Pike County Times
The Pike County Times, PO Box 843, Zebulon, Georgia 30295. Click here to donate through PayPal. Becky Watts: Phone # 770-468-7583 editor@pikecountytimes.com
 
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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.

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REGULAR BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MONTHLY MEETING
Tuesday, March 31, 2015 – 6:30 p.m.
Courthouse Annex, 79 Jackson Street, Zebulon, Georgia

All five commissioners, County Clerk Jo Ann Wrye to take the minutes, County Manager (CM) John Hanson, 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))

5. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES - (O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1(e) (2))

a. Minutes of the March 11, 2015 Regular Monthly Meeting.

6. INVITED GUESTS - Mike Powell

Mike Powell was present to speak to commissioners and ask them to sign a proclamation for April being Child Abuse Prevention Month. He said that there will be a lot of pinwheels in yards and at public places as a symbol for child abuse prevention. He also said that we as a county need to stand together as a wall to protect our children and find positive ways to address issues related to our children as well as the issue of abuse. Pinwheels were set up in front of the schools by the PreK children and banners will go up tonight. The proclamation was signed for Child Abuse Prevention Month.

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 April. Revenue/Expenditure Statement and Detail Check Register is included.

b. County Manager Report

▫ Update on County finances for the following funds/accounts:
General Fund ............................................................................................ $3,661,950.92
Fire Dept. Donations........................................................................................ $1,880.82
Cash Reserve Account................................................................................. $437,135.95
Jail Fund ........................................................................................................ $30,201.47
E-911 Fund .................................................................................................... $25,447.86
DATE Fund ................................................................................................... $34,695.65
Juvenile Court Fund....................................................................................... $16,418.61
Residential Impact Fee ................................................................................ $277,910.54
Commercial Impact Fees ............................................................................... $11,850.92
C.A.I.P FUND............................................................................................... $20,000.46
General Obligation SPLOST Tax Bond Sinking Fund, 2011...................... $186,515.44
L.M.I. Grant (DOT)..................................................................................... $157,763.29

c. County Manager Comments.

CM Hanson said that the county is going to ask for funds to help with picking up litter and it is also available to citizens to pick up and return for organized pickups. There are also orange bags that can be left by the road for the county to pick up. Call the BOC office at 770-567-3406 to arrange pick up. There is a lot of progress and you can see places around the county where litter has been picked up. April is Pick Up Pike month. Dave Piper from Fun 101.1 out of Thomaston is going to record a Public Service Announcement to let people know about April being Pick Up Pike month.

We received two vans from the McIntosh Trail Council on Aging that are no longer being used due to downsizing of programs. Rhonda at the Senior Center said that they could use these vans for trips for seniors at the Pike County Senior Center.

The Sheriff advised that deputies have written several truck citations for trucks being on no thru truck roads. The county has also been dealing with a couple of trucking companies and have had cooperation in this once they know what we are doing to keep our roads in good shape.

ISO has been postponed until June. The fire chief has advised that we are ready.

Agribusiness tour took place today. He said that he enjoyed it and that they may do it again when more people can attend.

d. Commissioner Reports.

District 1 Tim Daniel said that he commended Anna Evans and PUP (Pick Up Pike) for the work that has been done. They are doing a great job picking up litter on our roads. He said that he has gotten a lot of road calls but hopefully the weather is about to turn better so we can begin work on them.

District 2 Tim Guy – none

District 3 Tommy Powers said that he has had one complaint about calcium chloride and asked if the County Manager can look at using this instead of so much gravel. He said that the weather has affected this and that Public Works is doing all that they can.

District 4 Jenkins said that he looked at the concession stand and that he is very impressed.

Chairman Briar Johnson invited everyone to come down tomorrow at 9 a.m. He also said that the Agricultural Tour today was great. They visited 12 farms and said that they are looking to do this on a bigger scale for later-maybe on a Saturday. He praised them for their work on this.

e. County Attorney Report to Commissioners.

County Attorney Rob Morton said that they have been working on intergovernmental agreements with municipalities as well as services that are being provided or duplicated and just working out details between all of the municipalities as each meeting is scheduled.

8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - none

9. NEW BUSINESS

a. PUBLIC HEARING: To receive public input on REZ-15-01 – Michael and Denise Kimbell, property owners and applicants, are requesting a re-zoning from C-3 (Heavy Commercial) to A-R (Agricultural-Residential) to resume sole residential use of the property. The subject property, located at 12864 U.S. Hwy. 19 North, has approximately 752 feet of frontage along the eastern side of U.S. Highway 19 and approximately 950 feet of frontage along the northern side of Pitts Lane. The property is located in Land Lot 69 of the 2nd District of Pike County, Georgia. The property consists of 6.32 acres and is further identified as Tax Map Parcel #075 090A.
Action: Discuss/Approve/Deny

This went before the Planning Commission on March 12. Former McNair property. Rezoned c3 in 2007 for a grading business. Bought in 2012 and it has been residential since then and they want to save money on taxes. Planning Commission said that their own recommendation to the BOC is that any future home occupation will need to come back before the county.

No one spoke.

Tommy Powers said that he has seen the property and made the motion to revert this property back to A-R to include the condition that any future home occupation come back before the county for approval. 5-0.

b. PUBLIC HEARING: To receive public input on SE-15-03 – Jason T. Scott, property owner and applicant, is requesting a special exception in an A-R zoned district to allow for a General Home Occupation (gunsmith / gun repair business) on the subject property. The property, located at 481 Misty Lane, has approximately 43 feet of frontage on the southern end of Misty Lane (private drive). The property is located in Land Lot 255 of the 1st District of Pike County, Georgia. The property consists of 13.85 acres and is further identified as Tax Map Parcel #053 008 D.
Action: Discuss/Approve/Deny

This went before the Board of Appeals on March 19. He wants to have a gun repair business by appointment only. He will not be selling guns but will only be making repairs. The BOA recommended approval annual business license shall be required, state and fed requirements met and meet the county’s sign ordinance.

No one spoke.

Commissioner Daniel said that he will be required to build a berm to test firearms, but it will not be a firing range that is open to the public and only used for his business to test firearms after repair. Motion to approve with conditions. Approved 5-0.

c. PUBLIC HEARING: To receive public input on the 1st Reading of the re-adoption of the Pike County Official Zoning Map.
Action: Discuss/Approve/Deny

Planning Commission on March 12. This is done every year and the map reflects the changes made in the map over the past year. Planning and Zoning Director named the specific zoning changes that the county has made over the past year by address and each of these changes are on the new map.

No one spoke.

Motion to approve the first reading. Discussion: County Attorney Rob Morton said that zoning code is different than the map because one involves ordinance and one involves adding parcels to the map. This is required per state law. Approved 5-0.

d. Consider three appointments to the Pike County Agribusiness Authority to fill a three-year term, set to expire March 31, 2018. Applicants have met criteria.

Ken Gran, Melissa Bottoms, and George Norris. All applicants met the criteria. These are all reappointments and there are no other applicants. Motion to approve Ken Gran. Approved 5-0. Motion to approve George Norris. Approved 5-0. Motion to approve Melissa Bottoms. Approved 5-0.

e. Consider paying for litter supplies $334.37 and litter signs with stands $1,032.28 for a total of $1,366.65 out of contingency.

Out of efforts to help with this campaign, we want to help with this. CM Hanson asked that this come out of contingency. Motion to pay for this out of contingency. 5-0.

10. PUBLIC COMMENT- (Limited to 5 minutes per person) – None

11. EXECUTIVE SESSION - None

12. ADJOURNMENT

Motion to adjourn at 7 p.m.

Agenda subject to revision.

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