AT&T Towers Are On Hold

“We can’t talk on a cell phone, the police [sheriff] doesn’t have a car to get here, and the roads aren’t decent to drive on….we are so far behind…,” is how District 5 Commissioner Doug Luke summed up his frustration toward the close of Monday evening’s regular Jasper County Commission meeting.

The outburst came after the county had heard from AT&T officials, who basically said they don’t know when or if they will locate on the towers they began building in Jasper County some 15 months ago, and after the sheriff had laid out his serious need for several patrol cars now, and the commissioners had discussed the need for more gravel, more patching than the budget will allow, and general road frustrations.

The AT&T officials were at the meeting after being told they are out of compliance with the county‘s zoning ordinance. According to the ordinance, they had six months from the time the building permit was issued until the towers were up and running. They originally approached the commission nearly one and a half years ago, and some building permits were issued soon after that. Of the nine original towers proposed, one was a co-locate on an existing tower, and that has been done. One has been held up by the state historic preservation group, and the other seven have expired.

David Walker with AT&T Wireless told the board about AT&T’s overall plan and its plan for Jasper County. He said between the time that AT&T met with the county in November, 2013, and the present the company’s plans have changed. He assured the commissioners that there is a capital plan, but gave no indication of when, or if, the towers would be used by AT&T. As they stand, American Towers built the towers, and can try to get other carriers to locate on them.

However, Jasper County’s zoning director Sherry Braley said that the way the permit is only AT&T has the permit. So American Towers will likely ask for a variance, so it can sell space on the tower to other providers.

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However, there is no guarantee that they will be put into use. David Mercier with American Towers said they would pay the $7,000 fine for being out of compliance, and said they want to move forward. Ms. Braley pointed out they could be fined a daily fine, but commissioners said their concern is cellular service.

Mr. Walker said that Paul Chambers, who also spoke, had been an advocate for better service in Jasper County for many years, and that he had been a thorn in the side of many. He danced around questions from the commissioners about how often this happens or what the future holds. He said that the fact that the towers are here means, “you are well positioned to attract other carriers.”

After the commissioners heard the disheartening news, and could get no real answers, they heard from Sheriff Donnie Pope about his office vehicles situation. Sheriff Pope said that he has 35 operating vehicles, which leaves him with two spares if he is at full staff. This is not enough, he said. Of the 35 vehicles, 14 have more than 150,000 miles on them, and nine have more than 200,000 miles. And, every day these numbers get bigger, he said.

He shared with the commissioners industry guidelines for replacement vehicles, and expressed his concern about the safety and protection of the citizens of Jasper County and the safety of his deputies. He went on to say that patrol vehicles average 35,000 miles per year. If ACCG recommendations are followed, it would require the county to purchase eight patrol vehicles a year. The vehicles average close to $40,000 fully equipped.

Commissioners pointed out that would be a mill of tax each year for patrol vehicles. The sheriff presented a spread sheet with the documentation on the vehicles, as well as a suggestion on how to purchase one immediately. The commissioners suggested rather than purchasing one right now let them look at financing and see if it would be wiser to use available funds to purchase several on a lease/purchase program. They plan to meet again in about two weeks or as soon as they can determine the best route to go after looking at all the numbers.

Earlier in the meeting, County Manager Karen Degges had asked for some prioritization on roads that the commissioners want patched. They have contracted for patching, and it will begin next month, but there are some 13 roads on the lsit, and she said the amount allotted will nto begin to do all the work on the list.

They agreed one road—McElheney Crossroads was too far gone to patch, and at the suggestion of the county manager they county may go in and do a triple surface treatment on that road. The other roads include Post, which they plan to begin resurfacing this year, and Goolsby, which also needs resurfacing badly. Others include Rock Eagle Road, Moseley Lane, Middlebrook Pond Rd., McElheney Stiles, Gilbert, Jones, Freedonia Church, Dykes, Dumas, Davidson and Bullard Roads.

After some discussion, they agreed that the county manager and public works director should ride the roads and determine which ones would be suitable for triple surface treatment, and which ones need the patching the most. They are to determine how bad the roads are and how much traffic uses them.

The county manager had also added to the agenda gravel because she said they have pretty much expended the gravel budget, and will have to stop putting gravel down if the commission doesn’t allow more money to be spent. So commissioners voted to take $50,000 from the contingency budget to purchase gravel.

However, Commissioner Carl Pennamon suggested that the county not put gravel on roads that have no residences on them, such as Buggy Road and C.T. Pope Road, two of which were recently graveled.

In other action at Monday’s meeting, commissioners:

•Heard from Ken Holmes and Selective Solutions and Allie Young with Alcovy Enterprises about ways to upgrade the county’s website. There was dialogue between commissioners and the web host and designer about what was wanted. No cost was discussed. Sharon Robinson, administrative services director, said that she had prepared a request for proposals (RFP) to send out, but since Selective Solutions had been the county’s internet provider for years, she thought she’d talk to them first.

•Approved a beer & wine application for Cora’s Bar & Grill at 53 Pennington Road. There was some discussion as she is not the property owner, and sue did not have a lease, and commissioners were confused on what the protocol was. Wanda Barron is the applicant, and now she will have to get her state license, and show that to the county, along with her lease, to get her business license and begin operating. There was some concern as law enforcement had been called to the location a month ago. She said she allowed the use of the premises to someone else, and indicated the party got out of hand.

•Received a detailed copy of the 2012 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) expenditures to date, showing what has been spent and what has been encumbered. They also agreed to spend the remaining money from the 2005 SPLOST that is earmarked for roads and bridges, on roads and bridges. They also received a copy of the debt service and capital lease schedule. They also officially approved several budget amendments, which had previously been discussed.

•Received a copy of the updated personnel policy presented by Mrs. Robinson. The new policy includes internet, social media, remote access, and weapons policy, none of which were included previously.

•Named Dr. Angela Gordon to the Region 2 Planning Board for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.

•Declared two vehicles surplus for the fire department.