Sheriff Talks to Commissioners
The Jasper County Commission Monday evening heard from Sheriff Donnie Pope on a couple of issues.
The sheriff came before the commissioners to ask for money for a CHAMPS (Choosing Healthy Activities and Promoting Safety) vehicle, out of the drug education fund. He explained the funds are collected by the courts; they are add-ons to fines that offenders are sentenced to pay. There is more than $55,000 in the account.
The cost of the vehicle, completely outfitted, will be $33,176.
Other money from the fund will be used for educational materials and tee-shirts, and the sheriff assured commissioners there was more than enough to cover all expenses. Amantae Sands is the CHAMPS instructor for Sheriff Pope.
Sheriff Pope stayed while commissioners discussed the speed limit on Jackson Lake Road.
Former commissioner Mary Patrick had spoken early in the meeting saying that the former Board of Commissioners had changed the speed limit to 45. She did not understand why this board needed to re-address it.
Sheriff Pope explained that for his officers to use radar to gauge speed on the road, the speed limit has to be approved by the state, and accurately posted. So, currently it is posted at 45 miles per hour (mph), but that is unenforceable. The state says the road warrants a 55 mph speed limit, and won’t issue a radar permit for a speed less than that. With it posted at 45, Sheriff Pope said, they cannot use radar at all.
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There have been several accidents on the road, with at least two fatalities fairly recently, and many want to see the speed limit changed. The commissioners and sheriff discussed the action to take. The sheriff will ask the state to take a look at it, and meanwhile the county manger will ask the engineer what the cost would be for him to conduct a study.
Commissioners agreed to have the road re-posted at 55, so the sheriff’s office can enforce that, and move forward with its attempt to change it.
Commissioners heard a report from Russell Fowler with the Georgia Forestry Commission about what it had done for Jasper County, in fiscal year 2012-2013.
They also learned that the EMS (Emergency Medical Service) committee had finished its work, and submitted a proposal. Commissioners agreed to have a work session to look at what was submitted and move forward from there.
Commissioners also agreed to hire the engineering firm Hulsey, McCormick and Wallace from Macon as its landfill engineer. The previous contract, with a different firm, expired June 30. From discussion it was indicated the county is behind on some of its reporting, so the firm will begin work immediately.
They agreed to accept a grant from the state for its Emergency Management Agency (EMA) being in compliance. It is a $5,000 50-50 matching grant, but the county’s portion is included in the department’s annual budget. Basically the grant offsets the cost of running the department. The county has received this grant for many years.
Commissioners discussed a curbside refund, and voted to give the refund if once the attorney looks into it he deems it legal. The county has very strict requirements on curbside, and rarely issues refunds or allows someone not to pay.
District 5 Commissioner Doug Luke presented a list of projects that he wanted updates on, or wanted the public to have updates on. He said they were all issues that were previously addressed. but many had been left hanging.
He learned speed breakers on Meadows Road were in and ready to be installed, and that the proposed “campground” zoning ordinance is ready for review by the Planning & Zoning Board. Also, the leak in the registrar’s office is fixed and RDC is working on a recreation plan.
