Commission Reviews Ethics, Roads, Taxes

By superadmin | February 23, 2012 |

Eight of 10 eligible appointed persons were chosen to serve on the Board of Commissioners Ethics Board Tuesday night at the Commissioner’s regular business meeting. This committee is responsible for reviewing ethics complaints against members of the BOC and others at a local level.

Each commissioner was to select two people that they felt would do well serving on the committee. Charles Forsythe was appointed by Commissioner Charles Hill, Commissioner Jack Bernard appointed Dave Dammann and Ken McMichael, Commissioner Mary Patrick appointed Alan Small and Gay Morrison, Commission Chairman Alan Cox appointed Connie Hollis and Mary Alice Carter, and Commissioner Carl Pennamon appointed Joan Bell.

Those appointees who were present at the meeting stood before the board and offered their reasoning for accepting the appointment.

Taxes

The commissioners also received a tax update and heard from County Manager Greg Wood that property tax collections were at 89 percent of budgeted figures. Since property taxes were supposed to be paid by December 20, there is some concern about the collection rate.

The budget is set at a 92 percent collection rate, and currently the taxes collected are down three percent. Mr. Wood noted to the BOC that the number projected did not include the state forestry monies that came in, as the county did not include it in the budget.

Commissioners also learned that vehicle tax collections are at 70 percent which isn’t bad, as they are paid monthly, and only about 60 percent of the year has passed.

Commissioner Bernard asked if the property tax amount included past due taxes collected, and Mr. Wood said that it did. Mr. Bernard asked what was being done about these delinquent funds, and Mr. Wood said that a tax sale was held within the last month, however it had generated little revenue.

There was also new business concerning the sending of a letter to the Tax Commissioner requesting reports that are to be supplied to the BOC. During the meeting last month the consensus was that a similar letter that was sent last year concerning certain reports that coincide with OCGA requirements should be sent again this year.

Commissioner Bernard made the motion to send the letter to the Tax Commissioner and Chairman Cox seconded, however during the comments Commissioner Patrick said, “we’re dealing with a lot of issues…this is too much time directing another elected official. I think that we’re overstepping and grinding an ax at another elected official.”

Mr. Cox responded that it was only a request, compliant with state law, that they were not calling out the tax commissioner.

Commissioner Bernard commented that “historically Jasper County collections have been less than that of even the 90 percent collection rate for the state.

That’s five percent being under billed and the county losing approximately $1 million, he said. He then read the requirements set for tax collection. He said that the BOC never received a statement or report as to uncollected revenues as required by the statute.

The vote was taken and the BOC will send a letter for a report of the amount of county taxes remaining unpaid on the current tax digest, expecting reports at 30 day intervals. It also included the request of an annual report for the 2011 digest due on April 20, or as soon as it becomes available. The vote was 3-2, with Commissioners Bernard, Cox, and Pennamon for and Commissioners Patrick and Hill against.

Ethics

The board had a request from Cummings Site Development for an ethics investigation into the Pitts Chapel bid interference. The complaint was issued when the alleged violation occurred, alleging that Commissioner Patrick had a conflict of interest when the contract for Pitts Chapel was awarded. Cummings indicated that he was indeed the low bidder, and it was not accepted. Officials at Cummings believe that it was Mrs. Patrick’s influence for which their bid was rejected.

There was a motion by Commissioner Bernard, and seconded by Chairman Cox to table this item until the ethics board was fulfilled. Commissioner Patrick addressed the BOC stating that they knew that this was about her. She stated to the other commissioners that shesought the advice of the county attorney, Jim Alexander about whether or not her being on the awarded companies books and tax return was a conflict.

Mr. Alexander said, “I instructed Commissioner Patrick that there was no conflict of her representation on a tax return.” He also indicated that he had no knowledge of Larry Kaiser’s, County Engineer at the time, reference. (For clarification, the letter sent to Mr. Wood stated that Mr. Kaiser indicated to Mr. Cummings that “he would be terminated as County Engineer if he did not recommend the high bidder, Dekalb Pipeline…”)

There was much discussion on how long this was going to come before the board without authenticity and hearsay without a signed affidavit verifying Mr. Kaiser’s remarks. Mrs. Patrick commented that this was about her. She stated to the other commissioners that she sought the advice of the county attorney, Jim Alexander about whether or not her being on the awarded companies books and tax return was a conflict.

There was much discussion on how long this was going to come before the board without authenticity and hearsay without a signed affidavit verifying Mr. Kaiser’s remarks. Mrs. Patrick commented that this was a political ploy against her, being that it is an election year, and said that she was tired of her name being drug through the mud, with no substantial evidence. The vote was taken and failed 3-2 with Bernard and Cox for and Hill, Patrick, and Pennamon against.

Then Mr. Bernard made another motion that an affidavit from Mr. Kaiser be sought by County Manager Greg Wood, and it also failed by the same vote, with Commissioner Patrick abstaining.

Then Commission Chair Cox made a motion to table the issue until the BOC heard from the County Manager and Mr. Cummings; this also failed 2-3, Cox and Bernard for, and Pennamon, Patrick and Hill, against.

Juveniles

Commissioner Patrick gave a report on the recent Alcovy Shores and Rollingwood Cove meeting and said that there was concern with the Department of Juvenile Justice that there could be more places for juveniles to do community service in the county.

The representative from the DJJ stated that she had a difficult time getting responses from Animal Control, the Recreation Department, and other county entities in which juveniles could be placed to do community service. She said that they could work on site with any nonprofit or government organization. It was her encouragement to get the kids involved with some aspect of their community.

Mr. Wood commented that he had been in contact with the DJJ and that he would continue to pursue this. Mr. Bernard asked for a formal motion for Mr. Wood to be in contact and report back to the BOC.

Roads

Mr. Bernard brought up the issue of Triple Surfacing Roads. He commented to the BOC that he would like to see roads that could be improved in-house, using the current dirt road plan. He asked that the numbers be looked at for the 2012-2013 budget. He stated that there needed to be an objective way to pick roads rather than a political agenda.

Commissioner Pennamon commented that Cook Road was an example to look at, money and time spent to fix roads. He said that the people need to be served. There was a motion which failed 3-2 with Commissioners Cox and Bernard for and Pennamon, Hill, and Patrick against.

Computer

The County Manager said in his report that the computer search had yielded no results and the company which looked it over, Maxx Computers, did a level 3 diagnostic check and found nothing. The only step to move forward would be the evidence handling at the FBI level.

Commissioner Bernard said that for someone to have erased the disk so well that only the FBI to be able to recover it, that that someone, whoever it was is guilty. Mr. Alexander commented that whoever had it done, did an excellent job of getting it gone.

Mr. Pennamon stated that what was best taken from this was to never put anything in writing as it can be recovered and come back on you.

Mr. Wood also reported that he had been interviewing applicants seeking the Animal Control director position, and so far that the current interim is the best of those in the interview process. He also said that there was a need to make a salary adjustment and he was in the process of those negotiations and moving forward.

Other Items

In other action at Monday evening’s meeting, commissioners:

•Approved a federal SAFER Grant from the Department of Homeland Security, that was presented by Jarrett Slocumb, Fire Chief. The grant provides 100 percent payment of personnel to increase frontline firefighters. This will aid in the staffing of local fire departments for the next two years, with no obligation or cost to the county. These positions will be part-time and will work 8 a.m-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, alternating stations. The firefighters are not eligible for overtime and will be contracted and not eligible for unemployment.

•The BOC agreed to sign the Emergency Management Association (EMA) Statewide Mutual Aid Agreement. Melissa Slocumb, EMA director was in attendance and explained that this agreement is signed by both the city of Monticello (which it did at the last business meeting) and the county stating that resources permitting, Jasper will aid anyone in Georgia that needs it in the event of disaster.

•Commissioner Hill asked the BOC that they implement an employee recognition program, by recognizing those county employees with a plaque and/or presentation by the board. The board voted to recognize employees beginning with ten years of service and above in five year increments.

•Approved the Copier Lease Contract for the Board of Assessors’ Office which was presented by Lynn Bentley. The IKON lease states that the new contract will be a savings of approximately $200 a month as compared to the previous contract.

•Heard an update on the meeting in Alcovy Shores/Rollingwood Coveand Turtle Cove communities.

•The board reviewed the HR report and learned that all of the positions filled were replacement positions. Mr. Wood said that there were two employees with long-term medical problems, and the rest had quit the county.

•Reviewed the January financial report

Work Session

At the work session held before the business meeting, the BOC went through the DCA list of yearly requirements and accepted those additions and deletions of the plan. This was a must do short-term work plan to get off of the DCA’s list to be eligible for grants.

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