5/19/2015 BOC Work Session Minutes
GORDON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
WORK SESSION MINUTES
MAY 19, 2015
The Gordon County Board of Commissioners held a Work Session Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at 5:15 p.m. in the main courtroom of the Gordon County Courthouse.
MEMBERS PRESENT
BECKY HOOD, CHAIRMAN
CHAD STEWARD, VICE CHAIRMAN
NORRIS SEXTON, COMMISSIONER
JEFF GAZAWAY, COMMISSIONER
KEVIN CUNNINGHAM, COMMISSIONER
OTHERS PRESENT
JOHN KING, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
JIM LEDBETTER, COUNTY ATTORNEY
ANNETTE BERRY, COUNTY CLERK
MEDIA
APPROXIMATELY 80 GUESTS
Chairman Hood called the meeting to order.
The Board discussed each item on the agenda for the Regular Meeting and made no changes; one item was added to the agenda later in the meeting. County Attorney Ledbetter advised that he had spoken with the attorney for one of the rezoning applicants on the Regular Meeting agenda. The Board had tabled the rezoning of Mr. Tina Nguyen and requested a site plan at the last meeting. The site plan was only delivered a few minutes before this meeting started and Attorney Ledbetter advised that the Board would need time to look at it and advised that the Board would remove this rezoning from tonight’s Regular Meeting agenda and add it to the next meeting.
The Board discussed the appointments that needed to be considered for three positions that have expired terms on the Gordon/Floyd Development Authority. There was a consensus of the Board to add this item to the agenda for the Regular Meeting.
Mr. Mark Owens came before the Board to voice his concerns regarding the construction of poultry houses tending to de-value property values. He would like to see information that actually proves that this happens when poultry houses are introduced into the vicinity. There was also some complaint at the public hearing last week about large poultry trucks damaging roads. Mr. Owens commented that during the grow-out cycle there would only be about one truck per day coming to a poultry operation.
Mr. Jacob Williams came before the Board to comment about the poultry business. He said he installs equipment in poultry houses and feels that the poultry agriculture business is important to the economy in Gordon County. Agriculture has been a prime mainstay in this county for decades. He suggests that the setback for the property line should be 200 ft would be a good recommendation and that the setback for residences should stay the same – 500 ft. Also he would like the Board to consider a setback rule that would not allow someone else to build a residence within 500 ft. of a poultry house. He would prefer not to have a vegetative buffer implemented. It would be hard to regulate and to take care of.
Mr. Jack Killian, the architect for the George Chambers project, came before the Board to give an update on the project.
Mr. Dan Huser, Project Manager with Limestone Valley RC&D Council and Mr. Doug Cabe with NRCS came before the Board to update the Board on projects that the Limestone Valley RCD are currently working on that are funded through State and federal grants to mitigate poultry litter contamination issues.
The Board asked Ms. Garah Childers, Gordon County Human Resources Director, to come and speak to the Board about offering the County employees long-term disability insurance at no cost to the employees. There was a consensus of the Board to proceed with offering this benefit to employees.
Commissioner Sexton made a motion to close the Work Session. Commissioner Cunningham seconded the motion and all voted aye. There being no further business the Work Session adjourned at 6:00 p.m.
