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Wednesday, January 10, 2024 – 9:00 a.m.
Courthouse, Main Courtroom, 16001 Barnesville Street, Zebulon, Georgia
Town Hall Meeting at 8:45 a.m.
ZEBULON - The Pike County Board of Commissioners met on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at 9 a.m. There was a Town Hall Meeting at 8:45 a.m. for people to speak without getting on a list beforehand. The public is always invited to attend these meetings. In attendance were Commissioners James Jenkins, Jason Proctor, Tim Guy, and Tim Daniel, Chairman Briar Johnson, County Clerk Angela Blount, County Manager Brandon Rogers, and County Attorney Rob Morton.
Click here to see the documents that have been uploaded with the agenda on the Pike County government page.
Click here to review the proposed changes to the ordinances. The first draft is what will be considered in this meeting.
1. CALL TO ORDER ...... Chairman J. Briar Johnson
2. INVOCATION ...... Ricky Shepherd
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ...... Chairman J. Briar Johnson
4. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA - (O.C.G A. § 50-14-1 (e) (1))
5. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES - (O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1(e) (2))
a. Minutes of the December 13, 2023, Regular Monthly Meeting.
b. Minutes of the December 13, 2023, Executive Session.
c. Minutes of the December 21, 2023, Workshop.
Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
6. INVITED GUEST - NONE
7. REPORTS FROM COMMISSIONS, DEPARTMENTS, COMMITTEES, AUTHORITIES
a. Monthly Reports submitted from County Departments and County Authorities, including a Revenue/Expenditure Statement for all departments and a summary check register.
Discuss/Approve/Deny
b. County Manager Report
Update on County finances for the following funds/accounts:
General Fund ...... $784,431.24
Fire Dept. Donations ...... $9,224.36
Cash Reserve Account ...... $473,130.23
Jail Fund ...... $24,772.59
E-911 Fund ...... $133,918.80
DATE Fund ...... $33,283.58
Juvenile Court Fund ...... $13,740.47
Residential Impact Fee ...... $602,104.28
Commercial Impact Fees ...... $184,163.86
C.A.I.P FUND ...... $27,947.26
General Obligation SPLOST 2022-2028 ...... $669,964.01
L.M.I.G. Grant (DOT) ...... $836,157.93
c. County Manager Comment
We were as low as $200,000 and did a transfer from ARPA but will put it back when taxes come in.
Pike Water and Sewer Authority has asked to pay for an upsize waterlines. $66,000. It was not an original project so it needs to be approved. He provided their project information, their upcoming projects, and their financials. Commissioner Tim Guy said that if they have the money, they need to pay for it out of their funding. CM Rogers advised that ARPA funding has been designated for other projects. Jason Proctor agreed and gave the second to deny the funds for the increasing of the water lines at Reidsboro. Denied 5-0.
Received from ACCG on the 9th an email that $1.3 million in federal broadband funds is available to counties that can show a need. Trying to figure out how to get some of this money to help with the county’s ARPA’s project for the county because there are parts of the county that have NO access.
Discussion. FCC has a map shows that 100% of the county is served when we know that this is not true. We have to challenge each and every one of those addresses that are incorrect. They set us up for failure because we cannot send them the info in less than 30 days. It has to be challenged electronically. They are considering Starlink to be considered served. Questions about how Starlink and how it works here. https://broadbandmap.fcc.gov/home Choose your state and then Pike County. You can put in your address to allow you to challenge this. Click on challenge. Here is an explanation of the FCC Map and how to maneuver it: https://help.bdc.fcc.gov/hc/en-us/articles/10467446103579-How-to-Use-the-FCC-s-National-Broadband-Map
These links can also be found at the top of the county website at: www.pikecoga.com
The more people who do this, the more opportunity we will have for funding. There are many people in the county who do not have access. They are saying that everyone all of the way to the Rocky Mountains has access. Citizens can challenge and say that the speed is not satisfactory even if you have internet. [Note from the Editor: I have talked to a lot of people who have challenged this map and received notice that their information will be corrected on the map because the FCC is saying that there are services offered in many places around the county where this simply isn't true.]
d. Commissioner Reports
Jason Proctor rode some roads yesterday. Arthur Road needs attention.
Southern Rivers. Got a flyer for Operation Roundup. There are like 17 things on here and Pike is not one of them. See if maybe our departments can go on there and fill out request for projects.
Briar Johnson. Offices will be closed on Monday for MLK Jr. Day.
e. County Attorney Report to Commissioners: None.
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Consider one appointment to the Pike County Board of Tax Assessors to fill an unexpired six-year term, set to expire June 30, 2027. Applicant has met criteria.
Ms. Grimes withdrew her application. Ms. Key has withdrawn her application as well. We do not have any applicants for this unexpired term. Recommend that we readvertise this position and discuss at the next meeting. Approved 5-0.
9. NEW BUSINESS
a. Elect Vice Chairman for the Pike County Board of Commissioners for 2024.
Motion to appoint Tim Daniel. 4-0-1 with Commissioner Tim Daniel abstaining.
b. Consider use of Courthouse Grounds from Patricia Beckham with Concerned Citizen for Pike/ NAACP on Monday, January 15, 2024 from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. for A Day of Giving.
Offices are closed. Recommend approval. Approved 5-0.
c. Approve/deny Resolution to set qualifying fees for 2024 County Elections.
Each is based on current salaries. Discussion on where the money goes that goes to the county. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
d. Approve/deny sell of 4 vehicles and 1 tractor as surplus on GovDeals: 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix, 2006 Chevrolet Impala, 2010 Dodge Charger, 2011 Ford Explorer and a New Holland Ford 1620 HST Tractor.
Motion to approve along with a second motion for the two that were bought with federal seizure funds contingent upon the Sheriff’s Office giving authority to sell these vehicles for them with funding going either to the Sheriff’s Office or to the federal seizure funding. Motion to sell the Impala, tractor, and Charger. Approved 5-0. Motion to sell the remaining vehicles contingent upon the paperwork, etc. Discussion: County Attorney Rob Morton. We don’t own these vehicles. Asked to consider a motion to authorize the county manager to assist in the sale for the Sheriff. Motion and second to do this. Discussion: They will have to comply with the law on this. Approved 5-0.
e. Discussion of the American Lung Association Freedom From Smoking.
Discussion of the county joining into a program to help employees withdraw from nicotine use if they choose to. It’s not free but could help our employees with long-term health benefits. Completely optional. It costs the county per case. Ranges from $6 per person on my own up to $400 per person based on what is requested because it includes group access. It’s a 6 month program. There is everything in between. We pay only for what we use. This could result in lower premiums later. Discussion: CM recommended trying this for 6 months and stopping the program if it doesn’t work. Question. How are we going to pay for this? This is an unplanned cost, and the money has to come from somewhere. Expressed appreciation for caring about the employees. Motion to go with the county manager’s recommendation. Motion fails for lack of a second.
[Note from the Editor: I was pleased to hear the following two questions: How much is it going to cost? and Where is the money coming from? It's a great idea, but the taxpayers are footing this bill, and that matters. Especially when taxes have been high because of the high sales of homes and property in our county.]
f. Discussion of Ranchland Estates speed bumps.
20 citizens have asked for 11 speedbumps in Ranchland Estates. Information has been gathered. $810 per set. Over 5,000 vehicles that went through. 25 mph is the speed limit, and half of the people who came through were speeding. Most of the people were doing between 26 and 35 mph. Less than 9% of the overall 5,000 that exceeded 35 mph. They are effective to slowing traffic, but they are not good for ambulances, fire trucks, and school buses.
Discussion: Jenkins. Said he has been contacted on this with those concerned about speed. CM provided a map for commissioners. Clarified that the 20 citizens live in Ranchland Estates. CM suggested not going with all 11 right now. Where are they really needed? Did the state check this mph. Motion to approve with 6 sets of speed bumps. Discussion: Where are we going to get the money? CM will figure this out. Approved 5-0.
g. Approve/deny First Reading of an ordinance adopting the Pike County Unified Development Code (UDC) and the Pike County Official Zoning Map.
Rogers. After all of these meetings, CM Rogers and Planning and Zoning Director Jeremy Gilbert have gotten this cleaned up and hope to have this approved for the 1st reading. Changes can be made through the 2nd reading at the next meeting. Gilbert walked through the process. Nov 9 and 28 public hearings. Workshop on Dec 21. The document goes from the beginning of the process in January all of the way through the entire year. Believe that this is the best thing that we can do up to this point. Have met with the county attorney on this related to appeals and legal matters with zoning procedures law. The zoning map, etc. is on Novus Agenda and the document is online for the public as well.
Click here to go to the county website. Click on Resources and County Ordinances to read the UDC Draft and UDC First Reading.
Discussion: Briar Johnson said that there is an issue with R2 with sewage and asked this to be reviewed again. Gilbert. Maybe coming up with some alternatives for requiring public sewer. Motion to approve 1st reading of the UDC and the official zoning map. Approved 5-0.
10. PUBLIC COMMENT - NONE
11. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Executive Session. Motion to go into executive session. 9:55 a.m. (Tim Guy left at 10:25 a.m. Tim Daniel left at 10:47 a.m.)
a. Chairman Briar Johnson requests an Executive Session for discussion or deliberation on the appointment, employment, compensation, hiring, disciplinary action or dismissal, or periodic evaluation or rating of a public officer or employee or interviewing applicants for the position of the executive head of an agency, as provided in O.C.G.A. § 50-14-3(b)(2), germane to personnel.
b. Chaiman Briar Johnson requests an Executive Session to discuss the possible acquisition of real property pursuant to O.C.G.A. 50-14-3 (b)(1).
c. County Attorney Rob Morton request an Executive Session for consultation with the county attorney, or other legal counsel, to discuss pending or potential litigation, settlement, claims, administrative proceedings, or other judicial actions brought or to be brought by or against the county or any officer or employee or in which the county or any officer or employee may be directly involved as provided in O.C.G.A. § 50-14-2(1), germane to pending or potential litigation.
Back in session. 11 a.m.
Motion to give a week’s vacation to the new finance officer. Approved 3-0.
[Note from the Editor: Kudos to the County Manager for bringing this to the commissioners to get approval. Our ordinances require this approval to be given, but things haven't always been done according to our ordinances. And thank you to Clint Chastain for stepping into the Finance position for Pike County!]
Motion to adjourn. 11:03 p.m.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Agenda subject to change.
[Note from the Editor: If you appreciate being able to read information from county meetings for free on Pike County Times, please make a donation to Pike County Times through the PayPal link at the bottom of the page or by check to Pike County Times at PO Box 843, Zebulon so I can justify the amount of time that I am spending away from family. It may not seem like much but sitting in a meeting and then typing it up takes a lot more time than you might imagine! Thanks for reading Pike County's only FREE newspaper.]