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Tuesday, May 27, 2014 – 6:30 p.m.
Courthouse Annex, 79 Jackson Street, Zebulon, Georgia
The meeting was attended by all five commissioners (Commissioner Jenkins came in right after the Commissioner Reports), County Clerk Jo Ann Wrye, County Manager (CM) John Hanson, and both County Attorneys Rob and Tom Morton.
1. CALL TO ORDER....................................................................................Chairman J. Briar Johnson
2. SILENT INVOCATION…………………………………………………Chairman J. Briar Johnson
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE...................................................................Chairman J. Briar Johnson
4. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA - (O.C.G A. § 50-14-1 (e) (1))
CM Hanson added item 9b to the Executive Session. Motion to approve 4-0.
5. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES - (O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1(e) (2))
Minutes of the May 14, 2014 Regular Monthly Meeting.
Minutes of the May 14, 2014 Budget Public Hearing.
Minutes of the May 20, 2014 Special Called Meeting.
Motion to approve 4-0.
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 June. Revenue/Expenditure Statement, Detail Check Register is included.
b. County Manager Report
▫ Update on County finances for the following funds/accounts:
General Fund ............................................................................................ $2,572,480.61
Fire Dept. Donations........................................................................................ $1,200.32
Cash Reserve Account................................................................................. $176,505.22
Jail Fund ........................................................................................................ $31,917.22
E-911 Fund .................................................................................................... $42,336.34
DATE Fund ................................................................................................... $27,700.60
Juvenile Court Fund....................................................................................... $18,910.80
Residential Impact Fee ................................................................................ $268,608.11
Commercial Impact Fees ............................................................................... $11,425.62
General Obligation SPLOST Tax Bond Sinking Fund, 2011...................... $210,433.20
L.M.I. Grant (DOT)..................................................................................... $569,093.20
c. County Manager Comments.
Woodcreek Road is now open. CM Hanson advised that Public Works is moving their equipment to Milner Road and they will begin working there around the rain that has been predicted for our area. He thanked the citizens for their patience as work has been ongoing on this project.
Intergovernmental agreements were discussed in a meeting with County Attorney Rob Morton. There will be a June 25, 2014 round table discussion with the municipalities, etc. about the benefits of having an intergovernmental agreement with the county.
Employee appreciation cookout July 3 from 11 am to 2 pm. Discussion in the workshop about ending employee of the quarter and doing this instead so all employees can participate. Clarification that the county offices will be open that day because employees will be coming on their lunch breaks.
d. Commissioner Reports: None.
e. County Attorney Report to Commissioners.
County Attorney Rob Morton gave all of the commissioners a thumb drive with an updated code of ordinance. Will update on a monthly basis and will update the website on a regular basis too. Hardcover code books are being updated as well.
County Attorney Tom Morton gave an update to the commissioners on the Transportation Committee. He advised that there will be ten additional non-voting members and asked commissioners if they would designate someone to be a part of this committee as well.
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - NONE
9. NEW BUSINESS
a. PUBLIC HEARING: To receive public input on REZ-14-02 – Southeastern Real Estate Development, LLC, property owner, and applicant, is requesting a re-zoning from P-I (Professional-Institutional) to M-2A (Manufacturing – Light) to allow for a veterinary facility on the subject property. The subject property, located at 6225 U.S. Hwy. 19 South, has approximately 628 feet of frontage along the western side of U.S. Highway 19. The property is located in Land Lot 231 of the 8th District of Pike County, Georgia. The property consists of 4.58 acres and is further identified as Tax Map Parcel #068 108. The relevant Overlay District requirements for the subject property will also be considered.
Action: Approve/Deny
There will be up to 20 total minutes of discussion for each side on these public hearings.
The Planning Commission recommended approval with a list of conditions on May 8th. Planning and Zoning Director David Allen read the list of conditions aloud. They feel that these conditions are according to the spirit of the overlay ordinance. Director Allen said that he would work with Dr. Gardner on number 8 (landscaping) which she asked for some leeway on.
In favor:
Chris Curry came as the Executive Director of the Agribusiness Authority and advised that this Authority is giving its full support to Dr. Gardner.
Opposition: None.
Public Hearing was closed. Discussion: Dr. Gardner brought a copy of the landscaping as well as the interior floor plan to the meeting. The southern half is what she will be using now and there are plans to develop the northern half into an animal hospital. The facility will be handicap accessible and meet all ADA requirements. There was an emphasis on the county working with those who are providing a needed service to the county like vet services with this facility. County Attorney Rob Morton said that the Environmental Review Committee has not met on this and that is a requirement according to our code of ordinance. Mr. Morton suggested that commissioners make their decision contingent upon the approval of the Environmental Review Board since that is a requirement, but it is not Dr. Gardner’s fault that this has not been done yet.
Motion to approve with stipulations contingent upon the decision of the Environmental Review Board with the waiver of the $500 fee that usually accompanies the convening of the Environmental Review Board. Bass, Jarrett.
Discussion about whether or not to restrict some of the permitted uses in M-2A. Septic tank disposal might not be a good fit there. They hope that Dr. Gardner stays there for a long time, but they are looking at the long-term. No other M-2A businesses could come in there without a hearing before the county commission if they approve this for a vet clinic only. County Attorney Rob Morton cautioned about automatic reversion issues that could come from this and said that he recommended approval of the M-2A for a veterinary clinic only. Approved 5-0.
Here are the stipulations from the BOC Post Agenda:
1. The development shall be subject to an annual business license to operate.
2. Interior building renovations shall require a building permit and shall be inspected by the County Building Inspector during each stage of construction and a new Certificate of Occupancy shall be required prior to the initial opening of the business.
3. Animal walking areas and holding areas shall be located behind the building.
4. Any outdoor lighting shall be night sky friendly
5. Any new signage shall conform to the Sign Ordinance.
6. The detention pond shall be maintained and the specified outlet control structure shall be installed.
7. Paving and striping of the required handicap parking spaces shall be completed prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.
8. Proposed landscaping material shall be approved by the Zoning Administrator and shall be installed prior to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.
9. Contingent upon report from Environmental Review Committee
10. Waive the $500 fee (for the Environmental Review Committee).
b. PUBLIC HEARING: Continuation/removal of Sliding Building Permit Cost, pursuant to Section 156.023 (J) of the Pike County Code of Ordinances.
Action: Approve/Deny
During the first couple of years, there were some people who used this. This last go around, no one used it. Director Allen said that this would make it easier to complete unfinished houses and it wouldn’t hurt anything to leave it in place.
In Favor: None.
Opposition: None.
Public Hearing was closed. Motion to approve. Powers, Bass. Discussion: Commissioner Jarrett asked if this was the schedule that included accessory buildings. This is included. Approved 5-0.
c. PUBLIC HEARING: 1st Reading of proposed text amendment to the Pike County Code of Ordinances, to amend Chapter 156, Zoning Code, Section 156.028 to add O.C.G.A. 36-66-4 (f), relative to specific zoning procedures for the location or relocation of a halfway house, drug rehabilitation center, or other facility for treatment of drug dependency.
Action: Approve/Deny
Director Allen said that this was already in state code, but it was thought to be prudent to include this in our code of ordinance.
In favor: None.
Opposition: None.
Discussion: Commissioner Jarrett said that this is needed. Motion to approve. Jarrett, Powers. Approved 5-0.
d. Discuss proposed Solar Farm Ordinance.
The county received an application for consideration of a solar farm. It is relatively new, and one of the commissioners came across documentation from another jurisdiction. There was a concern that we have adequate regulations such as what we have with telecommunications, etc.
This will be discussed at the June 12 Planning and Zoning Meeting and at the June 24 County Commission for the first public reading. The Board of Appeals meeting was postponed and there were some concerns raised on this at that meeting. Their recommendation will be made by late June or early July. Commissioner Jarrett said that she has seen where other counties and states that have dealt with this. She said that these farms do make a humming noise that will have to be considered. There were questions about buffers, noise, and visibility of the solar panels by adjoining land owners. Commissioner Bass was concerned about overregulation and a burdensome code of ordinance. Commissioner Jarrett was praised for bringing this before the commissioners. County Attorney Rob Morton said that Commissioner Jarrett’s concern is a good one because there are no other state or federal regulations on solar farms since it is such a new industry. There was also a suggestion to involve the Environmental Review Board in these applications. County Attorney Rob Morton said that if commissioners have any concerns on this, he asked that they pass those concerns along to him and to Director Allen as they begin writing on this ordinance. [Note from the Editor: Kudos to Commissioner Jarrett for doing her homework on this issue. I had no clue that these farms made any kind of noise.]
10. PUBLIC COMMENT- (Limited to 5 minutes per person)
11. EXECUTIVE SESSION
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 to Magistrate Court.
b. County Manager requests Executive Session for discussion or deliberation on the appointment, employment, compensation, hiring, disciplinary action or dismissal, or periodic evaluation or rating of a county officer or employee as provided in O.C.G.A. § 50-14-3(6); germane to the Board of Assessors.
Motion to go into Executive Session. 7:17 p.m.
Back in Session at 7:49.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn. 7:50 p.m.
Agenda subject to revision.
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