3/17/2020 BOC Regular Session Minutes
GORDON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
MARCH 17, 2020
The Gordon County Board of Commissioners held their Regular Meeting on March 17, 2020 beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the conference room of the Administration Building.
MEMBERS PRESENT
BECKY HOOD, CHAIRMAN
CHAD STEWARD, COMMISSIONER
NORRIS SEXTON, COMMISSIONER
KEVIN CUNNINGHAM, COMMISSIONER
M. L. BUD OWENS, COMMISSIONER
OTHERS PRESENT
JIM LEDBETTER, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
ANNETTE BERRY, COUNTY CLERK
MEDIA
APPROXIMATELY 11 GUESTS
Chairman Hood called the meeting to order.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairman Hood asked if there are any additions, omissions, or deletions to the Minutes for the Work Session March 3, 2020, and the Regular Meeting March 3, 2020. Commissioner Sexton made a motion to approve the Minutes. Commissioner Owens seconded the motion and Commissioners Owens, Sexton, Steward, and Cunningham voted aye. Motion passed.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Administrator Ledbetter read the report. (copy attached)
COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT
Commissioner Owens commented that he attended ACCG Training Classes in Tifton which completed the requirements for certification and is now a certified County Commissioner. Chairman Hood read a report with comments from U. S. Senator Kelly Loeffler regarding Covid-19.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR ZONING
Application #20-04 Andrew & Elizabeth Cole and Wanda Cole’s Request to Rezone from A-1 to RA-1
County Administrator read Appl. #20-04 Andrew & Elizabeth Cole and Wanda Cole’s request to rezone from A-1 to RA-1. This comes to the Board of Commissioner from the Planning Commission with their recommendations for approval. No one signed to speak for or against the rezoning.
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to approve the rezoning. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and Commissioners Cunningham, Steward, Owens, and Sexton voted aye. Motion passed.
Application #20-05 Jaren Jeffords’ Request to Rezone from A-1 to R-1
County Administrator read Appl. #20-05 Jaren Jeffords’ request to rezone from A-1 to R-1. This comes to the Board of Commissioners from the Planning Commission with their recommendations for approval. No one signed to speak for or against the rezoning.
Commissioner Owens made a motion to approve the rezoning. Commissioner Sexton seconded the motion and Commissioners Owens, Sexton, Cunningham, and Steward voted aye. Motion passed.
Commissioner Owens made a motion to close the Public Hearing for Zoning. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and all voted aye.
CONSIDERATION OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
CONSIDERATION OF NEW BUSINESS
REQUEST FROM RESACA CHURCH TO USE THE PAVILION AT RESACA BATTLEFIELD PARK FOR COMMUNITY SUNRISE SERVICE
Administrator Ledbetter advised that this is an annual request from the Resaca Church to use the pavilion at Resaca Battlefield Park for a Community Sunrise Service on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020. This church has used the park for the last couple of years and there have been no problems with their use for this purpose.
Commissioner Steward made a motion to approve the request from the Resaca Church. Commissioner Cunningham seconded the motion and Commissioners Steward, Cunningham, Owens, and Sexton voted aye. Motion passed.
BID AWARD FOR PAVING MATERIALS FOR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Administrator Ledbetter advised the Board that Gordon County advertised and received sealed bids for paving materials from several vendors. Based on staff evaluations, the recommendation is to award the bids to Cherokee Culver for the culverts, to Calhoun Farm Supply for chemicals, to TEC for teeth and blades, and to Peek Pavement Marking for pavement markings. Bids for signs, asphalt paving, and stone will be rebid later.
Commissioner Steward made a motion to approve the bids as read. Commissioner Owens seconded the motion and Commissioners Steward, Owens, Sexton, and Cunningham voted aye. Motion passed.
APPROVAL OF THE GORDON COUNTY COVID-19 FACILITIES PLAN
Administrator Ledbetter advised that the Board had discussed plans for the security of the county buildings and for public access to public county buildings. Currently, the courts are following the order of the Georgia Supreme Court, so at the courthouse, once a citizen passes through security they find court office doors are locked. Citizens have to either knock on the door or phone in for help to arrange to meet an employee. At the Tax Commissioner’s office and other government buildings, a lot of county business could be handled by phone, or call to arranged an office visit and to alert that they need to come in to handle their business, and to be able to limit to 10 or less people gathered at a time. Or someone positioned at the front door to handle a walk-up visitor. There are limited things that a citizen could not handle by phone, and should not be coming in to the courthouse and other buildings for. Phone numbers and email addresses for all departments should be pushed out to the public through various media and our website, and with signs posted on the department’s doors. Administrator Ledbetter commented that he would like for the Board to approve for all the government offices to be locked and be staffed, but a citizen would have to call in to the desired department to be able to come in and do their business. If a citizen shows up without calling in first, then they would see a sign on the outside door that says to call this number. That way, we are staying open, it’s just a little more difficult to get in and see someone. Actually, there are limited reasons that you should need to be coming into the building for.
Commissioner Owens made a motion to ratify the Board’s discussions and approve plans for the safety of the citizens and county staff, and enact emergency measures to request citizens to handle county business online, and if unable to do so, then to contact the appropriate department and schedule an appointment for an onsite visit. This will be valid until further notice as determined by the County Administrator. This provides authority to be determined by the County Administrator and approved by the County Administrator, to lock facility doors as necessary. These measures will be valid until further notice as determined by the County Administrator.
Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and Commissioners Steward, Cunningham, Sexton, and Owens voted aye. Motion passed.
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Sexton made a motion to adjourn the Regular Meeting. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and all voted aye.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:34 p.m.
