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Wednesday, October 8, 2014 – 9:00 a.m.
Courthouse Annex, 79 Jackson Street, Zebulon, Georgia
All five commissioners were present along with County Clerk Jo Ann Wrye and Ginny Blakeney to take the minutes, County Manager (CM) John Hanson, and County Attorney 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 commissioner to amend the agenda to include Elizabeth Hanson and Daulton Corbett to speak as invited guests about their 4H project to raise money for welcome signs in the county. Motion to approve. 5-0.
5. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES - (O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1(e) (2))
a. Minutes of the September 30, 2014 Regular Monthly Meeting.
6. INVITED GUESTS - None
6a.Daulton Corbett and Elizabeth Hanson updated the commissioners with their request to use the services of the county's sign company in order to purchase and place 4-H welcome signs on the major roads coming into the county. They presented the county with a check for $331.36 to pay for these six signs today and brought a finished sign to show the final product. They thanked the Board for granting their request and said that they look forward to seeing their project come to life.
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.
b. County Manager Report
▫ Update on County finances for the following funds/accounts:
General Fund ............................................................................................... $658,237.37
Fire Dept. Donations........................................................................................ $1,200.57
Cash Reserve Account................................................................................. $176,542.46
Jail Fund ........................................................................................................ $35,816.59
E-911 Fund .................................................................................................... $27,442.86
DATE Fund ................................................................................................... $34,893.64
Juvenile Court Fund....................................................................................... $17,978.48
Residential Impact Fee ................................................................................ $269,573.60
Commercial Impact Fees ............................................................................... $11,428.03
General Obligation SPLOST Tax Bond Sinking Fund, 2011...................... $322,400.15
L.M.I. Grant (DOT)..................................................................................... $233,033.87
c. County Manager Comments.
Animal Control is coming along with the outer perimeter of the fence up and the concrete is being poured tomorrow. They hope to have this completed by the end of the month to deal with dangerous and dogs.
The county is working with Pike County Emergency Services as they move inventory out of the Adams Street house and into one of the fire stations.
The county is going paperless. Commissioners will receive training on the new system in upcoming weeks.
The county is working on Eppinger Bridge Road with the DOT issues when the DOT did its bridge inspection. Cook Road will have some work done it where patching is needed. There are plans for this to be finished up tomorrow. [Note from the Editor: More on this in Commissioner Jarrett's Commissioner Report below.]
CM Hanson thanked the commissioners for bringing him in as county manager a year ago last week. He said that he and the commissioners work well as a team together and he looks forward to the future with the county. [Note from the Editor: Our commissioners are to be commended for bringing John Hanson on board as our county manager. I no longer stress out if I have to miss a meeting because I know that there will be no craziness going on at the last minute, and I trust that when I call with a concern, it will be addressed in a timely manner. Things are not perfect as John and the commissioners pointed out, but we have come a LONG way from where we were even a year ago with our finances and public trust in county government.]
d. Commissioner Reports.
Commissioner Bass said that the county stepped away from the regular hiring process and hired someone with integrity who was a good person for the job. She said that it has paid off in spades and that maybe other counties can look at us and do the same. She praised CM John Hanson for a job well done. She also praised Elizabeth Hanson and Daulton Corbett for working to raise their own funding for their project. She said that in the past, others have asked for money and the county has told them no. She hopes that the teens have taught the grown ups a lesson.
Commissioner Jarrett congratulated John on his anniversary with the county. She praised him for his work with commissioners because he is always good to answer questions or concerns and he handles everyone graciously. She also praised Daulton and Elizabeth for their hard work raising money for their project. She then asked for a public status report on Cook Road and Howell Road.
CM Hanson said that there have been problems with Cook Road since he first came on as County Manager particularly with in the area at the last curve before you go up the hill with a major portion being patched though there are still a few pot holes that are on the list to be completed. He said that the road is better than it was, but it still has some work before it is finished. Other projects have taken the road crew away from this road, but it will be completed. Howell Road is a triple surface road with some places that have gravel in them to hold until the asphalt plan is open (hopefully tomorrow). He said that we are doing saw patches and not just filling the holes so they will last longer.
Commissioner Powers thanked Daulton and Elizabeth for their hard work and said that the signs looked nice. He also thanked CM Hanson for his hard work and said that he hopes he is here a long time.
Commissioner Jenkins commended Elizabeth and Daulton for their initiative. He also told CM Hanson that he has made them all proud. He said that John cares about the county, his heart is here, and the job that he has done shows how he feels about the county. He said that John has brought everything together and he appreciates that.
Commissioner Johnson said thank you to CM Hanson and said that he doesn’t know how John could be better. He praised John for his work and for answering questions in a timely manner.
e. County Attorney Report to Commissioners.
County Attorney Tom Morton congratulated CM Hanson for his year anniversary and said that his communication skills are outstanding and that John is one of the best county managers that this county has ever had. Tom especially praised him for listening and for asking for advice. He said that his office appreciates working with him and commended the commission for choosing John.
He also told commissioners that his wife has won first place in the Spalding County Fair with her home-grown, canned goods now for 22 years. She won six first place blue ribbons, one second place, and one third place this year. [Note from the Editor: Congratulations!]
Commissioner Jarrett asked that the commissioners look at putting something in CM Hanson’s file for his year anniversary.
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Approve/deny 2nd Reading of the 2014 Revision to the General Appointment Policies and Procedures.
This contains all of the suggested changes. Motion to accept. Approved 5-0.
9. NEW BUSINESS
a. Approve/deny resolution to adopt the revised Capital Improvements Element 2013 Annual Update as transmitted on August 27, 2014 and approved by the Department of Community Affairs in September 2014.
This was transmitted to Three Rivers and then to the Department of Community Affairs and is ready for final adoption. This required to keep our qualified, local government status as a county. Motion to accept and include a copy of the resolution with the minutes. Approved 5-0.
b. Discuss remaining Board of Commissioners Regular Monthly Meeting calendar for 2014.
Traditionally, the Board has cancelled the last meeting of the year—December 30th this year. CM Hanson asked whether the county wanted to meet on November 25th right before Thanksgiving and advised that they met last year on the week of Thanksgiving. Commissioners gave a consensus to keep the November meeting. Motion to cancel the December 30th meeting. Approved 5-0.
c. Approve/deny Resolution for budget amendment for Capital Outlay Project Old Zebulon Road.
There was $150,000 set aside for this project from last year's budget. The cost of this project is $113,256.37 so there will be some money left over for other needs. The purpose of doing this amendment is to create a Capital Outlay Item for road projects with Old Zebulon Road listed specifically. This will allow the county to write checks out of this line item and it will not effect the regular roads budget because the revenue source will be prior year’s balance. He wants to leave this in place in case we have another culvert that blows out or we see a problem with a culvert that needs some work so we can be proactive before a road has to be closed. We are working to get a grip on our road maintenance because we spend less money when we are proactive. This would be for emergency needs. Motion to allow CM Hanson to make the change in this year’s budget for Capital Outlay Project on Old Zebulon Road for $150,000 and authorize the signing of this Resolution to make the budget amendment. Approve 5-0.
10. PUBLIC COMMENT- (Limited to 5 minutes per person) - None
11. EXECUTIVE SESSION - None
Motion to adjourn. 9:33 a.m.
12. ADJOURNMENT
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