7/7/2020 BOC Regular Session Minutes
GORDON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR SESSION MINUTES
JULY 7, 2020
The Gordon County Board of Commissioners held their Regular Meeting on July 7, 2020 beginning at 6:00 p.m. The meeting was held in the Conference Room of the Administration Building.
Members Present
Chad Steward, Vice Chairman
M. L. Bud Owens, Commissioner
Norris Sexton, Commissioner
Kevin Cunningham, Commissioner
Others Present
Jim Ledbetter, County Administrator
Annette Berry, County Clerk
Vice-Chairman Steward called the meeting to order.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Vice-Chairman Steward asked if there are any additions, omissions, or deletions to the Minutes for the Work Session and Regular Meeting June 16, 2020. Commissioner Sexton made a motion to approve the Minutes. Commissioner Cunningham seconded the motion and Commissioners Owens, Sexton, Cunningham, and Steward voted aye. Motion passed.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Administrator Ledbetter read the report. (copy attached)
COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT
Commissioner Owens commented that he had two White House meetings, one was a COVID 19 Response zoom meeting and another one was focused on community finance and the CARES grant. He also attended the Development Authority meeting and listened to the Governor’s announcement.
Commissioner Sexton made a motion to go into the Public Hearing for a Variance Appeal. Commissioner Owens seconded the motion and all voted aye.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR VARIANCE APPEAL
Variance Appeal Application #A20-06 Blue Hill Farms and Owner Xuan Hoang
Administrator Ledbetter read variance appeal application #A20-06 for Blue Hill Farms. The Planning Commission met and heard the application for a variance and voted to deny. Mr. Hoang wants to build a stack house 112 feet from the back side of the property line. The issue is that the setback of the stack house should be 300 feet from the property line, and in this instance he is asking for a variance of 188 feet. The applicant, Mr. Huan Hoang, came before the Board to explain the variance he is asking for. During his explanation he advised that he was not building a stack house to hold dead chickens, but he had to indicate that this was a stack house in order to acquire financing from the USDA, it is a shed to store sawdust to be used to go in the chicken houses. He cremates the dead chickens on the property and does not intend to use the building to house dead chickens. Mr. Ron Dobbs came before the Board and commented that he opposed the variance because it is too close to his property and he does not want the smell or waste near his property. Administrator Ledbetter directed the Board’s attention to a letter from Pat Baker that advised the Board of his opposition to the variance. Following discussions, Administrator Ledbetter advised that he would get with Mr. Hoang later, but the Board needs to go ahead and make a decision to approve or not approve the variance.
Commissioner Owens made a motion to deny the variance appeal application #A20-06 for Blue Farms. Commissioner Cunningham seconded the motion and Commissioners Owens, Sexton, Cunningham, and Steward voted aye. Motion passed.
Commissioner Sexton made a motion to close the Public Hearing. Commissioner Cunningham seconded the motion and Commissioner Cunningham, Owens, Cunningham, and Steward voted aye. Motion passed.
CONSIDERATION OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS
ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO THE GORDON COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL ORDINANCE FOR THE LEASH LAW SECTION – SECOND READING
Administrator Ledbetter read the amendment and advised that this is the second reading of the Animal Control Ordinance for the Leash Law Section. The amendment is not for the intent to go out and find dogs that are loose and to cite people for failing to comply with a prior warning, but if we get complaints and we have warned the owner and we counsel them and work with them and they won’t control their animal, then this amendment gives the ability to issue a citation and the judge can do what he thinks is right, and upon a guilty conviction, it could be up to $1,000 fine or 60 days in jail. That would be an extreme case that the judge would get to decide.
Commissioner Sexton made a motion to accept the amendment item (c) as read of the ordinance and to approve the ordinance amendment. Commissioner Owens seconded the motion and Commissioners Sexton, Owens, Cunningham, and Steward voted aye. Motion passed.
CONSIDERATION OF NEW BUSINESS
APPROVAL OF THE 2020/2021 PAVING LIST FOR GORDON COUNTY
Administrator Ledbetter advised the Board that this list contains the roads to be paved during 2020/2021 paving for Gordon County.
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to approve the 2020/2021 paving list. Commissioner Sexton seconded the motion and Commissioners Cunningham, Owens, and Steward voted aye. Motion passed.
RENEWAL AGREEMENT WITH NORTH GEORGIA COMMUNITY ACTION, INC. FOR THE SECTION 5311 TRANSPORTATION SERVICE
Administrator Ledbetter advised that this is the renewal agreement to continue to employ North Georgia Community Action as our transportation provider. This is an annual agreement and we have our local operating match budget. This is federally funded and a mandated service. Commissioner Owens asked if we had received any complaints regarding this service. Administrator Ledbetter commented that there had been no complaints.
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to approve the Renewal Agreement with North Georgia Community Action. Commissioner Sexton seconded the motion and Commissioners Sexton, Owens, Cunningham, and Steward voted aye. Motion passed.
GORDON COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT FIREFIGHTER POSITIONS AND PAID PER CALL CLASS
Administrator Ledbetter explained that this is not creating any new positions; we have five vacant firefighter positions and five recruits who are ready to sign up and fill those positions. The vacant positions were created because we had three retirements and two left the County’s employ. The five recruits have passed their tests and have been interviewed. We need the Board to approve going ahead and filling those vacant positions and allow spending the money in the budget to pay for the paid-per-call class for voluntary firefighters.
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to approve filling the five vacant positions and to allow spending the money in the budget to pay for the paid-per-call class. Commissioner Sexton seconded the motion and Commissioners Cunningham, Owens, Sexton, and Steward voted aye. Motion passed.
SERVICE AGREEMENTS WITH OUTSIDE AGENCIES – CITY SCHOOL NURSE, COUNTY SCHOOL NURSE, ARTS COUNCIL, VAC, PREVENT CHILD ABUSE, WINNERS CLUB
Administrator Ledbetter advised the Board that these are service agreements with outside agencies. These are annual contracts, in order to received funds budgeted for the City School nurse, County School nurse, Arts Council, VAC, Prevent Child Abuse, and Winners Club.
Commissioner Owens made a motion to approve the Service Agreements with Outside Agencies as read. Commissioner Cunningham seconded the motion and Commissioners Sexton, Owens, Cunningham, and Steward voted aye. Motion passed.
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 adjourned at 6:42 p.m.
