Hart County Board of Commissioners

June 27th, 2000

7:00 p.m.

 

The Hart County Board of Commissioners met June 27th, 2000 at 7:00 p.m. in the Hart County Administrative & Emergency Services Center.

 

Chairman Joel Moore presided with Commissioners Ken Brown, Harry Hannah and R. C. Oglesby in attendance. Commissioner Don Burdick absent due to recent surgery.

 

Call to Order, Welcome, Moment of Silence

 

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

 

Approve Agenda

 

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to approve the meeting agenda. Commissioner Brown provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously. The agenda is recorded in the official minutes book.

 

Approve Minutes of Previous Meeting(s)

            06/09th, 06/12th, 06/13th, 06/14th, 06/15th, 06/23/00

 

Commissioner Hannah entered a motion to approve the minutes of the meetings held June 9th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th and 23rd, 2000. Commissioner Brown provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

Remarks by Invited Guests, Committees, Authorities, Etc.

a.                  Bill Chafin - 2000 Census

 

Mr. Chafin representing the Complete Count Committee reported the status of the 2000 Census count. He said the census count would be presented to the U. S. President by December 31, 2000 and to the State Senators and Legislators by April 1, 2001. Accordingly, the official census count will be available later in the year of 2001.

 

Mr. Chafin commended County Extension Agent Charles Rice and his staff for providing assistance to the census committee.

 

Chairman Moore commended Mr. Chafin for the services he has provided for Hart County.

 

b.                  Virgil Ayers - Various Topics

 

Before Mr. Ayers addressed the Board, Chairman Moore stated he wanted to set the record straight, that information provided to him previously concerning the E911 fees was correct and was the information requested by Mr. Hodges. Further, Chairman Moore stated there was never any attempt to keep information from him. The information was given him was the same information that was previously given to Mr. Hodges.

 

Mr. Ayers complained about being placed on the June 13th agenda after the regular business was taken care of. He said the public is entitled to speak whether on the meeting agenda or not.

 

Chairman Moore said if a citizen desires to be placed on the agenda, the topic of discussion needs to be made in advance in case the board needs to act on an agenda item.

 

Mr. Ayers questioned why the surplus property, that was recently auctioned off, was not advertised in the local newspaper as required by Georgia Law. County Attorney Walter Gordon informed Mr. Ayers the section of the law that he is referring to pertains to the Savannah River Valley Authority and has nothing to do with local government. Attorney Gordon said the county has discretion deemed to them to dispose of surplus equipment and is not required to advertise it.

 

Attorney Gordon challenged Mr. Ayers to provide the law section he is referring to that requires the county to advertise surplus equipment and if so he will give him a $100 bill.

 

Mr. Ayers recommended the Board consider calling off the 1% SPLOST referendum until after January 1, 2001 and allow the two new board members input on the allocation of the funds.

 

Attorney Gordon reported the planning process for the 1%SPLOST would have to restart if the board delays the referendum vote. He said there are four designated election days during the year that the county could ask for a referendum vote. Adding there would be a six or seven month gap in sales tax revenues if the referendum were put off until a later date.

 

Mr. Ayers said the board has lost respect from the county residents and he felt two new members might restore faith to the local government. He also stated the volunteer firemen worked for the last 1%SPLOST and they have been treated like a stepchild.

 

Commissioner Brown reported the county has purchased fifteen fire trucks in the past five years.

 

Chairman Moore said funding for the Fire Department has increased each year. He reported there is a mutual agreement with the Fire Chief and the Fire Committee to hold off purchasing an additional truck and equipment pending further studies of the ISO requirements. He further reported the county has requested an ISO inspection and hopefully will be in a position to improve the fire rating for the county.

 

Reports By Constitutional Officers & Department Heads

No report

 

County Administrator's Report

No report

 

Chairman's Report

 

Chairman Moore reported the county has received notice from the Department of Community Affairs of approval of a $500,000 RAP grant to purchase property for the Gateway Project.

 

He wished Commissioner Burdick a speedy recovery from his recent ankle surgery.

 

Consent Agenda

a.                  Joint Funding of "Welcome" signage

 

Commissioner Oglesby 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 official minutes book.

 

Old Business

None

 

New Business

a.                  Bid opening - Road Dept/Truck

 

The following companies submitted sealed bids :

            1.         Nally Motor Trucks    - International truck    $69,496.73

            2.         Peachtree Ford         - Ford truck                  67,736.00

 

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to allow the County Administrator and Public Works Director to evaluate the bids and make a recommendation to the board. He then amended his motion to authorize the County Administrator and the Public Works Director to place the purchase order due to time limitations.  Commissioner Brown provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

b.                  Bid opening - Strip approximately 13.4 mile of county roads

 

No bids were received for the road-striping project.

 

c.                  Bid opening - Road Dept/Metal building

 

The following companies submitted sealed bids for a metal building:

           

            1.         Northern Steel                                               $21,727.00

            2.         Tyson                                                                17,413.97

                        Tyson                                                                15,771.20

            3.         Charles Finley                                                 26,482.00

            4.         Northern Steel                                                 22,598.00

 

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to allow the County Administrator and Public Works Director to evaluate the bids and make a recommendation. Commissioner Brown provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

d.                  Board/Authority appointments

 

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to re-appoint Nancy Grizzle and Emily Gunnells and appoint Sandra Blackburn and Gary Devore to serve a four-year term to the Library Board. Commissioner Hannah provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

e.                  Resolution for an Intergovernmental Contract between Hart County, Franklin County and the Joint Development Authority concerning the acquisition and financing of property.

 

Bob Evans, representing the Economic Development Authority, presented a resolution between Hart and Franklin County for the acquisition and financing of property for the Gateway Project.

 

Commissioner Oglesby entered a motion to adopt the resolution. Commissioner Brown provided a second to the motion. The motion carried unanimously. The resolution is recorded in the official minutes book.

 

Public Comment

 

Chairman Moore reminded those in attendance to limit comments to five minutes.

 

Bobby Gaines requested clarification on ISO requirements for front mounted pumpers on fire trucks or side mounted pumpers.

 

Chairman Moore said currently the ISO rates the Fire Department as a water hauling system. Adding the Fire Department is going through a transition of a combination of water hauling and point of service. He said the fire trucks have been upgraded and is never intended as class "A" engines or pumpers.

 

Mr. Gaines inquired where the county stood with installation of dry hydrants. Commissioner Brown responded that all the dry hydrants have been installed.

 

County Administrator Gary Cobb reported Chairman Moore sent a letter in February requesting an ISO inspection.

 

Administrator Cobb also reported the proposed 1%SPLOST allocation is attached to the minutes of the previous meetings.

 

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