Hart County Board of Commissioners

January 27th, 2004

7:00 p.m.

The Hart County Board of Commissioners met January 27th, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. in the Hart County Administrative & Emergency Services Center.

Chairman Daniel Reyen presided with Commissioners R C Oglesby, Ricky Carter, Randy Banister and Joey Dorsey in attendance.

  1. Call to Order

Chairman Reyen called the meeting to order.

  1. Welcome

Chairman Reyen welcomed those in attendance.

  1. Prayer

Commissioner Banister offered prayer.

  1. Pledge of Allegiance

Everyone stood in observance of the Pledge of Allegiance.

  1. Approve Agenda

Commissioner Banister entertained a motion to amend and approve the meeting agenda as follows:

            Old Business

            Add item b)      2nd Reading Amendment-Building Permit Ordinance

            New Business

            Remove item e) Alan Johnson-The Ridge Subdivision

            Executive Session

            Remove need for Litigation Matters

Commissioner Carter provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

  1. Approve Minutes of Previous Meeting(s)

Commissioner Oglesby entertained a motion to amend and approve the minutes of the January 13th, 2004 meeting. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

  1. Remarks by Invited Guests, Committees, Authorities

None

  1. Reports by Constitutional Officers & Department Heads

County Attorney Walter Gordon gave a brief update on the case in the U.S. District Court involving an inmate in the county jail facility. He reported that the Jury's verdict was in favor of the county.

  1. County Administrator's Report

Interim Administrator Caime commended the Emergency Response team, 911 dispatch, the two full time fire fighters, Road personnel and the Public Works Specialist for their efforts during the ice storm.

He reported on the outcome of the meeting he had with City Manager Phil Hertz on the SPLOST issue. He reported that the City officials will provide the county with a list of projects and the cost.

He also reported that he discussed relocation of the city's utilities at the new Recreation Park site.

Commissioner Dorsey remarked that SPLOST funds should be available for the City and that some county projects may have to be delayed in order for them to get the funds.

Interim Administrator Caime suggested that the commissioners wait until the 2003 audit is complete.

Commissioner Banister remarked that the SPLOST cash flow projection is very tight for 2004. Commissioner Dorsey responded that it is not right to hold the City of Hartwell's funds hostage.

Commissioner Oglesby entertained a motion to take action on the City's SPLOST funds and put it on the next meeting agenda. Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion.

Commissioner Banister remarked that any of the commissioners can request an item to be placed on the agenda without a motion. He also remarked that they should review the SPLOST documentation and cash flow.

Commissioner Oglesby entertained a motion to table the issue. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

  1. Chairman's Report

Chairman Reyen commended the county employees for their efforts during the recent ice storm and those that showed up for work even though they weren't required to.

  1. Commissioners' Reports

Commissioner Banister inquired about the status of the landfill ordinance. County Attorney Gordon responded that he would have a draft ready for the next meeting.

Commissioner Dorsey remarked that he felt that the Code Enforcement officer position should be funded on a part time basis.

  1. Consent Agenda 

None

  1. Old Business

a)      Action to release hold on Hart County DDA funds

Chairman Reyen gave a brief update on the hold on DDA funds and turned the floor over to Mary Alice Applegate.

Ms. Applegate reported that Mr. Storing visited her office in July 2003 and that she answered most of his questions. She remarked that Mr. Storing became agitated and that he said she should know that she is a target. She explained that she filed an incident report.

Chairman Reyen asked if Mr. Storing received the information that he requested. Ms. Applegate responded that he has received the information.

Commissioner Dorsey questioned Mr. Storing remark as being a threat. Ms. Applegate responded that she took the appropriate action in filing the report.

Commissioner Dorsey asked Ms. Applegate if Mr. Storing was in a hostile mode. Ms. Applegate responded that he was.

Chairman Reyen remarked that there's a difference of an on the spot request vs following proper procedure.

Commissioner Carter asked Ms. Applegate if she spends funds or makes decisions on her own. Ms. Applegate explained that the Downtown Development Authority has a Board of Directors that makes funding decisions.

Chairman Reyen entertained a motion to release funds to the DDA. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion.

Commissioner Banister stated that the information Mr. Storing requested was provided to him and that there is no violation of the law.

Chairman Reyen remarked that there was a misunderstanding and there was not an attempt to hide anything that Mr. Storing requested.

Mr. Storing presented the commissioners with seven facts for consideration. He said Ms. Applegate gave a false report to the police and she intended to get him arrested. He said that there was no reason for her to file a report against him. He reported that he requested the City Council to terminate Ms. Applegate.

City Council George Rooks stated that there was no basis for the county withholding the DDA funds.

DDA member Cary Jackson supported Ms. Applegate's decision to file an incident report and remarked that she wasn't asking for police action. He also stated the all the information has been provided to Mr. Storing that he requested.

Commissioner Oglesby asked how Mr. Storing found out about the incident report. Ms. Applegate responded that City Manager Hertz wrote a letter to Mr. Storing.

Commissioner Dorsey questioned when the reported was filed with the police. Ms. Applegate responded that she was very busy and she filed a report four days after Mr. Storing made his visit to her office.

Chairman Reyen called for a vote. The vote carried 5-0 to release the DDA funds.

b)      2nd Reading Amendment-Building Permit Ordinance

Interim Administrator Caime read the amendment to the Building Permit Ordinance.

Commissioner Dorsey entertained a motion to accept the Building Permit Ordinance amendment as the second reading. Commission Oglesby provided a second to the motion.

An individual asked if the amendment would affect outside structures. Chairman Reyen responded that as long as the threshold was under $2,500 it would not affect outside structures.

Herb Emmel asked if an individual is required to get a permit if they replaced a roof costing $4,000. Chairman Reyen responded that as long as the style of the roof is not changed a permit is not required.

Chairman Reyen called for a vote. The vote carried 5-0.

  1. New Business

a)      Request to put out bid for Service Truck for Fire

Interim Administrator Caime reported that the Fire Department has located a used 4WD diesel with 94,000 miles on the odometer for $28,800.

After discussing the matter, Commissioner Dorsey entertained a motion to put the Service Truck out for bid. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

b)      Discussion & possible action for Bid Award - Stone

Commissioner Oglesby entertained a motion to award the bid to Matal. Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

c)      Discussion & possible action for Bid Lawn Care

Commissioner Dorsey entertained a motion to put the lawn care for county facilities out for bid. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

d)      Discussion & possible action on Draft Staffing & Pay Analysis Plan - EMS Department

Commissioner Oglesby entertained a motion to remove the item from the table for discussion. Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion.

Commissioner Banister remarked that the staffing and pay analysis plan needs to be looked at thoroughly and there are a lot of issues. He also stated he thought the issue needs to be discussed at the next budget time.

Commissioner Dorsey remarked that everyone agreed to review the pay analysis plan for the EMT after the two new fire fighters were hired at a grade level higher than the EMT positions.

The motion failed 2-3 to remove the issue from the table (Chairman Reyen, Commissioners Carter and Reyen opposed).

  1. Public Comment

None

  1. Executive Session

None

  1. Adjournment

Commissioner Oglesby entertained a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.