The Alleghany
County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, May 17, 2004, at 10:00am in the
Conference Room of the County Office Building, 90 South
Main Street, Sparta, North
Carolina.
Present: Chair Eldon Edwards, Commissioner Graylen
Blevins, Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon,
Commissioner Patrick Woodie, County Manager Don Adams, and Clerk to
the Board Karen Evans. Vice-Chair Warren Taylor was present but
arrived late. County Attorney Ed Woltz was
absent.
Chair Eldon Edwards called the meeting
to order.
Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon
opened the meeting with a prayer.
Commissioner Patrick Woodie made a motion
to approve the agenda for this May 17, 2004,
meeting. Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon
seconded the motion. Vote 4:0.
AGENDA
Monday,
May 17, 2004
10:00
AM
10:00 Meeting Called To Order
Motion on Agenda for May
17, 2004 meeting
Motion on
Minutes for May 3 & 10, 2004 meetings
10:05 Mary Walker
RE: Tax Releases & Refunds
County Business
1. Recreation/Planning
Budget Amendment
2. Web Site
Update
3. Fairgrounds
Fee Schedule
4. Board of
Elections Meeting
5. Insurance
Agreements for FY 04/05
6. Other Business
7. Public
Comments—30 minutes
8. Closed
Session—NCGS 143-318.11 (a) (3)—legal
NCGS 143-318.11 (a) (4)—economic
development
9. Adjourn
Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon made
a motion to approve the May 3 & 10, 2004, minutes. Commissioner Graylen Blevins seconded the
motion. Vote 4:0.
Mary Walker, Tax Administrator,
informed the Board that the real property collection rate this morning is
97.11%. She further informed the Board about
the amount of outstanding taxes for this year.
The Board of Commissioners and Ms.
Walker discussed collection rates for other counties and the process that the
Tax Office is starting for the collection of past-due taxes; garnishments and
attachments.
Mary Walker, Tax Administrator, presented the tax requests
for real property for April 2004 in the amount of $1,783.16 for releases and
$603.28 for refunds.
Commissioner Sandy
Carter Herndon made a motion to approve the tax
requests for real property for April 2004 in the amount of $1,783.16 for
releases and $603.28 for refunds. Commissioner Patrick
Woodie seconded the motion. Vote 4:0.
Mary Walker, Tax Administrator, presented the tax
requests for vehicles for April 2004 in the amount of $2,095.29 for releases
and $797.82 for refunds.
Commissioner Patrick
Woodie made a motion to approve the tax requests for
vehicles for April 2004 in the amount of $2,095.29 for releases and $797.82 for
refunds. Commissioner Graylen Blevins
seconded the motion. Vote 4:0.
Mary
Walker, Tax Administrator, presented a motor-vehicle appeal for a 1999
Chevrolet Tahoe with a tax value of $14,980.
She further explained that she recommends the value be $8,700 based upon
the Blue Book values.
Commissioner Patrick
Woodie made a motion to accept the Tax Administrator’s
recommendation on this motor-vehicle appeal.
Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon
seconded the motion. Vote 4:0.
County Manager Don Adams presented
budget amendment General Fund #22 in the amount of $21,530 for part-time salaries
and FICA for the Recreation Commission personnel. He passed out information regarding the
number of employees, pay and general information for payroll for the Recreation
Commission. He reviewed the reason for
the switching the payroll to the County’s Recreation Department now rather than
July 1st.
Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon made
a motion to approve budget amendment General Fund #22 in the amount of $21,530. Commissioner Patrick
Woodie seconded the motion.
Vote 4:0.
County Manager Don Adams updated the
Board about the usage of our County web site. He presented data that shows the most
commonly viewed items on the web site.
County Manager Don Adams explained to
the Board the current fee schedule for usage of the Fairgrounds.
Commissioner Warren Taylor joined the
meeting at 10:18am.
County Manager Don Adams further
explained a proposed fee schedule change for usage of the Fairgrounds. He stated that the proposed change is
non-profit organizations will be charged 20% of net profit payable to the
County if the event charges a gate fee.
He further stated that the Fairgrounds Board is asking for the
Commissioners to approve this change. He
informed the Board that the net profit figures are subject to the approval of
the County Manager’s office and
the Recreation Department.
The Board of Commissioners and County
Manager Don Adams discussed the proposal from the
Fairgrounds Board, reviewed the events that this change will affect, charging
only non-profit organization that collect a gate fee, the monies will be used
for regular maintenance of the Fairgrounds facility and the fee schedule for
profit organizations.
Chair Eldon Edwards talked about the
Recreation Director searching for more events to have at the Fairgrounds to increase
revenues.
The Board of Commissioners asked the County Manager to bring the
proposal back to them in writing at the next regular meeting.
County Manager Don Adams mentioned a
meeting that the Board of Elections will hold on May 19th. He informed everyone that Bynum Marshall is
transferring to the West Coast; therefore, this meeting will be his last
meeting with the Board of Elections.
Commissioner Warren Taylor and
Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon stated that they would
try to attend the meeting on behalf of the County to present a Certificate of
Appreciation.
County Manager Don Adams presented the
FY 04/05 insurance agreements for our medical insurance, workers compensation
and property/liability insurance through the North Carolina Association of
County Commissioners. He stated that
NCACC requires these agreements be returned prior to July 1.
The Board of Commissioners and County
Manager Don Adams discussed prior claims that the
County has had in the past few years that is affecting
our insurance rates.
Commissioner Warren Taylor stated that
he doesn’t think the County should go out to bid for another insurance company
because participating in the NCACC pools has its advantages.
Commissioner Warren Taylor made a
motion to continue with the Interlocal Agreements for
our insurance coverage. Commissioner
Graylen Blevins seconded the motion.
Vote 5:0.
County Manager Don Adams reminded the
Board about the Secondary Road Public Hearing tonight at 6:30pm.
Commissioner Warren Taylor mentioned
that there are a number of secondary roads that cannot get paved due to
individuals not signing the right-of-way agreements. He talked about the County losing secondary
road monies due to the right-of-way refusals.
The Board of Commissioners discussed
the right-of-ways problems and the situation going back to the Legislators for
their help in getting this process amended.
Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon
mentioned that she regrets to see Carmen Long leave the
County and wish her the best in her next endeavors.
Commissioner Patrick
Woodie echoed Commissioner Herndon’s comments and mentioned the
same feelings about Carmen’s husband, Brent, and their children.
Chair Eldon Edwards asked for public
comments. None were received.
Commissioner Sandy Carter Herndon made
a motion to enter into closed session at 10:55am under NCGS
143-318.11 (a) (3)—legal and (a) (4)—economic development. Commissioner Patrick
Woodie seconded the motion.
Vote 5:0.
Commissioner Patrick
Woodie made a motion to adjourn closed session and reconvene the
regular meeting at 11:40am. Commissioner Graylen Blevins seconded the
motion. Vote 5:0.
Chair Eldon Edwards stated no action
was taken in closed session.
Being no further business, Commissioner
Warren Taylor made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 11:41am. Commissioner
Sandy Carter Herndon seconded the
motion. Vote 5:0.
Respectfully
submitted,
Karen Evans
Clerk
to the Board
Attest:
Eldon
Edwards
Chairman