10/1/2019 BOC Regular Session Minutes
GORDON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR SESSION MINUTES
OCTOBER 1, 2019
The Gordon County Board of Commissioners held their Regular Meeting on October 1, 2019 beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the conference room of the Administration Building.
MEMBERS PRESENT
BECKY HOOD, CHAIRMAN
CHAD STEWARD, VICE CHAIRMAN
NORRIS SEXTON, COMMISSIONER
M. L. BUD OWENS, COMMISSIONER
KEVIN CUNNINGHAM, COMMISSIONER
OTHERS PRESENT
JIM LEDBETTER, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
ANNETTE BERRY, COUNTY CLERK
MEDIA
APPROXIMATELY 14 GUESTS
Chairman Hood called the meeting to order.
EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
Employees with Anniversary hire dates in October
Commissioner Owens read the list of employees with anniversary hire dates in October. Commissioner Cunningham drew the name of Justin Garland with the Public Works Department as Employee for the Month of October.
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to go into the public hearing for the millage rate. Commissioner Owens seconded the motion and all voted aye.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR MILLAGE RATE
Administrator Ledbetter advised that this is the third and last of the three required public hearings regarding the millage rate. This meeting has been advertised as required by law. There are two people that have signed up to speak.
Ms. Victoria Choate came before the Board and asked if the Board had explored ways to cut costs, such as layoffs or merging of department heads to reduce costs.
Ms. Donna Sandy came before the Board and said that she and her family moved to Gordon County because of the tax rates, but she had watched those rates climb every year, she wondered where the money goes.
Commissioner Sexton made a motion to close the public hearing. Commissioner Cunningham seconded the motion and all voted aye. Motion passed.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairman Hood asked if there are any additions, omissions, or deletions to the Minutes for the Work Session September 24, 2019, and the Regular Meeting September 24, 2019. Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to approve the Minutes. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and Commissioners Owens, Sexton, Steward, and Cunningham voted aye. Motion passed.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Administrator Ledbetter read the report.
COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT
None
CONSIDERATION OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
CONSIDERATION OF NEW BUSINESS
RESOLUTION IMPOSING A TEMPORARY BURN BAN
Administrator Ledbetter advised that it is a resolution imposing a temporary burn ban beginning at 6:30 today, October 1, 2019, until lifted by the Board of Commissioners.
Commissioner Sexton made a motion to approve the Resolution for a temporary burn ban. Commissioner Owens seconded the motion and Commissioners Owens, Sexton, Steward, and Cunningham voted aye. Motion passed.
RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH THE 2019 TAX LEVY
Administrator Ledbetter advised that this is the resolution to establish the 2019 tax levy for Gordon County. The Board of Commissioners, in an effort to balance the county’s budget, elected to maintain the current millage rate of 9.631 instead of a rollback. By taking the rollback in the past, the county had less revenue coming in. The county cannot keep using reserves to balance the budget. By keeping the millage rate the same as last year, the county will generate more revenue due to the valuation of properties, and that will get what the county needs to balance the budget.
Commissioner Steward made a motion to approve the Resolution establishing the 2019 Tax Levy. Commissioner Owens seconded the motion and Commissioners Cunningham, Steward, Sexton, and Owens 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 was adjourned at 6:14 p.m.
