Hart County Board of Commissioners

April 24th, 2001

7:00 p.m.

 

 

The Hart County Board of Commissioners met April 24th, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. in the Hart County Administrative & Emergency Services Center.

 

Chairman R. C. Oglesby presided with Commissioners Randy Banister, Don Burdick and Joey Dorsey in attendance. Commissioner Ken Brown absent.

 

Call to Order, Welcome, Moment of Silence

 

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

 

Approve Agenda

 

Commissioner Banister entered a motion to amend the meeting agenda to include item I. Vaughn Subdivision, J. Water & Sewer Authority personnel matter. Commissioner Burdick provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously. The agenda is recorded in the “2001-2002” minutes book.

 

Approve Minutes of Previous Meeting(s)

            04/09th, 04/10th '01

 

Commissioner Banister entered a motion to approve the minutes of the meetings held April 9th, and 10th 2001. Commissioner Burdick provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

Remarks by Invited Guests, Committees, Authorities

 

None

 

Reports By Constitutional Officers & Department Heads

 

County Attorney Walter Gordon reported that the Court of Appeals/State of Georgia has dismissed the lawsuit filed by Take Back Georgia Inc vs. Hart County Board of Commissioners.

 

County Administrator’s Report

 

County Administrator Gary Cobb reported that he has petitioned the City of Hartwell’s Planning & Zoning Board requesting a variance for the parking lot expansion at the Library facility.  The variance request will go before the Mayor & Council for consideration at their May 7th, 2001 meeting. Adding that if approved the county will proceed to close on the property and put out a bid package.

 

Administrator Cobb announced that a meeting would be held in Dahlonega April 26th to discuss watersheds. He also announced that the Downtown Development Authority will meet with the City of Hartwell officials April 26th at 2:00 to review architectural plans for the downtown renovation project. He invited the commissioners to attend if possible.

 

Chairman’s Report

 

Chairman Oglesby reported that the DOT study is currently underway for the Highway 51 and Vickery Street intersection.

 

Commissioners’ Reports

 

Commissioner Burdick reported that he and Commissioner Brown attended the ACCG Annual Meeting and presented a publication he received from a course he attended pertaining to County Government Law.

 

He reported that several property tax exemption matters would be placed on the November referendum, which will have an impact on property owners.

 

Commissioner Dorsey reported that at an intersection of two roads in the Vanna Community a stop sign is needed. He said that a State Patrolman brought the matter to his attention.  

 

Commissioner Dorsey entered a motion to proceed with plans to install a stop sign at the intersection of Reynolds Drive and Old Elbert Highway with the DOT approval. Commissioner Burdick provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

Old Business

 

None

 

New Business

 

a.                   Battery bid opening

 

The following companies submitted sealed bids for supplying batteries to the county as per bid specs:

            Interstate Battery                      $7,547.15

            Anderson Auto Parts                $7,915.31

            Clems Alternator & Starter       $9,557.20

 

Commissioner Burdick entered a motion to allow the County Administrator and the Chairman to review the bids and make a recommendation at the next scheduled meeting. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

b.                  Organizational changes – Sheriff’s Dept.

 

County Administrator Cobb reported that Sheriff Cleveland has requested changing the number of Lieutenant positions to three and the number of Sergeant positions to one. He said the change would not have an impact on the budget.

 

Commissioner Dorsey entered a motion to approve the Sheriff’s request and amend the organizational chart. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

c.                   Salary – Deputy Andrews

 

County Administrator Cobb reported that he has reviewed Deputy Andrews’s application and he has twelve years previous experience in law enforcement applicable to our Deputy position.

 

Commissioner Burdick entered a motion to credit Deputy Andrews with twelve years experience according to the county policy and pay scale. Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

d.                  Hobbs Street

 

County Administrator Cobb reported that the City of Royston is applying for a CDBG grant for Economic Development/water line expansion. They have requested Hart County commit to improve Hobbs Street as part of the grant package. He said the 1/4  mile long street is a single lane, gravel dirt road, has a stream across one area, fencing and an embankment. He reported that City Manager Susan Brooks would pursue acquiring the necessary right-of-way on the street.

 

He summarized the options the board could take: 1. no commitment, 2. grading only estimated at $30,000, 3. Grading, base and paving at $100,000 or provide in-house for the whole job at $40,000. He stated that the project would be paid out of the 1%SPLOST yet to be collected.

 

Commissioner Burdick remarked that no commitment was made with municipalities except to partnership to get water in the unincorporated areas. He voiced his concern that the county has other roads that need paving and resurfacing.

 

Chairman Oglesby remarked that the City of Royston should be given the same consideration that the county has committed with the City of Hartwell in the past to provide base and paving.

 

Commissioner Dorsey said that if the City of Royston could acquire the sixty-foot right-of-way then he felt that the portion in Hart County should be improved.

 

Commissioner Banister asked if in-house grading would be enough of a commitment from the county for the grant package. Administrator Cobb said the biggest issue is the proper right-of-way. He reported that he told Ms. Brooks if the board approved the request that work will not be done before next spring.

 

Chairman Oglesby entered a motion to provide labor to put down base and paving on Hobbs Street provided that the City of Royston acquires the proper right-of-way, and have an agreement with Franklin County to provide funding for their part of the project and Royston would provide the materials.

 

Commissioner Burdick reminded the board that the 1%SPLOST funds for the next five-year period would not pave or resurface very many roads. He recommended that the board consider an approach to prioritize the 1%SPLOST funds for road projects.

 

 Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

e.                   Martin Subdivision

 

Commissioner Banister entered a motion to approve the Martin Subdivision. Commissioner Burdick provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

f.                    Mid-year & SPLOST audit

 

County Administrator Cobb reported that a mid-year audit review will cost approximately $4,400 and the SPLOST audit will cost approximately $3,000.

 

Commissioner Burdick entered a motion to eliminate the mid-year audit and move ahead with the SPLOST audit. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

g.                   SPLOST/General Fund/10% Jail Sur-charge Budget Amendment

 

County Administrator Cobb reported that the county has received the $500,000 RAP grant funds, which will allocated toward the purchase of the Gateway Project. Therefore, the board would need to adopt a budget resolution to show the revenue and expenditure for the project.

 

Commissioner Banister entered a motion to adopt the budget resolution. Commissioner Burdick provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

h.                   Beer & wine application/Mohammed Jalil

 

County Administrator Cobb thanked the Chairman for asking questions earlier about Mr. Jalil's application. He recommended the board table the beer and wine application until further research could be conducted.

 

Commissioner Dorsey entered a motion to table the Mr. Jalil’s beer and wine application. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

i.                     Vaughn Subdivision

 

Commissioner Dorsey entered a motion to approve the Vaughn subdivision. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

j.                    Water & Sewer Utility Authority personnel

 

Chairman Fort Oglesby reported the 29N water line project is complete and the contractor is pressure testing the lines. He reported that the Elrod Ferry project will begin next week and they are putting the bids out for the water lines to the two new school sites.

 

He remarked that Jere Johnson has been volunteering his services however; he is spending more time than anticipated with engineers and contractors. Therefore, on behalf of the Water & Sewer Utility Authority. He was requesting that the county fund a weekly salary of $500 to Mr. Johnson.

 

Commissioner Burdick entered a motion to fund $500 per week for the remainder of the fiscal year to Mr. Johnson on a part time basis. Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

Public Comment

 

Kenneth Trig reported that he and Charlotte Milford are developing a subdivision off Old Highway 29. He requested that they get approval to go ahead and grade the road so they can proceed with soil samples. He said that the lots have been staked off to submit ENS plans. He asked if they could grade the road before the subdivision is approved. 

 

Administrator Cobb remarked that the developer needs to understand that they would still has to comply with the subdivision regulations even if it meant moving the road.

 

Chairman Oglesby entered a motion to approve Mr. Trig’s request to grade the road and to further comply with the subdivision ordinance. Commissioner Burdick provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

Executive Session

 

None

 

Adjournment

 

Commissioner Burdick entered a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

 

 

 

 

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R. C. Oglesby, Chairman                                          Lawana Kahn, County Clerk