Hart County Board of Commissioners
November 9th, 2004
5:30 p.m.
The Hart County Board of Commissioners met November 9th, 2004 at 5:30 p.m. in the County Administrative & Emergency Services Center.
Chairman Daniel Reyen presided with Commissioners R C Oglesby, Randy Banister, Ricky Carter and Joey Dorsey in attendance.
Chairman Reyen called the meeting to order.
Chairman Reyen welcomed those in attendance.
Rev. Daily opened the meeting with prayer.
Everyone stood in observance of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Commissioner Oglesby entertained a motion to amend and approve the meeting agenda as follows:
New Business add agenda items
n) Judicial Circuit Salary Supplement
o) Norma Howard - Highway to Health Halfway House
Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
Commissioner Oglesby entertained a motion to approve the minutes of the October 26th, 2004 meeting. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
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County Administrator Jon Caime announced that the City/County Joint meeting is scheduled to meet November 11th, 2004 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Hart EMC community meeting room.
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Commissioner Banister announced that the water sub-committee has began discussions on alternative cost issues and they will give a report at the November 11th, 2004 Joint meeting.
Commissioner Dorsey entertained a motion to submit a request for DOT funding for road safety issued by November 19th, 2004. Chairman Reyen provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
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a) Bob Ridgway-Approval of Hart County Hospital Improvements
Attorney Bob Ridgway on behalf of the Hart County Hospital Authority requested a formal approval for the expenditures of up to $4,102,028 for improvements to the Hart County Hospital facility. He reported that the improvements are expected to replace the current surgical and emergency departments and no county funds are being requested from Hart County for the construction project.
Jerry Wise reported that the emergency room addition will be constructed first followed by the surgical unit.
Chairman Reyen announced that former Mayor Saliba relayed her support of the project.
Commissioner Oglesby entertained a motion to approve the Resolution to authorize the expenditures of up to $4,102,028 for improvements to the Hart County Hospital facility. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0. The resolution is recorded in the minutes book.
b) Bowen Subdivision - Variance Request
Roger Bowen owns twelve acres of property in the county and he requested a variance in order to deed one acre to his daughter and son-in law.
Commissioner Dorsey entertained a motion to grant the variance request based on the property is served by an easement. Commissioner Carter provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
c) LEOP Plan Approval - Terrell Partain
Commissioner Oglesby entertained a motion to approve the LEOP Plan. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
d) Bid Opening - Ambulance
The following companies submitted sealed bids for the Ambulance Re-mount:
American Emergency Vehicles $59,233
Innovative Coach $61,635
Commissioner Dorsey entertained a motion to turn the bids over to the County Administrator and EMS/EMA Director for review.
EMA/EMS Director Terrell Partain reviewed the bids and made a recommendation to award the bid.
Commissioner Oglesby entertained a motion to award the ambulance re-mount bid to AEV for $59,233. Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
e) Bid Opening - County Maps
After several attempts to acquire bids for county maps, Life Springs was the only vendor to submit a sealed bid.
Commissioner Banister entertained a motion to award the bid for maps to Life Springs at $1,024.75 per thousand. Commissioner Carter provided a second to the motion and noted that district lines need to be the maps. The motion carried 5-0.
Troyce Isom representing Life Springs reported that the information that they used for the current maps was provided by Hart EMC. He will provide a draft of the map to the BOC for review before printing commences.
f) Bid Opening - WC & Liability Insurance
A sealed bid was received from Franklin Insurance Agency and opened by the BOC. The Association of County Commissioners submitted the renewal information September 22nd, 2004.
Commissioner Oglesby entertained a motion to award the insurance bid to ACCG. Commissioner Carter provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
g) Jay Paul GAEPD - County Code Enforcement Officer
Mr. Paul reported that there are twenty four counties in the environmental district that he represents. He requested that the BOC consider employing a code enforcement officer to enforce environmental issues in the county.
Commissioner Dorsey remarked that the position should be part time. Chairman Reyen remarked that the BOC may want to consider creating a multi-task position for Animal Control/Code Enforcement.
h) Communications Tower Discussion - Terrell Partain
EMS/EMA Director Partain presented a study to the BOC for a communication tower. He pointed out that there are problems with the current communication capabilities and some are being solved with purchasing new equipment. He estimated the cost of 190' tower at $50,600 which would increase coverage areas and create a redundancy for public safety.
Commissioner Oglesby entertained a motion to allow Partain to proceed with the project. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
i) Sheikh Sadiq - Vanna Country Store Beer & Wine Application
Commissioner Dorsey entertained a motion to deny the request for Beer & Wine License due to the history of the location of two violations issued for allowing the sale of beer & wine to a minor and Mr. Sadiq is not the owner of the business. Commissioner Carter provided a second to the motion. Commissioner Carter stated that if he was a new owner he could have gotten the license. The motion carried 5-0.
j) Budget Amendments - Used Vehicle Purchases
Commissioner Oglesby entertained a motion to approve the budget amendments. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0. The budget resolution is recorded in the minutes book.
k) Addition of Bradley Road to County Road System
County Administrator Caime stated that this road (CR166) has been continuously maintained by the County but was apparently dropped from the DOT map between 1983 and 1993. Commissioner Oglesby entertained a motion to add Bradley Road to the county's road inventory. Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
l) Animal Control Ordinance
County Attorney Walter Gordon presented a draft of an Animal Control Ordinance. The BOC decided they would discuss the issue in a work session.
Dr. Manning suggested that the BOC consider licenses fees for animals and include immunizations requirements in the ordinance.
m) Hart County Property Owners Association
Pete Nagele first noted that at the October 26th, 2004 BOC meeting he had commended the minority report of the BOA; had reviewed the small acre tract definition and administration problems and the apparent appearance of favoritism granted to the former chairs of the Board of Assessors and Equalization. He noted also that the BOC had passed motions by 4-0 directing the Chairman of the Board of Assessors to present explanations on these topics at the November 23rd, 2004 BOC meeting.
Mr. Nagele discussed appraised values in Hart County. As background he presented phrases from the Official Codes of Georgia, the legislative intent, the Appraisal Procedures Manual and from the International Association of Assessing Officers. All of these emphasized the importance of the qualified actual sale in the determination of the appraised value. He noted that he felt that, absent physical changes etc. that the appraised value in the year following a qualified sale should probably be at the actual sale price.
He then discussed a chart entitled Some Strange Appraisals that was based on the 2003 County Sales Ratio Report. He emphasized the wide range of the ratios and stated that while he did not know the details, the wide range of the Appraised values, both higher and lower, from the actual sale value of these qualified sales certainly appeared strange and called for some explanation.
The commissioners raised a number of questions and Commissioner Dorsey indicated that he would like to review the sales ratio report and create his own "Bell Curve". Mr. Nagele gave him a copy of the County Wide 2003 Sales Ratio Report.
Mr. Nagele closed by suggesting that the BOC pass a motion, similar to those in the October 26th, 2004 session, to direct the Chairman of the Board of Assessors to provide a clear explanation as to why so many of the appraisals were so widely divergent, both higher and lower, than the actual qualified sales.
Jay Earle read a letter from Herbert and Doris Emmel addressed to Randy Combs and Margaret Crossley that after three years of delaying, stone walling and foot dragging they are giving up on their tax appeal and request for a tax refund. The Emmel's have sold their property and have moved away. In closing, the Emmel's urged the BOC to use their authority wisely and appoint those who genuinely want to restore fairness and honesty to our tax system to the BOA.
n) Salary Supplement - Judicial Circuit
Attorney Gordon presented the Judicial Circuit request for an addition to their current salary supplement of $200/month.
Commissioner Oglesby entertained a motion to approve the increase of the salary supplement to the current judicial circuit and no future funding for retiring judges. Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
o) Norma Howard - Highway to Health Halfway House
Ms. Howard requested a letter of support from the BOC to provide a Highway to Health Halfway House in the county. She reported that Al & Gwen Eppinger, Sheriff Cleveland and Gail Blackwell are Board members for the facility.
Commissioner Oglesby entertained a motion to draft a letter of support but that the HCBOC was not financially supporting this effort. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
Buddy Groover appeared before the BOA and was told that he could not get an additional $10,000 tax exemption. He noted that according to the law he is entitled to the additional exemption.
Alice Worthan, representing GA. Mtns. Community Service Board introduced herself to the BOC. She noted that the CSB serves thirteen counties in the area and she will share any State Legislative changes with the county in the future.
Don Mazer noted that there are two teams of the 9-10 year olds that will compete in the All Star Football. He voiced his concern that other age groups were not given the opportunity. He invited the BOC to the upcoming Recreation Advisory Board meeting.
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Commissioner Oglesby entertained a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
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Daniel W. Reyen, Chairman Lawana Kahn, County Clerk