9/21/2021 BOC Regular Session Minutes
GORDON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 21, 2021
https://vimeo.com/611102947
The Gordon County Board of Commissioners held their Regular Meeting on September 21, 2021 beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the conference room of the Administration Building.
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
MEDIA
APPROXIMATELY 25 GUESTS
Chairman Hood called the meeting to order.
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 7, 2021. Commissioner Potts made a motion to approve the Minutes. Commissioner Owens seconded the motion and Commissioners Owens, Potts, Steward, and Cunningham voted aye. Motion passed.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Administrator Ledbetter read the report. (copy attached).
COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT
Commissioner Owens commented on the recent Fair and the help from all the public safety folks. Special Thanks to Emergency Management, E-911, Fire Department and EMS. This was a good event and the Fair Association was able to provide the funds to local schools and organization that they support each year. Also held a Patriot Day Parade on 9/11. Great participation from our public safety agencies, Gordon County Fire Department, Sheriff’s Office, EMA, E-911, Calhoun Fire and Police, the 109th Army Unit, Veterans and high school bands from all schools. Also thanked the Gordon Gazette and Calhoun Times for what they do to help the local events and make them successful. Commissioner Owens also reported that he was the proxy for Chairman Hood and attended the Council of Chief Elected Officials, also the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission meeting.
Commissioner Potts advised that he visited the Gordon County Retired Teachers Association meeting and became a member. He met with some developers to talk about potential opportunities in Gordon County. Met with the Administrator and discussed the potential opportunities in Gordon County. Attended the Regional Poultry information meeting in Rome. Attended the Gordon County Planning Commission meeting, visited with our Clerk and the Ordinance Officer, met with a couple of people that are interested in developing things in Gordon County. Regarding Public Works, mowing is an issue; tractors are still down due to finding parts to make repairs.
Commissioner Steward gave a Special Thanks to Don Holley and our County Finance Department, after the Board made the announcement with the ARPA funds going out to employees, Don and Jason made the direct deposits to all our employees’ accounts by Friday of that same week. That was an outstanding job, thanks those two departments.
Commissioner Owens made a motion to open the Public Hearing for Zoning. Commissioner Cunningham seconded the motion and voted aye.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR ZONING
Application #Z21-21 Jared Jeffords’ Request to Rezone from R-2 to A-1
Administrator Ledbetter read application #Z21-21 Jared Jeffords’ request to rezone from R-2 to A-1. This property had previously been zoned for a subdivision and now the applicant wants to farm the property. This comes to the Board of Commissioners from the Planning Commission with their recommendations for approval. No one signed to speak for or against the rezoning application.
Commissioner Potts made a motion to approve application #Z21-21. Commissioner Owens seconded the motion and Commissioners Potts, Owens, Steward, and Cunningham voted aye. Motion passed.
Application #Z21-22 Quang Nguyen and Giau Vo’s Request to Rezone from A-1 to R-2
Administrator Ledbetter read application #Z21-22 Quang Nguyen and Giau Vo’s request to rezone from A-1 to R-2. It is for 1.29 acres and the applicant wants to build a duplex on the property. The property is now vacant. Applicant will be annexing into City of Calhoun for sewer. This comes to the Board of Commissioners from the Planning Commission with their recommendations for approval. No one signed to speak for or against the rezoning application.
Commissioner Owens made a motion to approve application #Z21-22. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and Commissioners Cunningham, Owens, Potts, and Steward voted aye. Motion passed.
Application #Z21-24 Jeff Langston’s Request to Rezone from A-1 to RA-1
Administrator Ledbetter read application #Z21-24 Jeff Langston’s request to rezone from A-1 to RA-1. Applicant is subdividing the tract into two separate parcels. This comes to the Board of Commissioners from the Planning Commission with their recommendations for approval. No one signed to speak for or against the rezoning application.
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to approve application #Z21-24. Commissioner Potts seconded the motion and Commissioners Cunningham, Potts, Steward, and Cunningham voted aye. Motion passed.
Application #Z21-25 Jeff Langston’s Request to Rezone from A-1 to R-6
Administrator Ledbetter read application #Z21-25 Jeff Langston’s request to rezone from A-1 to RA-1. Applicant is rezoning for compliance. This comes to the Board of Commissioners from the Planning Commission with their recommendations for approval. No one signed to speak for or against the rezoning application.
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to approve application #Z21-25. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and Commissioners Cunningham, Steward, Potts, and Owens voted aye. Motion passed.
Application #Z21-26 Brian Towers’ Request to rezone from A-1 to R-1
Administrator Ledbetter read application #Z21-25 Brian Towers’ request to rezone from A-1 to R-1. Applicant is subdividing the property with the house he intends to sell. This comes to the Board of Commissioners from the Planning Commission with their recommendation for approval with the stipulation that all Environmental Health requirements are met.
Commissioner Owens made a motion to approve application #Z21-26 with the stipulation that all Environmental Health requirements are met. Commissioner Cunningham seconded the motion and Commissioner Owens, Cunningham, Potts, and Steward voted aye. Motion passed.
Commissioner Steward made a motion to close the Public Hearing for Zoning. Commissioner Cunningham seconded the motion and all voted aye.
CONSIDERATION OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS
SECOND READING OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT FOR BROADBAND
Administrator Ledbetter read the second reading of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment. This amendment is simply adding a broadband element to the County’s Comprehensive Plan in order to complete our process toward being broadband ready in able to apply for grant money from the State. Comcast is helping the County with that application.
CONSIDERATION OF NEW BUSINESS
CONTRACT WITH MIMECAST SECURITY SOLUTIONS FOR ENHANCED EMAIL SECURITY AND USER TRAINING
Administrator Ledbetter advised that this item is a contract with Mimecast Security Solutions for enhanced email security and user training. This is something the County has planned for and budgeted for. This is for 100% virus protection on the County’s email and provides threat protection.
Commissioner Steward made a motion to approve the contract with Mimecast. Commissioner Potts seconded the motion and Commissioners Steward, Cunningham, Potts and Owens voted aye. Motion passed.
BOARD APPROVAL FOR THE PURCHASE OF TWO DUMP TRUCKS FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Administrator Ledbetter advised that this is for approval of the purchase of two dump trucks for the Public Works Department from Worldwide Equipment for the amount of $305,679. Public Works Director, Steve Paris negotiated this price down from $315,000, if the County would purchase two dump trucks. Shortage of materials and equipment has caused the Public Works not to do paving right now; we have seven dump trucks out of service right now and cannot get spare parts.
Commissioner Potts made a motion to approve the purchase of two dump trucks for $315,000 for Public Works from Worldwide Equipment. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and Commissioners Owens, Steward, Cunningham, and Potts voted aye. Motion passed.
EXP US SERVICES PROPOSAL AND PEOPLES & QUIGLEY, INC. PROPOSAL FOR ON-DEMAND ENGINEERING SERVICES TO SUPPORT PUBLIC WORKS
County Administrator Ledbetter advised this is for Board approval for the proposals from EXP US Services and Peoples & Quigley, Inc. for on-demand engineering services to support the Public Works Department. This went out for bid and the staff is recommending that we select US Services and also Peoples & Quigley, Inc. This does not cost the County until we use their engineering service.
Commissioner Owens made a motion to approve the proposal for on-demand engineering services for Public Works. Commissioner Potts seconded the motion and Commissioners Potts, Owens, Cunningham, and Steward voted aye. Motion passed.
RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH THE 2021 TAX LEVY
County Administrator Ledbetter advised that this is the Resolution adopting the tax levy. The recommended millage rate rolls back to 9.5150; that is the lowest millage rate since 2010. The schools have also reduced their millage rate, so we establish a total rate of 28.0150.
Commissioner Potts made a motion to approve the Resolution establishing the 2021 Tax Levy at 9.5150 mils. Commissioner Cunningham seconded the motion and Commissioners Steward, Potts, Cunningham, and Owens voted aye. Motion passed.
ADOPT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT FOR BROADBAND
Chairman Hood recused herself from the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment for Broadband due to a potential conflict of interest.
Administrator Ledbetter announced that this is simply a motion to amend the Comprehensive Plan and to approve the adoption of the amended Comprehensive Plan.
Vice-Chairman Steward then called for a vote on the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment for Broadband.
Commissioner Potts made a motion to approve the amendment to the Comprehensive Plan for Broadband. Commissioner Owens seconded the motion and Commissioners Steward, Potts, Cunningham, and Owens voted aye. Commissioner Hood abstained from voting. Motion passed.
AJOURNMENT
Commissioner Potts made a motion to adjourn the Regular Meeting. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and all voted aye.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m.
