6/7/2016 BOC Regular Session Minutes
GORDON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
JUNE 7, 2016
The Gordon County Board of Commissioners held their Regular Meeting on Tuesday, June 7, 2016, at 6:00 p.m. in the conference room of the Administration Building.
Chairman Hood called the meeting to order.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR BUDGET
Commissioner Gazaway made a motion to open the public hearing for the 2016/2017 proposed budget. Commissioner Cunningham seconded the motion and all voted aye.
County Administrator King read the instruction from the ordinance regarding public hearings. Administrator King advised that each person wishing to speak to the Board during the public hearing has signed up on the sign-up sheet and advised that each speaker will be allowed four minutes to speak.
Mr. Richard Cooper spoke to the Board and asked for the Board’s consideration of putting back in the budget the second position that had been taken out of the Emergency Management department; and request that the Board approve to fill that position.
Ms. Lucia Mauldin Eastham commented that she wanted to clarify a misconception about the animal control department, that is, that the fees taken in by that department are actually used at the animal control department. She corrected – but that isn’t true; those dollars are put in the county’s general fund.
Ms. Gail Stephenson commented that the animal control department has come in under budget for the past five years and those extra funds could be used to reenact the spay and neuter program that was in place a couple of years ago; and could be used to offer free or reduced spay and neuter for low income families.
Ms. Lucia Mauldin Eastham came back before the Board to advise that there is a low-cost spay neuter group that comes to Calhoun one Wednesday a month. Concerning the idea of providing spay neuter to low income, there are other things needed like vaccinations and others; we should encourage people to use the low cost facilities.
Ms. Roberta Charbonneau, with Family Connection, spoke concerning uses for any extra funds that might be available for the county, those need to be used for poor children and families. Georgia ranks in the bottom ten in the national ranking of children and families’ wellbeing. More than one in four of Georgia children live in poverty. They struggle to get the basic necessities to live a healthy and productive life. Gordon County has over 26% of our population 19 years and younger. There are 1,000 plus children without any health insurance. Georgia is number 40 out of 50 states for child wellbeing. Gordon County ranks 83rd out of 159 counties. Ms. Charbonneau stated that she would like to promote any additional funds that can be found anywhere to go to the school nurse program.
County Administrator King announced that this concludes all the citizen comments on the recommended budget.
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to close the public hearing. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and all voted aye.
EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION – Employees with Anniversary Hire Dates in June
Commissioner Steward read the list of employees with anniversary hire dates in June. Commissioner Sexton drew the name of Phillip Gilbert with the Road Department as Employee of the Month.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairman Hood asked if there are any additions, omissions, or deletions to the Minutes for the Work Session May 17, 2016, and the Regular Meeting May 17, 2016. Commissioner Sexton made a motion to approve the minutes. Commissioner Gazaway seconded the motion and Commissioners Cunningham, Sexton, Gazaway and Steward voted aye. Motion approved.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
County Administrator King read the report into the record (copy linked). Administrator King advised that after the last Board meeting, the proposed budget was provided to the newspaper and the library and a copy was placed in the County Clerk’s office for public view. The budget is also available on the County’s website. The next step in the process will be to adopt the budget, which will be during the next Board of Commissioners Meeting on June 21, 2016.
COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT
Commissioner Gazaway reported that he attended the General Administration Committee meeting and met with the new Senior Center Director. Commissioner Sexton attended the NW Georgia Regional meeting and Council of Chief Elected Officials. Commissioner Steward attended the Development Authority meeting, and Commissioner Cunningham attended the Memorial Day Celebration in Fairmount.
CONSIDERATION OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
CONSIDERATION OF NEW BUSINESS
BID AWARD FOR FOUR FIRE PUMPER APPARATUS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
County Administrator King advised that this is for Board approval for a bid award for four fire pumper apparatus for the Fire Department. The recommendation is to award the bid to Smeal Fire Apparatus in the amount of $1,372,521.
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to approve the bid award for four fire pumper apparatus to Smeal Fire Apparatus. Commissioner Gazaway seconded the motion and Commissioners Cunningham, Gazaway, Sexton, and Steward voted aye. Motion passed.
ADDENDUM TO MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH FEDERAL SAVE PROGRAM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016/2017
County Administrator King advised that this is for Board approval of the addendum to the Memorandum of Agreement with the Federal SAVE Program for fiscal year 2016/2017.
Commissioner Gazaway made a motion to approve the Memorandum of Agreement with the Federal SAVE Program. Commissioner Sexton seconded the motion and Commissioners Steward, Cunningham, Sexton, and Gazaway voted aye. Motion passed.
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Gazaway made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Sexton seconded the motion and all voted aye. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:23 p.m.
