COFFEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

REGULAR MEETING

MONDAY, APRIL 4, 2011

9:30 O’CLOCK A.M.

COMMISSIONERS’ MEETING ROOM

Coffee County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, April l4, 2011, at 9:30 o’clock A.M. with the following present: Chairman Jimmy Kitchens, Commissioners Earl Brice, Frank Jackson, Charles H. Deen and Tom Rice, County Attorney Tony Rowell, County Administrator Wesley Vickers and County Clerk Jo Ann Metts. Chairman Kitchens called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone.

Commissioner Deen introduced Rev. Sid Whitfield, New Hope Covenant Church in Broxton, Georgia, who gave the invocation. Everyone participated in the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

Commissioner Rice made a motion to approve the minutes of the pre-meeting work session and regular meetings held on March 21, 2011, and the City/County/Board of Education Quarterly meeting held on March 31, 2011. This was seconded by Commissioner Brice. All Commissioners unanimously agreed.

Commissioner Deen made a motion to approve the agenda and this was seconded by Commissioner Jackson. All Commissioners unanimously agreed.

County Administrator Vickers stated Todd Winkler had requested one acre located at 7330 Highway 221 north be rezoned from AF to Commercial to be used for a small office including a car lot. This has been advertised in the newspaper and the adjoining property owners had been notified. Commissioner Deen made a motion to open the public hearing and this was seconded by Commissioner Jackson. All Commissioners unanimously agreed. No one appeared either for or against this rezoning request. Commissioner Brice made a motion to close the public hearing and this was seconded by Commissioner Deen. All Commissioners unanimously agreed. County Attorney asked if any Commissioner had an interest in this property. None of the Commissioners have an interest in this property. Commissioner Jackson made a motion to approve this rezoning request and this was seconded by Commissioner Rice. All Commissioners unanimously agreed.

County Administrator Vickers stated he had received bids for a motorgrader, excavator and a backhoe. These would replace two motorgraders, one excavator and on backhoe. The motorgrader fleet has been cut down to ten because we started the buy-back program in 2005-2006. The approximate capital cost to operate each machine was $4,681.00 per year. This has reduced overall equipment maintenance cost. County Administrator Vickers stated based on the bids received that this equipment should be purchased from Flint Equipment Company. Equipment bid summary is attached. If the equipment is purchased as recommended it will come in under budget by $44,336.50. The total purchase price of these three pieces of equipment is $433,716.00 and the total amount to be received for surplus equipment sold is $315,552.50. Commissioner Brice made a motion to purchase this equipment as bid from Flint Equipment Company and this was seconded by Commissioner Deen. All Commissioners unanimously agreed.

County Administrator Vickers stated he received bids for financing from the following:

Sun Trust 2.625%

Caterpillar 3.300%

John Deere Credit 2.550%

Commissioner Rice made a motion to finance the excavator and backhoe with John Deere Credit and this was seconded by Commissioner Brice. All Commissioners unanimously agreed.

County Administrator Vickers stated the grant was awarded to the County back in February for the pre-disaster mitigation plan for Coffee County. Southern Georgia Regional Commission has contacted Commissioners about writing this grant. Completion of this grant is required before the County can be eligible for disaster funds from FEMA in the event of a disaster such as the recent fires in Coffee County. Since Coffee County had a pre-disaster plan currently in place the County was declared an emergency immediately. The cost to write this plan is $20,325.00 which will be totally funded by a federal grant. Commissioner Deen made a motion to allow Southern Georgia Regional Commission to prepare this pre-disaster mitigation plan and this was seconded by Commissioner Brice. All Commissioners unanimously agreed.

County Attorney Rowell stated Coffee County, the Economic Development Authority and the City of Douglas jointly have an interest in the property on which the Department of Audits building is located. The Economic Development Authority and the City of Douglas desire the County sign a lease of this property over to the City of Douglas in order for them to manage this property. The County will retain all other rights as it pertains to ownership of the property. Commissioner Rice made a motion for the Commission to sign this lease and this was seconded by Commissioner Deen. All Commissioners unanimously agreed.

County Attorney Rowell stated Georgia Power had given Coffee County a tract of land to locate the last volunteer fire substation between Nicholls and West Green near the Buck Davis Road. Chairman Kitchens stated he would like to thank Georgia Power for donating this land and would like to make a motion to accept this gift. This was seconded by Commissioner Rice. All Commissioners unanimously agreed.

Captain Steve Carver reported on the recent fire situation and stated some 1595 acres of land had burned but that no structure was lost. There were also two bad wrecks during this time. Mr. Carver thanked the Commissioner, volunteers, various agencies and other counties and the community for their support and help during these fires and wrecks. The community, along with churches and restaurants, come together and provided food, supplies, water, etc. for which everyone was thankful. All the Commissioners commended everyone involved during this time and appreciated the dedication and remarkable work done by all of those involved.

Captain Carver reported with the addition of the new substations several persons had expressed interest in becoming a volunteer fire fighter. The ISO evaluation will be completed in the very near future and changes in ratings will be forthcoming.

Commissioner Rice thanked the people that have donated land for all the volunteer fire department sub stations or sold land for a reasonable price to get all these substations so that the ISO evaluation can be completed and hopefully insurance rates lowered for home owners.

Commissioner Brice made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:08 and this was seconded by Commissioner Deen. All Commissioners unanimously agreed.