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JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION APRIL 6, 2015 7:00 P.M. The purpose of the meeting was to prepare the agenda for the April 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 New gave the invocation. Commissioner Wayne 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 recommended Mrs. Susan Clark be appointed to the Department of Behavioral Health Planning Board. Mrs. Clark will fulfill Mrs. Nancy Gunn’s unexpired term. Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to accept the chairman’s recommendation and appoint Mrs. Susan Clark to the Department of Behavioral Health Planning Board. Commissioner New seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Insurance Services Broker Proposal Discussion Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion to keep William Toulson of the Bargeron Insurance Incorporated, as the broker for the county’s health and vision insurance; with the understanding Mr. Toulson will assist employees with any complaints and/or problems they may have as well as sponsor insurance workshops for new employees. Commissioner Wayne Davis seconded the motion but added the board would like quarterly reports detailing any and all activity. Discussion: Commissioner New asked for clarification of the vote. He asked if he were understanding correctly, the vote was to leave service where it was with the additional things included. Commissioner Johnny Davis stated that was correct, Mr. Toulson would now handle any issues employees had and they would see Mr. Toulson at his office rather than coming to the commissioner’s office. The vote was unanimous. Hoyt Braswell Road Project Update – D. Dowdy County Attorney, Dalton Dowdy, gave the board a brief update on the Hoyt Braswell Road project. Mr. Dowdy explained the title work on the eight parcels to be acquired for the Hoyt Braswell Road improvement project had been completed. Mr. Dowdy explained he wanted to share with the board they were continuing to work on the project and everything should be taking shape by the end of the month. NEW BUSINESS Tax Assessor Board Re-Appointment (Holbert) Commissioner New made a motion to re-appoint Robert Holbert to the Tax Assessor Board for an additional term of three years, beginning June 1, 2015 and ending May 31, 2018. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. LifeLink Proclamation County Administrator, Adam Mestres, presented to the board a proclamation from LifeLink proclaiming April as Donate Life month. Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion to proclaim April as Donate Life month, thereby authorizing the chairman and the county clerk to sign the proclamation. Commissioner New seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Utility Management Services, Inc. Presentation Mr. Cleve White, a representative from Utility Management Services, Inc., presented information on his company’s ability to analyze the county’s utility bill, specifically Georgia Power, and attain the lowest rate. Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion to view the presentation as informational. Commissioner Wayne Davis seconded the motion. Discussion: Commissioner New wanted to know if they could vote on it at the regular meeting. Chairman McGraw said they could. The vote was unanimous. Scheduled Public Comments There were no scheduled public comments. ---PAGE BREAK--- Public Comments on Agenda Items There were no public comments on agenda items. Adjournment Commissioner Gonice Davis made a motion to adjourn the regular meeting and go into 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 Wayne Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Adjournment Commissioner New made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Johnny Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PUBLIC HEARING – CROUCH ROAD CLOSURE APRIL 14, 2015 6:30 P.M. This was a public hearing to discuss the closing of Crouch Road. 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 the hearing to order; Commissioner New gave the invocation. Closing of Crouch Road Mr. Bill Godowns and his son Mr. Billy Godowns expressed their need to have Crouch Road closed. Mr. Roy Burns conveyed his desire to have the road open. Per Jefferson County policy if any one citizen opposes the closure of a road, the road cannot be closed. Chairman McGraw closed the hearing. JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING APRIL 14, 2015 7:00 P.M. This was the regular scheduled meeting for the month of April. 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 Gonice Davis gave the invocation. Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to adopt the agenda. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Commissioner Johnny Davis 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 and the EMS report in EMS Director Carl Wagster’s absence. Jimmy Kitchens, Code Enforcement Officer/Building Inspector gave the building inspector’s report. Jim Anderson, 911/EMA Director/Fire Chief, presented EMA/911/Fire report. ---PAGE BREAK--- Consent Agenda Motion to appoint Susan Clark to Behavioral Health Board Motion to accept the proposal from and retain employee health/vision insurance services with broker, William Toulson of Bargeron Insurance Company Motion to reappoint Robert Holbert to tax assessor board for an additional three years Motion to authorize the chairman’s signature on the LifeLink Proclamation declaring April as Donate Life Month Motion to view utility management presentation as informational Chairman McGraw read the Consent Agenda items. Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion to adopt the Consent Agenda. Commissioner Wayne Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. OLD BUSINESS Crouch Road Closure County Administrator, Adam Mestres, presented information on the aforementioned Crouch Road closure. He explained the previously held public hearing was advertised in the paper for three weeks as well as on the radio; and that there was opposition to the road closure. Mr. Mestres also explained any type of road closure is at the discretion of the board and they could make a formal motion one way or the other or take no action, which of course would mean the road would remain open. Commissioner New suggested a committee is formed to review the current policy to see if there was anything to be done to better the policy. Commissioner Wayne Davis stated to close this road would set a precedent for closing roads in the county which would enable them to have more hearings and road closures than anyone could handle. NEW BUSINESS No new business at this time. Scheduled Public Comments Robert Stokes made comments regarding a need for a Veterans Affairs hospital in Jefferson County. 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 Johnny Davis made a motion to adjourn the Executive Session. Commissioner Wayne Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Adjournment Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Johnny Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous.