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Click here to see the documents that have been uploaded with the agenda on the Pike County government page.

Commissioners James Jenkins, Jason Proctor, Tim Guy, and Tim Daniel were present along with Chairman Briar Johnson, County Clerk Angela Blount, County Manager Brandon Rogers, and County Attorney Rob Morton.

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))

Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.

5. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES - (O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1(e) (2))

b. Minutes of the September 26, 2023, Executive Session.

Motion to approve all. Approved 5-0.

6. INVITED GUEST

CM Brandon Rogers introduced Ray Wilkerson, the new Director of Parks and Recreation.

a. Employee Recognition for service to Pike County.

• Chad Clark – Parks and Recreation

Chad has been with the county for 5 years. Ray said that Chad has worn many hats out there at Parks and Rec. Said that he is excited to working with him.

• Greg Hobbs – Tax Assessors

Greg has been with the county for 10 years. Brandon said that Greg has a hard job working to keep the commissioners, the state, and the public in his job position and the he does a good job.

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 ........ $507,639.21
Fire Dept. Donations ........ $9,224.36
Cash Reserve Account ........ $473,130.23
Jail Fund ........ $36,426.77
E-911 Fund ........ $591,270.73
DATE Fund ........ $40,322.03
Juvenile Court Fund ........ $13,565.47
Residential Impact Fee ........ $1,387,097.54
Commercial Impact Fees ........ $180,662.57
C.A.I.P FUND ........ $266,272.10
General Obligation SPLOST 2022-2028 ........ $414,052.47
L.M.I.G. Grant (DOT) ........ $224,361.47

c. County Manager Comment

General fund is getting extremely low. Not really concerned because we get insurance premium check to tide us over. We also have ARPA funds to borrow from ourselves and pay it back so we can do future projects.

Update on the millage rate. He said that the current projected rollback rate is 9.638%. Looking to roll back from 11.986% that it is currently. Don’t know about the school or the Development Authority will have but hopefully at the next meeting. It could fluctuate a little but close. This will likely be adopted during the first meeting in November. [Note from the Editor: Keep an eye on the Pike Journal Reporter for the Digest Numbers from the past 5 years as well as what day this will be discussed and voted on at the county commission meeting. I usually post this as well, but they are the official organ of record for the county so it will go there first. This will be a compilation of everything from the the county and school needed to put together the millage rate.]

DOT and Public Works and CM Rogers met about the project at Hill Street. $480,000 to realign that intersection originally. Negotiated. This is the maximum amount. We can do a big portion of this ourselves like grading, replacing the pipe at Hill Street with concrete. New estimate is $30,000 rather than $50,000. Public Works will do the grading to the dirt work, etc. and DOT will do rock, asphalt, signs, and striping.

October 31 meeting is canceled. Be safe and we’ll see you in November.

d. Commissioner Reports

Chairman Briar Johnson praised Planning and Development for the way that they are doing their reports. [Note from the Editor: You can see this and all of the reports at the link at the top of the page.]

e. County Attorney Report to Commissioners - None.

8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - NONE

9. NEW BUSINESS

a. Approve/Deny Pike County Parks and Recreation use of $6,000.00 in Impact Fees.

Asking for funding for tractor repairs. It was donated when the other was out of commission. Doesn’t know that this will be Impact Fee eligible. Up to $6,000. Do you want to do a partial on this? Older tractor that has been with the county for many years in different departments. Discussed Impact Fee eligibility. Maintenance versus capital expense. He thinks that hydraulic hoses and tires are usually maintenance. Rob said that he doesn’t think that it is a capital improvement. Motion to deny at this time until we can find another way to help. Discussion that they will need to find another way to pay for the repairs. It has agricultural field tires that need to be replaced so they can use it as well as hoses that have dry rotted. If you deny it, CM Rogers and Parks & Rec Director will need to find funding for this. Denied 5-0.

b. Approve/Deny Three Letters of Support for Pike County Parks and Recreation.

They applied for a DNR Grant last year but did not get it last year because they didn’t have a plan on how to do this. The county needs to be able to deed them some property in the future. CM Rogers recommended yes because he thought the land was already theirs. And they will be supported with future Impact Fees. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.

c. Authorize Chairman Briar Johnson to sign the Request for Release of Funds and Certification for the 2023 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).

Request from the Grant Administrator on Tanyard Road so we can get started on this. Requested approval. No timeline yet. 25th to receive the funds from the state in Augusta. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.

d. Approve/Deny revised agreement relating to Pike County GO Bonds Construction Fund Custodian.

General Obligation Bonds for the SPLOST. Trying to get this through Regions Bank. They were not able to set this up in the amount of time that we had. United Bank stepped up when asked. The state was trying to deposit the money into an account that we needed right then. United Bank cannot invest them like we need so we’re going back to Plan A to get this approved and moved to Regions Bank for investment. Motion for approval. Approved 5-0.

e. PUBLIC HEARING: To receive public input to consider the proposed road abandonment of Twin Oaks Pass.
Action: Discuss/Approve/Deny

No one spoke.

Morton. It’s been advertised and all property owners notified. Recommended approval. Motion to approval. Approved 5-0.

10. PUBLIC COMMENT

a. Brad Gregg to address the Board regarding a permit fee.

Asked for the attorney fees involved with his property. Said that he talked to the zoning administrator in 2019 who advised that this would revert back to DR6 which would allow a duplex. April 18 got a zoning letter from the county. Applied for permits in May after No assigned zoning so he thought that anything goes. After 3 ½ months of meetings, the permits were finally approved on August 30. He had a lot of expenses besides just attorney fees. Said that this was an illegal taking of his land because he’d paid his taxes. Not asking for all of the rest of the fees or missed future rents just $6652.42 in attorney fees that he had to pay out in order to get permits on the day that he applied for it. Has a lot more expenses tied up in this but only asking for the attorney fees. Cited county code that says that the county can adjust Impact Fees on this.

11. EXECUTIVE SESSION

a. Chairman Briar Johnson requests 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. County Manager Brandon Rogers requests 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.

c. County Manager Brandon Rogers requests an Executive Session to discuss the possible acquisition of real property pursuant to O.C.G.A. 50-14-3 (b)(1).

Executive Session. 9:41 a.m.

Back in session.

Motion to adjourn. 10:56 a.m.

12. ADJOURNMENT

Agenda subject to change.

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