County Commission Meets Twice in September

The Jasper County Commissioners met twice in September, primarily handling routine county business, and discussing several items in depth in preparation for future action.

The results of a meeting on September 12 was that E-911 Director Melissa Slocumb was given the go-ahead to order the radios and improvements to the 911 center. A federal mandate requires that all radio systems be upgraded to be narrow band compliant by January 1, 2013.

Mrs. Slocumb explained that the repeaters are on about a two-month delivery date from order, and that time is of the essence. The county could be charged $10,000 a day if it does not comply.

Also at that meeting, the commissioners voted to phase in an excise tax on energy as the sales and use tax is phased out.

Acting County Manager Lorri Smith also told commissioners that they need to prioritize SPLOST projects, and at the Sept. 17 meeting handed out a a spreadsheet showing income taken in thus far and projects that are to be funded by the six year sales tax.

One topic that generated a great deal of discussion at the September 17 meeting was time clocks.

Commissioner Mary Patrick suggested that the county purchase time clocks to see that employees are at work during the time they are being paid to be at work.

Mrs. Smith said they had gotten prices on four different time clocks with the cheapest biometric (requiring a finger touch by each individual) clock costing about $400, and the most expensive one costing $1,800. The more expensive one would work with the county’s payroll system, and could be uploaded to the company that writes the payroll checks requiring little administration on the county’s end.

The commissioners did not appear interested in that one. After much discussion, they were leaning towards the least expensive model, and putting one in several locations. Where to put them was another area of concern.

For example, recreation only has two employees; animal control and the senior center have a limited number of employees. There was little hesitation about locating one at the Courthouse and one at Public Works (PWD). However, there was much discussion as to where the other employees would clock in. The suggestion was made that they could clock in at PWD, then go to their job. Commissioners realized though that an employee could clock in, then go to the store or socialize or whatever before arriving at his or her place of work.

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Mrs. Smith questioned if department heads would clock in and out. Commissioner Patrick was adamant that they would. Mrs. Smith questioned the legality, alluding to the premise that sometimes salaried department heads work more than 40 hours a week, and if they punch a time clock the county may be required to pay overtime.

Commission Chairman Alan Cox said it appears we’re trying to find out if the employee is on the job. “We could go with the cheaper one and put it in several locations,” he said.

Commissioner Jack Bernard suggested that staff come back with a proposal as to where they would be placed and the total cost, and to also look into the legal issues before the commission addresses it again.

The commissioners next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 9, at 5 p.m., and which time they will hold a work session on time clocks. (That meeting was postponed from the first Monday in the month because of staff commitments elsewhere.)

The September 17 meeting started off interestingly, as the commissioners went into closed session with Sheriff Charles Roper to discuss “pending litigation” at the beginning of the meeting. That session only lasted about 10 minutes, and then the meeting proceeded as usual. (Typically the commissioners go into closed session at the end of the meeting, when needed, but did it at the beginning to accommodate the sheriff’s schedule.)

The first item on the regular agenda was a code enforcement update. Sherry Braley told commissioners that she is aware of a lot of areas that need oversight. She said they have received applications for a code enforcement officer, and are reviewing them now. She anticipates hiring someone the first week in October.

Mrs. Smith pointed out that Ms. Braley has been working on the muni-code which will make the ordinances easier to enforce. County Attorney Jim Alexander echoed that, saying once that is done, it will be easy for the magistrate to identify which codes have been violated.

Commissioner Patrick said that the commission made it clear back in February that it wants something done, particularly in the areas of Alcovy Shores, Rollingwood Cove and Turtle Cove. Commissioner Jack Bernard agreed, saying much stronger code enforcement is needed in Turtle Cove.

Commissioner Patrick asked how many cases had been tried since March. Ms. Braley answered, seven, and that 15 citations would be going out that week, following up on warnings that had not generated action.

The commissioners discussed the animal control committee. The commission chairman said the committee did a great job….At this point we need to define the duties and responsibilities of the committee.

Commissioner Bernard said, “We need to be specific on what we want them to do…and what we don’t want them to do which is supervision of employees.”

The animal control committee was to meet last week and come up with its plan to present to the commissioners.

The commissioners discussed receiving quarterly updates from that committee and others. Commissioner Patrick asked what happened to the quarterly reports the commission was supposed to be getting from departments and component units. Mrs. Smith said she would check on them, and get them to the commissioners.

In other action at the meeting, commissioners:

•Unanimously approved a resolution requiring all county vacancies be advertised for two weeks in the local newspaper and posted on the county website, and when a decision is made to hire a person, the Human Resources Manger will submit a letter to the candidate to confirm the hiring process.

•Discussed a resolution for the process of hiring department heads, but had several changes to the proposed resolution that they agreed to look at it again at the next meeting.

•Agreed to check with board members for the Department of Family and Children Services to see if they want to be reappointed, and if not to advertise the vacancies.

•Appointed Public Works Director Will Brown to the Upper Ocmulgee Resource and Development Council.

•Reviewed the year-to-date financials.

•Agreed to advertise for vacancies on the Senior Citizen Advisory Board.

•Formally approved several budget amendments that had previously been discussed.

•Reviewed the human resources report.