country Council of Governments—Ken Richardson

High Country Workforce Development Consortium—Ken Richardson

Home & Community Care Block Grant Advisory Board—Ken Richardson

Juvenile Crime Prevention Council—Doug Murphy

Library (local)—Doug Murphy

Local Emergency Planning Commission—Ken Richardson

Northwestern Regional Library—Doug Murphy

Sparta Revitalization Committee—vacant

Western NC Caucus—Ken Richardson

Wilkes Community College (local)—Randy Miller

Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to accept all of the nominations for the various boards and committees. Commissioner Doug Murphy seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Manager Don Adams started reviewing the rules of procedures.

The Board of Commissioners discussed the meeting times and decided to change the mid-month meeting to 3:30pm on the 3^rd Monday of each month.

County Manager Don Adams continued reviewing the rules of procedures.

The Board of Commissioners talked about proxy voting and tabling issues until another meeting.

County Manager Don Adams continued reviewing the rules of procedures.

The Board of Commissioners talked about the public comment portion of the agenda. They discussed allowing people to voice their concerns, time limits and not being able to respond to people’s comments. Chair Ken Richardson stated that the Board can try different rules for the public comment portion to see how it goes.

County Manager Don Adams continued reviewing the rules of procedures.

Chair Ken Richardson asked about having the pledge of allegiance and prayer to open the meetings. The Board agreed to have both at the beginning of meetings.

The Board discussed their seating arrangements.

Chair Ken Richardson stated that typically the Board of Commissioners has joint meetings with Sparta Town Council quarterly and a meeting schedule will be coming before the Board soon.

Commissioner Doug Murphy made a motion to approve the rules of procedures as discussed. Commissioner Milly Richardson seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Manager Don Adams presented a letter from the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) asking for appointments of Brenda Perez and Anne Marie Erhardt to serve on the JCPC for 2006-2007.

Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to approve the request of appointing Brenda Perez and Anne Marie Erhardt to serve on the JCPC for 2006-2007. Commissioner Doug Murphy seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

County Manager Don Adams talked about the upcoming NCACC Legislative Goals conference on January 11^th and 12^th, 2007. He stated that this topic will be placed on the next agenda for further discussions. He further stated that the Board will need to appoint a voting delegate to attend this meeting. He said if anyone would like to go to this meeting to contact Karen Evans, and she will help with registration.

County Manager Don Adams informed the Board that there is a conditional-use permit application ready for the Planning Board’s consideration. He stated that the Planning Board’s normal meeting schedule is the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm. He further stated that he has the packets for the meeting on December 12, 2006, at 6:30pm.

Chair Ken Richardson briefly gave a review of items for discussion at the Planning Board meeting.

County Manager Don Adams stated that the Department of Transportation has requested to hold a public hearing regarding the secondary road program. He reviewed the purpose of the meeting. He gave the Board possible meeting dates of January 16^th, 18^th or 22^nd. The Board decided to hold the meeting on January 16^th.

Commissioner Warren Taylor stated that he is looking forward to working with the new Commissioners for the next two years. He further stated that he will be glad to help in any way.

Chair Ken Richardson asked for public comments.

Susan Reinhardt stated that she is pleased to see how the five Commissioners are working together, how many people are in attendance and the Board opening the floor for general comments. She talked about the order of public comments on the agenda.

Donny Brown stated that he is employed by Surry County as a full-time paramedic. He further stated his concern about out-of-county medics being hired over in-county medics.

Franklin Hash talked about he has served with EMS since 1986 and the police department for 10 years. He further talked about three paramedics from Wilkes County working here, part-time people not certified, issues with husbands and wives working at EMS, his wife being a full-time paramedic, hired a person whose father-in-law is supervising him and the professional image of EMS because someone came to work in sweatpants. He asked the Commissioners to look into these issues.

Paul Reeves talked about the recent tax appraisals. He said that there are people here capable to do this job. He talked about the County had purchased computer equipment to do this in-house. He further talked about people would have been happier and the County would have saved money by doing this in-house.

Paul Church stated that he had an ambulance take him to Winston-Salem and both paramedics were from Wilkes County. He asked why, when there are certified people here. He stated that his wife rode in the ambulance, and she had to tell them how to get to Forsyth Medical Center. He further stated that this sounds like mismanagement.

Chair Ken Richardson asked for further public comments. None were received.

Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to enter into closed session at 7:35pm under NCGS 143-318.11 (a) (3)—legal and (a) (6)—personnel. Commissioner Milly Richardson seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Commissioner Milly Richardson made a motion to adjourn the closed session at 8:19pm and reconvene the regular meeting. Commissioner Warren Taylor seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

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

County Manager Don Adams summarized the positions in the Sheriff’s Department. He explained that the Sheriff’s Department used to have someone in the investigator’s position but that position hasn’t been filled since Ricky Lyall left. He further explained that Sheriff David Edwards wants an experienced person in that position, Tim Duncan. He talked about this action would require a pay grade change from the deputy position to the investigator position.

Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to approve the request for the pay grade change for one deputy position to go to the investigator’s position. Commissioner Milly Richardson seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Being no further business, Commissioner Warren Taylor made a motion to adjourn at 8:22pm. Commissioner Milly Richardson seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.

Respectfully submitted,

Karen Evans

Clerk to the Board

Attest:

Ken Richardson

Chairman