Pike County Times

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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
Wednesday, April 13, 2022 – 9:00 a.m.
Courthouse, Main Courtroom, 16001 Barnesville Street, Zebulon, Georgia
Town Hall Meeting at 8:45 a.m.

https://pike.novusagenda.com/AgendaPublic/meetingsresponsive.aspx 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.

1. CALL TO ORDER ................................................................................ ....Chairman J. Briar Johnson

All 5 commissioners, County Clerk, County Attorney, County Manager.

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 29, 2022, Regular Monthly Meeting.
b. Minutes of the March 29, 2022, Executive Session.
c. Minutes of the April 5, 2022, Special Called Meeting – Department Head Retreat.
d. Minutes of the April 5, 2022, Executive Session.

Approved all minutes at once. Approved 5-0.

e. Minutes of the April 5, 2022, Special Called Meeting – Executive Session only.

6. INVITED GUEST

a. Employees to be recognized for years of service.
Rose Marie Fields

Rose Marie Fields. CM Rogers commended his Mom for her 10 years of service. She started out part-time and is now part-time. Tax Commissioner Donna Chapman said that Rose takes pride in her work and is dependable. She is always there for me. She's known and loved by many in our county, and Pike County is very fortunate to have her.

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.
Discuss/Approve/Deny

Motion to approve reports. Approve 5-0.

b. County Manager Report
Update on County finances for the following funds/accounts:
General Fund ........................................................................................ …$5,862,736.27
Fire Dept. Donations ........................................................................................ $7,520.54
Cash Reserve Account ....................................................................... …......$366,746.66
Jail Fund ........................................................................................................ $32,668.66
E-911 Fund .................................................................................................. $335,972.52
DATE Fund ................................................................................................... $39,491.89
Juvenile Court Fund ....................................................................................... $12,384.06
Residential Impact Fee ............................................................................. $1,336,593.95
Commercial Impact Fees ............................................................................. $168,234.53
C.A.I.P FUND ............................................................................................... $37,855.84
General Obligation SPLOST Tax Bond Sinking Fund, 2016 ................. ..$1,344,124.41
L.M.IG. Grant (DOT)………………………………….…………………..$531,043.94

c. County Manager Comment

Hoped that the sound system would be prepared by now, but this parts are on back order. Followed up this week but don't have a definite date.

Office will be closed on Friday.

Employee Appreciation Day is May 20 from 11-3.

Reminder to everyone about the May 24 vote for the SPLOST. Roads for the county and water infrastructure of the cities because the cities have already worked on their roads.

The May election is coming and there is a SPLOST vote on it. Mainly roads with some water projects for the cities that have already worked on their roads. There is an estimated $25 million for roads on this list. We are antipating being able to get a bond to do everything on the list at one time. There is a primary and alternate list. Some of the roads that are being considered include gravel part of Roberts Quarters, Blanton Mill, Wood Creek, McKinley Road, and Shady Lane. 2016 SPLOST roads have been completed. Most were just resurfaced. Additional funding has been used on roads. This began with John Hanson on a list that went out to 2030. Almost completed that entire list. We should finish it out by 2024 so we're ahead of schedule. This is continuing the one cents sales tax for our county and will NOT add any other taxes other than what we are paying now. Click here to see SPLOST Expenditures to date.

d. Commissioner Reports

Commissioner Tim Guy said that there was a call again about the speed bumps and water problems out at Hilltop. He just wanted it on the record that the county is already working on this. 2nd Street Circle problem has been looked at and this will get repaired as well. Rogers talked to Goolsby about a home that doesn't have ditching and finish this at Owens Road.

Commissioner James Jenkins said that the Road Department has done a great job on Woodard Road. It will be finished up to that last house to make sure that there aren't any issues there. Also mentioned cracking in the road at Hutchinson Farms.

Chairman Briar Johnson thanked the department heads for their help on the Budget Meeting last week. Said that he rode in Hill Top for about an hour. There are two sets of speed bumps out there. He commended the work on the roads and said that we are looking at 18 sets of speed bumps and said that was a little much for emergency vehicles like fire trucks. Every 50 feet may be too much.

He also said that based on what we heard at the retreat, it was asked about including elected officials on the retirement plan. The county can do a cost assessment on this for elected officials to pay for their own. We could add them by department if we choose to do this. This could be included in a cost analysis so we can look at it. He feels like we need to take care of our constitutional officers. Asked for a motion to get this started. This will be examined and approved at a later time if the county wants to move forward. Motion for the County Manager to move forward on this process with Ryan Reynolds from ACCG. Approved 5-0.

e. County Attorney Report to Commissioners

Morton said that the only additional issues since the retreat are open records that are comprehensive. His office has been working on Pike County violations, arraignment today, and trials next week. He encouraged people to get out and vote on May 24. He said that the commissioners can't promote the SPLOST, but they can educate and encourage folks to vote.

8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - NONE

9. NEW BUSINESS

a. Consider one appointment to the Pike County Board of Tax Assessors to fill an expired six-year term, set to expire April 14, 2028. Applicant has met criteria.

Stuart Gregg from Concord and Lyn Smith of Molena. CM Rogers said that he wished that we had two spots. Said either one would be an excellent candidate. The Board recommended Stuaart Gregg. Rogers recommended Smith. Commissioner Guy recommended Mr. Lyn Smith. Approved 5-0.

b. Approve/deny Memorandum of Understanding between The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension and Pike County.

This is a current agreement that needs to be renewed. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.

c. Approve/deny Agreement for Probation Services between Pike County Board of Commissioners and Community Supervision Services, LLC.

This is a current agreement that needs to be renewed. It has been renewed by Superior Court and needs to be renewed every 5 years. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.

d. Approve/deny use of Administrative Impact Fees for the purchase of the County Server.

We have 2 servers at end of life and 2 more approaching that. 5 total. 1 was replaced in the Tax Assessor's Office. This would combine all the servers into 1. He proposed to use the administrative fees from the Impact Fees to pay for this. Motion to approve. Discussion. It was about $44,000 before and the additional 23,000 was to have it installed and swap email. G Sweep will no longer be free in June and July. Trying to get everything swapped over. There was a $23,000 labor charge, but Wired talked with him and were able to have this all inclusive so there is no separate charge. Approved 5-0.

e. Approve/deny SUB-22-03 – John E Cadenhead, owner/applicant is requesting a revised final plat approval. Property Location: Lot 1 of McKinley Estates on McKinley Road. No addresses have been assigned to the lot in question. Th lot is further defined as Parcel ID 078 001 AA and is in the Land Lot 193 of the 8th Land District of Pike County. Commission District 1, Tim Daniel. FEMA Data: Does not lie within a flood zone.

Planning and Development Director Jeremy Gilbert advised that this is a minor change to a major subdivision. If increasing the number of lots, it has to go back before the board. Splitting Lot 1 into 2 lots. It meets all of the county requirements. It was approved in 1999. This would be 6 lots in this approved subdivision. Staff recommends approval. 3 acre and 7 1/2 acre tract. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.

f. County Manager to present the FY 2022-2023 Budget to the Board of Commissioners.

The Clerk put together the packets. The first page is the summary. We are seeing increases throughout every department. We cannot function with what we have. Gas and supplies and personnel are costing more and more. There is $183,00 for raises. Most of that was something is stuff that we couldn't wait on. They are working within their budgets already. Big increase in the retirement plan is showing in the Board of Commissioners with $350,000 of that for retirement. Besides Public Works, Sheriff's Office is increasing. Fuel is huge for both. Fire Dept is increasing for paying part-time for fire fighters in the station 12 hours each day so trucks can move quickly. Agribusiness is up $65,000 due to grant for expansion for grandstand, etc. They are trying to get to a point that they will be self-sufficient.

Discussion: Fire Department part-time coverage in fire stations. This will cover two 12 hour positions with a 3rd position once a month if needed like the 4th of July parade if there is an emergency and to help prepare inspections. This is part-timers so not work more than 32 hours a week. 10 to 12 people to rotate these 12 hour shifts.

Revenues increased just under a million dollars. We anticipate the same this year. Looking at fee changes and permit changes. These will help shrink the gap with Planning and Zoning between costs and what is being brought in from Planning and Zoning.

Motion to accept the budget. Approved 5-0.

10. PUBLIC COMMENT

a. Parrish Swift to address the Board regarding water runoff from the Lifsey Springs Fire Department.

Rogers spoke with Mr. Swift yesterday, and Swift advised that he could not be here today. He may come at a future meeting.

11. EXECUTIVE SESSION.

9:41 a.m.

a. Chairman Briar Johnson requests Executive Session for discussion or deliberation on the appointment, employment, compensation, hiring, disciplinary action or dismissal, or periodic evaluation or rating of a public officer or employee or interviewing applicants for the position of the executive head of an agency, as provided in O.C.G.A. § 50-14-3(b)(2), germane to personnel.

Back in session. 10:23 a.m.

12. ADJOURNMENT

Agenda subject to revision.

Motion to adjourn. 10:23 a.m.

[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.]

4.15.22
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