May 18, 1998

PRESENT:      W. Darrell Robertson, Chairman

                        W. Guy Kerley

                        Timothy A. Glass

ABSENT:        K. Craig Mayberry

                       Wes E. Bolick, Jr., Vice Chairman

STAFF:           Charles S. Mashburn, Clerk to the Board

                        Jerry A. Campbell, Attorney

Chairman Robertson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Commissioner’s Meeting Room of the Alexander County Courthouse. The Reverend Joseph Waters gave the invocation and Chairman Robertson led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

NOISE COMPLAINT

A group of citizens from the area in and around Telephone Exchange Road in Bethlehem attended the meeting to complain about a loud noise and to request the Board consider an ordinance to control said noise. Ms. Donna Lane informed the Board that the noise is being made by a gas generated devise that makes a loud blast about every eight minutes, twenty-four hours per day. The noise is apparently intended to scare birds away from a field with newly planted seeds. The owner of the noise does not live in the neighborhood and is not disturbed by the noise. A resident from Hillsborough Road also complained about the device. A petition and a letter were submitted to request an ordinance.

The Board directed County Attorney Jerry Campbell to evaluate an ordinance that might control the situation, but the owner will be asked to remedy the situation.

BOARD OF EDUCATION - 1998-99 BUDGET REQUEST

Mr. Roger Brown, Chairman of the Board of Education, introduced Mr. Wiley Doby as the recently appointed Superintendent of Schools, who will take office on July 1, 1998.

Mr. Brent Fox, Chairman of the Board of Education budget committee, asked the Board of Commissioners to make education a higher priority. He established a goal of having the local contribution at $1,000 per student by the year 2000.

Dr. Warren Hollar, interim Superintendent of Schools, explained the funding request for 1998-99. He presented statistics showing the local contribution to the school budget is currently about $571.00 per student. The state average is well in excess of $1,000 per student. The Board of Education requested $3,790,899 for 1998-99, which is a 26% increase. This would bring the average to about $695.00 per student. The priorities are to recruit better qualified teachers and administrators by increasing the supplement, and by paying signing bonuses.

The Board of Commissioners took no action pending further evaluation during the budget process.

CATAWBA VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE - LEASE

The Board reviewed a lease between Alexander County and L & M Frames Inc. for Catawba Valley Community College to use a building located on Highway 90 East as a satellite campus. The lease is for two years and continues the $1,000 per month rent which is paid by the County.

Upon motion by Commissioner Glass and second by Commissioner Kerley the Board voted unanimously to approve an additional two year lease for Catawba Valley Community College to use a building owned by L & M Frames, Inc., for use as a satellite campus in Alexander County.

WATER & SEWER STUDY - PIERSON & WHITMAN

Chairman Robertson reported that Pierson & Whitman has offered to perform a comprehensive water and sewer study for a base fee of $35,000. The company will study the existing water and sewer services, including that being provided by the Town of Taylorsville and Alexander County Water Corporation. The study will provide water and sewer construction priorities, as well as compare the cost of constructing and operating a water treatment facility with the cost of purchasing water.

Upon motion by Commissioner Kerley and second by Commissioner Glass the Board voted unanimously to authorize a contract with Pierson & Whitman for a comprehensive water and sewer study for a base price of $35,000, and to name the county manager as the primary contact for the study.

ANIMAL CONTROL - SHELTER

Dr. David Linzey reported on efforts of the Alexander County Animal Action League to get a new animal shelter constructed. He reported the committee has not located a suitable site for the new shelter and asked the Board to consider using property between the National Guard Armory and the maintenance facility. He also suggested the shelter be started fairly soon in order to utilize prison labor that may not be available next year. The prison is scheduled to close at the end of 1998. He estimated it will cost about $80,000 to build the facility, with the Animal Action League contributing about $40,000 to match the $19,000 that is in a reserve fund, and $19,000 that will be budgeted next year. Dr. Linzey recommended that Mr. Geoffrey Hoffman be retained to design the project for a fee of 7% to 9% of the bid. Chairman Robertson suggested the fee may be too high, and with tax dollars being used, an interview process may also be necessary. Participation by the League in operating a new facility will need to be evaluated prior to a site being selected.

The Board took no action pending budget evaluation.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT – STORM RESPONSE

Chairman Robertson thanked Nolan Jarvis in his role as Emergency Management Coordinator, and all other emergency response organizations, for outstanding performance in the aftermath of the tornadoes that hit Alexander County on May 7, 1998.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES - BASE EXPANSION

Emergency Medical Services Director Nolan Jarvis announced that Harrington Construction Company submitted the only bid to construct office space at the Taylorsville Emergency Medical Services base at a cost of $74,776.45. Mr. Jarvis explained the project consists of about 1,190 square feet of space, most of which is office and crew space. The new offices will allow the director to move from the Administration Building in order to be accessible to the staff.

Upon motion by Commissioner Robertson and second by Commissioner Kerley the Board voted unanimously to accept the Harrington Construction Company bid of $74,776.45 to expand the Taylorsville Emergency Medical Services base as proposed.

WATER REQUEST - BELLEVIEW REST HOME

The Board took no action because no one representing the facility attended the meeting.

INSPECTIONS - IREDELL CONTRACT

The Board was advised that Iredell County has offered to contract for Level III building inspections for the Wittenburg Elementary School project. The inspection’s department does not have a Level III inspector as required for the project. Iredell will send their staff provided Alexander County incurs all liability and pays all direct and indirect expenses.

Upon motion by Commissioner Kerley and second by Commissioner Glass the Board voted unanimously to approve a contract with Iredell County for building inspection service as proposed.

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:

TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

Mr. Dennis Rhyne was appointed to fill the civic organization category, and Ms. Linda Mobley was appointed to fill the business and industry category on the Transportation Authority.

RECREATION DEPARTMENT

Ron Hargrave, Dee Glaser, and Michael Crisp were appointed to the Recreation Commission.

CONSENT AGENDA

Upon motion by Commissioner Kerley and second by Commissioner Glass the Board voted unanimously to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:

MINUTES

The minutes of April 30 and May 4, 1998, were approved as presented by the Clerk to the Board.

TAX RELEASES AND REFUNDS

Tax releases of $74.89 and tax refunds of $123.04 were approved as requested.

ADJOURNMENT

Upon motion by Commissioner Glass and second by Commissioner Glass the Board voted unanimously to adjourn until 5:00 p.m., May 25, 1998, to conduct a budget workshop.

_____________________ ____________________________

Charles S. Mashburn           W. Darrell Robertson, Chairman
Clerk to the Board