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JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THIRD PUBLIC HEARING MILL INCREASE AUGUST 7, 2017 6:00 P.M. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the tentative mill increase as voted by the citizens of Jefferson County in the March 21st referendum. 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; Adam Brett, County Administrator; Dalton Dowdy, County Attorney; and Bonnie Wells, County Clerk. Commissioner Wayne Davis was absent. Chairman McGraw called the hearing to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance; Commissioner Gonice Davis gave the invocation. Mill Increase The chairman opened the floor for questions and comments. There were several people in attendance with questions regarding the millage rate which was voted on by the citizens of Jefferson County in a March 21, 2017 referendum. Hospital Administrator, Lou Semrad, III was also in attendance. He was able to share positive information on the activities at the hospital. Adjournment Commissioner New made a motion to adjourn the Public Hearing. 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 A. Davis, Member JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION AUGUST 7, 2017 6:30 P.M. The purpose of this meeting was to prepare the agenda for the August meeting. It was held at the Jefferson County Commissioner’s Office. Those present were as follows: Mitchell McGraw, Chairman; Gonice Davis, Vice Chairman; 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 New gave the invocation. Commissioner Gonice Davis made a motion to amend the agenda by adding Price of Mower for Road Department as item g under New Business. Commissioner Wayne Davis seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. ---PAGE BREAK--- Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to adopt the agenda. Commissioner New seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. OLD BUSINESS Security Cameras at Tax Office County Administrator, Adam Brett, introduced for discussion the cost of security camera at the tag/tax office. Mr. Brett shared a quote from Securitas Electronic Security for the installation of cameras at the aforementioned office; this company installed cameras at the building when it belonged to Regions Bank. The proposal included seven cameras and other operational equipment needed as reflected here, along with the installation cost of the aforementioned cameras/equipment. The administrator explained the cost for the cameras were not budgeted and this would be an additional budgeted expense. The county administrator recommended the board table the purchase of the camera system for the tag/tax office. The chairman wanted to know the location of the cameras; the administrator directed that question to the Emergency Services Director, James Anderson. Mr. Anderson stated there were no cameras in the individual offices however, there were cameras in the lobby area, at the entrances/exits, and outside front and back. The panic buttons are located in all offices. The cost of the equipment for the cameras as shown above is $9,899.11 and $143.34 per month as a service fee. Truck for Road Department County Administrator, Adam Brett received two bids on a pickup truck for the road department. The bids are reflected below. ---PAGE BREAK--- Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion to purchase the vehicle from Fairway Ford for $34,026. Commissioner Wayne Davis seconded the motion. Discussion: Road Superintendent, Ken Thomas, indicated he preferred the pickup from Brannen Ford because of the light package. Chairman McGraw asked what did he mean when he said he preferred the light package on the truck from Brannen Ford. Mr. Thomas indicated the vehicle from Fairway Ford had LED lights and they were extremely bright which made it hard to see. The county administrator explained the light package from Brannen Ford was better. The motion failed with a vote of two to three. Commissioners Wayne Davis and Johnny Davis voted for. Chairman McGraw, Commissioners New and Gonice Davis voted against. Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to purchase the vehicle from Brannen Ford for $35,400, which is reflected above as item a. Commissioner New seconded the motion. The motion passed with a vote of four to one. Chairman McGraw, Commissioners Gonice Davis, Wayne Davis, and New voted for. Commissioner Johnny Davis voted against. Commissioner Johnny Davis stated the board needed to purchase a truck for the Emergency Services Director; he wanted to go on record stating the road department has received truck after, after truck, after truck, the ESD needed a new vehicle; when were they going to get one for him. They needed to be fair. If they are doing it for one department, they should do it for all of them. TBS Services Inc. Contract with Assessor County Attorney, Dalton Dowdy brought before the board the following contract from TBS with the tax assessor’s office. The contract is renewed annually with the county and this one has already been approved by the Board of Assessors. Mr. Dowdy recommended the board approved the TBS Services contract. Commissioner New made a motion to accept the county attorney’s recommendation and approve the above contract between TBS and the Jefferson County Tax Assessor’s office. Commissioner Wayne Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimously approved. Thomas Street Project The board received an update on the Thomas Street Project from the county administrator. Mr. Brett said he and the public works director met with Kenny Green from Turnipseed Engineering along with Mr. Bob Henderson the landowner. Mr. Green had a scale drawn of the project with an estimated cost of between $50,000 and $60,000, he is working on the permitting, which he said could take up to sixty days. Mr. Green said he would have the project ready to bid out at the thirty day mark of the sixty days so that he could coordinate the permitting with the bids. NEW BUSINESS ---PAGE BREAK--- LED Lights at Prison County Administrator, Adam Brett presented, to the board, three bids on LED lights for the prison. The bids were from LED Waves, Jays Hardware, and Home Depot; they are reflected on the next page. LED lights are significantly cheaper which is why the prison has opted to switch to LED. Mr. Brett said switching to LED lights would pay for itself within one year. Commissioner New made a motion to accept the bid from Jay’s Hardware at a total cost of $6,989.28. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Lease of Old U. S. One Forestry Building The county administrator brought before the board an option to lease the Old Forestry building located on US 1. The board tried previously to sell the building but discovered the building could only be used for county or state purpose and could not be sold. Which is why the county administrator suggested leasing the building. Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion to allow the county administrator along with the county attorney, ascertaining the building can be leased, to proceed with the leasing of the forestry building on Old U S 1. Commissioner New seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously passed. Lawn Mower Purchase The county administrator presented three quotes on a commercial grade lawn mower; the bids were from B & W Saws and Equipment, Blanchard Equipment, and Quality Mowers & More. The bid from B & W Saws was the lowest bid, therefore the county administrator made a recommendation for the board to purchase the Snapper mower from B & W Saws. The bids are reflected here. ---PAGE BREAK--- Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to accept the recommendation of the county administrator and purchase the Snapper mower from B & W Saws, utilizing funds from TIA. Commissioner Johnny Davis seconded the motion. Discussion: The chairman reconfirmed the mower being purchased would go to the road department and the mower at the road department would be transferred to the recreation department. He was also concerned the mower would turn over without much effort. He wanted to know if there was an issue with the mower currently at the road department. Mr. Thomas said he was having the mower checked out before it was transferred to the recreation department. Commissioner Wayne Davis said he wanted the road department to have the new mower, the county administrator reminded the board the mower was being purchased with TIA funds and would have to be at the road department. The motion was unanimously passed. Handicap Access at Courthouse and Tax Office The county administrator briefed the board on a conversation he had with Ben Carter of Carter Watkins regarding handicap access to the courthouse, who estimated the project would cost approximately $50,000 plus and if the board chose to do it, the access would have to be at the front of the courthouse. The law mandates it should be at the main entrance of the building; and someday there would be armed security check points at the courthouse and if handicap accessibility is at the back, you then make the back door the main entrance of the courthouse, because everyone will be coming through the back to get checked in. The tag/tax office have the ramp but they do not have the push button doors, the county administrator also spoke to Mr. Watkins regarding that building’s handicap accessibility. The cost of the push buttons for the doors would be $6,000 per door. The administrator said you are looking at two buttons for a cost of $12,000 and the “lip” in the doorway has to be removed in order for the wheelchair can roll through. Contract with CSRA Regional Commission for Aging Services The county administrator presented the contract with CSRA Regional Commission for Aging Services. The contract has already been reviewed by the County Attorney and is an annual contract. Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to approve the contract with CSRA Regional Commission for Aging Services. Commissioner New seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Sale of Scrap Metal at Landfill The county administrator shared with the board the e-mail below received from Steven Green, one of the Landfill Operators regarding the sale of scrap metal at the landfill. Ordinarily the scrap metal would be placed on GovDeals.com for sale, but after reviewing the numbers included in the e-mail below, it may be more feasible to place a container on site for the scrap metal. ---PAGE BREAK--- Commissioner New made a motion to accept the recommendation as reflected in the memo above and allow U S 1 Recycling to place two containers at the landfill to collect scrap metal. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimously approved. Mower – Road Department Commissioner Gonice Davis expressed a need for the purchase of a mower for the grass on the right of way could be maintained. The county administrator stated they had two quotes, one from Blanchard Equipment and one from B & W Tractors. Mr. Brett recommended the board purchase the mower from Blanchard equipment at a cost of $17,650. Commissioner Gonice Davis made a motion to accept the recommendation of the county administrator and purchase the mower from Blanchard Equipment at a cost of $17,650 with funds from TSPLOST. Commissioner New seconded the motion. The vote was unanimously approved. Scheduled Public Comments There were no scheduled public comments. Public Comments on Agenda Items There were no comments on agenda items. Executive Session Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss personnel. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to come out of Executive. Commissioner Johnny Davis seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Commissioner New made a motion to recommence the work session. Commissioner Johnny Davis seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Commissioner New made a motion to appoint Calvin Oliphant as Warden at Jefferson County Correctional Institute, with the same salary as the previous warden. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Adjournment Commissioner New made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Johnny 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 A. Davis, Member Charles Wayne Davis, Member JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 15, 2017 ---PAGE BREAK--- 7:00 P.M. This was the regular meeting for the month of August. It was held at the Jefferson County Commissioner’s Office. Those present were as follows: Mitchell McGraw, Chairman; Gonice Davis, Vice Chairman; 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 New gave the invocation. Chairman McGraw then presented the following proclamation to representatives from Jefferson County Board of Education from the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners. The proclamation was done for members of Wrens Middle School Beta Club, who very recently won first place at the National Beta Conference in Orlando, Florida at Disney World. Those present and accepting the award on behalf of the students were, Dr. Molly Howard, Dr. Sam Dasher, Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Tracy Rowland, and her husband Mr. Gil Rowland. Dr. Howard accepted the award on behalf of the students. Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to amend and adopt the agenda; the amendment was to add Off Road Trucks to NEW BUSINESS as item d. Commissioner Johnny Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimously approved. Chairman McGraw gave the chairman’s report; the county administrator gave the administrator’s report and Chad Parker gave the EMS report. Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion to forgo the rest of the reports and move item g from Consent Agenda to OLD BUSINESS as item a. Commissioner New seconded the motion. The vote was unanimously passed. Consent Agenda The following were Consent Agenda items: a. Motion to approve TBS Service Contract b. Motion to purchase LED Lights from Jay’s Hardware for JCCI c. Motion to move forward with the lease of the Old Forestry Building Pending County Attorney’s review ---PAGE BREAK--- d. Motion to approve the purchase of a lawn mower for road department e. Motion to approve the contract with CSRA Regional Commission for Area Agency on Aging f. Motion to purchase mower for road department from Blanchard Equipment Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to adopt the Consent Agenda. Commissioner Johnny Davis seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. OLD BUSINESS Appointment of Warden at JCCI Commissioner New made a motion to appoint Calvin Warden as the Warden at the Jefferson County Correctional Institute. Commissioner Johnny Davis seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Chairman McGraw presented Warden Oliphant with his badge and each commissioner had an opportunity to congratulate Warden Oliphant and give him words of encouragement. Public Works Vehicle Purchase The county administrator presented the following bids on a pickup truck for the road department. Commissioner New made a motion to purchase the pickup truck from Brannon Ford in the amount of $35,400, which is option a above. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The motion passed with a vote of four to one. Chairman McGraw, Commissioners Gonice Davis, Wayne Davis, and New voted yes. Commissioner Johnny Davis voted no. Cameras at the Tax Offices County Administrator, Adam Brett, presented to the board the following e-mail regarding cameras at the tag/tax office. The chairman stated they are looking to use the cameras already installed in the building as the previous owners (Regions Bank) had state of the art cameras installed; they wanted to purchase a system compatible with those cameras. Mr. Brett asked that the board allow him and the chairman to make the final decision regarding the purchase of a camera system for the tag/tax office. Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion to allow the county administrator and the chairman to proceed with the purchase of equipment needed for the camera system for the tag/tax office. Commissioner Wayne Davis seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. ---PAGE BREAK--- NEW BUSINESS Millage Rate The county administrator presented the following information on the millage rate increase for the 2017 digest for FY18 Maintenance and Operation. Mr. Brett stated the request from the board of education was 15.9 mills and the total millage rate is 18.126. Commissioner New made a motion to accept the recommendation and set the millage rate at 18.126. Commissioner Wayne Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimously approved. Resolution Allowing Collection of Funds for the Hazardous Waste Trust Fund The county administrator brought, before the board, the following resolution for the Hazardous Waste Trust Fund, which will allow the county to be reimbursed for the monies utilized at the old landfill. The resolution is as follows: Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion to adopt the aforementioned resolution authorizing Jefferson County to request reimbursement funds from the State of Georgia for the old landfill located on Clarks Mill Road. Commissioner New seconded the motion. The vote was unanimously approved. Work Order with Moreland for LMIG Project on Kelly Quarters The county administrator presented, to the board, the work order for the LMIG project on Kelly Quarters Road with Moreland Altobelli. The work order can be seen in its entirety on the next page. ---PAGE BREAK--- Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to approve the work order authorization with Moreland Altobelli for the project on Kelly Quarters Road. Commissioner New seconded the motion. The vote was unanimously approved. Off Road Trucks The county administrator brought up for discussion the off-road truck at the landfill. The truck currently at the landfill needs repairing and is seventeen years old. His suggestion was to place that vehicle on GovDeals.com and purchase a new one. Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion authorizing the county administrator to place the off-road truck at the landfill on GovDeals.com and seek bids for a new truck. Commissioner New seconded the bid. The vote was unanimously approved. Scheduled Public Comments There were no scheduled public comments. Public Comments on Agenda Items There were no public comments on agenda items. Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss contracts and personnel. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimously approved. Executive Session Commissioner New made a motion to exit Executive Session. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimously approved. Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to go back into the Regular Meeting. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimously approved. Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion allowing the county attorney, the county administrator, the chairman, and a Development Authority appointee to arrange a contract for the lease of property (2.5 acres) for the development of a solar farm. Commissioner Johnny Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimously approved. Commissioner New made a motion for the county to purchase property from Murphy Timber Farms, LLC, deed the property to the Development Authority, who would then sell it to Producers Peanuts, LLC under the Economic Development. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimously approved. Adjournment Commissioner New made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. ---PAGE BREAK--- Attest: County Clerk Mitchell McGraw, Chairman Gonice C. Davis, Vice Chairman H. G. Thomas New, Member Johnny A. Davis, Member Charles Wayne Davis, Member