County Commission Handles Business
The Jasper County Commission, at its regular meeting Monday, voted to have the sheriff’s department and public works department work together to get speed limit signs throughout the county to match speed limits approved for radar in the sheriff’s radar policy.
After an issue came up previously about Jackson Lake Road, the sheriff was proactive, and came to the commission, showing where roads are marked haphazardly or where the posted speed limit does not match the legal limit to run radar.
He reiterated that his officers cannot use radar to catch and cite speeders, if the posted limit does not match that on the permit.
He said he felt like what had happened in the past, is that residents would come and ask the speed limit be changed on a road, and the commission would vote to do it. However, he said his hands are tied when it comes to writing tickets if the roads are not posted correctly. The commission voted to change all the limits to match the radar permit and provide consistency.
The commissioners discussed furlough days. The budget was accepted with each employee having to take 12 furlough days—unpaid days off—each year.
Excess revenues were found in the curbside budget over the past several years, and the commissioners talked about using those funds to reduce or eliminate furlough days. It was estimated the funds would cover eight days, not 12. So, in July, the commissioners voted to eliminate furlough days for the first quarter of the fiscal year.
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The second quarter began last Wednesday, and County Manager Karen Degges recommended re-instituting the furlough days until such time they can look more closely at the budget, and decide from there.
The commissioners are going to have a work session on finances at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 21, before a 6 p.m. meeting. They may decide then if furloughs are necessary in November and December.
There was some discussion about whether all departments took furlough days, and it was confirmed that all departments have a budget reduction for them. The sheriff was present and said his furlough days are absorbed by not filling open positions. Emergency Medical Service employees do not get holiday pay to account for their furlough days. It is not clear how other constitutional officers handle furloughs.
In other action at Monday’s meeting, commisioners:
•Approved two grants for emergency management.
•Approved budget amendments to balance the 2013 budget, including moving $82,230 into the courts budgets, and another nearly $14,000 for other budgets.
•Discussed renaming part of Hwy. 212 east as Rayford Layson Road.
