The Avery County Board of Commissioners met in Regular Session on Monday, July 17, 2006 at 3:00 p.m. in their offices, Avery County Administrative Complex, Newland, NC.

Members Present: Susan Pittman, Vice-Chair; Phyllis Forbes, Joe Strickland
Members Absent: Kenny Poteat and Bill Beuttell

Call to Order
The Vice-Chairman, Susan Pittman, called the meeting to order at 3:04 p.m.
Joe Strickland offered prayer.

Energy X-Change
Robert Wiseman advised that Energy X-Change has provided each of the Board Members with a fern which was grown in one of their greenhouses using energy produced from landfill gases.

Public Comments
There were no public comments.

While awaiting the time for the scheduled public hearings, the Board agreed to proceed to the Manager’s Report.

County Manager Report – Robert Wiseman
Avery Transportation Authority Facility
Robert Wiseman reported that this issue with construction of the Transportation facility is still ongoing.
Bids were opened on this project recently. We received bids from J.E. Greene & Company, Hoilman Construction Co., Carroll Construction Co. and WKM Construction Company on July 11.
We had a base bid and 3 alternate bids for the project. Alternate 1 was a separate bid on a wash bay; Alternate 2 was to deduct for a shingled roof as opposed to a metal roof, and the same for the wash bay. As far as base bids, the low bidder was J.E. Greene & Company at $683,000. The wash bay bid was $152,000. The other bids range up to $766,000. The bottom line is that after 3 years of dealing with this issue, the last time we opened bids they came in at $800,000. Then at the request of the DOT, we started cutting back on the project. We skimped on a lot of things and got it down to about $650,000. We are now back up to $130,000 more than the amount we previously got it down to.
Peter Heinbach (with Beeson, Lusk & Street) and I will go to Raleigh to defend our case in front of the Board of Transportation at their next regularly scheduled meeting, Wiseman said.

Over a year ago I wrote to the DOT asking them what they wanted us to do about this matter; if we need a metal building or should we go in another direction, or are they looking at regionalization, etc.
We are still in the same place with this project that we were two years ago, Robert said. I think we should keep pushing this. The State committed to this and we have spent money in good faith, based on their commitment to Avery County, up to and including an extra $7,000 to re-bid the same project that we bid about a year ago. Robert added that we have been working on this project since he came back to work at the County in February 2002. The County purchased the land at that time and we proceeded on in good faith, but we are still here 4 years later proceeding in good faith toward that goal.
It is obvious to me that the NCDOT does not intend to honor their agreement, Wiseman said. Susan Pittman commented that she agrees that a trip to Raleigh would be warranted in this situation.

Health Department Building Project
Robert Wiseman recommended that the Board take a look at the new Health Department Building which is still under construction. He said that he thinks we may be able to occupy that facility by the end of August 2006. The paving of the parking lot is the next part of the project to be completed. We will pave that parking lot, and also resurface the Senior Center parking lot at the same time, Robert said.

We have about $278,000 left in the appropriation that was awarded Avery County when Senate Bill 7 was approved. We hope that the state will release the rest of that money so we can close out the project.

Courthouse Annex Renovation Project (2nd Floor)
The Courthouse Annex project is going well and is actually ahead of schedule. By late November the new E-911 Central Communications area should be finished and they will be moved in. When that happens, then the rest of the building will be razed. They are doing a good job on it. We are also working on getting new fixtures for that new section of the building. The company that is working on that project is very cognizant of the needs of the E-911 Department and makes every effort to cooperate and be quiet
when emergency calls are coming into E-911. Discussion held on the possibility of 911 funds drying up at the state level.

C&D Materials
Robert Wiseman discussed the growth of Avery County, especially in the northern area. He added that the amount of construction/demolition material is growing astronomically. We received a report today regarding the C & D Landfill and the Transfer Station. Overall, the report was very good. Buddy Norris, Solid Waste Director, will be providing an update on these matters in the near future.

Public Hearing – National Floodplain Ordinance
Motion by Joe Strickland and second by Phyllis Forbes to convene in a Public Hearing on the National Floodplain Ordinance at 3:24 p.m. Motion unanimously approved with 3 members in attendance.

The Chairman turned the Public Hearing over to Tommy Burleson to explain the proposed amendments to this Ordinance as follows:

“Amendments required to maintain a good current standing with program”

1. Add Repetitive Damage Section:
Home being flooded two times in a ten year period shall be eligible for HMGP buy-outs.

2. Add Substantial Damage Section:
Home being flooded with damage greater than 50% of the property value shall be eligible for HMGP
Buy-outs.

3. Per Planning Board: Avery County shall require a 3 foot freeboard above the 100 year “Base Flood
Elevation” (BFE), state model recommends 2 foot.

4. Definitions: Will add HQW, High Quality Water, per the N.C. Division of Water Quality Standards. Also
will add Trout Waters-C Classification per N.C. Division of Water Quality and Avery County Watershed Protection Ordinance.

Tommy Burleson advised that this Hearing is in regard to the National Floodplain Insurance Program and our Floodplain Ordinance. The County has been buying out flooded properties under the HMGP (Hazard Mitigation Grant Program) and also under CHAFT.
Our old Ordinance adopted in 1993 did not have a section on either Repetitive Loss or Substantial Damage. That allows the counties to use FEMA monies to buy out those flood damaged properties.
We are basically just updating the 1993 Ordinance with these proposed changes, Tommy said.

Tommy explained each of the requested additions and the reasons for each. Categories 1 and 2 both need to be added in case of another flood. We want to make sure we are grandfathered in, in case of another flood.
Category 3 – The Planning Board wants the 100 year base flood elevation (BFE) to be 3 ft. above the 100 year flood elevation instead of 2 feet above it.
Tommy advised that we had homes during the last flood which were built to code but still got flooded. That’s another reason we want to increase the BFE he said.
All of our flood maps are currently being updated. We hope to have them all current within the next 2 years. We are now working with our old flood maps, which I feel are antiquated, Tommy said.
He added that these updates will make us eligible for FEMA monies.

Category 4 – We are currently in the middle of a WS-5 Watershed. You can go 10 miles from the intake and it’s a WS-4. Your county is basically zoned. I would like to put these definitions into this Ordinance because they are already a part of our Watershed Ordinance. That way the Floodplain Ordinance and the Watershed Ordinance would coincide, Tommy said, and people could use them as a cross-reference.

The Chair asked for comments on the proposed changes in the Ordinance.

Joe Strickland asked if these changes have been discussed with the Planning Board and that they approve of them. Tommy advised that all of these changes were discussed by the Planning Board and were approved by them. He added that the National Floodplain Insurance Program also wants us to make these changes, Tommy said.
Discussion on increasing the freeboard from 2 feet to 3 feet. This is just an added guard above the State recommendation of 2 feet. This building we are in right now was built to the old Flood Ordinance and we had about 22 ½ inches of water during the last flood. If it were built to this new flood ordinance, we would probably have had 10 ½ inches of water, based on the previous flood, Tommy said.

There were no public comments.

Motion by Joe Strickland and second by Phyllis Forbes for the Board to close the Public Hearing at 3:35 p.m. and resume Regular Session. Motion unanimously approved with 3 members in attendance.

Motion by Joe Strickland to approve the proposed revisions to the National Floodplain Ordinance as presented. Motion seconded by Phyllis Forbes and unanimously approved with 3 members in attendance.

Public Hearing – Avery County Subdivision Ordinance
Motion by Joe Strickland for the Board to convene in a Public Hearing at 3:36 p.m. to consider amendments to the Avery County Subdivision Ordinance. Motion seconded by Phyllis Forbes and unanimously approved with 3 members in attendance.

The Chairman turned the Public Hearing over to Tommy Burleson to explain the proposed amendments to the Avery County Subdivision Ordinance as follows:

- Recommendation to require 22,000 sq. ft. of “Green Space” per residential R-2 dwelling unit (condominium and townhouses) amendment to be added to Section 404.2.C: Plan unit Development (PUD) development paragraph of Ordinance shall reflect this requirement in Sec. 502.4 Special Subdivisions to have this 22,000 sq. ft. green space requirement.

- Changing Section 404 © to the following:

Public & Private Public or Private Sewer Individual
Water & Sewer No Public Sewer Water & Sewer
(22,000 sq. ft.) (22,000 sq. ft.) (32,670 sq. ft.)

- Planning Board option to require a “Landscaping Plan”

- Planning Board wants to require that any site plan changes to come back for approval of the Planning Board. Add to Section 303 as applies to PUD & Cluster Development. Individual home
Sites to be approved by Ordinance Administrator.

- Any final plats that are not recorded with the Register of Deeds within twelve months of final
Approval by the Avery County Board of Commissioners will be deemed expired and a new Planning Board and Commissioners approval will be required.

1. Tommy Burleson advised that these are recommendations coming directly from the Planning Board. The recommendation would require 22,000 sq. ft. of green space per residential R-2 dwelling unit to be added as above. Tommy said that in the past he was able to do this by having the green space requirement for a septic system. River Ridge, just above Banner Elk, is in violation now. They got water/sewer from the Town of Banner Elk. They were going to have a 198 acre-development, but it has gone bankrupt. We have them under violation and we don’t want that to happen again. This planned unit development allowed it to be a very high density type of development, which we don’t want. We want low-density, high-quality, Tommy said.
As the ordinance is written now, they can walk all over our density requirements by getting water from a municipality, and we need to change that, Tommy said.

2. Discussion on request to change Section 404 ©.
These regulations do not apply to a person wanting to give their child a ½ acre of land for a home or trailer, or Uncle XYZ wanting to sell them a half acre to build upon; but you are still required to get a septic tank (sewer) approval from the Avery County Health Department.
These regulations only affect planned unit subdivisions which are commercial subdivisions.
This amendment is highly recommended by the Planning Board, Tommy said.

3. The Planning Board would also like to see an option for Landscaping Plans, Tommy said.

4. The Planning Board also wants to require that any site changes will be required to come back to
The Planning Board for approval.

5. Any final plats that are not recorded by the Avery Co. Register of Deeds within 12 months of final
Approval by the Avery Board of Commissioners will be deemed expired and a new Planning Board and Commissioners approval will be required. Tommy said that his department works with people to help them phase in these projects. Sometimes when they get approval, they go in there and change things around. However, if they don’t get it recorded by the Register of Deeds, then it is not a legal document. Sometimes they manipulate the lines, develop the sites and sell them to others, etc.

The Chairman asked for comments on these proposed revisions.

Joe Strickland said that since there is no retroactive statement, I assume that anything already in motion is not affected by this change. Tommy Burleson advised that is correct. Joe asked if the State has any kind of requirements on landscaping and if not, since Tommy is adding in the clause for a Landscaping Plan, do we have something defining our expectations. Tommy said it comes under ground stabilization. He said we work through the NC Arboretum in Asheville to get our recommendations on native plants. Joe said that unless there is a definition of what is expected in a Landscaping Plan, that if you get into a disagreement with a contractor as to what should be done, what is to prevent that person from saying that you are being arbitrary and capricious about your position. Discussion. Joe recommended that once these amendments to the Ordinance are adopted, he would recommend that Tommy come back with an additional revision defining what his expectations are under this Landscaping Plan. That way, you remove any questions prior to their becoming an issue.
Joe asked if the exception under Item #5 is recognized in the ordinance that it does not apply. Tommy advised that it is not recognized. Joe said are you saying that this exception will be placed in the ordinance. Tommy advised that it will be placed in the Ordinance.

Discussion on approval of these 5 recommended amendments to the Subdivision Ordinance. Joe Strickland said he would approve all of them, but that he would approve the last one with the condition that the Planning Board come back to us with their expectations on a Landscaping Plan, which would help remove any potential concerns that may evolve.

Robert Wiseman asked about the Planning Board’s option to require a Landscaping Plan and what that means. He asked if the Planning Board has the option to grant one person approval without a Landscaping Plan but not approve someone else because they don’t have a Landscape Plan. Tommy said that people sometimes go in and denude the site. If you don’t have enough ground stabilization, we need to define if there is enough vegetation and root fiber to stabilize the site, or are we looking at a canopy from a roadway, a view shed, etc. That’s a hard question and a long answer. The plan option is going to be the Planning Board’s prerogative, Tommy said. Joe asked if there is a defined standard for this. Tommy Burleson advised that there is no standard at present. Joe said that should be another addition. I still recommend to the Chair that we adopt these amendments with the clear understanding that there is a required expectation for the Planning Board, with Tommy’s help, to clarify these two items by developing standards.

Tommy said the Planning Board wants to go out and physically look at these sites instead of just looking at them on paper, and thus be able to better see what the site actually needs. That could also be a part of the plan. Joe said that until the standards are developed, I think it should be understood that this part of the ordinance cannot apply because there is no definition.
Tommy suggested that the Board adopt these changes to the Ordinance but to just put “Landscaping Plan” Section into the Ordinance and he will type in quotations next to it, “To be defined later.” Once I bring the Plan back to you and it is approved, I can then add it to that section, Tommy said. Joe reiterated that that aspect of the Ordinance cannot apply because there is no definition.
Tommy agreed that he will take this matter back to the Planning Board for further work.

There were no further comments.

Motion by Joe Strickland to close the Public Hearing at 3:52 p.m. and return to Regular Session. Motion seconded by Phyllis Forbes and unanimously approved with 3 members in attendance.

Motion by Joe Strickland to adopt the first, second, fourth and fifth paragraphs in this request to amend the Avery County Subdivision Ordinance, with the clear understanding that in the third paragraph the Landscaping Plan is to be defined by a standard. Motion seconded by Phyllis Forbes and unanimously approved with 3 members in attendance.

Public Hearing – Avery County Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Control Ordinance
Motion by Joe Strickland for the Board to enter into a Public Hearing regarding proposed amendments to the Avery County Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Control Ordinance at 3:55 p.m. Motion seconded by Phyllis Forbes and unanimously approved with 3 members in attendance.

The Chairman turned the Public Hearing over to Tommy Burleson to explain the amendments which are being requested for this Ordinance.

Tommy Burleson provided the Board a map showing the three watersheds located in Avery County; Watauga, French Broad and Catawba. Tommy advised that the County currently has a good handle on our Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Control Ordinance. A lot of these items being requested are State mandates which we have to place in our Ordinance in order to be certified by the State to be a State Certified Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Control Program. Tommy then outlined the N.C. Land Quality Sedimentation & Erosion Program Updates being requested today.

1. Mandatory Standard for land-disturbing activity – G.S. 113A-57, Sec. VII - amendment.
You would be changing the Ordinance from 30 working days to 15 working days and changing 120 calendar days to 21 calendar days with this amendment, Tommy said.
This is all required by the State in order to be State Certified, Tommy said.

2. Storm Water Discharge permit required: NC Div. of Water Quality, NCGS 143-215-1.
This is also required by the State to be certified, Tommy advised.
The N.C. G 010000 permit is now a State requirement. It goes to the Div. of Water Quality and we
Have to have a Final Storm Water Discharge Plan, which is good for our watersheds. It is already in
Place and all I’m doing is putting it at the front of the Ordinance so people will know when they pull a
Grading Site Permit that when we get an application from them, they will get an application for this
N.C. G 010000 (NPDS Permit - to discharge effluent sewage.) Hopefully this will stop some confusion.

3. Responsibility of Maintenance
Require a copy of the Grading Contractor’s Contract to verify responsibility of measures of installation.
This section tells you who is responsible for certain measures. The State really likes this section,
Tommy said. It tells us what the grading contractor is going to do and who is responsible for certain
Measures.

4. Section VII - Mandatory Standards for Land Disturbing Activity
Tommy advised that this section is cross-over definitions. Watershed protection buffers are included.
Also, trout water-C classifications for NC Div. of Water Quality. 25 ft. buffer for residential and a 50-
Foot buffer for commercial sites.
Watershed Protection Buffers – Already apply to Watershed Ordinance Drinking Water Watersheds.
We are not changing any buffer areas, just adopting what the state is doing, Tommy said. We are just
Putting them in our ordinance so that when people look at our ordinance it is the same as what the
State requires.

The Chairman asked for comments on these proposed revisions to the Ordinance.

Joe Strickland asked if the contractors are aware of these proposed changes. Tommy advised that they are aware of the changes. These are not changes, we are just adding them into our ordinance so they are readily accessible for everyone to see, Phyllis said.

New section in the Ordinance: No hazardous industries to be located in Water Shed area.
Hazardous is defined in the Ordinance. Tommy said. He explained the hazardous definition sheet.

Bertie Burleson asked if Tommy thought we would have more floods in coming years due to all the development in the county and the way they are cutting trees off of the tops of the mountains. Discussion on groundwater and watershed issues. Joe Strickland asked if we are looking at having a Water Department in the near future. Tommy said no, he did not think so. He advised that we have very low density levels and we are doing all we can to protect the people in the county and preserve our water supply.

Joe Strickland asked if the Commissioners could require the municipalities to adopt a more stringent ordinance if the county adopts the same thing. Tommy said no, you cannot. He said they can adopt our laws if they want to, and if you want us to enforce them, then I want some stipends. However, they are supposed to abide by all these state laws just as we are. Discussion on persons responsible for enforcing these ordinances in municipalities. Tommy said the Manager is responsible if they do not have anyone appointed to do the enforcement, but we cannot impose county law on the towns. Joe Strickland commented that he is in favor of protecting the quality of the water in the County but also in favor of the municipalities adhering to the same standards that the County does. Tommy added that the towns can always purchase this service from the County. Joe Strickland said he would hope it would be on either Tommy’s agenda or the Manager’s agenda to consider some relationship with the towns in order to avoid an issue. Tommy advised that the towns have their own ordinances. Banner Elk has a new ordinance administrator as well. Joe said we need some sort of cooperative effort with the towns. Tommy said that the County will not issue a building permit until we receive a letter from the town’s planning board saying that it has met all of their requirements. We work with the towns, Tommy said. Robert Wiseman commented that the problem is that it is after the fact. Discussion held regarding fact that the County has no control and cannot enforce within the municipalities. Phyllis Forbes said she felt that things probably go on in a municipality that we might not allow, and it is bound to cause a problem for areas outside of that municipality. Susan Pittman said the towns are required to follow state guidelines just as the County does. If they don’t then someone needs to report them. She suggested that this Board discuss this issue at a later meeting.

Tommy Burleson said that high density development in Avery County is going to come to a screeching halt because you cannot get a wastewater treatment permit in Avery County. Newland is right at their effluent level and Elk Park can get a better effluent rate by moving their plant down the river a little ways. There is only going to be only so much high development in Avery County because of the effluent rate that is allowed by the water quality, Tommy said. A lot of the resort areas now are using groundwater septic systems. Discussion on nitrogen loading and tree farming regulations. Tommy said that Avery County only has 6 inches of topsoil and we have to maintain that topsoil with best management practices. If we don’t, we will end up like Montana and Colorado, etc. Joe asked if this would be a good foundation for a Land Use Plan. Tommy said he already has draft copies of a Land Use Plan and whenever your Board wants to meet with the Planning Board, they are anxious to meet with you. He added that we have density levels already and that Avery County is already highly zoned; we have density levels and buffer zones everywhere. Every stream is buffered. Tommy added that Avery County was the first county in Western North Carolina to have a Subdivision Ordinance.

Joe Strickland said that Tommy is saying that we already have a boilerplate program that we can customize for this County. Joe said he felt we should get on with it.

F. Hillside Development Regulations
Tommy said this section is for steep slopes. This will put us ahead of the bar again if we pass this regulation. We are trying to avoid what happened in Boone on that mountain next to Wal-Mart with those buildings sliding off the side of the hill. This regulation would require the hillside to be benched every 12 - 14 feet. If it is a 2/1 slope, it needs to be terraced and benched. If this is adopted, Tommy said, we would be the second county in WNC to have a slope ordinance. Discussion on need for such an ordinance.

Robert Wiseman commented in regard to previous discussion with Tommy Burleson regarding a Slope Ordinance. Robert said that even though it was not a cleared area at Pete’s Creek in Macon County back in September 2004 when those 5 people lost their lives in a mudslide, I think this Slope Ordinance is as good as we can do at this point in trying to stop something like that from happening here in Avery County. With this new ordinance, it will take a lot more area to build a house on a slope than it has in the past

There were no further comments.

Motion by Joe Strickland to close this Public Hearing at 4:22 p.m. and resume Regular Session. Motion seconded by Phyllis Forbes and unanimously approved with 3 members in attendance.

Motion by Joe Strickland to adopt these amendments as presented on the Avery County Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Control Ordinance. Motion seconded by Phyllis Forbes and unanimously approved with 3 members in attendance.

Joe Strickland commented that he has 3 or 4 months left on this Board and that he would appreciate hearing from Tommy as to what he has in mind for the Land Use Plan and also on some of these recommendations made today on these Ordinances.

Work First Program – Marie Gwyn, DSS Director
Marie Gwyn, DSS Director, asked the Board to designate Avery County as a Standard County for the Work First Program. We have always been a Standard County and it has worked well for us in the past she said. She added that Drema Hayes would be assisting her with the Work First Plan this year and that she would keep the Board advised as they develop this Plan, which is being revised this year due to a change in the Federal Guidelines.

Motion by Phyllis Forbes to continue our Work First Program as a Standard County and to authorize the Chair to sign the appropriate forms. Motion seconded by Joe Strickland and unanimously approved with 3 members in attendance.

Finance Office Report – Tim Greene

Item 2
Budget Amendment #________ Workmen’s Compensation Insurance
Tim Greene, Finance Officer, advised that during the budget process the Workmen’s Compensation Insurance was under budgeted by $198,223.00. When the renewal quote came in, it was spread over two pages, and I failed to read page 2, which gave the adjustment to the quote, Tim said. I overlooked it and mis-budgeted this item. When I first started working, our Workmen’s Comp premium was a little under $100,000 and then due to some unfortunate incidents in the County, our Workmen’s Comp has increased dramatically over the past several years. It is on a 3 year cycle and it was to the point where I thought it was going to take a big dip, so when I saw the renewal quote on the first page, I grabbed it, Tim said.

Tim advised that next year we should see a pretty significant decrease in Workmen’s Comp insurance. It will be partially offset by our medical and dental insurance renewal. It will be about $63,000 less than the amount we actually budgeted, so that will partially offset this expense. Tim apologized for the mistake.

Motion by Joe Strickland to take $198,223 out of Fund Balance and transfer it toward the Workmen’s Comp Program expense. Motion seconded by Phyllis Forbes and unanimously approved with 3 members in attendance.

Along those lines, Joe Strickland commented that Avery County belongs to the NC County Commissioners Association Worker’s Comp Program, and it is his impression that they may be in trouble. He encouraged the County to look into an alternative for coverage before it becomes an issue to us. The Board of Directors has discussed the possibility of trashing the whole program, Joe said. He suggested that the Manager and Finance Officer look into this matter in order to avoid some major financial issues.
Tim Greene added that the total premium for this year will be $360,005.00 and I had budgeted $161,782.00. Brief discussion on the possibility of the County becoming self-insured for Workers Comp. Tim advised he would check into this matter. Robert Wiseman advised that the conception of the Insurance Pool itself came about as a result of the fact that insurance became so expensive that none of the counties, especially rural counties, could afford it. Joe said the Insurance Pool is now in the position that either they get out of the business or face a premium increase that is so astronomical that it would bring us to our knees. Susan Pittman commented that we don’t have to continue with the Pool, that we can get quotes and contract with another company if necessary.

QZAB Bonds
In regard to the QZAB Bonds, Tim Greene reported that he has been in contact with the Bank of America and they forwarded some information to him that says there is a pretty decent chance that it might get approved. We may know something in about two more weeks.

County Attorney Report – Michaelle Poore
Michaelle Poore reported that there were no developments in anything that is pending. She added that they are now ready to start on a new round of tax foreclosures. Ms. Daniels gave us a list to try to collect from some folks. We sent out collection letters and today was the last day for them to get their payments in. Of the 30 or so letters sent out, only one person paid their taxes, Michaelle said. We will be pursuing foreclosures on the remaining parties.

Approval of Minutes
Motion by Joe Strickland and second by Phyllis Forbes to approve the minutes of the July 3, 2006 Regular Meeting. Motion unanimously approved with 3 members in attendance.

Agenda Consent Items
The Agenda Consent items were approved by a consensus of the Board.

Upcoming Meetings of the Board
Change of Meeting Date:
The Manager reported that the next Regular Meeting of the Board has been changed from August 7 to August 3, 2006 at 3:00 p.m.

Public Hearing – Secondary Roads
The Manager advised that Kip Turner, with the Dept. of Transportation, has requested that the Board select a date for our Annual Public Hearing on Secondary Roads in Avery County. From the list provided, the Board selected August 17, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. as the date for our Public Hearing. It will be held in the Courtroom of the Avery County Courthouse.

Adjourn
Motion by Phyllis Forbes and second by Joe Strickland to adjourn this meeting at 4:40 p.m.

_____________________________________
Susan Pittman, Vice-Chairman
Avery County Board of Commissioners

ATTEST: ___________________________________
Nancy H. Cook, Clerk to the Board