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ZEBULON - The Board of Assessors held a Special Called meeting today at 9 a.m. Present were board members: Christopher Tea, Parrish Swift, Lyn Smith, Gary Hammock, and Tim Ingram along with Chief Appraiser Greg Hobbs, Appraiser Emily Morris, and County Attorney Rob Morton. Public. Members of the public included David Paulson and Becky Watts from Pike County Times.

Call to Order 9:03 a.m.

Invocation

Pledge of Allegiance

Approval of the Agenda

Discussion of and Approval/Denial of the 2025 Aerial Flight of Pike County from Eagle View per the Const Order. Staff recommends approval.

Motion to approve. Second.

Discussion. Christopher Tea. Asked for information about whether Google satellite imagery will work for the State of Georgia instead of having to pay for Eagle View’s flyover. Hobbs. You would not go wrong with Eagle View, and it will pay for itself because of the satellite imagery. If we go with Google, we will be subject to Google. The Department of Revenue said that there is only one county in the state that uses Google mapping GIS (geographic information system), and they have a GIS person to send required GIS information to the State of Georgia. Every other county is using Eagle View.

Morton. This item is on the agenda for the BOC for ARPA funds at the next meeting. Since this is a Consent Order by the BOC, they have the authority to encumber funds by the end of the year. We deal with the rest of the funds needed after the first two years in the regular budget. My recommendation is to go with Eagle View. Morton advised that GIS is needed from the county for the Department of Revenue Digest.

Tea. Asked a specific question about who is doing the border lines on the Q Public for the parcels in our county since he works in the industry. Hobbs. Q Public is doing our shape files. Parcel files are coming from the Tax Assessor’s office. GIS shape/boundary lines are coming from Tax Assessor’s Office. [Note from the Editor: I don’t understand all of this because I don’t look at this information on a daily basis, but if a board member requests information, that information should be obtained and presented to that member and the board as soon as possible so an informed decision can be made.]

Morton. We have a Consent Order that says that we have to have this. We want to show that we are making every effort to comply with the Consent Order. Hobbs. Said that he tried to get this information. He provided a side by side of Google satellite imagery and Eagle View aerials to the board members. Tea. (Asked specifically) Can we use the Google satellite imagery for what we need to accomplish? Is it acceptable to the State for us to use this? Said that he has been asking for this for a while. More discussion with Tea finally being told: We have a timeline that requires a vote today. We know that the flyover from Eagle View meets the requirements of the Consent Order.

Tea. Said that he is looking for a way to meet the requirements without spending money that we don’t have. I feel like we’re making a decision without a key piece of information.

More discussion. What will ARPA pay for? There is an installment plan for 6 years with a contract to the county. More discussion over the county using GIS 1 and the satellite imagery from the 2012 flyover. [Note from the Editor: 2012. How many barns, pools, and whatever else are in Pike County and not a part of the tax digest because the county did not do its due diligence and pay for a flyover that is required by the State of Georgia on a regular basis? I don't know what the rules used to be, but they said in the meeting today that it is required every 3 years. I guess I should look at this as it is going to be fixed and doesn't need to ever happen again.]

Morton. We have ARPA funds to help with the cost on this. We don’t have the answer to Tea’s question about the aerial view, but ARPA can pay for the next 2 years of this 6 year contract. $16,000 a year for 6 years. Hobbs. There are 2 flights in there. January to March is generally the flight because the leaves on the trees are gone other than pine trees. Question. When is the second flight? [Note from the Editor: I never heard an answer to this question even though it was asked more than once, and I haven't looked at the contract.]

Tea. Asked to confirm 2 flights. That’s the first I’ve heard of this. Who is responsible for GIS if we don’t have a GIS person? Tea. I’m irritated that I’ve been asking for this, but I don’t have an answer. We have a 6 year payment term with a 3 year flyover requirement from the State of Georgia. 2 flights would make more economic sense. Swift. The Consent Order says flyover and not satellite imagery. And we’re in a time crunch on this. Ingram. We need to handle this now. I think we need to do it. Smith. I don’t feel good about it, but we’ve been forced to do this. Consensus that we have to meet our obligations.

Motion to approve the flyover per the Consent Order. 4-0-1 with Tea abstaining.

Motion to adjourn. Approved 5-0.

Here are links to past meetings that Pike County Times has attended.

[Note from the Editor: I attended September and October meetings that will go online at some point.]

BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - November 19, 2024 - 4:30 p.m.
http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor11.19.24.html

BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - August 20, 2024 - 11 a.m.
http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor8.5.24.html

BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - August 5, 2024 - 11 a.m.
http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor8.5.24.html

BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - July 16, 2024 - 4 p.m.
http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor7.16.24.html

BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - June 18, 2024 - 11 a.m.
http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor6.18.24.html

Board of Assessors Leaves Sales Ratio at $91 Per Square Foot
By Editor Becky Watts
http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor6.3.24.html

BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - May 21, 2024 - 11 a.m.
http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor5.21.24.html

BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - March 7, 2024 - 11 a.m.
http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor3.7.24.html

BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - February 6, 2024 - 4:30 p.m.
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor2.6.24.html

Click here to read: "BREAKING NEWS: Commission Votes to Appeal Fine and Request a State Review of the Board of Assessors" http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/BREAKINGNEWSrequestforreview2.2.24.html

BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - January 18, 2024 - 11:00 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor1.18.24.html

BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - January 4, 2024 - 11:00 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor1.4.24.html

BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - December 19, 2023 - 11:00 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor12.19.23.html

BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - December 5, 2023 - 11:30 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor12.5.23.html

BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - November 9, 2023 - 11:30 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor11.9.23.html

BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - October 17, 2023 - 11:00 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor10.17.23.html

BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - October 3, 2023 - 11:00 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor10.3.23.html

BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - September 19, 2023 - 11:00 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor9.19.23.html

BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - September 7, 2023 - 11:00 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor9.7.23.html