| BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS | ALEXANDER COUNTY |
| MINUTES | STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA |
| Draft February 2, 1999 PRESENT:
STAFF: Helen Anthony Chairman Joel Harbinson called the meeting to order by opening the People's Agenda at 6:45 PM with no response from the public. He officially called to order the Alexander County Commissioner’s monthly meeting at 6:50 PM. Rev.Thomas Weddington gave the Invocation and Commissioner Watts led the Pledge of Allegiance. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chairman Harbinson acknowledged several letters received that were of interest to the public. A letter of opposition to a prison being located in Alexander County was received from Denise Stafford. A letter was received from Eileen Sharpe along with a check for $300.00 noting her support for the leadership and vision of the Commissioners. The radio tower located at the old jail will be dismantled and removed either this week or next week. ADDED AGENDA ITEMS Swearing in of the Clerk to the County Commissioners and the Deputy Clerk. The Veterans Administration seeking approval to place a monument on the Courthouse lawn. The "Citizen of the Month" Award presented by a County Commissioner this month. A grant received from the Department of Correction for Substance Abuse through the Community Based Alternatives Task Force. Commissioner Watts made the motion to add these items to the Agenda. Commissioner Odom seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously. SWEARING IN OF CLERK AND DEPUTY CLERK The Clerk of Court, Seth Chapman, gave the Oath of Office to Helen Parker Anthony, Clerk to the County Commissioners, and Judy Feimster, Deputy Clerk to the County Commissioners. VETERANS REQUEST Mr. Wilson Friday, Veterans representative, requested approval to place a monument on the Courthouse lawn during the Memorial Day services. Commissioner Odom made the motion to approve and Commissioner Bolick seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. ROAD NAME PUBLIC HEARING Jennifer Pennell presented a list of roads to be named for the approval of the Commissioners (Attachment 1) and the renaming of Jowers Hill Lane to Gilbert Place. Motion by Commissioner Robertson and seconded by Commissioner Watts to close the Public Hearing. The motion carried unanimously. Upon a motion by Commissioner Odom and seconded by Commissioner Bolick, both items were approved with a unanimous vote by the Board. PLANNING SERVICE FOR TOWN OF TAYLORSVILLE Motion by Commissioner Robertson and seconded by Commissioner Odom to table this request until the next Commissioner’s meeting. Motion carried unanimously. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FUNDING Mr. Keith Hertzler, Executive Director, requested funding of $12,000.00 from the County $2,000.00 from Wal-Mart as a grant for economic development and an additional $10,000.00 from the county fund balance for this fiscal year. Commissioner Odom made the motion to fund the Chamber’s budget Amendment for $10,000.00, which was seconded by Commissioner Watts. The motion carried 3 (Watts, Harbinson, and Odom) to 2 (Robertson and Bolick). CITIZEN OF THE MONTH Commissioner Bolick presented the first "Citizen of the Month" plaque to Mr. J.N. Daniels. The Commissioners presented a "Citizen of the Month" plaque to Commissioner Wes Bolick for his efforts in Honduras. Next month Chairman Harbinson will make the presentation. FIBER OBJECT PROJECT Commissioner Robertson presented the draft contract submitted by B & L Telephone Co. to install fiber optic cable in the county. A motion to approve Option I for $24,352.00 for B & L’s Contract was made by Commissioner Robertson. Commissioner Bolick seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. G I S CONTRACT Commissioner Robertson made a motion to table the GIS contract until a workshop at 6:30 PM on February 9, 1999 and review by the County Attorney. Commissioner Odom seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. CABLE TV FRANCHISE RENEWAL Commissioner Watts made a motion to table this discussion for a workshop to be held at 7:30 PM on February 9, 1999. Mr. Landon Barefoot of Charter Communications would be asked to attend. Commissioner Bolick seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. BOARD of ELECTION – STAFFING A motion was made by Commissioner Robertson to approve the Board of Election hiring Linda Mundy as Board of Elections Supervisor at a salary of $23,784.00 and Carolyn Campbell full time until May 30, 1999 and then four days a week thereafter at a salary of $9.00 per hour. Commissioner Odom seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. EMPLOYMENT SECURITY COMMISSION EXPANSION and ADMINISTRATION BUILDING OFFICE SPACE ALLOCATION Both items were tabled for the workshop on February 9, 1999 by consent of the Board. LAME DUCK SPENDING Motion by Commissioner Watts to table the Lame Duck Amendment until clarification has been received from the County Attorney. Commissioner Robertson seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. ROAD ABANDONMENT SR1496 Commissioner Watts made the motion to table this matter until the County Attorney could review the statutes. Commissioner Odom seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. ANIMAL SHELTER CONSTRUCTION PROJECT Dr. David Linzey requested the County approval of selected site, funding of $19,000.00 previously voted to be appropriated, and additional staff personnel. Commissioner Robertson made a motion to table any consideration until the February 16, 1999, meeting to check the zoning, the neighbor’s approval, and so on. Commissioner Odom seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY – SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS Commissioner Odom made a motion to grant the $17,000.00 supplemental appropriations to the Transportation Authority Coordinator, Terry Foxx. The Motion was seconded by Commissioner Watts and passed unanimously. CVCC FUNDING – DISTANT LEARNING CENTER Motion by Commissioner Watts to invest $1,020.00 per month until June 30, 1999, for the Installation of T-1 line that will allow students to have a distant learning center in Alexander County. Commissioner Bolick seconded the motion with the vote being unanimous. DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES GRANTS Upon motion by Commissioner Watts and second by Commissioner Odom, a grant of $4,590.00 and match of $650.00 were approved with the Board voting unanimously in favor of said motion. DSS – MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT REQUIREMENT Nan Campbell stated Alexander County needs to spend $83,000.00 in certain DSS funding or risk losing state and federal funding. Motion by Commissioner Odom and seconded by Commissioner Watts to appropriate $35,000.00 from the Fund Balance for Child First and other funding, which motion passed unanimously. FIRE HYDRANT PLACEMENT POLICY Motion by Commissioner Odom, and amended by Commissioner Robertson, to approve a draft to place fire hydrants 1,000 ft in housing areas and 2,500 ft apart in non-housing areas after review by the County Attorney. Commissioner Watts seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously. ROAD PAVING PETITION Motion by Commissioner Watts and seconded by Commissioner Odom to refer the paving of the Ramie Mitchell Road (SR1458) to the Department of Transportation. Motion carried unanimously. AMENDED AGENDA The County received a grant of $10,000.00 from the Department of Correction to be used by Community Based Alternatives Task Force for substance abuse assessment. Commissioner Odom made the motion to approve this budget amendment. Commissioner Bolick seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. APPOINTMENTS Motion to appoint Jeff Davis to the Bethlehem Recreation Park Board by Commissioner Watts and seconded by Commissioner Bolick. Motion carried unanimously. CONSENT AGENDA Minutes of the January 5 and January 19, 1999 were adopted by consent. Tax refunds for $3,199.23 were approved by consent. ANNOUNCEMENTS Commissioner Odom stated the Safety Workshop held January 29, 1999 was successful. Commissioner Watts stated the Education Workshop would be held February 5, 1999, at 6:00 PM at the Hidden Crystal Inn. Chairman Harbinson noted over 40 applications had been received for the County Managers position. Upon a motion by Commissioner Watts and second by Commissioner Odom, the Board voted unanimously to go into closed session to discuss personnel. ADJOURNMENT Until February 9, 1999 workshop at 6:30 P.M. _________________________ _________________________ Helen P. Anthony Joel C. Harbinson, Chairman |