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February 23, 2016 at 6:30 p.m.
Courthouse Annex, 79 Jackson Street, Zebulon, Georgia
The Pike County Board of Commissioners held its Regular Monthly Meeting on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. in the Commissioners Meeting Room, Courthouse Annex, at 79 Jackson Street, Zebulon. Chairman Briar Johnson convened the meeting and Commissioners Tim Daniel, Tim Guy, Tommy Powers and James Jenkins attended. County Manager John Hanson, County Attorneys Rob Morton and County Clerk Jo Ann Wrye were also present. (O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1(e) (2))
1. CALL TO ORDER .................................................................................... Chairman J. Briar Johnson
2. INVOCATION…………………………………………………………………………..Frank Winfrey
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ................................................................... Chairman J. Briar Johnson
4. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA - (O.C.G A. § 50-14-1 (e) (1))
Motion/second by Commissioner Powers/Commissioner Daniel to approve, motion carried 5-0.
5. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES - (O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1(e) (2))
a. Minutes of the February 10, 2016 Regular Monthly Meeting.
Motion/second by Commissioner Guy/Commissioner Powers to approve, motion carried 5-0.
6. INVITED GUESTS - 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. There are no Department reports as they will be provided during the first Board meeting of March. Revenue/Expenditure Statement and Detail Check Register is included.
Motion/second by Commissioner Daniel/Commissioner Guy to approve, motion carried 5-0.
b. County Manager Report
▫ Update on County finances for the following funds/accounts:
General Fund ............................................................................................ $3,266,420.25
Fire Dept. Donations ........................................................................................ $3,943.39
Cash Reserve Account ................................................................................. $613,574.84
Jail Fund ........................................................................................................ $19,061.39
E-911 Fund .................................................................................................... $19,332.49
DATE Fund ................................................................................................... $36,896.65
Juvenile Court Fund ....................................................................................... $16,198.20
Residential Impact Fee ................................................................................ $336,180.74
Commercial Impact Fees ............................................................................... $13,923.90
C.A.I.P FUND ............................................................................................... $26,899.94
General Obligation SPLOST Tax Bond Sinking Fund, 2011 ...................... $533,833.30
L.M.I. Grant (DOT) ....................................................................................... $41,357.96
c. County Manager Comments.
The continuation of the SPLOST and presidential candidates will be on the ballot March 1st. I want to remind the citizens of our intentions of continuing the SPLOST is to cover the needs of our roads; as our infrastructure is in need of much repair. Should the SPLOST pass we can use those dollars towards making those much needed repairs.
Good news on our GovDeal sales, the last sale we netted $8,998.94 which brings our total net sales to $57,581.86. This has proven to be a good move for the county and appreciates the commissioners and support of GovDeals.
The departments are turning in their budget requests and we will be doing a lot of work to get that in before we begin meeting with each department. The News Release has gone out regarding EMA sirens and I want to thank Jimmy Totten for his hard work on getting that grant for us. Jimmy is here to answer any questions you may have about the sirens.
Congratulations to Tim Guy, we received notification from ACCG that he has received his certification as a certified county commissioner effective January 29, 2015. I appreciate the hard work Tim has done and commend him on his certification.
We are in pretty good shape in catching up on scraping the roads; of course another event will be coming in tonight. Our guys are ready and are on call, but we are hoping for the best.
I had a very good conversation with Patricia Beckham about the letter that was put in the paper last week regarding the fire truck not being in the Martin Luther King Day parade and sent our regards to the committee. The Fire Chief has written a letter explaining the events that occurred that prevented the fire truck not being in the parade and assured her we look forward to helping them in the future. The gentleman that was to drive the fire truck in the parade got sick and we did not have time to react, but we have put some measures in place so that does not happen again in the future.
Chairman Johnson asked if the SPLOST on the upcoming ballot in March was a continuation of the existing SPLOST. County Manager Hanson stated it was a continuation of the existing SPLOST.
d. Commissioner Reports.
District 1 – Commissioner Daniel – No report but I would like to stress to the citizens you can vote early until this Friday. I would like to congratulate Commissioner Guy on his certification.
District 2 – Commissioner Guy – No report.
District 3 – Commissioner Powers – No report but asked what roads were still closed. County Manager Hanson stated the roads that are still closed are Nazareth Church Road and Reid Road. We have equipment staged at Reid Road; we are waiting for a break in the weather. It should take about a day to a day and ½ to get that road done. Nazareth Church Road is a big road and will take a few more days on that road. Commissioner Powers stated Campbell Road looked really good.
District 4 – Commissioner Jenkins – No report.
At-Large – Chairman Johnson – I would like to thank EMA Director Jimmy Totten for the hard work he put into getting the grant for the sirens. Also would like to thank Concord Café for feeding all the firemen for free when they were fighting the fire at the pallet company in Concord. They refused to give a bill to the Fire Chief or him when they asked to pay the bill.
e. County Attorney Report to Commissioners.
County Attorney Rob Morton wanted to let the board know that on a certain date every month they prosecute county ordinance violations. He said at the last hearing there was an individual that received a citation from the county but basically put it in a drawer or file 13 and did not think we had enforcement powers. But when he was wearing the orange jumpsuit, the kind you wear when you go to jail, that person said they would take it seriously now. There are folks out there that do not take this seriously, but we are following up. Mr. Morton stated David Allen is probably the easiest guy to work with and gives all kinds of opportunities to allow you to correct the situation.
Working on some contract issues and working with Magistrate Court on some issues as well.
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS – None
9. NEW BUSINESS
a. Consider request from Michael Powell of the Pike Community Resource/Pike County YES Team to use part of the courthouse grounds for pinwheel display for Pinwheels for Prevention from April 3, 2016 through April 30, 2016.
Motion/second by Commissioner Guy/Commissioner Powers to approve, motion carried 5-0.
b. PUBLIC HEARING: To receive public input in regards to SUB16-01 - The Development Authority of Pike County, property owner and applicant, is requesting preliminary plat approval of a 5-lot industrial subdivision on 71.76 acres located off of U.S. Hwy. 41. Said property is zoned M-2B (Manufacturing-Heavy), with approximately 1200 feet of frontage along the western side of U.S. Hwy. 41. The property is located in Land Lot 164 of the 2nd Land District of Pike County, Georgia. Property is further identified as Tax Map Parcel Numbers 088 045, 088 042, and 088 043.
David Allen, Director of Planning and Development, addressed the Board stating the Planning Commission and Staff recommended approval at their meeting on February 11, 2016 as long as the missing items from the checklist are included before the BOC meeting on Tuesday, February 23, 2016. Mr. Allen stated the map he is giving them tonight includes the missing items from the checklist.
In favor: Steve Reeves. Opposed: No one came forth.
Action: Discuss/Approve or Deny
Commissioner Powers asked David Allen if he was okay with the layout and David said he was good with the layout.
Commissioner Daniel wanted confirmation that they would be voting on the preliminary plat and not zoning. David Allen confirmed they were voting on the preliminary plat and not zoning, the property was already zoned.
Motion/second by Commissioner Powers/Commissioner Daniel to approve the preliminary plat as presented, motion carried 5-0.
c. PUBLIC HEARING: To receive public input in regards to SE-16-01 – Larry W. Lillard, Susan M. Lillard, and Larry W. Toelsted, property owners, and Larry W. Lillard applicant, are requesting a special exception in a C-2 zoned district to allow for the operation of a business involving hydraulic hose and cylinder repair. The subject property, located at 3796 Ga. Hwy. 362 West, has approximately 123 feet of frontage along the northern side of Highway 362. The property is located in Land Lot 166 of the 1st District of Pike County, Georgia. The property consists of 2 acres and is further identified as Tax Map Parcel #038 026B.
David Allen, Director of Planning and Development, addressed the Board stating the Board of Appeals and Staff recommended approval with conditions at their February 28, 2016 meeting.
No one came forth to speak for approval or denial.
Action: Discuss/Approve or Deny
Motion/second by Commissioner Jenkins/Commissioner Daniel to approve with conditions, motion carried 5-0. Conditions are as follows:
1. An annual County business license shall be required.
2. Any new signage shall conform to the County Sign Ordinance.
3. Businesses open regularly to the general public shall provide the minimum number of parking spaces, as required in County code Section 156.363. Parking lot designs shall conform to the standards of Section 156.362.
4. Businesses open regularly to the general public shall meet the minimum ADA requirements in terms of parking and accessibility. Any public restrooms shall also meet ADA requirements.
5. Any alterations or enlargements to the existing building shall require a building permit and shall conform to current codes.
County Manager Hanson addressed the Board about this issue stating he has been working on this for a while. He said 2 ½ years ago we signed a contract with AT&T to convert to T-1 lines to save the county some money. It has taken AT&T way too long to implement the service and the service they have provided has been less than satisfactory. Hanson stated they have been working on ways to remedy the service situation and to also provide a better and faster internet service and phone service to all the departments. He is recommending Charter to be our telephone and internet provider; which will not only improve our speed and service to the citizens but will also save the county approximately $35,000 per year. County Manager Hanson is asking the Board to authorize him to bring back a contract from Charter to review with the County Attorney and bring before the Board to approve.
Chairman Johnson asked about the telephone line used by Grady. County Manager Hanson stated they use their own and Molena uses the internet with the city. Commissioner Jenkins stated when he first came into office he noticed we were paying for 8 to 10 bills at a time and wondered why we could not consolidate; then it gradually came together. By the time County Manager Hanson came on board we ended up saving about the same amount of money, around $30,000. He noted two years later and we are going to save about the same amount of money, $35,000, just think what we may save in another two years. Jenkins said we need to think about that when we initiate a contract because technology changes so quickly; we need to look at things that are going to save us money. He stated it is their responsibility to the tax payers in this county, they hold us responsible. He suggested they look at the contract on this and be careful as to what they sign, be sure it is not a 5 or 10 year contract because things could change a lot in two years.
County Manager Hanson agreed and stated the contract for bringing the fiber is a three-year contract with Charter in which they will absorb the cost of bringing the fiber in, it will be $960 per month to bring in 50 megs which is unheard of. Hanson also agreed with the consolidation of services to help with cost saving for the county, it makes good sense.
Motion/second by Commissioner Jenkins/Commissioner Powers to authorize County Manager Hanson to move forward with getting a contract from Charter to review with the County Attorney and bring before the Board for approval with the conditions talked about, motion carried 5-0.
10. PUBLIC COMMENT- (Limited to 5 minutes per person)
11. EXECUTIVE SESSION - None
12. ADJOURNMENT
Motion/second by Commissioner Powers/Commissioner Guy to adjourn at 7:09 p.m., motion carries 5-0.
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