021588MINUTES - SPECIAL AEErING
FEBRUARY 15. 1988
The Randolph County Board of Commissioners met in special session at 7 p.m.
on February 15, 1988 at the Public Library Meeting Room, 201 Worth Street,
Asheboro, NC. Commissioners Frye, Langley, Davidson and Comer were present.
Commissioner Petty was absent. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the
recent facilities study prepared by Black & Veatch and Nathaniel Curtis Archi-
tects. The following persons spoke:
Talmadge Baker (Agricultural Extension Chairman) stated that his department
prefers to remain where they are if possible because their current space was
designed specifically for them.
Billy Chilton (Tax Assessor) talked about lack of storage space and crowding in
the mapping section.
Hal Johnson (Planning Director) stated that Planning and Zoning should be located
in close proximity to the Tax Department and Register of Deeds.
Ann Shaw (Register of Deeds) described the problem of entering data on a daily
basis in a dark room while microfilming is taking place and said that the vault
has no more expansion room.
Russell Talker (Resident Superior Court Judge) discussed renovation of existing
courtrooms and requested input into any such renovations.
William Neely (Resident District Court Judge) reiterated Judge Walker's corrnnents
and acknowledged the critical shortage of space in the jail and magistrates'
offices.
Marion Smith (Director of Social Services) said his most critical problem is
lack of space for files, which grow by 12-14 file cabinets each year. He projected
that more programs will be mandated for Social Services in the future, which will
necessitate more space, staff, etc.
George Elliott (Public Health Director) stated that a rapidly increasing older
population will create more Public Health clients. He said that Environmental
Health should not be placed with other land use departments, but should stay
with Public Health because of their overlapping work areas.
Nancy Brenner (Library Director) described the problems the library has with
inadequate study, reading and shelving space and with inadequate parking facilities.
Annette Lineberry (Data Processing Director.) explained the space -related problems
computer personnel encounter.
Larry Hammond, Sr. (Asheboro attorney) said the only emergency is the jail.
Lynda Skeen (Clerk of Court) said she is out of office and storage space and that
citizens coming into the Estates office, many of whom are older, have difficulty
because of the parking situation.
Jim Bowles (Veterans Service Officer) said his space is adequate for -the present
and that most of his clients are handicapped, which can be a problem because --of
the parking situation.
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February 15, 1988
Johnny Johnson (North Asheboro citizen) said the jail overcrowding was caused by
laws which are too harsh on teenagers.
Jack Beck (Asheboro attorney) said courts should not be moved from the Courthouse
even if it costs more to build everything at the Courthouse location.
John Redding (Asheboro citizen) said the Courthouse should be kept where it is.
Robert Mason (Sheriff) talked about the overcrowded jail and the need for space to
store evidence.
Wilson Alexander (Asheboro attorney) said facilities study projections for a 162 -
inmate jail were not nearly big enough and suggested the County construct a "farm"fa-
cility-for. misdemeanors and work -release prisoners. He also suggested building a
parking deck where the Courier -Tribune warehouse is and putting a courtroom and
holding facility in Archdale.
Joe Trogdon (Mayor of Asheboro) said the Courthouse is the center of downtown and
that the County should keep everything it can at the present location.
Lloyd Hamlet (citizen) said a new jail should be built off-site but keep everything
else near the present location downtown.
Larry Emerson (Major and Chief Deputy) predicted that counties will begin keeping
all misdemeanors up to two years in the near future. He explained why a single -
level modular jail is a better option than a multi-level jail.
Jim Culberson (First National Bank) said he was speaking for the banks, who
wanted to keep the Courthouse downtown.
Wescott Moser (Asheboro attorney) said Guy Troy of Liberty had asked him to come
speak to say that most of the citizens in his area do not want the Courthouse moved.
Lillian O'Briant (President, Randolph Bar Association) supported keeping the
Courthouse downtown.
Mike Miller (Asheboro citizen) said Commissioners may run into opposition from
residents in any area for which a new jail night be considered.
On motion of Langley, seconded by Comer, the Board voted to go into executive
session to discuss possible acquisition of property.
Regular session reconvened. On motion of Langley, seconded by Comer, the Board
appointed Darrell Frye, Kenyon Davidson and Ed Gavin to act as a committee to
negotiate a price on the Courier -Tribune property and to evaluate other properties
which have been offered to the County.
On motion of Davidson, seconded by Comer, the Board adjourned.