STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA ) OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONERS

) STOKES COUNTY GOVERNMENT

COUNTY OF STOKES ) DANBURY, NORTH CAROLINA

) JUNE 4, 2007

The Board of Commissioners of the County of Stokes, State of North Carolina, met

for a Public Hearing regarding the Proposed Fiscal Year 2007-08 County Budget in Courtroom

“A” of the Government Center Complex located in Danbury, North Carolina on Monday,

June 4, 2007 at 6:00 pm with the following members present:

Chairman Leon Inman

Vice-Chairman Jimmy Walker

Commissioner Ron Carroll

Commissioner Ernest Lankford

Commissioner Stanley Smith

County Personnel in Attendance:

County Manager K. Bryan Steen

Clerk to the Board Darlene Bullins

Finance Director Julia Edwards

Chairman Leon Inman called the meeting to order.

Commissioner Smith delivered the invocation.

GENERAL GOVERNMENT-GOVERNING BODY-PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Chairman Inman opened the meeting by inviting the citizens in attendance to

join the Board with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Chairman Inman thanked the citizens for coming out to the public hearing regarding the

proposed fiscal year 2007-08 county budget.

The following spoke regarding the proposed Fiscal Year 2007-08 County Budget:

Joe James

5692 NC HWY 772

Madison, NC

Mr. James spoke regarding the following:

• In favor of reinstating the two positions that were eliminated in the proposed 2007-08 county budget back into the Fire Marshal’s Budget
• Comments on the grants ($270,312) obtained for fire departments by staff in the Fire Marshal‘s office with ($471,652 is pending)
• Requested communication between the county and the fire departments regarding the fire contract,

Matthew Thorpe

1573 Twin Oaks Drive

King, NC

Mr. Thorpe spoke regarding the following:

• In favor of reinstating the two positions that were eliminated in the proposed 2007-08 county budget back into the Fire Marshal’s Budget
• Comments on the valuable services provided by Truck #310- saving the citizens’ and county money

Ian Tedder

112 Ember Court

King, NC

Mr. Tedder spoke regarding the following:

• In favor of reinstating the two positions that were eliminated in the proposed 2007-08 county budget back into the Fire Marshal’s Budget
• Comments on the importance of Truck #310 and the fire marshal’s office
• Noted the importance of training received from the Fire Marshal’s office

Brad Cheek

1035 Dee’s Lane

Walnut Cove, NC

Mr. Cheek spoke regarding the following:

• In favor of reinstating the two positions that were eliminated in the proposed 2007-08 county budget back into the Fire Marshal’s Budget
• Expressed concerns with budget cuts
• Presented further justification for the eliminated positions: lack of manpower for assistance with daytime fires, training, installation of smoke detectors, grant writing for local fire departments, fire inspections which allows other members of the Fire Marshal’s office to execute other duties such as safety training for county employees, etc.

Billy Darrell Moorefield

1115 Billy Moorefield Road

Sandy Ridge, NC

Mr. Moorefield spoke regarding the following:

• In favor of reinstating the two positions that were eliminated in the proposed 2007-08 county budget back into the Fire Marshal’s Budget
• Comments on response of truck #310 during daytime hours

Nick Golden

1125 Briarwood Drive

Walnut Cove, NC

Mr. Golden spoke regarding the following:

• In favor of reinstating the two positions that were eliminated in the proposed 2007-08 county budget back into the Fire Marshal’s Budget
• Comments on the services provided by the Fire Marshal’s office and Truck #310
• Compared the success of Truck #310 with a similar service in Forsyth County that has been in service over 40 years.

Mike Merritt

409 Trinity Church Road

Tobaccoville, NC

Mr. Merritt spoke regarding the following:

• In favor of reinstating the two positions that were eliminated in the proposed 2007-08 county budget back into the Fire Marshal’s Budget
• Comments on the valuable services provided by Truck #310. Mr. Merritt spoke regarding the proposed Fire Services District budgets submitted to the Board and the need for a 1.5 cent fire tax increase in order to continue operations and build up the service district fund balance.

Les Collins

1106 Trinity Church Road

Tobaccoville, NC

Mr. Collins spoke regarding the following:

• In favor of reinstating the two positions that were eliminated in the proposed 2007-08 county budget back into the Fire Marshal’s Budget
• Comments on the importance and valuable service of Truck #310 to the volunteer fire departments and the citizens of Stokes County
• Requested the Board consider the proposed fire tax increase.

Tom Southern

203 Faye Court

King, NC

Mr. Southern expressed appreciation for the support proposed by the County Manager for the proposed King Senior Center. Mr. Southern also noted the following:

• Comments on the activities proposed for the Center
• Urge the Board to support the County Manager’s allocation for the Center for the upcoming fiscal year 2007-08.

Wayne Flippin

1040 Elastic Plant Rd

Westfield, NC

Mr. Flippin spoke regarding the following:

• Requested the Board support the funding for the Stokes County Growers Co-Op
• Comments on the services being provided by the Co-Op
• The need for funding for the Co-Op.

Gary Wilkins

8799 NC 704 HWY

Madison, NC

Mr. Wilkins spoke regarding the following:

· In favor of reinstating the two positions that were eliminated in the proposed 2007-08 county budget back into the Fire Marshal’s Budget

· Presented statistical information for the need of Truck #310 during day time calls, training provided by Truck #310 and the Fire Marshal’s office

· Saving of county dollars by using the Fire Marshal’s office for training, pump testing, grant writing, etc.

Keith Lawson

1328 Weldon Smith Road

Lawsonville, NC

Mr. Lawson spoke regarding the following:

• In favor of reinstating the two positions that were eliminated in the proposed 2007-08 county budget back into the Fire Marshal’s Budget
• Comments on the services provided by Truck #310 and the Fire Marshal’s office
• Comments regarding the fire fighting classes held in area departments by the Fire Marshal’s office
• The need for day time assistance
• The need for negotiations between the fire departments and county officials

Devin Rhodes

3834 NC HWY 772

Walnut Cove, NC

Mr. Rhodes spoke regarding the following:

• In favor of reinstating the two positions that were eliminated in the proposed 2007-08 county budget back into the Fire Marshal’s Budget
• Need for day time assistance
• Need for 1.5 cent fire tax increase
• The proposed changes in the fire department contracts
• Valuable training of employees on Truck #310
• Need for funding to provide services to the citizens of Stokes County

P J Cash

1230 Kentland Drive

King, NC

Mr. Cash spoke regarding the following:

• In favor of reinstating the two positions that were eliminated in the proposed 2007-08 county budget back into the Fire Marshal’s Budget
• Comments on valuable training and service provided by Truck #310
• Need for 1.5 cents fire tax increase

Randall G Patterson

2595 Mtn View Church Road

King, NC

Mr. Patterson spoke regarding the following:

• In favor of reinstating the two positions that were eliminated in the proposed 2007-08 county budget back into the Fire Marshal’s Budget
• Comments on valuable services provided by the Fire Marshal and Truck #310
• Elimination of Truck #310 would put fire service in Stokes County backwards, and assistance provided to all fire departments in Stokes County
• Most important taking the fire service in Stokes County forward and not backwards.

Jeff Inman

6418 Westfield Road

Westfield, NC

Mr. Inman spoke regarding the following:

• In favor of reinstating the two positions that were eliminated in the proposed 2007-08 county budget back into the Fire Marshal’s Budget.
• Comments on the services provided by Truck #310
• The constant struggle to keep volunteers and provide day time manpower, the need for equipment (turnout gear for safety)
• The changes in the proposed contract.

John Hedrick

1537 Ireton Lane

Winston Salem, NC

Mr. Hedrick spoke regarding the following:

• Proposed budget for the Northwestern Regional Library System
• Requested the Board consider the allocation for the new pay plan for employees to be implemented within the next two budget years
• Need to retain qualified personnel to assist the citizens of Stokes County
• Comments on the valuable service provided by the libraries in Stokes County

Michael Hartwig

1260 Peach Trail

Walnut Cove, NC

Mr. Hartwig spoke regarding the following:

• Budget submitted by the Northwestern Regional Library System
• Need for funding to support the libraries in the County
• Support for the Walnut Cove Library Project

Kay Richey

1065 Ernest Nelson Road

Danbury, NC

Ms. Richey spoke regarding the following:

• In favor of the budget submitted by the Northwestern Regional Library System for the Danbury Library

• Comments on the need for the new pay plan in order to retain dedicated staff
• Support for the emergency service workers in the county.

Mike Hartley

1100 Buck Meadows Lane

King, NC

Mr. Hartley spoke regarding the following:

• In favor of the budget submitted by the Northwestern Regional Library
• Comments on the need for the new pay plan
• Need for keeping trained employees
• Request a most needed increase in funding for the libraries
• Need for well-equipped libraries for the citizens of the County.

Phil Sutphin

PO Box 93

Westfield, NC

Mr. Sutphin spoke regarding the following:

· In favor of reinstating the two positions that were eliminated in the proposed 2007-08 county budget back into the Fire Marshal’s Budget

· Comments on the valuable services provided by Truck #310 and the Fire Marshal’s office

· Services of Truck #310 needed not only for the fire departments, but also for the citizens of Stokes County

Charles Mabe

PO Box 72

Danbury, NC

Mr. Mabe spoke regarding the following:

• The proposed budget submitted by the County Manager regarding the forestry services
• Requested the need for additional funding in order to obtain funding from the state
• The $6,000 cut results in state funding cuts totaling approximately $15,000 in the budget
• Additional funding is needed for fuel, lease on a new truck, and increase in departmental supplies
• Need to further discuss the cuts proposed in the budget.

Kim Lewis

PO Box 706

Walnut Cove, NC

Ms. Lewis spoke regarding the following:

• Budget submitted by the Northwestern Regional Library System
• Comments on the need for additional funding in order to implement the new pay plan for employees
• Need to retain dedicated employees who are valuable to the library system in Stokes County

Tim Hall

1447 Mitchell Road

Pilot Mountain, NC

Mr. Hall spoke regarding the following:

• In favor of reinstating the two positions that were eliminated in the proposed 2007-08 county budget back into the Fire Marshal’s Budget
• Presented statistical data pertaining to fire ratings in the county, training provided by Truck #310
• Desperate need for the two positions in the Fire Marshal’s office
• Need to support emergency services in the County

L.G. Tilley

1085 Pembroke Drive

Pinnacle, NC

Mr. Tilley spoke regarding the following:

• Favor of reinstating the two positions that were eliminated in the proposed 2007-08 county budget back into the Fire Marshal’s Budget
• Comments on valuable training of employees of Truck #310, training provided by Truck #310 and Fire Marshal’s office, and day time assistance to the fire departments
• Fire Marshal’s office is the backbone for the fire departments
• Comments on the budgets submitted by the fire departments which are

detailed and contain future plans such as trucks, buildings, etc for each fire department

Wayne Barneycastle

4511 NC 66 HWY S

King, NC

Mr. Barneycastle spoke regarding the following:

• In favor of reinstating the two positions that were eliminated in the proposed 2007-08 county budget back into the Fire Marshal’s Budget
• Comments on the valuable service of Truck #310 and the Fire Marshal’s office
• Valuable training provided by Truck #310 employees
• Outstanding job done by the Fire Commission
• Supports the fire tax increase suggested by the Fire Commission.

David Bowen

PO Box 779

King, NC

Mr. Bowen gave this time to Mr. David Hartley.

Brad Alley

1285 Meadowlark Rd

Walnut Cove, NC

Mr. Alley gave his time to Mr. Harold Dillman.

Mr. Harold Dillman

1072 Gene Martin Road

Walnut Cove, NC 27052

Mr. Dillman spoke regarding the following:

• In spoke in favor of reinstating the two positions that were eliminated in the proposed 2007-08 county budget back into the Fire Marshal’s Budget
• Comments on valuable training of Truck #310 and Fire Marshal’s office
• The elimination of Truck #310 and the two positions will set the County back 20 years in fire service to the citizens putting the lives of citizens and fire fighters in jeopardy.

Ms. Sonya M. Cox

Chairperson

Stokes County Board of Education

Chairperson Cox was unable to attend due to a school retirement reception for employees scheduled prior to the public hearing date. Chairman Inman read the letter submitted to the Board which requests additional funding for the schools. (A copy will be retained by the Clerk to the Board)

Adjournment

Chairman Inman expressed the Board’s appreciation for those in attendance and for

the invaluable services provided by the fire departments, libraries, outside agencies, volunteers,

and county departments.

There being no further business to come before the Board, Chairman Inman

entertained a motion to adjourn the meeting.

Commissioner Smith moved to adjourn the meeting. Vice Chairman Walker

seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

_________________________ _____________________________

Darlene M. Bullins J. Leon Inman

Clerk to the Board Chairman