Commissioners Handle Much Business
The Jasper County Commissioners met for more than three hours Monday, with the first part of the meeting serving as the May business meeting, during which much action was taken, and the last hour and half was a budget discussion.
During the regular meeting, commissioners approved some $900,000 to Central Georgia Electric Membership Corporation (CGEMC) for its broadband initiative. The county is hoping the school system will put some money into the project, offsetting what the commission agreed to Monday. The funds will come from the American Rescue Act, so it is not local tax dollars being used. There are guidelines on how that money may be spent, and broadband is one approved use.
With the contribution, EMC committed to field engineering beginning in December of this year, with construction activity to begin in the first quarter of 2022. The initial connection service for CGEMC members in Jasper County will be third quarter of 2022, and the connection service will be available to all CGEMC members in Jasper County by the third quarter of 2023.
This speeds up the time frame that broadband will be made available to all CGEMC customers in Jasper County. District 3 Commissioner Don Jernigan said he had received feedback from his constituents who are not EMC customers expressing their concern about the money being spent on something they won’t benefit from. During discussion, commissioners agreed that much of what taxpayers’ money is spent on does not benefit all taxpayers. For example, much money is spent on roads, but not every taxpayer travels every road.
Commissioners accepted a check from the Four County Development Authority for proceeds from developments at Stanton Springs. The check presented by Shane Short (second from right), Serra Hall and Steve Jordan was accepted by Commission Chair Bruce Henry (far right) and Vice-Chair Gerald Stunkel (center).
At the beginning of the meeting, commissioners and the audience heard from Lynda Brown with Ten Commandments Georgia who wanted the commissioners to approve the placement of documents in the Courthouse. The documents include the Ten Commandments, the Magna Carta, the Bill of Rights, the preamble to the state constitution, Lady Liberty and the national motto. State Rep. Susan Holmes was at the meeting and offered to foot the bill for the documents which is $1,200.
However, Commissioner Jernigan did suggest that there could be some blowback from non-Christians who do not deem the Courthouse to be the best place for the documents. He, and the other commissioners, then approved the placement of the documents in the Courthouse. Ms. Brown had addressed the audience and the commissioners, and several audience members had questions and comments.
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Tax Commissioner Angela Walsh had talked with the commissioners at their recent work session, and said that the property at 24 Short Street had not had taxes paid on it since 2010. She has tried to sell it several times, to no avail. She explained that the fees owed were $8,615.51. She wanted permission to start the bidding at that amount, but if it didn’t sell to reduce the starting bid as low as necessary, possibly down to $2,500 to get the property to move.
Commissioners approved that action. However, the property did sell Tuesday for the taxes owed.
Commissioners approved a proclamation for Older Americans Month which is celebrated in May. A special program is planned for Friday, May 21, when the senior citizens will be honored at a program at the Visitors’ Center, and then shop and have lunch in town.
Commissioners approved an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Monticello for code enforcement services. Rep. Holmes commented that they need to get busy, as there are numerous places in shambles that need to be fixed up or torn down.
Commissioners approved the bid award for the Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG) to finish paving Post Road, pave Pintail Road. The Georgia Department of Transportation funding is $533,232, and the county’s required match is $159,970 for a total of $693,202.
The low bid from Pittman Construction for the jobs is $657,275 for Post Road and Pintail, and the remainder will be spent on patching and crack sealing.
Commissioners also discussed tree trimming, particularly on Jackson Lake Road, Turtle Cove Trailway and Whip-poor-will Road. They directed County Manager Mike Benton to get a price from Benton Tree Service, who the county used previously, to do the work. The county had contracted with that firm not long ago to cut trees on Thomason Road, and was pleased with the work and the price. They did not see the need to get bids.
In other action at Monday’s meeting, commissioners:
•Approved the only bid for cleaning services, which came from Wildfire Industries, the current provider. The company did not increase its fee, and will continue to clean the Courthouse, the Courthouse Annex, and Southern Crescent Technical College for $3,600 monthly.
*Approved the low bid for pest control services from Prime Pest which will charge $305 monthly for numerous buildings. That is some $57 a month cheaper than what the county has been paying.
*Delayed naming anyone to the Jasper County Water & Sewer Authority Board. One person had expressed interest, but was not at Monday’s meeting to be interviewed, so commissioners put off the appointment.
