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Tuesday, July 28, 2015 – 6:30 p.m.
Courthouse Annex, 79 Jackson Street, Zebulon, Georgia
All five commissioners were present including County Clerk Jo Ann Wrye to take the minutes, County Manager 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))
CM Hanson asked to add an Executive Session for Pending and Potential Litigation to be placed on the agenda prior to Unfinished Business and the discussion on the gun range. Motion to approve the agenda as amended. Approved 5-0.
5. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES - (O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1(e) (2))
a. Minutes of the July 8, 2015 Regular Monthly Meeting.
Approved 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 August. Revenue/Expenditure Statement and Detail Check Register is included.
A question was asked about the county’s current auditor and when the process will begin. CM Hanson advised that the auditors will be coming in around the end of August or beginning of September. He is pulling together a list of auditors with a potential RFP for proposals for next year that could result in a possible savings for the county.
b. County Manager Report
▫ Update on County finances for the following funds/accounts:
General Fund ............................................................................................ $1,949,018.18
Fire Dept. Donations........................................................................................ $1,881.08
Cash Reserve Account................................................................................. $500,210.35
Jail Fund ........................................................................................................ $20,414.98
E-911 Fund .................................................................................................... $18,767.90
DATE Fund ................................................................................................... $34,546.08
Juvenile Court Fund....................................................................................... $16,591.30
Residential Impact Fee ................................................................................ $285,026.29
Commercial Impact Fees ............................................................................... $13,446.85
C.A.I.P FUND............................................................................................... $11,277.23
General Obligation SPLOST Tax Bond Sinking Fund, 2011...................... $432,230.23
L.M.I. Grant (DOT)..................................................................................... $157,805.46
c. County Manager Comments.
CM Hanson commended Public Works for their work on McKinley Road. The ditches have been pulled and calcium chloride applied on the dirt side of McKinley Road, and they have been working in the heat to fix the paved side of McKinley Road. He said that work is discontinued at this time due to an equipment malfunction on the roller, but that Catapillar is working on this. He said that they have run into a lot of issues with debris from past work that was under the road and are removing it so this can be done right.
Chief O’Barr said that ISO contacted him and advised that they will visit the county on August 4, 2015. Click here to read an old article about ISO and find out what it's all about. Keep in mind that the article was written in 2011 so it is not up to date, but the information about what it is and how it affects your insurance rates is still good.
CM Hanson said that SPLOST revenues, compared to June of last year, are up nearly $10,000. He said that this is a good indication that the economy is doing better and that people are spending their money in Pike County.
d. Commissioner Reports.
Commissioner Daniel asked Hanson about work to be done at Hilltop. Last week, the county was contacted by citizens about work that needs to be done there. The county has improved signage out there, tree limbs have been trimmed back, and the City of Concord is going to talk with the county about other possible assistance. Georgia Power cut limbs back from the power lines there too.
Commissioner Guy commended our county employees for working out in the blistering heat on McKinley Road.
Commissioner Powers asked about the specs on the asphalt out there. Hanson said that it is up to DOT specs with a 2 ½ inch topping. He said it was about 3 or 4 inches but would be happy to find out and let the commissioners know the thickness of asphalt being laid on McKinley Road.
Commissioner Jenkins - None.
Chairman Johnson said that he wanted to thank CM Hanson Hanson, Planning and Zoning Director David Allen, County Clerk Jo Anne and the commissioners for all that they have done listening to citizens on both sides of the issue of the firing range and going out there on Friday as well as the citizens for taking the time to speak with them. Click here to read about the Special Called Meeting on Friday that was attended so Commissioners, the County Clerk, the County Manager, and the Planning and Zoning Director could hear what the gunfire would sound like from the range.
e. County Attorney Report to Commissioners.
Rob Morton passed out a draft agreement concerning Juvenile Court and Clerk of Superior Court Carolyn Williams. The state has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding for an electronic filing system with the courts which will allow the citizens, etc. to obtain records without coming to the courthouse. The user fees will generate revenue with a portion that goes back to Pike County to use the funds for future enhancement of the system. This motion allows a technology account to be opened with Hanson’s oversight for the specific purpose of holding user fees for future enhancement. Motion to approve signature of the contract. Approved 5-0.
Rob also said that they are also working with the Chief for mutual aid agreements. This will help with ISO.
Motion to go into Executive Session for Potential and Pending Litigation. 6:45 p.m.
Back into session at 7:01 p.m.
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Approve/Deny SE-15-08 – Steve Burge, Debbie Burge and Lawrence Burge, property owners, and applicants, are requesting a special exception in an A-R zoned district to allow for an outdoor, public shooting range (as a General Home Occupation). The subject property, located at 2734 Flat Shoals Road, has approximately 850 feet of frontage along the northern side of Flat Shoals Road. The property is located in Land Lot 247 of the 9th District of Pike County, Georgia. The property consists of 25.07 acres and is further identified as Tax Map Parcel #016 014.
Commissioner Jenkins began by saying that commissioners are elected officials who represent the citizens of Pike County. Furthermore, he feels that based on what he ran on is based on the majority of the citizens of Pike County. He then made a motion to deny this because it is against the regulations of our Zoning Code for a quiet residential and agricultural A-R zoned district, residences, timberland and a nearby church and said that it detrimental to the use or development of adjacent properties and/or general neighborhood. Commissioner Guy gave the second.
County Attorney Rob Morton said that the county received a range management plan (at the Special Called Meeting on Friday that you can read by clicking here) and that this is part of the record. He also said that other documents, emails, etc. received since the last regular meeting have also been made a part of the record.
Commissioner Guy said that his decision is based on the noise and the well-being of the community.
Commissioner Jenkins said that this was well planned and well organized from both sides, and it was a tough decision for all of the commissioners. He also said that commissioners went through all of the steps to reach the right decision for a majority of Pike County.
Commissioner Daniel clarified that Burge was not asking for a shooting range because he already has one, but that he was asking for a commercial shooting range. He said that they do represent the majority of the residents of the entire county and sometimes, contrary to personal feelings, they have to look at the feelings of the majority of residents of Pike County.
Commissioner Powers agreed. He said that he was the farthest away on Friday and he heard nothing and that made him uneasy and he would have felt a little better if he had heard something but he thought that he was too far out but was only a mile or a mile plus so he had to deny the request. Motion to deny. Denied 5-0.
9. NEW BUSINESS
a. Consider Request from Dwain Penn of Pike County Churches to use the south porch of the Courthouse and area around it for a Bible Reading Marathon on Monday, September 7, 2015 from 3 pm-10 p.m., September 8-12, 2015 from 7 am - 10 pm and September 13, 2015 from 2 pm - 10:00 pm.
Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
b. Approve/deny Proclamation for Bible Reading Marathon Week for Pike County.
County Attorney Rob Morton advised commissioners to proclaim this as Bible Reading Marathon Week for Pike County rather than signing the proclamation that was given to them. Motion to proclaim Bible Reading Marathon Week for Pike County. Approved 5-0.
c. Consider one appointment to the Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities Regional Planning Board for a three-year term, set to expire July 31, 2018. Applicant is currently on the Board and has met criteria.
Motion to approve Glenda King. Commissioner Daniel said that Mrs. Glenda really cares and is perfect person for this board.
d. Consider two appointments to the Pike County Board of Health for a six-year term, set to expire July 31, 2021. Applicants have met criteria.
Rodney Hilley and Lynn Vickers and Wanda Garner McCullough were the applicants. Hanson said that he has reviewed the applicants and recommended Hilley and Vickers. Motion to approve Hilley and Vickers. Approved 5-0.
e. PUBLIC HEARING – To receive public input regarding SE-15-09 – Ron Snowden, property owner
and applicant, is requesting a special exception in an A-R zoned district to allow for a trailer /camper
to be used on the subject property for temporary housing at a construction site (renovating an existing
home on the property). The subject property, located at 1052 Vega Road, has approximately 146 feet
of frontage along the southern side of Vega Road. The property is located in Land Lot 173 of the
8th District of Pike County, Georgia. The property consists of 0.5 acres and is further identified as
Tax Map Parcel #084 067.
ACTION: Discuss/Approve/Deny
Planning and Zoning Director David Allen said that he and his staff have recommended for approval with the usual conditions including having only one temporary mobile home or travel trailer, utilize the water and septic on the property, and if it is not finished in 12 months, there must be a renewal for another 12 months but no longer than 24 months total will be allowed. It went before the Board of Appeals on July 16th. There was no BOA recommendation because Snowden is a BOA member and he recused himself on a night when there was only 3 members which left 2 members and no majority so there is no recommendation from the BOA. No one spoke for or against. Motion to approve with the recommendations of the Board of Appeals. Approved 5-0.
f. PUBLIC HEARING – To receive public input regarding SE-15-10 – Randy and Michelle Corbin,
property owners and applicants, are requesting a special exception in an A-R zoned district to allow
for a General Home Occupation (seasonal / occasional sales of pine straw, rock, and dirt) on their
property. The subject property, located at 321 Oxford Circle, has approximately 178 feet of frontage
along the southeastern side of Oxford Circle. The property is located in Land Lot 109 of the 9th
District of Pike County, Georgia. The property consists of 10.75 acres and is further identified as Tax
Map Parcel #042 050.
ACTION: Discuss/Approve/Deny
Director Allen spoke again. Staff recommended approval with annual business license, go by our sign ordinance, vehicular use Highway 18 via the southern end of Oxford Circl only, and a screen of trees be planted. The Board of Appeals recommended this for approval with a no right turn sign on the driveway to alleviate concerns of a neighbor. No one spoke for or against this. Motion to approve with conditions. Approved 5-0.
g. Per Code Section 155.03 (A), the Board of Commissioners is requested to review and approve an alteration for a previously approved final plat portion off of Concord Road.
Director Allen said that there is an unbuildable lot with mostly a lake. This is a proposal to split this lot and add pieces of it to two other adjacent lots. This would not increase the number of lots but would make the current lots bigger. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
10. PUBLIC COMMENT- (Limited to 5 minutes per person) - None
11. EXECUTIVE SESSION - None
12. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn. 7:20 p.m.
Agenda subject to revision.
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