Hart County Board of Commissioners

April 30th, 2002

7:00 p.m.

 

 

 

The Hart County Board of Commissioners met April 30th, 2002 at 7:00 p.m. in the Hart County Administrative and Emergency Services Center.

 

Chairman Joey Dorsey presided with Commissioners Randy Banister, Ken Brown and Don Burdick in attendance. Commissioner R. C. Oglesby absent.

 

Call to Order

 

Chairman Dorsey called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

 

Welcome

 

Chairman Dorsey welcomed those in attendance.

 

Prayer 

 

Commissioner Banister opened the meeting with prayer.

 

Pledge of Allegiance

 

Everyone stood for the pledge of allegiance.

 

Approve Agenda

 

Commissioner Burdick entered a motion to amend and approve the agenda as follows: Remarks by Invited Guests, Committees, Authorities, Etc. remove Judy Melton and John Stuckey; New Business item 13a) defer until the next regular meeting, 13 i) General fund budget amendment, j) CO#2 Engineering fees, k) CO#3 Engineering fees and Executive session. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 4-0. The agenda is recorded in the minutes book.

 

Approve Minutes of Previous Meeting(s)

            April 9th, 12th, 16th and 17th, 2002

 

Commissioner Burdick entered a motion to approve the minutes of the meetings held April 9th, 12th, 16th and 17th 2002. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 4-0.

 

Remarks by Invited Guests, Committees, Authorities, Etc.

            Deborah Gaines, Clean & Beautiful

 

Deborah Gaines shared what's been going on in the community during the past year with the Clean & Beautiful program. She reported that thirty-eight individuals are involved in the Adopt-a-Spot program, sixteen in the Adopt-A-Highway program and she has various educational programs in the school system. She reported that there were four hundred seventy-five bags of litter picked up during the Great American Clean-up held on April 27th.

 

Commissioner Burdick thanked Ms. Gaines for the job she does and is attempting to do in the county to keep the scene clean. He suggested that the commissioners get involved in the Adopt-a-Spot program.

 

Chairman Dorsey read the Clean & Beautiful Proclamation designating the week of April 22nd - 28th as the "Great American Cleanup/Let's Keep Georgia Peachy Clean".

 

Commissioner Burdick entered a motion to adopt the proclamation. Commissioner Brown provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 4-0. The proclamation is recorded in the minutes book.

 

Reports By Constitutional Officers & Department Heads

 

County Attorney Walter Gordon did not have anything to report.

 

County Administrator's Report

 

County Administrator Gary Cobb did not have anything to report.

 

Chairman's Report 

 

Chairman Dorsey reported that the parking agreement for jurors would be delayed a week. He reminded the board of the May 1st, 2002 meeting with the municipalities to discuss the LOST renegotiations. He read a letter from Representative Powell announcing DCA has approved funds in the amount of $18,000 for the Fire Training facility and equipment for the First Responders.

 

Chairman Dorsey reported that the Sheriff Cleveland has requested that the Sheriff's Department be allowed to keep one Ford Crown Victoria that was replaced by a new car and turn in the Ford Bronco.

 

Commissioner Brown entered a motion to allow the Sheriff to remove the Bronco from the vehicle fleet and retain one Crown Victoria. Commissioner Brown entered a motion to grant the Sheriff's request. Commissioner Burdick provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 4-0.

 

Chairman Dorsey announced that Commissioner Oglesby is recovering at home from surgery.

 

a.                  Clean & Beautiful Proclamation

 

Item was taken care of after Ms. Gaines gave her report.

 

b.                  Tax Assessor Budget Amendment

 

Chief Appraiser Margaret Crossley reported that Diversified Golf has appealed the property appraisal and the matter is going to court. Therefore, the Tax Assessor Board has requested that the board amend their budget by $10,000 to allow them to hire a fee appraiser to review the property assessment with improvements.

 

Attorney Gordon remarked that Diversified Golf is in a unique situation in that the city owns the property however; the golf course is privately operated. He stated that Diversified Golf has a lease hold interest in the land for fifty-years.

 

Commissioner Burdick asked how the $10,000 fee was determined. Ms. Crossley remarked that Mr. Ferris has been the county's tax consultant since 1991 and he gave her an estimate of not less than $7,500 and not more than $10,000 to do the appraisal.

 

Commissioner Banister remarked that he saw the need of hiring a fee appraiser however, he wants to get fees from other appraisers to make sure the fee Mr. Ferris quoted was in the ballpark.

 

Chairman Dorsey remarked that he felt that the Board of Education should contribute to the cost of the appraisal.

 

Commissioner Burdick entered a motion to amend the General Fund Tax Assessor Budget by $10,000 and the Chief Appraiser pursue experienced appraisers with qualifications in appraising golf courses. Commissioner Brown provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 4-0.

 

c.                  Spring Industries Subdivision

 

There was no action taken since the subdivision is not in the county's jurisdiction.

 

d.                  EMA Ordinance - 1st Reading

 

Attorney Gordon highlighted the four EMA Ordinances as adopted by the Georgia EMA.

 

e.                  Recreation Park Grading Bids

 

County Administrator Gary Cobb reported that the grading bids were opened in the presence of the county clerk at the advertised appointed time in the meeting room and the procedure went very well. He remarked that he and the Public Works Director has reviewed all the bids and recommends accepting Lewis Construction Company's low bid.

 

Public Works Director Jon Caime reported that earthwork is the first phase of the Recreation Park project. 

 

Commissioner Burdick entered a motion to accept Lewis Construction bid of $248,729.00 for the grading project and amend the 1%SPLOST to increase the Recreation Park by $175,000. Commissioner Brown provided a second to the motion.

 

Lenford Smith asked if the board would consider 1b, ball field construction in the first phase, if SPLOST funds become available.

 

Chairman Dorsey remarked that the SPLOST funds are designated in addition to Recreation for Roadwork, Economic Development and Water projects.

 

The motion carried 4-0.

 

f.                    EMC Land Exchange

 

Attorney Gordon reported that notices were published in the Hartwell Sun as required by law and read the Resolution.

 

Commissioner Banister entered a motion to adopt the EMC Land Exchange Resolution. Commissioner Burdick provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 4-0.

 

g.                  SPLOST II Budget Amendment - Water Authority 

 

Commissioner Brown entered a motion to increase the 1%SPLOST II Water Authority line item 52.1100 by $75,000 for engineering design work. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 4-0.

 

h.                  Bid Opening - Methane Gas Remediation Engineering Svc.

 

The following companies submitted sealed bids for methane gas remediation at the landfill site:

·        Goldie & Associations

·        Advanced Engineering Management

·        Jordon, Jones & Goulden

·        Hayes, James & Associates

 

Commissioner Brown entered a motion to defer the bids to the County Administrator and Public Works Director to review. Commissioner Burdick provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 4-0.

 

i.                    General Fund Budget Amendment - Tax Assessors

 

Commissioner Burdick entered a motion to amend the general fund Tax Assessors' budget line item 52.3701 by $925.00 and line item 52.3501 by $1,550.00 from contingency funds. Commissioner Brown provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 4-0.

 

j.                     CO#2 Engineering Fees-Landfill

k.                  CO#3 Engineering Fees-Landfill

 

Commissioner Brown entered a motion to amend the Solid Waste line item 52.120 budget by $14,000. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 4-0.

 

Public Comment  

 

None

 

Executive Session  

 

Commissioner Banister entered a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss threatened litigation as required by O.C.G.A. 50-14-2, 50-14-3 and 50-14-4(b). Chairman Dorsey provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 4-0. The resolution and affidavit is recorded in the minutes book.

 

With no further action taken during Executive Session, Commissioner Brown entered a motion to convene the regular meeting and adjourn. Commissioner Burdick provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 4-0.

 

 

 

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Joey Dorsey, Chairman                                  Lawana Kahn, County Clerk