PRESENT:             W. Darrell Robertson, Chairman

                              Wesley E. Bolick, Jr., Vice Chairman

                              K. Craig Mayberry

                             W. Guy Kerley 

                             Timothy A. Glass

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 Commissioners’ Meeting Room of the Alexander County Courthouse. The Reverend Kenneth G. Walters gave the invocation and Chairman Robertson led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

TRANSPORTATION-EDTAP HEARING

Chairman Robertson called to order a public hearing as advertised and notice duly provided to consider comment regarding the proposed spending of $35,197.00 in Elderly and Disabled Transportation Assistance Program funds. Transportation Coordinator Terry Foxx explained these funds are allocated by the North Carolina General Assembly and are to be used to provide supplemental transportation to the elderly and disabled. Priority for spending the money will be for medical and nutrition programs. It was recommended the Alexander County Transportation Department be delegated responsibility for administering the funds and for coordinating the transportation needs. There being no questions or comments from anyone, the public hearing was declared closed upon motion by Commissioner Mayberry and second by Commissioner Kerley.

Upon motion by Commissioner Mayberry and second by Commissioner Glass the Board voted unanimously to accept the grant and designate the Alexander County Transportation Department to administer the funds.

ROADS-ABANDONMENT PROCEDURES

The Board was advised that certain residents of Moretz Court have objected to the recent decision by the Board of Commissioners to close the end of Moretz Court. The Board of Commissioners had previously approved the closure upon recommendation by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Those residents who oppose the closure requested a review of the decision and process. County Attorney Jerry Campbell advised the Board that GS153A-241 requires a public hearing and notification to adjacent property owners when roads are closed, except for DOT controlled roads. The Board could choose to follow the intent of the statute, even for DOT roads. Mr. Campbell advised that the issue is whether the DOT or the county controls this section of road. Some residents who were present indicated the state did not take over the cul-de-sac, it was never paved and has never been maintained. Chairman Robertson advised that DOT has been written to request no action be taken pending a clarification of the matter. The residents of Waterfront Lane object to the closing because many people use Waterfront Lane to turn around and damage the road, because there is no cul de sac turnaround.

Upon motion by Commissioner Robertson and second by Commissioner Glass the Board voted unanimously to rescind the previous road closing for Moretz Court and to refer this matter back to the DOT (including the petition to close and the petition to oppose the closing) for clarification and recommendation, with the Board taking action according to the findings.

RECREATION COMMISSION-ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The Board discussed at some length the possibility of converting the Recreation Commission to an advisory committee. The Board discussed that certain incidents in recent months indicated the Recreation Commission had neglected oversight of administrative and personnel matters in the recreation department. There was some concern that the Recreation Commission tends to participate only in the program aspects of recreation and neglect the administrative aspects.

Mr. Barry Hollar, Chairman of the Recreation Commission, reported the Commission discussed the reorganization at a recent meeting and voted unanimously to continue the existing structure. He reported his understanding was that the organization structure was for the Recreation Commission to decide, and he assured the Board of Commissioners that the Recreation Commission will give proper attention to all matters in the future.

Chairman Robertson indicated an advisory committee would continue most of the current duties except the personnel and finance responsibilities. Commissioner Mayberry indicated that this matter had been discussed informally many times during the last several years, that the Recreation Commission had been given an opportunity to remedy certain problems, and that it was time to make the change.

Commissioner Mayberry made a motion that the Recreation Commission be dissolved as a commission and be reorganized as an advisory committee, with the committee maintaining all of its current responsibilities except for hiring and firing staff, personnel functions, etc. This motion was seconded by Commissioner Bolick and passed 5-0.

LANDFILL-CLOSURE BIDS

The Board was advised that bids to close the landfill were opened at 2:00 p.m., June 23, 1998, and publicly read as follows:

White Fox Construction Co. $472,085

TB Powell, Inc. 618,263

SEI Environmental, Inc. 671,264

Taylor & Murphy Construction Co. 860,085

DR Phillips Contracting 959,965

Ground Improvement Techniques 992,160

Municipal Engineering Company had evaluated the bids and recommended White Fox Construction.

Chairman Robertson requested that Municipal Engineering secure from the low bidder a schedule of work to be done, and secure a list of equipment, and provide a copy of the bid documents for further review.

Upon motion by Commissioner Robertson and second by Commissioner Glass the Board voted unanimously to postpone until July 13 consideration of the White Fox Construction Co. bid to close the Alexander County Landfill.

HUNTINGTON HOUSE-CDBG GRANT

Upon motion by Commissioner Kerley and second by Commissioner Glass the Board voted unanimously to accept the Huntington House CDBG Grant, to agree to the obligations, including the required match, to designate Chairman Robertson, Ken White, and Charles Mashburn as the signatories, and to approve a 1998-99 budget amendment (Budget Amendment #, Attachment #).

HUNTINGTON HOUSE-ENGINEERING SERVICES

Upon motion by Commissioner Bolick and second by Commissioner Glass the Board voted unanimously to approve a contract with West and Associates to perform engineering services for the Huntington House project.

FLOOD PLAIN ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS

The Board was advised that Mr. John Gerber had called to report that Alexander County is in compliance with the National Flood Plain Insurance Program and that contrary to several correspondences from FEMA, no further modification of the plan is required by Alexander County. He is to write a letter to document that telephone call.

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES-FRAUD INVESTIGATOR

The Board was asked to adopt a budget amendment for the DSS fraud investigator position as approved at a previous meeting. The position was not included in the 1998-99 budget pending a detailed budget.

Upon motion by Commissioner Bolick and second by Commissioner Mayberry the Board voted unanimously to amend the 1998-99 Budget to include the DSS fraud investigator position as previously approved (Budget Amendment #1, Attachment #2).

WESTERN PIEDMONT COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS-PLANNING ASSISTANCE CONTRACT

Upon motion by Commissioner Bolick and second by Commissioner Mayberry the Board voted unanimously to approve a contract with Western Piedmont Council of Governments to provide planning assistance at cost of $7,000.

TAX OFFICE-RECORDS DISPOSITION

Upon motion by Commissioner Mayberry and second by Commissioner Glass the Board voted unanimously to approve disposition of tax records as follows:

Abstracts 1961-64 35 books

Receipts & Vouchers 1963-66 5 boxes

BOARD AND COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS

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

TOWN OF TAYLORSVILLE PLANNING BOARD

Mr. Sterling Howard was reappointed to serve on the Town of Taylorsville Planning Board as an extraterritorial jurisdiction member.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE PARTNERSHIP ADVISORY BOARD

Mr. John Alspaugh and Ms. Camilla Dula were reappointed to serve on the Criminal Justice Partnership Advisory Board.

REGION E EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE COMMITTEE

Mr. Nolan Jarvis was reappointed to serve on the Region E Emergency Medical Service Committee.

REGION E DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Mr. Raeford Thomas was reappointed to serve on the Region E Development Corporation.

ALEXANDER COUNTY CHILD PROTECTION/CHILD FATALITY REVIEW TEAM

Sheriff Ray Warren and Mr. Nolan Jarvis were reappointed to serve on the Alexander County Child Protection/Child Protection Fatality Review Team.

CONSENT AGENDA

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

MINUTES

The minutes of June 15, and June 22, 1998, were approved as presented by the Clerk to the Board.

CLOSED SESSION

Upon motion by Commissioner Robertson and second by Commissioner Mayberry 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 returning from closed session Commissioner Robertson made a motion to adjourn until 6:00 p.m. July 13, 1998, for a CDBG public hearing and continuation meeting for the landfill closure bids, the flood plain ordinance, and any other necessary item, and to cancel the regularly scheduled meeting for July 20, unless an unforeseen emergency agenda item requires another meeting. This motion was seconded by Commissioner Kerley and passed unanimously.

____________________________ ____________________________

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