| BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS | ALEXANDER COUNTY |
| MINUTES | STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA |
| Draft February 16, 1998 PRESENT:
STAFF:
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 Ronald Brookshire gave the invocation and Chairman Robertson led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. GIRL SCOUT-RESOLUTION Upon motion by Commissioner Glass and second by Commissioner Mayberry the Board voted unanimously to approve a resolution declaring March as Girl Scout Month (Resolution 97-#33). YMCA-REPORT Ms. Carol Mitchell and other members of the YMCA Committee presented a status report on efforts to organize a YMCA in Alexander County. Ms. Mitchell reported the Statesville YMCA is assisting the Alexander County Committee in getting more and better services provided. The Steering Committee is planning a founders campaign to begin raising funds in order to hire a full time coordinator. A recent survey indicated a lot of interest in people using the YMCA and in becoming dues paying members. She indicated a willingness to coordinate programs with the Senior Center and with the recreation department. DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES-STAFFING BUDGET AMENDMENT Department of Social Services Director Nan Campbell advised the Board that the General Assembly appropriated monies in 1997 for Alexander County to hire two social workers and one supervisor for the child welfare division. The case load for Alexander County has doubled in recent years. These positions will provide staffing at the minimum standards determined by the state. No local match is required. Upon motion by Commissioner Mayberry and second by Commissioner Bolick the Board voted unanimously to create three new positions in the Department of Social Services and to amend the 1997-1998 Budget with amendment #42 (Attachment #1). RECREATION-TENNIS COURTS Recreation Director Wes Deal reported back to the Board regarding information requested about the proposed tennis court project. Mr. Deal had proposed to apply for an $80,000 grant and an $80,000 local match to construct tennis courts near the school administration building. The project would include a comfort station that would accommodate users should other recreation facilities be constructed in the area. There is some discussion regarding softball and soccer fields. Commissioner Mayberry requested that the Board of Education clarify whether construction of these proposed facilities will impede expansion of the high school, should that be necessary in the future. The Board also asked that the long range plan be reviewed prior to the project being approved. The Board took no action pending further review at a work session planned for February 23, 1998. ENGINEER SELECTION-WATER & SEWER STUDY Upon motion by Chairman Robertson and second by Commissioner Mayberry the Board voted unanimously to negotiate with the engineering firm of Pierson and Whitman to perform the comprehensive water and sewer study, with a contract pending cost and the final scope of the project. Chairman Robertson indicated the cost of a similar study would be in the $30,000 range. ROAD NAMING POLICY-PRIVATE Upon motion by Commissioner Mayberry and second by Commissioner Glass the Board voted unanimously to amend the road naming policy to ensure that citizens who own all the adjacent property, as well as the road itself, be given exclusive authorization to name said roads. BOARD AND COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS Upon motion by Commissioner Glass and second by Commissioner Kerley the Board voted unanimously to make board and committee appointments as follows: TOWN OF TAYLORSVILLE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT Mr. Harold Dagenhart was appointed to replace Mr. James Ferguson on the Town of Taylorsville Board of Adjustment to represent the extraterritorial jurisdiction. BOARD OF HEALTH Dr. David Linzey was appointed to fulfill the unexpired term of Dr. Shaffer on the Board of Health, who resigned for personal reasons. ALEXANDER COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY Appointments were made to the Transportation Authority as follows:
SOLID WASTE Harry Robertson, Benny Clary, Norris Keever, and Raeford Thomas were reappointed to the Solid Waste Task Force. FINANCIAL ANALYSIS-FUND BALANCE The Board was presented an analysis comparing the Alexander County General Fund fund balance to other counties of similar size. According to information secured from "Fiscal Summary of North Carolina Counties," the average fund balance in 1996 for counties of similar size was 24%. Alexander County had a 17% balance in 1996. Other publications indicated Alexander County had one of the ten lowest tax rates in 1997-98. The Board discussed the audit report and directed that Martin, Starnes and Associates be advised that in future years the audit is to be discussed with the county manager prior to it being presented to the board, and copies of the audit are to be provided to the board in time for review prior to the formal presentation being made at a regular meeting. Board members questioned the accuracy of the auditor’s comments indicating the Landfill Fund was operating with a surplus, and comments regarding the fund balance. CONSENT AGENDA Upon motion by Commissioner Mayberry and second by Commissioner Kerley the Board voted unanimously to approve the consent agenda except for item number four, which was declared unnecessary. MINUTES The Minutes of February 2, 1998, were approved as presented by the Clerk to the Board. TAX RELEASES AND REFUNDS Tax releases of $586.68 and refunds of $3,843.75 were approved as requested. FIRE MARSHAL BUDGET AMENDMENT Budget Amendment #43 was approved to budget insurance proceeds to repair the fire marshal vehicle (Attachment #2). CLOSED SESSION Upon motion by Commissioner Mayberry and second by Commissioner Kerley the Board voted unanimously to go into closed session to discuss a personnel matter and to return to open session for purpose of adjournment only. ADJOURNMENT Upon motion by Commissioner Glass and second by Commissioner Kerley the Board voted unanimously to adjourn until 5:30 p.m., February 23, 1998, to conduct a work session in the Administration Building.
__________________________ ___________________________ Charles S. Mashburn
W. Darrell Robertson, Chairman
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