You can also donate through www.venmo.com/u/pikecountytimes, $pikecountytimes, and PayPal.Me/PikeCountyTimesLLC.
Editor Becky Watts: Phone # 770-468-7583 editor(@)pikecountytimes.com
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.
If you enjoy reading Pike County Times, consider buying an advertisement for your business or sending a donation to support the only free online newspaper in Pike County. Donations can be sent to: The Pike County Times, PO Box 843, Zebulon, Georgia 30295. Click here to donate through PayPal. Thanks for supporting Pike County Times.com!
Daniel Bridges.
Marsha Landers.
Jennifer Gilow.
Wednesday, August 9, 2023 – 9:00 a.m.
Courthouse, Courtroom 2/Magistrate Courtroom/Probate Courtroom, 16001 Barnesville Street, Zebulon, Georgia
Town Hall Meeting at 8:45 a.m.
NOTE CHANGE OF MEETING ROOM
Click here to see the documents that have been uploaded with the agenda on the Pike County government page.
ZEBULON - The Pike County Board of Commissioners will be holding its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at 9 a.m. in Courtroom 2 of the Pike County Courthouse. (This is where Magistrate and Probate hold court. Walk through the main courtroom, take a right, and walk in the smaller courtroom.) The public is invited to attend this meeting.
[Note from the Editor: I would like to encourage the Board of Commissioners to hold their meeting on a different day than court when court is held in the big courtroom. I have heard complaints from people who could not (or chose not to) attend the meeting because they had to stand in line to go through security procedures which included not taking their phones to the meeting because everyone was subjected to the same procedures as those attending court. (The meeting was short as it was. Walking back to the car or the office to drop off a phone would have helped them miss much of what was a very short meeting.) I think it was also a distraction for court with people walking through the courtroom as court was being held. This is NOT a complaint against the officers doing their job because court needs to be secure, but this is constructive criticism to hold the meeting at another time other than when Superior Court is held because Superior Court has first dibs on its regularly scheduled court date every year. It's THEIR courtroom though I'm glad that the Commission has a place to meet.]
Chairman Briar Johnson and Commissioners James Jenkins, Jason Proctor, Tim Guy, and Tim Daniel were present as well as County Clerk Angela Blount, County Manager (CM) Brandon Rogers, and County Attorney Rob Morton.
1. CALL TO ORDER ....... Chairman J. Briar Johnson
2. INVOCATION ....... Silent Invocation
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ....... Chairman J. Briar Johnson
4. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA - (O.C.G A. § 50-14-1 (e) (1))
Motion to approve agenda. Approved 5-0.
5. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES - (O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1(e) (2))
a. Minutes of the July 25, 2023, Regular Monthly Meeting.
b. Minutes of the July 25, 2023, Executive Session.
Motion to approve both. Approved 5-0.
6. INVITED GUEST
a. Employee Recognition for service to Pike County.
• Daniel Bridges – Public Works
Daniel Bridges 5 years. Public Works. Public Works Director Todd Goolsby spoke and said that Daniel has actually worked for the county for a total of about 17 years. He was gone for a year and came back. Todd described Daniel as a "go to man" who operates every piece of equipment. He does a great job.
• Jennifer Gilow – Sheriff’s Department
Jennifer Gilow could not attend today. She has been with the county for 5 years. [Note from the Editor: Jennifer worked in the Commission Office for several years and has recently moved over to help in the Sheriff's Office. She is very good with customer service.]
• Marsha Landers – Superior Court
Marsha Landers. 10 years Superior Court. Superior Court Clerk Pam Thompson spoke and said that Marsha's chief responsibility is Juvenile Clerk. She works closely with judges, attorneys, parents and grandparents. She does a superior job. Also accounts payable, Board of Equalization, appeals, etc. Customer service friendly, helpful… she goes above and beyond anything that is asked of her. She has been an asset to the county and the citizens.
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.
Discuss/Approve/Deny
Motion to accept reports. Approved 5-0.
b. County Manager Report
Update on County finances for the following funds/accounts:
General Fund ....... $1,766,591.41
Fire Dept. Donations ....... $9,222.83
Cash Reserve Account ....... $473,050.68
Jail Fund ....... $34,853.82
E-911 Fund ....... $556,821.83
DATE Fund ....... $40,471.75
Juvenile Court Fund ....... $13,888.17
Residential Impact Fee ....... $1,237,866.22
Commercial Impact Fees ....... $166,283.14
C.A.I.P FUND ....... $323,646.43
General Obligation SPLOST 2022-2028 ....... $1,391,554.71
L.M.I.G. Grant (DOT) ....... $716,257.54
c. County Manager Comment
No report.
d. Commissioner Reports
Chairman Johnson. Question. Workshop here at 7 p.m. Question on whether to move it back to 5 p.m. Maybe modify to 6:30 instead because a lot of people are coming. Meeting wasn’t canceled, but Jeremy will still be there at 6:30 in case people come in. Motion to change the workshop from 7 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Approved 5-0.
e. County Attorney Report to Commissioners
No report.
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - NONE
9. NEW BUSINESS
a. Consider use of Courthouse Grounds from Bryan Richardson with Pike County American Legion Post 197 on Friday, September 15, 2023, from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. for National POW/MIA Recognition Memorial Display.
Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
b. Consider use of Courthouse Grounds from Bryan Richardson with Pike County American Legion Post 197 on Saturday, November 11, 2023, from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. for Pike County Veterans Day Observance Day.
Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
c. Approve/Deny the Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank (GTIB) Grant/Loan and authorize signatories.
This is the grant from the State of Georgia that Todd and CM went to Atlanta. This is only for the LMIG projects. SPLOST projects are later in the agenda. Motion to approve the grant loan and signatories mentioned. Approved 5-0. Rob – This includes authorization of the signatories? Yes.
(Click here to read:
Gov. Kemp Announces $17.3 Million Dollars to Fund Transportation Infrastructure Projects.)
d. Approve/Deny Intergovernmental Agreement with Development Authority of Pike County relating to funding for an Economic Development Project.
. Board of Commissioners and the IDA. Property on County Farm Road and Hwy 18. This was reworked and sent over for your consideration. Rob. This is a fundamentally different document from May 10. Completely different structure and agreement. Fundamental differences that need to be discussed. Recommended meeting with the IDA and the attorneys on this. Can’t recommend at this time. Motion to postpone until we clarify some information. Discussion. Proctor. We need to have a meeting quickly and get this over quickly. It needs to be immediately. Approved 5-0. (Click here to read about the Industrial Development Authority/Development Authority meetings of late: Industrial Development Authority Meeting - July 11, 2023 .)
e. Approve/Deny Public Defender’s Office contract for FY 2023-2024.
Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
f. Consider hardship waiver for Residential Impact Fees.
Planning and Zoning Director Jeremy Gilbert. Hardship for property. Based on our ordinances, this could be waived by the commissioners. $6777.95 Impact Fee. They have submitted documentation on this including physicians and the Social Security Administration regarding disability. Manufactured home at the residence. Wife is disabled and wants to take care of his mother next door. Applicant attended the meeting. Question whether it meets our ordinances. Yes. The amount was a shock to him. The applicant is on disability as well. Question. Does the applicant live in Pike County now? Yes. We are following protocol on this for hardship? Yes. Not a developer. No. Simply a citizen with a financial/physical hardship. There is a way to waive or deal with this however the commissioners see fit. Motion to approve for a complete waiver contingent on the financial affidavit. Rob. Require financial affidavit to go with this that gives the breakdown of the need. Approved 5-0.
g. Approve/Deny Pike County General Obligation Bond Resolution.
William Camp is here from Raymond James to clarify some of this information. Talked about the sales tax referendum and general obligations bonds. Thanks to the CM and County Attorney on this. Why are we borrowing money instead of just using the sales tax every year. Get money up front and accomplish more and faster. Inflation. Dollar is eroding over time. What $1 million used to do is about $700,000. We’ll pay this back with dollars that are worth less. Sales tax is doing well. About 14% growth in collections. Last 7 months has leveled out. SPLOST. Interest rates. AAA tax rates. Public works so the IRS allows this to be in a lower rate than others because it’s for the public. Referendum passed in May 2022. Some cash in the bank.
Bond prices from yesterday. Interest rates are fixed. Pay back bonds in 2024-28 with cash flows from sales tax. Rated at AA3 which is good. Bond yield average rate is 3.19%. Cost is about 3.9% Investing around 5% so making a little profit on this. Yields showing at 3.4 to 3.12%. $10,385,000 is sold at greater than face value $10,738,000 deposited in the construction fund. It will earn money while it sits. Could borrow up to $14 million on this. We are a year into the SPLOST so no reason to borrow against it. If there is a growth in sales tax, can borrow another $1.8 million if needed. Averaged almost 14% growth over past 6 years. Matched up payments with revenue source. Also said thank you for allowing them to work with the county. It was noted that we did this about 7 years ago and it worked.
Bond resolution. Says the prices and numbers. Outlines the duties of the involved banks, etc. Basically by adopting the bond resolution and authorizing staff to close this on August 24. Rob. Walked through a bond resolution process last year. You can move forward. The cities are all on board with this. Recommend approval and to approve the signatories on all documents. Motion to approve the bond resolution and signatories on this. Discussion: CM. This is the SPLOST projects voted on by the citizens. Some of the biggest projects we’ve ever done including paving some dirt road projects. Water and sewer related for the cities. Approved 5-0.
10. PUBLIC COMMENT
a. Becky Watts to address the Board regarding County Manager Evaluation.
Becky Watts, Owner and Editor of Pike County Times, said the following:
"It appears that the evaluation for the county manager may be discussed in executive session. If that is the case, Chairman Johnson, thank you for adding this item to the agenda.
I would also like to extend a thank you in advance to the entire board for having this discussion, and I sincerely hope that board members will choose to show the employees of this county that the county manager has to abide by the same rules that they do.
I hope that each of you will evaluate his job performance and give praise and constructive criticism just like you would if the county manager was working for each of you personally. After all, he is acting on your behalf as he performs his job duties as our county manager.
Thank you for your time."
11. EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. County Attorney Rob Morton request Executive Session for consultation with the county attorney, or other legal counsel, 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 pending or potential litigation.
b. Chairman Briar Johnson requests Executive Session for discussion or deliberation on the appointment, employment, compensation, hiring, disciplinary action or dismissal, or periodic evaluation or rating of a public officer or employee or interviewing applicants for the position of the executive head of an agency, as provided in O.C.G.A. § 50-14-3(b)(2), germane to the County Manager.
Executive Session. 9:40 a.m.
Back in session. 10:47 a.m.
Daniel, Jenkins left due to other responsibilities.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn. 10:48 a.m.Agenda subject to change.
[Note from the Editor: If you appreciate being able to read information from county meetings for free on Pike County Times, please make a donation to Pike County Times through the PayPal link at the bottom of the page or by check to Pike County Times at PO Box 843, Zebulon so I can justify the amount of time that I am spending away from family. It may not seem like much but sitting in a meeting and then typing it up takes a lot more time than you might imagine! Thanks for reading Pike County's only FREE newspaper.]