MINUTES

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

COUNTY OF HENDERSON NOVEMBER 9, 2005

The Henderson County Board of Commissioners met for a special called meeting at 9:00 a.m. in the Commissioners’ Conference Room of the Henderson County Office Building at 100 North King Street, Hendersonville, North Carolina.

Those present were: Chairman Bill Moyer, Commissioner Larry Young, Commissioner Chuck McGrady and Clerk to the Board Elizabeth Corn.

Absent were: Vice-Chairman Charlie Messer and Commissioner Shannon Baldwin.

CALL TO ORDER/WELCOME

Chairman Moyer called the meeting to order and welcomed those in attendance. Carolyn Newman explained that the 22 students present were attendees at the four high schools, and members of Junior Leadership Development of Henderson County - Class of 2005/2006. The students introduced themselves and stated which school they attended.

Chairman Moyer explained that Henderson County had a County Manager form of government. He stated that counties are created by the State in North Carolina, and only have the powers given by the State. Municipalities on the other hand are formed by the people in a certain area. The primary responsibilities of the Board of Commissioners are budgeting, taxing, planning for the county’s needs and enacting local ordinances.

Commissioner McGrady explained that funding for County services comes from a variety of different sources, but the largest source of funding comes from property taxes. He discussed some of the things the County does with that funding. He explained that the Board adopts a balanced budget for the County each year, which covers general services and capital projects. Current capital projects include the Human Services Building, the Animal Services Building, and new schools. He also discussed some of the volunteer boards that he served on in his role as a Commissioner, such as Social Services and the Planning Board.

Commissioner Young discussed some of the services provided by the County. He briefly explained the roles of the Solid Waste Department, Planning, Schools, the Sheriff’s Department, Pardee Hospital, Travel and Tourism, and the Health Department. He discussed economic development and some of the tools used to attract businesses to the area, and how the Board of Commissioners works with the School Board to provide the best possible educational system.

The Board also discussed how roads are handled in North Carolina, public health issues, the role of Social Services, libraries and animal services, and the terms of service for Commissioners. The Board then answered several questions from the students regarding topics such as the flood plain ordinance, traffic issues, tobacco use, the Historic Courthouse, what Commissioner’s meetings are like, and why people should want to live in Henderson County versus other counties.

ADJOURN

Chairman Moyer thanked the students for coming and adjourned the meeting.

Attest:

Elizabeth W. Corn, Clerk to the Board William L. Moyer, Chairman