Hart County Board of Commissioners

March 14th, 2000

5:30 p.m.

 

 

The Hart County Board of Commissioners met March 14th, 2000 at 5:30 p.m. in the Hart County Administrative & Emergency Services Center.

 

Chairman Joel Moore presided with Commissioners Ken Brown, Don Burdick, Harry Hannah and R. C. Oglesby in attendance.

 

Call to Order, Welcome, Moment of Silence

 

Chairman Moore called the meeting to order, welcomed those in attendance and called for a moment of silence.

 

Approve Agenda

 

Commissioner Hannah entered a motion to remove the amendment to the bushhog contract from the agenda and to approve the agenda. Commissioner Burdick provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously. The agenda is recorded in the "1999-2000" minutes book.

 

Approve Minutes of Previous Meeting(s)

            02/21, 02/22, 03/06, 03/07/00

 

Commissioner Brown entered a motion to approve the minutes of the meetings held February 21st, 22nd, March 6th and March 7th, 2000. Commissioner Hannah provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

 

Remarks by Invited Guests, Committees, Authorities, Etc.

  a.   Fiscal Year 1999 Audit report/Wayne I. Bowen CPA

 

Chairman Moore thanked the committee members of the previous grand jury for their attendance at the meeting.

 

County Auditor Wayne I. Bowen gave a summary of the Fiscal Year 1999 audit report. He explained the department budgets and the areas that were over or under budget. He reported this is the first time the county has reached the kind of operational stability and is at the level needed.

 

Someone in the audience questioned what the county's gross income was for the year. Mr. Bowen responded general fund revenues were 6.4 million dollars and special revenues were 4.5 million for FY'99.

 

Phil Sims asked how the funds received for delinquent taxes are distributed. Mr. Bowen said the funds are paid out as required. Commissioner Burdick said the funds are paid out like they are collected. Chairman Moore also stated the distribution is determined by the millage rate for the year or years the taxes were due.

 

Clerk of Superior Court William E. Holland III commended Mr. Bowen for the thorough job that he does in compiling the audit report.

 

Chairman Moore said it is a cooperative effort between all the departments and to keep up the good work. He requested the department heads watch their budget on a monthly basis.

 

Martha James Swafford asked how many deputy sheriffs there are per shift. Chief Deputy Mike Haler responded they have four deputies on the first shift, three on second and two on third for a total of nine per day. Ms. Swafford said the Sheriff's office needed more help since they went over budget in the overtime wages.

 

Commissioner Burdick responded that additional deputies might not be the answer.

 

After taking a brief break the meeting convened. Chairman Moore said the audit reports are available for the public through the county office.

 

Auditor Bowen said the audit report is remitted to the Department of Audits to review and approve.

 

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to accept the FY'99 audit report as presented by Mr. Bowen. Commissioner Brown provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

Reports By Constitutional Officers & Department Heads

None

 

County Administrator's Report

None

 

Chairman's Report

 

Chairman Moore reported the commissioners went to Atlanta on March 3rd, 2000 and met with Representative Alan Powell, Senator Eddie Madden and the Department of Transportation representative to request release of state funds for road projects. He said the state would not release funds early this year for any road projects.

 

Commissioners' Reports

 

Commissioner Burdick reported he went to the Georgia Mtns. RDC meeting and said Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor is scheduled to begin holding town hall meetings March 21st, 2000. He said the first town hall meeting would be in White County at the Center Theater at 6:30 p.m.

 

Commissioner Burdick also expressed that the 2000 census summary is very important to the North Georgia region to determine federal funding for the area.

 

Consent Agenda

a.                  Transfer funds - Industrial Development to Industrial Building Authority

b.                  Job description - Fire Training Officer

 

Commissioner Burdick entered a motion to approve the consent agenda. Commissioner Hannah provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously. The consent agenda is recorded in the "1999-2000" minutes book.

 

Old Business

a.                  Revision to Chapter 46, Land Development Standards

 

Chairman Moore said the Land Development Standards was adopted by the Board of Commissioners in 1992 and the revision is required in order to comply with amendments at the state and federal level. He commended County Administrator Gary Cobb for his excellent job and his efforts to obtain input from individuals in the county.

 

Commissioner Hannah entered a motion to remove the item that was tabled at the previous meeting back to the floor for discussion. Commissioner Brown provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

County Administrator Gary Cobb reported the county has held two readings of the revisions to the Land Development Standards and one public hearing. He said he spent approximately six hours with individuals that brought up their concerns pertaining to the Land Development Standards. He explained the revisions to the Chapter 46 Land Development Standards.

 

Commissioner Hannah entered a motion to revise Chapter 46, Land Development Standards, of the Hart County Code of Ordinances per the documents. Commissioner Burdick provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

New Business

c.         Bids/Lawn Maintenance

The following bids were submitted for lawn maintenance:

            Franklin Lawn Care              $  600.00 per month

            Eberhardt                               1,499.00 per month

            Tallent Lawn Care                     680.00 per month

            K & K Service                        1,240.00 per month

 

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to refer all bids to the County Administrator for his consideration and analysis and recommendation at the next scheduled meeting. Commissioner Brown provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

d.       Bids/Bridge - Memorial Road

 

The following bids were submitted for the bridge replacement on Memorial Road.

           

            E. R. Snell                              $82,731.40

            Cornett Bridge                         88,974.00

 

Commissioner Burdick entered a motion to refer all bids to the County Administrator and Public Works Director for their consideration and analysis and recommendation at the next scheduled meeting. Commissioner Oglesby provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to allow the County Administrator to advertise for bids for grading only on roads that were previously discussed. Commissioner Brown provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

Public Comment - Executive Session As Required - Adjournment

 

Kenneth Hodges needed clarification on item #2 and #4 of the Land Development Standards.

 

County Administrator Gary Cobb explained the impact for the Land Development Standards applies to division of land.

 

Linder McMullan requested the Commissioners consider changing the bushhog specs to cut back further from the road right-of-way. He said he thought that would help with the deer problem. He also commented the Telephone Company is not repairing the roadsides where they install the telephone pedestals.

 

Martha James Swafford asked if there is any protection for wells from subdivisions. Administrator Gary Cobb responded that would be an issue for the Health Department to regulate.

 

Ms. Swafford also voiced concerns for the number of "illegal aliens" coming into the county. She said that citizens should not have to tolerate them coming into the county and should take action.

 

Chairman Moore said there is no county ordinance to prevent immigrants from coming into the county. He added that is an issue for the Department of Immigration.

 

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Brown provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

 

 

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Joel Moore, Chairman                              Lawana Kahn, County Clerk