10/2/2018 BOC Regular Session Minutes
GORDON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR SESSION MINUTES
OCTOBER 2, 2018
The Gordon County Board of Commissioners held their Regular Meeting on October 2, 2018 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
KEVIN CUNNINGHAM, COMMISSIONER
BUD OWENS, COMMISSIONER
OTHERS PRESENT
JIM LEDBETTER, CTY. ADMINISTRATOR
ANNETTE BERRY, COUNTY CLERK
MEDIA
25 GUESTS
Chairman Hood called the meeting to order.
EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
Commissioner Steward read the list of employees with anniversary hire dates in October. Commissioner Owens drew the name of Corey Tate with the Sheriff’s Department as Employee of the Month for October.
PUBLIC HEARING TO ABANDON SECTION OF PEARL JOHNSON ROAD
Commissioner Owens made a motion to open the Public Hearing to abandon a section of Pearl Johnson Road. Commissioner Sexton seconded and all voted aye.
Administrator Ledbetter advised that this is a public hearing for public comments regarding the Board of Commissioners’ intent to abandon a section of Pearl Johnson Road. The county would no longer be maintaining the road, but cannot extinguish any rights of travel across that road that already exists in deeds and plats.
Dr. Dennis Steele spoke to the Board in opposition of abandoning Pearl Johnson Road. Dr. Steele said he could not get his equipment up to his property, making his property useless because he has no road frontage. There also needs to be access for fire equipment to get in there in case of a forest fire, and this road has been a county road for a very long time.
Mr. Shane McDougle does not want the road abandoned and worries that he will not have the 125 feet of road frontage for possibly building one or two houses there for his children at some time in the future. Administrator Ledbetter pointed out that this was a good point to bring up, about what might happen in the future if the section of the road is abandoned.
Mr. Gary Barnes, an attorney for Weyerhaeuser, spoke to the Board in opposition of abandoning the road. Weyerhaeuser owns about 22,000 acres, the road is gated and dead ended as it hits the Weyerhaeuser property. Weyerhaeuser needs access to its property, this is the access they have used over the years.
Mr. Anthony Reis, stated that he is a property owner and his road frontage is Pearl Johnston Road. He wants the County to abandon that section of the road. If the County does abandon that section, he stated that he has been advised to gate it because that’s the quickest way to resolve any easement issues and then at that point, we’ll decide how to go about it. If Weyerhaeuser leases or buys it from him or pays for him to maintain it or they maintain it on a regular schedule, then that would be decided, but that is what he has been advised to do. If the county does abandon it he said he has been advised to block it as of tomorrow or whenever the order goes through, until that is figured out, because it’s not fair if he has to maintain it for everybody else to use. The road is not in a condition where he can bring construction vehicles in to build a house, because that’s his intent. Weyerhaeuser does have other access and that’s where most of the people come in through, but people do use the road in front of his property, it’s a lot quicker and it’s a lot easier, his only concern is footing the bill.
Administrator Ledbetter advised that he doesn’t think Mr. Reis can gate the road. He advised that if the County does not abandon the road we have to go out and do some minimal work on it, but we do not have to pave it. If Mr. Reis went out and put up a gate tomorrow, the County would be answering to Mr. Barnes on behalf of his client and to Mr. McDougle and Dr. Steele’s attorney, so he recommended to the Board that they should not abandon the road. Because they have made a case that it would cause a hardship on members of the public and there is a legitimate public need to keep the road open.
Commissioner Owens made a motion to deny the request for abandoning a portion of Pearl Johnson Road. Commissioner Sexton seconded the motion and Commissioners Owens, Sexton, Steward, and Cunningham voted aye. Motion passed.
Commissioner Steward made a motion to close the public hearing. Commissioner Sexton seconded the motion and all voted aye.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairman Hood asked if there are any additions, omissions, or deletions to the Minutes for the Work Session September 18, 2018, and the Regular Meeting September 18, 2018. Commissioner Sexton made a motion to approve the minutes. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and Commissioners Cunningham, Owens, Sexton, and Steward voted aye. Motion approved.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Administrator Ledbetter submitted the written report to the Board.
COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT
None.
CONSIDERATION OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
CONSIDERATION OF NEW BUSINESS
REAPPOINTMENT OF BUD OWENS TO THE NORTHWEST GEORGIA REGION ONE EMS ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR A TWO-YEAR TERM ENDING JANUARY 1, 2021
Administrator Ledbetter advised this is the reappointment of Bud Owens to the Northwest Georgia Region One EMS Advisory Council for a two-year term ending January 1, 2021.
Commissioner Sexton made a motion to approve the reappointment of Bud Owens to the Region One EMS. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and Commissioners Steward, Sexton, and Cunningham voted aye. Motion passed.
CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST TO CLOSE TRIMBLE HOLLOW ROAD FOR A SPECIAL EVENT
Administrator Ledbetter advised that this is a request to close a portion of Trimble Hollow Road for an upcoming special event. This would be on October 8, between the hours of 11:00 am and 8:00 pm. Each department and office has been notified of the road closure beginning at Highway 41 and Trimble Hollow Road travelling east to the intersection Spring Hill Road.
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to approve the request. Commissioner Owens seconded the motion and Commissioners Cunningham, Owens, Steward, and Sexton voted aye. Motion passed.
DECLARATION OF SURPLUS PROPERTY FOR THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT FOR SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT TO BE OFFERED TO THE CITY OF CALHOUN POLICE DEPARTMENT
Administrator Ledbetter advised that this is a request from the Sheriff’s Department for a declaration of surplus surveillance property to be offered to the City of Calhoun Police Department.
Commissioner Sexton made a motion to approve the declaration of surplus property for the Sheriff’s Department. Cmmissioner Owens 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 was adjourned at 6:35 p.m.
