County To Work with Jasper Water Authority

The Jasper County Commission met in a work session Monday with members of the Jasper County Water & Sewer Authority (JCWSA) to try to come to some agreement about funding for the water authority.
After some back and forth that echoed what has been said in many meetings, the county commissioners and the water authority members agreed that the county needs to develop a comprehensive plan for water in Jasper County.

Gene Trammell speaking for JCWSA said they could have put in six inch lines, but in talking with the then county commission agreed it was better to put in larger lines to allow for growth, and primarily to be useful in the fighting of fires.
Craig Salmon, treasurer for JCWSA explained where the shortfall of funds can be attributed.

Commissioner Mary Patrick said that JCWSA changes its numbers. Commissioner Alan Cox pointed out that the resolution had to be renewed annually, and it was not renewed some years.

Mr. Trammell said he though there was enough foul to go around, and suggested they put the past behind them and move forward.
Commissioner Jack Bernard said that he and Mr. Cox agree that JCWSA does not need to go under. It would inpact how the county is viewed, said Mr. Bernard. “We need to figure out some way to be sure JCWSA is solvent,” he said.

Mrs. Patrick said her problem was that the commission had told JCWSA to raise rates, and they haven’t done it. She said the county has cut employees and cut its budget and she does not want to bail out JCWSA.

Mr. Bernard said we need to set a goal to keep JCWSA solvent, and said we need commercial development. We need a plan to get us out of the mes we’re in.

Mr. Cox said that he and Mr. Bernard have done a lot of research into what they think may be the answer, and he presented a five step plan. which includes incresing rates and keeping the “fire hydrant tax” for 2011.
{{more}}
.Ken McMichael of the JCWSA said he thought it was a problem of perception. He said the commissioners have to deal with big problems every day. He said most of what JCWSA deals with is long range. He said you must be a visionary and try to see what things will be like in 25, 30, 40, even 50 years. “We are laying the groundwork,” he said, “for a county wide water system.”

He talked about the authority’s short term plan and long term plan. He said eventually the county may be able to produce “cheap water,” and that will give the county a competitive edge.
During the regular meeting following the work session, commissioners agreed to appoint a committee consisting of the chairman and vice-chairman of the county commission, and the chairman and vice-chairman of JCWSA to meet and work out a solution.

Rercreation

Recreation Director Wes Chester came to the commission to ask for the go-ahead to purchase new bleachers for the ball fields. The money for the bleachers will come from Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds. Commissioner approved the low bidder with little discussion.

Then they discussed the activities at the recreation department and the fact that no basketball was held. Mr. Chester said that communication to the citizens of Jasper County is an issue. He said he sent home 1,600 flyers, and asked the schools to announce sign-ups more than once. He said he advertising in The Monticello News, and posted it on the internet. He said the original three-week sign-up did not net enough players so he extended gin ups two more weeks. He said he ended up with 21 children ranging in age from 7 to 14 years old, both boys and girls.

He said he did not receive a single call about there not being recreation basketball. Commissioner Carl Pennamon asked him what he thought the problem was. Mr. Chester said, “I don’t know.”
Commissioner Bernard said that the more rec program we have the better off we all are.

Commissioner Pennamon said that the commissioners getting involved instead of letting the recreation commission do it job was part of the problem. He said there is a lot of infighting. He said, I hear we’ve got a segregated recreation program. After much discussion, which got heated at times, commissioners agreed to have the county manager look into the situation and come back with a recommendation for the recreation commission.

Commissioner Patrick said that in the past there was recreation board and a recreation director that overspent tremendously. Commissioner Cox said an appointed board cannot direct a county employee.

Mr. Chester said that last year 75 percent of the children who played basketball did not pay.

Discussion also got intense when the commissioners were discussing services the county is providing to Monticello.. The commissioners learned at their last meeting that the county was working with the city of Monticello on several initiatives. For one, the city is now using the county’s fuel pumps. Every authorized user has a card to track who gets gasoline or diesel fuel so it can be charged to the appropriate department. The county gets three cents per gallon from the city for handling that. In addition, the county has been hauling gravel for the city at an expense of 10 percent above the cost of gravel. So, a $250 load of gravel would cost the city $275.

But, Commissioner Patrick said, that does not begin to cover the county’s costs. She mentioned gas, wear and tear on vehicle, and more, but primarily pulling the people off work they could be doing for the county. After considerable discussion, commissioners agreed to suspend the Memorandum of understanding (MOU) concerning hauling gravel, but to keep the other one in place.

County manager Greg Wood asked reminded commissioners that city residents pay county tax, too, so they should get something for it. Commissioners asked Mr. Wood if the city would sell its utilities to the county for 10 percent over cost. The commissioners voted to suspend the hauling of grave. for the city, but to continue with the fuel MOU.

In other action at Monday’s meeting, commissioners:

•Received a report on the county’s finances. Barring any major change, said Chief Financial Officer Lorri Smith, the county will end 2010 some $165,000 to the good.

•Deferred signing the audit engagemetn letter with Hardison, Lipton, Clifford and Parker. The proposal was for about $35,00 for the annual audit. Commissioner Patarick however said she also wanted payroll autited and a review of internal controls. The staff is to check into the cost of the additional work and bring it back to the board.

•Approved the mapping contract for 2011 for the Board of Assessors.

•Gave the county manager th go-ahead on drafting a resolution that would withhold occupatoinal licenses for unpaid property taxes.

•Reappointed David Leach to the board of health.

•Discussed the registtrar’s hours at length after being informed by Judeg Willima A. Prior tha the registrar’s office must remain open full time.

•Approved requested funds from Central Georgia electric Membership Corporation (CGEMC) for an Operation Rund-up grant for new handheld fire depaertmetn radios.

At the end of the regular meeting, the board went into closed session to discuss pending litigation. Afterwards, .Commissioner Bernard read from the Ga. Code 48-5-155 wording that makes it possible to suspend a county tax commissioners, and made a motion to send a letter to the governor asking him to intervene in Jasper County. Mr. Bernard’s motion was seconded by Mr. Cox. Then, Mr. Pennamon made a motion to defer, and Mrs. Patrick seconded. That motion failed 2-2, as did the other motion.