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Wednesday, November 12, 2014 – 9:00 a.m.
Courthouse Annex, 79 Jackson Street, Zebulon, Georgia
All 5 commissioners are present including County Clerk Jo Ann Wrye to take the minutes, County Manager (CM) Hanson, and County Attorney Rob Morton. Several of the commissioners were using their county PDA’s during the meeting.
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))
5. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES - (O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1(e) (2))
a. Minutes of the October 28, 2014 Regular Monthly Meeting.
6. INVITED GUESTS
a. Tom Lacey to present the Farm City Proclamation to the Board.
Week of Nov 21st Farm City Week. CM Hanson read the proclamation aloud.
Farm-City Week Proclamation, Growing a Better Georgia:
Georgia farmers and ranchers play a key role in providing food, clothing, shelter and fuel to our state, national and the world producing a bounty of agricultural products. To do this, they rely on essential partnerships with urban and suburban communities to supply, sell and deliver finished products Rural and urban communities working together have made the most of our state’s rich agricultural resources as they contribute to the health and wellbeing of our state, our country and to the strength of our economy.
During Farm-City Week in Georgia, we recognize the importance of this cooperative network. Agriculture contributes more than $65 billion annually to Georgia’s $786.5 billion economic output. One in seven Georgians work in agriculture, forestry or agriculture related fields.
The agricultural industry provides us with food, clothing and shelter as well as fuel for our energy needs. As we welcome new opportunities for trade, the hard work and successful cooperation between farmers and city workers will continue to play a vital role in our state and nation’s future. Farm-City collaborations help maintain and improve our food and fiber supply and contribute to a better quality of life for our citizens. We commend the many Americans whose hard work and ingenuity reflect the true spirit of America and help to ensure a prosperous future for all. This week, as we gather with family and friends around the Thanksgiving table, it is fitting that we count among our blessings the vital farm-city partnerships that have done so much to improve the quality of our lives.
Therefore, we do here proclaim November 21-27, 2014 as Farm-City Week in Georgia. We call upon citizens in rural and urban areas to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of all those who, working together, produce and supply our community and nation with an abundance of agricultural products.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Proclamation shall be spread upon the minutes of this board on the date set below to honor Farm-City Week and that there shall be affixed my hand and seal on this twelfth day of November in the year of our Lord two thousand and fourteen.
Motion to sign the proclamation. Approved 5-0.
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, Credit Card Statement and a summary check register.
Commissioner Bass asked whether the county had received a report from the Agribusiness Authority and advised that she thought the county had an ordinance that ceased funding for any county entities that do not turn in monthly reports. Discussion that this may be just an oversight because the Agribusiness Authority is usually pretty thorough. CM Hanson advised that he will look into this for all committees. Motion to allow Mr. Lacey to speak. Approved 5-0. He advised that there is a transition in the Agribusiness Authority and that he will ensure that the new person doing financial reports knows to forward those reports to the county.
b. County Manager Report
▫ Update on County finances for the following funds/accounts:
General Fund ............................................................................................... $971,809.84
Fire Dept. Donations........................................................................................ $1,200.62
Cash Reserve Account................................................................................. $236,803.00
Jail Fund ........................................................................................................ $38,838.01
E-911 Fund .................................................................................................... $41,520.98
DATE Fund ................................................................................................... $35,059.84
Juvenile Court Fund....................................................................................... $18,099.21
Residential Impact Fee ................................................................................ $267,501.07
Commercial Impact Fees ............................................................................... $11,428.48
General Obligation SPLOST Tax Bond Sinking Fund, 2011.......................... $2,435.01
L.M.I. Grant (DOT)..................................................................................... $233,044.44
c. County Manager Comments.
Commissioners will go over to the Animal Control facility after the meeting. Working toward animal control has been ongoing for a long time. Commissioner Bass and Jarrett have been instrumental in this and said that Commissioner Powers has worked toward this during his tenure. CM Hanson thanked Commissioners Jenkins and Johnson for their help on animal control as well. He advised that commissioners and members of the public will be going to see a facility that handles vicious and dangerous dogs and fulfills both our ordinance and state law. The Dept of Ag has looked this over and we should have a license in a few days.
He advised that paving on Tanyard Road was finished yesterday. He wants to consider changing the speed limit to 25 mph and add narrow road signs. Also want to improve signage in culvert areas to help improve safety conditions. Mr. Morton advised that the BOC can lower the mph on the road. Radar capability would be lost, but if anyone had an accident and they were going 45 mph, it would be obvious why they had an accident.
The Economic Development Forecast Summit will be offered during the next meeting. He asked about whether to postpone the next meeting by 30 minutes. Commissioner Jenkins wants to push the meeting back an hour. Mr. Morton advised that a motion would be needed.
Motion to start the next morning meeting at 10 a.m. Approved 5-0.
There was an orientation meeting on the 25th for new commissioners. He also thanked commissioners for coming to the District 4 ACCG meeting on Monday. It was one of the biggest meetings that ACCG have ever had, and it was held here in Pike County.
d. Commissioner Reports.
e. County Attorney Report to Commissioners.
Commissioner Bass said that she and CM Hanson met with Mr. Simmons about court reporters and a possible resolution that will be positive for the county.
Commissioner Jarrett said that the ACCG meeting was a good meeting and she learned a lot about items on the legislative agenda that was beneficial for commissioners to learn. She wants to encourage names on the vehicle use sheets. Miles are being logged, but no names are going on sometimes. She said that the public is entitled to know.
Commissioner Powers said that he had someone talk to him bragging about Tanyard Road.
Commissioner Jenkins also got a call this morning about what a good job has been done there on Tanyard Road. He said that work on 2nd District looks really nice where the county has cleaned it up where someone had used it for a dumping ground.
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None
9. NEW BUSINESS
a. Approve/deny renewal of Alcohol License (Pouring-beer and wine) for Ron Alexander, d/b/a Barnstormer’s Grill, 349 Jonathan’s Roost Rd., Williamson, GA. Applicant has met criteria.
Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
b. Approve/deny renewal of Alcohol License (Retail Sales-beer) for Mitul Patel, d/b/a Caddies Corner, 10030 Hwy 19, Zebulon, GA. Applicant has met criteria.
Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
c. Approve/deny renewal of Alcohol License (Retail Sales-beer) for Jack Park, d/b/a The Cedars Golf Course, 13080 Hwy. 18, Zebulon, GA. Applicant has met criteria.. Motion to approve with malt beverage marked at the bottom of the application. Approved 5-0.
d. Approve/deny renewal of Alcohol License (Retail Sales-beer) for Jack Park, d/b/a The Pines Golf Course, 3094 Reidsboro Rd., Williamson, GA. Applicant has met criteria.
Motion to approve with malt beverage marked at the bottom of the application. Approved 5-0.
e. Consider one appointment to the Pike County Agribusiness Authority to fill an unexpired three-year term, set to expire April 1, 2015. Applicant has met criteria.
Melissa Bottoms. This is the only applicant. CM Hanson and the Agribusiness Authority both endorsed her. She was present in the meeting. Motion to approve. 5-0.
f. Consider request from Pike County American Legion Post 197 to proclaim December 6, 2014 as First Lieutenant Robert Eugene Oxford Day in Pike County.
Commissioner Jarrett spoke to Mr. Oxford’s brother and wrote an article on this and said that this is very important for our county. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
g. Approve/deny Resolution for 2013/2014 year end budget amendment.
This will allow the auditor to finish up by the next meeting. We brought in $180,000 more in motor vehicle tax than the prior year and a few other changes were made as well. CM Hanson said that gravel after the winter storm contributed to the increase in the Roads Department. Discussion about charges from court reporters and the changes that have been made to how they bill the county. They are required now to let the county know what they are billing for as well as billing on a monthly basis. Discussion about the Sheriff’s Office budget including the overage in the Jail part of the budget that went toward funding one of the cars for the department. He said that there were several departments that came in under budget as well and that all contributed to the county overall.
Motion to approve. 4-1 with Commissioner Bass voting against.
Commissioner Bass said that if a department goes over, she thinks that we are better to show the overage so they can react next year. Commissioner Jarrett said that more information needs to be given to commissioners and that people need to know when a department goes over because this is public money.
h. Approve/deny renewal of Alcohol License (Retail Sales – beer and wine) for Dolores Ferguson d/b/a Ferguson’s 6764 Hwy 362, Concord, GA. Applicant has met criteria.
Motion to approve with malt beverage marked at the bottom of the application. Approved 5-0.
10. PUBLIC COMMENT- (Limited to 5 minutes per person) - None
11. EXECUTIVE SESSION: 9:36 a.m.
a. Commissioners request 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(6); germane to annual evaluation of County Manager.
Back in session. 10:12 a.m.
Completed the CM evaluation. It was very positive with direction, and we are very pleased. This process is completed for this year. Motion to approve completion of County Manager Evaluation for the year. Approved 5-0.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Agenda subject to revision.
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