MITCHELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

REGULAR SESSION

MINUTES

APRIL 4, 2005

NORTH CAROLINA

MITCHELL COUNTY

The Mitchell County Board of Commissioners met in Regular Session on April 4, 2005 at 5:00 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Conference Room, Administration Building, Bakersville, NC.  Those present for the meeting were Keith Masters, Chairman; Ken Hollifield, Vice-Chairman; Phil Byrd, Member; Mike Hensley, Member; Jim Saylor, Member; Phil Castro, Acting County Manager and Kathy Young, CMC to the Board.   Also present were Mavis Parsley, Finance Officer; Nathan Hall, Reporter with the Mitchell-News Journal; Ed & Jana Reid, Hazel Yelton, Elena Street, Carl Braswell, Ralph Snyder, Lolita Buchanan, Bud McKinney, Dr. Garrett, Janie Cook, Ken Fox, David Carpenter, Ed Greene, Stacey Lane, Tommy Ellis, Vincent Bonimanio, Keith McKinney, Ron & Libby McKinney, Barbara Buchanan, Darlene Gardner, Penny Bailey, George Wilson, Chuck Vines, Harper Wilson, Jean Saylor, John Perry, Dorothy Campbell, Inez McRae, Florence Berryhill, Reid Duncan, George Morgan and Fred Pitman.

1.   CALL TO ORDER – Chairman Masters called the meeting to order at 5:00  

     p.m.

2.   INVOCATION – Commissioner Hollifield gave the invocation.

3.   ADDITIONS/CHANGES TO THE AGENDA - None

4.   CLOSED SESSION – Commissioner Hollifield moved to enter into Closed

Session in accordance with G.S. 143-318.11(a)(4) & (6) to discuss matters relating to the location or expansion of industries, or other businesses in the area served by the public body, including agreement on a tentative list of economic development incentives that may be offered by the public body in negotiations; to consider the qualifications, competence, performance, character, fitness conditions of appointment, or conditions, of initial employment of an individual public officer or employment,  Commissioner Hensley seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

Commissioner Hollifield moved to go out of Closed Session.  Commissioner Hensley seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

Closed Session was held from 5:05 until 6:20 p.m.

No action was taken as a result of the Closed Session.

5.   PUBLIC HEARINGS/MEETINGS

  1. Rural Operating Assistance Program Application – Chairman Masters called the Public Hearing to order at 6:25 p.m.

No comments were received.  Chairman Masters closed the Public Hearing at 6:32 p.m.

Commissioner Hollifield moved to approve the Rural Operating Assistance Program Application (a copy is hereby attached and becomes a part of the minutes).  Commissioner Byrd seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

  1. Supplemental CDBG Application – Chairman Masters called the Public Hearing to order at 6:30 p.m.  

  

      No comments were received.   Chairman Masters closed the Public

      Hearing at 6:31 p.m.

  1. Secondary Road Hearing – Clerk to the Board Young informed the Board the Secondary Road Hearing scheduled for April 22, 2005 had been cancelled and would be rescheduled for sometime in July or August.

6.   RESOLUTIONS/PROCLAMATIONS/ORDINANCES

  1. Resolution Concerning the Dissolution of the Blue Ridge Center – Commissioner Hollifield moved to adopt the Resolution Concerning the Dissolution of the Blue Ridge Center (a copy is hereby attached and becomes a part of the minutes).  Commissioner Saylor seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

7.   ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

  1. Historic Courthouse Committee – Harper Wilson thanked the Board for allowing the committee time on the agenda.  The Historic Courthouse Committee has been in existence for almost a year.  The Committee has covered a lot of ground.  The Committee members have been dedicated to meeting the mandate that the Board had given them.  Mitchell County is very fortunate to have citizens who are willing to make personal sacrifices in order to assist the Board inn serving the County in a way that will benefit all of the citizens for decades to come.  This was not an easy task and it seemed like there was no way possible for us to agree on which was the best of the several flawed alternatives that had been considered.  It seemed that we were destined to settle for one of these flawed alternatives.  The committee is providing an unqualified recommendation to the Board concerning the future of the Historic Courthouse.  This recommendation comes after much work on behalf of the Avery Mitchell, Yancey Regional Library System (AMY) and Mayland Community College.  After initial discussions between AMY and the Committee a proposal was formulated involving a partnership between Mayland and AMY.  This proposal was formally presented to the Committee last month and after much discussion, the proposal was unanimously approved by the Committee.  The proposal is realistic, achievable and will best serve the interests of all Mitchell County citizens.  

Vinny Bonaminio stated that in keeping with their common mission to enrich the lives of the citizens within their service area, Mayland Community College and the Mitchell County Public Library of the Avery-Mitchell-Yancey Regional Library System are pleased to propose their joint use of the  Mitchell County Courthouse.  This partnership would allow both the Community College and the Public Library to expand and enhance the programs and services they offer to local residents.  The project would involve the Community College and the Library forming a partnership to seek and secure funding for the renovation of the Courthouse, as well as to maximize the use of the renovated space.  In return the County would agree to maintain the building and to lease the renovated space to the College and Library for a minimal sum.  Space in the building would be allocated to the Community College and the Library according to the needs of each.  As the primary goal of the Library in the project would be the expanding of its space available for programs and community use, the Mitchell County Library would be allocated the second floor of the building.  When not in use for Library programs the space would be available for use by the community, according to the policies approved by the AMY Regional Library Board.  Space on the first floor of the building would be allocated to the Community College for instructional  and office use.

A copy of the proposal and terms of agreement are hereby attached and becomes a part of the minutes.

The Board expressed their appreciation to the Historic Courthouse Committee for all their hard work on their proposal.   They asked that Patty Bowers be present at the next Board meeting to discuss this proposal with her.

  1. Artrain Project – Denise Cook, Director of Toe River Arts Council and Stacey Lane, President of the Toe River Arts Council gave the Board an overview of the Artrain.  Commissioner Byrd moved to allocate $1,000 to support the Artrain project.  Commissioner Hollifield seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

  1. Request from Centro Latino – Chairman Masters informed the Board that Centro Latino was requesting the transfer of the occupancy of the facilities currently being used by the Blue Ridge Reading Team to the Service Center for Latinos (DBA: Centro Latino).

Commissioner Hensley moved to approve the transfer.  Commissioner Byrd seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

  1. SB 508 Exempt Builder Inventory – Commissioner Byrd moved to oppose SB 508 Exempt  Builder Inventory.  Commissioner Hensley seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

  1. HB 635 Public Comments – Commissioner Byrd moved to oppose HB 635 Public Comments.  Commissioner Hensley seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

  1. New Jail Facility – Finance Officer Parsley reviewed the Mitchell County Proposed Jail Construction and Financial Time Line and the Projected Jail Operational Cost with the Board (a copy is hereby attached and becomes a part of the minutes).  

Chairman Masters reviewed the DRAFT Proposal for Lease of Cell Space in the Yancey County Jail (a copy is hereby attached and becomes a part of the minutes).  

Each Board member was given the opportunity to discuss their thoughts on each of the issues.  

After a lengthy discussion, Commissioner Byrd moved to do the loan application with USDA, to proceed with a design and feasibility study, to proceed with an impact study, and for County Attorney Hise to begin negotiations with Yancey County for a lease for at least 10 years @ $45 per day with any projected increases formulated into the lease agreement.  Commissioner Saylor seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

8.   REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS - None

9.   APPOINTMENTS - None

10.   RELEASES/REFUNDS

  1. Releases/Refunds for Board Approval – Commissioner Saylor moved to approve the Releases/Refunds for Board Approval (a copy is hereby attached and becomes a part of the minutes).  Commissioner Byrd seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

  1. Releases/Refunds for County Manager Approval – A copy of the Releases/Refunds for County Manager Approval  is hereby attached and becomes a part of the minutes.

11.   COUNTY MANAGER’S REPORT - None

12.   BOARD COMMENTS - None

13.   CITIZEN & AUDIENCE COMMENTS

  1. Matters on the Printed Agenda

  1. Matters not on the Printed Agenda

14.   ADJOURNMENT – Commissioner Hollifield moved to adjourn the meeting.  

       Commissioner Hensley seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

       The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

MITCHELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

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Keith Masters, Chairman

__________________________________

Ken Hollifield, Vice-Chairman

__________________________________

Phil Byrd, Member

__________________________________

Mike Hensley, Member

__________________________________

Jim Saylor, Member

ATTEST:

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Kathy Young, Clerk to the Board