County O.K.s Budget, Millage Rate

Two division of land requests were approved by the Jasper County Commissioners at their regular meeting Monday evening, and a rezoning request was turned down. In addition, a final plat for Waters Edge Subdivision, Phase 2, was approved.

The first public hearing held was to rezone 7.86 acres on Pitts Chapel Road East from agricultural to Rural Residential. The applicant explained that when he bought the land he was told he could divide it. And, he said he works nights, and he needs someone close to his invalid wife. He wants to build a house for he and his wife, and a house for his daughter. Planning & Zoning Director Judy Johnson said the P&Z board voted 2-2 on the proposed rezoning.

Mary Patrick said it would set a precedent, and that developers are looking at Jasper County. She said the people have fought hard the last eight months to have zoning to maintain the rural atmosphere of the county. She said she can’t base zoning laws on emotion.

Asher Gray of a Bailey Road address said it would set a precedent, and that bigger properties could also be split. Mrs. Johnson said it meets the Future Land Use Map plan.

Commissioner Bruce Henry suggested keeping the tract whole, and building a home and a mother-in-law house on the same property. The zoning would require a minimum 1,200 sq.ft. main house, and a no more than 750 sq.ft. adjacent home. He then made the motion to deny splitting the property.

Steven Ledford voted with him. Commission Chairman Don Jernigan voted against the denial. District 1 Commissioner Shelia Jones abstained. She did not state why.

The two divisions that were approved included a tract on Hwy. 11 at Wild Road and Shepherd Road that is 50.98 acres, and it will be divided into five lots. The other division was for 296.73 acres on Gooslby and Old Agateville Roads. It will be divided into nine lots.

Both of those divisions maintain the rural nature of the community as the lots are still more than five acres with plenty of road frontage.

Commissioners approved the 2024 budget of $13,956,338, and set the millage rate at 10.864 mills.

Commissioners named David McGuire to the Planning & Zoning Board, and Jehan El-Jourbagy to the Public Facilities Authority. They also named Chairman Jernigan as the interim member of the Joint Development Authority of Jasper, Morgan, Newton and Walton Counties, with a final vote to be taken after the vacant seat is filled by an election September 19. (District 4 County Commissioner Gerald Stunkel resigned at the end of last month.)

The commission voted to renew its intergovernmental agreement with the city of Monticello for building inspection and code enforcement. City officials returned a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) about improvements at Sands Drive Park to the county with a few changes. County Commissioners basically refused to entertain the changes, and said the city can accept the original intergovernmental agreement, and the $30,000+ gift of improvements to Sands Drive Park or they county will withdraw its support of the project.

During public comments, Cathy Benson questioned what was being done about short term rentals such as VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owner), complaining about a facility near her home. She told commissioners they voted last year to stop them, and nothing has been done. After a closed session, for no stated reason, commissioners voted place a moratorium effective July 10, 2023 be enacted to not allow any new short term vacation rentals be operated within Jasper County.

(To go into closed session, government agencies must make a motion saying the reason for the closed session. Allowed reasons are personnel, although any evidence is to be given in open session, real estate acquisition, and attorney-client privilege. The county attorney had said he needed to speak to them about a contract, so apparently that was one reason. The sheriff was invited in with them, but obviously no one said why.)

Juanita Norris addressed the commissioners about her role in behavioral health an fitness and drug addition, and said she will be training locals on the use of Narcan in the coming months. She asked the commissioners to reach out to her for help.

Mary Patrick addressed the commission’s new habit of getting “quotes” but not “bids” for purchases. The county purchasing policy says to get bids for major purchases, but the county has purchased a van for the senior center and an ambulance, just to name two things, without bids. She also spoke, again, to the need for more code enforcement.

Asher Gray said the vacant spot on the commission was like a breath of fresh air, and talked about a younger person sitting there. He said the citizens are getting ready to vote and a younger face will look good.

Jim Belcher said “we teach kids not to be bullies, but there’s a group of adults in the county…” He said he is tired of people complaining about taxes and not wanting growth. He told commissioners not to allow themselves to be bullied.

John Henderson asked the commissioners to consider some kind of meaningful tax exemption for senior citizens. He said those on a fixed income shouldn’t have to live that way. Inflation is outpacing income for those, he said. He also spoke to the Board of Education about the same thing.

Nathan Hyland spoke against the use of FLOCK cameras. He said the records are stored by Amazon, and that it is illegal per the county codes. He said it is a major case of Big Brother. He said the safety it promises is not worth the lack of privacy.

The commissioners will meet again on Tuesday, July 18, to adopt the school board’s millage rate, which is necessary for tax bills to go out. They will meet on Friday, July 28, to discuss capital expenditures.