2/7/2017 BOC Regular Session Minutes
GORDON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR SESSION MINUTES
FEBRUARY 7, 2017
The Gordon County Board of Commissioners held their Regular Meeting on Tuesday, February 7, 2017, at 6:00 p.m. in the conference room of the Administration Building.
Chairman Hood called the meeting to order.
EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
Employees with Anniversary Hire Dates in February
Commissioner Steward read the names of the employees with anniversary hire dates in February. Commissioner Owens drew the name of Terri Bowen with the Clerk of Court’s office as Employee of the Month.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairman Hood asked if there are any additions, omissions, or deletions to the Minutes for the Work Session January 24, 2017, and the Regular Meeting January 24, 2017. Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to approve the minutes. Commissioner Owens seconded the motion and Commissioners Cunningham, Sexton, Owens and Steward voted aye. Motion approved.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
County Administrator King read the report.
COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT
Commissioner Owens reported that he attended the Region One Emergency Services Council meeting, spoke to the Boy Scout Troup 22 about what it means to be a County Commissioner, and attended the Board of Commissioner’s Retreat. Commissioner Owens also commented that he was very glad to see the people here at the meeting tonight; there are some good projects and valid concerns being discussed. Commissioner Steward reported that he attended and enjoyed the Commissioner’s Retreat where they got to discuss SPLOST projects; also he attended the College and Career Academy.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR ZONING
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to open the public hearing for zoning. Commissioner Owens seconded the motion and Commissioners Cunningham, Owens, Sexton, and Steward voted aye.
APPLICATION #Z16-26 STANLEY SIMPSON’S REQUEST TO REZONE FROM A-1 TO CH
County Attorney Ledbetter read application #Z16-26 Stanley Simpson’s request to rezone from A-1 to CH, and incorporates the entirety of the information sheets and the requests and
findings of the Planning Commission. The Board reviewed this application at the previous Board’s meeting where it was tabled until tonight. Mr. Simpson is in attendance but has not signed up to speak, if anyone has any questions. Commissioner Cunningham asked if the driveway on this property meet or exceeded the State requirements. Mr. Simpson answered that it did that this had come up in the past meeting and he contacted the State and spoke with several departments there and was told the State had no problem with it. He also asked the state about the other driveway about keeping it open and was told there was no problem if it was at least 24 ft. wide, he stated that it was 30 ft. wide. Commissioner Sexton asked Mr. Simpson if he could guarantee that he would not allow a used car lot to become a junk yard. Mr. Simpson said that he has someone interested in buying the property for a car lot and use the house as an office and have another office to rent, if he could get the rezoning approve. He could not make a guarantee about what the buyer would do, but he would advise the buyer that the Board had made the request that it not be allowed to become a junk yard.
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to approve the rezoning request. Commissioner Owens seconded the motion and Commissioners Sexton, Owens, Cunningham, and Steward voted aye. Motion passed.
Commissioner Sexton made a motion to close the public hearing. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and Commissioners Cunningham, Sexton, Steward, and Owens voted aye.
CONSIDERATION OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
CONSIDERATION OF NEW BUSINESS
DELL EQUIPMENT LEASE WITH OPTION TO PURCHASE
Chairman Hood advised that this is the Dell Equipment Lease with option to purchase.
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to approve the Dell Equipment lease with option to purchase. Commissioner Sexton seconded the motion and Commissioners Steward, Cunningham, Owens and Sexton voted aye. Motion passed.
RESOLUTION REGARDING RECOGNITION OF EMPLOYER/EMPLOYEE RELATIONSHIP FOR THE LIBRARY
Chairman Hood advised that this is a resolution regarding recognition of employer/employee relationship for the Library. This is moving employee positions from the City of Calhoun to positions at the Regional Library.
Commissioner Sexton made a motion to approve the Resolution for the Library employees. Commissioner Owens seconded the motion and Commissioners Cunningham, Owens, Sexton, and Steward voted aye. Motion passed.
REQUEST FROM THE TOWN OF RESACA FOR SEWER LINE EASEMENT ALONG THE WEST BOUNDARY OF FT. WAYNE
Chairman Hood advised that this is a request from the Town of Resaca for a sewer line easement along the west boundary of Ft. Wayne.
Commissioner Steward made a motion to table. Commissioner Cunningham seconded the motion and Commissioners Owens, Steward, Sexton, and Cunningham voted aye. Motion passed.
REQUEST FROM THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT FOR DECLARATION OF SURPLUS PROPERTY FOR TWO VEHICLES – 2001 CHEVY TAHOE VIN36016 AND 2004 ACURA TL VIN07453
Chairman Hood advised that this is a request from the Sheriff’s Department for a Declaration of Surplus Property for two vehicles a 2001 Chevy Tahoe VIN36016 and a 2004 Acura TL VIN07453.
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to approve the Sheriff’s request to declare two vehicles surplus property. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and Commissioners Cunningham, Steward, Owens, and Sexton voted aye. Motion passed.
REQUEST FROM RESACA CHURCH OF GOD TO HOLD THEIR EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE AT THE RESACA BATTLEFIELD
Attorney Ledbetter advised that this is a request from the Resaca Church of God to hold their Easter Sunrise Service at the Resaca Battlefield. They are asking for the park to open at 6:30 am. The gate would normally open that morning at 8:00 am. This is the first special use request outside of our normal hours, so far since the park opened. The Historic Preservation Commission has looked at this from the perspective of our historic asset; this would not have a negative impact on our historic asset. This comes to the Board of Commissioners from the Gordon County Historic Preservation Commission with their recommendations that the Board of Commissioners grant this request to include the logistics of the gate opening be handled under the direction of Don Holley, Gordon County Director of Parks & Recreation. County Administrator King advised that he likes the way the Historic Preservation Commission is working regarding these requests, we knew that there would be requests to use the park so we came upon a process whereby the Historic Preservation Commission would make recommendations to the Board of Commissioners. This is the first time we have had an opportunity to see this process in action.
Commissioner Steward made a motion to approve the request. Commissioner Cunningham seconded the motion. Commissioner Owens asked to amend the motion to approve the recommendation from the Historic Preservation Commission to allow the Resaca Church of God to hold their Easter Sunrise Service at the Resaca Battlefield. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and Commissioners Owens, Steward, Cunningham, and Sexton voted aye. Motion passed.
REQUEST FROM THE PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO SUBMIT A UNITED WAY GRANT
Chairman Hood advised that this is a request from the Parks & Recreation Department to submit a United Way Grant for 2017.
Commissioner Owens made a motion to approve the request to submit a United Way Grant. Commissioner Sexton seconded the motion and Commissioners Owens, Sexton, Steward, and Cunningham voted aye. Motion passed.
SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR KEVIN SMITH TO PLACE SIX RECREATIONAL VEHICLES ON PROPERTY AT REDBUD ROAD AND NEW TOWN CHURCH ROAD AT LITTLE CREEK RENTALS, LLC FOR NINE MONTHS
County Attorney Ledbetter advised that the motion for the Special Use Permit should be for approval or disapproval for Kevin Smith’s request for a Special Use Permit. Gordon County currently has a temporary housing crisis with over 650 transit employees working on the natural gas pipeline project. This would be satisfying some of their needs for temporary housing in recreational vehicles. There is a legitimate public need to provide temporary, clean, and safe housing to these workers, some of which are travelling from Tennessee and other places. The location on Kevin Smith’s property at Little Creek Rentals, LLC has been identified as being served by public sewer and water and would otherwise be safe. This property does not meet the requirements for a permanent recreational vehicle park, nor does he want to establish one. We have a citizen’s request for a special conditional use permit by Little Creek Rentals, LLC to place up to six recreational vehicles for a period not to exceed nine months. Because this is a special use permit, it would expire in nine months. If the property is not vacated within the nine months from February 7, 2017 to November 6, 2017, then the County would charge a penalty of $50 per day for each unit that remains in non-compliance, as well as assess reasonable attorney’s fees and expense of litigation.
Commissioner Steward made a motion to approve the special use permit for Little Creek Rentals, LLC as read by the County Attorney. Commissioner Sexton seconded the motion and Commissioners Steward, Sexton, Owens, and Cunningham voted aye. Motion passed.
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Sexton made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and all voted aye. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m.
