Ashe County commissioners approve personnel and education benefits, seek state transport funding and direct single‑ply bid for middle school roof; chair defends

Ashe County commissioners on July 7 approved several personnel-policy changes and an education-benefit program, voted to submit multiple transportation projects for scoring in the state transportation improvement plan and directed architects to solicit a bid for a single‑ply option for the middle school roof. The board also received a formal statement from the chairman defending animal-control staff after public comment about euthanasia at the county shelter.

The personnel-policy change clarified holiday pay eligibility for employees on leave without pay and raised the number of sick days before a physician—s note is required from three to five while adding language about telemedicine. The board also approved an educational benefit that awards up to $1,500 to employees after submitting a transcript showing a passed course; the policy includes a recovery mechanism if an employee leaves within the time period specified in the policy.

Why it matters: The personnel changes and education benefit affect county employees— pay and human-resources procedures. The transportation submissions place several local projects into the state—level scoring process that determines which road and pedestrian projects receive funding. The roof directive moves a delayed school-repair project to a formal bid stage. The chairman—s statement about the animal-shelter incident addressed public concern and reiterated the board—s support for staff and for a new shelter.

Personnel changes and education benefit Kelsey, the county—human-resources coordinator, told the board the personnel-policy edits add wording about leave-without-pay status and holiday pay: "an employee who is on leave without pay status on the day preceding a holiday is not eligible to earn holiday pay unless the employee actually works on the holiday." She also said the policy raises the threshold for a doctor's note from three days to five and adds language on telemedicine because "we're seeing an uptick of that." The board voted to approve those changes.

Kelsey described the educational benefit as an award of up to $1,500 that is paid after an employee submits a transcript showing successful completion: "the $1,500 is awarded at that time." Commissioners asked how the county could recoup funds if an employee left shortly after receiving the award; Kelsey said the policy provides for recovery, typically by deducting the amount from the employee—s final paycheck if they leave within the policy—period.

Transportation projects submitted to STIP County staff described the slate of projects the board authorized to submit to the state transportation improvement plan (STIP) process. The list includes: - a Jefferson–West Jefferson connector (a four-lane corridor with access-management, pedestrian and stormwater improvements); - intersection work at the McDonald—s/Ingles area (improvements to turning movements and possible median or "super street" features to improve access); - US-221 access-management improvements from the hospital south toward Highway 16, including possible turn lanes and an eventual traffic signal at a county entrance; - improvements on NC-63 from West Jefferson town limits toward the county line (described as lower priority on the list); - a West Jefferson pedestrian-sidewalk project (a sidewalk on the west side of Jefferson Avenue, running toward Seventh Street; the pedestrian projects require a 20% local match and local partners have discussed sharing the match); - an airport project to replace the terminal building.

County staff emphasized the projects will be scored statewide and regionally; placement on the STIP does not guarantee funding this round, but keeps projects in the queue for future consideration. The board voted to submit the projects for scoring.

Middle school roof: architects to bid single‑ply option Commissioner Mike Eldreth raised the delayed middle-school roof project and said the board needs to decide between two options. Commissioners discussed that the architects had proposed two viable systems described in the meeting as a "two-ply" and a "single-ply" option, with similar warranty language. An estimate mentioned in discussion placed costs in the range of $1.5 million to $2.1 million, though speakers emphasized those figures were estimates until bids are received.

After discussion, commissioners directed staff and the architects to put both options into bid documents but then moved to solicit a bid on the single‑ply option and bring cost estimates back to the board. One commissioner said, based on past experience, the single‑ply appeared to be the less expensive option; the board approved directing the bid process for that option.

Animal-shelter incident and chairman—s statement The chairman addressed a recent public comment about the euthanization of 27 cats. He said he contacted staff immediately and that while the raw number was accurate "it was only part of a much larger and very unfortunate situation." According to the chairman—s statement, animal-control staff had been working with a reluctant citizen who initially indicated a small number of animals; when the person arrived they brought at least 30 cats and kittens, some already deceased in a carrier. The chairman said 27 remaining animals were "wild, feral, extremely ill and suffering from respiratory infections and unfortunately near death themselves," and that admitting them would have endangered healthy and adoptable animals.

The chairman said staff acted with "professionalism and compassion" and that the board remains unanimous in support of a new animal shelter and of spay/neuter outreach to reduce future suffering. He thanked animal-control staff and volunteers for their work.

Other actions and business The board selected its representative to vote at the National Association of Counties conference business session, approved awarding a retired Ash County Sheriff's Office lieutenant his service sidearm and badge (the board declared those items surplus to award), recognized employee years of service, approved a list of projects to submit to the STIP (as noted above), and moved into an executive session to discuss property per "general statute 140 three-three 18.115" (language used at the meeting). The board returned from executive session and adjourned.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda: approved (motion and second; "All in favor? Aye."). - Adoption of agenda: approved. - Surplus and award of service weapon and badge to retiring Ash County Sheriff's Office Lieutenant Randy Lewis: approved (moved by Jeremy, Ash County Sheriff's Office representative). - Personnel-policy changes (leave/holiday, sick-note threshold, telemedicine language): approved. - Educational benefits policy (up to $1,500 awarded upon transcript showing course completion; recovery provisions included): approved. - Authorization to submit listed transportation projects to the state STIP process: approved. - Direction to solicit bids for the middle-school roof with focus on single‑ply option: approved. - Executive session under "general statute 140 three-three 18.115" to discuss property: approved. - Adjournment: approved.

Ending: The board scheduled a tour of Amoram Health, a hospice facility that the county is supporting with a multi‑year donation (described in the meeting as $50,000 annually as part of a $250,000 pledge). Commissioners said they plan further action on storm-related road repairs and will keep the STIP submissions in the queue for future funding cycles.