Action Agenda
Board of Commissioners
March 3, 2010
3:30 P.M.
The Board of Commissioners of Fayette County, Georgia, met in Official Session on Wednesday, March 3, 2010, at 3:30 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Conference Room, Suite 100 of the Fayette County Administrative Complex, 140 Stonewall Avenue, Fayetteville, Georgia.
Commissioners Present: Jack Smith, Chairman
Herb Frady, Vice Chairman
Lee Hearn
Robert Horgan
Eric Maxwell
Staff Present: Jack Krakeel, County Administrator
Scott Bennett, County Attorney
Carol Chandler, Executive Assistant
Floyd L. Jones, Deputy Clerk
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Call to Order by Chairman Smith.
Chairman Smith called the March 3, 2010 Workshop Meeting to order at 3:32 p.m.
Acceptance of Agenda.
Commissioner Frady moved to accept the agenda as published. Commissioner Horgan seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS:
A. Presentation of an update on the County’s 2010 Transportation Work Plan by Public Works Director, Phil Mallon.
Public Works Director Phil Mallon gave an update on the County’s 2010 Transportation Work Plan, including resurfacing, new paving, right-of-way maintenance, gravel road maintenance, mowing, SPLOST projects, and projects involving the Georgia Department of Transportation. Commissioner Hearn requested that Mr. Mallon provide quarterly reports, instead of monthly reports, as they pertain to Georgia Department of Transportation, or GDOT, projects. He added that he wanted state transportation projects completed in a timely manner and that the Board could help expedite those GDOT projects that were “falling behind” by contacting elected officials at the State. Chairman Smith agreed with Commissioner Hearn but emphasized that if there is a major change with the GDOT projects the Board would need to know about it quickly. Commissioner Frady added that he would like to have greater communication between Fayette County and the GDOT. The Board took no action but requested for another update during the April 2010 Workshop Meeting.
B. Tony Parrott, Director of Utility Services, will present an update on the County’s Street Light District Ordinance.
Director of Utility Services Tony Parrott updated the Board concerning the County’s Street Light District Ordinance noting deficiencies and inconsistencies in the administration of the ordinance. The Board and Administrator agreed that a comprehensive review of this issue should occur and Mr. Parrott was directed to return to the Board with the results of his review and recommendations for resolving the problems related to this ordinance.
NEW BUSINESS:
C. Probate Judge Ann Jackson will present information concerning an upcoming request for assistance in funding case management software for her office.
Probate Judge Ann Jackson presented information concerning an upcoming request for assistance in funding case management software for the Probate Court. Judge Jackson stated that when she began serving as Probate Judge last year the Court did not have an adequate case management system. Complicating the matter is that the State of Georgia has no money available to improve or expand the case management system. She reported that the Court has interviewed and evaluated vendors and systems, and that the Court has decided on a particular case management software system. She explained the cost of the system would be an upfront cost of $12,000, the cost to upgrade the Probate Court’s computers, and an additional $250 monthly fee. She recalled that the Board approved $6,000 in her budget for audio capability in the Probate courtroom and requested the money be transferred to be used for the purchase of the software system. She asked that the remaining $6,000 upfront cost be provided from the County’s contingency funds. She explained that funds garnered by the court could be used to pay the monthly fees. There was no information regarding how much money would be required to upgrade the computers, but Judge Jackson speculated that expense would be minimal since only six computers would require upgrades. The Board took no action on this request and asked for Judge Jackson’s request to be placed on the March 11, 2010 Agenda with the additional cost amount required to upgrade the Court’s computers.
D. Discussion of the International Property Maintenance Code and property maintenance issues.
Interim Director of Permits and Inspections Joe Scarborough and Community Development Director Pete Frisina discussed the International Property Maintenance Code and property maintenance issues; particularly the impact they have in Fayette County. Mr. Frisina informed the Board that, due to the ongoing foreclosure crisis occurring in the nation as a whole and Fayette County in particular, there are residential structures that have been abandoned and that may present certain hazards to Fayette’s citizens. He reported that many of the properties have owners that cannot be located so in order to correct the problems county funds may necessarily have to be expended. The Board discussed the problem and methods available to address it, but it took no action and gave no direction.
E. Presentation of employee health options and various funding methods for the period of June 1, 2010 through May 31, 2011.
County Administrator Jack Krakeel, Human Resources Director Connie Boehnke, Mr. Scott Burrell, President of Pacific General Financial, Account Executive Jacqueline Turner of Pacific General Financial, and Mr. Jeffrey Godfree of Meritain Health discussed employee health options and various funding methods available to Fayette County for the period of June 1, 2010 through May 31, 2011 with the Board. The Board directed that the recommendations presented to it be placed on the March 11, 2010 Agenda.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Google’s Broadband Initiative: County Administrator Jack Krakeel reported that Google has begun an initiative where interested communities may apply for a project in which Google will come into the community and provide broadband capability that would increase computing speed by a factor of 100 xs. He explained it is a fully-funded, competitive opportunity that will be extremely competitive as other communities around the nation are expected to make application. He informed the Board that a number of Fayette’s municipalities have expressed interest in competing for this opportunity and that he has already created a project team, which is internal to the county, to look at the initiative. He asked for the Board to concur with the actions taken with respect to applying for the initiative and to approve moving forward in the process. The Board concurred to the actions as requested and directed that members from the Fayette County Development Authority be included in the project team.
ATTORNEY’S REPORT
There was no Attorney’s Report.
STAFF REPORTS
There were no Staff Reports.
BOARD REPORTS
Permit Fee Reimbursement: Commissioner Horgan informed the Board of a citizen who paid approximately $5,600 for commercial greenhouse permit fees just prior to the Board’s action last week that reduced the amount of similar permit fees. He requested that the Board authorize a reimbursement for the difference. It was noted that currently no work has commenced on the greenhouses; thus the County has not incurred any expenses related to the construction of the greenhouse. County Attorney Scott Bennett counseled that, at a minimum, the applicant could withdraw his existing permit with the fee refunded and the permit could be issued under the new fee structure. The Board concurred that since no expenses had been incurred by the County, the applicant would be allowed to withdraw his existing permit, have his money returned to him in total, and then he could reapply for a permit with the new fee structure.
House Bill 1218: Chairman Smith informed the Board that he went to Atlanta yesterday and spoke to the House’s Transportation Subcommittee of the Georgia General Assembly regarding the Governor’s House Bill 1218. He explained that he has some issues with the bill, notably that it removes local governments’ controls of the section of transportation projects. He wanted the Board to know that he objected that part of the bill as well as several other parts.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
There was no Executive Session.
ADJOURNMENT
When no further business came before the Board, Chairman Smith adjourned the March 3, 2010 Workshop Meeting at 5: 40 p.m.
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Floyd L. Jones, Deputy Clerk