The
Alleghany County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Monday,
October 2, 2006, at 6:30pm in the Conference Room of the County Office
Building, 90 South Main, Sparta, North Carolina.
Present: Chair Eldon Edwards, Vice-Chair Warren Taylor,
Commissioner
Chair
Eldon Edwards called the meeting to order.
Commissioner
Warren Taylor opened the meeting with a prayer.
Commissioner
Commissioner
Ken Richardson asked that the Mental Health Interlocal Agreement be added to
the agenda.
Commissioner
AGENDA
Motion on Agenda for
Motion on Minutes for
RE: Drug Dog
RE:
1. Regional Library Board Appointment
2. Maymead Court Date
3. Veterans Service Officer
4. Mental Health Interlocal Agreement (added)
5. Other Business
6. Public Comments—30 minutes
7. Closed Session—NCGS 143-318.11 (a)
(3)—legal
NCGS 143-3188.11 (a) (6)—personnel
8. Adjourn
Chair
Eldon Edwards made a motion to approve the minutes for the
Michael Faulkner
informed the Board that he had invited the Sheriff to attend this meeting. He asked the Board if they would wait for the
Sheriff before he began his presentation.
The Board agreed.
Commissioner Graylen
Blevins arrived at
Janis Fender stated
that she will be presenting the annual report for Council on Aging. She asked the Board if they have any
questions about Council on Aging.
Janis Fender reviewed
Council on Aging’s programs and services.
She explained the services offered and number of clients served through
the Home and Community Care Block Grant.
She talked to the Board about the minimum wage increase that would
affect two of her employees. She
requested that they meet to discuss this issue.
She talked about fundraising that the Center does to meet their
needs. She stated that they raised
$10,000 last year and will need approximately $12,000 this year. She further stated that she sees the needs in
the county growing. She talked about
looking out for the seniors. She further
talked about outgrowing their building.
Commissioner
Commissioner Ken
Richardson talked about the Commissioners doubled the amount that was budgeted
for the roof, which shows the importance of the seniors and the building.
Commissioner
Chair Eldon Edwards thanked
Janis Fender for her report.
Michael Faulkner
thanked the Board in regards to his request two years ago concerning a band
scholarship. He explained that over
$2,000 was raised for high school seniors who want to continue their education
in the music field. He stated that today
he is here talking about the lack of a drug dog. He quoted an Alleghany News article about
Sandy Ashley, Social Services Director, talking about the drug problems in the
county. He said that he has talked to
Mike Caudill about this need. He talked
about the need for a drug dog. He stated
that everyone must decide if the county needs a drug dog and if not; why the
surrounding counties have one and what is the county going to do without one. He talked about the significant increase in
the number of warrants without increasing the number of deputies. He said that if the issue is the County needing
help buying the dog, he has been talking to people about that. He further said that he asked Mike Caudill to
come tonight to talk about his needs. He
stated that if the debate isn’t held tonight about the need for a drug dog,
then it needs to be soon.
Chair Eldon Edwards
asked Mr. Faulkner if he had researched grant monies to be used for the
purchase of a drug dog.
Michael Faulkner
stated that he hasn’t researched the grant avenue. He talked the need for a good dog and a good
deputy to spend time to get drugs off the streets. He stated that he will look for grants.
Commissioner
Sheriff Mike Caudill
stated the need for two dogs. He
explained there are different types of trained dogs, and they are hard to cross
train because they will not focus on just one thing. He reminded everyone that a drug dog isn’t a
deterrent to drug use. He stated that a
trained dog will cost approximately $5,000 to $7,000. He further stated that does not include the
deputy’s time to train with the dog. He
talked about a dog needs to be worked constantly to be a good dog. He further talked about reasons to work on
the drug problems, and they are in the process of getting a sizeable sum due to
their help with a drug bust. He gave
reasons for needing a tracking dog and a drug dog. He said the biggest thing to consider is that
50% to 60% of the drug problem is due to prescription drugs.
Chair Eldon Edwards
asked if Michael Faulkner and Sheriff Caudill could get some information
together for the Board and work with the
Sheriff Caudill
talked about a law enforcement dog is considered an officer.
Commissioner
Michael Faulkner
asked Sheriff Caudill why the surrounding counties have a drug dog and we
don’t.
Sheriff Caudill
stated that they have a much larger tax base, and we are a small county. He further stated that they will put this
together and get back to the Board.
Commissioner Warren
Taylor asked about hiring one deputy to work with both dogs.
Sheriff Caudill
stated yes that would work. He talked
about dogs having one master and the upkeep of dogs.
Commissioner
Chair Eldon Edwards
asked Sheriff Caudill and Michael Faulkner to see what they can put together
and get back with the Board.
Chair Eldon Edwards recessed the
regular meeting at
Chair Eldon Edwards asked for public
comments. None were received.
Chair Eldon Edwards closed the
public hearing on the road name at
Commissioner Warren Taylor made a
motion to approve the road name as submitted by the E-911
Coordinator/Mapper. Commissioner Graylen
Blevins seconded the motion. Vote 5:0.
Chair Eldon Edwards stated that the
Chamber does a wonderful job.
Commissioner Warren Taylor talked
about the excellent graphic design on the map.
The Board of Commissioners thanked
Commissioner
The Board of Commissioners agreed to
the October 10th Board of Commissioners’ meeting and changing the October 16th
meeting to
County Manager
Commissioner
Chair Eldon Edwards stated that the
workload has been increasing over the last two years and will continue to
increase with the number of people serving in the
Commissioner Ken Richardson made a
motion to increase the position to 30 hours a week. Commissioner
County Manager
The Board voted on the motion on the
floor. Vote 5:0.
Commissioner Graylen Blevins thanked
Eldon Edwards for his service as the Veterans Service Officer.
Commissioner
Commissioner Ken Richardson
presented Draft #5 of the Mental Health Interlocal Agreement. He explained that a lot of work has gone into
this by five Commissioners, five
Commissioner
Commissioner Ken Richardson stated
that if there are any significant changes to the agreement, he will bring them
back to the Board. He further stated
that the changes are so minor that he doesn’t think that it would be a problem
for the Board to pass this.
Commissioner Ken Richardson stated
that he sees no problem with that.
Pam Andrews read the only
recommended changes; page 15, section 1, delete the phase “nor shall it adopt
any amendment to the same, which requires an additional allocation of funds by
the counties”; page 16, section 2, delete the sentence “allowing for such
increase year by year during the term of this agreement as may be reasonably
necessary in order for NRSA to carry out its purpose and undertaking
hereunder”; and add a couple of sentences about allocating a one time amount
for a special project, it can be labeled and identified as a one-time
occurrence and it will not be assumed or be an obligation by the County that
the one-time allocation will be recurring every year, adding a sentence that
reads “not withstanding the obligations stated herein no county shall be
required to increase its annual allocation funding contributed without the
approval of its respective county Commission in the event the county makes an
in-kind contribution, this contribution shall be deemed as a non-recurring
one-time appropriation that will be reviewed on a year-to-year basis and is not
considered as an annual allocation.” She
stated that these changes are the only changes that they are aware of.
Pam Andrews talked about the changes
add more protection for the counties.
Commissioner Warren Taylor made a
motion to approve Draft #5 of the Mental Health Interlocal Agreement with Pam
Andrews’s proposed changes and reserve the right to examine the final document
later. Commissioner
Commissioner Ken Richardson stated
that this agreement creates a 13-member board.
He explained the makeup of the Board.
He asked the Commissioners to appoint him to this board.
Chair Eldon Edwards made a motion to
approve this request. Commissioner
Pam Andrews stated that a final copy
will be sent to
Commissioner Warren Taylor talked
about a meeting that the
Chair Eldon Edwards mentioned that
NCACC is asking for people to work a county government booth at the State
Fair.
Chair Eldon Edwards mentioned the
listening tour for Tier 1 counties on October 12th in
Commissioner Ken Richardson stated
that it would be a good idea for someone to be there.
Commissioner Warren Taylor stated
that he cannot attend this meeting.
Commissioner
Chair Eldon Edwards asked for public
comments. None were received.
Commissioner Warren Taylor made a
motion to enter into closed session at
Chair Eldon Edwards called for a
brief recess at
Commissioner Warren Taylor made a
motion to adjourn the closed session at
Chair Eldon Edwards stated that no
decisions were made during closed session.
Being no further business, Commissioner
Respectfully submitted,
Clerk to the Board
Attest:
Eldon Edwards
Chairman