3/4/2014 BOC Work Session Minutes
GORDON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
WORK SESSION MINUTES
MARCH 4, 2014
The Gordon County Board of Commissioners held a Work Session Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at 4:30 p.m. in the conference room of the Administration Building.
Chairman Hood called the meeting to order.
County Attorney Smith explained to the Board the request from Connect Events for permission to close parts of some county roads on the chosen route for the Chick-Fil-A road race. Sponsors of the race, Brooke Cudd, Marketing Director from Chick-Fil-A and a representative from Connect Events Staff, spoke to the Board to explain the route and the precautions the sponsors would take to assure the safety of the citizens of Gordon County and the runners in the event. Representatives from the Sheriff’s Office and the Public Works Department asked questions and also gave their opinions about some possible problems that could arise from the closure of one particular section of one of the county roads on the race route. The Board did not give their approval of the route, and following a lengthy discussion, the Board asked the event sponsors and the county departments involved to get together to try to work out the problems with the route and to possibly chose another route.
County Attorney Smith advised the Board the latest findings from several county departments after their recent visit to the Resaca Battlefield Park that the State of Georgia is currently working on trying to complete in order to hand over ownership to Gordon County. Mr. David Clark, representative from the Georgia DNR came before the Board and gave an overview of the park and the status of the construction of the park. Several items were listed as being unfinished and a tentative schedule was given for completing those items. Some items would not be completed until the State DOT finished its project of widening Highway 136 and building a new bridge at the entrance to the park. Mr. Joe Yeager, the Operational Site Manager also spoke to the Board. Christie Blair from the local office of the State’s environmental health department spoke regarding the form of sewage waste disposal installed for the restrooms at the park and was promised a key by DNR to use to be allowed to further investigate the restrooms facility waste system to report her findings to the county. Two Resaca Council members were present and also had questions and concerns about the park. Mr. Kenny Padgett, with Friends of Resaca, commented that the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and the re-enactment is scheduled for May and they were very anxious for the park to be completed so that it could be used during the commerating events for the anniversary. No action by the Board was taken at this time.
Mrs. Debbie Vance, Director of the E-911 Center read a letter from a citizen complementing two of her employees, Christy Jones the Shift Sgt. and Macey Ely a trainee. Mrs. Vance presented each of the employees with commendations for a job well done.
The Board discussed each item on the agenda and made no changes. Two items were added to the agenda later in the meeting.
Mr. Dan Bumgardner and Mr. Thomas Greeson with Calhoun Commercial Construction came before the Board at the request of Commissioner Sexton to give further information and answer some questions regarding their company designing and building the proposed replacement fire station. Their company’s chosen architect also answered questions from the Board. No further action was taken by the Board.
Representatives from Pieper O’Brien Architects came before the Board to give the Board information on cost figures for different concepts for replacing the parking deck. The Board asked the architect to rework the design and for more information on a scaled-down concept design and for new costs. Pieper O’Brien informed the Board they would rework the design and come up with new costs and send those to the Board.
County Attorney Smith discussed with the Board a proposed new lease from SBA Properties, Inc., the company leasing a cell tower from the county located at Highway 53 close to the county’s multi-facility complex. The proposed lease was for an extension of the lease and called for ten additional successive terms of five years. The Board indicated they were not interested in that length of an extension and asked the County Attorney to contact SBA and offer a much shorter term.
The next item the Board discussed was a request from ACCG to name a County Legislative Coordinator to help improve communications with the Board while the General Assembly is in session. The two primary roles would be to help keep county commissioners and county management updated on legislation of importance and provide county-specific information to ACCG, as requested, to help legislators assess the impact of proposed legislation. There was a consensus of the Board to name the County Administrator as the County Legislative Coordinator and this item was added to the agenda authorizing the Chairman to sign a resolution officially designating the CLC.
Commissioner Steward made a motion to adjourn the Work Session, Commissioner Gazaway seconded the motion and all voted aye. There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 6:05 p.m.
