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JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION MARCH 2, 2015 7:00 P.M. The purpose of the meeting was to prepare the agenda for the March meeting. It was held at the Jefferson County Commissioners Office. Those present were as follows: Mitchell McGraw, Chairman; Gonice Davis, Vice Chairman; Tommy New, Member; Johnny Davis, Member; Wayne Davis, Member; Adam Mestres, County Administrator; Dalton Dowdy, County Attorney; and Bonnie Wells, County Clerk. Chairman McGraw called meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Commissioner Johnny Davis gave the invocation. Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion to adopt the agenda. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. OLD BUSINESS Department of Behavioral Health Planning Board Chairman McGraw asked this item be tabled until the training center lets him know who they want, because he would like to appoint someone approved by the training center. Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to table the item until the chairman is notified of the training center’s preference. Commissioner Johnny Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Insurance Services Broker Proposal Discussion Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion to have insurance brokers Group & Benefits of Augusta, Georgia and Bargeron Insurance of Louisville, Georgia to come before the board to do a proposal on the services provided by the respective companies. Commissioner Gonice seconded the motion. Discussion: Commissioner New stated he had supplied the current broker, Mr. William Toulson of Bargeron Insurance Company, with a list of things the county expected of his company; and he, Commissioner New, thinks Mr. Toulson should be allowed an opportunity to do the things on the list. Commissioner Wayne Davis apologized for not being able to participate in the discussion at the previous meeting because of health related issues; he then went on to say there were a lot of questions regarding health insurance. He can see a significant difference in what the county is getting and what the City of Wrens is getting with the broker they have. He went on to say as an employee of the city of Wrens he knows who his provider(broker) is and when he was preparing for surgery in December, he was able to call his provider and told him what he was about to do and asked him an array of questions. His provider (broker) did not give him anyone else to call he told him what he needed to do; what he could expect, and when he could expect it. He also went on to say at the City of Wrens, their broker comes out once a year to meet with the employees and answers a lot of questions. He comes prior to budget time so when it’s time to renew he has already plan shopped to four or five different companies. Last year when the board asked to go with someone different like Blue Cross Blue Shield, they were told the county could not go to Blue Cross Blue Shield and get another bid because the board already had an agent in the county. He added he didn’t know if that were good bad or indifferent, but he had a lot of questions he’d like to ask; and with the City of Wrens, where he works full time, they’ve had to eliminate or reduce the hours of part time employees so they won’t fall into a different category where they would have to insure these employees. There are some questions he had for Bargeron Insurance as well as the other company and he would definitely like for them to come in. When he looks at it he’s not just looking at it for one person, they, as a board have 170 something employees they represent and the best coverage they can give these people is the best they can possibly do. Commissioner Wayne Davis stated he talked to some from the selection committee and some employees, of the employees he spoke to, only one employee could tell him who our broker was. He also stated he wanted both companies to come to present thereby allowing them an opportunity to see what they had to offer. Chairman McGraw reiterated what Commissioner Wayne Davis said regarding hearing what each company had to say. Commissioner Johnny Davis stated he just wanted the board to be mindful of the new health care laws. Chairman McGraw asked if the committee considered ACCG and the company they write with. The county administrator explained the RFQ the county did would specifically exclude ACCG in this capacity as they are not a broker firm. If the county deals with ACCG directly, without a broker firm, we would have no commission. The vote was unanimous. NEW BUSINESS Wrens CDBG Project Update – Arty Thrift Wrens City Administrator, Arty Thrift, briefed the board on Wrens’ CDBG Project and garnered the board’s support. Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion authorizing Chairman McGraw to sign the resolution to move forward with Wrens’ CDBG project. Commissioner Johnny Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Animal Control ---PAGE BREAK--- Commissioner New conveyed to the board citizen’s complaints regarding animal control laws. Chairman McGraw asked if it would be a good idea to establish a group comprised of citizens to discuss the animal control issue. Commissioner Gonice Davis made a motion to form a committee to look into the animal control issue. Commissioner Johnny Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Crouch Road Closure Commissioner New made a motion to follow the procedure for the closure of Crouch Road. Commissioner Johnny Davis seconded the motion. Discussion: Chairman McGraw asked that Commissioner New clarify the procedure for closing the road. Commissioner New stated the following: advertise the closure of Crouch Road in the local paper for three weeks, have a public hearing; and if anybody comes to the hearing with an objection, our ordinance says it cannot be closed. The vote was unanimous. 2015 CDBG Resolution County Administrator, Adam Mestres, presented the following 2015 CDBG Resolution to the board, clarifying necessary requirements have been met, i.e. public hearing discussing the project and the conflict of interest therein. The 2015 CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) is for sewer improvements in the Rufus Wren Subdivision; Chairman McGraw owns rental property, which would not be affected by any monies from this grant, in the subdivision this makes it a conflict of interest for the chairman to sign documents or preside over meetings pertaining to the grant. Vice-Chairman Gonice Davis would conduct meetings and sign all documents relating to the 2015 CDBG (Community Development Block Grant). Vice Chairman Gonice Davis conducted this portion of the meeting. The 2015 CDBG Resolution is reflected below: ---PAGE BREAK--- Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to approve the 2015 CDBG Resolution concerning the Rufus Wren Subdivision. Commissioner New seconded. The vote passed with a vote of four to one. Chairman McGraw abstained from voting. Scheduled Public Comments Mr. Billy Godowns opted not to speak at this time. Public Comments on Agenda Items There were no public comments on agenda items. Adjournment Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to adjourn the regular meeting and go into Executive Session to discuss personnel. Commissioner Johnny Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Executive Session Commissioner New made a motion to adjourn the Executive Session. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. No action taken. Adjournment Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Johnny Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING MARCH 10, 2015 7:00 P.M. This was the regular scheduled meeting for the month of March. It was held at the Jefferson County Commissioners Office. Those present were as follows: Mitchell McGraw, Chairman; Gonice C. Davis, Member: Tommy New, Member; Johnny Davis, Member; Wayne Davis, Member; Adam Mestres, County Administrator; Dalton Dowdy, County Attorney; and Bonnie Wells, County Clerk. Chairman McGraw called meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Commissioner New gave the invocation. Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to adopt the agenda. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Commissioner New made a motion to adopt the minutes. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Chairman McGraw gave the chairman’s report; County Administrator Adam Mestres gave the administrator’s report; Carl Wagster, EMS Director, gave the EMS report; Jimmy Kitchens, Code Enforcement Officer/Building Inspector gave the building inspector’s report. County Administrator asked the following items be pulled from the Consent Agenda and placed on the Regular Agenda underneath Old Business: Animal Control and Insurance Services Broker. Wrens CDBG was pulled from the Consent Agenda altogether. Consent Agenda Motion to have Bargeron Insurance Company and Group and Benefits Consultants come before the board to submit proposal on services their respective companies can provide (Pulled from Consent Agenda and placed under Old Business) Motion authorizing chairman to sign resolution to move forward with Wrens CDBG (Pulled from Consent Agenda) Motion to form a community group for the purpose of discussing the animal control problem (Pulled from Consent Agenda and placed under Old Business) Motion to advertise and have hearing on closure of Crouch Road ---PAGE BREAK--- Motion to sign CDBG Resolution and move forward with application process Chairman McGraw read the remaining items on the Consent Agenda. The chairman wanted to advertise the closure for four weeks and talk to constituents to let them know of the closure. Commissioner New made a motion to adopt the Consent Agenda. Commissioner Johnny Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. OLD BUSINESS Animal Control Commissioner New brought before the board the issue with animal control. Commissioner New made a motion for the county administrator to move forward with contacting whomever he needed to, to do something about animal control. Commissioner Wayne Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Insurance Services Broker Proposal Discussion Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion to allow Bargeron Insurance Company and Group and Benefits an opportunity to come before the board Monday, March 23, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. at a Special Call Meeting to make presentations regarding the health insurance services they are able to provide for the county employees. Commissioner Wayne Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. NEW BUSINESS Courthouse Landscaping Chairman McGraw presented information to the board regarding Mr. Bill Ramsey’s interest in landscaping the courthouse grounds. The chairman went on to explain Mr. Ramsey’s grandfather or great grandfather was instrumental in building the courthouse, which is why he expressed an interest in landscaping the courthouse. The proposed amount for the landscaping is $2,835. Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion to proceed with beautifying the courthouse grounds for the proposed amount of $2,835. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Planning and Zoning Moratorium County Attorney, Dalton Dowdy, recommended a ninety day moratorium on planning and zoning to allow an opportunity for the planning and zoning ordinance to be updated as it has been at least fifteen years since any changes were made to the ordinance. Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to approve a ninety day moratorium on planning and zoning land use ordinance effective at 12:00 a.m., March 11, 2015. Commissioner Johnny Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Scheduled Public Comments David Bryant, a resident of State HWY 24, expressed his dissatisfaction for the naming of a portion of State HWY 24 in honor of former Commissioner Ozzie Hannah. Public Comments on Agenda Items There were no comments on agenda items. Adjournment Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to adjourn the Regular meeting and go into the Executive Session to discuss land acquisition. Commissioner Johnny Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Executive Session Commissioner New made a motion to adjourn the Executive Session. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Adjournment Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner New seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SPECIAL CALL MEETING MARCH 23, 2015 9:00 A.M. ---PAGE BREAK--- This was a Special Call Meeting to review presentations by insurance brokers, Group & Health Benefits and Bargeron Insurance Company. It was held at the Jefferson County Commissioners Office. Those present were as follows: Mitchell McGraw, Chairman; Gonice C. Davis, Member: Tommy New, Member; Johnny Davis, Member; Wayne Davis, Member; Adam Mestres, County Administrator; Dalton Dowdy, County Attorney; and Bonnie Wells, County Clerk. Insurance Broker Presentations Mr. Russell Head of Group and Benefits presented information on his company and the health insurance services they could provide to the employees of Jefferson County, after which Mr. William Toulson of Bargeron Insurance Company presented information on health insurance services his company could provide to the employees of the Jefferson County. Adjournment Commissioner New made a motion to adjourn the Regular meeting and go into the Executive Session to discuss land acquisition. Commissioner Johnny Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Executive Session Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion to adjourn the Executive Session and go back into the Regular Meeting. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Adjournment Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous.