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Tuesday, February 25, 2014 – 6:30 p.m.
Courthouse Annex, 79 Jackson Street, Zebulon, Georgia
1. CALL TO ORDER....................................................................................Chairman J. Briar Johnson
All commissioners are present with the exception of Commissioner Tamra Jarrett (whose husband was having surgery), County Manager John Hanson, County Attorneys Rob and Tom Morton, and County Clerk Jo Ann Wrye to take the minutes.
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 February 14, 2014 Regular Monthly Meeting.
6. INVITED GUESTS: None.
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 March. Revenue/Expenditure Statement, Detail Check Register and MasterCard Statement is included.
The MasterCard statement is new and there are some additional expenses that have been included per the County Manager. $11,833 has been spent on animal control so far moving the building in September($5,000), labor and blocking up the foundation as well as the blocks, and the $4,200 for vinyl siding. Additional items needed will be $0 to $500 for power, air conditioning for a room that can be used for the vicious dog along with a kennel, also bringing in water. Sewer is going to be the biggest amount at $9,000 and that money isn't available yet, but they can do everything else and get it up to that point with a usable building with electricity but no sewer.
Commissioner Bass made a comment about a $11,961 reduction where the County Manager worked to bring in some receivables from the City of Zebulon and Mid Georgia Ambulance for the county. She also said that SPLOST and LOST are $205,000 less than a year ago and CM Hanson is watching this. She said that people shopping in Pike County brings in pennies for these accounts here in Pike County.
b. County Manager Report
▫ Update on County finances for the following funds/accounts:
General Fund ............................................................................................ $3,316,679.19
Fire Dept. Donations........................................................................................ $1,400.22
Cash Reserve Account................................................................................. $176,491.92
Jail Fund ........................................................................................................ $27,451.62
E-911 Fund .................................................................................................. $111,240.63
DATE Fund ................................................................................................... $24,683.17
Juvenile Court Fund....................................................................................... $20,049.24
Residential Impact Fee ................................................................................ $280,473.75
Commercial Impact Fees ............................................................................... $11,424.72
General Obligation SPLOST Tax Bond Sinking Fund, 2011...................... $222,896.28
L.M.I. Grant (DOT)..................................................................................... $646,982.68
c. County Manager Comments.
He is hoping that there is a possibility to review ordinances in a workshop after the next morning meeting on the 12th. CM Hanson wants to get this done before budget hearings begin.
There was a request at the last meeting to commend emergency services in Pike County Sheriff Thomas and Sheriff's Office, Public Works Director Goolsby and staff, EMA Director Jimmy Totten and volunteers, and Fire Chief Snyder and volunteers. It was signed by each commissioner at the meeting.
Our redistricting bill was signed by the house and senate and waiting on the Governor's signature. It's not official yet but should be signed. Voter Registrar Sandi Chamblin's focus is getting voter registration cards out to public. [She is working to get redistricting done.] And, as requested at the last meeting, signs about litter have been posted at the transfer station and he is trying to get some trash pickup in the county through probationers.
d. Commissioner Reports.
Commissioner Bass mentioned the City of Molena's meeting last night. CM Hanson has had no official contact from the City of Concord or the City of Meansville. There have been no meetings about this because the Sheriff said that he would include CM Hanson and County Attorney Morton.
Commissioner Powers said that Public Works Director is doing what is needed to patch up the roads and keep the county going. He commended him for the work.
Commissioner Jenkins called him at 8:30 one night and it was fixed by 8:30 the next morning. Commissioner Hanson said that Todd does an excellent job and he handles everything like this.
Chairman Johnson apologized that he was not at the last meeting. There was an accident at his office that he needed to handle. He thanked Vice Chair Tommy Powers for the good job that he did running the meeting. He also advised that Governor Deal did actually call and speak to him last Wednesday. He asked how everything was going here and if we needed anything. He asked about traffic on the roads too. He clarified that he did receive the call because it was on the news that Governor Deal was calling each county commission chairman after the storm.
e. County Attorney Report to Commissioners.
The zoning map is being updated as well as land use, etc. This was delayed due to the storm until the next meeting. He said that they are meeting with the County Manager on many issues.
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
9. NEW BUSINESS
a. Ratify Ending a State of Emergency Declaration.
This was ended on the 14th and was ended publicly. The Governor extended through the following Wednesday, but CM Hanson said that it was proper for us to end our emergency when we did. There was a FEMA and GEMA meeting that included a tour of the county for a preliminary gathering of information about roads, debris, gravel needed for repairs, etc. Motion to approve. 4-0.
b. Consider one appointment to West Central Georgia Workforce Investment Board.
Jan Reagan is only applicant to this board. She fits the criteria. This is a regional board, and it is not a requirement to live in Pike County. She works here. Motion to appoint her contingent upon the appointment not being a violation of our ordinance (because she does not live here in Pike County but this is a regional board so their bylaws would apply). Motion to approve. 4-0.
c. Consider request from Ben Maxedon of Prayer Power to use the courthouse grounds on Thursday, May 1, 2014 for National Day of Prayer.
Motion to approve. 4-0.
d. Consider paying $5,500.00 from Contingency Fund to purchase a vehicle for Public Works Department.
CM Hanson said that a 99 Ford F350 would replace the two vehicles that have been used out there Motion to approve. Commissioner Bass said that he found it for $6,500 and CM Hanson talked them down to $5,500 and that we are selling some surplus items to pay for it. 4-0.
e. Consider surplus items from Public Works Department.
A 1988 Chevrolet Truck – Vin# 1GCDC14H0JE127561; 1988 Ford F150 Truck – Vin# 1FTEF14N3JNB76707; Brush Bandit Chipper – Vin# 1C1031; and Burco Utility Trailer – Vin# EQ88X14SDTA000499 will be sold on GovDeals.com. CM Hanson said that he will try to have them on by Friday and the sale will last for 10 days. To date, the county has made approximately $19,000 from GovDeals.com.
10. PUBLIC COMMENT- (Limited to 5 minutes per person)
a. Randal Moss to present to the Board evidence regarding his DFCS case.
He presented a partial order from the court on his case and said that the 5th Amendment to the Constitution was violated. He showed on the document that there was no deprivation of the child. He provided an abreviated copy of his transcript along with page numbers to them and described his case as a conspiracy to take this child. He said that he asked for an investigation through the Pike County Sheriff's Office but has since learned that the Sheriff's Office cannot investigate a state entity. He said that he is looking for support from the Board of Commissioners and the County Attorneys on his case. He said that this case has been appealed to the State Appeals Court and that he will continue coming and presenting evidence and asking for support on this case.
11. EXECUTIVE SESSION: 7:11 p.m.
a. County Attorney requests consultation 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 the Magistrate Court.
Back in Session at 7:39 p.m.
This is from the BOC Post Agenda: County Attorney Rob Morton asked the Board to entertain a motion to approve the Compromise and Settlement of Pending Litigation negotiated by the attorneys with the involvement of the County Manager and pending litigation involving Callaway-Ingram v. Pike County and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Newnan Division. Case Number 3: 13-CV-203-TCB, contingent upon the preparation of the appropriate documentation agreeable to each counsel for the respected parties including a release agreement and consent order to detail the following terms:
1. Salary: Judge Ingram’s salary will be set at $63,139.00 per annum for the 2013-2016 term; which is the current term. Judge Ingram will accept the salary for the balance of this term and if Judge Ingram is successfully re-elected and serves as Chief Magistrate during the 2017 – 2020 term, she agrees to accept this same salary. The salary will only be increased if the Defendant, Pike County, approves an across the board pay increase for all Pike County employees inclusive of elected officials. For the balance of this current term, the Judge will accept compensation of no more than $4,120. 28 per annum, in exchange will take unpaid leave for 348 hours per year which to reduce her set salary of $63,139.00 to her actual pay of $54,120.28. Judge Ingram will keep accurate records of unpaid leave taken and provide those records to authorized representatives of Pike County upon request. Judge Ingram will be entitled to all paid leave including vacation, holiday and sick leave consistence with the employment policies and practices of Pike County. This paid leave will be an addition to the unpaid leave.
2. Damages: The Defendant, Pike County, will pay Judge Ingram the sum of $10,000.00 as damages related to the Federal claims. This payment will be reflected on an IRS 1099 form and paid to Judge Ingram within a time specific within the date of execution of the consent order. In addition, Judge Ingram’s attorney’s fees will be paid by Pike County to Parks, Chesin & Walbert, P.C. in the sum of $18,000.00. This payment will also be reflected on an IRS 1099 form directed to the counsel for Judge Ingram. Other than this payment for attorney’s fees each party will bear their own fees for the cost of this litigation. [End of BOC Post Agenda]
Motion to approve. 4-0. This documentation has not been finalized, but they believe that this should be acceptable to both parties. [Note from the Editor: This goes back to former County Manager Bill Sawyer and former Board of Commissioners. Click here to read about the case that was won against the county.]
12. ADJOURNMENT: 7:43 p.m.
Agenda subject to revision.
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