GORDON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
NOVEMBER 16, 2021
https://vimeo.com/646658357
The Gordon County Board of Commissioners held their Regular Meeting on November 16, 2021 beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the main courtroom of the Gordon County Courthouse.
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 55 GUESTS
Chairman Hood called the meeting to order.
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to open the Public Hearing for amending the ULDC Dry Litter Poultry Operations. Commissioner Potts seconded the motion and Commissioners Potts, Cunningham, Steward, and Owens voted aye. Motion passed.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR AMENDMENT TO THE ULDC DRY LITTER POULTRY OPERATIONS
Administrator Ledbetter spoke to the list of citizen who are signed up to speak during the public hearing and reminded them of the need to limit their time and that the topic is concerning the amendment and what the Board needs to put in the ordinance.
Al Stone spoke to the Board in support of the amendment to the ULDC and he commented, “Let’s take a pause so that we can get this amendment right for our citizens”
Jennifer Beason spoke to the Board and suggested that the County have a study of the air quality and pollution around chicken houses.
Lisa Stone spoke to the Board and asked that the moratorium be extended.
David MacKnight spoke to the Board and asked for more review of the applications for building chicken houses.
Dr. Katie Namick spoke to the Board about health problems in Gordon County from chicken houses causing respiratory illnesses in her patients. She has seen a virus running through patients in her care who are living between two different chicken house farms.
Andy Bailey spoke to the Board and asked the question – how many chicken houses are enough?
How many chicken houses are in Gordon County?, there are 780. The ordinance is a really good document and provides a firm foundation for proper and safe growth in Gordon County.
Stuart Mason spoke to the Board about ammonia snow which is chicken house fallout. Also the ammonia stench, this is not farming, it is an industrial operation. The owners of the operations are becoming wealthy while the neighbors are suffering.
Meg Reidy came before the Board and handed out a draft that should be submitted before going before the zoning application
Michael Williams spoke to the Board and informed that he is representing the Gordon County Farm Bureau that oppose any changes to the ordinance and does not agree with any of the proposed changes.
Mark Owens came before the Board and commented that only 1% of the people are producing food for the whole nation, chickens have to be raised somewhere. He prefers the ordinance that we have before the proposed amendments.
Rucker MacDonald commented that he wants Gordon County to be where people choose to live. 770 chicken houses in Gordon County are more than twice as many as any other county has. Setbacks would give more protection from chemicals and dust in the air. Many chicken houses in Gordon County are owned by people outside of Gordon County.
Adam Williams spoke to the Board and commented that there is no research that chicken houses cause health issues, stop making assumptions. We are passionate about this because people are coming after our life style and our livelihood. The current ordinance meets the criteria of the community.
Commissioner Potts made a motion to close the Public Hearing. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and Commissioners Potts, Steward, Owens, and Cunningham 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 and Regular Meeting of November 2, 2021. Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to approve the Minutes. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and Commissioners Owens, Potts, Steward, and Cunningham voted aye. Motion passed.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Administrator Ledbetter read the report in the Work Session (copy attached).
COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT
Commissioner Owens reported that he attended the Leadership Calhoun/Gordon County and serves as that group’s leader and has since 1997. Also, attended the Quality Review Meeting, and a meeting to review the changes to the Dry Litter Poultry ordinance, and attended the ACCG Conference in Savannah and served as the County’s Delegate there.
Commissioner Potts reported that he attended the ACCG Annual Conference and received his certificate as a certified commissioner, attended the Airport Authority meeting, met with EDOG members, and gave his departments reports from County Public Works, Building and Grounds, and Fleet Management.
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to open the Public Hearing for Zoning. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and all voted aye. Motion passed.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR ZONING
Appl. #Z21-31 David Fowler’s Request to Rezone from A-1 to R-1 low density residential
Administrator Ledbetter advised the Board that this is a rezoning request from David Fowler to Rezone from A-1 to R-1 low density residential. This is for 1.96 acres and the applicant would like to subdivide the property and sell the existing single family home on the property and then to build a single family home on the tract. 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 Steward made a motion to approve zoning application #Z21-31 David Fowler’s request to rezone from A-1 to R-1 low density residential. Commissioner Potts seconded the motion and Commissioners Potts, Steward, Owens, and Cunningham voted aye. Motion passed.
Appl. #Z21-32 Kevin Osbourne’s Request to Rezone from R-1 to R-6 manufactured housing
Administrator Ledbetter advised the Board that this is #Z21-32 Kevin Osbourne’s request to rezone from R-1 to R-6 manufactured housing. There is a double wide already on the property and it wasn’t zoned right for that so the applicant is fixing that zoning and he is renovating the double wide so that he can sell it after he corrects the zoning. 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 #Z21-32 Kevin Osbourne’s request to rezone from R-1 to R-6 manufactured housing. Commissioner Potts seconded the motion and Commissioners Owens, Potts, Cunningham, and Steward voted aye. Motion passed.
Appl. #Z21-33 Stephen Ware’s Request to Rezone from A-1 to RA-1 residential agricultural district.
Administrator Ledbetter read application #Z21-33 Stephen Ware’s request to rezone from A-1 to RA-1 residential agricultural district. The applicant is subdividing six acres of land to build three single-family residences. Environmental Health had questions about the locations of septic tanks on the property, those have been resolved. GDOT was restricting to one driveway, they have been satisfied as well. 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 rezoning application number #Z21-33 Stephen Ware’s request to rezone from A-1 to RA-1 residential agricultural district. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and Commissioners Steward, Cunningham, Owens, and Potts voted aye. Motion passed.
Commissioner Steward made a motion to close the Public Hearing for Zoning. Commissioner Potts seconded the motion and all voted aye. Motion passed.
CONSIDERATION OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS
SECOND READING OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE ULDC 4.03.02(K) DRY LITTER POULTRY OPERATIONS
Administrator Ledbetter advised that this is the second reading of the original draft of the amendment to the ULDC 4.03.02 (K) Dry Litter Poultry Operations. This draft will probably be amended according to information that we are gathering. The Board is listening to everybody and wants to get this correct. We will come back probably in December with revisions that we will post ahead of time.
EXTEND THE MORATORIUM ON APPLICATIONS FOR NEW COMMERCIAL POULTRY OPERATIONS OR EXPANSION OF EXISTING COMMERCIAL POULTRY OPERATIONS
Administrator Ledbetter advised that this is for the Board’s consideration to extend the moratorium which expires this evening on applications for new commercial poultry operation or expansion of existing commercial poultry operations. The Administrator advised the Board that he would like to present to the Board the negotiated final ordinance on December 7, 2021, and get it approved then or the Board can extend the moratorium again if necessary.
Commissioner Steward made a motion to extend the Moratorium until the next meeting on December 7, 2021. Commissioner Potts seconded the motion and Commissioners Steward, Potts, Cunningham, and Owens voted aye. Motion passed.
CONSIDERATION OF NEW BUSINESS
RE-APPOINTMENT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH FOR KENT LAWSON FOR A TERM ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2027
Administrator Ledbetter advised the Board that this is a re-appointment to the Department of Public Health for Kent Lawson for a term ending December 31, 2027. The Department of Public Health is requesting that the Board of Commissioners approve this re-appointment to the Gordon County Board of Health.
Commissioner Owens made a motion to approve this re-appointment to the Gordon County Board of Health for Kent Lawson for a term ending December 31, 2027. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and Commissioners Owens, Steward, Cunningham, and Potts voted aye. Motion passed.
BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR $14,000 TO PURCHASE RADIOS FOR NEW UPGRADE FOR THE STATE PATROL AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Administrator Ledbetter advised the Board that this is a budget amendment for $14,000. The County has had to make some adjustments as we go on radios. All radios will be installed and active and in service this week. Sheriff’s Department is being installed right now. This is to purchase radios for the new radio upgrade for the Georgia State Patrol for 10 radios and the District Attorney for 5 radios.
Commissioner Steward made a motion to approve the budget amendment for $14,000 for radios for the State Patrol and the District Attorney. Commissioner Cunningham seconded the motion and Commissioners Steward, Cunningham, Potts, and Owens voted aye. Motion passed
DECLARATION OF SURPLUS PROPERTY FOR MISCELLANEOUS LIST OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT
Administrator Ledbetter advised the Board that this is a declaration of surplus property for Information Technology Equipment that is no longer used nor needed by the IT department. This equipment will be sold to a recycler.
Commissioner Potts made a motion to approve the declaration of surplus property. Commissioner Owens seconded the motion and Commissioners Potts, Owens, Cunningham, and Steward voted aye. Motion passed.
MEMORANDUMS OF UNDERSTANDING WITH PLAINVILLE FOR ORDINANCE ENFORCEMENT OF BUILDING & DEVELOPMENT, PERMITTING, AND INSPECTIONS SERVICES, AND ONE FOR ANIMAL CONTROL
Administrator Ledbetter advised the Board that this is for two Memorandums of Understanding with Plainville. One for ordinance enforcement of Building & Development, Permitting and inspections services and one for Animal Control. In our agreed Service Delivery Strategy the county will provide ordinance enforcement and animal control services to our cities, if they will adopt our ordinances. Plainville has adopted our ordinances by resolution. Mr. Bradford will provide ordinance enforcement in Plainville. Our Animal Control Department has already been providing some assistance to Plainville, and this will make it official. Any cases that arise from this will go to Magistrate Court.
Commissioner Potts made a motion to approve the memorandums of understanding with the City of Plainville for ordinance enforcement. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and Commissioners Potts, Steward, Owens, and Cunningham voted aye. Motion passed.
VERISTOR CAPITAL MASTER LEASE SCHEDULE CERTIFICATE OF ACCEPTANCE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ASSIGNMENT
Administrator Ledbetter advised that this is a master lease schedule and certificate of acceptance and acknowledgement of assignment with Veristor Capital. We are acknowledging that we have received our equipment and we acknowledge that Veristor has assigned these to Veristor Capital.
Commissioner Owens made a motion to approve the Veristor Capital master lease schedule certificate and the acceptance and acknowledgement of assignment to authorize the Chairman to sign the document. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and Commissioners Owens, Steward, Cunningham, and Potts voted aye. Motion passed.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION FOR NINJA SOFTWARE SERVICES
Administrator Ledbetter advised that this is an annual subscription for Ninja software services.
This is another layer of protection and keeps all our servers and computers up to date and that will save IT time. The county only has three IT guys for the entire county and this is an update service that will save them time.
Commissioner Cunningham made a motion to approve the annual subscription with Ninja for software services. Commissioner Steward seconded the motion and Commissioners Cunningham, Steward, Owens, and Potts voted aye. Motion passed.
AJOURNMENT
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 6:57 p.m.
