| BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS | ALEXANDER COUNTY |
| MINUTES | STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA |
| January 19, 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 Mark Robinette gave the invocation and Chairman Robertson led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. BETHLEHEM FIRE DEPARTMENT-EXPANSION Mr. Bryan Patton, president of the Bethlehem Fire Department Board of Directors, reported to the Board that the Bethlehem Volunteer Fire Department is proceeding with plans to purchase adjacent property and expand the fire house. He indicated the property purchase can be completed without an increase in the district fire tax rate. The department will pay for the $100,000 purchase over a four year period. The Board was advised that county commissioners do not approve line items in fire department budgets, and fire departments have authority to purchase and own property. Chairman Robertson indicated the purchase should be considered by the board because the county is contingently liable for fire department debts. Upon motion by Commissioner Bolick and second by Commissioner Mayberry the Board voted unanimously to authorize the Bethlehem Volunteer Fire Department to proceed with purchase of land as proposed. RECREATION-TENNIS COURT GRANT Recreation Director Wes Deal asked the Board to commit $80,000 toward a $160,000 project to construct tennis courts. He indicated a 50% grant will be applied for. The new tennis courts are proposed to be constructed near the high school or near the Board of Education offices. The tennis association has reported it will help raise money also. The courts can not be constructed on school property but can be used by the schools. Chairman Robertson commended the plan, but indicated the Board needs to review the project in more detail at the next work session prior to committing $80,000 toward the project. EMS-BASE EXPANSION EMS Director Nolan Jarvis requested authorization to proceed with plans to expand the Taylorsville EMS Base to accommodate additional office space for the director, a billing clerk, and staff quarters. He shared a proposed floor plan and estimated the cost at about $85,000, including paving and hooking to the sewer system. The Board directed that Mr. Jarvis proceed with getting the plans drawn by the drafting class at the high school, and the Board will evaluate the proposal as soon as possible. DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES-WORK FIRST PLAN DSS Director Nan Campbell presented for consideration the Work First Plan as required by legislation. The plan was developed by the Work First Planning Committee. The objectives of the plan include reducing the caseload and putting clients to work and keeping families off welfare. These goals will be met by increasing the education and training level of recipients and by using public and private resources. Additional transportation and child care will be necessary. The Board commended and thanked Ms. Campbell, DSS staff, and the planning committee members. Upon motion by Commissioner Kerley and second by Commissioner Mayberry the Board voted unanimously to approve the Work First Plan as presented. SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT-FINGERPRINT MACHINE GRANT Sheriff Ray Warren requested authorization to apply for a grant to purchase a new fingerprint system that would significantly reduce the turnaround time securing fingerprints. The first year cost would be about $86,700 with a grant providing $65,025 and local match being $21,675. Mr. Warren reported the annual maintenance will cost much more than he first reported, and thus the project is not as highly recommended. Sheriff Warren suggested the matching funds be provided by the grantor and the grant withdrawn if the county has to provide the match the first year. Upon inquiry from Commissioner Mayberry, Sheriff Warren indicated he prefers not to commit Federal Forfeiture money to purchase the fingerprint machine, to be used instead to upgrade his computer systems. Upon motion by Commissioner Mayberry and second by Commissioner Bolick the Board voted unanimously to authorize the grant application based on the grantor paying the local match for the first year, with the grant being withdrawn if the match is not included. MARTIN LUTHER KING-HOLIDAY REQUEST Ms. Helen Anthony and Reverend Sterling Howard asked the Board to consider declaring Martin Luther King Day as a county holiday. Reverend Howard reported that both federal and state governments, as well as most counties in North Carolina, have declared the third Monday in January as Martin Luther King holiday. The holiday could be paid or unpaid. DSS Director Nan Campbell reported that the office was unable to perform much work because state offices were closed for the holiday. Reverend Howard also requested that Highway 16 or a portion of Liledoun Road be named Martin Luther King Boulevard. He was advised to present that request to the Town of Taylorsville. The Board took no action pending budget consideration due to each holiday costing about $15,000 to $20,000. ANIMAL CONTROL-SHELTER RESERVE Upon motion by Commissioner Robertson and second by Commissioner Glass the Board voted unanimously to transfer $19,000 from the Animal Control Capital Outlay line item to Capital Reserve Fund, with the money to be used toward constructing a new animal shelter (Attachment #1) (Budget Amendment # 40). HOME AND COMMUNITY BLOCK GRANT Upon motion by Commissioner Kerley and second by Commissioner Mayberry the Board voted unanimously to appoint members of the Alexander County Council on Aging as the Home and Community Care Block Grant Planning Committee, and the Western Piedmont Council on Aging as the Lead Agency for Planning. BOARD AND COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS Upon motion by Commissioner Mayberry and second by Commissioner Kerley the Board voted unanimously to make board and committee appointments as follows: LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES Aaron Spry, James Z. Watts, and Ruth Ledbetter were reappointed to three year terms on the Library Board of Trustees. SOLID WASTE TASK FORCE Mr. Gene Linney and Mr. James Ferguson were reappointed to the Solid Waste Task Force. ALEXANDER COUNCIL ON AGING Dr. Faulkenberry, Jay Clyde Fox, Angela Johnson, Jean Rufty, Judy McGuire, Shelley Caraway, and Wes Bolick were appointed to the Council on Aging. ECONOMC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL Ned Herman was reappointed to serve on EDC. FOOTHILLS AREA AUTHORITY Upon motion by Commissioner Mayberry and second by Commissioner Kerley the Board voted unanimously to change the appointment to clarify that Dr. Jo Foster serves on the Foothills Area Authority until July, 1999. 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 January 5, 1998, were approved as presented by the Clerk to the Board. TAX REFUNDS AND RELEASES Tax refunds of $3,160.92 and releases of $951.45 were approved as requested. SHERIFF’S BUDGET AMENDMENT #39 Budget Amendment #39 was approved to appropriate $900 in Federal Forfeiture monies to purchase a storage trailer (Attachment #2). DAY REPORTING CENTER BUDGET AMENDMENT #37 The Day Reporting Center budget was amended by #37 to budget a $22,000 grant (Attachment # 3) SHERIFF’S BUDGET AMENDMENT #38 Budget Amendment #38 was approved to use $650.00 in Federal Forfeiture monies to purchase a printer (Attachment #4). Commissioner Mayberry departed the meeting at this time. ENGINEER INTERVIEW The Board met with Mr. Chester West of West and Associates to discuss qualifications to perform a comprehensive water and sewer study. No action was taken pending additional interviews. ADJOURNMENT Upon motion by Commissioner Bolick and second by Commissioner Glass the Board voted unanimously to adjourn until 5:00 p.m., January 26, 1998, to meet at the County Administration building to conduct a board workshop.
______________________ ________________________________ Charles S.
Mashburn
W. Darrell Robertson, Chairman
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