The Alleghany COunty Board of Commissioners held its first meeting in the new County Administration Building on Jan. 3. The meeting would have been held on the first Monday of the month, but was postponed due to the New Year's Day holiday. The meeting room is now on the bottom floor of the old Cash and Carry building (348 S. Main St.). The meeting room area is accessible via Jones Street (off Grandview Drive).

County Administration Building hosts first meeting

The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners held its first meeting in the new County Administration Building, located in the former Cash and Carry building at 348 S. Main St., on Jan. 3. The meeting was postponed from Jan. 1 due to the New Year's Day holiday.

Meanwhile, a planning board meeting that had been scheduled for one hour prior to the commissioners' meeting was cancelled. The cancellation likely was due to uncertainties about a judge's recent ruling in a case filed by Maymead Materials Inc. According to the lead attorney for Maymead, Robin Tatum Currin, Judge John O. Craig II ruled that both the county's polluting industries ordinance and property rights protection ordinance were null and void. If that is the case, then the ruling effectively would dissolve the planning board. However, the judge as of Monday had not filed an official written order. Until that order is filed, the ruling is not made manifest.

Meanwhile, the commissioners discussed ideas for the make-up of the planning board on the assumption that it is still valid. (Even if the judge rules the ordinance void, the commissioners could make any necessary changes then re-enact it at a later date).

The newly elected board of commissioners has expressed that they do not wish to serve as the planning board and the county commission, as the previous commission set up the ordinance.

Commissioner Doug Murphy noted that the county has seven voting precincts and opined that having one representative from each might work well.

Chair Ken Richardson said some commissioners could still serve on the board, but having seven members would allow for more diversity on the board.

County Planner Amy Pardue noted that most counties have one representative appointed per voting township or one appointed per commissioner. She said the requirement for board members is "a basic knowledge of the planning process."

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