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Tuesday, September 29, 2015 – 6:30 p.m.
Courthouse Annex, 79 Jackson Street, Zebulon, Georgia
All five commissioners were present, County Clerk Jo Ann Wrye to take the minutes, County Manager (CM) 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 a Board appointment at the end of the meeting.
5. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES - (O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1(e) (2))
a. Minutes of the September 9, 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 October. Revenue/Expenditure Statement and Detail Check Register is included.
b. County Manager Report
▫ Update on County finances for the following funds/accounts:
General Fund ............................................................................................... $860,443.10
Fire Dept. Donations........................................................................................ $1,931.25
Cash Reserve Account................................................................................. $500,251.47
Jail Fund ........................................................................................................ $22,311.06
E-911 Fund .................................................................................................... $64,913.03
DATE Fund ................................................................................................... $35,642.33
Juvenile Court Fund....................................................................................... $15,542.71
Residential Impact Fee ................................................................................ $295,718.25
Commercial Impact Fees ............................................................................... $13,448.01
C.A.I.P FUND................................................................................................. $1,895.63
General Obligation SPLOST Tax Bond Sinking Fund, 2011...................... $514,723.72
L.M.I. Grant (DOT)..................................................................................... $122,650.88
c. County Manager Comments.
CM Hanson gave information on the possibility of a SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) for 2016 that has been up for discussion. He suggested calling it for a referendum for voters to vote on and that it be for roads only. The county has contacted the cities and are preparing for a meeting. The deadline for pulling this all together is November 30th so it could be on the March 30th election ballot. That will be the Presidential Preference scheduled election. The division of funds would be decided at a meeting of all involved entities.
If all of the cities are involved, it can be a 6 year SPLOST. He suggested that a division of funds be based on current 2012 LOST division. This will be simple for all involved—especially if everyone else does just roads. The meeting on this SPLOST will be held on October 14th at 1 p.m. (there will be a 9 a.m. regular meeting that day). He said that roads is our number one issue here in Pike County, and that we have to cover a lot of basic needs. He said that we are trying to be proactive, but we are also playing catch up.
2015 LMIG project of Williamson-Zebulon Road authorization was discussed. Original project bid was for $774,949 with Blount Construction. We budgeted this amount and signed the contract. Quantity analysis test came in with a lower amount so this is going to end up about $25,000 less than budgeted if we do just this section of road to Reidsboro Road from the Zebulon City Limits. It will cost $71,215.70 to widen the road on both sides above this cost. Add that to the $25,000 reduced cost overall, and it will be a little over $40,000 to widen and rework this road from the base up to the new pavement.
Also discussed paving to Hwy 362 through Williamson. This warrants funding by the county for a portion of this road as well as the City of Williamson. He suggested the county paying 60% of the road at approximately $113,098.50 and $75,399.00 for the City of Williamson. This is a county road that has a lot of county residential traffic on it and not just Williamson traffic. This funding will be discussed at the Williamson Council Meeting on Thursday. Funding sources for this project: $774,949 budgeted already. CM Hanson asked to move the remaining LMIG funds from 2014 ($97,325.94) and the remaining Capital Outlay Roads fund ($51,933.00) to this project and said that it will only cost the county approximately $10,055.26 from the current budget.
Commissioner Jenkins asked what the cost would be if they came back later. CM Hanson said that they indicated that it would be higher than the cost is now because the equipment is already here now. Question about funding from the City of Williamson. Chairman Fry has indicated that they have proper funding will be able to provide their portion if this is approved by the City of Williamson. Attorney Rob Morton advised that the county could approve this entire project including the portion with Williamson but need to make the vote contingent upon the City of Williamson being able to provide the funding for their part of the project.
Commissioner Daniel asked about the 60/40% split. CM Hanson explained how this would work including precedent in the past with other cities as well as county traffic that goes through this section and not just Williamson traffic. County Attorney Rob Morton said that the City of Williamson has been talking about this for the past 3 months. He expects that since they will come to the table to this. County Attorney Tom Morton will be in the meeting there on Thursday night. He said that discussions to date sound favorable, but nothing is firm until after the vote. He will report back on Friday morning. Motion to approve contingent upon Williamson coming through with their portion of the funds to help out with this project. Jenkins, Powers. Approved 5-0. [Note from the Editor: Williamson-Zebulon Road is the highest travelled road in the entire county. There are approximately 2,350 cars per day that travel the road.]
Rain has been hitting the county hard. He said that some gravel needs to go on some roads tomorrow to make sure that they are passable for now and we can’t scrape them when it’s raining.
d. Commissioner Reports.
Commissioner Daniel said that McKinley is looking a lot better. One day and this will be done. CM Hanson said maybe two good days and then we will start on other roads after this. Noted that we are having to get asphalt from Bolingbroke.
Commissioner Guy said that he has had a couple of road complaints that he has given to Hanson already.
Commissioner Powers said the same about road complaints and that he appreciates the work on McKinley. Public Works was complimented for their work on McKinley Road.
e. County Attorney Report to Commissioners.
Rob Morton said that SPLOST is being worked on, and they have talked with Bond counsel on this. He anticipates a bond aspect that may be put into the referendum. There is no obligation on this but they are covering all of the bases because of the time limit so commissioners can have this info if they needed it.
There was a dangerous dog trial this past month. The defendant wasn’t happy with the decision, but is cooperating with the county on the decision. The owner on a dog in the second dangerous dog case has agreed to put the dog down. CM Hanson praised Planning and Development Director David Allen and all who are working with him for our county on this.
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None
9. NEW BUSINESS
a. Consider one appointment for the J. Joel Edwards Public Library Board to fill an unexpired three- year term, set to expire August 31, 2017. Applicant has met criteria.
Curtis Ward. Motion to appoint Mr. Ward to the Library Board. Daniel, Guy. Approved 5-0.
b. Consider request from Chief O’Barr of the Pike County Fire Department to use the courthouse grounds on October 24, 2015 approximate time is from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm for a fundraiser for the fire department.
The Sheriff’s Office has signed off on this. Motion to approve. Powers/Jenkins. Approved 5-0.
c. Approve/deny the cost of the installation of fencing (previously purchased) for Fields 1 & 8 to be paid from Recreation Impact Fees.
There were 3 bids and they want to go with the low bid on fencing that was purchased last year. Motion to approve. Daniel/Guy.
Further discussion: Commissioner Guy said that there is an area with a lot of erosion in one area and asked what is being done on this? Director Kevin Teate said that the quotes were extremely high for this 5,500 feet to be sodded. They are looking at buying the sod only and doing the installation sometime next year with their staff and volunteers. Hopefully this will be handled in the next 8-10 months after the growing season begins again because we are at the end of the growing season now.
Approved 5-0.
d. Approve/deny the 2016 Holiday Schedule.
Our policy will approve Veterans Day on the day of the holiday instead of the Monday after or the Monday before because it falls on a Friday. Motion to approve. Jenkins/Daniel. Approved 5-0.
e. Approve/deny request from Bryan Richardson for Proclamation, Pike County Military “Killed In Action” Recognition Day on November 7, 2015.
Motion to approve. Guy/Powers.
Discussion: This runs in conjunction with the event on the square and the November induction ceremony.
Approved 5-0.
f. Approve/deny the 2016 Resolution for Quarterly Amendments to the 2015-2016 Budget Pike County, GA.
This is simply balancing the books for our departments with regard to items that are ordered within one year and arrive too late to be included in that same year.
g. Approve appointment to the Pike County Board of Health for Acting Physician.
Dr. Donna Haney has served in this role for a long time. No one else has applied and she has graciously reapplied for this 6 year term. Motion to approve this appointment. Guy/Daniel. Approved 5-0.
10. PUBLIC COMMENT- (Limited to 5 minutes per person) - None
11. EXECUTIVE SESSION - None
12. ADJOURNMENT: 7:07 p.m.
Agenda subject to revision.
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