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Wednesday, September 13, 2017 – 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. 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.
All five commissioners are present with County Clerk Jo Ann Wrye to take the minutes, County Manager (CM) 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 representatives from Pike County Tourism Committee to the agenda.
5. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES - (O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1(e) (2))
a. Minutes of the August 29, 2017 Regular Monthly Meeting.
6. INVITED - None.
Representatives Joy Walker and Beverly Walter were present to discuss Pike County Tourism. The group had drafted a copy of some possible bylaws for the county and they were asking that Commissioners formalize their tourism committee that has been meeting for three or four years now. Their purpose is to promote tourism in our county. We feel that an authority is the best way to do this and to have representation in the county at large as well as the cities and to promote tourism in the county. They asked the commissioners to consider enacting a hotel/motel tax in Pike County. The only way to do this is to have a bill passed to the Assembly. The county could do this and then the cities could do this if they were interested. There are some small residential properties that could be eligible for this tax. This is a way to promote tourism promotion for our county.
There will be a December 8th retreat to discuss tourism/marketing that commissioners were invited to attend. [Note from the Editor: I've been invited to attend meetings, but I don't do super early mornings except the Eggs and Issues Breakfast once a year. I'm not nice at 8 a.m. after a late night up uploading on Pike County Times!] CM Hanson said that there was a study of tourism and marketing in the county and this group helped bring this to our county. They have worked hard to bring awareness to our county. He said that we don’t have a lot of businesses that could qualify for a tax like this, but it would be good preparation for the future. Beverly talked about the potential for our area in the district. Tim Daniel asked about other counties of similar size that have created an authority like this. She said that there are not in Georgia, but the one presented today is from Highlands, North Carolina. They have also talked to Rep. Johnnie Caldwell as well and he said that he would be happy to represent them with this.
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 ............................................................................................... $678,336.04
Fire Dept. Donations ........................................................................................ $4,659.76
BOC – Jury Account………………………………………………………………$0.00
Cash Reserve Account ........................................................................ ….....$506,305.28
Pike County CD Special Revenue funds………………………………………….$0.00
Jail Fund ........................................................................................................ $23,812.32
E-911 Fund ...................................................................................................... $8,698.95
DATE Fund ................................................................................................... $44,817.11
Juvenile Court Fund ....................................................................................... $11,800.44
Residential Impact Fee ................................................................................ $518,386.81
Commercial Impact Fees ............................................................................... $35,915.32
C.A.I.P FUND ............................................................................................... $33,243.25
General Obligation SPLOST Tax Bond Sinking Fund, 2016 ...................... $471,183.68
L.M.I. Grant (DOT) ..................................................................................... $525,924.89
c. County Manager Comment
CM Hanson said that there are many in the county who are still without power including many employees. First responders and everyone worked well together. Jimmy Totten communicated well with everyone. As of Tuesday morning, the county responded to about 172 calls. 63 trees down on roadways. There were more trees down here that fire fighters and citizens got out of the way. Georgia Power has pulled the lines out of the tree on Roberts Quarters Road so the tree can be removed. Southern Rivers is the biggest in the county. They had about 80% of their grid down and has crews coming here from other areas to help. He encouraged patience and for residents to stay away from downed power lines. He asked for patience on roadways too because the storm has made a mess. Thankful that our county was spared from a lot of major damage compared with others. Georgia Power still has about 3,900 customers without power.
He said that he is looking for a schedule from CW Matthews for our LMIG roads: Adams, Bottoms, Bankston, and Kendrick Roads.
d. Commissioner Reports
Commissioner Daniels kudos to first responders and Public Works.
Commissioners Guy thanked everyone for working together through the storm.
Commissioner Powers said that the first responders, SO, fire department, etc. all worked together for the good of the county.
Commissioner Jenkins said that Southern Rivers Energy is down to about 1,700 this morning, and they are working to get this taken care of. There were 2,300 yesterday. It will make a big difference with these crews coming in.
Chairman Johnson commended Jimmy Totten, the Road Department, Sheriff's Office, and Fire Department were all working together through the storm. He thanked everyone for pitching in on this.
CM Hanson said that our guys were getting out of trucks removing trees even as the wind was blowing 50 or 60 mph overhead. He commended Todd Goolsby and everyone who got out there and helped with removing trees.
CM Hanson also said that Drew Ferguson called several people in our district before, during and after the storm. "I’ve been here four years and this was a first," he said. He thanked Rep. Ferguson.
e. County Attorney Report to Commissioners: None.
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Approve/deny 2nd Reading of text amendment to Title XV, Land Usage, adding a new Chapter 167, Ga. Highway 18, Ga. Highway 109, and Ga. Highway 362 Overlay Districts Ordinance, relative to establishing design standards for certain commercial, industrial, and institutional developments along these specified Highways.
Heard this on August 19 and August 29 it was tabled. Nothing has changed since the 29th. It was asked if there was further action the Board wanted to make on this. CM Hanson said that the county has set an example through rezonings so development follows this standard. The areas requested are not necessarily commercial now so some of the conversations have been about future rezonings and we are trying to ensure that commercial is standard along certain areas. We are placing restrictions on areas that are not commercial already so discussion can take place in rezonings before the Board now.
They could continue discussion on this if needed. We don’t want to get in the habit of repealing this like landscape, etc.
County Attorney Rob Morton said that the workshop discussed this and the county will have to follow the laws that are in place, but if we put this in, we are going to have to follow it and some are going to ask for variances. He suggested that the commissioners look this over again.
Commissioner Jenkins said that this will make their job easier because the standards are in place.
Commissioner Daniel asked how to make a motion on this and have a workshop. Motion to postpone until commissioners can have a workshop on this. Approved 5-0.
b. Approve/deny 2nd Reading of the updated Animal Control Ordinance
County Attorney Rob Morton said that this is the same as the last meeting. No changes. There was some clarity that was put into the ordinance due to state law mandating animal control with dangerous and viscious dogs as well as dealing with those who violate this law. We cleared this up. Dangerous and viscious dog designation is done by our animal control officer. Owners can make an appeal to this. These are two different actions that can take place at the same time.
Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
9. NEW BUSINESS
a. PUBLIC HEARING: To receive public input regarding Capital Improvements Element (CIE) Annual Update, pursuant to the Georgia Development Impact Fee Act and the Development Impact Fee Compliance Requirements of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
Action: Discuss/Approve/Deny
The CIE report is required annually. Impact Fee activity is listed as well as future projects for our county. This will be transmitted to Three Rivers for their approval and then to the state.
IN FAVOR: None
OPPOSITION: None
Discussion: Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
b. Approve/deny Impact Fee request for Buildings and Grounds.
CM Hanson said that we put in the radio systems for various places around the county. This is for support of batteries, generators, etc. Thankfully none failed during the storm. $3,920.90 from Impact Fees because it is a countywide usage. Motion to approve. Question if all of the time or only in a time of likely outage. Only during times of need. Tested monthly to ensure that they will be usable during times of emergency. Approved 5-0.
c. Approve/deny use of committed Fund Balance for Water Authority Capital Improvements.
Requested for a digital meter upgrade. The current refinance is in place for current debt. This would basically put them in a much more efficient operation. All of the other cities have this. They asked to use capital improvement funds from a year ago. CM Hanson said that he would rather have this done around the first of November when our budget is at its highest with taxes coming in.
Commissioner Tommy Powers said that he has seen a lot of changes since he was on the Board six years ago. They have worked very hard to get people on the Board and feels like this is a good thing. $68,785.13 is the total and they are prepared to help pitch in on this. New customers will be digital. Motion to approve use of fund balance to fund capital improvements. Approved 5-0. Question whether Commissioner Tommy Powers can do this. [Note from the Editor: The question was asked because Tommy is on the Pike County Water and Sewerage Authority.] County Attorney Rob Morton said that as long as he doesn’t have a financial interest in this, he can make a motion and vote on it.
d. Approve/deny 2018 LMIG Road Project.
Todd Goolsby and CM Hanson still believe that this is the best set of roads. The DOT is excited about the work that has been done to date and they are asking about this already. Maybe we can do some roads sooner rather than later. Motion to approve. List of roads includes Adams, Bottoms, Bankston, and Kendrick. CM Hanson said that maybe only one of those roads will need an outside contractor. This will be supplemented from our SPLOST. Approved 5-0.
e. Approve/deny the Service Delivery Strategy.
We’ve been working on this for quite a while. There are several items that have been addressed including animal control. Planning and Development has been addressed as well. They are consistent with other cities and some things we are doing already so this is efficient for the county and cities at large.
County Attorney Rob Morton said that this has been addressed previously and asked for these to be addressed one at a time. The City of Concord with Building Development and Code Enforcement. We have Williamson and Molena and those allow us to collect Impact Fees to fund this so we have done the same for Concord, but they did ask for one modification. The other cities said that if we need to do utility we can do this with no cost. Concord asked for reciprocal with them not paying an impact fee on making utility work for their customers just like we are asking if we have to do similar work in the city. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
This is similar with the City of Meansville. The City asked that the County perform Permitting, Zoning etc. for them. We have been doing this already so this makes it official. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
Same thing with the City of Zebulon. We had a previous agreement with them, and this updates it. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
August 8 was approved, but it needed to be made a matter of record for the triangle improvement in Zebulon. No action needed.
Pike County Development Authority already approved.
Animal Control. Concord already approved. Change was made in this city because it involves Magistrate Court to provide services with prosecutions in the Magistrate rather than in the City of Concord. This was approved last night. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
City of Meansville could not meet on Monday because of the storm. Asked to approve this though it may need to be revised in the future. It is written now to prosecute in Magistrate Court. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
City of Molena. Some minor changes were made though they are in the process of approving. They could not meet on Monday night either but are expected to. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
City of Williamson. This is still being discussed. There were some minor differences that may need to be addressed. They’ve already had some calls out there. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
City of Zebulon. The difference between that and Williamson is that Zebulon will handle this in their court. The county will receive $25 from each case and the rest of the fine stays there in the city. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
Any agreements already in place are staying in place. These reflect the changes that are going into place in regard to service delivery strategy on this and everything else remains the same.
CM Hanson said that the state has a requirement for each agreement along with a large amount of supporting documentation for service delivery strategy.
Motion to approve adoption of service delivery strategy. Commission Daniel commended CM Hanson for his work on this. County Attorney Rob Morton said that state law was passed to ensure that citizens of cities and the county are getting benefit of services without double taxation. The City of Meansville is providing its own fire department so they are getting a stipend for this. CM Hanson commended the county attorneys for pulling this together as well as the cities for working well with the county on this. This has been smooth because the Mayors and City Councils and their liasons for working with the county on this for the benefit of all. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
f. Consider Resolution to adopt the Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Pike County Tax Levy and to authorize Chairman Johnson to sign the Tax Levy documents.
The budget was set in June and the state has approved this. 13.930 mileage rate for the county. No mileage rate on the county side. CM Hanson commended county staff for working on this as well as the Board. We have been able to avoid tax increases so far and are trying to run lean on this. He did note that the School Board portion is on there (and has a raise in it) but pointed out that the county has no say on that. Motion to approve.
Discussion: Commissioner Daniel asked about our tax digest. CM Hanson said that it values have increased, so the tax digest has increased. The TAVT replaced the county tax on car taxes and that is not hurting us yet because the state is making sure that small counties get something to help balance this out right now. He commended our county department for work on this.
Approved 5-0.
10. PUBLIC COMMENT- (Limited to 5 minutes per person) None
11. EXECUTIVE SESSION - None
12. ADJOURNMENT - 10:09 a.m.
Agenda subject to revision.
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