Alleghany County commissioners approve safety plan, opioid spending and several budget transfers; appoint new clerk

Alleghany County commissioners on Monday voted to approve the county's motion-system safety plan, accept a memorandum of agreement for opioid-settlement spending and related contract language with App Health Care, and authorize several budget line transfers and a small budget amendment. The board also formally appointed Lisa Ashley as clerk to the board.

The votes came during the regular meeting in which commissioners approved the consent agenda and minutes, heard departmental updates and received presentations on juvenile crime-prevention funding and rescue-squad contract revisions.

The board approved the Alleghany motion-system safety plan 4-0 after a motion and second. Commissioners then approved a separate motion accepting an update to the county's motion plan documents 4-0. The board also adopted a spending-authorization resolution tied to the opioid settlement and approved a standard contract with App Health Care to coordinate reporting and planning related to those funds; both measures passed 4-0.

Finance actions approved at the meeting included a line-item transfer moving unneeded health-insurance dollars to kitchen food costs (approved 4-0), a transfer reimbursing EMS for opioid-settlement expenditures (approved 4-0) and a small budget amendment to cover additional bank service fees (approved 4-0).

The board unanimously appointed Lisa Ashley as clerk to the board. Commissioners noted Ashley had already performed onboarding duties during her first week and welcomed her to county staff.

The meeting also produced direction rather than a final vote on one item: commissioners discussed revisions to the county's rescue-squad agreement and requested staff to research audit frequency and reporting requirements before returning the contract for action at the next meeting.

County staff presented routine departmental reports, including a finance report showing year-to-date revenue of $20,694,477.78 and expenditures of $20,291,490.01 against an approved budget of $21,407,775. The maintenance director updated the board on courthouse window replacements, judge's bench remodeling to accommodate two clerks under new court rules, EMS ambulance delivery timing, and a possible collapsed culvert at the courthouse annex parking lot. Commissioners also heard that Sam Brown Mountain trail work is nearly complete.

The board set a closed session under North Carolina General Statute 143-318.11(a)(3) for attorney consultation.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda: approved, 4-0. - Minutes (June 2 and May 15): approved, 4-0. - Alleghany motion-system safety plan: approved, 4-0. - Alleghany motions plan update (document acceptance): approved, 4-0. - Opioid settlement spending authorization resolution: approved, 4-0. - Contract with App Health Care for opioid-related coordination: approved, 4-0. - Line transfer — move saved health-insurance funds to kitchen food costs: approved, 4-0. - Line transfer — reimburse EMS from opioid fund: approved, 4-0. - Budget amendment — add funds to cover bank service fees: approved, 4-0. - Appointment — Lisa Ashley as clerk to the board: approved, 4-0.

Context and next steps The county manager said he will provide a six-month update at the board's next regular July meeting. Staff were directed to return the rescue-squad agreement revisions, with auditor input on recommended audit frequency and feasibility, for board action at the next meeting. The board scheduled a closed session for attorney consultation before adjournment.