Commission Considers Several Items of Interest

Gerald Stunkel was sworn in mid-day Monday as Jasper County Commissioner, District 4, after being elected in a special election last month.

Then Mr. Stunkel got right to work, taking part in the commissioners work session and regular meeting later that day.

The commission was still a member short, though, because District 5 Commissioner Doug Luke had a conflict and was unable to be at the meeting.

After electing Carl Pennamon chairman in January, commissioners agreed they would re-visit the chairmanship once the board was complete. That was not on Monday’s agenda, however.

During the work session, commissioners reviewed the Capital Improvement Element (CIE) of the 20189 Comprehensive Plan. Apparently the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) had returned what the county submitted, saying its uses for impact fees needed to be made more clear. So commissioners re-visited what they had plans for and narrowed them down to satisfy the requirement.

For example. E-911 had earmarked any funds for facility update. That was not approved. So, the real need, explained Betty Jump, director is radio communication relocates and a Nextgen telephone system. Ms. Jump was no at the meeting, but sent word by the county manager, Mike Benton.

The sheriff’s office had originally also sought facility updates, and Sheriff Donnie Pope and commissioners agreed to change that to expansion/renovation and electronics. For the jail, rather than what they had that changed it to confinement area upgrades and security automation.

For Fire Rescue, Chief Chris Finch said the next thing needed would be a new tender, what we have typically called tankers, and /or new fire stations. He said there was a need for a new fire station in the Liberty Church Road area and in the Clay Road area.

Recreation Director Jonathan Green said besides the multi-purpose building they want to build, they have immediate need for multi-use fields. He said they could build two fields meeting each other which could be used as a football or soccer field. He said they are fighting for practice space every night. There are 430 children signed up for ball this year, as opposed to 380 last year. “We need fields,” he said.

Chairman Pennamon said in each department the commission needs to check to see if there are places they can replace budgeted items for impact fee items.

Impact fees can only be used, however, to address growth.

Since this was the 2018 plan, not much can be change percentage wise, but that will happen for 2019. For example, the library gets a good bit of impact fees, which can buy books and other materials, but the library really needs general fund money to cover labor.

After the 40 minute os so work session, commissioners took a break then re-convened for their regular meeting. Two public hearings were held at that meeting. One was the first reading on a text amendment for a special event center to be added to the permitted uses in the Jasper County ordinance under agricultural zoning with a special use permit required. Several people spoke on that, but no action was taken.

The other public hearing was for a special use permit for a family burial plot, and that was approved for applicant Phillip Greene.

Also during the regular meeting, commissioners approved re-appointing Londa Champion to the Board of Assessors and appointing Ed Jernigan to the Recreation Board.

Commissioners learned that the Goolsby Road project bid came in under the anticipated amount, so that project can be completed, and the extra monies will go to some of the other projects currently under way by the county.

Commissioners sign the East Georgia Broadband Resolution which is the first step in bringing rural broadband to the area. It is anticipated to attract state and federal grants, but most likely at some point local funding may be needed.

At the request of Chief Appraiser Lynn Bentley, the commissioners approved a one-year contract with Geoview, LLC for mapping. It is a change, which is why it’s only a one-year contract, but Mrs. Bentley said if it works out she’ll come back next year looking for a two-year commitment.

Commissioners reviewed two bids that they received for Courthouse Maintenance. The proposals were for an initial fee to do an inspection of the entire Courthouse, and the second pat of the bid was for what is done after that.

Carter Watkins Associates bid $7,500 for the inspection while JMA bid some $28,000+. Commissioners approved the low bid with little discussion.

Commissioners also approved several budget amendments for the Senior Center, all of which stemmed from it receiving additional funding.

They also approved a $751 matching fund for equipment at the County Extension Office.