Commission Discusses Roads, Landfill, More
The Jasper County Commissioners spent considerable time at their regular meeting Monday discussing a road abandonment policy, landfill operations and management and county road resurfacing among other items.
The commissioners had a work session the previous Monday to discuss what would be included in a road abandonment policy, as state law allows for the procedure, but County Manager Mike Benton was seeking guidance on a local policy. The commissioners talked about requiring all property owners on the road to sign the request. In addition, when the application is made a $500 fee is charged. Then the county would seek impact statements from several entities including emergency services. Two public hearings, one in the daytime and one in the evening, would be held.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, Jerry Williams had questioned what the policy is, as he looks after land that was recently temporarily barricaded in an attempt to close the road. Mr. Williams heard of the proposed policy, with the first requirement being all property owners must agree to abandon the road.
However, after discussion and fine-tuning, commissioners did not adopt the policy. The vote was 2-2. Commission Chairman Bruce Henry and Commissioner Steven Ledford voted to adopt the proposed policy, and Commissioners Don Jernigan and Sheila Jones voted not to adopt it.
Commission vice-chairman Gerald Stunkel was not at Monday’s meeting.
County Attorney David Ozburn told commissioners that even though they didn’t adopt the policy it was still in the county’s purview to abandon a road if the state guidelines are met and the county so chooses.
Commissioners also discussed landfill operations and the possibility of offering citizens free dumping in April as the county has done in past years. After much discussion between themselves and with Public Works Superintendent Michael Walsh, commissioners agreed to wait until the April meeting to determine if the county will be able to offer free dumping at all. Commissioner Jernigan was vocal about wanting to give back to the citizens.
Commissioners discussed several landfill options and outlined work ahead.
Commissioners discussed chip-sealing the roads that are still left from the 2021 priority list. There are five roads on the list, with Ernest Gibson at 1.2 miles by far the longest. Others include Partridge Court, 0.1 mile; Oriole Circle, 0.2 miles, Purple Martin, 0.3 mile and Shoreline Drive, 0.4 miles. Staff provided an estimated cost for the county to chip-seal the roads and an estimated cost for a contractor to do the work. The contract prices are rough estimates based on asphalt for another road that has been done in the county.
Commissioners told the county manager to go ahead and get bids for the roads, and they will discuss it at the April meeting. Mr. Walsh did confirm that for his crew to chip-seal a road it takes basically all his staff for several days. Commissioner Jernigan is very concerned about pulling staff off other duties to complete this work.
Commissioners received the quarterly Human Resources Report, learning that there are currently several open positions in the county. County Clerk Sharon Robinson reviewed the number of employees and where the needs are. In addition, she reviewed what boards have appointments upcoming.
One person is needed for both the Library Board and the Department of Family & Children Services Board; two are needed on the board of appeals, and four vacancies are upcoming on both the Development Authority of Jasper County and the Public Facilities Authority. Persons who are currently serving may re-apply or others could apply. There is an advertisement elsewhere in today’s paper outlining those vacancies.
In other action at Monday’s meeting, commissioners:
Re-appointed Londa Champion to the Board of Tax Assessors. She currently serves as chair, and has all her training. No one else applied to serve.
Appointed Amanda Proctor to the 911 Authority Board. Mrs. Proctor, who lives in Jasper County and serves as 911 Director and Emergency Management Director (EMA) in Morgan County, fills a vacancy on that board.
Approved the renewal of an alcohol license at Bear Creek Marina.
Learned that the county issued 29 new building permits in February, compared to 19 last February and 12 the year before. Total building permits so far for 2022 is 63.
