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!
Thursday, September 23, 2020 - 5 p.m.
Board of Commissioners Office Conference Room, 331 Thomaston Street, Zebulon, Georgia
Also available on ZOOM
www.pikecoga.com/novusagenda has an online agenda and accompanying information for this meeting. Monthly information from Animal Control, Coroner, Fire Department, Grady, Library, Magistrate Court, McIntosh Trail CSB, Planning & Development, Registrar, Superior - Juvenile Court, Tax Assessor, and the Water Authority are included as well during the morning meeting only.
We encourage that attendees follow recommended Covid-19 guidelines which include staying home if you are ill/not feeling well, washing your hands, maintaining social distancing, and wearing a face covering (recommended but not required)
Commissioners Tim Guy, Tim Daniel, James Jenkins, Jason Proctor and Chairman Briar Johnson were in attendance. County Clerk Angela Blount and County Manager Brandon Rogers were also in attendance. [Note from the Editor: I was the only member of the public in attendance, but there were two or three people watching on ZOOM.
1. CALL TO ORDER ................................................................................ Chairman Briar Johnson
2. INVOCATION…………………………………………………………………..Silent Invocation
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ............................................................... Chairman Briar Johnson
4. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA - (O.C.G A. 50-14-1 (e) (1))
James asked for an executive session for possible litigation because of the Planning and Development office. CM Brandon Rogers called County Attorney Rob Morton to ask. There was much discussion on this because commissioners were not sure if something could be discussed if it was not publicly advertised. I was asked and said that I thought something could be added, but it was really a county attorney question. Amended the agenda to add this. Approved 5-0.
[Note from the Editor: County Attorney Rob Morton came to the meeting and advised that this can be discussed because it came up very recently, but this doesn't need to be done on a regular basis. My thoughts? Pike County was sued once upon a time (actually more than once but for a couple of different things including this) because we were having issues with publicly advertising what was going to be on the agenda because items being added at the meeting so the public didn't know ahead of time. The Pike County Commission has made a point to try to be as open as possible with the public as far as advertising items and putting information online since that time. I greatly appreciate that because I remember a time when it wasn't like this.]
5. CONSIDER USE OF COURTHOUSE GROUNDS FROM HOLLY ORTIZ OF PIKE COUNTY REPUBLICAN GOP ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2020 FROM 2:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. FOR REPUBLICAN TRUMP RALLY/MEET AND GREET CANDIDATES.
They had a couple of hiccups and are just asking for use on Sunday. Motion to approve. 5-0.
6. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion to go into executive session. 5:10 p.m.
[Note from the Editor: While commissioners were waiting for Rob to get to the meeting (he wasn't there in the beginning because there was only the item for use of the courthouse grounds), I asked about ZOOM. The county is working on getting this installed in the large courtroom. Working on the sound too. It will be needed for the next commission meeting. It is already in the small courtroom. ZOOM will be used in the next commission meeting.]
a. Commissioner Jenkins requests 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 potential litigation in Planning and Development Office.
Back in session at 5:38 p.m.
Motion to adjourn. 5:39.
[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.]