Commissioners Have Full Agenda; Hear from Constituents

Jasper County Commissioners, at their regular meeting Monday, heard again from Mrs. Mary Patrick of the Taxpayers Watchdog Group about adding items to the agenda after the agenda is posted.

She cited an article in the Sept. 20 Covington News where a Superior Court judge had ruled invalid the action taken in a commission meeting when the item that it pertained to was not originally on the agenda.

Those comments came to the board at the beginning of the meeting when the board heard “agenda comments.” At the end of the meeting, Mrs. Patrick again spoke, asking the commission if they had instituted legal action against Carol Southard.
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Commissioner Carl Pennamon said they have instructed the county attorney to pursue settling the matter. He went on to say that they have heard from Ms. Southard and she has agreed to pay the appropriate sum of money because of improprieties in the grant.

The question refers to a Community Development Block Grant that the city of Monticello obtained in 1997 to upgrade some areas. The city asked the county to administer the grant, so there would not be an appearance of impropriety, since Walter Smith worked for the city, and work was to be done on property he owned.

Mayor Susan Holmes approached the county to administer the grant, saying that when the city applied for the grant Mr. Smith did not work for them. But, by the time the grant was approved, Mr. Smith was the City Manager.

The grant has not yet been closed out, because of problems with documentation and other items, and the county has been sanctioned by the Department of Community Affairs. DCA has said Jasper is not eligible for any more grants until this one is closed out.

The county has had difficulty contacting Ms. Southard to correct problems she has control of. In addition, apparently the city has not helped to straighten out the mess.

Melba Bridges, county sanitarian, requested an increase in environmental health fees. She explained the Board of Health had agreed at the last meeting to raise the fees, but that it needed County Commission approval. The county approved the new fee system.

Jim Harrell, chairman of the Board of Assessors, then spoke to the commissioners about the status of the county tax digest. He said that the board believes it will be ready to mail assessment notices on the 10th of this month.

He said the new system, Norcas, which the county began using last January, does not allow the county to send a tape to the biller to prepare bills. They must all be prepared in house.

He said, “We’re making do as best we can. The staff has done a good job of getting where we are.” He went on to say that normally, the computer can produce the digest, sales ratios, etc., but that is not possible with this system.

He also said, “I don’t know if you are aware of the antiquity of the computers, printers, etc. in that office.

“If we are going to get up to snuff we’re going to have to buy a lot of hardware and software.”

Mr. Harrell said the Board of Assessors has revisited all five companies who submitted a bid to do the revaluation. A condition of the contract is that the company can start November 1, 2003, and be finished by July 1, 2004.

The Board of Assessors was to meet Tuesday to make a determination (see related story).
He said after they get a tax digest, they will make a decision about which system to use.

“I think it is a miracle that the group that is up there kept things together as well as they did.”

Commissioners opened bids for paving of Pitts Chapel Road, and agreed to accept the low bid—Epps Brothers from Dry Branch. Their price was $2.70 per sq.yd.

Commissioner Pennamon said he is not against the paving, but wants to be sure funds are available. The commissioners had a print-out of anticipated revenues and expenditures through the end of the year, showing there was enough money. The commissioner apparently questioned some of the figures presented.

After some discussion, commissioners voted 3-2 to allow the Jasper County Water & Sewerage Authority to store items on county property between the jail and the Department of Transportation area. The dissenting votes were from Jerry Crow and Greg Wyatt.

Previously the board had talked with the authority about using property behind the Older Americans Council building because there was already a driveway to it.

Commissioner Pennamon expressed concern about using that space as the county is going to need to put in a new septic system that may need to go in that area. He said the EPD (Environmental Protection Division) needs to see a plan of action on sewage disposal. Apparently the county’s solid waste pond is in violation of EPD guidelines.

The county will have to contact the Department of Agriculture for help with a septic system design for the animal control facility. In addition, the county’s best route will be to have one septic system for the jail and sheriff’s office, and one for the 911 building, public works department and senior citizens center, according to Mrs. Bridges.

“I’m afraid it’s going to be an expensive project,” she said.

Commissioner Pennamon made a motion for the county to name Larry Thurman as Public Works Director. He has been acting in that position for some time, and Mr. Pennamon thinks he should have the title and compensation.

The commissioners voted several months ago to hire Larry Brown of Jones County as public works director. Mr. Brown did not accept the job.

According to discussion Monday, Larry Thurman was next in line for the job. Mr. Pennamon wanted to move forward. Commissioner Charles Hill was concerned if it was legal for the commission to do that, of if they needed to re-advertise the position.

As Mr. Pennamon made his motion, another one was on the floor. Therefore, Chairman Russell Bennett called for the vote on that first. Commissioners Bennett, Wyatt and Crow voted to table action on hiring Larry Thurman as director. Commissioners Hill and Pennamon voted against tabling it.

When Mr. Brown was hired, in August, Commissioners Bennett, Crow and Wyatt voted to hire him, while Commissioners Hill and Pennamon voted no, after a motion to hire Larry Thurman failed.

In other action at Monday’s regular meeting, commissioners:

•Received a copy for review of a proposed county charter revision/update.

•Unanimously approved the bid from Propage for pagers for the county. Propage submitted as a bid the same proposal it had offered the county earlier. However, the commission did not want to accept the offer until other companies were given the opportunity to bid.

•Acknowledged the resignation of Eddie Frank Smith from the Board of Assessors.

•Appointed Betty Jean Jordan to the Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Advisory Committee.

•Reviewed options to an animal control facility that were discussed last month, and agreed to move forward with the new plan. County Administrator Phil Peevy was to contact the Department of Corrections about the changes. The building will be built with inmate labor.

•Heard from Jerry Boykin, an attorney, that he was representing Phyllis Norwood, an employee in the tax maintenance office. He said that she is tired of her name being maligned.

He suggested that the Taxpayers Watchdog Group better have their facts correct before talking any more about Mrs. Norwood. Mrs. Joan Bell, former chairman of the Board of Assessors, also spoke. She said she wanted to make the board aware, including the watchdogs, that Mrs. Norwood is an appraiser, not an assessor.

•Francis Cason asked the commission how the county could go about changing the zoning ordinance where developers would stop building dead-end roads. He mentioned the problems encountered by school buses and other large vehicles, and the dangers imposed by the dead-end.

•Voted to go into closed session to discuss personnel.