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JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION MARCH 5, 2012 8:30 A.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: William Rabun, Chairman; Gonice Davis, Member; Tommy New, Member; Johnny Davis, Member; Wayne Davis, Member; Adam Mestres, County Administrator; Michael Moses, County Attorney, and Bonnie Wells, County Clerk. Chairman Rabun welcomed guests; Commissioner Johnny Davis gave the invocation. Commissioner New suggested the board recognize Deputy Warden Mark Williamson. Deputy Warden Williamson died March 2, 2012 of a massive heart attack. Commissioner Johnny Davis suggested a moment of silence; at which time the board and attendees of the meeting observed a moment of silence for Mr. Williamson. Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion to adopt the agenda. Commissioner New seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. NEW BUSINESS Community Wildfire Protection Plan Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to place on the Consent Agenda the Community Wildfire Protection Plan for Jefferson County. This is a collaborative effort among Jefferson County’s Chairman of the Board, EMA Director, and Fire Chief along with Glascock/Jefferson County Forestry Unit and the Community Wildfire Protection. Commissioner New seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. (Consent Agenda) Resolution—San Clair Missionary Baptist Church Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion for the Board of Commissioners to present San Clair Missionary Baptist Church with a resolution commemorating their 150th anniversary in May 2012. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. (Consent Agenda) Beer & Wine License—Ty Neal Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion to issue Ty Neal a beer and wine license. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. Discussion: Commissioner New wanted to know if the county issues Mr. Neal a beer and wine license and he does not comply with state regulations by obtaining a state license…will the code enforcement officer legally shut him down. County Attorney, Mickey Moses stated the code enforcement officer could not shut him down without a due process hearing and notice. The motion carried with Chairman Rabun, Commissioners New, Gonice Davis, and Johnny Davis voting yes. Commissioner Wayne Davis voted no. Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to enter into Executive Session to discuss personnel. Commissioner Johnny Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion to adjourn the Executive Session and go back into the regular meeting. Commissioner New seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Appointment of County Agent Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion to appoint Mrs. Pam Sapp as the new County Agent. Mrs. Sapp will replace Jim Crawford who retired in January. Her tenure as County Agent will commence May 1, 2012. Commissioner New seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Adjournment Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion to adjourn the Regular Meeting and go into Executive Session to discuss personnel. Commissioner New seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Executive Session Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion to adjourn the Executive Session and reconvene the Regular Meeting. Commissioner Wayne Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion to adjourn the meeting with no action taken during the Executive Session. Commissioner New seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. ---PAGE BREAK--- JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING MARCH 13, 2012 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: William Rabun, Chairman; Gonice Davis, Member; Tommy New, Member; Johnny Davis, Member; Wayne Davis, Member; Adam Mestres, County Administrator; Michael Moses, County Attorney; and Bonnie Wells, County Clerk. Chairman Rabun called the meeting to order and gave the invocation. Commissioner New made a motion to adopt the agenda. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Commissioner Gonice Davis made a motion to adopt the Februay 2012 minutes. Commissioner Wayne Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Chairman Rabun gave the chairman’s report; Adam Mestres gave the administrator’s report which included recognition for Sandy Walden and Patricia Washington, two employees at the Tax Assessor’s office. They received flowers and a thank you card respectively for a job well done; one from a vendor and the other from a citizen. Carl Wagster, gave the ambulance report. Consent Agenda The consent Agenda items were: Community Wildfire Protection Plan, Resolution—San Clair Missionary Baptist Church, Appointment of County Agent. Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion to adopt the Consent Agenda. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. OLD BUSINESS Sale of County Property on Old US 1 Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to table the sale of county property on Old US 1 allowing Commissioner New an opportunity to speak with a representative from Georgia Forestry regarding the building on the property. Commissioner New seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. TEFRA Commissioner New made a motion to approve the resolution issuing Bonds for the Project which is located approximately 1.4 miles west of Wadley, Georgia south of U. S. Highway 319 (State Route 78), north of the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks, east of Old Meandering Road (a logging road) and west of the Georgia Power right-of-way consisting of approximately 27 acres. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. ---PAGE BREAK--- Sale of County Property—Wadley Commissioner New made a motion to proceed with advertising for the sale of county property located in Wadley, Georgia. Commissioner Wayne Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. ---PAGE BREAK--- Ty Neal—Beer and Wine License Commissioner Gonice Davis made a motion to issue a beer and wine license to Ty Neal for the establishment known as Club Lincoln Park located in Wadley, Georgia. Commissioner New seconded the motion. The motion carried with Chairman Rabun, Commissioners New, Gonice Davis, and Johnny Davis voting yes. Commissioner Wayne Davis voted no. NEW BUSINESS Ordinance to Prohibit Parking and/or Storage of Large Commercial Vehicles in Residentially Zoned Areas Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion allowing County Administrator, Adam Mestres to proceed with an ordinance prohibiting parking and/or storage of large commercial vehicles in residentially zoned areas. Commissioner Wayne Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Pension—Volunteer Fire Fighters County Administrator, Adam Mestres, recommended the board continue with the pension and the pension portion only for volunteer fire fighters at Hillcrest and Matthews Fire Departments. Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion for the board to continue the pension for the volunteer fire fighters with the stipulation that the county receives annual documentation of training and fire calls; which would eliminate unqualified fire fighters and reduce the liability to the county for having unqualified people. Commissioner Johnny Davis seconded the motion. Discussion: Commissioner New wanted to ascertain that funds were being paid by the county for some type of insurance premium for the volunteer fire fighters. Adam Mestres, County Administrator, stated the county does pay the premium for the volunteer fire fighters at VFIS. We currently pay accident, sickness, accidental death and dismemberment. The county pays the premium for both fire departments, which is an additional expenditure the county provides as a fringe benefit. Commissioner Gonice Davis asked the county administrator to ascertain what the cities provided for their fire fighters. Mr. Mestres said he spoke to some of the chiefs and they said they do compensate some of their members at the end of the year. The vote was unanimous. Property Tax—Tower Assessment County Administrator, Adam Mestres, presented information regarding collecting property taxes on towers. Mr. Mestres informed the board the county had a number of cell towers that over the years have acquired more carriers on them. The towers were assessed at the time the towers were constructed or placed on the property; however since that time some of the towers have two or three carriers on them and they have a large dollar amount of equipment both on the tower and in their buildings. Therefore there is potential gain for the county to have the towers assessed by this consultant so that we may get proper appraisals on them. There is an initial investment of $1,000 per tower and initial carrier and if there are multiple carriers on the tower the fee is $1,000 per carrier to provide this research but will allow the county later in the year when we do property assessments to assess the towers at the rate at which the equipment is on them. Mr. Mestres also stated the Chief Appraiser, Katherine Perry said she believes the county has a lot to gain both this year and in years to come. Commissioner Wayne Davis made a motion to proceed with the property tax tower assessment provided the company, Cell Tower Solutions, LLC is registered with the state. Commissioner Johnny Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Purchase of Vehicle for County Agent Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion to table the purchase of a vehicle for the county agent until the new budget year because the money has not been set aside to purchase the vehicle. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded Public Comments on Agenda Items John Peebles suggested obtaining a confiscated vehicle from the sheriff’s department for the county agent. Eric Moseley from Georgia Forestry spoke to the board regarding the Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Adjournment Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion to adjourn the meeting and go into Executive Session. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Commissioner New made a motion to adjourn Executive Session and go back into the Regular Meeting. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion to appoint Calvin Oliphant as the interim Deputy Warden. Commissioner Gonice Davis seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. Commissioner Johnny Davis made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner New seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous.