6/4/2013 BOC Regular Session Minutes
GORDON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
JUNE 4, 2013
The Gordon County Board of Commissioners held their Regular Meeting on Tuesday, June 4, 2013 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 June
Commissioner Gazaway read the list of employees with anniversary hire dates in June. Commissioner Sexton drew the name of Scott Brooks with the Fire Department as Employee of the Month of June.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairman Hood asked if there were any additions, omissions, or deletions to the Minutes for the Special Meeting May 21, 2013, the Work Session May 21, 2013, and the Regular Meeting May 21, 2013. Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to approve the minutes. Commissioner Sexton seconded the motion and all voted aye. Minutes approved.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Administrator Dowling read the report (copy attached).
COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT
None
Chairman Hood called for a motion to open the Public Hearing for the Budget. Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to open the Public Hearing. Commissioner Gazaway seconded the motion and all voted aye.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR FISCAL YEAR 2013/2014 PROPOSED BUDGET
Mr. Mike Davis spoke to the Board regarding budget funding for the Harris Arts Center. Mrs. Caree Echols and Mrs. Laura Dobson spoke to the Board regarding budget funding for the Gordon County Animal Shelter. Mrs. Rosemary Green with the District Attorney’s Office spoke to the Board regarding the budget funding for the District Attorney’s Office. Mrs. Sandy Ward spoke to the Board regarding budget funding for the railroad crossing at Carbondale Road.
Commissioner Steward made a motion to close the Public Hearing. Commissioner Cunningham seconded the motion and all voted aye.
DISCUSSION OF 2013/2014 BUDGET CHANGES
Following the Budget Public Hearing the Board considered other budget requests for changes that the Administrator and each Board Member brought before the Board for consideration.
Commissioner Steward made a motion to approve the three changes to the budget that Administrator Dowling had presented to the Board: 1) add $35,000 to the Senior Citizens Center budget for a replacement 15 passenger van with a center aisle seat configuration, 2) add $20,000 to the Agricultural Service Center budget for outsourced janitorial services three days per week and janitorial supplies, 3) add $1,500 to the 5311 Transportation Program budget for communications devices between the three buses and the base station to have this bus program their own frequency and not use the Public Works’ frequency. Commissioner Cunningham seconded the motion and Commissioners Steward, Cunningham, Sexton, and Gazaway voted aye. Motion passed.
Commissioner Steward made a motion to add back the canine vehicle for the Sheriff’s Department in the amount of $33,397. Commissioner Cunningham seconded the motion and Commissioners Steward, Cunningham, Sexton, and Gazaway vote aye. Motion passed.
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to add back the school nurse program in the amount of $68,250. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion. Commissioner Gazaway commented that he agrees that for some of the children in the county, that’s the only nurse they see, but he also feels like the School Board has a budget, they collect tax dollars just the same as the County does and he feels that this is in the wrong budget. He fully supports the need for a school nurse but feels that it is the School Board’s responsibility to pay for the nurse. He further commented that the County should go ahead and do it this year but tell the School Board next year it is going to be half that amount and the next year it is going to be none, so they can plan to put it in their budget. Commissioner Gazaway asked that this be a stipulation added to the motion. Chairman Hood asked for a vote on the motion to approve the $68,250 for the school nurse program (without the requested stipulation). Commissioners Cunningham, Steward, and Sexton voted aye. Commissioner Gazaway opposed the motion. Motion passed.
Chairman Hood asked for a motion to add back the Sheriff’s Department work detail vehicle truck in the amount of $40,000. Commissioner Steward made the motion to add back the Sheriff’s Department work detail truck for $40,000. Commissioner Cunningham seconded the motion and Commissioners Steward and Cunningham voted aye. Commissioners Sexton and Gazaway opposed the motion. Chairman Hood voted for the motion. Motion passed.
Commissioner Sexton made a motion to add back the additional $4,358 to the fuel request from the George Chambers Resource Center. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and Commissioner Sexton, Steward, Cunningham, and Gazaway voted aye. Motion passed.
Commissioner Sexton made a motion to add back $4,550 to the Harris Arts Center for this year and then renegotiate the amount next fiscal year. No one seconded the motion. Motion dies due to lack of a second.
Commissioner Steward made a motion to budget $2,000, matching the City of Calhoun’s budget funding to the Harris Arts Center. Commissioner Sexton seconded the motion. Following a discussion concerning the State’s prohibiting of a donation or gratuity except for when an actual or legitimate service is rendered to the county. County Attorney reminded the Board that the Board cannot make a charitable donation; it has to be a legitimate, bargained-for consideration. Specifically for the $2,000, what services does Harris Arts Center provide to attract business and industry to Gordon County? Chairman Hood called for a vote on the motion and no one voted for the motion. Motion denied.
Administrator Dowling advised the Board that Chairman Hood had asked him to create several difference scenarios, with the assistance of the Fire Department, to eliminate the EMA budget and department and move it under the Fire Department and to possible move the two EMA employees to the east side of the county as fire fighters. Chief Dave Hawkins came before the Board to explain his options for bringing EMA into the Fire Department (see attachment for Options 1 through 4). EMA Director, Richard Cooper, came before the Board to answer any questions the Board might have. Director Cooper advised that, actually, he had, in the past, asked for an additional person for his department, but not in recent years because he realized the County’s funds were stretched. At times two people is not enough, but if he were to have any other duties added, EMA would be diminished and his department could lose State funding and grants.
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC – GERMANE TO THE AGENDA
None
CONSIDERATION OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS
ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR THE HOTEL MOTEL TAX ORDINANCE 5% TO 8% – 2ND READING
County Attorney Smith advised that this ordinance amendment to the Hotel/Motel tax would increase the current percentage of 5% to 8% and will take effect July 1, 2013. This follows the introduction of local legislation signed by the Governor, allowing this increase. This is the seconded reading and is subject to consideration for approval by the Board.
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to approve the ordinance amendment. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and Commissioners Cunningham, Steward, Sexton, and Gazaway voted aye. Motion passed.
CONSIDERATION OF NEW BUSINESS
RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN UPDATE 2013-2014 FOR THE GORDON COUNTY JOINT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 2007-2027
County Administrator Dowling advised that this is a resolution to adopt the five-year plan update 2013-2014 for the Gordon County joint comprehensive plan 2007-2027. As required by State law, the county went through a very lengthy procedure to update the five-year community work program. This was discussed during a public hearing in January and a workshop in March. A final public hearing was held March 19, now it is time to approve the resolution and authorize transmittal to the Regional Commission.
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to approve the Resolution and adopt the Five-Year Plan Update. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and Commissioners Cunningham, Steward, Gazaway, and Sexton voted aye. Motion passed.
REQUEST FROM THE GEORGE CHAMBERS RESOURCE CENTER TO SUBMIT A 2014 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT
County Administrator Dowling advised that this is a request from the George Chambers Resource Center asking the County to prepare and submit an application for a 2014 Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $500,000, this would also include a State required match of $10,000 to either come from the County or from the George Chambers Resource Center.
Mrs. Mary Barclay spoke to the Board requesting the Board’s approval of submitting the grant and explaining the need for greater space in the facility for more services.
Commissioner Steward made a motion to approve the George Chambers Resource Center’s submitting a 2014 CDBG and approving the County’s $10,000 contribution to the project. Commissioner Cunningham seconded the motion and Commissioners Cunningham, Sexton, Steward, and Gazaway voted aye. Motion passed.
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Steward made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Cunningham seconded the motion and all voted aye. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
