Commissioners Reach Agreement
The Jasper County Commissioners breezed through a fairly long agenda during their regular meeting Monday, postponed from the previous week because it was not properly posted.
Virtually every item passed unanimously, although there was considerable discussion on a couple items. One item in question was the engineering work for Highway 11 which is necessary because of the new high school currently under construction.
The commissioners have discussed it several times. They feel the school should be responsible for the road work. One commissioner even mentioned that the same incident occurred when the last school was built on Hwy. 212 west, and the school came up with the funds then.
County Manager Greg Williams and County Attorney John Nix confirmed they had researched the issue and the school cannot contract with the Department of Transportation (DOT) for the work. However, the school could pay the county to contract for the work, the commissioners agreed.
The current issue is engineering work, valued at $10,500. Commissioners voted to approve the sole bid for the work if the school agreed to reimburse the county.
When approving the agenda, commissioners added one item—a resolution honoring Emma Lou Watson on the occasion of her 100th birthday, and deleted two others.
On the agenda, was an item listed “appointments,” and two agencies were listed underneath—Board of Assessors (BOA) and Economic Development Authority. Commissioner Greg Johnson made a motion to take assessors off the agenda. Chairman Bernard restated the motion to “take item F. off the agenda.” Commissioners approved the changes.
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Commissioner Charles Hill questioned if they meant F.1. which was the BOA item, and Mr. Bernard said, “No, F.” There was no discussion why those two items were removed.
Commissioners approved a resolution concerning check signing procedures which gives all five commissioners equal authority to sign checks.
They also voted to approve a revised fee schedule recommended by Planning and Zoning, and to give support to the Blue Willow Inn village project.
Commissioners approved an easement for Feldspar Corp. dependent on receiving verification that there would be no utility disruption or if there was the county would assume no cost for moving utilities.
The commissioners also authorized bids for the purchase of sheriff’s vehicles. One will be paid for with grant funds, one with money from the jail account, and one with county funds in the budget.
The commissioners approved several budget amendments to both the 2005 budget and the 2006 budget.
Commissioners approved routine contracts—one so county employees can access their insurance carrier via internet; one was a continuation of a maintenance agreement for Emergency Medical Service (EMS) computers, and one was to continue providing nearly $3,000 for a part-time 4-H program assistant.
Commissioner Carl Pennamon said he wanted to request a DOT study for the intersection of Hwy. 212 east with Fullerton Phillips/Old Hillsboro Road near the eastern county line. He said there have been several bad accidents there, and if the DOT would not do anything, then the county could improve signage on its roads.
Commissioners heard comments from two citizens.
Charles Forsythe questioned the county paying for work on a state road, in reference to the Hwy. 11 project. He said he thought the state or school should fund the improvements. He also objected to the county giving verbal support to the Blue Willow Inn Village Project.
Francis Cason also objected to the county paying for Hwy. 11 improvements.
He also questioned what the county had done for Eddie Walker, a man who is interested in bringing industry to northern Jasper County. Mr. Walker has property on Ross Road, and has a machine shop, and has indicated he would like to locate more business/industry there. Mr. Cason maintains the county should encourage and help him and that the county thus far has done nothing for him.
