Hart County Board of Commissioners

January 23rd, 2001

7:00 p.m.

 

The Hart County Board of Commissioners met January 23rd, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. in the Hart County Administrative & Emergency Services Center.

 

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

 

Call to Order, Welcome, Moment of Silence

 

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

 

Approve Agenda

 

Commissioner Banister entered motion to approve the meeting agenda. Commissioner Dorsey 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)

            01/08th, 01/09th, 01/16th '01

 

Commissioner Burdick entered a motion to approve the minutes of the meetings held January 8th, 9th and 16th, 2001. Commissioner Brown provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

Remarks by Invited Guests, Committees, Authorities, Etc.

None

 

Reports By Constitutional Officers & Department Heads

 

County Attorney Walter Gordon gave an update on the status of the Highway 29N water line project. He remarked that he anticipates the contractor to start a second crew in the near future to begin construction from Hartwell north. He also reported the engineering design plan for the two new school sites will be ready soon and construction bids will be put out by May.

 

Attorney Gordon said the Water and Sewer Utility Authority is going on record to oppose Habersham County's Interbasin water transfer.

 

Commissioner Burdick said he has discussed opposing the Interbasin water transfer with the City of Hartwell. He remarked that the Corps of Engineers would accept public comment through January 27th, 2001.

 

Commissioner Burdick entered a motion to draft a letter to the Corps opposing the Interbasin water transfer. Commissioner Brown provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

County Administrator's Report

 

County Administrator Gary Cobb reported the Intergovernmental agreements have been passed and signed by all the municipalities involved in providing utilities to the Gateway Business Park.

 

He also reported county employee, Joy Norton, has received her Appraiser II certification. He commended Ms. Norton for her efforts.

 

Chairman's Reports

 

Chairman Oglesby reported the board would not have the Monday planning sessions in February.  He remarked that the board would discuss the subject at their retreat in Athens. 

 

Commissioners' Reports

None

 

Consent Agenda

a.                  Hart County Safety Rules & Safety Statement

b.                  Architect's fee-Library/Literacy Center basement & parking lot

c.                  Confirmation of Commissioner Burdick's appointment to County Board of Health

 

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

 

Old Business

a.                  Gaines Court

 

Commissioner Dorsey entered a motion to table discussion of Gaines Court pending further research. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

b.                  Award of Tax Appraisal Services Contract

 

Commissioner Burdick entered a motion to accept the Board of Tax Assessors' recommendation to award Mendola & Associates the contract in the amount of $44,955 pending county attorney's review. Further, authorize the Chairman to execute the contract and to amend the budget by transferring $14,955 from the General Fund reserves to the Tax Assessors budget for the expenditure. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

New Business

a.                  Budget Amendment - Northern Judicial Circuit (General Fund)

 

Commissioner Brown entered a motion to amend the FY01 General Fund budget by transferring $4,539.39 from the General Fund reserves to the Northern Judicial Circuit for the Misdemeanor Probation office operation. Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

            c.         Setting of new employee's salaries

 

Commissioner Banister entered a motion to credit the following new employees with directly applicable experience in determining starting salaries per the county's pay plan policy: Harry Nowinski two years, Scott Wallace four years. Commissioner Burdick provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

            d.         Battery Bid authorization

 

Commissioner Brown entered a motion to authorize the County Administrator to solicit competitive bids for the purchase of vehicle batteries. Commissioner Burdick provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

            e.         FY01 Bushhog Contract

 

Commissioner Brown entered a motion to authorize the County Administrator to advertise for competitive bids to bushhog county right-of-way. Commissioner Burdick provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

 

Public Comment 

 

Paul Martin remarked that he understood the Road Department was told not to do any work on Gaines Court. He asked was it a county decision.

 

Chairman Oglesby responded that he talked with Road Superintendent Dickerson and informed him to hold off on doing any work on Gaines Court. He said he was prompted to make that decision after seeing an ad in the Hartwell Sun of a notice to subdivide property on Gaines Court.

 

Mr. Martin complained about the condition of the road and the fact that he was not invited to the planning session where the road was discussed.

 

Commissioner Brown asked what kind of shape Gaines Court is in. Mr. Martin said that due to the weather the road is in bad condition. He asked that the county maintain the road since it is a county road.

 

Sue Pickens, resident on Gaines Court, complained that the school bus would not go on the road. Therefore, she and neighbors have to take children to the end of the road to the bus stop. She said she has broken a ream on her car due to the condition of the road. Ms. Pickens asked that the county put gravel and fix the bad spots to make the road passable.

 

Commissioner Burdick remarked that at the present time the road is a county road and it should be maintained so it can be passable.

 

Commissioner Dorsey said that the road is in the same condition that it was in when it was adopted into the road system.

 

Commissioner Burdick recalled that several months ago Chairman Oglesby entered a motion to put gravel on a road that was not a county road. With that in mind Commissioner Burdick entered a motion to maintain the road. Motion failed due to a lack of a second.

 

Chairman Oglesby restated the motion to put two loads of crusher run on Gaines Court until a decision is made. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

Commissioner Banister remarked that he wanted what was best for the residents on Gaines Court and that they are getting much more from the county than what was done by the owner of the property before it was taken into the road system.

 

Commissioner Burdick said that at the present time the road is a county road, no matter what happened in terms of the owner.

 

Commissioner Dorsey remarked that he didn’t know whether gravel would fix the road, that it will probably need pipe. He shared a letter that former Public Works Director Robert Banks sent to Mr. Martin detailing the county's subdivision ordinance requirements. Mr. Martin responded that he requested the county to send him the letter.

 

Commissioner Dorsey also remarked that the county should only accept the road after it meets the road standards ordinance. He had a plat showing the land had been subdivided and advertising lots for sale.

 

County Administrator Cobb said the board has not approved the subdivision and that it is not a subdivision until they say it is. Therefore the plat does not exist.

 

Virgil Ayers requested assistance to clean up tin and lumber from the recent tornado that hit in the Vanna community on an elderly widow's property. He asked that the board put a dumpster on the property to put the tin in. He said he understood the county can't go on private property, but the Tax Assessors, Deputies, EMS, Fire and Health Department employees can go on private property. However, the county paved a private road to the golf course.

 

Commissioners Banister, Dorsey, Oglesby, former Commissioner Moore and County Attorney Gordon donated funds in the amount of $105 to assist clean up on Mr. Ayer's neighbor's property.

 

EMA Director Dan Yeargin reported that, as a general standpoint, anything that is an act of God requires $7 million in damages before the governor declares a state of emergency.

 

Mr. Ayers complained that he requested minutes of the January 8th and 9th meetings and was given a summary.

 

County Administrator Cobb remarked that a summary is available within two days following a meeting.  Attorney Gordon said the law is very clear and he will discuss it further.

 

Randall Graham reported that the Hebron Baptist Association needs assistance through the local churches to help county residents in times of disasters. He encouraged the board to support the program through volunteering.

 

Attorney Gordon said the Hebron Baptist Association is the best way to handle emergency situations.

 

Commissioner Dorsey entered a motion to exit into executive session to discuss real estate and potential litigation matters as required by O.C.G.A. 50-14-2, 50-14-3 and 50-14-4(b). Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously. The resolution and affidavit is recorded in the "2000-2001" minutes book.

 

Commissioner Brown entered a motion to exit executive session and adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Burdick provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

 

 

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