11/6/2012 BOC Work Session Minutes
GORDON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
WORK SESSION MINUTES
NOVEMBER 6, 2012
The Gordon County Board of Commissioners held a Work Session Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. in the Conference room of the Administration Building.
Chairman Bailey called the meeting to order.
The Board discussed each item on the Agenda and made no changes or deletions; two items were added to the agenda later in the meeting.
The Board had a lengthy discussion regarding providing office space for federal and local agricultural agencies, with several visitors coming forward and speaking to the Board. County Administrator Dowling advised that the USDA had solicited for offers for property owners to provide square footage for office space. This is a once in a 15 or 20 year opportunity to do this, and the goal is to have every agency in one facility. Gordon County responded to the solicitation and was awarded the opportunity to supply the office space. Now we have the lease agreement with USDA to sign. Administrator Dowling also added that the building currently housing the Extension Service will be available for Gordon County’s use and could be used to house courthouse personnel when the renovation of the courthouse takes place. Mr. Greg Bowman the local Extension Coordinator, Greg Price the UGA Extension District Director, Glen Forester with the local USDA, Doug Cade with Limestone Valley, John Lofridge with the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission in Rome, Sam Payne a local agricultural producer, and Ricky Smith a local agricultural producer and part of Limestone Valley, all spoke to the Board in support of the agricultural facility being located in Gordon County. Mr. Don Chandler from Forum MDS helped prepare the county’s response to the solicitation from the USDA, spoke to the Board and presented a rendering of how the facility would look and the floor plan of the facility. Commissioner Steward asked if any of the offices in the new facility could possibly be used by courthouse personnel when the renovation of the courthouse begins. It was pointed out that only a couple of offices might be available, but that the old Extension Office facility would have about 12 to 15 offices available for the County’s use. Commissioner Steward commented that this would save the County money that would have to be spent for office space for courthouse personnel.
There was a consensus of the Board to add an item to the agenda to approve the lease agreement with the USDA for the office space.
Mr. Eric Walkover with the KOA came before the Board requesting a waver of the license fee and application fee for an Off Premises Alcoholic Beverage Catering license for Sharkeys. Sharkeys will be the catering business that will serve the beer at the KOA’s planned barbeque fund raiser the end of November. The Board agreed to consider forgiving the fees, due to the application being filed for a late November date, also the license will expire in just a few weeks at the end of December, and because this is for a fund raiser for United Way and other charities. Sharkeys would have to apply in January for a new license for the 2013 calendar year and would pay the full fees for the license.
There was a consensus of the Board to consider and approve this request at the Regular Meeting as they consider approval of the actual application for the Catering license.
Commissioner Long made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Hood seconded the motion and all voted aye.
There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 10:00 a.m.
