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Wednesday, March 10, 2021 – 9:00 a.m.
Courthouse, Main Courtroom, 16001 Barnesville Street, Zebulon, Georgia
www.pikecoga.com/novusagenda has an online agenda and accompanying information for this meeting. Monthly information from Animal Control, Coroner, Fire Department, Grady, Library, Magistrate Court, McIntosh Trail CSB, Planning & Development, Registrar, Superior - Juvenile Court, Tax Assessor, and the Water Authority are included as well during the morning meeting only.
We encourage that attendees follow recommended Covid-19 guidelines which include staying home if you are ill/not feeling well, washing your hands, maintaining social distancing, and wearing a face covering (recommended but not required)
Commissioners James Jenkins, Jason Proctor, Tim Guy, Tim Daniel, Chairman Briar Johnson, County Clerk Angela Blount, County Manager (CM) Brandon Rogers, and County Attorney Rob 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 Brandon Rogers addressed the Board requesting to amend the agenda to remove Tracy Vincent under Invited Guest and to add an Executive Session germane to Personnel in the County.
5. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES - (O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1(e) (2))
a. Minutes of the February 23, 2021, Regular Monthly Meeting.
b. Minutes of the February 23, 2021, Executive Session.
6. INVITED GUEST
a. Employee Recognition for service to Pike County.
James L Thomas
Sheriff Jimmy Thomas was recognized for 20 years of service to the county. He was thanked for his years of service and presented with a 20 year certificate and pin from the county. CM Rogers also said that everyone knows him and the great things he has done. Thank you! Chairman Johnson also spoke and thanked him for his service.
Pam Thompson
Pam Thompson was recognized for 20 years of service to the county. She was thanked for her years of service and presented with a 20 year certificate and pin from the county. CM Rogers said that she was Deputy Clerk before becoming Superior Court Clerk, and she has done well for us and the county. There’s not a lot I can say here either. Thank you!
Patricia Wells
Patricia Wells was recognized for 5 years of service to the county. She was thanked for her years of service and presented with a 5 year certificate and pin from the county. She works at the Senior Center. It has been challenging with Seniors and Covid. Thank you!
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.
Discuss/Approve/Deny
b. County Manager Report
Update on County finances for the following funds/accounts:
General Fund ........................................................................................ …$5,357,156.60
Fire Dept. Donations ........................................................................................ $6,419.79
BOC – Jury Account………………………………………………………………$0.00
Cash Reserve Account ........................................................................ ….....$307,579.40
Pike County CD Special Revenue funds………………………………………….$0.00
Jail Fund ........................................................................................................ $25,525.65
E-911 Fund .................................................................................................... $25,341.73
DATE Fund ................................................................................................... $51,735.26
Juvenile Court Fund ....................................................................................... $12,212.43
Residential Impact Fee ................................................................................ $897,081.96
Commercial Impact Fees ............................................................................. $179,023.63
C.A.I.P FUND ............................................................................................... $40,881.60
General Obligation SPLOST Tax Bond Sinking Fund, 2016 ................. ..$1,113,046.24
L.M.IG. Grant (DOT)………………………………….……………….…..$662,036.27
c. County Manager Comment
Final budget amendments were sent out yesterday. He asked for a motion to accept the changes. Motion to accept. Approved 5-0.
The auditor should be here at the next meeting. This is the last step in the audit process.
The budget schedule has been finalized for the most part. If you would like to be a part of any of these meetings, let him or Angela know.
Retirement plan info is coming from ACCG. They offer a one time free assessment on retirement. He asked the board for their thoughts before he set this in stone because it will cost if he changes things. 457 type plan like 401 plan or a pension plan. As soon as he knows which way to go, he’ll let ACCG know on this. Will take about 2 weeks to get this done for possibly as soon as next year.
Discussion about full-time and part-time with other counties to finalize our definitions. 38+ for FT and anything less is PT and not eligible for benefits. Jenkins asked about state guidelines, and there are none that they could find. They refer back to local. Department of Labor? None that found. Currently 40 hours and no definition of PT. There are some who are working PT and getting benefits so this needs to be clarified.
d. Commissioner Reports
Daniel – Down in Hilltop yesterday. It is improving. There are still places that are a mess, but there is a lot of work going on down there. Disabled citizen is interested in Pick Up Pike. Please consider bridge on Roberts Quarters back to Concord. She is not physically able to help but said it needs to be considered.
CM Rogers said that the Extension Office is also planning a stream clean up. This watershed clean up will be in April if people want to join this.
Guy – Individual called about Flat Shoals subdivision. There is an adjacent house that has turned water from their lot to hers. Brad said that the land slopes and it is a natural flow of water that will go over the property regardless. No amount of planning is going to control a flood. The homeowner has gone over and beyond and done all that can be done. EPD has been out there as well.
Proctor – Getting reports on the roads. Some complaining that better off before scraping. Please pay attention to this. He feels that Public Works should help pick up trash too and not just citizens.
Johnson – State Rep. Beth Camp asked about study on the Griffin Judicial Circuit. Looking at taking Fayette out of our district. Spalding and Upson are supporting this. The state will pay for the study. If we are in support, could we discuss and do a resolution of support? Having our own judge here in the area, etc. Tim Daniel has always been in favor of this and has heard both sides. This may pull in Taylor, Lamar, or Butts County since they are similarly sized to us. Rob Morton said that they can take action today and sign it. Motion to support the study of the split of the circuit and authorize the chair to sign the document. According to the email, this has already been introduced and they just need support from the counties on this. Approved 5-0.
e. County Attorney Report to Commissioners
None other than what is on the agenda.
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Approve/deny the Second Reading of the Pike County Code of Ordinances to Chapters 33, 153, 154, 155, 156, 160.
Summary of minutes from the Planning Commission. There are a couple of amendments. Rob said that discussion on splits and timeframes on land. Planning Commission recommended leaving this as is. People can always come in and ask for reduction, etc. There is a fee to the process that could stay or go. Recommendation to leave as 3 years.Click here to read the Planning Commission minutes. [Note from the Editor: These were included with the County Commission public packet. Directions to view the public information included with each meeting are listed at the top of each Pike County Times commission page.]
Number of lots for a major versus minor subdivision. Recommendation to go to 7 lots or more for a major subdivision. Recommends leaving as is.
Talked about leaving Overlay District the same.
Instead of designating a committee, we have a chapter for boards and appointments. We discussed having a committee as needed. Recommended to go with Environmental requirements and have the developer provide the Environmental Review from a 3rd party that is certified.
Johnson - Item I was removed from Overlay. He still likes 4 rather than 7 lots for major. He agrees with everything else.
Proctor – Splits less than 3 years still come before the board? Brad has discretion to handle or send back to the Commission. Ask for waiver or pay the recording fee for another fee. This could be treated like a minor subdivision if needed. Major subdivision will still cost $500.
Guy – Agrees on 4.
Johnson – If building a truck repair shop versus a store, there will be different environmental conditions. The only change suggested is the mandated board versus on call versus mandated 3rd party provider.
Timmy Guy wanted Mr. English to tell his situation because it’s real life. Motion to allow him to speak. Approved 5-0.
He purchased 1 tract of 57 acres 2 ½ years ago. He split off one tract for someone who wanted to stay in Pike County. He tried to sell it and was told that it would be declared a major subdivision versus a $50 fee for the plat recorded because he hasn’t split it since he bought the 264 acres. He bought 57 acres and it looks like 4 tracts. He has no idea how it happened, but he only purchased 57 acres and trying to help this young man and it is NOT a major subdivision. There is no reason for anyone to think he is trying to circumvent the rules. He thinks that the ordinance is not as clear as it should be with regard to major and minor. If we change it, Brad can deal with this. Brad explained this according to our 3 year rule currently. He could verify this if the ordinance allowed him to, but the change needs to be made for this. He doesn’t have discretion at this time because the ordinances do not allow him to make that call; he has to follow the ordinances.
Regardless of the number of splits on this, the number is just part of the criteria. Rules of criteria have to go along with discretion. The only time before it will come back to the commissioners will be if it is a major subdivision.
Back to environmental review in Chapter 154. Specific items are looking at changes. Discussion on number of lots. Environmental review study on the developer? Brad says that there needs to be more clarification but said that need to specify the review for the developer. Steve Reeves spoke before the meeting and gave some good suggestions. Possibly wait on the environmental review part until the next meeting so we can add some more to it but continue with everything else.
Motion to approve the 2nd reading with the exception those related to the environmental review which will be discussed at the next meeting. Approved 5-0.
9. NEW BUSINESS
a. Approve/deny Agribusiness Authority member term to be extended through the end of the year in an effort to transition from old term to new term dates.
Motion to approve extending the term. Approved 5-0.
b. Approve/deny Fire Department Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant.
This is referred to as the Safer Grant. We’ve had some problems with retention and recruitment. This is permission to apply for the grant. There is no cost to the county. 100% paid for by the state. This will pay for physicals, equipment, etc. for the new volunteers. We have to have a retention officer which is a $10,000 paid position. If we get this grant, it will come back to the board for specifics. It is something that we need here in the county. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
[Note from the Editor: If you want to read specifics about this grant or read the monthly report for the Fire Department (or any other department, authority, etc. in the county), follow the directions at the top of the page to go to the NovusAgenda link on the Pike County Government page. Our county is pretty open compared to what I have seen in the past and in other counties. Take the time to read and get educated on what our tax dollars are paying for!]
c. Approve/deny K & K Manufacturing Inc. Impact Fees.
Letter from K&K explaining benefits and past taxes. They've been in Pike since 2016 and paid $126,943 in property, inventory, and ad valorem taxes, brought in $184,409 in county portion of sales tax, and donated over $5500 to schools and sports in Pike County. They emphasized that these items will only increase with new building and growth with little impact on county services. [Note from the Editor: Yes, you can read this letter by following the link to NovusAgenda above.]
CM Rogers saw something left out. Recently the IDA and K&K installed a gas line into the Business Park. They put $30,000 of their own money into the infrastructure for the entire Industrial Park. The impact fees are about $22,000. The amount of money that they have installed could be considered a credit like we did with Barnstormers. He asked for a reduction in Impact Fees on this with a minimum of 90%. Motion to waive all fees on this based on the discussion. Approved 5-0.
10. PUBLIC COMMENT - None
11. EXECUTIVE SESSION
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 count officer or employee as provided in O.C.G.A. § 50-14-3(b)(2); germane to Personnel in the Magistrate Court and Personnel in the County.
Executive Session. 9:57 a.m.
Back in session at 10:31 a.m.
Motion to adjourn. 10:31 a.m.
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