County Approves Health Insurance

The Jasper County commissioners approved a new health insurance plan for county employees when they met Monday evening. The Blue Cross/Blue Shield plan is less expensive than renewing the plan the employees currently have, and the rate is locked in for 18 months. With the savings, the commissioners agreed to reduce employees furlough days.

Currently all county employees are expected to take 12 furlough (unpaid) days a year. Since the county changed to a July 1-June 30 fiscal year, that means six furlough days were scheduled January-June. Now employees will only have to take four, in essence returning two days of pay to employees.

The new plan is similar to the current one, with co-pays for a trip to the primary care doctor costing employees $25 per visit, and a specialist $35 per visit. Currently, employees pay $20 for a primary care doctor visit, and $40 for a specialist. The plan will have a $1,000 deductible, just like the current plan.

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Employees will also have the option to purchase life, dental and vision insurance, but those are not funded by the county at all.

When reviewing financials, commissioners learned the landfill is over budget because of engineering costs incurred to be in compliance with a consent order from the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Commissioners and staff discussed that they knowingly did not include enough money in the landfill budget for that expense.

They also learned the landfill is opening a little more during this holiday season to be available for the citizens.

This week the landfill was to be open Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, although Friday is a holiday for most county employees. It will also open Monday, Dec. 26 for citizens to take after-Christmas trash.

Financials

Another item in the financials that commissioners discussed is that Probate Court and Magistrate Court are both 50 percent over budget in salaries. Commissioner Mary Patrick commented that its because those elected officials are paying salaries that they want to pay, not what is in the budget.

The Probate Court is $21,819 over budget, and the Magistrate Court is $9,063. Most other departments are under budget as of the end of November.

Discussion revealed the county has received some $200,000 from the state—money that was not budgeted. Commissioner Jack Bernard wanted to put that money towards furlough days, but Chief Financial Officer Lorri Smith advised commissioners against being too hasty to spend that money. She suggested they wait until next month and see if tax collections are coming in as anticipated.

The deadline for paying property tax without penalty was Tuesday, Dec. 20. The financial report only went through November, and 57 percent of property taxes had been paid. The 57 percent includes all ad valorem taxes. Vehicle taxes are paid monthly, and mobile home taxes are not due until March, so many taxes are not yet due.

Next month, Mrs. Smith will tell commissioners how much real property tax has been collected, giving them a better idea of how close estimated budgeted funds come to the real collections.

Rep. Holmes

Early in the meeting, commissioners heard from state Rep. Susan Holmes of Monticello. Rep. Holmes opened her remarks by saying we have lots to be thankful for here in Jasper County, then enumerating many of them such as the schools, hospital and doctors, churches, library, volunteers, and more. She said we have fine elected officials who run their offices with efficiency and diplomacy.

But, she went on to say, we are all facing a big challenge—the state of the economy. She mentioned local business closings, the closing of the local Georgia-Pacific plant, and more. She said people are suffering, then praised the local food bank and the senior citizens center, both of which help many struggling people.

She said we need to attract industry and business and said the local development authority is working hard to bring jobs here. Competition is stiff, however, she said.

She told of one industry that is currently looking to locate to Monticello and/or Jasper County. She said the company is looking for a small town to expand their company. The counties which are having success are those whose leaders and townspeople are working together to promote their community, she said. She went on to say that compromise is often necessary if everyone is going to work together.

“All of you are popular in your districts,” she pointed out. “Please remember to be positive in your public actions. You always represent Jasper County.”

She said prospective businesses and industry look at a community and ask the question “do the people work together. Do they have positive leadership?” She said they check the internet. The read the local paper.

Rep. Holmes said that the county has developed a negative reputation. She said she has been approached in the last year by many people from all walks of life and across the state, asking what is happening to Jasper County. We have a negative voice here she said. We must work together; present a united front. She said we need a good, positive image. “Quit sending e-mails, letters to the editor, and the like,” she admonished the commissioners.

Mrs. Holmes referred to a lesson she said her mother taught her and that is “Don’t air your dirty laundry.”

Roads

Before beginning the regular meeting, commissioners had an hour-long work session with Public Works Department (PWD) Director Will Brown.

Mr. Brown presented commissioners with “The Year in Review 2010-2011,” where he presented what changes had been made at the PWD since he arrived more than a year ago. He said that for the past year he has been primarily working to organize, train, document and equip the department for the coming years.

He also said they established safety rules, and that PWD had worked some 450+ days without a lost-time accident. The initial goal was one year, and he said now they are working for two.

Commissioners questioned Mr. Brown about numerous specific roads, road problems, and equipment status. Commissioner Alan Cox said that the roads are obviously better-maintained than they used to be, but that he is bothered by the fact we don’t have a road plan.

Commissioner Patrick said no doubt roads are better maintained than they were, but discussed some aesthetic concerns. She said it seems the men don’t finish the job.

Commissioner Carl Pennamon said, “We need to make sure that when we’re on a road we fix it right, rather than hitting and missing.”

To the criticism, Mr. Brown said, “We have made huge leaps and bounds, based on the level of training [the employees had when he arrived] and the equipment.”

Commissioner Jack Bernard said we want a plan. “We’ve got to have a plan, not the squeaky wheel plan.”

Commissioner Cox suggested that the commission set up a committee to work with Mr. Brown to develop a plan. He said two commissioners are retired, himself and Mr. Bernard, so their schedules were more flexible to meet with staff.

Commissioner Pennamon asked were they going to be willing to make the trip to town, though, referring to having to schedule previous meetings to eliminate duplicate trips to Monticello for those commissioners.

County Attorney Jim Alexander reminded them that the committee would be subject to the open meetings law, just like the whole commission.

After much discussion and wrangling, they agreed to form a “committee of the whole,” to work on a road plan with Mr. Brown and County Manger Greg Wood.

In other action at Monday’s meeting, commissioners:

•Held a public hearing on an amendment to the curbside ordinance. Ursala Johnson said she still thought there should be an opt-out clause for people who do not use the service. (The only way currently to opt-out is to not have utilities to a structure.)

Skip Nowetner said he wanted to be reimbursed for the times the trash man did not pick up his trash. Mrs. Smith told him if he calls the county office, an employee contacts Advanced Disposal who sends someone out to pick up the missed can within 24-48 hours.

•Held a public hearing on the amendment to the alcohol ordinance allowing Sunday sales. No members of the public commented. The ordinance requires bartenders and managers to have an alcohol servers permit. Commissioner Patrick said she wanted each server who handles alcohol to have the permit, not just managers. Commissioner Cox said he understood her concern, but he feels it puts an undue burden on the server.

•Re-appointed Michelle Jackam to the Board of Assessors and re-appointed Justin Owens and Joe Lewis to the Planing and Zoning Commission.

•Approved the low bidder—Adornato Electric for electrical work to the new scoreboards. Action on the scoreboard quote was tabled.

•Agreed to meet Tuesday, Jan. 3, since Monday, Jan. 2 is the official New Year’s Day holiday and county personnel are off work. The second meeting of the month is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 17, as January 16 is the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, another official holiday.

•Voted to make public the records surrounding a possible criminal case against Linda Bell, a resident from whom animal control removed animals last summer. Commissioner Patrick has been asking for the records. Commissioner Cox said he didn’t understand why they needed to vote on it; the records should be open.