County Names Interim Attorney

The Jasper County Board of Commissioners met for more than three hours for their regular meeting Monday evening, with the first 30 minutes spent in closed session, after which they entered the regular meeting and named Barry Fleming interim county attorney.

County Attorney David Ozburn resigned at the beginning of Monday’s meeting. County Manager Mike Benton explained that he invited Mr. Fleming to the meeting as he was aware of the possibility of Mr. Ozburn’s resignation. Mr. Fleming is with the firm Fleming & Nelson, which serves as attorneys for four counties and three cities.

The first order of business was a public hearing advertised for 6 p.m. on the Capital Improvements Element of the Short Term Work Program of Jasper County’s Development Impact Fee Program as required annually by the Department of Community Affairs.

Mary Patrick expressed her concerns about enforcement of the county codes. She said there are “No Thru Truck” signs several places that appear to just be ignored. She said there are properties in Rollingwood Cove that should be condemned as they are unsafe and unsanitary. She said that code enforcement, the health department and the sheriff’s office all need to do a better job. She said other places will also get worse, and that one code enforcement officer is not enough.

Chris Florence stood up and spoke mostly to thank the audience for the community coming together in the tornado response. He said, “We love community.”

Cathy Benson said that she thought three to five acres lots should be required in all subdivisions. She said that roads are not a priority for the county. She complained about the 600 block of Lakeshore Drive saying the resident there has submitted work orders for over a year to no avail.

Asher Gray who said he lives on Bailey Road said the roads need maintaining, where is the funding. He said the county needs to maintain the roads better.

The commissioners heard from David McCoy with McNair, McLemore, Middlebrooks & Co., that the audit had been complete and the county received a clean “unmodified opinion,” the highest available. He mentioned that the landfill enterprise fund was operating at a loss, and the curbside fund is doing well. He pointed out that revenues increased since 2019-2020. He mentioned the component elements such as health department Development Authority of Jasper County, and the Public Facilities Authority. The presentation was relatively brief, and later the commissioners accepted the audit.

The board heard from a number of representatives of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Small Business Administration as well as Ed Westbrook, deputy director of the Jasper County Emergency Management Agency. Mr. Westbrook reviewed the damages wrought by the tornado on January 12. He told the commissioners of the work that has been done thus far, as well as the casualties. He said there were 10 injuries and a fatality. Mr. Westbrook said to his knowledge everyone who was hospitalized has been released.

He told of the work of the sheriff’s deputies, the public works department, the fire department and others in the early hours and days after the tornadoes. After the initial response, many volunteers helped out. He said there was a group from Dalton that stayed for two weeks helping with clean-up.

Mr. Westbrook reported that volunteers have donated 2,300 hours of labor as well as 137 hours of chain saw work donated, and 57 hours of skid steer work donated. He said they have responded to 80 requests for help whether it was taking trees off properties, helping place tarps, or other needs. Some 150 individuals fixed meals for the volunteers, workers, and storm victims.

Next a lady from FEMA said anyone with damage needs to register with FEMA even if they have insurance. That way if something comes about and insurance won’t cover it, FEMA may be able to help. But each person needs to be registered. She stressed that there is rental assistance, medical assistance and home repair help available.

The Small Business Administration works with FEMA and offers low interest, long-term loans for businesses and individuals. Homeowners and renters are eligible, and should go ahead and sign up. The speakers stressed that any disaster related damage may be eligible for assistance. But, all those wanting assistance must enter the portal by February 15 and ask for assistance.

After that, it was time for citizen comments, and several citizens had signed up to speak.

Asher Gray who lives on Bailey Road said he understands the [former] county attorney is under criminal investigation. He said he had submitted an open records request January 9, and it has not been fulfilled yet.

Chris Florence said that we have a strong community. He said we don’t want Jasper’s newest real estate agent proposing zoning changes. He commented that the landfill is often closed, and said he didn’t know what things would be like during a drought. He said we don’t support the agri-economy enough. He said we need more industrial education for the community. He spoke about the miles of dirt roads on which people could ride bicycles and UTVs. Also, bass fishing could bring tourists, and he talked of farm to table, and the need to help the agricultural community.

Jason Bunn said what our community wants is three acre lots in subdivisions and five acre plus lots elsewhere. More small farms, he said. He said we need to push recreation and referred to the development at Dauset Trails in neighboring Butts County, as well as an outdoor shop. He mentioned Charlie Elliott for mountain bike riding.

Cathy Benson said she saw an article on areas where they are buying up old, run-down properties and fixing them up and selling them. She suggested that could be done in many places right now, and the refurbished house would be affordable.

Mary Patrick spoke on the county website saying that she appreciated them putting the public hearing on the website, but that the agendas were in no particular order, and she asked why didn’t they use their Facebook page for public hearings to keep the public as informed as possible. She also criticized the commissioners for holding the public hearing 45 minutes late.

John Henderson suggested the county increase impact fees for residential to keep development under control.

Robert Peek asked about getting asphalt on Jackson Lake Road, and then said or put speed bumps up or make it dirt. He said he has offered for deputies to sit in his driveway to catch speeders. He also encouraged commissioners to go with a five acre minimum and asked how the one acre lots in the Lakeview subdivision came to be.

Susan Moore said she had sent a four page letter to the commissioners about how R2 zoning came about and said that Gerald Stunkel should resign and that he had committed malfeasance.

Stan Studdard said R-2 zoning is a bad idea all the way around. He went on to talk about people from the city vs. people from rural areas saying from from the city live a different lifestyle.

Sherry Benton of Landers Way said she wants the road returned to pre-tornado shape.

During commissioner comments, which followed, Commissioners Steven Ledford and Bruce Henry praised the community and everyone who volunteered to help. Chairman Don Jernigan echoed their remarks.

Also about that time, Keldrick Davis, who was in attendance, was introduced as the new recreation director, starting next Monday.

Ed Westbrook spoke again, this time about the need for a long-term recovery committee. He said he thought this was the first time the county had received a emergency declaration that included IA—individual assistance. He talked about all that the varying agencies and volunteers are doing but said there needs to be a way to help families beyond the organizations. The commissioners agreed to have a work session on February 27 to determine the make-up of such a committee.

Mr. Benton presented the intergovernmental agreement for the county to conduct the city’s elections. Commissioner Henry suggested that the city should compensate the county for electricity used for their part during the Saturdays of early voting. The commission authorized the chairman to sign once the IGA was amended to reflect that change.

The city is also interested in annexing a piece of property that it owns into the city, and needed the county’s blessing. Commissioners approved the annexation.

Sheriff Donnie Pope asked to use proceeds from the jail fund for part of the renovation project. He outlined $29,673 is needed for new laundry equipment, and some $52,500 is needed for existing security electronics integration. The total of $82,173 could come from the jail fund that has $149,637, leaving some intact for future needs.

Commissioner Henry questioned didn’t the architect reduce its fees? Sheriff Pope said yes. Commissioner Henry suggested those funds should be used rather than the jail fund, as they commission and Sheriff Pope had worked very hard to make the jail renovation project come in under $10 million. Commissioner Henry said, “We’re already going over it,” before construction even begins.

Sheriff Pope said he felt the need to hold the money from the reduced architectural fees in the budget for contingency, saying prices had already escalated substantially since work began on the project.

Chairman Don Jernigan said that most of the money for the jail renovation project is coming from Stanton Springs or SPLOST. Bonds were sold to finance the project, but the intention is for money from the Four County Development Authority (Stanton Springs and related area projects) to fund the repayment.

There was also discussion on the invoice approval process for the sheriff’s office/jail addition and expansion project. Originally the chair of the PFA and the chair of the County Commission were to review the invoices. However, now Mr. Jernigan serves as chair of both, so the item was put on the agenda.

Chairman Jernigan suggested the county manager. Commissioner Stunkel said that Commissioner Henry was familiar with the process and suggested he also review the invoices. The commissioners approved that.

Mr. Benton reported that the county has begun soliciting bids for the resurfacing of Jackson Lake Road from Hwy. 212 to Hwy. 11 to widen and re-surface.

Before closing the meeting, the commissioners began discussing the mountains of debris that are along the roadside in the tornado-stricken areas.

After some discussions, they agreed they would seek bids for another debris removal. Mr. Westbrook explained that funds from FEMA and GEMA would pay 85 percent of the cost, and the county’s 15 percent has probably already been contributed in kind. The county and the Department of Transportation have transported more than 1,300 loads of debris to the landfill, but there is more.

They discussed that the county or its assignee can pick it up if it is touching the right-of-way, so the county is going to seek bids on a private company removing further debris from the tornado. Residents are encouraged to continue stacking their debris at the roadside.