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Wednesday, August 10, 2016 at 9 a.m.
Courthouse Annex, 79 Jackson Street, Zebulon, Georgia
All five commissioners are present including County Clerk Jo Ann Wrye, County Manager (CM) John Hanson, and County Attorneys Rob and Tom Morton.
Here are items from the County Manager's Report that caught my attention.
The 2016 SPLOST is mentioned briefly as is compliments to Public Works for cutting down the hill on Old Zebulon Road. Our road crew is making good progress with patching. They should be done with Old Zebulon Road by the middle of next week. The hill that was once used for jumping cars--and the blind spot for left turns that often ended up in wrecks--has been reduced by several feet. The remaining roads that need patching are Flat Shoals, Shepherd and New Hope Road. The county is still discussion the widening of Kings Bridge Road. He said that the county will delay resurfacing on that road until there is money to widen the road. After patching is completed for resurfacing, the crew will then begin hitting problem areas around the county. He said that construction on Jonathan's Roost Road should begin around September 1st. The county will be doing this work.
CM Hanson recommended that commissioners accept this portion of the road from the existin county owned Watering Hole Pass to the edge of the dam where the pavement begins. He said that this portion would be considered as a county road and maintained as a gravel surface right now. He also recommended creating a cul-de-sac turn around and providing signage that shows where the county maintained road ends with the property owner providing any further signage beyond that point. He said that if we do not accept the property, we will still need to provide signage at the end of the already existing right of way.
He advised commissioners that Butts and Spalding Counties are applying for a Joint Employment Incentive Program (EIP) grant application for water and sewer improvements to serve Dollar General's new Southeastern Distribution Facility in Butts and Spalding Counties. They need a support letter from commissioners for this application. He said that this will show our county's support for economic development efforts in our region and that 100 new jobs are being created.
Bat removal has been completed Click here to read my article about it. Here is the update. Both National Environmental Solutions, Inc. (NESI) and ServPro were engaged to assist with the remaining problems of odor removal and air quality testing. An air quality test by NESI on Thursday was for both fungal and bacteria. Test results will include a final report with lab data, photographs, moisture readings, temperature and relative humidity readings as well as recommendations for remediation and cleaning if they are needed. ServPro will be conducting the odor removal process by applying a fogging procedure in the building this weekend. The scent will linger for several days but according to ServPro, should not hinder regular business on Monday morning. Test results will be received in 7-10 days. "These are precautionary measures to make sure we have the best possible environment in the courthouse," he said.
1. CALL TO ORDER .................................................................................... Chairman J. Briar Johnson
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 July 26, 2016 Regular Monthly Meeting.
6. INVITED GUESTS
a. Employees to be recognized for their service to Pike County.
Vera Hammonds – Superior Court – 15 years
Vera Hammond from Superior Court has been with the county for 15 years. Vera was not at the meeting. CM Hanson will make sure that she receives her pin and certificate and will offer to award her at a later meeting if she would like.
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 ............................................................................................... $518,908.33
Fire Dept. Donations ........................................................................................ $3,944.21
BOC – Jury Account………………………………………………………………$0.00
Cash Reserve Account ..................................................................................... $3,646.07
Pike County CD Special Revenue funds………………………………...$1,000,000.00
Jail Fund ........................................................................................................ $19,025.64
E-911 Fund .................................................................................................... $33,682.21
DATE Fund ................................................................................................... $39,326.88
Juvenile Court Fund ....................................................................................... $14,486.42
Residential Impact Fee ................................................................................ $332,458.40
Commercial Impact Fees ............................................................................... $19,357.79
C.A.I.P FUND ................................................................................................. $7,093.28
General Obligation SPLOST Tax Bond Sinking Fund, 2011 ...................... $262,851.20
L.M.I. Grant (DOT) ..................................................................................... $402,304.04
c. County Manager Comment
CCW Mathews has moved in their equipment to start paving the roads, but the rain is putting a damper on things. They will start on Patton, move to Gresham, and then go to Old Zebulon. After that, they will go to Concord and Molena to then end on New Hope Road. Patching has been ongoing and is quite a few miles ahead of them.
The day after the next meeting, commissioners will be attending classes begin at 8 a.m. for a Leadership Conference that is 4½ hours from here. He recommended canceling the September 27th meeting. There can be a Special Called Meeting if needed. Motion to cancel that meeting. Approved 5-0.
The old SPLOST was $7,000 ahead in collections when it ended. Last month was $5,000 above this same time period last year. He said that our estimates were conservative for the new SPLOST so this could result in more money than is expected from our estimates. There is no limit on how much an be collected in this SPLOST.
Big Chic is about ready to start building here in Zebulon.
Tourism group has done a study and will be doing the presentation at 6 p.m. tomorrow night in the Zebulon City Hall. He said that the county appreciates the state doing this study. [Note from the Editor: This meeting has already occurred.]
d. Commissioner Reports
Commissioner Daniel said that he is getting a lot of compliments for Public Works cutting down the road on Old Zebulon Road. CM Hanson said that we almost had a near death last year there and there have been a lot of wrecks there over the years. It used to be a jumping hill. The residents are constantly thanking us and our guys did an excellent job. He reiterated Commissioner Daniel's compliments. Click here to see pictures of the work on Old Zebulon Road.
Chairman Johnson reminded everyone about the Prayer Walk on Saturday August 20th at 9 a.m. in front of the PreK building.
e. County Attorney Report to Commissioners.
Hazard Mitigation related to the landfill is still ongoing. Hopefully the 50 year title search will help the county get reimbursement on this.
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Approve/deny Second Reading of Text Amendment to the Pike County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 156, Zoning Code, Section 156.26, relative to possible Zoning Administrator approval for certain proposed uses not fully meeting certain standards of the zoning districts in which they are located.
This was presented at the last meeting. A second option was added today with any variance being placed on the County Manager report so the commissioners would know what is going on. County Attorney Rob Morton said that under our current code, there is also a right to appeal any zoning decision within 30 days. Motion to approve with this option added. Discussion: Chairman Johnson asked if this would apply to the job description and not just the current administrator. Approved 5-0.
b. Approve/deny acceptance of a portion of property/Watering Hole Pass.
Think that we can maintain this at a low cost and can establish a clear barrier of county and private property. There will be clear boundaries for tickets, etc. for those crossing the dam. Motion to approve with a 2nd. [Note from the Editor: This was discussed in the July morning meeting. Click here to read my notes from that meeting.]
A citizen asked to speak. Motion to allow the citizen to speak. Approved 5-0. Steve Whitworth is a resident of Ranchland Estates and been there since 1994. He said that the traffic count has increased to 40 and 50 since residents have been maintaining that area. There was supposed to be a road accessing phase 3 because the dam was not supposed to be a road, and that there was a lot cut into a road that made a thoroughfare from 362 to Reidsboro. He said that the dam was damaged in 1994 and had to be repaired and that it is deteriorating. It will be the responsibility of the neighborhood to fix.
He said that commissioners are going on one or two people’s requests to make things easier for them. He has suggested putting an electric gate up with a fob so residents could get through without getting out of their cars. He said that we don’t need to do anything until this dam is made impassable and that fixing the road is going to make this road accessible and everyone will be going through there. He thinks that the neighborhoods and the developer should get together to discuss this rather than the commissioners doing anything with this. Commissioner Guy asked if he thought that the parties would be able to get together to discuss this. Mr. Whitworth said that he thought that was how it ought to be and that he doesn't have a problem with road improvements if a is a gate in place, but the dam is a problem.
There was a little back and forth between Mr. Whitworth and one of the commissioners that prompted a point of order from County Attorney Rob Morton. He said Mr. Whitworth has been allowed to speak but there will be no debate between commissioners and Mr. Whitworth.
Commissioner Jenkins said that at no point has the county said that they want to create a passable road over the dam. Commissioner Guy said that they are making this passable up to the dam but not over the dam and residents can still put up a gate. CM Hanson said that the developer needs to be involved and that he would be happy to speak with him if needed. He also pointed out that this won’t be done any time soon.
County Attorney Rob Morton clarified that the county already has possession of the road up to a point and that all we are talking about is an extension with clearing the county’s current road. He said that this has nothing to do with the dam, but that this has been a problem with people and buses and has been discussed publicly for months including public notices. There is at least one property owner who will not have access to get out at all if the dam collapses so fixing this part of the road will help him as well.
Chairman Johnson said that he has had 5 landowners call him against this. He said that if we improve this road without a gate on the dam, it will bring up the traffic count.
The motion to approve was repeated for the record. Jenkins, Guy. 4-1 with Chairman Johnson opposed.
9. NEW BUSINESS
a. Consider two appointments to the J. Joel Library Board to fill a three-year term set to expire August 31, 2019. Applicants meet criteria.
Rhonda Morgan and Wadra McCullough. The Board has requested their reappointments. Motion to approve both applicants. Approved 5-0.
b. Approve/deny request from Rosemary Bunn, Manager of the J. Joel Library, to pay for the new library furniture out of Library Impact Fees.
Their request is for $18,381.68. $6,000 has already been approved. Commissioners need to approve the remaining amount. This is under a state pricing contract. Commissioner Guy asked about the furniture being purchased, do the receipts go to their Board or to us? CM Hanson said that they show the invoice to the county and the county pays out of the SPLOST. Motion to approve and 2nd.
Discussion: County Attorney Rob Morton clarified that the Library has been allotted a certain amount of Impact Fees and that this qualifies according to the criteria. He also said that this money is there to be spent. [Note from the Editor: The CM Report notes that there is $26,740 in their Impact Fee account prior to this approval.] Approved 5-0.
c. Approve/deny permit fee refund for Donald Lewis of Saddle Lake Drive, Permit No. 2016-04-086.
No inspections were done and no building has been done. County Zoning Administrator has verified this. Motion to refund these fees. Approved 5-0.
d. Approve/deny 2016/2017 Budget Amendment and Resolution.
CM Hanson said that we made an estimate on the digest. As we went through the process, we would have had a millage rate increase so we went back and adjusted the budget with a 5 year history of revenues. The ad valorem change is adjusting our digest. Here are the recommended adjustments to revenues and expenditures. We have Impact Fees if we need to repair culverts, etc. Jonathan’s Roost Road will have changes by the county and we want to do the same with Shepherd’s Road. This will allow us to set the millage rate and set it around the next meeting date. This has to be done by September 1st. There will be a slight decrease in the millage rate. It was clarified that the county has nothing to do with the millage rate that deals with the schools—which will have an increase.
County Attorney Tom Morton said that this was in the CM weekly report and he looked it over thoroughly and he recommended approving this. Motion to approve and sign. Daniel, Powers. Approved 5-0.
10. PUBLIC COMMENT- (Limited to 5 minutes per person) None
11. EXECUTIVE SESSION - None
12. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn. 9:39 a.m.
Agenda subject to revision.
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