Hart County Board of Commissioners

March 11th, 2003

5:30 p.m.

 

The Hart County Board of Commissioners met March 11th, 2003 at 5:30 p.m. in the Hart County Administrative & Emergency Services Center.

 

Chairman Randy Banister presided with Commissioners R. C. Oglesby, Dan Reyen, Ricky Carter and Joey Dorsey in attendance.

 

1.                  Call to Order 

Chairman Banister called the meeting to order.

 

2.         Welcome

Chairman Banister welcomed those in attendance.

 

3.         Prayer 

Commissioner Reyen offered prayer.

 

4.         Pledge of Allegiance

Everyone stood in observance of the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

5.                  Approve Agenda

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to amend and approve the agenda as follows:

            Executive Session to include litigation matters

 

Commissioner Reyen provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

6.                  Approve Minutes of Previous Meeting(s)

2/25/03, 3/06/03

 

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to approve the minutes of the February 25th and March 6th, 2003 meetings. Commissioner Carter provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

7.                  Remarks by Invited Guests, Committees, Authorities, Etc.

a)                 Report from Chairman Board of Tax Assessors

 

County Administrator Gary Cobb presented Mr. Isley's report. He reported that seven hundred seventy seven appeals have been reviewed with the following results as of March 11th, 2003:

·        204 appeals have been reviewed with no changes applied

·        207 appeals have been reviewed with changes recommended

·        The remaining 366 appeals were made up of appellants not appearing, appeal dropped or requests for conservation usage.

·        Less than 2% have requested direct referral to the Board of Equalization

·        Plans for the BOE to begin their sessions were discussed with the BOA today

·        BOE plan to have heard all appeals by April 11

·        205 appeals ready to be forwarded to the BOE

 

Administrator Cobb also remarked that the need for an additional appraiser III and more office space is requested by the Board of Assessors.

 

8.                  Reports By Constitutional Officers & Department Heads

County Attorney Walter Gordon reported that the Board of Education met March 10th, 2003 and discussed various map plans for the electoral districts. He added that no vote was taken and the Board of Commissioners and Board of Education will hold a joint meeting Thursday March 13th, 2003.

 

9.         County Administrator's Report

County Administrator Gary Cobb remarked that the Board of Equalization requested use of the Conference Room and the Chamber Room in the Administrative Center to hold their hearings.

 

Commissioner Dorsey suggested that the Board of Equalization utilize rooms at Nancy Hart Elementary School.

 

Jay Earle asked if the Board of Assessors and Board of Equalization meeting were open to the public. He stated that the Chairman of the Board of Tax Assessors needed to available to present his report.

 

County Administrator Cobb also reported that the DOT right-of-way documents for Ank Powell and Corinth Church Road has been received and following the Chairman's execution they will be forwarded to the DOT.

 

10.       Chairman's Report  

Chairman Banister reported that the BOC and Board of Education have scheduled a called meeting Thursday, March 13th, 2003 at 6:00 p.m. in the Administrative center to review the map plans.

 

11.             Commissioners' Reports  

Commissioner Dorsey reported that he has discussed problems with property assessments with State Senator Ralph Hudgins.

 

12.             Consent Agenda

a.                  Holt Subdivision

b.         Nichols Subdivision  

 

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to approve the Consent Agenda. Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

13.       Old Business    

a.                  Appointments

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to appoint Stephanie Burton to the Recreation Advisory Board. Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

Chairman Banister announced that he would serve on the Board of Health.

 

b.                  Freedom Heights Road

No action was taken.

 

14.       New Business  

            a.         Subdivision Plat - J&F Land Company  

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to accept the J&F Land Company subdivision plat as presented. Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

            b.         Subdivision Plat - Elizabeth Court  

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to accept Elizabeth Court subdivision plat as presented. Commissioner Carter provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

c.                  Subdivision Plat - Norris 

Commissioner Dorsey entered a motion to accept Norris subdivision plat as presented. Commissioner Reyen provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

            d.         Bushhog Bids   

After discussing the bushhog bids at length Commissioner Reyen entered a motion to table the matter. Commissioner Carter provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 3-2 (Commissioners Oglesby and Dorsey opposed).

 

Chairman Banister entered a motion to remove the item from the table for further discussion. Commissioner Reyen provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

After discussing the matter further, Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to table the matter. Commissioner Reyen provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

            e.         Lawn Care Bids  

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to award the lawn care bid to Eberhardt Lawn Care. Commissioner Reyen provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

f.                    Tailgate Spreader Bids 

Commissioner Reyen entered a motion to reject the bids based upon the recommendation from the Public Works Director. Commissioner Carter provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

            g.         Gravel Policy  

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to table the gravel policy. Commissioner Reyen provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

            h.         Winters Lane Issues  

Commissioner Reyen entered a motion to authorize County Administrator Cobb to notify Hart Telephone Company concerning the utility lines on the county right-of-way. Commissioner Carter provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 4-0. Commissioner Oglesby abstained.

 

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to add approximately 650' of Winters Lane to the county road inventory. Commissioner Reyen provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

i.                    Behavioral Health Center - CO#1

Commissioner Dorsey entered a motion to accept change order #1 to extend the construction of the Behavioral Health Center to October 5th, 2003. Commissioner Oglesby provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

            j.          Administrative Assistant Position - Fire Department  

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to table the matter. Commissioner Reyen provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

            k.         Credit for Prior Experience - Sheriff Department   

Commissioner Dorsey entered a motion to credit Deputy Sheriff Sherman Payne with 10 years prior experience retroactive to date of full time employment. Commissioner Oglesby provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

            l.          Southern LINC Service - Sheriff Department  

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to approve the four Southern LINC Communication Service accounts in the amount of $1,500 from contingency funds. Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

            m.        Borderline Trading Post Arcade License Renewal  

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to approve the Borderline Trading Post Arcade License renewal. Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

            n.         Borderline Sports Bar & Games Arcade License Renewal  

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to approve Borderline Sports Bar & Games Arcade License renewal. Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

15.       Public Comment   

            a.         Dick Heimerich - Old Beacon Light Road  

Mr. Heimerich gave the background on the road that was deeded to the county 3 1/2 years ago and was scheduled to be paved. However, the paving was delayed due to the construction of the water line. He said there are twenty residents that live on the road and they deserve consideration to get the road paved.

 

David Setchel, resident on Old Beacon Light Road, questioned the right-of-way issue. Public Works Director Caime stated the road could be placed on the DOT list for assistance with the acquired right-of-way. He also stated SPLOST II funds are not available this year to pave the road.


Chairman Banister remarked that the DOT has a rating system that they use to determine which roads they will offer assistance.

 

Administrator Cobb stated there are 17 roads on the current resurfacing list requesting DOT assistance.

 

Tom Branch, resident on Old Beacon Light Road, voiced his concern that the road is a public safety issue and needed consideration before someone gets "killed".

 

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to resurface Old Beacon Light Road when funds become available. Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

Jerry Linne' voiced his deep concern that Tax Assessor Chairman Isley did not attend the meeting to give his report. He said he would forward questions to the Board of Assessors' office.

 

Executive Session

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to exit into Executive Session to discuss personnel and litigation matters as required by O.C.G.A. Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0. The resolution and affidavit are recorded in the minutes book.

 

With no further action taken during Executive Session, Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to exit the Executive Session and resume the regular meeting. Commissioner Reyen provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

The Hartwell Sun was notified by telephone that the regular session was going to resume. Reporter Jeff Schenck returned and the session started.

 

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to adjust Terrell Partain's salary by 5% effective the next pay period. Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to adjust Jon Caime's salary by 2 1/2% effective the next pay period and an additional 2 1/2% upon receipt of his PWD Certification effective the next pay period. Commissioner Reyen provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

Commissioner Carter entered a motion to continue the life insurance coverage of Greg Fleming and Ricky Wilson while they are on military active duty. Further, any non-accrual leave should be paid them before they depart. The motion carried 5-0.

 

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to remove the matter of the Part Time Administrative Assistant for the Fire Department from the table. Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to authorize the creation of a part time Administrative Assistant position in the Fire Department and eliminate the present position of Deputy Fire Chief for Training and Administration. Further, that should Mary Hughes accept this position, she would be credited with six years experience. The motion carried 5-0.

 

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to accept, with extreme reluctance, the County Administrator's resignation effective at the end of business April 30th, 2003. The motion carried 5-0.

 

17.             Adjournment  

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

 

 

---------------------------------------------------        ---------------------------------------------------

Randy D. Banister, Chairman                      Lawana Kahn, County Clerk