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 13, 2013 – 9:00 a.m.
Courthouse Annex, 79 Jackson Street, Zebulon, Georgia

This meeting was attended by all five commissioners, County Clerk Jo Ann Wrye, County Manager (CM) Mike Phillips, and County Attorneys Rob and Tom Morton. The meeting was long but quite a bit was accomplished today.

1. CALL TO ORDER....................................................................................Chairman J. Briar Johnson

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE...................................................................Chairman J. Briar Johnson

3. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA - (O.C.G A. 50-14-1 (e) (1))
Both Mr. Adams and Ms. Beckham were removed from public comment because they were not going to be at the meeting today.

4. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES - (O.C.G.A.§ 50-14-1(e) (2))
Minutes of the Regular Monthly Meeting on Tuesday, February 26, 2013.

5. INVITED GUESTS

a. Matt Bidwell to address the Board regarding healthcare benefits for the upcoming enrollment period.

Mr. Bidwell gave a very thorough 40 minute explanation of healthcare benefits to commissioners today. He explained the individual mandate first with requirements that begin in 2014 where every individual will have to purchase minimal essential coverage including ambulatory services. Those under the age of 30 can have a big deductible, but those 30 and above must purchase a bronze, silver, gold, or platinum coverage under the healthcare definition with a bronze policy providing 60% of benefits according to the geographic area and the person paying 40% of cost, silver being 70% with a 30% match, etc. There will be a $95.00 penalty or 1% of income--whichever is greater in 2014, 2% in 2015, 2 1/2% in 2016, and it will be adjusted according to inflation. The highest amount they can be charged for individual insurance is no more than 9 1/2% of gross income.

For those without coverage, there is an opportunity for a government subsidy if they meet certain financial guidelines and purchase their insurance through an exchange. Georgia chose not to expand Medicare (as Healthcare Reform originally tried to force states to do) so there are 625,000 Georgians who could potentially be 133% under the poverty level it will not be eligible for the subsidy. The Federal government says that they are not going to get hit with a penalty at this time. Georgia is one of 30 states which has no exchange but the Federal government is supposed to have one set up by January 1, 2014. Individuals are not eligible for subsidy if working for an employer. There are only three options for any one when it comes to insurance: buy it through an employer, by it through a state (or Federal) exchange, or pay the penalty.

Mr. Bidwell said that the county is required to offer essential minimum coverage that must be affordable and has to at least equal the bronze level. Employees are not required to take it and we are not required to pay the premiums. The employee can bring on their family as well. We are currently offering employees a policy that qualifies between a silver and platinum level. Changes in legislation require that anyone working 30 hours for more per week for 90 days or more are defined as a fulltime employee. The county has a 60 day waiting period which is under the governmental mandated 90 days. There is also a 60 day notice for employees if we change carriers. Mr. Bidwell said that this is a difficult deadline to meet but that Blue Cross Blue Shield has agreed to give us 90 days which would give the county 30 days to review and approve any changes. There are penalties if this is not met.

Mr. Bidwell suggested that they can only encourage annual checkups and early treatment said there are no big claims on our policy. He said the annual checkups are 100% paid and there's no charge for lab work. He said that they county might want to consider financial deduction for those participating in a wellness checkup every year . Health Care reform is going to cost this county at least $37,000 more annually just from imbedded taxes required for employee Health Insurance. There is a fee of $1.00 per member to fund research on the effectiveness, risk, and benefits of medical treatment this year that will change to $2.00 next year and then be based on inflation each year after that until it finally goes away in 2019. There is a health insurer fee subsidy of two to three percent of our premium that will be due annually that will cost approximately $23,000. And there is a fee/tax to offset the cost of high risk inclusion in all Health Insurance that will cost $75.00 per person per year that will cost the can see just under $15,000 in the upcoming year. This can be equated to paying for gasoline and not realizing that there are state and Federal taxes imbedded in the final cost.

In closing, he said that bid request was sent out 6 carriers but three declined because we have had carrier changes over the past several years due to carrier costs. The county has stayed with BCBS PPO plan because the doctors and hospitals in Thomaston are not signed on for the Point of Service (POS) or HMO contracts. Pike County has to meet on May 1 deadline. Commissioners commended Mr. Bidwell for his presentation. [Note from the Editor: I feel like I understand healthcare reform requirements a whole lot better just from being in this presentation. And as we can see, nothing is truly free when it comes to government.]

6. 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.

b. County Manager Report

▫ Update on County finances for the following funds/accounts:
General Fund - $2,654,190.76
Jury Account - $0
Cash Reserve Account - $176,403.70
Jail Fund - $22,079.94
E-911 Fund - $146,525.04
DATE Fund - $17,119.50
PC L.M.I. Grant - $315,309.41
Juvenile Court Fund - $24,853.94
Residential Impact Fees - $283,567.73
Commercial Impact Fees - $7776.21
General Obligation SPLOST Tax Bond Sinking Fund, 2011 - $467,171.69

- Courthouse renovation update.

Click here to read the official minutes on the remainder of this meeting.

- Renovation payments, what is coming in, what is left.

- Furniture needs of the Courthouse.

- Contingency expenses.

- Update on any pertinent departmental issues.

- Animal Control Workshop

- Discuss purchase of Time Clocks.

d. Commissioner Reports.

e. County Attorney Report to Commissioners.

7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

a. Discuss and/or approve/deny second reading of the General Property Damage Reporting Procedure Ordinance.

b. Discuss and/or approve/deny second reading of the Vehicle Use Policy.

8. NEW BUSINESS

a. Discuss and/or approve/deny landscaping of Courthouse.

b. Approve/deny final payment requests concerning the Pike County Courthouse Renovation Project.

c. PUBLIC HEARING – Sunny D Farms, LLC (Mark and Diane Martin), property owners and applicants, are requesting a special exception in an A-R zoned district to allow for event planning on their property, more specifically the rental of an existing barn for weddings. The property, located at 1412 Hutchinson Road, has approximately 1018 feet of frontage along the east side of Hutchinson Road and approximately 1284 feet of frontage along the north side of Jonathan’s Roost Road. The property is located in Land Lot 125 of the 1st District of Pike County, Georgia. Said property consists of 24.16 acres and is further identified as Tax Map Parcel #049010.
ACTION: Approve/deny Special Exception request

d. Approve/deny transfer of 1970 Ford Fire Truck back to the City of Zebulon.

e. Consider application for use of Courthouse/Grounds from the Pike County Middle/High School to sell Krispy Kreme Donuts on Saturday, April 6, 2013 from 7:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. or until all boxes are sold.

f. Consider application for use of Courthouse/Grounds from the Pike County Travel Club to sell Krispy Kreme Donuts on Saturday, April 13, 2013 from 7:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. or until all boxes are sold.

g. Approve/deny Resolution to approve the contract from Superior Court, Griffin Judicial Circuit.

h. Approve/deny Courthouse furniture purchase.

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

a. Patricia Beckham desires to address the Board regarding ethics.

a. Robert E. Adams, Jr. desires to address the Board regarding elections.

10. EXECUTIVE SESSION

11. ADJOURNMENT

Agenda subject to revision.

3.6.13
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