| BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS | ALEXANDER COUNTY |
| MINUTES | STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA |
| DRAFT January 5, 1998 PRESENT: Darrell Robertson, Chairman ABSENT: K. Craig Mayberry STAFF: Charles S.
Mashburn, Clerk to the Board Chairman Darrell Robertson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the County Commissioner’s Meeting room of the Alexander County Courthouse. The Reverend Terry Ashe gave the invocation and Chairman Robertson led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Due the absence of Commissioners Glass and Mayberry, and the pending early departure by Commissioner Kerley, Chairman Robertson rearranged the agenda to address the more pressing items first. RESOURCE OFFICER GRANT PROPOSAL Sheriff Ray Warren shared with the Board details of a proposed grant to hire resource officers for the two junior high schools. The Board of Education has voted to support the application. Sheriff Warren indicted the officer would be a sworn officer and that this employee would be used by him when not assigned to a school, such as during the summer. Mr. Robert Austin indicated the schools would desire input into who is to work in the schools. Mr. Austin also reported the Board of Education has voted to use Line 69 monies to furnish the match and to help fund this position when the grant monies expire. Upon motion by Commissioner Bolick and second by Commissioner Kerley the Board voted unanimously to authorize Sheriff Ray Warren to proceed with applying for the resource officer grant as proposed, with direction for the Board of Education and Sheriff to document the working relationship between the Sheriff’s Department and the Board of Education. SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT-FINGERPRINT MACHINE Sheriff Warren advised the Board that a new fingerprint system will cost about $6,500 per year more than anticipated to operate. He asked the Board for guidance in applying for the grant to purchase the machine. He was directed to return with more details at the next meeting. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT The Board was advised that the North Carolina Rural Development Center has awarded a $50,000 grant to Alexander County for construction of utilities to the rail park. Match for the grant will be provided by the $28,000 already appropriated by the county, by money being provided by the rail park, and in-kind work by the Alexander County Water Corporation. Upon motion by Commissioner Robertson and second by Commissioner Kerley the Board voted unanimously to accept the $50,000 Rural Development Center Grant, and to authorize the County Manager to be the contact person and grant administrator. SCHOOLS-SPECIAL APPROPRIATION Chairman Robertson announced the Board may consider a one-time special allocation to the schools because of the prior year surplus. He asked Robert Austin to provide some student census and other information so the Board can give this issue consideration at a future meeting. MEETING SCHEDULE Commissioner Bolick suggested the Board schedule more work sessions in the future. The Board reached a consensus to continue the first and third Monday schedule, but schedule more work sessions as needed, or to at times use one of the scheduled meetings as a work session. Upon motion by Commissioner Kerley and second by Commissioner Bolick the Board voted unanimously to adopt the 1998 Meeting Schedule (Attachment #1), and to adjourn this meeting to 6:00 p.m., January 12, 1997 for a work session. HOLIDAY SCHEDULE Upon motion by Commissioner Kerley and second by Commissioner Bolick the Board voted unanimously to approve the 1998 Holiday Schedule (Attachment #2). CONSENT AGENDA Upon motion by Commissioner Kerley and second by Commissioner Bolick the Board voted unanimously to approve the consent agenda as follows: MINUTES The Minutes of December 1, 1997 were approved as presented by the Clerk to the Board. TAX RELEASES AND REFUNDS Tax releases of $573.16 and refunds of $282.40 were approved as requested. TAX-HAFER ELDERLY EXEMPTION An elderly exemption was approved for Mr. Lem Hafer for 1997 because the application was apparently lost. TAX-SURPLUS PHONE SYSTEM The old Merlin 410 telephone that was removed and replaced several months ago was declared surplus and authorized to be sold. TAX-SURPLUS COMPUTER An old ps2 model 25 computer was declared surplus and authorized to be sold or junked if there is no market. HEALTH DEPARTMENT-BUDGET AMENDMENT #36 Budget Amendment #36 was approved to appropriate $2,667.00 to the Health Department for additional WIC allocations (Attachment #3). SENIOR CENTER-BUDGET AMENDMENT #34 Budget Amendment #34 was approved to appropriate $6,757.00 from the Division of Aging for Senior Center for an architect drawing. (Attachment #4). SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT-BUDGET AMENDMENT #35 Budget Amendment #35 was approved to appropriate $2,625.00 to the Sheriff’s Department for automobile accident insurance reimbursement (Attachment #5) Commissioner Kerley left the meeting at this point for receiving at the funeral home. ANIMAL ACTION LEAGUE Dr. David Linzey reported on efforts of the Animal Action League to raise funds to help construct a new animal shelter. He asked the Board to place in a reserve account the $20,000 or so that was appropriated in the 1997-98 budget. Fund raising by the League is going slowly and he wants the county money reserved while additional fund raising is conducted. The Board commended Dr. Linzey and the league for their efforts. This item was postponed due to a lack of a quorum SOLID WASTE-TEMPORARY TRANSFER STATION Chairman Robertson reported that landfill staff has constructed a temporary transfer station because state staff would not authorize continuing to use the existing landfill while the new transfer station is being constructed. The new facility will not be ready until about February 1, 1998. The temporary station was constructed just to the right of the scales at minimum cost. Trash is being hauled to a BFI landfill at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Landfill. SNOW REMOVAL-DOT Commissioner Bolick commended the local DOT staff for doing an excellent job in clearing snow during the recent snow storm. Commissioner Bolick witnessed the effort in some other counties and indicated Alexander County DOT did an excellent job. BETHLEHEM FIRE DEPARTMENT-PROPERTY PURCHASE Bethlehem fire chief Jerry Bolick indicated he desired to be on the next agenda to present details of a plan for the department to purchase property and expand the fire department building. He and the board held an informal discussion regarding whether the Commissioners had to approve the purchase and who actually establishes the fire department tax rates. ADJOURNMENT Chairman Robertson adjourned the meeting until 6:00 p.m., January 12, 1998, to meet in the County Administration Building to conduct a workshop.
_______________________ __________________________ Charles S. Mashburn
W. Darrell Robertson, Chairman |