Hart County Board of Commissioners

July 11th, 2000

5:30 p.m.

 

The Hart County Board of Commissioners met July 11th, 2000 at 5:30 p.m. in the Hart County Administrative & Emergency Services Center.

 

Chairman Joel Moore presided with Commissioners Ken Brown, Don Burdick, Harry Hannah and R. C. Oglesby in attendance.

 

Call to Order, Welcome, Moment of Silence

 

Chairman Moore called the meeting to order, welcomed those in attendance and called for a moment of silence.

 

Approve Agenda

 

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to approve the meeting agenda. Commissioner Burdick provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously. The agenda is recorded in the "2000-2001" minutes book.

 

Approve Minutes of Previous Meeting(s)

            06/17th, 06/26th, 06/27th

 

Chairman Moore stated the meeting held June 17th, 2000 was an emergency executive session and since that time an agreement has been reached to purchase the property for the Gateway Project and a RAP grant has been awarded. Therefore, the minutes of the meeting are for public information.

 

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to approve the minutes of the meetings held June 17th, June 26th, and June 27th, 2000. Commissioner Brown provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

Remarks by Invited Guests, Committees, Authorities, Etc.

a.                  Charles Rice - County Extension Service

 

Mr. Rice thanked the board for supporting the County Extension Service. He commended his staff for the good job they are doing.

 

Mr. Rice highlighted the various services the Extension Service provides to the county residents. He stated the 1999 farm income was $165,501,384. He reported the Extension Service has successfully completed teaching and graduated three classes for the Master Gardeners program.  He also reported they currently have fourteen hundred children and youth involved in the 4H program.  Mr. Rice's report is recorded in the "2000-2001" minutes book.

 

Commissioner Burdick said it is a credit to the county to have the number of 4Hers involved in the program. He commended Mr. Rice for his outstanding leadership skills.

 

Mr. Rice thanked the area school teachers, Golden K, American Legion and the Optimist Club for supporting the 4H program.

 

Mr. Virgil Ayers asked Mr. Rice for suggestions on how to get soil samples since the ground is dry and hard. Mr. Rice suggested he wait until the ground gets some moisture.

 

 Reports By Constitutional Officers & Department Heads

 

County Attorney Walter Gordon reported Michael White has accepted the Public Defender's position. He said Attorney White has eighteen years experience and will be an asset to the local area. He also stated Attorney White has agreed to the annual salary of $50,000 and his contract will begin August 1, 2000 and end June 30, 2001.  He said Hart County's share of the Public Defender's budget would remain at $42,507, which is the same level of funding for FY'00.

 

Attorney Gordon also reported the documents to close Midnight Rider Road is ready to go out to the property owners and should be ready for the board to take action at the July 23, 2000 meeting.

 

County Administrator's Report

 

County Administrator Gary Cobb reported he is meeting with the elected officials and department heads reviewing their FY'01 budget request.

 

He also reported the Fire Training Officer Selection Committee will meet July 12th and decide on three candidates for the Fire Training Officer. He said that the Committee would make a presentation to the board at their next meeting.

 

Chairman's Report

 

Chairman Moore reported the Public Defender's office has been awarded a grant for technical assistance for computers and software in the amount of $6,820 and Indigent Defense in the amount of $15,000.

 

Commissioners' Reports

 

None

 

Consent Agenda

a.                  Scrap Tire Grant

b.                  RAP Grant

c.                  SPLOST allocation - November referendum

d.                  Public Defender FY'01 budget & contract

 

County Administrator Gary Cobb reported as part of item 11a. Scrap Tire Grant a resolution was included.

 

Commissioner Burdick entered a motion to approve the Consent Agenda. Commissioner Hannah provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously. The Consent Agenda is recorded in the "2000-2001" minutes book.

 

 

Old Business

 

None

 

New Business

 

b.                  Board/Authority appointments (DFACS board term to expire 6/30/02)

 

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to re-appoint Robert Snead to serve on the DFACS board. Commissioner Brown provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

d.        RFP's E911 System

 

The following companies submitted sealed bids for the E911 system:

 

1.                  Baker Intergrated Tech

2.                  CML Emergency Services

3.                  Interact Systems Inc

4.                  Motorola - Central Link

 

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to refer all the E911 proposals to the Ad Hoc E911 System Committee for study and make a recommendation to the Board. Commissioner Brown provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

            f.          Authorize to solicite bids for the following:

·          Base & pave Kings Bench

·          County portion of Memorial Bridge Road Project

·          Widen & pave Ridge Road

 

Commissioner Hannah entered a motion to authorize the County Administrator and the Public Works Director to advertise for sealed bids for the above listed road projects. Commissioner Brown provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

County Administrator Cobb added the bids would close out at 4:00 p.m. August 7th, 2000.

 

Public Comment

 

a.                  Virgil Ayers (Roads, Bridges, Ordinance Violations)

 

Mr. Ayers stated since he was placed on the public comment section of the agenda then what he has to say, the board will not act on, according to the minutes of May 23 and June 27. He contended he does not have to be placed on the agenda for public comment section. He did not want to make any comments during this portion of the agenda. He therefore, requested to be placed on the following meeting agenda.

 

Commissioner Hannah stated the board could act on any item that is on the agenda.  Chairman Moore said the board is willing to listen to Mr. Ayers and asked that he go ahead and speak on the topics.

 

Mr. Ayers contended the board is in violation of the law.

 

Commissioners Burdick and Oglesby encouraged Mr. Ayers to go ahead and speak about his topics.

 

Chairman Moore stated it is extremely difficult for the Board to make a decision on items without knowing the details. Mr. Ayers said he did not expect the board to act on the matters he wanted to discuss.

 

Mr. Ayers said when citizens come in for help on roads; some are being told the county requires a sixty-foot right-of-way. However, some roads are being paved without the sixty-foot right-of-way.

 

Commissioner Oglesby explained that the county could not acquire a sixty-foot right-of-way on all roads. He said they have to evaluate roads on a case by case basis. He also stated the board is trying to utilize the 1%SPLOST for everyone's benefit.

 

Chairman Moore explained Speedway Road project is a one fourth million-dollar project and the county has acquired a D.O.T. contract to fund a portion of it.

 

Commissioner Oglesby recommended that if Mr. Ayers was having a problem with a certain commissioner he needs to contact that commissioner, the county administrator or the county attorney.

 

Matt Beasley remarked that he is a resident of the City of Hartwell and requested the board to put a genuine effort in determining the 1%SPLOST allocations that will benefit all citizens of Hart County.

 

Commissioner Burdick said the board is pursuing a continuation of the current 1%SPLOST.

 

Mr. Beasley said the chart and list of the 1%SPLOST allocations that was published in the Hartwell Sun for the Recreation Department and Library will not be going to the City of Hartwell.

 

Chairman Moore said the allocation would benefit the City. He added the board is trying their best to show where the 1%SPLOST is applicable to the vast majority of citizens of Hart County. He said they are attempting to benefit everyone in the county.

 

Mr. Beasley said City officials do not want to cooperate in pursuing the 1%SPLOST if it is based on the allocations shown in the Hartwell Sun. He also added he appreciates what the board does for the county.

 

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Brown provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

 

 

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Joel Moore, Chairman                                Lawana Kahn, County Clerk