New County Manager Begins Work this Week

The Jasper County Commissioners voted unanimously to hire Gregory S. Wood as the new County Manager, during their regular monthly meeting Tuesday.

Mr. Wood’s latest position was as the County Administrator of Holmes County, Fla. for 2007 through 2009, where he was responsible for the day-to-day operation of county government with an approximate budget of $20 million with a land area of 485 square miles.

He comes to Jasper County with over 25 years of progressively responsible management experience, including top-level county management, military command, and executive municipal administration, according to his resume.
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Mr. Wood graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. from the University of West Florida in 1983, and attained his M.P.A. from that same institution in 1984.

Besides hiring a new county manager the commissioners voted on several items as follows:

•Commissioner Carl Pennamon made a motion to direct the county manager to cease working relationships with Cooperative Infrastructure Services (CIS) on all transactions to be effective immediately.

The motion was seconded by Commissioner Mary Patrick and passed unanimously. The action came after Pubilc Works Director William Brown reported faulty work on the lining of county roads and replacement of signs—work paid for by a grant.

The commission agreed to complete the project in-house by using the public works department.

Commissioner Alan Cox made a motion to have the county manager and the public works department to review all current invoices from CIS for accuracy and quality of work before being paid. This motion was seconded by Commissioner Patrick and also passed unanimously.

•Commissioner Patrick made a motion to direct the county manager to review the overtime policy and not allow any overtime unless preapproved or in an emergency and that comp time could be taken for overtime within the current or next pay period, and that animal control hours be restricted to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. except in emergencies.

Commissioner Jack Benard made an amendment to the motion that managers were not approved to be paid for overtime, but could take comp time for it. The motion passed unanimously.

•The commissioners also voted unanimously to meet on Thursday, Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. to approve a corrected Tax Levy as presented by Tax Commissioner Merry Faulkner, in order to get tax bills mailed out 60 days prior to December 20.

Under old business the commissioners discussed and voted on budget amendments as follows:

•Approved unanimously a motion by Commissioner Patrick that no checks would be signed that do not cover personnel without an approved purchase order. Commissioner Patrick said this was necessary because the county needs to stop overspending now. Commissioner Bernard added that a standard operating procedure was needed to control budgets.

• A request from the sheriff’s department for additional funding for 2010 was defeated by a vote of 3-2 with Commissioners Patrick, Bernard and Cox voting against and Commissioners Pennamon and Chairman Charles Hill voting for. In a discussion leading up to the vote Commissioner Bernard asked if there was some other area where the sheriff’s budget could be cut. Financial Advisor Sabrina Cape replied that the majority of this budget was salary and benefits and that the sheriff had three open positions on hold currently.

Commissioner Patrick said they had already borrowed $1 million which would have to be paid back with funds meant for the 2011 budget.

•A budget amendment to reduce the 911 budget for 2010 by $19,600 passed with Commissioners Pennamon, Bernard and Hill voting for, Commissioner Patrick voting against and Commissioner Cox abstaining.

•Approved unanimously to increase the budget of the public works department by $50,000 to purchase a used dump truck, the proceeds coming from the insurance settlement of a totaled truck.

• Approved, with Commissioner Pennamon abstaining, the reduction of the 2010 departmental budgets by $83,640 and increasing the county contingency for the same amount for the general fund.

•Approved unanimously the appointment of Mr. Brown to the Upper Ocmulgee River Resources, Conservation and Development Council. Prior to voting the commissioners were advised the county has more than 300 miles of dirt roads that need lots of improvement, and the appointment of Mr. Brown to this council could put the county in a position to apply for grants and funds to complete some of these projects.

• Approved unanimously an Inmate Medical Program representing approximately a 30 percent savings on inmate medical care.

In a work session prior to the regular meeting, Mr. Rogers also presented for review an ordinance to revise the standards for installation of pre-owned manufactured homes. The existing ordinance does not allow homes over seven years old into the county, which is in violation of state law. The new ordinance would drop that requirement, but allow for inspection of homes before entering the county. Legal counsel recommended adoption and a first reading is planned at the next meeting.

Also during the work session, Landfill Director Ken Tillman advised the commissioners of a notice of deficiency in methane gas at the landfill for which the county has 60 days to respond. Mr. Tillman reported that continuous checks will be made during that time to see if levels remain above required levels, and that if construction was necessary it could be performed by the public works department.

At this point the commissioners went into closed session for consultation with the county attorney to discuss pending or potential litigation, future acquisition of real estate, employment compensation or periodic evaluation of county employees.