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
 
Online
Welcome to Pike County Times.com

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.

If you enjoy reading Pike County Times, consider buying an advertisement for your business or sending a donation to support the only free online newspaper in Pike County. Donations can be sent to: The Pike County Times, PO Box 843, Zebulon, Georgia 30295. Click here to donate through PayPal. Thanks for supporting Pike County Times.com!

 
 
REGULAR BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MONTHLY MEETING AGENDA
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 – 9:00 a.m.
Courthouse, Main Courtroom, 16001 Barnesville Street, Zebulon, Georgia

www.pikecoga.com/novusagenda has a download of the 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.

All five commissioners were present along with County Attorney Rob Morton, County Manager (CM) Bobby Bickley, and County Clerk Angela Blount.

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

2. INVOCATION…………………………………………………………………………….…Bart Brock

3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ................................................................... Chairman J. Briar Johnson

4. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA - (O.C.G A. § 50-14-1 (e) (1))

Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.

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

a. Minutes of the March 28, 2019 Special Called Meeting.

b. Minutes of the March 28, 2019 Regular Monthly Meeting.

Motion to approve on both. Approved 5-0.

6. INVITED GUESTS

a. Employee Recognition for service to Pike County.

Virginia Blakeney

Ginny was recognized for 5 years of service to the county. CM Bickley called her a go-getter and said that she has the county at heart. Chairman Briar Johnson said that he is on the IDA Board with Ginny and praised her thoroughness when she is asked to pull together information. Both thanked Ginny for her service to the county.

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.

b. County Manager Report

Update on County finances for the following funds/accounts:
General Fund ........................................................................................ …$2,580,039.88
Fire Dept. Donations ........................................................................................ $6,179.05
BOC – Jury Account………………………………………………………….…..$0.00
Cash Reserve Account ........................................................................ ….....$107,311.82
Pike County CD Special Revenue funds………………………………………….$0.00
Jail Fund ........................................................................................................ $36,871.02
E-911 Fund .................................................................................................. $290,117.35
DATE Fund ................................................................................................... $49,757.46
Juvenile Court Fund ....................................................................................... $10,379.14
Residential Impact Fee ............................................................................... $ 682,456.87
Commercial Impact Fees ............................................................................... $79,290.09
C.A.I.P FUND ............................................................................................. $183,210.34
General Obligation SPLOST Tax Bond Sinking Fund, 2016 ................. ..$1,115,655.63
L.M.IG. Grant (DOT)……………………………………………………….$67,342.98

c. County Manager Comment

Open enrollment will be June 13 and June 14 at the County Commission Office.

Employee appreciation will be on June 27 from 12-1 p.m.

The City of Zebulon invited commissioners to attend the Senior City in the Park Day on Friday.

Congratulations to the Pike County Baseball Team for winning the State Playoffs. Hwy. 18 and 19 both have signs to commemmorate their achievement.

Public Works is still working on calls about damage from the recent rains. They are working diligently to handle every call. Mountain View will be closed for another two weeks where two old culverts have rusted out and will need to be replaced.

d. Commissioner Reports

Briar said that he got a call about a leak in the courthouse. CM says it is an ongoing issue. This was included to be fixed with the painting of the courthouse contract.

e. County Attorney Report to Commissioners.

County Attorney said that City of Zebulon approved a memorandum of understanding with the Pike County Water Authority and the City. The water purchase agreement that expired last September. It was approved last night at the Council meeting and approved by Water Authority on Monday.

8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None

9. NEW BUSINESS

a. Approve/deny one appointment to the West Georgia Region 4 EMS Council to fill an unexpired two-year term, set to expire June 30, 2020. Applicant has met criteria.

Former County Manager John Hanson who now works for Grady Ambulance was present. Paul Beamon held this position before but is no longer with Grady. This position is normally held by someone from EMS in our county. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.

b. Approve/deny one appointment to the Pike County Water & Sewer Authority Board to fill an unexpired five-year term, set to expire December 31, 2022. Applicant has met criteria.

Charles Duff has lived here since 2015 and has served with Fayette County FD as the Lt. there. Recommended by CM. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.

c. Approve/deny request from Todd Goolsby for the purchase of a 2007 Chevrolet 3500 Crew Cab truck for the Road Department from Impact Fees. The amount requested is $8500.00.

Did research and feel like this a good deal for this truck. $15,000 value. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.

d. Approve/deny road closure of Twin Oaks Road from the intersection with County Farm Road to just north of Soccer Complex Entrance on Saturday, June 29, 2019 from 2:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m for the 2019 Pride of Pike Independence Day Celebration.

This is an annual celebration for 4th of July. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.

e. Consider Tax Refund/Relief Application from Matthew Carlton Westbrook in the amount of $1,157.18.

Greg Hobbes explained this. Another veteran with 100% combat disability. Applied for regular homestead which received 2016-2019. Refund 2017-2019. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.

f. Approve/deny External Audit Services.

CM Bickley said that we have sent out an RFP on this for 3 years and received 2 quotes. Clifton, Hardison, & Parker was who we were with. We never heard back from them even though the CM advised them that this would be happening prior to sending out the RFP.

Mauldin and Jenkins - $72,100 per year. Driver and Adams - $36,880 per year. $110,640 total for three years. This is only $9,000 more than we’ve been paying now.

He recommended that Driver and Adams be hired for the next three years. Out of Upson County but there is a Pike County office here. Many years of experience including county and city audits for over 40 years. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.

g. Discussion of Animal Control Donation.

This is something that has been ongoing since he came into office. They have offered to donate $250,000 for an animal control facility. This could be costly to the county and has not been something that we considered in the past, but we are headed in a direction where this will be needed. He visited Upson and Lamar and their annual price tag runs around $200,000 to $300,000. Currently paying $70,000 for vicious dogs only. We can build this without going into a full blown animal control facility in the beginning and this will be needed in the future.

Briar gave some history. Briar met with them as John Hanson was leaving. He advised waiting and working with the new county manager. He said that based on Tanya Perkins’ call volume, it will be needed at some point. We have to give an answer by September and would have the check by December. The only change will be the difference in the facility right now. This would replaced the mobile home/office that we have now. This would need to be approved by the family trust. The money normally goes to Zoo Atlanta.

This would fit the footprint that we have now and would be similar to Spalding County. This needs to be something that is here so we can grow into it. Tim said that he thinks it would be a great opportunity for our county. Chris agreed and said definitely if we are going to have to do this anyway. Tommy asked about restrictions on the money. None. We would have to spend it all with nothing left over. Next step after approval would be to research cost. Rob said that stipulations is the October 15 comprehensive architectural plan for the facility which would include engineering cost to the county.

Motion to postpone it until we have more numbers. 2nd. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.

You can read, "BREAKING NEWS: Large Donation to Help Pike County's Animal Control Facility" by clicking here.

10. PUBLIC COMMENT - None

11. EXECUTIVE SESSION

12. ADJOURNMENT

Motion to adjourn. 9:32 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.]

Submitted 6.8.19
Top