County Approves Bonds for Development

By KAREN JACOBS

In a move that could save the county thousands of dollars, the Jasper County Commission on Monday cleared the way for officials to approve refinancing for revenue bonds being used to develop Stanton Springs, a project of the Joint Development Authority that includes Jasper and three other counties.

The move is needed because the Bank of America letter of credit on the bonds is not being renewed when it expires early next year. A new letter of credit offered by JP Morgan Chase would carry an interest rate of 1.25 percent, lower than the 1.36 percent from the Bank of America that will expire in January 2012.

The Joint Development Authority includes Jasper, Newton, Walton and Morgan counties. Jasper County is responsible for 10 percent of the repayment costs of the existing principal balance of $5.6 million tied to the revenue bonds.

County attorney James Alexander explained that failure to replace the existing letter of credit would mean the required payments from Jasper County would balloon to more than $200,000 compared with the county’s existing payment of under $47,000. Should the Bank of America letter of credit not be replaced, the interest rate on the bonds would increase to 10.75 percent from the present 1.36 percent.

“So it’s critical that we replace that letter of credit,” Alexander told the commissioners.

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Stanton Springs, the planned mixed-use development being financed by the bonds, is located where Morgan, Walton and Newton counties meet, just northwest of Jasper County. Alexander said that the three other counties had approved the change in letter of credit.

Commissioner Mary Patrick made a motion to authorize county officials to sign a resolution approving the change in letter of credit. It passed.

Commission members rejected a request from Advanced Disposal Services for its scheduled rate increase for curbside garbage pickup to start a couple of months early.

Steve Edwards, Advanced Disposal municipal marketing manager, asked the county officials to approve a 44-cents per can monthly rate increase to $11.63 for Nov. 1, citing pressure from higher fuel costs. The garbage collection service is already set to get that same rate increase on Jan. 1, 2012.

“We are absolutely taking a hammering on fuel,” Edwards said in asking for the rate increase to start earlier, noting that fuel costs have risen 30 percent in a year.

Edwards said his company hadn’t had a rate increase since 2008, when its rate for monthly service was set at $11.19.

Commissioners Patrick and Carl Pennamon objected to the early increase, telling Edwards his company would get the previously approved rate rise come January 1.

The board also discussed possible reimbursement for commissioners’ cell phone use. Commissioner Hill said he felt it was appropriate for the county to provide phones for the board of commissioners to use on county business.

Commissioner Patrick stated that if the county is paying commissioners for their phones, then calls tied to them would likely be subject to public record. She added that she did not want to have her personal cell phone mixed up with county business.

Commissioner Alan Cox offered a motion providing that the pay of commissioners be increased by $50 a month, effective Jan. 1, 2013, to cover costs of phones, but he later withdrew it. Instead, he moved that the county human resource administrator be directed to check into different phone-rate plans with or without data offered by providers, and report to the board on the findings at the next meeting.

The commission also heard from residents concerned about staffing and hours of operation at the county animal control facility. Cheryl and Skip Nowetner said the facility was not open Friday, Saturday, Sunday and that no one was present at the facility on Monday. Mr. Nowetner said not having staff available on Friday through Sunday amounted to cruelty to animals.

“If this problem is not corrected, I will file suit against this county and I will have charges brought by the State Ag Department,” Mr. Nowetner said at the meeting.

In other matters, the commission:

•Did not approve a contract for engineering services with Michelle Jackam and Whitley Engineering and decided to send that contract back to the companies so that they can work with county attorneys to clarify liability terms. Currently, the contract states that Jackam’s limit of liability “will not exceed the amount of my fees for each project,” wording that Commissioner Pennamon and county attorney Alexander took issue with.

•Decided to consider the county ethics policy and board appointments tied to it at the November 21, work session.

County manager Greg Wood said that an ethics policy was passed by the commission at a 2008 meeting but had never been fully implemented. Commissioner Patrick commented that she had never seen the policy. Board chairman Charles Hill said he felt commissioners needed to give the policy a look as parts of it were confusing. Commissioner Cox suggested that the ethics policy should be posted to the commission website since members will be needed to serve on a board of ethics.

•Deferred indefinitely a proposal to declare surplus some cat cages that belong to animal control. “Animal control in my opinion is in turmoil,” Commissioner Pennamon said.

The commission also delayed action on setting up a PayPal account for animal control. Commissioner Pennamon offered a motion to order county officials to come up with a protocol detailing how the PayPal account would be set up and operated so that the commission can take up this issue at a later time.

•Asked the county manager to supply a list of requirements for individuals or agencies and officials who would be needed to serve on a committee that would update the county’s hazard mitigation plan.

•In reference to new hires, Commissioner Patrick said she would like future reports to reflect how much people are paid per hour.

•Discussed two open positions on the Department of Family and Children’s Services. County manager Greg Wood said the commission has labored to get appointments and Commissioner Mary Patrick suggested advertising for those vacancies when appropriate.

Commissioner Pennamon suggested the local paper publish an announcement saying that people who are interested in serving on the DFACS board should contact the county commission.