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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REGULAR BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MONTHLY MEETING
April 25, 2017 – 6:30 p.m.
Courthouse, Main Courtroom, 16001 Barnesville Street, Zebulon, Georgia
Courthouse Doors on East/South Sides open at 6:00 p.m.
Town Hall Meeting at 6:15 p.m.

www.pikecoga.com/novusagenda has a download of the agenda and accompanying information for this meeting. This includes items listed on the agenda such as the Medical First Reponse License and the property being decided on Bottoms Road. 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.

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

All commissioners are present except for James Jenkins, County Clerk Jo Ann Wrye is present to take the minutes, County Manager (CM) John Hanson, and County Attorney Rob Morton.

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))

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

a. Minutes of the April 12, 2017 Regular Monthly Meeting.

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

b. County Manager Report


Update on County finances for the following funds/accounts:
General Fund ............................................................................................ $2,674,493.06
Fire Dept. Donations ........................................................................................ $4,775.82
BOC – Jury Account………………………………………………………………$0.00
Cash Reserve Account ........................................................................ ….....$506,154.11
Pike County CD Special Revenue funds………………………………………….$0.00
Jail Fund ........................................................................................................ $17,574.40
E-911 Fund .................................................................................................... $25,498.61
DATE Fund ................................................................................................... $44,001.16
Juvenile Court Fund ....................................................................................... $12,436.84
Residential Impact Fee ................................................................................ $410,932.84
Commercial Impact Fees ............................................................................... $26,283.78
C.A.I.P FUND ............................................................................................... $18,011.50
General Obligation SPLOST Tax Bond Sinking Fund, 2011 ...................... $661,177.46
L.M.I. Grant (DOT) ..................................................................................... $577,372.62

c. County Manager Comment

The following is from the County Manager Report that is presented to commissioners prior to each meeting.

MSI Benefits (our current broker who has been our broker as long as Tommy Powers has been commissioner and that has been a pretty long time) has delivered Blue Cross Blue Shield's proposal for Pike County. It is a 17.33% increase and it is the second year in a row for increases for our county. CM Hanson actually called it an "unfavorable renewal" in his notes. According to CM Hanson, our paid claims were at 82% of premium which is higher than market value for what most insurance company's like, but it is still at a "respectable level considering that paid claims were above 100% last year." He urged commissioners to make a change but noted that this will not guarantee that we will get a better renewal price this year. However, we don't have anything to lose by changing this year. He said that he reviewed the bids from MSI Benefits Inc, Georgia Health Coverage, and BB&T Insurance Services, and he recommended going with BB&T Insurance Services.

The package sales item has been added at the request of a local business that would like to expand their services to include package sales. He advised that this is not a vote for or against package sales, but it is a vote to allow or deny that it be placed on a referendum before the voters of the county. [Note from the Editor: I have an opinion on actions like this, and I have spoken loudly about the State of Georgia putting everything on a referendum instead of voting on it themselves. This is what we elect commissioners for (and the same goes for our state congressmen and senators), but I understand why it would be easy to justify putting this before the people. I'm not being ugly about it, but that is just how government seems to work these days.]

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) notified the county that it has finished the study of the speed reduction request at Hollonville and Concord Roads. They have recommended to leave the speed zones as they are now. GDOT advised that the county could reduce the speed limit anyway, but that will remove the ability to use radar at this intersection for violation of speed therefore eliminating the ability to enforce a new speed limit.

Williamson-Zebulon Road: The City of Zebulon is in the process of applying for "Off System Safety" LMIG funding from the State of Georgia for widening Williamson-Zebulon Road from County Farm to the City Limits. They are also applying for resurfacing for the road from Hwy 19 to the city limits. This would make the road consistent from Hwy 19 to Hwy 362. The City of Zebulon has asked the county if we can help with the labor on the project, and Public Works Director Todd Goolsby estimated the cost of materials and labor and indicated that the county can handle the labor for resurfacing. This will county toward the City's additional LMIG and not the county. He said that GDOT likes cities and the county working together. End of County Manager Report.

a. Consideration of changing Agent of Record appointment for health insurance benefits.

CM Hanson said that he sent a report on insurance. MSI Benefits has 17.33% renewal with BCBS. Options are to take this and add $3,000 to $4,000 with this. John said that they have done a good job over the years, but he wants the most bang for our buck. We have received 5 RFP’s from companies. He recommends that we confirm with BB&T. He thinks that they will go to bat for us. Up until now, it has been us taking whatever was given to us and we really didn’t have a way to get lower amounts once they were given to us. BB&T will come and make a presentation. He asked for a motion on this to allow him to sign for this. They are in Fayetteville. This will go into effect tomorrow. They will work on renewal and go shopping for the best deal for us. We are part of the ACCG pool, but we are marketable on our own. We are looking for an agent of record to fight for a lower cost for us. We aren’t letting go of what we have, but we are looking for a lower price if it is possible. Tommy Powers made the motion to go with BB&T. Approved 4-0.

Hollonville-Zebulon and Concord Road DOT study has been conducted. We asked the DOT to a study out there on the speed limit. They make a recommendation to leave it the same. Do we want to lower it anyway? If so, there will be no radar capabilities there. The county and state troopers both give tickets out there. What do commissioners want to do? He also made the recommendation that we designate this a school zone in front of CrossPointe. He said that we need protect the students out there.

Tim Daniel said that if this becomes a school zone, will it change how the DOT looks at this area? CM Hanson said that he pointed out that this was a school, but said that he will put this question to the DOT. John said that there are ways to enforce this without radar if needed. Radar is the most definitive way to issue tickets.

Rob Morton said that there are specific roads designated for radar. This portion of the road will no longer to authorized for radar by law enforcement if the BOC changes the speed limit without their recommendation. Pacing or other tracking could still be used if they want to reduce the speed out there. However, we can do this as a First Reading for the designation of a school zone that will automatically have a reduced speed at this one section and not take away radar capability.

This area in Hollonville is congested already and they are looking at moving an elementary school out there too so this problem is not going away. Timmy Daniel asked about speed reductions with school zones. Rob said that we should be able to reduce it for a school zone without losing radar capability. Rob recommended conferring with the DOT to confirm that this will not affect our radar license there.

Motion to consider this for a First Reading for a proposed ordinance for a school zone area in front of Crosspointe so we can implement a speed reduction in that area. Daniel, Powers. Approved 4-0.

Discussion about Williamson-Zebulon Road with the City of Zebulon. They are asking for help to widen County Farm Road to the City Limits. This would be continuous width for the entire road. They are going to apply for additional LMIG dollars from the state as well.

d. Commissioner Reports

Commissioner Tim Guy asked about Jonathan’s Roost Road. It started last week and is coming along well. Barnstormers and neighbors are working with the county to allow dirt and equipment to be stored there. We are working a section between each driveway and hopefully be done in about a month.

Shortcut Road has brought him a couple of calls and people are asking if there are going to be other patching out there. CM Hanson said that there is still a lot of patching all over the county. We are working in Concord and in Zebulon and looking at zipping sections of road if needed throughout the county. This is what the remaining SPLOST dollars are for. This is for patching potholes but not widening.

Commissioner Powers asked about the section of New Hope Road that has broken apart on the edge in a couple of places. He was advised that this base failure from prior to the contractor coming in on the road. The county will be taking care of the problem.

Chairman Briar Johnson asked for prayers for EMA Director Jimmy Totten after his motorcycle wreck.

He also read a note about Lt. Oxford. He told of his return to Pike County June 8 through June 11. The American Legion is asking for people to line the streets. Also asking for help to tie yellow ribbons along the route. Click here to read more about this event that has been 73 years in the making.

e. County Attorney Report to Commissioners.

None.

8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

First Reading was at the previous meeting. County Attorney Rob Morton asked for a approval on this. Motion to approve. Powers, Guy. Approved 4-0.

a. Approve/deny 2nd Reading of the Credit Card Policy.

9. NEW BUSINESS

a. Consider a referendum to allow for package sales.

. CM Hanson said that a local business has asked about the possibility of package sales at their facility. A referendum could be brought before the people to decide on this if they choose. Beer and wine sales are already allowed but this would be distilled spirits.

County Attorney Rob Morton said that this would be an ok to allow the county manager and county attorney to investigate this and bring the information back to the commissioners. It is a complicated section of Georgia Code.

Motion to allow the County Manager and County Attorney to investigate this. Powers, Daniel. Approved 4-0.

b. Receive sealed bids for Sheriff’s multi-purpose training facility.

Brandon Rogers has worked diligently with the Sheriff’s Office on this. The bids will be opened and taken to Brandon for review.

1) Stone and Sons Construction out of Lifsey Springs - $113,600
2) McLeroy Inc - $197,193
3) UWS (United Walls Systems) LLC out of Buford - $149,145

Motion to accept the bids for review. Daniel, Guy.

c. Receive sealed bids for 2017 LMIG Road Project.

2017 LMIG projects were put out for bid. East Milner and Chapel Hill Road only. Pike County Public Works is doing Wilder and Howell Roads so those are not part of this bid.

1) Blount Construction - $506,241.18 (They did Williamson-Zebulon Road)
2) CW Mathews - $481,320 (They did all of our SPLOST projects including New Hope and Kings Bridge Road.)

Motion to accept the bids for review. These won’t be worked on until fall, but we need to put them into the budget. Approved 4-0.

d. Approve/deny Tax Refund Application from Vannie Holt.

The property was taxed for a longer period of time than the three years that the $363 that county can refund. Motion to refund. Approved 4-0.

10. PUBLIC COMMENT- (Limited to 5 minutes per person)

a. Boy Scouts to address the Board to discuss parts of the meeting as part of their merit badge.

No one was present for this, but it may have been because there was another meeting going on in the county at the same time as ours that may have overlapped.

11. EXECUTIVE SESSION - None

12. ADJOURNMENT

Motion to adjourn. 7:16 p.m.

Agenda subject to revision.

[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.]

4.29.15
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