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Wednesday, September 11, 2013 – 9:00 a.m.
Courthouse Annex, 79 Jackson Street, Zebulon, Georgia
Today held almost a full house. All five commissioners are present along with County Clerk Jo Ann Wrye and Interim County Managers (CM) and County Attorneys Rob and Tom Morton.
1. CALL TO ORDER....................................................................................Chairman J. Briar Johnson
2. INVOCATION…………………………………………………………………………....Ben Maxedon
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE...................................................................Chairman J. Briar Johnson
4. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA - (O.C.G A. 50-14-1 (e) (1))
Mr. Rob Morton asked to add two items to the one item that was already on the agenda. Motion to approve. 5-0.
5. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES - (O.C.G.A.§ 50-14-1(e) (2))
Minutes of the August 27, 2013 Regular Monthly Meeting.
6. INVITED GUEST: 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.
b. County Manager Report
▫ Update on County finances for the following funds/accounts:
General Fund - $745,795.07
Jury Account - $0
Cash Reserve Account - $176,446.96
Jail Fund - $30,352.61
E-911 Fund - $249,940.48
DATE Fund - $21,106.49
Juvenile Court Fund - $21,978.86
Residential Impact Fees - $284,090.07
Commercial Impact Fees - $8,204.56
General Obligation SPLOST Tax Bond Sinking Fund, 2011 - $315,478.88
PC L.M.I. Grant - $335,388.83
c. County Manager Comments.
Roof repairs – Contractor is scheduled to start tomorrow in the Planning and Extension Office with the Library after that. ACCG has followed up on this and this building is added back into the project. This has been discussed in prior meetings.
There was a fire on Beeks Road this weekend. Pike County Emergency Services responded to a fire of a single wide with no one present in the home at that time. Insurance is investigating and trying to contact the property owners.
A lawsuit was filed on September 5, 2013 that involves an accident with fire truck a couple of years ago. This will be discussed in Executive Session.
Accounts payable admin clerk job description is being finalized. [Note from the Editor: This position has been filled though. Go to the County Government tab on the home page to see write ups from past meetings or scroll down to the bottom of the home page if they haven't been moved to the County Government page yet. Feel free to send a donation to Pike County Times to help offset costs of keeping up with these meetings and the news in general.]
Custodian for Public Works goes through the 16th.
The county received a letter from the Sheriff that another transmission has gone out in a patrol car. This has been verified by Public Works that does much of our work in house for these cars. The Sheriff has requested to replace two older model Crown Vics with 264,000 and 227,000 miles.
Update 9.13.13:
d. Commissioner Reports.
Commissioner Carol Bass is keeping an eye on the remaining money that Pike County has. We have about $750,000 in the General Fund and Mr. Morton said that there is a potential deficit of $90,000 as we are clearing out the old year and beginning the new. However, there are LOST funds coming in from taxes and tax bills will be going out shortly so this may not be an issue. $200,000 was shifted from 911 to the General Fund. There are also some Accounts Receivable that may bring in some needed funds. Mr. Morton advised that it is being closely watched.
Tamra Jarrett said that she will send an email to the CM about some roads in her district that need attention from Public Works.
Tommy Powers said that there are several roads in his district that need some attention too. He also said that he appreciates what Public Works is doing in his district.
e. County Attorney Report to Commissioners: None.
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Discuss and/or approve/deny award of LMIG Resurfacing Project Bid.
There are two bids within a couple of hundred dollars which is unusual. Mr. Morton referred to county and state law that says that the lowest bidder must be awarded. ER Snell is the low bidder with $444,644.44 and they have met all of the qualifications. They did Kings Road here several years ago in the county and did a good job. Recommendation to go with the low bidder. Public Works Director Todd Goolsby will oversee this project. Motion to accept the low bidder. 5-0.
b. Consider abandonment of 80 feet of right-of-way for Pinecrest Farm Subdivision at Harden Rd. deeded December 14, 1989.
Land owners had been paying taxes on this as part of a larger parcel. But the county has not been maintaining this as a county road in the 80’s. Discussion that our ordinance and state law says that every parcel must abut a private or public road, and that the intent is for the property owners to maintain this as a private road. Motion to move forward with the abandonment. 5-0.
c. Discuss establishing an official form and fee pertaining to the registration of dangerous and vicious dogs.
Read more about this state mandated legislation pertaining to dangerous and vicious dogs by clicking here.
Planning and Development Director David Allen addressed this matter. The code does not mention a fee specifically but does mention a registration for the owner of a dangerous dog. He doesn’t want the fee to be too high but does want it to be enough to be taken seriously. A one time fee was mentioned in the last meeting. He suggested a couple hundred dollars or even $500. It was clarified that this is NOT breed specific but is based on the action of the dog.
Commissioner Jarrett and Commissioner Bass are opposed to a fee and asked what we are trying to accomplish. She was advised that the dog will not be allowed to run free and the property will have to be posted. There are pretty still penalties if the dog gets free or causes another incident. There is up to $10,000 for a viscious dog. Discussion that could be extremely burdensome to the Planning and Development Office depending on how it is run.
Director Allen said that there will be a very strict regimen to keep the dog with penalties for future offenses. He said that tere is a dog in Molena that was recently classified according to state law. Mr. Morton said that these forms are part of what is already required by state law. There isn’t a model form so he investigated other counties and put one together for us so we can be in compliance with state law. The fee is within the county’s discretion. Commissioner Powers and Chairman Johnson clarified that this only happens after an incident.
Chairman Johnson said that he supports a fee with the ownership of a dangerous dog so it will be taken seriously. Commissioner Jarrett said that she thinks that money would be better served providing for a secure enclosure for the dog. Director Allen said that there is a lot of irresponsible behavior with dogs like this. There is a requirement for liability insurance on vicious dogs but that is not required for dangerous dogs. Director Allen is basically putting documents in place to allow Pike County to follow state law. [Note from the Editor: We do not have animal control here in Pike County and this will help with dogs that are documented to be a danger in our county. I support a one time fee to cover the administrative costs of keeping up with this state mandated program that Pike County has to follow and I wouldn't have a problem with it being higher than $50 to ensure that dog owners take this seriously. I don't think that it should take a program like this to be sure that people take care of their animals and ensure that their neighbors and their neighbor's livestock, animals, children, etc. are not endangered by a pet.]
Commissioner Powers makes motion to approve this with a $500 fee that will not come back to the county and the money be applied to fence in the dog by the home owner and the county will not keep the money. No second. Motion dies for lack of a second.
Mr. Morton clarified with Director Allen that the cost of issuing the certificate and administering expenses would be $50 to cover the county’s cost. Motion to implement the form process along with a one time $50 fee. 4-1 with Commissioner Bass opposed. She clarified that she thinks that this is going to be cumbersome and that there may be a problem with enforcement. Director Allen said that this will actually be better enforceable than the average dog case.
Update 9.23.13:
d. Discuss bulletin board of Pike County events on our website.
A citizen asked whether the county would allow something like this on their website. County Clerk Wrye looked into this and no other county is doing this. There are other outlets where citizens can get their information to the public. It was a request and doesn’t require a motion but commissioners can make a motion if they want to. Consensus of commissioners to do anything with this which is basically a no to this request. [Note from the Editor: This is putting a lot on our staff that already has enough to do.]
e. Discuss and/or approve/deny exempt position in the County Extension office.
There was a discussion of the exempt position. The person that held the position had her own insurance in the previous position. The total package could be a substantial cost when insurance is added in. The auditors are here in the county now and the county would like time to look into this some more before making a decision. Motion to postpone until the night meeting. 5-0.
f. Discuss and approve/deny award of bid for 2013 TAN.
Mr. Morton discussed this matter that has been on the agenda in past meetings. Two proposals have come back on this with the low bid from United Bank for the $800,000 TAN with a 1.97% rate with a one time cost of $155 if we use it. If there is a need for this, it will come to commissioners before this is taken out. This has been used in the past and we don’t have to pay on this unless we use it. Motion to go with the low bid. 5-0.
9. NEW BUSINESS
a. Discuss and/or approve/deny surplus of county property.
Includes 6 vehicles from the Sheriff’s Office. Money used will go into county funds. There are other items in the county may be surplussed as well. There will be an auction or a sale at a later point. Motion to start the surplus list. 5-0.
b. Discuss and/or approve/deny whether or not Rob Morton should remain on the signature cards of the bank accounts for a transition period after the new county manager is hired.
There has been a concern that the county does not know the official start date of the new County Manager and there needs to be continuity through the transition period. Motion to keep Mr. Morton on signature until the end of the year and then it can be removed. 5-0.
c. Consider request from Clayton Woerner and Amanda Wornstaff of Pike County Middle/High School Wrestlers to use the courthouse grounds to sell donuts on Saturday, September 28, 2013 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Motion to approve. 5-0.
d. Nominate Employee of the Quarter.
Mr. Morton advised that there were two recommendations for this award. Mr. Morton advised that Hal Williams is a wonderful volunteer with Pike County Emergency Services (our county fire department) with an impressive service record, but he recommended Cheryl Blackmon from the Registrar’s Office. There was a question about whether or not to include someone from Pike County Emergency Services because they are volunteers in the county and not paid county employees. Suggestion to discuss this program on the next meeting agenda including the possibility of a volunteer of the quarter as well. Motion to approve Ms. Blackmon.
e. Consider surplusing or making county air condition units available to the Recreation Authority.
There is a need for the Recreation Authority for the AC units from the Health Department. Discussion whether to let them use it or surplus them and get rid of them. They were bought when we renovated the courthouse and Public Works can hook these up. Motion to allow the Rec Authority to use these units but the BOC remain ownership of these units. Discussion that we do not have an intergovernmental agreement, etc. that covers this, but it could be handled by memo for now. Further discussion of who pays for the repairs if they break down and the county retains ownership of them. The Rec Authority can cover the payment for setting them up and it can be stipulated for them to cover all costs with these units while they use them. Motion to retain ownership but the Rec Authority will maintain them and pay all costs associated with use of these units. 5-0.
10. PUBLIC COMMENT- (Limited to 5 minutes per person)
11. EXECUTIVE SESSION: 9:59 a.m.
a. Interim 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 County Manager; Also to discuss Public Works and litigation with the accident involving the Pike County Emergency Services vehicle a couple of years ago.
Back in session at 10:37 a.m.
Motion to authorize the formal appointment of John Hanson as Pike County’s County Manager with a Memorandum of Understanding that will lead to a formal contract. Approved 5-0.Motion to adjourn. 10:38 a.m.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Agenda subject to revision.
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