5/19/09 Regular Session Minutes
The Gordon County Board of Commissioners held their Regular Meeting on Tuesday, May 19, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. in the main Courtroom of the Gordon County Courthouse.
Chairman Long called the meeting to order.
INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Invocation was led by Rev. John Allen and the pledge of allegiance was led by Chairman Long.
WELCOME
Chairman Long welcomed everyone to the meeting. Commissioner Gordon made a motion to open the public hearing. Commissioner Bailey seconded the motion and all voted aye.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR ABANDONMENT OF PORTIONS OF PINE DRIVE, FIELD ROAD, N.E. AND SALEM ROAD
County Attorney Hutchinson advised the Board that there is a correction on the measurement on Pine Drive. On the description of the portion of Pine Drive to be abandoned should read “that portion of Pine Drive being approximately 1,100 feet from Damascus Church Road to a dead end, with a total being abandoned of 475 feet.” County Attorney Hutchinson further explained. It is 1,100 feet from the intersection of Damascus Church Road to the point on Pine Drive that is up for consideration of abandonment. There has been a gate constructed on the road and it is from the gate back. Mrs. Betty Burns spoke in opposition to the abandonment of Field Road because of the illegal activities being carried out on the road. County Attorney Hutchinson advised the Board that Field Road runs from Baxter Road to Love Bridge Road, only a portion of Field Road is being requested to be abandoned, that is 0.63 miles of dirt portion of Field Road, the remainder of 0.14 miles that begins at Baxter Road would remain open. Mr. Gary Bailey spoke regarding Pine Drive. County Attorney Hutchinson advised Mr. Bailey that 1,100 would be left open, from the intersection of Pine Drive and Damascus Church Road in 1,100 would still remain a County road and the portion to be abandoned is the 475 feet from the gate leading into Nance Carpet. Mr. Bailey did not have a problem with the abandonment after confirming this information with the County Attorney.
Commissioner Bailey made a motion to close the public hearing. Commissioner Hood seconded the motion and all voted aye. County Attorney Hutchinson inquired of the Board if this item should now be added to the Agenda for the Board’s consideration. There was a consensus of the Board to add this item to the Agenda.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairman Long asked if there were any additions, omissions, or deletions to the Minutes for the Work Session May 5, 2009, and the Regular Meeting May 5, 2009. Commissioner Bailey made a motion to approve the minutes. Commissioner Gordon seconded the motion and all voted aye. Minutes approved.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
None
COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT
None
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC – GERMANE TO THE AGENDA
None
CONSIDERATION OF OLD BUSINESS
- ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO THE ULDC AND OFFICIAL ZONING MAP TO INCLUDE THE NEW ECHOTA AND RESACA BATTLEFIELD HISTORIC OVERLAY DISTRICTS
Administrator Dowling advised the Board that this is the Ordinance amendment to the Unified Land Development Code and the Official Zoning Map to include the New Echota and Resaca Battlefield Historic overlay districts. Gordon County has held several public hearings in the last year allowing for public input.
Commissioner Bailey made a motion to approve the Ordinance amendment to the ULDC and official zoning map to include the New Echota and Resaca Battlefield historic overlay districts with the omission on both of the maximum square footage requirement for non-residential uses found on page 1-5, and add to the Resaca amendment, under Hillside Development, the statement “for a proposed conservation subdivision development, these provisions shall not result in a loss in the number of units permissible by the zoning district in which the CS is located”. Commissioner Gordon seconded the motion and Commissioners Bailey, Gordon, and Hood voted aye. Commissioner Townsend opposed the motion. Motion passed.
CONSIDERATION OF NEW BUSINESS
- CONTRACT WITH THE TOWN OF RESACA TO CONDUCT ELECTIONS
County Attorney Hutchinson advised that this item comes to the Board of Commissioners at the request of the Gordon County Board of Elections and Voter Registration, which was contacted by the Town of Resaca and asked to conduct their upcoming municipal elections. The Board of Elections agreed to that request and this matter is on the agenda for the Board’s approval of that recommendation from the Board of Elections.
Commissioner Bailey made a motion to approve the contract with the Town of Resaca. Commissioner Gordon seconded the motion and Commissioners Bailey, Gordon, Hood, and Townsend voted aye. Motion passed.
- CONTRACT RENEWAL FOR PRE-EVENT DISASTER ASSISTANCE AND DEBRIS REMOVAL SERVICES
County Administrator Dowling advised that this is a contract renewal for pre-event assistance and debris removal services. The Board had previously approved this contract with two different companies, DTS, Inc. and DRC Emergency Services back in 2007. The contracts were for two years and currently needs to be renewed with no changes.
Commissioner Gordon made a motion to approve the renewal of the two contracts. Commissioner Bailey seconded the motion and Commissioners Bailey, Gordon, Townsend, and Hood voted aye. Motion passed.
- RESOLUTION TO DISPOSE OF SURPLUS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE UNIFORMS
County Administrator Dowling advised that this is a resolution to declare Sheriff’s used uniforms surplus and to dispose of surplus county property. This is for complete uniforms that will be donated to the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office.
Commissioner Gordon made a motion to approve the resolution to donate used uniforms to Pickens County. Commissioner Bailey seconded the motion and Commissioners Bailey, Gordon, Hood, and Townsend voted aye. Motion passed.
- MALT BEVERAGE AND WINE APPLICATION FOR POARCH GROCERY
County Administrator Dowling advised the Board that this is an application for malt beverage and wine license for Poarch Grocery. This is for a change of management only and all paperwork is in order. Commissioner Bailey made a motion to approve the application. Commissioner Gordon seconded the motion and Commissioners Gordon, Bailey, Townsend, and Hood voted aye. Motion passed.
- ABANDON PORTIONS OF PINE DRIVE, FIELD ROAD NE AND SALEM ROAD
County Attorney Hutchinson advised the Board that this item is for consideration of abandoning the designated portions of Pine Drive, Field Road NE and Salem Road.
Commissioner Bailey made a motion to abandon the portions, as amended, of the named roads. Commissioner Gordon seconded the motion and Commissioners Gordon, Bailey, Hood, and Townsend voted aye. Motion passed.
- ELIMINATE BENEFIT OF HEALTH INSURANCE FOR RETIRED EMPLOYEES
County Administrator advised that this is for Board consideration to eliminate the retired employee health insurance program. The County currently has a health insurance plan for retired employees and the current employees on this plan would continue to be covered under health insurance if they choose to be. This would be an elimination of any future coverage on retired employees.
Commissioner Bailey made a motion to eliminate the retired employee health insurance benefit for employees retiring in the future. Commissioner Gordon seconded the motion and Commissioners Bailey, Gordon, Hood, and Townsend voted aye. Motion passed.
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Bailey made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Hood seconded the motion and all voted aye. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
