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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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Wednesday, December 13, 2023 - 9:00 AM
Courthouse, Main Courtroom, 16001 Barnesville Street, Zebulon, Georgia
Town Hall Meeting at 8:45 a.m.
ZEBULON - The Pike County Board of Commissioners met on Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at 9 a.m. Present were commissioners James Jenkins, Jason Proctor, Tim Guy, Tim Daniel, Chairman Briar Johnson, County Clerk Angela Blount, and County Manager Brandon Rogers. County Attorney Rob Morton was not present.
Click here to see the documents that have been uploaded with the agenda on the Pike County government page.
1. CALL TO ORDER ..... Chairman J. Briar Johnson
2. INVOCATION ..... Roger Mileham
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ..... Chairman J. Briar Johnson
4. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA - (O.C.G A. § 50-14-1 (e) (1))
Motion to add Executive Session personnel.
5. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
a. Minutes of the November 28, 2023, Regular Monthly Meeting.
b. Minutes of the November 28, 2023, Executive Session..
6. INVITED GUESTS
a. Employee Recognition for service to Pike County.
Brandi Kennedy - Public Works. Brandi was praised for helping the Board of Commissioners Office and being the face of Public Works. Public Works Director Todd Goolsby praised Brandi for her service in his department.
Wesley Bunn - Public Works. Wesley has been with Public Works for 5 years. Public Works Director Todd Goolsby praised him for his work as a motor operator and said that he is a great asset in his department.
Penny Cosper - Extension Office In the 4H Office for 10 years. She's the face of the 4H program. Brooklyne demonstrates leadership and community and does a great job in the schools. We appreciate her.
Emily Morris - Tax Assessors Office. Emily started with Tax Commissioner's Office and moved to Tax Assessor's Office. 10 years. Chief Appraiser Greg Hobbs said that the Assessor's Office struggling a little over 2 years ago so he asked her to come work over some in his office. Said he is glad she came to work with us.
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.
Department Reports
Financial Reports
b. County Manager Report
Update on County finances for the following funds/accounts:
General Fund ..... $859,499.92
Fire Dept. Donations ..... $9,224.36
Cash Reserve Account ..... $473,130.23
Jail Fund ..... $37,519.90
E-911 Fund ..... $254,386.12
DATE Fund ..... $37,308.86
Juvenile Court Fund ..... $13,740.47
Residential Impact Fee ..... $573,945.33
Commercial Impact Fees ..... $184,163.86
C.A.I.P Fund ..... $245,466.71
General Obligation SPLOST 2022-2028 ..... $671,460.43
L.M.I.G. Grant (DOT) ..... $836,157.93
c. County Manager Comments.
Different times and closing dates for Christmas closing. BOC offices will be closed on Friday and Monday. The Courthouse and the Sheriff's Office will be closed on Monday and Tuesday.
Worker’s Comp proposals due in January. With ACCG. Been with them for 18 or 19 years. McGriff came in slightly lower which is missing a little so that may be really close to what ACCG has $96,000 and $100,000 for ACCG. Services are similar. Base cost in McGriff is much higher than ACCG. Has some concerns that McGriff may be a bit more in the future based on that. Recommends staying with ACCG. If no change, no need for a motion. Proctor said that it looks like ACCG has more coverage.
UDC (Ordinances) Update. Workshop set up for Thursday, December 21st at 9 a.m. in the courthouse. Probably last a couple of hours. [Note from the Editor: The public is invited to attend.]
Impact Fees. RFP assembled and out. Long advertisement for this. We want to give everyone a chance to get their bids in because there are no many companies who do this. Open until Jan 26.
Moratorium. Set to expire on Dec 31. With UDC updates, I expect that everything will not be ready by the 31st. Expects adoption in last meeting in January or first in meeting in February. Motion to extend until Jan 30th or the date that the UDC (ordinances) is adopted. Approved 5-0.
d. Commissioner Reports.
Tim Guy. Shortcut Road needs some attention.
Chairman Johnson. Christmas parade on Friday night. Schools to the Rec Fields. North side of Hwy and not the South side as they go to the ball fields.
e. County Attorney Report to Commissioners.
None.
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None
9. NEW BUSINESS
a. Consider three appointments to the J. Joel Edwards Library Board to fill a three-year term, set to expire December 31, 2026. Applicants have met criteria.
Applicants are Janice Cairns, Blaine Hoopes, Susan Goodwin, and Curtis Ward. CM recommendation. Janice Cairns, Susan Goodman, and reappoint Curtis Ward. Motion to go with CM recommendation. Approved 5-0.
b. Consider one appointment to the Pike County Family and Children Services Board to fill a five-year term, set to expire December 31, 2028. Applicant has met criteria.
Gina Earls. CM recommendation for reappointment of Gina Earls. Approved 5-0.
c. Consider one appointment to the Pike County Water and Sewerage Authority to fill a five-year term, set to expire December 31, 2028. Applicant has met criteria.
Keven Sasser and Briar Johnson. Expiration in 2028. CM recommends reappointment of Briar Johnson. Motion to reappoint Briar Johnson. 4-0-1 with Johnson abstaining.
d. Consider one appointment to the Pike County Water and Sewerage Authority to fill an unexpired five-year term, set to expire December 31, 2025. Applicant has met criteria.Vacated position. Briar Johnson and Keven Sasser. CM recommends Kevin Sasser. Motion to approve Sasser. Approved 5-0.
e. Consider two appointments to the Two Rivers RC & D Council to fill a one-year term, set to expire December 31, 2024. Applicants have met criteria.
Todd Goolsby and Rodney Hilley. CM recommends reappointment of both. Motion to approve both. Approved 5-0.
f. Consider one appointment to the Three Rivers Regional Commission Board to fill a one-year term, set to expire December 31, 2024. Applicant has met criteria.
Ric Calhoun. Recommends reappointment. Motion to reappoint Ric Calhoun. Discussion about which commissioner is supposed to be on this board. It’s Briar Johnson. Approved 5-0.
g. Consider one appointment to the Pike County Board of Tax Assessors to fill an unexpired six-year term, set to expire December 31, 2025. Applicant has met criteria.
Applicants are Tim Ingram, Jerquana "La'Trece" Key, and Maria Grimes.
Discussion. Ms. Key is not here this morning. Maria Grimes is not here either because she is quarantined. May want to hold off on one of these appointments. CM recommends appointment of Tim Ingram. Motion to appoint Tim Ingram. Approved 5-0.
h. Consider one appointment to the Pike County Board of Tax Assessors to fill an unexpired six-year term, set to expire June 30, 2027. Applicant has met criteria.
Applicants are same as above. CM recommendation for Maria Grimes. Postpone this because they have to be present. Discussion. They have enough to have a quorum. Motion to postpone. Approved 5-0.
i. Discussion of the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) County Bridge Replacement on Dripping Rock Road over Elkins Creek.
We are very excited that the DOT is finally going to fix this Upson County bridge that gets closed every time it rains. A quick questionnaire on this. Recommendation that there will be very little impact on Pike County citizens. DOT will make the routes for the detours, and we just have to get the survey back to them. No issues with the detours.
j. Approve/deny to sell a 2017 Dodge Charger as surplus on Gov Deals.
Old police cruiser. Recommend selling on govdeals. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
10. PUBLIC COMMENT - (Limited to 5 minutes per person)
a. Shannon Mullinax to address the Board requesting a formal response to letter sent on September 25, 2023.
Shannon Mullinax. Letter sent on September 25, 2023 to BOC CM County Attorney and Planning and Zoning Director about the increase on Impact Fees with 30 signatures. Home builders, concerned individuals, etc. Said that the county ordinances were not followed when the Impact Fees were voted to be increased. According to the ordinances, 157.11 says may be amended but what this means is that if you change anything including the fee schedule, that the Georgia Impact Fee Act must be followed. According to the Georgia Impact Fee Act, there should have been an Advisory Committee of 5 to 10 members from the development, building, etc. The Planning Commission could have been appointed, but she argues that 3 of the members do not meet this requirement. Also, there is a requirement for 2 public hearings that did not happen.
She said that the only person who acknowledged receipt of her letter was the county attorney, and that her letter warrants a response. She spoke to County Attorney Rob Morton, and he advised that he needs a vote from the commissioners to charge him with responding to this letter. She asks for some type of response on this.
Motion to direct the county attorney to give his legal opinion for a response on this letter. Approved 5-0.
Click here to read a copy of the documentation that was submitted to the commissioners: pikecountytimes.com/secondary/ImpactFeesLettertoBOC9.25.23.pdf.
11. EXECUTIVE SESSION - None
a. County Manager Brandon Rogers 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.
Back in session. 10:18 a.m.
Animal Control Director Tanya Perkins introduced the new animal control officer: Jacob Honea.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn. 10:20 a.m.
Agenda subject to revision.
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