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COUNT RICKENS GEORGIA BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS P I C K E N S C O U N T Y , G E O R G I A Kris Stancil, Chairman Josh Tippens, District 1 Commissioner ? Josh Tatum, District 2 Commissioner W O R K S E S S I O N & C A L L E D M E E T I N G M I N U T E S PICKENS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MONDAY - JULY 7, 2025 - 4:30 PM 1266 East Church Street - Jasper, GA 30143 Commission Conference Room - Suite 168 Present: Chairman Kris Stancil, Commissioner Josh Tippens, Commissioner Josh Tatum and County Clerk Lesa Thomason. 1 . C a l l t o O r d e r Chairman Stancil called the meeting to order at 4:30 pm. 2. Prayer/Invocation Kenny Woodard led the prayer. 3. Pledge of Allegiance Sloan Elrod led the pledge of allegiance. 4. Approval of the Agenda Commissioner Tippens made a motion to approve the Agenda. Commissioner Tatum seconded; the vote was 2 yes and 0 no to approve. 5. Consent Agenda There were no consent items presented. 6. Old Business There were no old business items presented 1266 East Church Street Jasper, Georgia 30143 [PHONE REDACTED] pickenscountyga.gov ---PAGE BREAK--- 7. New Business: A. Consideration and Approval of a Resolution to call a Referendum Election to Reimpose a Special One Percent Sales Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST). A Referendum Resolution to request an election to determine the reimposition of a special one percent sales and use tax on November 4, 2025 was presented. This document outlines the projects and expected costs of the projects and also authorizes the issuance of general obligation debt. The SPLOST would be for a period of five years and the total estimated amount of the 2026 SPLOST is estimated to be approximately $63,000,000. According to the 2020 Census, the respective populations of the Cities and the County and their percentages of SPLOST would be as follows: Pickens County (unincorporated area) - 33,216 population (85.78%) City of Jasper - 4,084 population (12.30%) City of Nelson - 549 Pickens County population (1.65%) Town of Talking Rock - 91 population (0.27%) Commissioner Tippens made a motion to approve. Commissioner Tippens seconded; the vote was 2 yes and 0 no to approve. B. Consideration of Terminal Construction Project at Pickens County Airport (JZP). A discussion was held regarding the contract for construction of a new terminal at the Airport. The cost among other factors were reviewed. A Town Hall meeting regarding the Airport is in the planning stages and will be held on August 7, 2025. At the meeting, the Board will seek input from the pilots and citizens regarding issues at the Airport. 8. Work Session Discussion Items: A. A review of Land Use Intensity District Change Requests. Ashley Gooch reviewed the following rezones and/or conditional use applications: RZ-190943 - Joyace Jones On behalf of Imerys Marble Inc. Hwy 53 West AG to RR .72-acres of a 39.46-acre tract Parcel # 050B 008 ---PAGE BREAK--- RZ-190944 - Matthew & Diane Kinzer Hwy 53 West AG to ER 14.15-acres Parcel # 040 068 001 CU - 190948 - Stan Fitts Camp Dobbs Road Event Space 247.96-acres Parcel # 063 103, 063 103 029, & 063 103 030 CU - 190949 - Richard Paulsen 131 Reavis Road Event Space 14.3-acres Parcel # 067D 090 002 B. Discussion to potentially consider a call for a Referendum Election to consider Package Store Sales of distilled spirits in unincorporated Pickens County. Requests have been made to the Board regarding package store sales of distilled spirits in unincorporated Pickens County. A discussion was held regarding same. This subject is sensitive in nature and should be voted on by the citizens of the County. C. Discussion of adding a 3-Way Stop at the intersection of Buchannan and Wilkie Roads. Rochester and Associates completed a study at the intersection of Buchanan and Wilkie Road. It was their opinion that a 3-Way Stop would be a viable solution to improve intersection safety. D. Discussion related to the purchase of an ambulance and fire truck. A detailed presentation was given by Fire Chief, Tim Prather, regarding the current status of the ambulance and fire fleet. The County needs a new ambulance and fire truck. He discussed the ambulance replacement schedule and the fire apparatus replacement schedule as well. E. Update on upcoming ISO rating changes. Chief Prather gave the results of the recent ISO review. ISO concluded its study of the fire suppression features being provided for Pickens County. The resulting community classification beginning October 1, 2025 will be Class 04/4Y. (Of note, this will include Talking Rock.) ---PAGE BREAK--- Chief Prather also introduced Thomas Capps as the new Deputy Fire Chief for Pickens County. 9 . P u b l i c C o m m e n t s A brief discussion regarding first responders and their right to protect themselves was brought up by Commissioner Tippens. Shawn Iqbal, Ardor, Inc., spoke to the Board in favor of a Referendum Election to consider Package Store sales of distilled spirits in unincorporated Pickens County. 1 0 . A d j o u r n Commissioner Tippens made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Commissioner Tatum seconded; the vote was 2 yes and 0 no. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:40 pm./ 1 d Kris Stancil ATTEST: J u s ~ T h o m a s o n Lesa Thomason County Clerk These minutes were approved at the July 21, 2025 BOC Meeting. Commission meetings are videotaped and may be viewed at www.knowpickens.com