Hart County Board of Commissioners

September 28th, 2004

7:00 p.m.

 

 

 

The Hart County Board of Commissioners met September 28th, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. in the Hart County Administrative & Emergency Services Center.

 

Chairman Daniel Reyen presided with Commissioners R C Oglesby, Randy Banister, Ricky Carter 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

Prayer was offered by Rev. Harry Warren.

 

  1. Pledge of Allegiance 

Everyone stood in observance of the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

  1. Approve Agenda 

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

            Add item #7 a) Gary Cobb – Hart Haven

 

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

 

  1. Approve Minutes of Previous Meeting(s)
    • 9/08/04 Budget Work Session
    • 9/14/04 Budget Work Session
    • 9/14/04 Regular Meeting 

Commissioner Oglesby entertained a motion to approve the minutes subject to verification. Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

  1. Remarks By Invited Guests, Committees, Authorities 

a)     Gary Cobb – Hart Haven 

As of the results of the recent fire at the battered women’s shelter, Gary Cobb, representing Hart Haven, requested the Board’s consideration to assist the shelter in a lease agreement.

 

Blondie Willingham, Director of Hart Haven, reported that their current arrangement to lease a house through ReMax was a miscommunication between the owner of the property and ReMax. Therefore, they have been asked to evacuate the facility immediately.

 

County Administrator Jon Caime reported that the county’s liability insurance will cover $250,000 for relocation expenses.

 

Gary Cobb requested that the Board consider $850 per month allowance for temporary housing.

 

Commissioner Oglesby entertained a motion that the county pay $850 per month allowance for a temporary shelter tentative on reimbursement from the insurance company. Commissioner Banister remarked that the county needs to address the situation with the insurance company and that a motion would not need to be in order.

 

  1. Reports By Constitutional Officers & Department Heads 

None

 

  1. County Administrator’s Report 

County Administrator Jon Caime announced that the following:

    • Deadline to submit the Service Delivery Strategy to DCA is December 31st, 2004.
    • Deadline to submit the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and the Solid Waste Management Plan to DCA is next summer.
    • Need to begin discussions on the SPLOST III referendum
    • Joint Planning meeting is scheduled October 5th, 2004 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. in the Hart EMC facility.
    • The county is eligible to receive 75% of cost for damages to county roads, bridges etc. incurred from Hurricane Frances

 

  1. Chairman’s Report  

None

 

  1. Commissioners’ Reports

Commissioner Oglesby requested a meeting be scheduled with the Chairman of the DOT to request funding assistance for county roads.

 

Commissioner Carter remarked that local concrete companies are leaving excess concrete at construction sites on the county right-of-ways. He remarked that it is a cost to the taxpayers to remove the concrete and requested legal guidance pertaining to the matter.

 

Commissioner Carter commended everyone that responded during the recent storms in the county. He also requested a written statement from the Georgia Mtns. RDC justifying what the county receives for the annual dues.

 

Commissioner Dorsey reported that there is DOT funding available for guard rails, road side vegetation and striping programs. He requested the subject be placed on the following meeting agenda.

 

Commissioner Carter entertained a motion to request a statement from GA. Mtns. RDC asking them for an explanation on what they can assist the county in acquiring funds. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion.

 

Don Burdick reported that they discuss various funding topics at the RDC monthly meetings.

 

The motion carried 5-0.

 

  1. Consent Agenda

None

 

  1. Old Business

a)     Rhodella Park Water Project Road Cut Request – HCWSA

County Attorney Walter Gordon explained that the least expensive method to provide water to residents on Rhodella Park would be pavement cuts and repair the road with concrete with an asphalt surface. He reported that the projected costs for the project are $4,160 which is a cost savings of $22,000 over the jack and bore method.

 

Commissioner Oglesby entertained a motion to proceed with thirteen road cuts on Rhodella Park. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion.

 

Commissioner Carter remarked that the county would be setting precedence if they allowed the road cuts. He also remarked that the road should be put back in the same condition.

 

Commissioner Dorsey remarked that the road should be inspected and the performance bond would not be released until a final inspection by the Road Department.

 

Chairman Reyen remarked that the residents in Rhodella Park are in need of county water.  Commissioner Banister Rhodella Park was one of the reason's that the grant was approved to provide water to the area.  The motion carried 5-0.

 

b)     Courthouse Space Issue

Chairman Reyen entertained a motion to place the matter on the next meeting agenda. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

  1. New Business

a)     Discussion-Long Range EMS Planning

Commissioner Dorsey remarked that all of the county’s ambulances are stationed in Hartwell and some response times are as much as 20-30 minutes.

 

EMS/EMA Director Terrell Partain reported that presently all EMS calls are answered from one central location. He stated that 50% of the emergency calls are within a six mile radius of the central location and response times are relatively short. However, the remaining 50% of the calls include sections of the county that response times are routinely greater than fifteen minutes.

 

Director Partain explained that many factors would have to be considered to produce a workable and cost effective plan.

 

Commissioner Oglesby entertained a motion to proceed with the process and bring back to the BOC for consideration. Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion.

 

Commissioner Dorsey entertained a motion to authorize EMS/EMA Director Partain to minimize response time. Chairman Reyen provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

b)     Holt Property Tax Appeal 

Howard Holt reported that his refund request for seven years of overpayment of taxes has been denied by the Board of Tax Assessors and the Hart County Tax Commissioner.  He complained that he has written seven letters to Chief Appraiser Margaret Crossley and never received a reply.

 

He reported that he received a letter from Ms. Crossley June 14th, 2004 stating he may submit a refund request for taxes he felt that was overpaid along with forms to be completed going back seven years. He remarked that Mr. Combs did not have any knowledge of the letter and that Mr. Combs said that refund requests could go back three years. He reported that according to the Department of Revenue that tax refund request can not go beyond the past three years.

 

Commissioner Dorsey entertained a motion to table the matter until the minutes of the BOA meeting on December 18th and letter from the Board of Equalization can be provided.

 

Chairman Reyen requested a copy of Mr. Holt’s complete file.

 

Commissioner Oglesby entertained a motion for a brief recess. Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

The meeting convened after a brief recess.

 

c)      Small Acreage Breakpoint-Chief Appraiser Margaret Crossley

 

Chief Appraiser Margaret Crossley presented a general overview of the small acreage breakpoint. She stated that 0-4.9 acres is considered small acreage and that she uses the Marshall Swift National guidelines, the sales ratio and the market to determine the base rate per acre.

 

Pete Nagele reported that in the 2002 re-evaluation his property was valued using a "magic number" that was considerably higher than that of his next door neighbor who was assessed at $35,000 per acre for a four acre tract of land also on the lake. He said that he has tried to get clarity and finality. He also reported that the former chair of the Board of Equalization stated that the small acreage breakpoint was three acres; Mr. Combs said it was five acres.

 

d)     Adoption of FY05 Budget

Chairman Reyen entertained a motion to adopt the budget temporarily until the proper public notice has been advertised in The Hartwell Sun. Commissioner Oglesby provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

e)     Adoption of FY05 Millage Rates

Administrator Caime presented the Millage Rates for Tax Year 2004.  He pointed out that the unincorporated and incorporated tax rates have decreased for the second year in a row.

 

Commissioner Oglesby entertained a motion to adopt the FY05 General Fund Millage Rates. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

f)        Approval of Blue Water Estates Subdivision

Chairman Reyen entered a motion to approve Blue Water Estates Subdivision off Crawfords Ferry road. Commissioner Oglesby provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

g)     HCWSA Budget Requests

Commissioner Oglesby entertained a motion to table the request for additional funding for the Hart County Water & Sewer Authority to provide for a part time position to read meters, COLA and operating expenses. Chairman Reyen provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

Commissioner Oglesby entertained a motion to approve a budget resolution to provide $7,500 in SPLOST II for the additional cost of the water tank construction. Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

 

New business items h - l were not discussed due to the time.

 

  1.  Public Comment

None

 

  1.  Executive Session

None

 

  1. Adjournment  

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

 

 

 

----------------------------------------------------       ------------------------------------------------------

Daniel W. Reyen, Chairman                        Lawana Kahn, County Clerk