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Tuesday, July 31, 2012 – 6:30 p.m.
Courthouse Annex, 79 Jackson Street, Zebulon, Georgia
The meeting was attended by all five commissioners, County Clerk Teresa Watson, County Attorneys and Acting Interim County Managers Rob and Tom Morton. Incoming County Manager Mike Phillips was present in the audience with his wife for this meeting. Flint River Council Troop 37 was also present to learn about county government by attending this meeting.
1. CALL TO ORDER ..................................................................................... Chairman Doug Mangham
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE .................................................................... Chairman Doug Mangham
3. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA - (O.C.G A. 50-14-1 (e) (1))
4. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES - (O.C.G.A.§ 50-14-1(e) (2))
Minutes of the July 11 Regular Monthly Meeting, the July 16 Special Called Meeting, and the July 19,
2012 Special Called Meeting.
5. INVITED GUESTS - none
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 reports as they will be provided during the first Board meeting of August.
c. County Manager Comments
Items in the Interim County Manager's report include: the authorization of a transfer of $200,000 from reserves to operations which leaves a balance of $701,208.89 in reserves. There is a projected deficit of $410,928.36 for the year that he advised that commissioners should anticipate a Tax Anticipation Note (TAN) around the 1st of September. * The county has been informed that it will soon be undergoing an ISO inspection. * The city of Molena is expected to speak with the county that the release agreement for the newly completed Molena firehouse. * Rob has started to revise the county's Courthouse Grounds policy to include all county facilities. The draft should be ready between August 8 and August 28. * Rob and Teresa Watson met with Tax Commissioner Donna Wynn and discussed issues related to tax collections in revenues. This should be on August 8 agenda. * LOST negotiations are ongoing. A recommendation will be submitted to the board shortly. He hopes that the county's counterproposal to the cities will be ready by the August 9 meeting.* Rob advised that he has provided the new county manager with a comprehensive list of items to be addressed and copies of files that have or will need to be addressed. The sign ordinance and animal control are on that list to be addressed now that the county has a new county manager. He thanked commissioners for their support during Morton and Morton's service as interim county manager. He praised Teresa Watson, Kay Landers, and JoAnn Wrye for their help and said that it was a pleasure to work for the commissioners and with Pike County employees. [Note from the Editor: Rob and Tom Morton are to be commended for stepping into the position of interim county manager and performing their job as county attorney at the same time. They saved Pike County a lot of work with their volunteer efforts and made a smooth transition of what was a rocky time for our county with the sudden departure of the former county manager.]
- Courthouse renovation update.
- Update on any pertinent departmental issues.
- Update on changes to the form requesting use of Courthouse grounds to provide for
accommodation of other County facilities for August 8, 2012 Board agenda.
- Update on Board review of Mutual Aid Agreement for August 8 agenda.
- Discussion/update of alternate options for tax collections in Pike County which will be an item
for consideration on the August 8 agenda.
Most of these items are included above.
d. Commissioner Reports
Commissioner Carol Bass thanked Rob and Tom Morton for their efforts as interim county manager. Commissioner Tamra Jarrett agreed with Commissioner Bass on the Morton's service. She also thanked the road department for handling issues when the tree went down on Deer Trail Road. Commissioner Tommy Powers, Commissioners Don Collins, and Chairman Doug Mangham also said thank you to the Morton's. Commissioner Collins said that he is looking forward to working with County Manager Mike Phillips.
e. County Attorney Report to Commissioner: None
7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Lenny Zaman, Williamson property owner, desires to address the Board’s decision regarding his request for adjustments to his reduced impact fee assessment for his proposed restaurant, LZ Ketchup, Parcel #062A 079.
This was denied per staff recommendations at a previous meeting. However the owner could not be here at the previous meeting so he was allowed to speak tonight. Commissioners heard his request for further adjustments to his reduced impact fee assessment. It was noted that he has saved over $3300 already with a 75% discount. Motion to deny. 5-0.
b. Request to revisit previous Board decision regarding responsible entity for finishing out the area designated for the Law Library in the Courthouse renovation SPLOST project.
There are concerns that if the county does work in house, it will affect the warranty. Staff recommends allowing the contractor to finish work on the law library in the amount of $2337. Motion to allow the contractor finish the work. 5-0.
8. NEW BUSINESS
a. PUBLIC HEARING: To receive public input on Special Exception SE-12-05 – Mary M. Wesley (aka Mary M. Carter), current property owner, and Robert Steele, applicant and future property owner, are requesting a special exception in an A-R zoned district to allow for a recreational vehicle (RV) as a temporary residence at a home construction site. The property, located on Old Meansville Road, has approximately 1640 feet of total frontage along the west side of Old Meansville Road, and is located in Land Lot 200 of the 8th District of Pike County, Georgia. Said property consists of 37.3 total acres and is further identified as Tax Map Parcel #082 001.
ACTION: Approval/denial of Special Exception SE-12-05 – Mary M. Wesley (aka Mary M. Carter), current property owner, and Robert Steele, applicant and future property owner, are requesting a special exception in an A-R zoned district to allow for a recreational vehicle (RV) as a temporary residence at a home construction site.
This was heard by the Board of Appeals on July 19. They recommend approval with conditions including a provision for no more than 24 months. No one spoke. Motion to approve with stipulations. 5-0.
b. PUBLIC HEARING: To receive public input on required update to the Short Term Work Program, a component of the Pike County Comprehensive Plan, to brief the community on items that will be updated within the Short Term Work Program, allow for an opportunity to comment, and to fulfill requirements for a joint public hearing for Pike County and the municipalities within the County (Concord, Meansville, Molena, Williamson and Zebulon).
ACTION: Approval/denial of the required update to the Short Term Work Program, a component of the Pike County Comprehensive Plan.
This is a requirement for Qualified Local Governments Status with the state. Planning and Development Director David Allen will submit this tomorrow. Mr. Morton advised that the municipalities received this and have not voiced any objections. No one spoke. Discussion: This plan is not carved in stone. It is a "wish list" of what could occur. Motion to approve. 5-0.
c. PUBLIC HEARING: To receive public input on proposed text amendment to the Pike County Code of Ordinances, to amend Chapter 33, Boards, Commissioners, Authorities and Other Organizations, Section 33.01, Section 33.02 and Section 33.07, to address the maximum number of Boards on which a citizen may serve.
ACTION: Approval/denial, on first reading, of proposed text amendment to the Pike County Code of Ordinances, to amend Chapter 33, Boards, Commissioners, Authorities and Other Organizations, Section 33.01, Section 33.02 and Section 33.07, to address the maximum number of Boards on which a citizen may serve.
Currently, citizens can only serve on one board at a time. It was said that there is a shortage of citizens to serve on county committees. The Planning Commission made the suggestion to allow this at the July 12 meeting. No one spoke. Discussion: Commissioner Jarrett asked where this was initiated. She was informed that the Planning Commission thought there was a problem. It was noted that a volunteer cannot serve on both the Planning Commission and the Board of Appeals at the same time. She said that it is a public service and an honor to serve on these boards and be a part of local government. What you have to say makes a difference. Commissioner Bass said that the county could be out of compliance with our own ordinance if we do this. Mr. Morton advised that individual authorities are governed by individual enabling legislation. Commissioner Collins said that he is against citizens serving on more than one board and urged caution on this item. He urged the work of these boards to be made public to encourage participation. Motion to deny. 5-0. [Note from the Editor: I applaud the commissioners for this decision. Too few decision makers serving on more than one board is a problem waiting to happen.]
d. Approval/denial of requisition of computer system for the J. Joel Edwards Library to be paid from Impact Fee collections for an amount not to exceed $25,000 including the system and installation.
Rob Morton said that staff would like to do some research on this and asked to postpone this until August 8. Motion to postpone. 5-0.
9. PUBLIC COMMENT- (Limited to 5 minutes per person)
10. EXECUTIVE SESSION – N/A
11. ADJOURNMENT: 7:04 p.m.
Agenda subject to revision.