Pike County Times
The Pike County Times, PO Box 843, Zebulon, Georgia 30295. Click here to donate through PayPal. Becky Watts: Phone # 770-468-7583 editor@pikecountytimes.com
 
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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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REGULAR BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MONTHLY MEETING
Wednesday, March 12, 2014 – 9:00 a.m.
Courthouse Annex, 79 Jackson Street, Zebulon, Georgia

All five commissioners are present as well as County Clerk Jo Ann Wrye and Jennifer Gilow to take the minutes, CM John Hanson, and County Attorneys Rob and Tom 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 Hanson asked that Item 9c be added to discuss the use of Impact Fees for the Sheriff's Office AC unit on the roof and to remove Randall Moss from Public Comment per the request of Mr. Moss.

5. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES - (O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1(e) (2))
Minutes of the January 25, 2014 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.

Commissioner Jenkins commended the Sheriff for saving funds on his budget during the year. Discussion about the reservoir and Pike County’s sovereign immunity with the City of Griffin bearing liability if anything happened out there. Payments on that private property will end around 2015-16.

b. County Manager Report
▫ Update on County finances for the following funds/accounts:
General Fund ............................................................................................ $3,339,504.56
Fire Dept. Donations........................................................................................ $1,200.22
Cash Reserve Account................................................................................. $176,491.92
Jail Fund ........................................................................................................ $28,960.22
E-911 Fund .................................................................................................... $58,422.53
Juvenile Court Fund....................................................................................... $20,314.24
Residential Impact Fee ................................................................................ $280,473.75
Commercial Impact Fees ............................................................................... $11,424.72
General Obligation SPLOST Tax Bond Sinking Fund, 2011...................... $228,481.52
L.M.I. Grant (DOT)..................................................................................... $646,982.68

c. County Manager Comments.

A vehicle maintenance system is in place here in Pike County. CM Hanson provided info for the commissioners to show them how it works. The county tracks parts, labor and maintenance so we can track everything that is done on the car with a comparison for what we paid for each vehicle. There is also a summary list per department as well as individual vehicles. Commissioner Bass commended Jennifer and CM Hanson for this. This has been up and running for about 2 weeks. The commissioners were very pleased.

$5,500 for vehicle in Public Works spent at the last meeting. This is running very well. $8,600 was made on the sales on GovDeals.com. CM Hanson commended Director Todd Goolsby for being patient on getting the right vehicle and brought something to the table to sell to cover the cost. He commended Goolsby for offseting the cost and exceeded it.

CM Hanson said that EMA Director Jimmy Totten is at an application process briefing that is ongoing this morning since Pike was declared a disaster and able to get federal and state funds. Click here to read this article.

It was noted that there was not a quorum in the Tax Assessor's meeting. CM Hanson said that he has attended several of their meetings of late and that this was the first one that did not have a quorum. He said that he understands that the staff is working well together and moving forward their tasks. Commissioner Bass stressed that the Board of Commissioners has given that Board their full support and asked if they knew that. CM Hanson said yes and that they appreciate it very much.

d. Commissioner Reports.

Commissioner Carol Bass: Asked if Magistrate was back in the office. CM Hanson advised that they are back in there and said that Magistrate Callaway-Ingram negotiated a veneer flooring as you walk in the door free of cost instead of the carpet that used to be there. She was commended for this.

Commissioner Tamra Jarrett apologized for not being at the last meeting. Her husband broke his ankle and she was at surgery with him.

Commissioner Tommy Powers got a couple of calls on roads that have been addressed.

Commissioner Briar Johnson said that he attended a Three Rivers Commissioner meeting on the 27th and had info for everyone. Also received a letter about an offer to paint a $1500 canvas painting of the courthouse. He brought it before the group even though he figured that the answer was a no because it had been sent to him and he wanted a consensus from the group. There was a consensus not to do this. ACCG sent the county a certificate and flag for being in good standing.

e. County Attorney Report to Commissioners.

Rob Morton said that they have completed the review of the Code Update and there is a 19 page summary of this. The Planning Commissioner will hold a public hearing and Work Discussion on Thursday and it will come before commissioners at the end of the month. After approval in April, the annual update of the Code Books will begin. Much of this is grammatical and the county is working to save money as much as possible with this. The intent is to have updates online and this is accessible to the public now. Flash drives are available now too which saves the county money too. There are land use changes so this has to have a public hearing before the Planning Commission and there are rules that must be followed with our zoning laws. They won’t have input on anything that doesn’t concern land use, but the county is following procedure.

The county is also preparing for the budget. CM Hanson has begun this process already.

8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None

9. NEW BUSINESS

a. PUBLIC HEARING: To receive public input on SE-14-01 – Mayron R. and Jeanne S. Bailey, property owners and applicants, are requesting a special exception in an A-R zoned district to allow for a private family cemetery on a small private tract. The subject property, located off of Reams Road, has approximately 378 feet of frontage along the north side of Reams Road. The property is located in Land Lot 227 of the 8th District of Pike County, Georgia. The subject property consists of 1.51 acres and is further identified as a portion of Tax Map Parcel #005 001.
Action: Approval/denial of special exception.

There is a list of conditions that go along with this from the Board of Appeals. There was no opposition at the previous meeting on this matter. Mr. Bailey was present to answer questions. 100+ acres that they live. 1 ½ acres that is separated by the road and there is really nothing else that can be done with this parcel of property so they want to make it into a family cemetery.

No one else spoke in favor or opposition.

Discussion: Commissioner Bass asked if there was a fence or a wall. There will be a wrought iron fence around where the new cemetery will go. The Stribling Cemetery that it will abut has nothing around it. It’s an 1800’s cemetery. The owner will separate his portion with a fence around it per regulations. Director Allen advised that he will check the progress on this to ensure that it is in compliance with our regulations. Motion to approve this special exception with the conditions. Approved 5-0.

b. PUBLIC HEARING: To receive public input on SE-14-02 – Michael Glenn Bufford and Kathy Jo Bufford, property owners and applicants, are requesting a special exception in an A-R zoned district to continue use of a General Home Occupation on their property. The property, located at 1967 Williamson-Zebulon Road, has approximately 329 feet of frontage along the west side of Williamson-Zebulon Road. The property is located in Land Lot 2 of the 2nd District of Pike County, Georgia. The subject property consists of 6 acres further identified as a portion of Tax Map Parcel #065 021.
Action: Approval/denial of special exception.

Also before the Board of Appeals on February 20 who recommended approval. Mr. Bufford advised that the intent is to begin this meeting at home and then move into the Industrial Park eventually.

No one else spoke in favor or opposition.

Discussion: Commissioner Bass said that there was a lot of support for Mr. Bufford from his neighbors at the Board of Appeals meeting. She said that there was no opposition. Motion to approve. 2nd for discussion from Commissioner Jarrett. Commissioner Jarrett asked when he added on to his shop. It was approximately a year ago. He had all of the proper permits, etc. Director Allen walked the commissioners through the process of growth for this business. She was concerned about compliance with businesses working out of the home. It began as a hobby/craft shop and has grown since its inception. Approved 5-0.

9c. Roof repairs on the Sheriff’s Office.

CM Hanson said that the company working on this has done a very good job. The existing AC unit has got to be raised up. The cost is $3,000 to move it, but it’s an older unit and the compressor has been replaced 3 times. He worked quickly to get bids from 3 local contractors. A&B Heating and Cooling out of Thomaston bid $5,800 on this. This would remove a future issue and the money would come out of Impact Fees. He recommended replacement of this unit to be fiscally responsible. Discussion about the placement of the unit. It would involve a lot of cost to move this to the ground because of the duct work. He said that there will be a warranty with the roof and the unit being moved is required for this. He said that Director Goolsby had looked into this and it would be expensive to move it. Future projects will not be built with a flat roof.

Motion to approve. County Attorney Rob Morton said that the roof contractor said that this unit had to be moved up in order to get a warranty on their work. Discussion that this has been masking taped to death and the county manager was commended on getting the roof problem fixed. Approved 5-0.

10. PUBLIC COMMENT- (Limited to 5 minutes per person)

Randal Moss desires to address the Board with more evidence of Due Process violation and other concerns regarding his DFCS case.

Mr. Moss asked to be removed from the agenda.

11. EXECUTIVE SESSION

12. ADJOURNMENT: 9:51 a.m.

Agenda subject to revision.

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Submitted 3.10.14
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