Robbinsville – Tuesday's meeting of the Graham County Commissioners began with an offer from Dillon Chase Lancaster to put on a rodeo to raise money for the county.
Commissioner Connie Orr said, "You ride the bull; we'll take the money." The board agreed to look into options for Lancaster to put on such an event.
Deputy Chuck Stewart explained to the board that the sheriff's department is operating with at least nine outdated computers and would need $33,425 in order to supply the department with 22 Surface Pro computers that would work both in-office and in patrol cars.
Orr said, "It seems like we've gotten new computers for every department but the sheriff." Manager Becky Garland agreed that "we need to get that cleaned up." Garland suggested that a 5-year lease on such computers might be best for the county.
Juanita Colvard of the Election Board presented blueprints for the election board facility to be built at the community center. After studying the blueprints, Commission Chairman Dale Wiggins said, "If it works for you, it works for me."
Becky Garland's manager's report included numbers from Valley River Humane Society's report for 2018-19. In that time, 413 animals were accepted to the Humane Society from Graham County. Using monies donated by the Graham County Animal Advocates, the sheriff is sending a deputy to animal control training.
Garland reported that Balsam West is working to get the broadband grant implemented, while an ARC grant for $100,000 for the mammogram machine has been approved, as well as an ARC grant for $50,000 for the paramedicine program.
The manager also explained sanitation issues. The board approved applying for a loan to acquire a trailer with a walking bed, and expenditures to repair the backhoe were also approved.
Library security was also discussed. Six security cameras are needed, as vandalism is an increasing problem. Options were discussed for acquiring such cameras. Turning off the library's Wi-Fi from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. is another measure being considered, since people climb atop the library roof in order to use the Wi-Fi signal at night. The board then voted to reappoint Pam Shaffer to the RDA Board before going into closed session.