Full Text
JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING MAY 12, 2020 7:00 P.M.` This was the regular meeting for the month of May. It was held at the Jefferson County Multipurpose Complex (Old Armory). Those present were as follows: Mitchell McGraw, Chairman; Gonice C. Davis, Member; Tommy New, Member; Johnny Davis, Member; Wayne Davis, Member; Adam Brett, County Administrator; Dalton Dowdy, County Attorney: and Bonnie Wells, County Clerk. Chairman McGraw called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Commissioner Johnny Davis gave the invocation. Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to adopt the agenda. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Commissioner Gonice Davis made a motion to adopt the minutes (March and April). Commissioner Wayne Davis seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Reports The chairman and the county administrator gave their respective reports. Emergency Services Director, Jim Anderson, briefly updated the board on COVID-19; currently there have been 370 tests administered, 19 positive results, 2 active positive cases, and 1 death. EMS Director, Chad Parker and Building Department Clerk, Sandy Walden were not in attendance. OLD BUSINESS Reappointment to Board of Assessors Chairman McGraw made a recommendation to re-appoint James Darden to the Assessor Board for an additional three years. Mr. Darden’s current term will expire June 30, 2020, the new term will commence July 1, 2020, continuing through June 30, 2023. Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to accept the chairman’s recommendation and appoint James Darden to the Board of Assessors for a term of three years. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Landfill D6 Dozier Warranty Options The board discussed the following warranty options for the D6 Dozier located at the county landfill. ---PAGE BREAK--- The county administrator reviewed the listed options with the board, after discussing each option, it was his recommendation to go with option 2 which is a preventive maintenance agreement only at $3.91 per hour; this is a 24 month/2,500 hour preventive maintenance agreement. Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to approve option 2 which is the preventive maintenance agreement only. Commissioner New seconded the motion. Discussion: Commissioner Johnny Davis asked for clarification on the recommended option, the county administrator explained all routine inspections were a part of the maintenance and they only pay for the hours used. The motion was unanimously approved. Caterpillar Dump Truck Replacement The chairman said they were still in talks with Yancey Brothers regarding the dump trucks and the item should be tabled as they do not have a resolution to the situation. The board opted to table this item until a later date. NEW BUSINESS SPLOST 2022 Project List The county administrator reviewed the proposed 2020 SPLOST Project List, which is reflected below. ---PAGE BREAK--- After much discussion, Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to approve the SPLOST 2020 List. Commissioner New seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Hospital IGA (Intergovernmental Agreement) Millage Rate The county administrator reviewed the following annual intergovernmental agreement with Jefferson Hospital regarding the three mills the county gives the hospital per annum. The hospital’s request is for the three mills awarded via vote by the citizens of Jefferson County. Commissioner New made a motion to approve the Intergovernmental Agreement with the hospital. Commissioner Wayne Davis seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Budget Discussion & Project Delivery The county administrator reviewed the following budgets for SPLOST and TSPLOST (TIA). The two budgets are reflected here. ---PAGE BREAK--- After reviewing the budget with the board, the county administrator recommended the board remove a couple of, already approved, projects from the list. The aforementioned projects are the FY 21 striping Project, the FY 21 Dirt Road Paving Project, and one public works vehicle with TIA funds. The total for those projects is $600,070. These items were recommended for removal because of the administrator’s concern regarding the collection of taxes. He stated if taxes were in fact collected, the items could be added back to the list. Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to remove estimated revenues and expenditures the administrator brought to the board’s attention based on budget projections. Commissioner New seconded the motion. Discussion: The chairman said if they get the revenue the board can go back and add the items removed. Commissioner New said for, the press, this does not affect what has already been approved this summer; this is for next summer. The motion was unanimously approved. Health Insurance Renewals The county administrator along with Russell Head from Head Capitol Advisors provided information on the health insurance renewal. Mr. Head was in attendance via teleconference. The county’s health insurance is currently with Blue Cross Blue Shield/Anthem, with Russell Head and his team at Head Capitol Advisors serving as brokers. The dental insurance is via Blue Cross Blue Shield/Anthem and is brokered by Billy Shiver and his team at ACHS. The county received bids from three companies including BCBS, those bid tabulations are reflected below. BCBS offered a 0% renewal rate; Humana provided the same plan design as BCBS but with a yearly reduction of $77,950. The third option was provided by Capstone, a broker from Statesboro, GA, they provided a level funded option via Jefferson Hospital who would have one tier of pricing for services at the hospital and local ---PAGE BREAK--- clinics, but another tier of pricing if you go outside Jefferson Hospital and the local clinics. After much discussion the county administrator recommended the board stay with a traditional insurance plan while in the midst of a pandemic (COVID-19/Coronavirus) and a new county administrator; with those things considered, he suggested the board opt for Humana or BCBS/ Anthem. Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to select Humana as the county’s choice for health insurance as the annual premium reduction will be $77,950. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The motion was passed with Chairman McGraw, Commissioners New, Gonice Davis and Wayne Davis voting yes and Commissioner Johnny Davis abstaining. Life and Disability Renewal The county administrator provided the following information on renewal for the life, disability, and dental insurance brokered by Billy Shiver at ACHS. The administrator explained this is a clean renewal and clean rate pass, as there aren’t any increases on the policy. Commissioner New made a motion to approve a rate pass and renewal for dental, life, and long-term disability. Dental is with Blue Cross Blue Shield, life and long-term disability is with Lincoln. Billy Shiver with ACHS serves as the broker for these insurances, (the insurance will be shopped with a potential for changing at a later date.) Commissioner Wayne Davis seconded the motion. Discussion: Commissioner Johnny Davis asked the county administrator what the maximum amount of the life insurance coverage was. The county administrator stated that amount was $25,000 and as you age the coverage amount lowers. Commissioner Davis said to the county administrator, if you went out to find more health care coverage, you should find more life insurance coverage. He said he had a problem with the amount of the coverage, because it was not for the deceased but for the family. He also said an employee working here for 25 or 20 years and all the family gets is $25,000. The chairman instructed the county administrator to get additional prices and if they find other insurance, they, the board, would amend the motion to go with the new rate. Commissioner Johnny Davis asked that the record shows that the board will revisit the item after prices have been shopped. The motion was unanimously approved. 2020 LMIG Bid Tabulation The county administrator reviewed the following 2020 LMIG bid tabulation. ---PAGE BREAK--- The county administrator recommended the board go with C & H Paving as they had the lowest bid at $3,170,969.57. Commissioner New made a motion to move forward with C & H Paving at a cost of $3,170,969.57. Commissioner Wayne Davis seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Jefferson County and UGA Extension Office MOU The county administrator presented a MOU between Jefferson County and the UGA Extension Office. The county attorney said they only received the agreement the previous week and would like an opportunity to review. Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to table the item until the following month’s meeting. Discussion: Commissioner New wanted to know if the county was responsible for the staff at the county extension’s office salary. The county administrator stated the county pays a portion of all the staff’s salaries and a percentage of their retirement plans. Commissioner Johnny Davis seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Regional Commission Park Grant Administration Contract The county administrator presented the following contract with the Regional Commission for Grant Administration services for Anne Floyd for a contract for the soon to be completed park grant. Should the county receive the money and the project continues to move forward, her grant administration services would be under contract for a price not to exceed $16,000. Commissioner Gonice Davis made a motion to approve the aforementioned contract at a price not to exceed $16,000. Commissioner Johnny Davis seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Sale of Surplus Vehicles The county administrator presented the following surplus vehicles for sale. ---PAGE BREAK--- Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to approved the list of surplus vehicles for sale. Commissioner New seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Chairman McGraw commended County Administrator, Adam Brett for the outstanding job he did as county administrator. Mr. Brett’s last day is May 22, 2020, he has accepted the Headmaster’s position at Edmond Burke Academy in Burke County, Georgia. The chairman also conveyed condolences to Commissioner New on the recent loss of his wife, Mrs. Gloria New. Scheduled Public Comments There were no scheduled public comments. Public Comments on Agenda Items There were no comments on agenda items. Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion to go into executive session to discuss personnel. Commissioner Wayne Davis seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously adjourned. Commissioner New made a motion to come out of executive session and reconvene the regular meeting. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Commissioner New made a motion to hire Christopher Hutchings as the Interim County Administrator, to fill in until the county hires a full-time county administrator. Commissioner Wayne Davis seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Adjournment Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Attest: County Clerk Mitchell McGraw, Chairman Gonice C. Davis, Vice Chairman H. G. Thomas New, Member Johnny Davis, Member Charles W. Davis, Member