Hart County Board of Commissioners

July 10th , 2001

5:30 p.m.

 

The Hart County Board of Commissioners met July 10th, 2001 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 called for a moment of silence.

 

Approve Agenda

 

Commissioner Burdick entered a motion to amend the agenda as follows: Executive Session minutes of September 11 and November 14th, 2000; Old Business -remove item a, add/Downtown Development Authority update, Obloy Subdivision, Curry Beer & Wine application, New Business-remove item c, h; add item I letter of support-DOT, add k Trash bags. He also entered a motion to approve the agenda as amended. Commissioner Dorsey 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)

            6/26th, 6/29th, 2001

 

Commissioner Burdick entered a motion to approve the Executive Session minutes of the meetings held September 11th and November 14th, 2000. Commissioner Brown provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

Commissioner Dorsey entered a motion to approve the minutes of the meetings held June 26th and June 29th, 2001. Commissioner Banister 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 reported on behalf of the Water and Sewer Utility Authority that the Hwy 29N water project is complete. He said the lines have been tested and meters are being installed.

 

County Administrator's Report

 

County Administrator Gary Cobb did not have anything to report.

 

Chairman's Report

 

Chairman Oglesby reported that two of the commissioners would be meeting with the DOT officials in Atlanta July 12th, 2001 at 10:00 a.m.

 

Chairman Oglesby also announced a called meeting July 11th, 2001 at 12 noon to discuss road projects.

 

Commissioners' Reports

 

Commissioner Dorsey reported that Hartwell Railroad representative Mr. Anderson has agreed to purchase asphalt for improvements on Bakers Road and Old Elbert Road on the right-of-ways. It was decided that the County Attorney should review the request.

 

Old Business

a.                  Ridge Road item removed from the agenda

b.                  DDA update

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Mary Alice Applegate, representing the Downtown Development Authority, reported that the City of Hartwell has agreed to provide $150,000 toward the Streetscape project however they still have a shortfall of $52,400.

 

Commissioner Burdick remarked that the county unanimously agreed to contribute $100,000 with the City of Hartwell picking up the remainder and that he was personally not in favor or additional funding.

 

Commissioner Banister questioned Ms. Applegate if all the organizations were notified that some of the monuments would be moved as part of the DDA plan. Ms. Applegate responded that the Authority held a public hearing to gather input before the plan was finalized.

 

c.                  Obloy Subdivision

 

Commissioner Burdick entered a motion to approve Mr. Obloy's subdivision plat request contingent on approval of the Health Department. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

d.                  Eloise Curry-Beer & Wine application

 

Commissioner Dorsey entered a motion to approve Ms. Curry's beer & wine application. Commissioner Brown provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

New Business

 

a.                  James Bowers-Tax Penalty & Interest Waiver

 

Tax Appraiser, Margaret Crossley, explained the events that occurred during the appeals process with Mrs. Bowers. She said that the Assessors' office has gone beyond the call of duty to inform the taxpayer of their rights. She said that Mrs. Bowers' appeal was finalized January 31, 2000 and that the penalty and interest is still her responsibility to pay.

 

Mrs. Bowers stated that she was instructed by an employee of the Tax Commissioners' office to wait until her appeal process was settled to pay what was due.

 

Chairman Oglesby entered a motion to deny the request to waiver the tax penalty and interest. Commissioner Brown provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

b.                  Brent Owensby & Brad Owensby-Arcade License

 

County Administrator Cobb reported that the arcade was in business in August 2000 and did not apply for a license when the other businesses applied. He said the plat for the business does not meet the 350 yards requirement and the owner had a misdemeanor charge in 1986.

 

Commissioner Dorsey entered a motion to deny the arcade license request. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

c.                  EMS Employee - Salary Consideration removed from the agenda

 

d.                  RDC-BOC Member Appointment

 

Chairman Oglesby entered a motion to re-appoint Commissioner Burdick to serve on the RDC board. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

e.                  Public Hearing

1)     Tourist Accommodations

2)     On Site Sewerage Management

3)     Food Service

4)     Swimming Pools, etc.

 

Al Olsen questioned who would fund the cost for prosecuting violators since the ordinance is a State law.

 

Gary Helmuth, Environmental Specialist, explained that if violations were handled through the Superior Court the County Attorney would be involved. However, if it is handled through the Magistrate Court System the County Attorney will not be involved and the county would save funds.

 

Commissioner Dorsey asked how many cases in a year are handled through the Superior Court for environmental violations. Gary Helmuth responded that they generally have less than five.

 

Commissioner Burdick entered a motion to adopt the Tourist Accommodations Ordinance. Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion. There were no comments from the public. The vote carried unanimously.

 

Commissioner Brown entered a motion to adopt the On Site Sewerage Management Ordinance. Commissioner Burdick provided a second to the motion. There were no comments from the public. The vote carried unanimously.

 

Commissioner Burdick entered a motion to adopt the Food Service Ordinance. Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion. There were no comments from the public. The vote carried unanimously.

 

Commissioner Burdick entered a motion to adopt the Swimming Pools, etc Ordinance. Commissioner Brown provided to the motion. Gary Helmuth commented that the ordinance pertained to public pools. Commissioner Burdick stated that the rules and regulations were a safety measure. The vote carried unanimously.

 

            g.         SPLOST "II"-FY'01 Budget Adoption                                                           

 

 

Jere Johnson, Executive Director of the Water & Sewer Utility Authority, reported that Developer Ken Treg has agreed to pay for a six-inch water line to Melody Farms Subdivision and the Water Authority will install a ten-inch line. Mr. Johnson requested 1% SPLOST II funding for the project.

 

Commissioner Brown entered a motion to approve the SPLOST "II"-FY'01 Budget. Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

j.                     MHMRSA-Regional Board Appointment

 

Commissioner Banister entered a motion to table the MHMRSA Board appointment. Commissioner Brown provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

k.                  Letter of support-Board of Education/DOT

 

Commissioner Brown entered a motion to support the Board of Education's request for funding for the two new school site road projects. Commissioner Burdick provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

l.                     Trash bags

 

Administrator Cobb reported that several vendors was contacted to submit a sealed bid for the trash bags. However, one bid was received by the closing date as follows:  Phoenix Supplies      $194.10 per thousand - large bags

                                                            $107.10 per thousand - small bags

 

Commissioner Brown entered a motion to allow the County Administrator and the Public Works Director to review the quote and make a recommendation to the Board. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

Public Comment  

 

Mohammed Jalil requested a refund for the Beer & Wine License that he recently approved for Hickory Crossing Grocery. He said that he changed his mind not to lease the store and would not need the license.

 

Chairman Oglesby informed Mr. Jalil that the county could not refund him for the license.

 

Jere Johnson reported that the Hwy 29N and Elrod Ferry water lines are complete and the 29N project was under budget. He also stated the bids for the water lines to the new school sites would be opened at their July 26th, 2001 meeting.

 

Commissioner Dorsey asked Mr. Johnson how many customers the Authority has as of this date. Mr. Johnson replied that they have approximately seventy-five.

 

Mary Alice Applegate asked if the county has a policy pertaining to dogs. She said that a dog bite her while riding a bike on Hodges Mill Road and she called the City of Hartwell and was referred to the county.

 

Executive Session

None

 

Adjournment

 

Commissioner Brown 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