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Tuesday, November 26, 2013 – 6:30 p.m.
Courthouse Annex, 79 Jackson Street, Zebulon, Georgia
All five commissioners were present along with County Clerk Jo Ann Wrye to take the minutes, County Attorney Rob Morton, and County Manager (CM) John Hanson. Tonight was a very short meeting even with the addition of an Executive Session with it being less than an hour long total. County Attorney Rob Morton asked commissioners to add an Executive Session for Pending and potential litigation re: Magistrate Court. Motion to amend the agenda. Approved 5-0.
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))
Minutes of the November 13, 2013 Regular Monthly Meeting.
6. INVITED GUESTS
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 December. Revenue/Expenditure Statement and Detail Check Register is included.
b. County Manager Report
▫ Update on County finances for the following funds/accounts:
General Fund - $921,458.47
Fire Department Donations - $1,400 Click here to read about this.
Jury Account - $0
Cash Reserve Account - $176,461.22
Jail Fund - $34,221.18
E-911 Fund - 39,014.98
DATE Fund - $22,606.51
Juvenile Court Fund - $20,845.70
Residential Impact Fees - $291,326.25
Commercial Impact Fees - $17,025.34
General Obligation SPLOST Tax Bond Sinking Fund, 2011 - $318,171.81
PC L.M.I. Grant - $322,976.46
c. County Manager Comments.
CM Hanson expressed condolences to Chief Appraiser Cindy Foster and to Clerk of Superior Court Carolyn Williams on the loss of their loved ones. He asked that we please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. In the past meeting, he said that the Commissioners took $2,000 from Contingency for the reimbursement of attorney’s fees made by Magistrate Court counsel related to litigation in Marcia Callaway-Ingram v. Pike County but that this $2,000 was found under Professional Fees and Services in another part of the budget. Motion to accept CM Hanson’s recommendation not to take this from Contingency. Approved 5-0.
The county has sold all of the items that were on the GovDeals.com auction and the county will be receiving $11,025 from the sales.
Old Lifsey Springs Road is now open, and the Gresham Road Station 8 concrete is completed too.
d. Commissioner Reports.
Commissioner Bass thanked CM Hanson for taking care of the salvage sale for the county and complimented Public Works Director Todd Goolsby as well on the opening of Old Lifsey Springs Road.
Jarrett thanked Farm Bureau Ladies Group for the breakfast on Friday. She said that it was a very informative meeting and she appreciated being included.
Jenkins thanked CM Hanson for taking care of the salvage sale for the county as well.
Chairman Johnson wished the Board and citizens a happy Thanksgiving.
e. County Attorney Report to Commissioners.
Update on LMIG. EL Snell is going to start with Twin Oaks Road soon. He advised that the Board of Commissioners was praised when he attended the last meeting from where Chairman of the Board of Assessors Bob Marriott had attended the past BOC meeting. The commissioners received a letter of follow up from the Board of Assessors in reference to some questions that were asked at the past meeting. In particular, this flyover map will be available on Qpublic as well as to the Tax Assessor's Office.
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Approve/deny Second Reading of the revised Disorderly Conduct Ordinance and additional Misdemeanor Ordinances.
Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
b. Approve/deny Second Reading of Chapter 91, Animal Control Ordinance.
This ordinance was discussed in the October 29, 2013 meeting. Click here and scroll down to section 9d to read what was discussed in the Public Hearing that was held. Click here to read the proposed animal control ordinance. Commissioner Jarrett made a motion to postpone this ordinance because "we are not in a position to implement many of the aspects of this ordinance at this time". Commissioner Bass made the 2nd. Motion to postpone was approved. 4-1 Chairman Johnson opposed. [Note from the Editor: The county has a place that we will eventually be able to take dangerous dogs, but as far as I know, the required kennel space has not been completed. If an ordinance is written, it can be enforced to the letter of the law or, in this case, citizens who have been put in a situation about dangerous dogs are going to demand that the county enforce its ordinance. We need animal control in Pike County, but it's going to cost money. We need something in place to protect citizens from dangerous dogs, but it needs to be done well. I don't think that postponing this vote is a bad thing though I do want to see the ball keep rolling on getting the facility up and ready.]
9. NEW BUSINESS
a. Consideration of the Hardship Application of Robert E. Anderson of Hwy. 109, Molena, to waive the Residential Impact Fee for his new home application, per Code Section 157.06 (D).
Mr. Johnson is present. He applied for this based on medical disability as a veteran. Commissioner Jarrett said that she had no problems with this and commended the material provided by Director David Allen on this application. Motion to approve. 5-0.
b. Approve/deny renewal of Alcohol License (Retail Sales-beer) for Mitul Patel d/b/a Cadies Corner, 10030 Hwy 19, Zebulon, GA. Applicant has met criteria.
Motion to approve. County Attorney Rob Morton said that there are certain criteria that has to be complied with and that there is a review and a background is done on each application. Commissioners do not receive the background information, but they have been advised that the requirements have been met. Motion was approved in a 5-0 vote.
c. Approve/deny renewal of Alcohol License (Retail Sales-beer/wine) for Dolores Ferguson d/b/a Ferguson’s 6764 Hwy 362, Concord, GA. Applicant has met criteria.
Motion to approve. 5-0.
d. Consider one appointment to the Pike County Water and Sewer Authority for a five-year term set to expire 12-31-2013. Applicants have met criteria.
This is for Tommy Burnsed's position on the Board. There were three applicants for this position. John Spraggins, Ron Snowden, and Jonathan Mayfield. Bass and Jenkins made motion to appoint Jonathan Mayfield. Approved 5-0.
e. Consider items for surplus.
These are primarily historical items that were removed from the Courthouse such as parts of benches that could be made into whole benches, old jail cell door from the courthouse, various chairs, old pavers about 300 of them to be sold in groups of 50, 8 old pillars/porch columns, rock steps from the courthouse, wooden chairs, 12 8 foot solid wood doors, various chairs used over the years, printers, copiers, and some non-working misc items such as faxes, phone, copiers for parts. CM Hanson asked that these items will go on GovDeals.com. Motion to approve these items contingent upon on not duplicating items that have already been approved for surplus. 5-0.
f. Approve/deny Resolution for 2012/2013 budget amendment.
CM Hanson met with the auditor and they gave their recommendations for the final audit report. Commissioner Bass said that she sent an email with some questions this afternoon and that CM Hanson answered all of her questions. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
g. Consider request by Chris Curry to use the Courthouse grounds for Christmas on the Square on Saturday, December 7, 2013 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Motion to approve. 5-0.
10. PUBLIC COMMENT- (Limited to 5 minutes per person)
a. Jayne Midura of CoCo’s Cupboard, Inc. desires to address the Board regarding the Animal Control Ordinances.
[Note from the Editor: Jayne Midura thought that she had signed up for a Public Hearing. County Attorney Rob Morton advised that there was not a public hearing tonight and it was verified that she signed up to speak under Public Comment when she signed her paper to be a part of the meeting.] Ms. Midura asked when the animal control ordinances will be revisited. She received no answer. She then continued and said that she was very disappointed that the animal control ordinance wasn’t passed. She said that we have to start somewhere and this is like throwing the baby out with the bathwater. She said that these regulations were reasonable and could have been approved and revised as needed.
She then went over some of the concerns with the ordinance that she had hoped to address before the vote that was taken earlier tonight. She said that some were concerned about the 50 cent fee on rabies shots that would be used to help with the animal control office. She said that only the people who own cats and dogs would be paying this very reasonable fee of 50 cents. If people can’t afford this, then maybe they shouldn’t have so many animals. She said that there was a concern about nuisance dogs and said that there would be sufficient evidence for this. She also said that while everyone won't be caught, an impact will be made by those who are caught. She said that we have to send a message that Pike County is not a dumping ground for animals and said that it looks like the county is not taking animal control seriously.
Commissioner Jarrett made a motion to allow a comment from the public. Motion dies for lack of a second.
11. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Discussion of pending and potential litigation germane to Magistrate Court. 6:59 p.m.
Back in session. 7:23 p.m.
12. ADJOURNMENT: 7:25 p.m.
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