Draft
May 2, 2000
The Alexander County Board of Commissioners held their monthly meeting on May 2, 2000 in the Commissioner's Room in the Alexander County Courthouse, Taylorsville, North Carolina. PEOPLE'S AGENDA Chairman Watts called the People's Agenda to order at 6:47 p.m. William Hammer informed the Board that subcontractors through Charter Communications have been putting in new cable lines along Alspaugh Dam Road. The subcontractors have been digging lines and leaving holes along the road. Mr. Hammer stated that the area where the subcontractors are working is messy and unattractive to citizens traveling on Alspaugh Dam Road. He suggested that the Board contact Charter about the problem. Commissioner Wes Bolick stated that he was disappointed in the appearance of the lawn at the voting station in the Bethlehem 2 Precinct. REGULAR MEETING Chairman Watts called the regular meeting to order at 6:55 p.m. Commissioner Bolick gave the invocation. Logan Jones from Ellendale Elementary School led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT Chairman Watts gave the Chairman's Report which included:
ADOPTION OF AGENDA Commissioner Odom made a motion to adopt the agenda as presented. Commissioner Bolick seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. PUBLIC HEARING: SECONDARY ROAD IMPROVEMENT PLAN Joe Lamb presented the Board with the Secondary Road Improvement Plan. The plan included the paving priority list which was listed in this order:
The total estimated cost for paving the above roads is $1,531,000. This price includes spot stabilization and secondary maintenance, secondary construction program, and contingencies. Mr. Lamb stated that this plan would be immediately submitted to the Department of Transportation if approved by the Board. They will then continue down the priority list until all funds are exhausted. Mr. Lamb also stated that they would have a new priority list in approximately a year and have new data and traffic counts. Commissioner Odom asked Mr. Lamb what number SR1458 Ramie Mitchell Road was on the priority list. Mr. Lamb replied that Ramie Mitchell Road was #30. Mr. Lamb also stated that there will be 60 miles of unpaved road in Alexander County rural category after paving of roads on the proposed Road Improvement Plan. Commissioner Bolick requested that Mr. Lamb create a study for the Bethlehem School area to cut down on traffic in the mornings and afternoons. Solon Mitchell approached the Board to request paving of the Ramie Mitchell Road. Mr. Mitchell stated that the road is approximately 1.63 miles and is very dusty in the summer months. Mr. Lamb introduced his new assistant Doug McNeel. Commissioner Odom made a motion to close the public hearing. Commissioner Harbinson seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. Commissioner Robertson made a motion to accept the Secondary Road Improvement Plan as presented. Commissioner Odom seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. AWARD BID FOR LITTLE RIVER CHURCH ROAD CDBG PROJECT Nancy Coley presented the Board with the bids for the Little River Church Road CDBG project Contract A. Ms. Coley requested that the Board award the bid to Ronny Turner Construction Company from Hickory, NC which presented a low bid of $94,048. The water line will run from Three Forks Church Road to Wood Road. Ms. Coley stated that citizens in that area should have water by the end of the summer and that they had also located property for the 100,000 water tank. Commissioner Bolick made a motion to award the bid to Ronny Turner Construction Company. Commissioner Robertson seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. UPDATE ON INSURANCE RATE REDUCTION FOR WITTENBURG FIRE DISTRICT Russell Green, Fire Marshal, stated that the Wittenburg Fire District has recently lowered their rating to a Class 7 which will also lower home owner premiums. Mr. Green stated that a Class 9 rating was average. Taylorsville Fire District is in the process of lowering their rating as well as Hiddenite. A rate reduction from a Class 9 to a Class 7 will save homeowners approximately $85 per year. Mr. Green commended the Wittenburg Fire Department for their hard work in getting a lower rating. Commissioner Bolick requested that an ad be put in The Taylorsville Times in the summer to inform citizens on how to get a lower rating. PRESENTATION OF COMMUNICATIONS BID PACKET Terry Foxx, Emergency Service Director, presented the Board with the Communications Bid Packet which was discussed at the April 24th work session. Mr. Foxx stated that the halo grounding, which was questioned during the work session, was 5 to 6 feet below frost line. Mr. Foxx stated that he spoke to the engineer about the PVC water pipe. There is a warranty and the agreement is included in the bid packet. Included in the packet is a 24/7 maintenance agreement. Mr. Foxx stated that if they leased through Fleet Leasing, they could upgrade in 5 years. Wireless Communications presented a bid of $281,126.94 (worst case scenario). Mr. Foxx stated that they had received 2 out of the 3 repeater pairs. If they cannot get the third pair, they may have to have additional funding of $1,000 to coordinate and get a frequency out of the pool. Commissioner Odom made a motion to approve as presented. Commissioner Bolick seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. ADOPTION OF RESOLUTIONS Chairman Watts presented a resolution declaring Thursday, May 4, 2000 as the National Day of Prayer in Alexander County. Commissioner Bolick made a motion to adopt the resolution. Commissioner Harbinson seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. Commissioner Harbinson presented a resolution declaring Saturday, June 3, 2000 as the National Cancer Survivor’s Day in Alexander County. Commissioner Harbinson made a motion adopt the resolution. Commissioner Odom seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. ADOPTION OF PROCLAMATIONS Chairman Watts presented a proclamation declaring the month of May 2000 as Osteoporosis Prevention Month for Alexander County. Commissioner Harbinson made a motion to adopt the proclamation. Commissioner Bolick seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. Chairman Watts presented a proclamation declaring Saturday, May 20, 2000 as Alexander Community Hospital Day. Chairman Watts made a motion to adopt the proclamation. Commissioner Odom seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. APPOINTMENTS Chairman Watts made the following appointments and reappointments:
Commissioner Bolick made a motion to accept the appointments and reappointments. Commissioner Odom seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. COUNTY MANAGER'S REPORT Rick French, County Manager, gave the County Manager's Report which included:
OTHER BUSINESS HOSPITAL BOND REFERENDUM Chairman Watts stated that he had spoken to the Alexander Community Hospital Board members recently. The Board members do not want a bond referendum. They do not think the referendum would go in their favor and they would not be able to hire qualified staff. Chairman Watts stated that it was suggested that the County appropriate monies for emergency services. The County would appropriate a set amount for one year and would have no long-term obligation and no ownership. BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING Chairman Watts also discussed the meeting with the Board of Education. Phase 1 in the reconstruction plan will be Alexander Central and the new Ellendale School. Chairman Watts stated that both finance teams needed to stay in touch with each other and with the LGC. Roger Brown, Chairman Board of Education, stated that the school system has been debt free for 2 years. CONSENT AGENDA
Commissioner Bolick made a motion to accept the Consent Agenda. Commissioner Harbinson seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. CLOSED SESSION ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Robertson made a motion to adjourn at 8:15 p.m. Commissioner Odom seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion.
John F. Watts, Chairman Jamie C. Millsaps, Clerk to the Board |