Pike County Times
The Pike County Times, PO Box 843, Zebulon, Georgia 30295. Click here to donate through PayPal. Becky Watts: Phone # 770-468-7583 editor@pikecountytimes.com
 
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This online news website is owned and operated by Becky Watts. The Editor can be reached at 770-468-7583 or at editor(at)PikeCountyTimes(dot)com. Pike County Times is a website for citizens to keep up with local events and stay informed about Pike County government. It began on November 13, 2006 as a watchdog on county government and has turned into an online newspaper.

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REGULAR BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MONTHLY MEETING
Tuesday, January 27, 2015 – 6:30 p.m.
Courthouse Annex, 79 Jackson Street, Zebulon, Georgia

All five commissioners are present, County Clerk Jo Ann Wrye to take the minutes, County Manger (CM) John Hanson, and County Attorneys Rob and Tom Morton.

1. CALL TO ORDER....................................................................................Chairman J. Briar Johnson

2. INVOCATION……………………………………………………………………………Ben Maxedon

3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE...................................................................Chairman J. Briar Johnson

4. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA - (O.C.G A. § 50-14-1 (e) (1))

CM Hanson asked to remove item E under New Business and bring it forth at the next night meeting.

5. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES - (O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1(e) (2))
a. Minutes of the January 14, 2015 Regular Monthly Meeting.

6. INVITED GUESTS - None

a. Chairman Ken Gran of Agribusiness to address the Board to present the 2015 goals for Agribusiness.

Mr. Gran was not present at the meeting.

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. There are no Department reports as they will be provided during the first Board meeting of February. Revenue/Expenditure Statement and Detail Check Register is included.

b. County Manager Report
▫ Update on County finances for the following funds/accounts:
General Fund ............................................................................................ $4,170,173.06
Fire Dept. Donations........................................................................................ $1,200.77
Cash Reserve Account................................................................................. $391,212.57
Jail Fund ........................................................................................................ $30,256.65
E-911 Fund .................................................................................................... $28,599.92
DATE Fund ................................................................................................... $34,227.65
Juvenile Court Fund....................................................................................... $17,476.47
Residential Impact Fee ................................................................................ $284,364.20
Commercial Impact Fees ............................................................................... $11,429.92
C.A.I.P FUND............................................................................................... $20,000.00
General Obligation SPLOST Tax Bond Sinking Fund, 2011.......................... $7,817.75
L.M.I. Grant (DOT)..................................................................................... $233,073.81

c. County Manager Comments.

Hagan’s Mountain culvert replacement went smoothly. Cash reserves are up about $391,000. This money can be used for various items if needed, but the county is trying to plan for emergencies.

2015 LMIG projects are approved and the check is here. Williamson-Zebulon Road is next on our list.

It is budget time and the process is rolling.

Trash pickup. We are working with the Department of Corrections to try and get our roads cleaned. February and March will be a good time to get this done because it matches up with the court schedule and community service sentencing. There are not people from the jail cleaning up our roads, but people who are working regular jobs and trying to get their community service done. They don’t always show up when they are scheduled however so we are working with what we have. We need some volunteers help cleaning up our roads too.

d. Commissioner Reports.

District 1 Daniel has had a few road calls and the Road Department has taken care of that. Numerous trash calls and he has discussed this CM Hanson. He would like to see everyone help out with this problem of trash on our roads, and he is willing to help too.

District 2 Guy has had a couple of calls about roads including one on Cook Road. The new Zipper machine will help out on this. He asked CM Hanson where the county stands on this. It has been delivered but no demo or training yet because of the rain. They will start on McKinley Road and hit Cook Road later when we get our paving equipment too. This will save us from having to contract it out. These holes are packed right now and they are keeping an eye on them after each rain until they can get this taken care of.

Distrct 3 Powers thanked the Road Department for the job done replacing the culvert on Hagan’s Mountain Road. He said that they went in there as soon as the bus crossed the culvert and had it in place and ready for the bus to go across that afternoon. He has had calls about trash and the state of the roads too.

District 4 Jenkins: Thanked CM Hanson for following up on the trash pickup after the last meeting. He asked about the AT&T contract. Hanson said that we have worked through 99% of the problems with AT&T and have received credits of $12,739.44 so far. Now our monthly budgets are coming in on target with AT&T. Verizon Wireless is next. We are looking to change from $99-$40 per month plan for jet packs in some places as long as they have good cell service. It’s basically a wifi system that feeds off of a cell signal. We have run Public Works off of something like this for almost a month and it worked well. Overage was mentioned and CM Hanson advised that government usage is unlimited but they can throttle it and slow it down.

e. County Attorney Report to Commissioners.

County Attorney Morton: Some may have received an ad litem notice for an injury that occurred at the school system. This is actually for the school system. This is a false alarm and are not anticipating any lawsuit against the county.

8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None

9. NEW BUSINESS

a. Consider one appointment to the Pike County Environmental Review Board to fill a four-year term, set to expire December 31, 2018. Applicant has met criteria.

Charles Way of Concord. This is a reappointment of an existing board member. Motion to reappoint. 5-0.

b. Approve/deny renewal of Alcohol License (Retail Sales-beer and wine) for Lisa Harn, d/b/a Superior Oil, 3402 Hwy. 362, Williamson, GA. Applicant has met criteria.

Motion to approve. 5-0.

c. PUBLIC HEARING: To receive public input on SE-15-01 – Ira and Linda Rampil, property owners and applicants, are requesting a special exception in a PRD zoned district to allow for a General Home Occupation at their residence. The subject property, located at 236 Candler Way, has approximately 51 feet of frontage on the northern side of Candler Way. The property is located in Land Lot 131 of the 1st District of Pike County, Georgia. The property consists of 1.2 acres and is further identified as Tax Map Parcel #050 176.
Action: Discuss/Approve/Deny

This went before the Board of Appeals on January 15, and they recommended for approval with three conditions: will need an annual business license, meet state and federal requirements, and comply with county sign ordinance. This will be a place where pilots can come in and get this requirement fulfilled for their examinations.

Ira Rampil has been appointed by the FAA to perform these exams. There are approximately 100 active pilots in Pike County and he will provide those services at this location rather than at the airport location where he was previously. He has been doing this for the past 8 month. There will be a limited impact on traffic because he is anticipating only 50 exams a year.

Jim Burke is the neighbor across the road and thinks it is great idea.

No opposition.

Motion to approve with conditions. 5-0.

d. PUBLIC HEARING: To receive public input on SE-15-02 – Charles Milligan, property owner and applicant, is requesting a special exception in an A-R zoned district to allow for a temporary trailer to live in at a construction site (renovation of his existing home on the subject property). The property, located at 2797 Vega Road, has approximately 196 feet of frontage along the north side of Vega Road and 198 feet of frontage along the south side of Holly Lane. The property is located in Land Lot 117 of the 8th District of Pike County, Georgia. The property consists of 1.76 acres and is further identified as Tax Map Parcel #095 026.
Action: Discuss/Approve/Deny

This went before the Board of Appeals on January 15 and they recommended for approval with conditions: only one trailer on the property that will be lived in, shall use existing well and septic, no dumping of sewage, if not finished within 12 months then must get another permit, and no approval beyond 24 months.

Charles Milligan – He was unaware of this requirement to begin with and came immediately to the county to do what needed to be done as soon as he was aware of the requirement.

Kevin Milligan – He is the son and asked them to help his father get the renovations on his property by approving this request.

No opposition.

Commissioner Powers asked if the standing structure has been inspected. Director Allen advised that it has been. Motion to approve with conditions. 5-0.

e. Approve/Deny the Pike County Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2015-2020 and to authorize Chairman J. Briar Johnson to sign Resolution, Jimmy Totten to present the plan.

Removed from this meeting agenda. May be rescheduled for the next night meeting.

f. Approve/Deny 1st Reading of the Liquor by Drink Ordinance.

The sale of liquor by the drink was passed by voters in the November 2014 election. This is for consumption only on the premises. Chapter 111 addresses beer and wine for wholesalers and retailers. This revision allows the sale of spirits by the drink and is tied to the sale of food in a restaurant type atmosphere. This is a first reading only. Commissioners can make changes tonight and it will be presented again at a second reading. We have a penalty section that allows a business to be cited and taken to Magistrate Court if needed. Questions, comments, and revisions will be made before the next meeting. Motion to accept for first reading. 5-0.

g. Approve/Deny lease/trade-in mini excavator – CAT financial.

We signed leases on equipment several years ago. We decided to go with this piece of equipment so we can get around tight places and do work in smaller places because it is much easier to move around. A backhoe is being traded in for this. Our trade in values are good with Catepillar and they have worked with us on this. Motion to approve. 5-0.

10. PUBLIC COMMENT- (Limited to 5 minutes per person) – None

11. EXECUTIVE SESSION - None

12. ADJOURNMENT

Motion to adjourn. 7:05 p.m.

Agenda subject to revision.

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Submitted 1.27.15
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