COFFEE COUNTY BOARD
OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7,
2011
9:30
O’CLOCK A. M.
COMMISSIONERS’
MEETING ROOM
Coffee
County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, February 7,
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
Jackson introduced Minister Michael Clark from Macedonia Baptist Church who
gave the invocation. Everyone participated in the pledge of allegiance to
the flag of the United States of America.
Chairman
Kitchens stated he would like to express his sympathy to the family of Mr.
Lamar Riggins. Mr. Riggins had retired from the Coffee County Road
Department after several years.
At
this time Chairman Kitchens recognized Mr. Johnnie Lee Thomas, who was retiring
from the Coffee County Road Department after ten years of service. Mr.
Thomas was presented a plaque.
Commissioner
Rice made a motion to approve the minutes of the pre-meeting work session and
regular meeting held on January 18, 2011, and this was seconded by Commissioner
Brice. All Commissioners unanimously agreed.
Commissioner
Brice made a motion to approve the agenda with the addition of 16 A--- Acquire
.17 acres of land from Mr. Herbert Batten to build a volunteer fire department
and this was seconded by Commissioner Jackson. All Commissioners
unanimously agreed.
Chairman
Kitchens stated Commissioners needed to appoint a member to the Coffee County
Health Board which is a six year term and is a consumer position representing
consumers of mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse.
Chairman Kitchens stated Ms. Sandy Bradford had agreed to serve on this
Board. Commissioner Jackson stated he served on this Board and would like
to nominate Ms. Sandy Bradford for this position and this was seconded by
Commissioner Brice. All Commissioners unanimously agreed.
County
Administrator Vickers stated the proposed 2011 budget had been advertised and
the public hearing held and that he had met with department heads and County
Commissioners to get this budget prepared. The general fund budget is
$14,608,300.00 and the Special Revenue Fund budget is $10,253,500.00.
This budget is very conservative and does not call for a millage rate
increase. This budget allows for employees to work full time with no
furloughs anticipated. Commissioner Brice thanked the constitutional
officers for their input in the budget. Commissioner Deen made a motion
to adopt these two budgets and this was seconded by Commissioner Brice.
All Commissioners unanimously agreed.
County
Attorney Rowell stated there were some personnel changes that needed to be made
after the staff had studied these matters. There are nine changes
proposed, most are administrative in nature either deleting or adding language
to fit our current operations. There are three changes that are major
which affect retiree health benefits, vacation accrual and sick leave
accrual. The changes to retiree health benefits will not affect current
retirees, but will change the eligibility and premiums for future retirees.
The change to vacation accrual will only affect employees hired on or after
March 1, 2011. The change to sick leave accrual will be immediate and
will affect all current and future employees. Retiring employees and
commissioners with 30 or more year’s service and 60 years of age shall be
allowed to continue to participate in the county’s health and life insurance
plan until the retiree becomes eligible for another health insurance plan or
becomes eligible for Medicare. The retiree shall pay the same percentage
of premium each month as current employees. If the retiree’s nonworking
spouse is to be covered, he or she will be required to pay the full cost of
that spouse’s health insurance. Effective for full time employees hired
on or after March 1, 2011, annual leave will be accumulated as follows: 1st
through 3rd 40 hours, 4th through 14th 80
hours and 15th and above 120 hours. Sick leave will be
accumulated at the rate of 4 hours per month for a total of 48 hours per year
for full time employees. Commissioner Brice made a motion to approve
these changes in the personnel policy and this was seconded by Commissioner
Deen. All Commissioners unanimously agreed.
County
Attorney Rowell stated he had the paperwork ready to call for a referendum for
a continuation of the SPLOST. The County has a 1% SPLOST that we can
bring back to the voters every six years to allow for financing of capital
projects. This would be on the March 15, 2011, ballot for consideration
by the voters of Coffee County. Commissioners need to give the Chairman
authority to sign the intergovernmental agreement and the resolution calling
for this election. Each of the municipalities has submitted their project
list. Commissioner Rice made a motion to authorize the Chairman to execute
the intergovernmental agreement between Coffee County and certain
municipalities of Coffee County concerning a one percent SPLOST enacted
pursuant to O.C.G.A. Section 48-8-110 et seq. and this was seconded by
Commissioner Deen. All Commissioners unanimously agreed.
Commissioner
Brice made a motion to approve the resolution calling for imposition of one
percent SPLOST and requesting the Election Superintendent to call an election
of the voters of Coffee County to approve imposition of such tax and this was
seconded by Commissioner Jackson. All Commissioners unanimously agreed.
County
Attorney Rowell stated the Memorandum of Understanding for the Victim’s
Assistance Fund needed to be changed to reflect the Solicitor’s office receiving
eighty per cent, the Magnolia House receiving ten per cent and Sadie’s house
receiving ten per cent. These funds are five percent surcharges on fines
and can be used for qualified victim assistance programs. Commissioner
Deen made a motion to change this Memorandum of Understanding as stated by
County Attorney Rowell and this was seconded by Commissioner Brice. All
Commissioners unanimously agreed.
County
Administrator Vickers stated the Commissioners had entered into a contract in
December 2008 with Southern Health Partners to provide medical assistance for
the jail inmates. Initially there were approximately 275 inmates and now
the inmate population is approximately 330. The cost to provide
additional services would increase approximately $60,000.00 per year.
County Attorney Rowell stated this would be very favorable with the Department
of Justice but there were some questions about indemnity and he would discuss
this with Southern Health Partners and get back with Commissioners.
Commissioner Rice made a motion to amend this contract as stated by County
Attorney Rowell and this was seconded by Commissioner Jackson. All
Commissioners unanimously agreed.
County
Fire Chief Merritt stated the County had received a grant in the amount of
$27,100.00 to use to update the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan. The County
in-kind amount for this grant will be $4,065.00. This is a
multi-jurisdictional grant which includes Douglas, Ambrose, Broxton and
Nicholls. Mr. Michael Jacobs with Southern Georgia Regional Commission
compiled the previous plan. Also, the County received an additional grant
in the amount of $12,000.00 to purchase
equipment, etc. for the EOC. Mr. Merritt also reported that he had been
elected Area Chairman for EMAG and that February 17, 2011, would be observed as
EMA Day at the Capital in Atlanta, Georgia. Three sub-stations are up and
running and the other two should be forthcoming in the next two months.
Commissioner Brice made a motion to accept these two grants and this was seconded
by Commissioner Deen. All Commissioners unanimously agreed.
County
Attorney Rowell stated he would like to table item 16 from the agenda as Mr. Ricketson and Mr. Evans are trying to work out a solution
for the closing of R. C. Drive. Mr. Rowell stated he would like to put
this back on the agenda for the first meeting in April which is April 4,
2011. Commissioner Deen made a motion to table this matter until the
April 4, 2011, meeting and this was seconded by Commissioner Brice. All
Commissioners unanimously agreed.
County
Attorney Rowell stated the County had found .17 acres of land for a volunteer
fire station to be purchased from Mr. Herbert Batten off Rocky Pond Road in the
amount of $5,000.00. When this sub station is
completed, this should improve our ISO ratings and lower insurance premiums for
residents in that area. Commissioner Brice made a motion to approve this
purchase of land from Mr. Batten and this was seconded by Commissioner
Deen. All Commissioners unanimously agreed.
Mr.
Michael Clark invited everyone to the Touchdown Club meeting to be held on
Thursday night, February 10, 2111, at the Holiday Inn Express in Douglas at
7:00 o’clock P.M.
Commissioner
Brice made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:22 o’clock A.M. and this was seconded
by Commissioner Jackson. All Commissioners unanimously agreed.