Structure Fire Is Topic for Commission

This structure on Deer Run Circle was destroyed by fire last Wednesday, displacing a mother and four children, and giving more credence to concerns of the neighbors.

It was not the first structure fire at that location, which also had the bad luck to have a tree fall on the house during a tornado a few years back.

The structure that burned was reportedly a shop with an apartment in it. It belongs to Jerry Crowe. His daughter and grandchildren lived in the building. The building was already on the ground when the first firefighter arrived, 16 minutes from when it was called in. The shop was behind a home on Deer Run Circle.

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Michael and Cynthia Brake were already on the agenda for Monday’s commission meeting when the fire happened, but the extensive smoke coming from the residence on Deer Run Circle was one of their concerns. The Brakes explained to the commissioners that Mr. Brake is a throat cancer survivor, and is not supposed to be around any smoke. They said the neighbors burn constantly, and questioned the commissioners about where to turn about their concerns.

(The second inhabited structure on the same lot is likely a zoning violation.)

The only other citizen comments at Monday’s meeting came from Charles Forsythe, who complained that the agenda was not specific enough.Commissioners reviewed a Public Works Department (PWD) equipment list, and questioned what happened to one of the county’s motor graders, with Commissioners Mary Patrick and Carl Pennamon being reasonably sure that during the current term the county had five motor graders, and only three were listed. Of those three, one burned up October 31, and probably will have to be replaced, one is a 1997 model that interim PWD director Preston Campbell listed as “okay;” and one is a 2006 model that is listed as “good.”

Commissioner Patrick remembered that one had been sold for scrap but was unclear where the fifth one was. Fire had damaged or destroyed another motor grader before the Oct. 31 fire, but commissioners thought that the machine had been repaired or replaced.

Commissioners agreed to go out for bids on a bush cutter and enclosed tractor, since the county’s bush cutter has been down since last March. Interim County Manager Lorri Smith had gotten prices for the equipment from two dealers, and commissioners wanted to move forward with getting sealed bids on the equipment.

Commissioners heard from Recreation Director Wes Chester about a proposal to sign up with myEZreg for sports registrations. He explained how efficient the system is, and how user friendly it would be for the local recreation department. It would cost the county nothing, as adults who want to use the system to register themselves or their children pay a convenience fee and small interest rate per transaction.

Commissioners were receptive to the idea, but wanted Mr. Chester to go back to the vendor and get answers to several questions, and get an accurate contract. The contract they were provided called for more fees that Mr. Chester talked about. He said the company agreed to waive those.

The monthly human resources report showed that the county has hired an animal control director, Phil Ozburn, and that PWD Director Will Brown was listed under terminations/resignations. In addition, Brad Cherry is now full time Code Enforcement/Building Inspector.

The monthly financial report showed that with 33 percent of the year up (end of October), several departments are over-budget.

Elections has spent 71 percent of its budget, and the registrar is at 38 percent of the budget. However, both of those will come in line as time passes, explained Mrs. Smith. Election expenses were all in the first half of the budget year, so as each month passes, those will show up more in line.

Debt service is also over-budget, at 52 percent rather than 33 percent, but again it is timing, and will straighten out as the year goes. The debt service is paid quarterly, so two payments have been made. The PWD is also over-budget, but it’s because grant expenses are front loaded due to LMIG 2012, explained Mrs. Smith. It too will come in line over time.

Lastly, Magistrate Court and Probate Court are both over budget in salaries. Magistrate is at 41 percent of his budget, and Probate at 39 percent. Commissioner Patrick asked Mrs. Smith if those offices are aware of the problem, and she assured her that they get a monthly statement.

In other action at Monday’s meeting, commissioners:

•Agreed to postpone taking any action on the County Manager ordinance, agreeing instead to leave that to the new board in January.

•Held public hearings on the energy excise tax, which got no comment, and on the new Code of Ordinances book, which garnered few remarks.

•Agreed to table until January filling vacancies on the Recreation Commission, the Senior Services Board, and the Department of Family and Children Services board, as no one has expressed interest in serving on any of them, even though the positions have been advertised.

•Agreed that it would be good to have a cut-off of cash, deposits, etc., audited for the sheriff and tax commissioner. With new leaders in each of those offices, it is standard procedure, but commissioners are concerned about the cost.

•Learned that the Probate Judge and Clerk of Courts sponsored pages in the newspaper’s veteran’s section with their personal monies, not county monies.

•Reviewed a video of a drainage problem at the industrial park and Blue Ruin Street.

At the close of the meeting, commissioners went into closed session to discuss personnel, acquisition of real estate, and pending litigation.