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Tuesday, March 26, 2013 – 6:30 p.m.
Courthouse Annex, 79 Jackson Street, Zebulon, Georgia
This meeting was attended by four of the commissioners with Commissioner Tommy Powers taking the seat as Chairman for the night since Chairman Briar Johnson was sick. County Clerk Jo Ann Wrye took the minutes, County Manager Mike Phillips was present and so was County Attorney Rob Morton. The meeting was fairly short with no Unfinished Business on the agenda.
I attended the 6:15 p.m. Town Hall Meeting where anyone can speak without getting on the agenda. What is said there does not become a part of the official minutes but it is an opportunity to express an opinion to commissioners before the meeting before a decision is made by the board. Don Brown from the Pike County Democratic Party spoke to commissioners about a resolution opposing the privatization of the Pike County Planning and Development Department that was discussed in the February 26, 2013 meeting (section 5 Invited Guest). Mr. Brown said that this proposal was "deeply troubling" to the members of the Democratic Party and read his resolution Whereas, the Democratic Party of Pike County opposes most privatization of government services...opposes the privatization of inherently governmental services such as enforcement of codes, regulations and laws... believes Pike County should be the model employer of the county, providing good jobs with adequate wages and benefits to attract the talent needed for the effective administration of the County's duties; Resolved: The Democratic Party of Pike County opposes the privatization of the Pike County Planning and Development Department." Mr. Brown said that he has already asked to be on the next agenda so this will be a matter of record when he reads it again.
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))
Motion to amend the agenda to remove Mr. Adams and Mrs. Beckham since they had asked to be removed from the agenda prior to the meeting. Amended agenda was approved. 4-0.
4. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES - (O.C.G.A.§ 50-14-1(e) (2))
Minutes of the March 13, 2013 Regular Monthly Meeting.
5. INVITED GUESTS
a. Lanier Boatwright along with program leaders with Council on Aging to discuss the direction of the program.
Joy Shirley spoke in the place of Lanier Boatwright about the Council on Aging which has a budget of about $5 million from various sources that is distributed between ten counties in the Three Rivers Regional Commission service area. Pike, Spalding, Lamar, Troup, Meriwether, Upson, Heart, Coweta, Carroll, and Butts County are all in this district. Three Rivers Regional Commission and the Southern Crescent Area Agency on Aging are responsible for planning and adminstration of programs funded by the Older Americans Act and coordinating programs for seniors, caregivers, and persons with disabilities, and grandparents raising grandchildren funded through various sources. (Much of the information found here was given in a handout to commissioners and the press at the meeting. It was very helpful!) The Council on Aging for McIntosh Trail was awarded the bid to operate and manage the Pike County Senior Center. She praised Site Coordinator Rhonda McDougal for her work her in Pike County. The Community Care Services Program is operated by McIntosh Trail Management Services, located in Pike County, serves the ten county area, and employs 12 people in the Meansville office and maintains a staff office in Franklin.This agency has coordinated SFY 2013 ... 4,953 home delivered meals, 4,730 congregate meals, estimated one way trips 6,316, 10 clients estimated for in home services such as homemaker, personal care, and respite, coordinates wellness programs at least 8 times per year, employs 2 seniors in Pike County, provides GeorgiaCares Counseling sessions, Gateway sessions, and a Community Care Services Program. For those interested in contacting the Southern Crescent Area Agency on Aging: PO Box 1600, 13273 Hwy 34 East, Franklin, GA 30217. Phone: 678-552-2838 or 1-866-854-5652.
Update 4.2.13
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. There are no Department reports as they will be provided during the first Board meeting of April. Revenue/Expenditure Statement and Check Register is included.
b. County Manager Report
▫ Update on County finances for the following funds/accounts:
General Fund $2,810,397.99
Jury Account $0
Cash Reserve Account $176,410.46
Jail Fund $23,251.38
E-911 Fund $153,606.64
DATE Fund $17,307.92
PC L.M.I. Grant $315,321.50
Juvenile Court Fund $25,289.89
Residential Impact Fees $288,386.84
Commercial Impact Fees $7974.13
General Obligation SPLOST Tax Bond Sinking Fund, 2011 $314,067.78
c. County Manager Comments: CM Phillips advised that they are trying to get numbers out sooner than on Fridays along with the check register,etc. for commissioners.
- Courthouse renovation update. This project is pretty well done. They're looking at furniture needs now.
- Update on any pertinent departmental issues. An update on the storms and damage has been provided to the commissioners.
d. Commissioner Reports.
District 2 Tamra Jarrett said that they appreciated all who helped during the storm.
e. County Attorney Report to Commissioners.
Mr. Morton advised that they are working on an operations policy in regard to the time clocks.
7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None
8. NEW BUSINESS
a. Todd Goolsby to address the Board regarding construction of the court reporter’s platform and desk in the Courthouse. Approve/deny construction and cost of court reporter platform and desk in the Courthouse.
Public Works Director Todd Goolsby advised commissioners that it would cost about $2000. He said they want to have this done before court begins in two weeks. The judges and court reporters made the recommendation to utilize current space with a partition rather than build a new platform. Commissioners asked to be sure that it is handicapped assessable.
b. PUBLIC HEARING: Receive public input on the issue of the proposed reapportionment of the Pike County Commission voting districts as depicted on the map/plan entitled “Proposed Pike County Commission Districts” from the Reapportionment Office.
ACTION: Approve/Deny reapportionment of the “Proposed Pike County Commission Districts” from the Reapportionment Office. County Attorney Rob Morton will address
No one spoke in favor or against this measure. This will be presented as a local act this week. Motion to authorize the resolution with the new map. 4-0. Click here to see a copy of the new map with a comparison to the old map on one .pdf file.
Update 4.8.13
c. PUBLIC HEARING: Receive public input on readoption of the Pike County, Georgia Official Zoning Map.
ACTION: Approval/denial, on first reading, readoption of the Pike County, Georgia Official Zoning Map. Planning and Development Director David Allen will address.
Planning and Development Director David Allen advised that there was only one reversion last year and that this map is now up to date as of December 31, 2012. Public hearing where no one spoke for or against. Motion to approve. 4-0.
d. PUBLIC HEARING: Receive public input on ratification of the Code of Ordinances of Pike County, Georgia.
ACTION: Approval/denial, on first reading, of Ordinance ratifying the Code of Ordinances of Pike County, Georgia. Planning and Development Director David Allen and/or County Attorney Rob Morton will address.
Flash drives or hard copies have been given to Commissioners. This is the first of two hearings needed to approve the changes. The county intends to update the Code of Ordinances annually with unofficial updates given to commissioners, planning board members, etc. on colored paper throughout the year.
e. David Allen desires to address the Board regarding discussion/assessment of an Impact Fee amount for a proposed accessory building behind Racquethause South.
The building will be 2,500 square feet that will come to $228.73 with the 75% reduction that is being given for Impact Fees. This was a caluculation for the Impact Fee even though the permit has not been filed yet. Additional research including whether the second building was supposed to be connected to the first as one commissioner asked about could be obtained for a later date. Motion to approve 4-0.
f. Approve/deny furniture list for the Registrar’s office.
One of the commissioners made the recommendation to strike the printer and ink because it may not be appropriate for SPLOST funds. It might be as equipment but not even sure what category it falls under right now. Motion to accept this list with the two items removed. 4-0.
g. Consider two appointments to the Pike Agribusiness Authority for an unexpired three-year term set to expire March 31, 2016. Applicants have met criteria.
Rex Yerkes and Tom Lacy were the only two applicants. Motion to appoint Rex Yerkes. 4-0. Motion to appoint Tom Lacy. 4-0.
h. Marcia Callaway-Ingram request approval/denial of vacation pay out plus FICA and Medicare for Loretta Rakestraw to be added back to her budget.
Magistrate Judge Marcia Callaway-Ingram addressed the Board about a problem that happened in January with her budget. She said that her FICA payroll was more than double shortly after January 18th and that the insurance deductions were not reduced even though she has one less person in her office. Click here to read where the court allowed Ms. Rakestraw to finish out former Chief Magistrate Killingsworth's term of office, but as of January 1, 2013, Judge Callaway-Ingram can choose her own Assistant Magistrate Court Judge. She advised that she was not made aware of the expenditure for 3 months of vacation pay for former Assistant Magistrate Rakestraw so she could not approve the expenditure. She made a point to say that this has nothing to do with Ms. Rakestraw but everything to do with providing services through her office and said that the expenditure took away from her already reduced budget. She said that she filled the position for Assistant Magistrate and can't stay within her budget with this $3,000 that has been removed. She also lectured the county by comparing this expenditure without her authorization to cuts that were made to her budget by commissioners that resulted in a writ of mandamus against the county. Click here to read how she won her case against the county and click here to see how this case is going before the Georgia Supreme Court this term. County Attorney Rob Morton advised that he has no information on this tonight but will have some information at the next meeting. CM Phillips said the same. Commisioner Bass said that she felt like they were blindsided with this. Questions were asked how much the payment was, who authorized the payment, was this not budgeted, and at least one commissioner asked to see the Consent Order on the case. County Attorney Rob Morton advised that the Consent Order was issued in 2011 and has nothing to do with the 2012-2013 budget. Motion to postpone until the next meeting. 4-0. [Note from the Editor: This could have been handled better. The Chief Magistrate could have given information to commissioners and/or the county manager prior to the meeting and the county manager or someone could have asked the purpose of this discussion so information could have been gathered prior to the meeting. I realize that there has been a LOT of water under the bridge between the past county manager, commissioners, and the Magistrate Court, but it is a county department and everyone has got to work together to for the good of the county.]
i. Chairman Johnson to address the Board to set a date for animal control workshop. Approve/deny date for animal control workshop.
Chairman Johnson was sick so it was going to be put on the next meeting, but Commissioner Jarrett said that she hates to continue putting this off. She said that a Thursday would work for her. Discussion put this on next Thursday, April 4th subject to Chairman Johnson's approval BUT this was changed to a date in May. Keep an eye on Pike County Times for the date.
9. PUBLIC COMMENT- (Limited to 5 minutes per person)
a. Ms. Patricia Beckham desires to address the Board regarding ethics. This was removed per her request.
b. Mr. Robert E. Adams, Jr. desires to address the Board regarding elections. This was removed per his request.
10. EXECUTIVE SESSION: None.
11. ADJOURNMENT: Motion to adjourn. 7:27 p.m.
Agenda subject to revision.