Bennett Named Commission Chairman
Russell Bennett has been named chairman of the Jasper County Commission for 2003, taking on the duties handled by Jerry Crow for the past two years.
Mr. Bennett will preside over meetings, sign official documents, and, with the other commissioners, continue to set policy for the county. Carl Pennamon was again named vice-chairman. W. Dan Roberts was named county attorney, and Phil Peevy will serve as county clerk until the charter is amended and the position is abolished.
The naming of the new chairman did not come until the end of Monday’s regular meeting. It is traditionally the first item of business in a new year. Commissioners chose however to made the decision after meeting in closed session to “hash out” any differences. {{more}}
Mr. Bennett was elected on a 3-2 vote, with Commissioners Pennamon and Charles Hill voting no. Mr. Pennamon was elected by unanimous vote of his peers, however he abstained.
Early in the meeting commissioners agreed to live up to their budgeted obligations. Commissioner Pennamon said that the county had budgeted for each employee to get a $1,000 increase. He suggested they get $500 in one check the next pay period, and the other $500 be spread out over the year as part of their hourly salary.
Once those monies are spent, there is still more than $30,000 remaining. That money will be used to attempt to get all employes at a particular place on a defined pay scale. The pay scale compares equal duties and responsibilities between departments, and similar positions in neighboring counties. Therefore some employes will get an additional raise next month, and others will not.
The pay increase applied only to full time employees who fall under the county’s personnel policy or work for the constitutional officers. Certain positions would be exempt from the raise.
Commissioners authorized Mr. Peevy to solicit bids for Courthouse cleaning. Now that the new portion is open, commissioners agreed a cleaning service is needed. Mr. Peevy is to draw up specifications, and advertise in this newspaper.
Emergency Services Director Ed Westbrook approached the commission about the county compensating Maurice Hammett for the use of water for plumbing purposes, and agreed to reimburse Mr. Hammett for a fire hydrant he purchased. Mr. Westbrook agreed to work on a signed agreement with Mr. Hammett to avoid future misunderstandings.
Mr. Hammett originally donated the land for the Piedmont fire station, and has been generous to the volunteers, allowing them to come on his property to fill their trucks, and being generally supportive.
The county voted to close County Road 37, also known as Fears Road, which runs between Midway Church Road and Pennington Road. Mr. Pennington was at the meeting, requesting the closure. He offered to donate some land to the county for a park in the area so the Fears name could stay alive.
There was no one at the meeting to speak against the closure, and no one was aware of any public use of the road.
The commissioners also voted to go with the Planning and Zoning Recommendation of denial for a re-zoning request. Scott Allen wanted to rezone 3.5 acres from agricultural to rural residential so he could build a home. Mrs. Peggy Billerman of the P&Z office explained that the use was not in conformity with the future land use map, and hinted that it could set a precedent for other such parcels in the area.
Commissioners Bennett, Hill and Greg Wyatt voted to uphold the P&Z decision. Commissioners Crow and Pennamon voted no.
Commissioners reviewed a proposal to put a statue in the new part of the Courthouse, and voted not to allow the statue to be placed in the Courthouse. In addition, they discussed the idea that the Courthouse Committee had put forth that there be no plaques in the Courthouse.
Commissioners agreed to allow the county to try using a postage machine and having one area for all Courthouse mailings, if the machine can be used on a 30-day trial basis before a 60-month contract is signed. They want to see if it is an effective time saver before determining to enter the contract.
During the public comment portion, Mrs. Cheryl Nowetner told commissioners that the local Human Society has adopted out 57 dogs. She indicated that she thought it was time for the county to do something about animal control.
Commissioner Bennett said that he still feels the county can build a shelter without high paid architects and engineers. He said the facility would be an animal control shelter, and some animals will necessarily have to be euthanized.
Commissioners heard from Dave Ellis who wants the county to straighten out the roads in his area. He maintains that a road that used to be open was closed illegally and the county should reopen it.
Commissioners voted to deny attorney fees for Mrs. Betty Moon who had a disciplinary hearing before the commissioners last year.
