GORDON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR SESSION MINUTES
JUDICIAL BUILDING ASSEMBLY ROOM
SEPTEMBER 20, 2022
The Gordon County Board of Commissioners held their Regular Meeting on September 20, 2022 beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Judicial Building Assembly Room.
Members Present
Becky Hood, Chairman
Chad Steward, Vice Chairman
Kevin Cunningham, Commissioner
M. L. Bud Owens, Commissioner
Bruce Potts, Commissioner
Others Present
Jim Ledbetter, County Administrator
Annette Berry, County Clerk
Media
Approximately 35 Guests
Chairman Hood called the meeting to order.
INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Invocation was led by Commissioner Owens. Chairman Hood led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to open the Public Hearing for the Millage Rate. Commissioner Potts seconded the motion and all voted aye.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE
Administrator Ledbetter advised that this is the public hearing for the proposed millage rate. We have a resolution that proposes leaving the millage rate at 9.515 mills. The last time the millage rate was lower than that was in 2009. This is the same millage rate as last year. The millage rate the Board will set does include the millage rate approved by the Gordon County Board of Education which is at 17.5 mills.
Mr. Bill Combs came before the Board and commented that the millage rate will result in a property tax increase of 9.47%. He urged the Board to realize that property values are much inflated; home values and home sales are declining currently. The sales tax revenues are up 32% to 35%. He said that he is now retired and on a fixed income, I don’t want to see my property taxes increase by 9.5 percent. I urge the Board to not leave the millage rate the same because that’s going to make it a tax increase.
Mr. Scott Haynes came before the Board with several questions about the millage rate.
Commissioner Potts made a motion to close the Public Hearing for the Millage Rate. Commissioner Owens seconded the motion and Commissioners Potts, Owens, Cunningham and Steward voted aye. Motion passed. Public Hearing closed at 6:06 p.m.
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 September 6, 2022. Commissioner Potts made a motion to approve the Minutes. Commissioner Owens seconded the motion and Commissioners Owens, Potts, Cunningham, and Steward voted aye. Motion passed.
RECOGNITION OF LOCAL DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND CHILDREN SERVICES
Commissioner Potts read the Department’s submission for this award and the announcement from the State of Georgia that recognized the local Department of Family and Children Services being named Board of the Year by the State of Georgia. Board members posed with the DFCS members for a photo.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Administrator Ledbetter read the report in the Work Session (copy attached).
COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT
Reports from the Commissioners were reported in the Work Session Minutes (see Work Session Minutes for September 20, 2022).
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to go into the Public Hearing for Zoning. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and all voted aye. Motion passed.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR ZONING
Application #Z22-14 Christina R. Jenkins’ Request to Rezone from A-1 to C-H highway commercial
Administrator Ledbetter advised that this is a request from Christina Jenkins to rezone from
A-1 to C-H highway commercial. The property has served previously as a service station and is no longer suitable for A-1. This comes to the Board of Commissioners from the Planning Commission with their recommendations for approval with the stipulation that the property cannot have any registered vehicles to be used as parts and must maintain the buffer strip of
50 ft. on all sides. Also, shall provide an opaque fence or adequate landscaping of an evergreen species of plant having a minimum of six feet height.
Ms. Jenkins came before the Board to explain the rezoning and advised that the property was no longer grandfathered in for the previous zoning. They want to again use the property as a service station. It is not to be any kind of auto storage or salvage and there will be fencing installed.
Mr. Herrick Whiting came before the Board and advised that he no longer has a problem with the property just wanted to make sure that no vehicle storage or salvage would be going on.
Commissioner Potts made a motion to approve the rezoning application to include the stipulations. Commissioner Cunningham seconded the motion and Commissioners Potts, Cunningham, Owens, and Steward voted aye. Motion approved.
Application #Z22-15 Sage Ralston – agent Request to rezone from A-1 to R-6 manufactured housing
Administrator Ledbetter advised that this is a request from Sage Ralston to rezone from A-1 to
R-6 manufactured housing. This is for 3.26 acres on Spring Hill Road and he wants to divide it and put a mobile home on each lot when it is divided and use it for workforce housing for some of the new industry. This would be for two tracts with one mobile home on each tract. This comes to the Board of Commissioners from the Planning Commission with their recommendations for approval.
Mr. Terry Brumlow, representing the applicant came before the Board to explain the rezoning and answer any questions.
Commissioner Owens made a motion to accept the recommendation of the Planning Commission and approve the rezoning. Commissioner Cunningham seconded the motion and Commissioners Owens, Cunningham, Steward, and Potts voted aye. Motion passed.
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to close the public hearing for zoning. Commissioner Potts seconded the motion and all voted aye.
CONSIDERATION OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Code Amendment to the Building Code– Second Reading
Administrator Ledbetter read the Amendment to the Code and advised the Board that the principal reason for this is to strike certain obsolete building codes in Section 4-26 to add the new and current codes such as the International Building Code, the International Residential, etc. and take out some other obsolete language and to adopt Chapter One of the International Code Commission Book. There is a loophole that if the commercial property is under 5,000 sq. ft. it doesn’t have to meet those code requirements.
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to approve the Amendment to the Gordon County Code. Commissioner Potts seconded the motion and Commissioners Cunningham, Potts, Owens, and Steward voted aye. Motion passed.
CONSIDERATION OF NEW BUSINESS
RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH THE 2022 TAX LEVY
Administrator Ledbetter advised the Board that this is the resolution to establish the tax levy for 2022.
Commissioner Potts made a motion to approve the Resolution to establish the 2022 tax levy at 9.5150. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and Commissioners Cunningham, Potts, Owens, and Steward voted aye. Motion passed.
RE-APPOINTMENT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY & CHILDREN SERVICES BOARD FOR ROBERT HUGHES FOR A FIVE-YEAR TERM ENDING 9/30/27
Administrator Ledbetter advised that this is a re-appointment to the DFCAS Board for Robert Hughes for a five-year term ending on 9/30/2027.
Commissioner Owens made a motion to approve the appointments to the Department of Family and Children Services Board for Robert Hughes. Commissioner Potts seconded the motion and Commissioners Owens, Cunningham, Steward, and Potts voted aye. Motion passed.
GEORGIA POWER REQUEST FOR POWER EASEMENT TO TRIM VEGETATION ON PITTMAN ROAD IN RANGER
Administrator Ledbetter advised the Board that this is a request from Georgia Power for a power easement to trim vegetation on Pittman Road in Ranger. This is where our trash convenience center is, I spoke to our contractor at Republic and they thought it was a good idea. Georgia Power is paying us for the easement to go in and make it better for us.
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to approve the request from Georgia Power. Commissioner Potts seconded the motion and Commissioners Cunningham, Potts, Steward, and Owens 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 6:50 p.m.
