[{"_1":2,"_135":-5,"_136":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111,123],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6585796,"mediaKeyId","5594188-cf95c5bb669229723ce65336f36eb4b9","parentId",5594188,"title","Commissioners recognize EMS retirees and other staff for long service","audioSeconds",221,"startMs",914000,"endMs",1135000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5594188-cf95c5bb669229723ce65336f36eb4b9&start=914&end=1135","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5594188-cf95c5bb669229723ce65336f36eb4b9/thumbnail_914000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6585796/Alleghany-County/North-Carolina/Commissioners-recognize-EMS-retirees-and-other-staff-for-long-service","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6585796-f064b73cc89c85981f01c35e4163c0d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1776049350&Signature=j54zC~kPgSptp7GLBvyz8F~1mkdX0XXNfUM8LHAye6vJaRku9-H-ynw2oFWcXyXSkGEO9nv8ih5E97O7dPtcj4SjU~jvZSivFM5eNJ~UqHJfKLXYE5ip5sIvchIyotKFab3M9AbGaMjdQ~CrdCNrM2LCvcBoq2pgPxhrPgYbNpyy2BBn2wkvqVRwemuWFXAcUBAUQM~~isoSd7-auIcUdnU2WELfun~Bn-tG~BNHNdXL1dIlYFpGKaMNsUULHvxTiWz51KA0p7O0kLhyxcriKmaJ0XlPJ7qvu7PEhACtuVCnZFnTKEY66Ql3ID6gMbDNR0XcU010pgemlgBHR-OdEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alleghany County","date","2025-08-18T13:49:49Z","article","Alleghany County commissioners recognized two Alleghany EMS employees who recently retired and thanked multiple county staff and volunteers for long service during the Aug. 18 meeting.

Tiffany Boyard and county leaders presented plaques to Ken Smith, who retired Aug. 1 after more than 30 years in EMS service, and to Bonnie Pruitt, retiring Sept. 1 after about 27.8 years of service.

County leaders and colleagues spoke about the retirees’ long-term dedication. \"He's been in the ditches. He's been in the mud and the blood and all for all these years,\" said one speaker describing Smith’s career. Colleagues highlighted Pruitt’s role in organizing county events, memorabilia and critical-incident support.

The county also introduced Sam Evans, a new county fellow who began Aug. 1 and will rotate through departments as part of a fellowship program; staff said Evans has assisted multiple departments and will drill down on several projects during his fellowship.

Why it matters: Recognitions document institutional knowledge and acknowledge employees’ long-term service to county residents and emergency-response capacity.

What’s next
The board will continue to highlight long-serving employees at public meetings and staff plans to recognize employees at milestone intervals, the manager said.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Alleghany County Commissioners Meeting, August 18, 2025 10AM","oneSentenceSummary","The board recognized two longtime EMS employees, Ken Smith and Bonnie Pruitt, for retirement and praised other county staff and volunteers for ongoing service; the county also introduced a new county fellow.","taxTitle","Alleghany County, North Carolina","taxId",74647,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6585801,"Soil and Water updates: stream restoration, federal partnerships and fairgrounds stormwater ideas",456,2793000,3249000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5594188-cf95c5bb669229723ce65336f36eb4b9&start=2793&end=3249","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5594188-cf95c5bb669229723ce65336f36eb4b9/thumbnail_2793000.jpg","/articles/6585801/Alleghany-County/North-Carolina/Soil-and-Water-updates-stream-restoration-federal-partnerships-and-fairgrounds-stormwater-ideas","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6585801-98e7f0201dae970397d241d94028fe27/orig.mp4?Expires=1776049350&Signature=duMurLbTeTqVXEGZwvm7A3LqHsgo5~R5F5i0zEZgML-z41yNFoAvXoJymSxMT6zXGjrYlcQo6Og5RKNtixszucayd3HXLQiPcVu7UuVI1RNyslf7hyLAxFz3zqqcD7p-Xrxv2emqN4N6LSt5sh8ILbXrhLMPImT3UJqGF~YqHmUQb9YI437dZWjWot4OTvbPT5qjNzT892EPfrpdLhYxFvc~hAPHoqCw9nlk3IAjVcm58emy5BC7j2bGhlu8GZS7uQvf8ZmfhOBv6aHGfLMLG0xntIwnOd8UgkrvndutTW5sTSP-kb0qG~mCJM~tfiTwFo4M16KcqKzAysu~WQq3JQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Alleghany County Soil and Water Director Eric Hamilton briefed commissioners Aug. 18 on ongoing conservation projects, grant-funded contracts with farmers and a major upcoming stream-restoration project near the 221/93 intersection.

Hamilton said the county expects a stream-restoration project (described as roughly a $1 million project) to begin work soon and that the county will see trucks moving as contractors start site work. The county partners with state and federal programs — including the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Division of Water Resources — to secure matching funds and technical support. Hamilton described a range of technical assistance contracts with local farmers totaling a little more than $75,000 for agricultural improvements.

He also discussed a potential shared Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) staff position funded through the state to assist multiple conservation districts. The proposed position would be a three-year allocation, split with another district, and would not require the county to handle payroll or benefits if structured as an intergovernmental agreement.

Fairgrounds projects and stormwater
Hamilton said Soil and Water and partner engineering consultants have discussed two possible projects at the fairgrounds: a storage/manure/shavings pad with stormwater filtration that would treat runoff before it reaches Glitzel Creek, and a second stormwater catchment area near the fairgrounds bridge to intercept parking-lot runoff. He said both projects are contingent on securing matching funds.

Why it matters: Stream-restoration work and stormwater projects aim to reduce sediment and improve water quality for downstream users. The EWP shared position could speed project delivery across neighboring districts without creating a permanent county payroll obligation.

What’s next
Hamilton said staff is waiting on a master agreement for the shared EWP position and will bring the agreement to the board once available. If grant funding is secured, the county will return with project designs and cost estimates for board approval.","Alleghany County Soil and Water Director reviewed recent contracts with farmers, pending million-dollar stream-restoration work near U.S. 221/93 and potential fairgrounds stormwater projects; the department also described federal and state grant partnerships and a proposed shared EWP disaster-position with neighboring counties.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6585806,"Alleghany In Motion reports compliance review passed, staffing gains and statewide award",172,2341000,2513000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5594188-cf95c5bb669229723ce65336f36eb4b9&start=2341&end=2513","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5594188-cf95c5bb669229723ce65336f36eb4b9/thumbnail_2341000.jpg","/articles/6585806/Alleghany-County/North-Carolina/Alleghany-In-Motion-reports-compliance-review-passed-staffing-gains-and-statewide-award","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6585806-c2018760c565693736995ac52c370612/orig.mp4?Expires=1776049350&Signature=AHEL-7dje6oysHhwhN5mar9k7cqv~9hBu~pVWs0JfBds4PTVyhudEvqH3jppY49qTXdhzRXYFMP401SN1V~mn-ZAVtV3k5cDTLK85BlJxFWW5TL7wS~bYG~aybZ6VGfLawSAZTRddOenSVzLbxXNZNMV8pt4ZPrVOtGsD9BAwvzqfacjgN09QZddCzguCPcPw78b-kpcamUDSDBpdGn9ybikyWwcahJZ8X2Cu6qNwYtLZefgQh57zRQ58d7GLsfyKbmLhqdcx05-JoEz1nuA3~LiAM0SiZdEi98YzqTC~CVjKsNKD140vD-X7hYq0GLc~Nir-hEzGYbIqCfM81YVEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Alleghany In Motion Director Melissa Rector told commissioners Aug. 18 that the county’s public transit system passed a state compliance review with no findings, completed required training, is fully staffed and received a regional transit award.

\"We had no findings, which was very good,\" Rector said, summarizing the state compliance review.

Why it matters: Rural transit is a crucial lifeline for residents who rely on county transportation for medical appointments, work and other essential trips. Rector said the system had grown to about 19–20 staff members, was busy, and received a Western North Carolina transit-system award.

Key points
- Compliance review: A state-conducted compliance review found no deficiencies.
- Staffing and operations: Rector said the department is fully staffed and listed drivers and office staff by name; she credited the team for strong service delivery.
- Training and grants: Rector described participation in ADA and other training programs, Transit Academy coursework and the required drug-and-alcohol training; she described grant processes and documentation required for state and federal funding.
- Community impact: Rector recounted passenger feedback and noted that riders sometimes tell staff they would not be able to make appointments or carry out daily life without the service.

What’s next
Rector said staff will continue training, maintain compliance, and manage grants and reporting deadlines.","Alleghany In Motion reported a successful compliance review with no findings, full staffing, recent awards for its transit program and ongoing training efforts.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6585811,"Board of Elections reports growth in registrations, upcoming candidate filing window and ongoing registry repairs",586,1550000,2136000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5594188-cf95c5bb669229723ce65336f36eb4b9&start=1550&end=2136","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5594188-cf95c5bb669229723ce65336f36eb4b9/thumbnail_1550000.jpg","/articles/6585811/Alleghany-County/North-Carolina/Board-of-Elections-reports-growth-in-registrations-upcoming-candidate-filing-window-and-ongoing-registry-repairs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6585811-e525ed1a3427ea2b54fd65b08decf2f0/orig.mp4?Expires=1776049350&Signature=nZpQi8v1f19~IhwrgQWGeXA-CDRNo1bg0evjKxTcZPNi7C1xGR586~VAso-ZP9yH3sHClCBPNY3RTN1Peg0r8tGtodHmOzRqkleQ-zCkge1bfcU1Q6F6oxYEiXaDB0CG26PTp6DUZfJZ0Py3TXtFj3fRpMk1-5iEynP7aSsLnXG-9SNn98YK7eBbvqranDJn5heXo7ee4Qrus3RLZXf90gNcsn-VmtF8MJXYovWIkO81EtO4Wy8L4xk10vemNORphLyjBaWqyacPkIBKKu4rOQJf08mXHyd88HMOLhWjN92aMETuVxxvU2HbuXWe7niCX0iQVsbSelNXcjJXJ9SFKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Alleghany County Board of Elections Director Sherry Dawson told commissioners Aug. 18 that registered voters increased to about 8,073 after routine list maintenance and that the office is preparing for an early candidate-filing window beginning in December.

Dawson said the office began the year handling substantial records requests and litigation tied to the Griffin contest. She described continuing work to repair the county’s voter registry where records lacked required partial identification numbers, reducing a corrective list from 73 to 35 voters who must be contacted by the state board for remediation.

\"If they don't, they will have to vote provisional in the next election if they don't come in and get that fixed,\" Dawson said of voters who do not update the missing information.

Why it matters: The board’s work directly affects who can vote without provisional ballots and prepares the county for municipal and other upcoming elections. Dawson outlined an early December start to candidate filing for several offices, including sheriff, Superior Court and three seats on the Board of Education.

Key details from the report
- Registered-voter totals: Dawson said the county had grown from roughly 7,500 registered voters in 2017 to about 8,073 after the most recent list maintenance removed about 312 voters.
- Candidate filing: Filing for sheriff, Superior Court and other seats will begin in December; soil-and-water positions will have a later deadline in June because those races are nonpartisan.
- Sheriff filing requirement: Dawson cited an existing state requirement that any candidate for sheriff obtain a felony-disclosure statement from the North Carolina Sheriff’s Training and Standards Division before filing (transcript reference to a state statute requirement for sheriff candidates).
- Registry repairs: After review tied to the earlier litigation, county staff reduced the number of registrations missing required partial ID information and will work with the state board to notify those remaining voters.
- Training and staffing: Dawson described required training, conference attendance, and the department’s ongoing work to map voter addresses to the county GIS and to process weekly updates for deceased voters and address changes.

Dawson invited commissioners to ask questions about voter-removal procedures, outreach and interagency data sharing; commissioners asked about how the office receives death notifications and how moves out of state are handled.

What’s next
Dawson said the office will continue registry repairs, publish candidate-filing dates, and present any required updates to the board as deadlines approach.","Alleghany County Board of Elections reported higher registration totals, described ongoing registry repairs tied to prior litigation, outlined candidate filing deadlines and requirements for sheriff candidates, and described increased operational workload caused by protests and records requests earlier in the year.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6585815,"TDA reports rising occupancy, new grant support and plans for wayfinding signs",338,128000,466000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5594188-cf95c5bb669229723ce65336f36eb4b9&start=128&end=466","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5594188-cf95c5bb669229723ce65336f36eb4b9/thumbnail_128000.jpg","/articles/6585815/Alleghany-County/North-Carolina/TDA-reports-rising-occupancy-new-grant-support-and-plans-for-wayfinding-signs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6585815-d9f0d695213ad12ae6fa1f3b43f9e9af/orig.mp4?Expires=1776049350&Signature=XHEYGyo9IllEq0nTYh60SIgZLkIZt~r9TO~IySZXtgVOp5FskQGZZCLrmF4OEpL5DvlQc62E36Mikba396Z~CF4RMcSm79MDuJBTTZEd-uu3huKeXhfEPI7nNW8RnRsOsHn8bckI~nCyOH31-a7~XMQIa2LywBicee7XQvErsKmQe4DyyIoH8BYqb43NwyNCWlQPn74zliVfv0PZwMTo~5xITJHfbCBt8JuLUvRVpxooXRMzyjauiG9zUk6KOP8xFsinUxrtjSrARWyNE2tO0ncSVE-x7jbPgf-cAWP6sU9gsYae1vzg0Hh4sq1IPUYoDjLgT7xPGHnSS6i0f5j8PQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alleghany County Tourism Development Authority (TDA) told commissioners Aug. 18 that occupancy-tax revenue and visitor metrics have increased and that the office used grant funding and new marketing tools to support events and projects.

TDA director Steve Mason presented the annual report and highlighted a rise in occupancy taxes and a suite of grants and local promotions. \"We can identify where people are from,\" Mason said when describing the authority’s new geo-fencing technology, which he said can track event attendance and origin data for comparisons as far back as 2016.

Why it matters: Higher occupancy-tax revenue can fund local tourism projects and grants to nonprofits. Mason reported the TDA invested roughly $257,000 in the community during the past year in grants, capital and event funding while reporting revenues of about $252,817 for the fiscal period cited.

Key points from the TDA report
- Occupancy-tax revenue: Mason noted about $252,817 in revenue for the period covered and said that overnight stays and tourism activity have trended up.
- Fund balance and grants: The TDA’s reported fund balance stood near $199,000 with a long-range plan fund of about $163,000. Mason said the TDA had invested roughly $257,000 in community grants and expenditures during the year.
- Grants and awards: The TDA supported multiple local projects with grants (examples cited by Mason included a $10,000 award to the Sam Brown Trail Association, $25,000 from a community foundation for related work, and smaller awards to local festivals and groups). A list Mason read aloud included grants to litter pickup programs, Apple Pie Festival, a fiddlers convention and other events.
- Wayfinding signs and marketing: Mason said a wayfinding-signs project was out for bid and staff expect to start an initial installation in the fall as part of a Destination by Design effort. He also said marketing coordination with the Chamber of Commerce had improved reach and results.
- Data and evaluation: Mason described new geo-fencing analytics that use cellphone data to estimate event attendance and visitor origin; he said the tool helps reduce guesswork when evaluating grant requests and events.

Chamber letter
Larry Benjamin, executive director of the Alleghany Chamber of Commerce, read a formal letter of appreciation to county leaders for funding support for the 2025–26 fiscal year. The Chamber said county appropriations fund the Alleghany County Visitor Center and other promotion work that supports local merchants.

What’s next
Mason said staff will return with final sign designs after bids are evaluated and will present additional data from the geo-fencing tool to inform grant and marketing decisions.","The Alleghany County Tourism Development Authority reported higher occupancy-tax revenue, grant-funded projects and new marketing tools including geo-fencing data and pending wayfinding signs to support local tourism.",{"_33":124,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":125,"_41":126,"_43":127,"_45":128,"_47":129,"_49":130,"_51":131,"_53":132,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":133,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":134,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6585819,"Commissioners approve application for interest-free loan, release most fire funds and clear year-end budget moves",140,3671000,3811000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5594188-cf95c5bb669229723ce65336f36eb4b9&start=3671&end=3811","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5594188-cf95c5bb669229723ce65336f36eb4b9/thumbnail_3671000.jpg","/articles/6585819/Alleghany-County/North-Carolina/Commissioners-approve-application-for-interest-free-loan-release-most-fire-funds-and-clear-year-end-budget-moves","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6585819-265cde99b32e1124e327b42170e09aaf/orig.mp4?Expires=1776049350&Signature=fwLC~4ABNkoyfPJ04C0f3bomR9SL17iZaNmetiVcpD15QmKe5~AhAAnh3Z5PNJwTpHIexO4ev1Ue-735JFlgoR8HwFMPWaC~kYVaLU6u49So9uMxiKAQw5CDzecHIq6KSAanzh8H3e0aAlvkXWb-qHBgyXFjTofVUEBj3valkH94qGuhTxPdMyddvZf0gguGM~YpRSVF9OygxAoyHWhRGHx4CdjLWU0fAFdYKh8FxrVcFctYc7z3w1BTTeJgEg0RVu708T61sKYPGtoykBDubVhC1yRwGwGcbCSYb7CB-Sm1pGRMNOwSSkaXBATUdJXzBmSbmj~g-OTr2674-xP4pw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Alleghany County commissioners voted Aug. 18 to proceed with an application to Blue Ridge Energy for an interest-free loan of up to $1.3 million and approved a package of related budget amendments and transfers to close the 2024–25 fiscal year.

The board also voted to disburse fire-tax funds to four volunteer fire departments that had met contract requirements and to withhold one department’s payment until an ongoing audit is complete. Commissioners approved the actions unanimously.

Why it matters: The loan application and budget adjustments are the county’s immediate steps toward funding capital needs — notably upgrades at the county transfer station — without raising taxes. Withholding one fire department’s payment signals the county’s insistence on contract compliance after auditors requested additional records.

The board authorized county staff to “proceed with any type of application with Blue Ridge Energy,” subject to a separate Local Government Commission (LGC) review because of the loan amount and repayment terms. County Manager Bill Shepley told the board the loan will require an LGC process in addition to Blue Ridge Energy’s procedures; the motion directs staff to begin the application process. The board recorded a 5-0 vote in favor.

During discussion, staff said the application would be for an interest-free loan and that county staff would present details, including the LGC steps and draft terms, for a future formal vote. The motion did not specify the loan’s proposed repayment schedule; the board requested staff return with the full financing plan.

Transfer station financing
County Manager Bill Shepley and finance staff described the transfer station as a major capital priority that will require a mix of fund-balance use, the Blue Ridge Energy loan if approved, and grant applications. Shepley asked Finance Director April to prepare a funding-options plan for the board; staff offered to present the options either in a regular meeting or a separate work session.

Fire department disbursement and audit
County staff reported that the standard contract for fire-tax funds included an audit requirement. Auditors have been working with one department for several months and said they had obtained most but not all receipts; staff reported the audit is nearing completion and expected to be available to the board within about a month. The board voted to release funds to the four departments that complied with contract terms and to withhold the disbursement for the one department until the audit is complete. The motion to pay compliant departments and withhold the one audit-related payment passed unanimously.

Other votes and year-end accounting
The board approved multiple end-of-year housekeeping items, including line-item transfers and budget amendments (including a budget amendment related to a veterans-service grant and a DSS rental-assistance grant). The board adopted the consent agenda and vote motions with unanimous approval.

What’s next
Staff will return with the finalized Blue Ridge Energy application materials and the LGC-required documentation. Finance staff will present detailed funding scenarios for transfer-station capital work, and auditors expect to complete the outstanding fire-department audit in the coming weeks, after which the board may release the withheld payment.

","Alleghany County commissioners voted to seek an interest-free loan application with Blue Ridge Energy for up to $1.3 million, approved payouts to four fire departments in compliance with contract terms while withholding one disbursement pending an audit, and adopted several year-end budget amendments and transfers.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners recognize EMS retirees and other staff for long service

Soil and Water updates: stream restoration, federal partnerships and fairgrounds stormwater ideas

Alleghany In Motion reports compliance review passed, staffing gains and statewide award

Board of Elections reports growth in registrations, upcoming candidate filing window and ongoing registry repairs

TDA reports rising occupancy, new grant support and plans for wayfinding signs

Commissioners approve application for interest-free loan, release most fire funds and clear year-end budget moves