September 21, 1998

PRESENT:      Darrell Robertson, Chairman

                       W. Guy Kerley

                       Timothy Glass

                      Wes Bolick, Vice Chairman

ABSENT:       K. Craig Mayberry

STAFF:         Charles S. Mashburn, Clerk to the Board

                       Jerry Campbell, Attorney

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 Patrick Riddle gave the invocation and Chairman Robertson led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

RETIREMENT PLAQUE-NANCY CARRIGAN

Ms. Nancy Carrigan was asked to come forward for presentation of a retirement plaque. Ms. Carrigan had worked since 1991 in the Administration Department. Chairman Robertson first read a resolution that praised Ms. Carrigan for outstanding performance. The resolution documented that she had performed her job enthusiastically, cheerfully, impartially, ethically, effectively, efficiently, with dignity and integrity, and that in 1994 she had been selected as the Alexander County Secretary of the year. Then the resolution in jest resolved that the Board of Commissioners had voted to reject and refuse her resignation. The Board then presented her the retirement plaque. Each of the Board members praised and thanked Ms. Carrigan for the professional and outstanding way she had performed her job as secretary to the county manager and board of commissioners.

RECREATION DIRECTOR-INTRODUCTION

County Manager Charles Mashburn introduced Mr. Phillip Harper as the newly appointed recreation director. Mr. Harper reported for duty the morning of September 21. Mr. Robertson also thanked Jeremy Byers, Julie Price and the Recreation Advisory Committee for doing a good job of continuing departmental programs while there was no director.

ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT INTERN-ROBERT HISS

County Manager Charles Mashburn introduced Mr. Robert Hiss who is working a paid internship in the Administration Department.

HOMETOWN DEVELOPMENT-REPORT

Ms. Margaret Gwaltney presented a report on Downtown Development Council activities. She thanked the Board for the $10,000 that has been appropriated over the past two physical years, and reported the Downtown Development group is sponsoring a lot of activities designed to improve the downtown. These activities include such events as the Apple Festival, etc. The Council has visited other communities to get ideas to implement in Taylorsville. A lot of organizations have donated time, money, and materials to help make the Council possible. There are now 102 members.

Ms. Gwaltney introduced project manager April Cline and thanked her for her hard work.

The Board thanked Ms. Gwaltney for her personal effort and the fine job being done for the Hometown Development Council.

HOUSING REHABILITATION-REVISED

Mr. Steve Austin, Western Piedmont Council of Governments, asked the Board to approve a revised list of houses for rehabilitation. Several structures included on the original schedule have since become ineligible for reasons such as death of the qualifying owners, lack of clear title, etc. Changing the schedule also requires that funds be spent differently than originally planned.

Upon motion by Commissioner Kerley and second by Commissioner Glass the Board voted unanimously to approve a budget amendment (Budget Amendment #11, Attachment #1) and a revised list of houses for rehabilitation as follows:

Sharon and Leonard Coleman

Joe and Lola Craig

Ruby Crisp

Eula Parson

Larry Hartness

RESCUE SQUAD CONTRACTS

Upon motion by Commissioner Glass and second by Commissioner Kerley the Board voted unanimously to approve contracts with the Alexander Rescue Squad & EMS for 1998-99.

Terry Foxx announced that the Alexander County heavy rescue squad team finished first in the state in a recent contest.

LIBRARY-TECHNOLOGY CONNECTIVITY GRANT

Library Director Doris Stephens reported the county has been offered a $55,745 grant for enhanced technology connectivity. The project proposes to construct fiber optic cable between the Library and Administration Building and requires a local match of $13,937.

Ms. Stephens recognized Marty Hubbard who assisted in writing the grant. Ms. Stephens advised the Board that an equipment replacement policy must be adopted to comply with the grant requirements.

Upon motion by Commissioner Bolick and second by Commissioner Glass the Board voted unanimously to approve the equipment replacement policy, to accept the $55,745 grant, to commit the $13,937 local match, and to adopt a budget amendment to establish the appropriation (Budget Amendment #10, Attachment #2).

SEIZED FUNDS-TOWN OF TAYLORSVILLE

The Board was advised that Town of Taylorsville officials have asked that $1,186.19 in funds seized by the Town of Taylorsville police department be transfered from the County General Fund to the Town of Taylorsville. These funds were deposited by statute to the County General Fund. The Sheriff’s Office took no part in the seizure activities and concurred with the transfer.

Upon motion by Commissioner Kerley and second by Commissioner Bolick the Board voted unanimously to transfer $1,186.19 in seized funds to the Town of Taylorsville.

HUNTING AND FISHING DAY RESOLUTION

Upon motion by Commissioner Glass and second by Commissioner Bolick the Board voted unanimously to adopt a resolution declaring September 26, 1998, as Hunting and Fishing Day in Alexander County (See Resolution 98-9).

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES-BILLING AND COLLECTION

EMS Director Nolan Jarvis presented for consideration a proposal to outsource EMS billing and collection. Alternative Information Management of Columbia S.C. has offered to perform the service for a 7% fee. Based on collections of $215,000 per year, the fee would be about $15,000 per year. The cost of half time staff person and operating expenses amounts to about $15,500 per year. The contractor claims to provide a more effective and efficient process because medical billing has become a very specialized process. The Board also directed that staff evaluate the feasibility of Health Department staff performing EMS billing and collection.

The Board took no action pending further evaluation

WATER BILLING-CONTRACTING

Upon motion by Commissioner Glass and second by Commissioner Bolick this matter was tabled pending further evaluation.

BOARD AND COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS

Upon motion by Commissioner Kerley and second by Commissioner Glass the Board voted unanimously to approve board and committee appointments as follows:

BOARD OF HEALTH

Dr. Max Schrum was appointed to replace Dr. Griffin, Mr. Bob Phillips, Jr. was appointed to replace Mr. Bob Phillips Sr., and Mr. David Keys was appointed to replace Ms. Anna Ferguson on the Board of Health.

PLANNING BOARD

No appointments were made for the planning board.

BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT

Mr. Jerry Palmer, Mr. Lloyd Jarvis, and Mr. Carl Kerley were reappointed to the Board of Adjustment.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

Mr. Bob Peoples, Mr. Charles Harrington, and Mr. Norris Keever were reappointed to the Economic Development Commission.

REGION E EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE ADVISORY

Ms. Sandra Loftin was reappointed to the Region E Emergency Medical Service Advisory Board.

RECREATION DEPARTMENT-STUDY

The Board was advised that staff at the Western Piedmont Council of Governments has offered to assist with a recreation department study in preparation for the next grant cycle. The COG staff will be assisted by personnel from the North Carolina recreation planning staff in preparing an evaluation of existing and planned facilities. The cost of the study is expected to be between three and five thousand dollars.

Upon motion by Commissioner Bolick and second by Commissioner Kerley the Board voted to authorize a contract with the WPCOG for a recreation study and plan.

CONSENT AGENDA

Upon motion by Commissioner Bolick and second by Commissioner Glass the Board voted unanimously to approve the consent agenda as follows:

MINUTES

The minutes of August 31, 1998, and closed session minutes from July 5, 1994 through August 31, 1998, were approved as presented by the Clerk to the Board.

DARE FUND BUDGET AMENDMENT #9

Budget Amendment #9 was approved to appropriate $20,948 for purchase of a vehicle in the Dare program (Attachment #3).

SHERIFF’S OFFICE-RECORDS RETENTION AND DISPOSITION

An amendment to the Sheriff’s Office Records Retention and Disposition Schedule was approved as presented.

TAX RELEASES AND REFUNDS

Tax releases for $2,872.37 and refunds for $1,449.77 were approved as requested.

CLOSED SESSION

Upon motion by Commissioner Glass 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 Kerley and second by Commissioner Bolick the Board voted unanimously to adjourn.

__________________     ___________________________

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