GORDON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
JUDICIAL BUILDING ASSEMBLY ROOM
JUNE 7, 2022
The Gordon County Board of Commissioners held their Regular Meeting on June 7, 2022 beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Judicial Building Assembly Room.
Members Present
Becky Hood, Chairman
Chad Steward, Vice Chairman
M. L. Bud Owens, Commissioner
Kevin Cunningham, Commissioner
Bruce Potts, Commissioner
Others Present
Jim Ledbetter, County Administrator
Annette Berry, County Clerk
Approximately 27 Guests
Media
Chairman Hood called the meeting to order.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE 2022/2023 GORDON COUNTY BUDGET
Commissioner Steward made a motion to open the Public Hearing for the Budget. Commissioner Potts seconded the motion and all voted aye.
County Administrator advised that this is a hearing for public comment to the recommended budget. The recommended budget was presented to the Board at the last meeting. This was online and has been advertised in the newspaper, a copy has been available at the County Clerk’s office and at the Public Library. There is no one signed up to speak. However Mr. David MacKnight was allowed to come to the podium to speak to the Board regarding several items on the budget such as the Airport Authority budget request and staff payroll at the Finance Department.
Commissioner Owens made a motion to close the Public for the 2022/2023 Gordon County Budget. Commissioner Potts seconded the motion and all voted aye. Motion passed.
EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
Commissioner Steward read the names of the employees with Anniversary Hire Dates in June.
Commissioner Cunningham drew the name of Shane Hall with the Road Department as Employee of the Month for June.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairman Hood asked if there are any additions, omissions, or deletions to the Minutes for the Work Session and Regular Meeting of May 17, 2022. Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to approve the Minutes. Commissioner Potts seconded the motion and Commissioners Owens, Potts, Cunningham, and Steward voted aye. Motion passed.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Administrator Ledbetter read the report (copy attached).
COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT
Commissioner Owens reported that he attended the Joint Development Authority meeting, and attended the Calhoun/Gordon County Development Authority meeting, also met with Terry Brumlow concerning potential development coming to Gordon County, and attended the Council of Chief Elected Officials for the Chairman, also attended the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission meeting, participated in a call from ACCG, and met with County Administrator and Commission Potts for a budget review and discussion.
Commissioner Potts reported that he attended the Joint Development Authority meeting, attended a ribbon cutting, attended the DFAC meeting, and a budget revision meeting with the Administrator and Commissioner Owens , met with some developers interested in Gordon County, attended a Library meeting, and met with Public Works Director, met with Chief Deputy Paris and discussed budget items and took a tour of the jail. Also gave a report on the Public Works, Fleet Management and Buildings and Grounds departments.
Commissioner Steward thanked friends and family and citizens for their vote for him to continue being a Commission Board member, commented that he met with some citizens in Gordon County to hear some of their ideas and concerns, also met with one elected official, spoke with Marvin Gardner about recognition of Purple Heart recipients by a memorial to be placed at the entrance to the courthouse and he also invited commissioners to attend one of their Purple Heart meetings in Rome where they will talk about some of their ideas for that memorial.
Commissioner Cunningham reported that he talked with, and met with several citizens and spoke with the Administrator concerning budget items and with some of the Council members in Fairmount. Since we just observed Memorial Day he wanted to take a moment and recognize
the service members who have given their lives for this County, there have been over 1.3 million service members who have given their lives for our freedom. We as a Board, a county, a State and as a County, we don’t need to forget that sacrifice made by our service members.
Chairman Hood reported that she has talked with our Administrator and she also offered congratulations to Commission Steward for his winning campaign for a continuance of serving as a County Commission.
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to open the Public Hearing for Zoning. Commissioner Potts seconded the motion and all voted aye.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR ZONING
A. Application #Z22-08 Mandy Gentry & Eric Greeson’s Request to Rezone from A-1 to R-4
Administrator Ledbetter advised the Board that this is a rezoning that was approved at the last meeting back on May 17, we need to incorporate that record as well as the hearing tonight. However some of the property owners had been given the wrong date for the May 17th meeting and did not attend the last meeting and zoning hearing, so we have reset this public hearing for tonight and notices have been resent with the correct date. We have three people who have signed up to speak at this public hearing. This property is 15 acres and is on Harris Beamer Road and it is to build about 120 town homes in about 20 units. The Board, at that last meeting, voted to approve this rezoning following the recommendation of the Planning Commission. However it was discovered the next day that a notice had been sent that was off by two days and so people showed up for the wrong day for the hearing and no one was here.
Melissa Hunter came before the Board with concerns about the numbers of homes to be built there and that there needs to be barriers between the property and her property, also was concerned about a lot of traffic on such a narrow road, comments were that this is a swampy area and she has concerns about safety and property values.
Mr. Kenneth Hunter came before the Board with concerns about water runoff and traffic.
Angie Raines came before the Board and had concerns about her animals and the children from those town homes wanting to feed her animals, also about values and about how the units will be set on the property.
Commissioner Owens asked Mr. Greeson about the buffers and if a retention pond will be put in.
Mr. Greeson spoke to the Board and advised that the definition for buffers is in the County’s codes and they will follow the codes, the buffers will probably be grass and the trees that are there, also it will be on City sewer. Administrator asked what are the setbacks planned for and Mr. Greeson said they are complying with the R-4 setbacks called for.
Administrator Ledbetter advised that the Board has already approve this rezoning, but we identified an undisputed deficiency in the notice and the Board has taken action, we have discretion to fix things, we have done that by giving them notice. If someone on the Board is of the opinion that they need to modify the decision rendered several weeks ago in order to do justice, then it would be a motion, if it gets a second, then discussion then a vote. Right now, the property was rezoned, the Board can put it to a new vote, and if anyone appeals this on deficiencies of notice it would probably be best to consider it as heard anew tonight.
Commissioner Owens made a motion to approve the rezoning application #Z22-08 for Mandy Gentry and Eric Greeson’s request to rezone from A-1 to R-4 with the contingency of the developer adding a screened buffer of trees around the development. Further discussion clarified that the buffer should be a vegetative buffer. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and Commissioners Cunningham, Steward, Owens, and Potts voted aye. Motion approved.
B. Application #Z22-09 Thor Equities, LLC’s Request to Rezone from A-1 to I-1 and Application #Z22-10 Thor Equities, LLC’s Request to Rezone from A-1 to I-1
Administrator Ledbetter advised the Board that this is for two applications for rezoning that the Board considered together at the last meeting and these were tabled until tonight’s meeting. They were tabled in order to give Thor and OWR an opportunity to talk and reach an agreement about improvements to Trimble Hollow Road.
Chairman asked for a motion to bring these applications off the table. Commissioner Potts made a motion to bring these two rezoning application off the table. Commissioner Cunningham seconded the motion and Commissioners Potts, Cunningham, Steward, and Owens voted aye. Motion passed.
Administrator advised that there are several people signed up to speak on this tonight. The first person called to speak was Mr. Ted Corwin who came before the Board and asked the Board to approve both applications as they are subject to Thor Equities improving the 1,000 ft. of frontage that is encompassing the properties to be rezoned.
Mr. Sage Ralston came before the Board and advised that he is representing OWR and stated that he feels that Thor should pay for 1/3 and OWR to pay 2/3 for the improvement to Trimble Hollow Road.
Ms. Jones, representing her aunt and Alberta Jones came before the Board and asked that the Board approve the two rezoning requests so Ms. Alberta Jones can get to a better location.
Ms. Alberta Jones came before the Board and asked that the rezoning be approved.
Commissioner Owens made a motion to approve the applications for Thor Equities, LLC’s request to rezone from A-1 to I-1 with the stipulation that Thor Equities shall be required to make improvements to Trimble Hollow Road at Thor’s expense. The improvements shall improve Trimble Hollow Road to an industrial grade road consistent with the plans, drawings, and specifications presented to Gordon County in connection with a previous rezoning on Trimble Hollow Road by OWR, LLC know as Application # Z20-15. The section of road to be improved by Thor will begin at the east end of the OWR project at Station 24+13.88 as shown on the plans known as “Road Improvement Plans Trimble Hollow Road” by Mark Shamblin which were last revised on February 22, 2021. The industrial grade road will continue easterly on Trimble Hollow Road to its intersection with Spring Hill Road. The improvements will then continued 150 feet along Spring Hill Road past the intersection with Trimble Hollow and 150 feet along Trimble Hollow beyond the intersection of Spring Hill and Trimble Hollow Roads. As a condition of this rezoning, the road improvement must be completed before Gordon County may issue a temporary or permanent certificate of occupancy to any structures constructed on the properties rezoned or that portion of parcel 048-004 lying North and East of the ditch that bifurcates that parcel, and shall be completed no later than October 31, 2022.
This motion also affirms that Trimble Hollow Road, in its current state, is not of sufficient design or construction to handle industrial traffic. It is a matter of Public Safety for the Road to be improved as required prior to an industrial use of the affected lands which have been historically farmland. Finally, precedent exists where Gordon County has required developers to improve roads at the developer’s expense. Two examples are the OWR, LLC project on Trimble Hollow Road and the Buc-ee’s project on Johnson Lake.
Commissioner Potts seconded the motion and Commissioners Owens, Potts, Cunningham, and Steward voted aye. Motion passed.
Commissioner Owens made a motion to close the Public Hearing for zoning. Commissioner Cunningham seconded the motion and all voted aye.
CONSIDERATION OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
CONSIDERATION OF NEW BUSINESS
GEORGIA FUND I ACCOUNTS RESOLUTION TO AUTHORITY CHANGE OF DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE
Administrator Ledbetter advised the Board that this is for Georgia Fund I accounts resolution to authorize change of designated representative. This is referring to our new Finance Director Andrea Bramlett being designated on that account.
Commissioner Steward made a motion to approve the Resolution to authorize the change of designated representative on Georgia Fund I. Commissioner Potts seconded the motion and Commissioner Potts, Owens, Cunningham, and Steward voted aye. Motion passed.
DECLARATION OF SURPLUS PROPERTY FOR FLEET MANAGEMENT FOR ONE SNAP-ON SCAN TOOL, ONE SNAP-ON VANTAGE, MISCELLANEOUS CORDLESS DRILLS, AND SCRAP METAL
Administrator Ledbetter advised the Board that this is a Declaration of Surplus Property for Fleet Management for several miscellaneous items no longer of use.
Commissioner Potts made a motion to approve the Declaration of Surplus Property for Fleet Management. Commissioner Owens seconded the motion and Commissioners Cunningham, Potts, Owens, and Steward voted aye. Motion passed.
DECLARATION OF SURPLUS PROPERTY FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR A MISCELLANEOUS LIST OF EQUIPMENT
Administrator Ledbetter advised that this a Declaration of Surplus Property for the Fire Department for a miscellaneous list of equipment no longer of use to the Fire Department.
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to approve the Declaration of Surplus Property for the Fire Department. Commissioner Potts seconded the motion and Commissioners Owens, Cunningham, Steward, and Potts voted aye. Motion passed.
DECLARATION OF SURPLUS PROPERTY FOR THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT FOR TWO JOHN DEERE DECK MOWERS TC820AM010919 AND 1tC915BCTDT012564
Administrator Ledbetter advised the Board that this is a request from the Sheriff’s Department for a Declaration of Surplus Property for two John Deere deck mowers.
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to approve the Declaration of Surplus Property for the Sheriff’s Department. Commissioner Potts seconded the motion and Commissioners Cunningham, Potts, Steward, and Owens voted aye. Motion passed.
CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENT WITH MOMON CONSTRUCTION FOR THE SENIOR CENTER RENOVATION
Administrator Ledbetter advised that this is for Board approval for the construction agreement with Momon Construction for the Senior Center renovation. We are getting to the end of the 2012 SPLOST projects; the Senior Center was one of those projects. Renovations are going to be replacing flooring, updating kitchen equipment, new paint, a walk in freezer, all new ceiling tiles and LED light package, plumbing and water heater and new HV during this renovation.
Commissioners Owens made a motion to approve the construction agreement with Momon Construction for the Senior Center renovation. Commissioner Potts seconded the motion and Commissioners Potts, Owens, Steward, and Cunningham voted aye. Motion passed.
AGREEMENT WITH STATE PROPERTIES COMMISSION FOR THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT OFFICES FOR ONE YEAR EXTENDED TERM JANUARY 1, 2023 TO DECEMBER 31, 2023
Administrator Ledbetter advised that this is an agreement with the State Properties Commission for the Human Services offices and is renewable for a one-year term extension. This extension would be for a term ending January 1, 2023. This will be accepting State Properties Commission offer to extend the lease. The lease payments go to pay for the bonded indebtedness on the facility.
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to approve the one-year extension for the State Properties Commission for the Human Services Department. Commissioner Potts seconded the motion and Commissioners Cunningham, Potts, Owens, and Steward voted aye. Motion passed.
APPOINTMENT TO THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY FOR JESSIE VAUGHN FOR A THREE-YEAR TERM ENDING 6/30/2025
County Administrator Ledbetter advised that this is an appointment to the Airport Authority for Jessie Vaughn for a three-year term ending 6/30/2025. Mr. Vaughn had sent a request advising that he would like to be considered to be appointed to the Airport Authority.
Commissioner Potts made a motion to approve the appointment of Jessie Vaughn for a three-year term to the Airport Authority. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and Commissioners Potts, Steward, Owens, and Cunningham voted aye. Motion passed.
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to adjourn the Regular Meeting. Commissioner Potts seconded the motion and all voted aye.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:09 p.m.
