3/20/2018 BOC Regular Session Minutes
GORDON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
MARCH 20, 2018
The Gordon County Board of Commissioners held their Regular Meeting on March 20, 2018 beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Main Courtroom of the Gordon County Courthouse.
MEMBERS PRESENT
BECKY HOOD, CHAIRMAN
CHAD STEWARD, VICE CHAIRMAN
NORRIS SEXTON, COMMISSIONER
KEVIN CUNNINGHAM, COMMISSIONER
BUD OWENS, COMMISSIONER
OTHERS PRESENT
JIM LEDBETTER, CTY. ADMINISTRATOR
ANNETTE BERRY, COUNTY CLERK
MEDIA
42 GUESTS
Chairman Hood called the meeting to order.
Chairman Hood asked if there are any additions, omissions, or deletions to the Minutes for the Work Session March 6, 2018, and the Regular Meeting March 6, 2018. Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to approve the minutes. Commissioner Owens seconded the motion and Commissioners Owens, Cunningham, Sexton, and Steward voted aye. Motion approved.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Administrator Ledbetter read the report into the record. (copy attached).
COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT
Commissioner Owens reported that he attended the College and Career Academy’s Board meeting. Chairman Hood commented that she and the County Administrator attended the Economic Development Meeting.
Commissioner Sexton made a motion to go into the public hearing for zoning. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and Commissioners Sexton, Steward, Cunningham, and Owens voted aye.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR ZONING
County Administrator Ledbetter announced the four-minutes rule for each person signed up to speak regarding a zoning matter.
APPLICATION Z16-14 OWR, LLC’s Request to Rezone From A-1 to I-2
County Administrator Ledbetter read the application for rezoning from OWR, LLC requesting to rezone from A-1 to I-2 Heavy Industrial. This is to rezone 31.70 acres that they have contracted to buy from Con-onaula Farms. This comes to the Board of Commissioners from the Planning Commission with their recommendations for approval. Mr. Terry Brumlow, representing the applicant, came before the Board to explain the rezoning and to answer questions from the Board. Mr. Brumlow advised that this is a request for 31.70 acres located on Highway 41 South to allow LG to build a warehouse. No one signed to speak in opposition to the rezoning request.
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to approve the rezoning request from OWR, LLC to rezone from A-1 to I-2. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and Commissioners Cunningham, Steward, Owens, and Sexton voted aye. Motion passed.
APPLICATION Z18-03 ROBBIE EVANS’ Request to Rezone From A-1 to Conditional Use
County Administrator Ledbetter read the application for rezoning from Robbie Evans requesting to rezone from A-1 to Conditional Use. This comes to the Board of Commissioners from the Planning Commission with a 2-1 vote for the recommendation of approval with a stipulation that the driveway be approved by the Public Works Department. Administrator Ledbetter advised that procedurally the notice that was run in the paper advertising the hearing date was incorrectly stated as Saturday March 17, 2018. In order to correct that, at the Planning Commission meeting, the correct date of March 20, 2018 was announced, and a new ad was run in the paper on Saturday March 17 correcting the date of the public hearing. A notice of correction was also posed on the door of the Administration Building on Saturday , March 17, 2018.
Administrator Ledbetter advised that the applicant, Mr. Robbie Evans would have the chance to speak first and last, he chose to speak about the rezoning request last. Administrator Ledbetter advised that there are four people signed up to speak and called Mr. Robert Legg to the podium. Mr. Legg spoke in opposition to the rezoning stating that there are 42 chicken houses currently within a half mile already, this area doesn’t need more chicken houses. Mrs. Diane Kirby spoke in opposition and gave the Board members handouts and spoke about research that suggested algae caused by chicken litter may cause Blue Baby Syndrome by causing depletion of oxygen found in groundwater. Also, poultry farmers were granted tax exemptions and at the same time others were having increased taxes. Mr. Jeremy Collins spoke in opposition, about his taxes going up also, he said the smell and the traffic are a concern and that the trucks come to the chicken houses all night and day. Mr. Randall Mulkey spoke in opposition, said his taxes have not gone down but property value has, also the road is not adequate for the trucks and the roads won’t hold up. Mr. Evans, the applicant, spoke and advised that he has meet all the new requirements, no trees will be cut, litter will be hauled off, also he had to buy extra land to get far back and away from homes. He is looking for a home close to the property for his father and he plans to move his family onto the property.
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to approve the application for rezoning with the stipulation as presented from the Planning Commission and prior to issuance of a building permit, Mr. Evans or his successors or assigns must comply with all standards and requirements in ULDC 4.03.02 (I)(J) and (K). Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and Commissioners Cunningham, Steward, and Owens voted aye, Commissioners Sexton and Hood opposed the motion. Motion passed.
CONSIDERATION OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
CONSIDERATION OF NEW BUSINESS
WELCOME TO 2018 GORDON COUNTY LEADERSHIP CLASS
Commissioner Owens welcomed the Leadership class and advised that there was also two members of the Youth Leadership Class in attendance. Commissioner Owens asked that each class participant stand and give their name. Each member of the class stood and introduced themselves.
PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK
Commissioner Owens read the Proclamation for National Telecommunicators Week for April 8 through 14, 2018 and presented the Proclamation to Gordon County E-911 employees Ms. Angie Gillman and Ms. Amy Ivey. Commissioner Owens thanked the E-911 representatives for what they do for the citizens of Gordon County.
REQUEST FROM GORDON COUNTY HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION FOR USE OF RESACA BATTLEFIELD BY SOUTHERN PARANORMAL INVESTIGATORS
Administrator Ledbetter advised that this is a request presented to the Board from the Gordon County Historic Preservation Commission from Southern Paranormal Investigators asking to conduct a second nighttime investigation of paranormal activity at the Resaca Battlefield.
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to approve the request from the Historic Preservation Commission. Commissioner Owens seconded the motion and Commissioners Owens, Sexton, Steward, and Cunningham voted aye. Motion passed.
REQUEST FROM GORDON COUNTY HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION FOR USE OF RESACA BATTLEFIELD BY RESACA CHURCH OF GOD FOR COMMUNITY SUNRISE SERVICE
Chairman Hood advised that this is also a request presented from the Gordon County Historic Preservation Commission from the Resaca Church of God asking to hold their Community Sunrise Service there Easter morning.
Commissioner Sexton made a motion to approve the request from the Historic Preservation Commission. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and Commissioners Sexton, Steward, Owens, and Cunningham voted aye. Motion passed.
EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR LEGAL MATTERS AND REAL ESTATE MATTERS
Chairman Hood advised that the Board would now go into Executive Session and advised the Adult Leadership class that the Board members would be available to answer any of their questions once the Executive Session and the Regular Meeting has been adjourned. Chairman Hood called for a motion to go into Executive Session. Commissioner Owens made a motion to go into Executive Session for Legal Matters and for Real Estate Matters. Commissioner Sexton seconded the motion and Commissioners Owens, Sexton, Steward, and Cunningham voted aye. Executive Session began at 7:00 p.m. in a conference room of the Courthouse.
Commissioner Sexton made a motion to close the Executive Session. Commissioner Owens seconded the motion and Commissioners Sexton, Owens, Steward, and Cunningham voted aye.
Executive Session adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Sexton made a motion to adjourn the Regular Meeting. Commissioner Cunningham seconded the motion and all voted aye.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
