The Jones County Board of Commissioners encountered a hiccup in the appointment of members of the Historic Preservation Commission at their second meeting in February.
Chairman Chris Weidner called the Feb. 17 meeting to order, and the opening prayer and pledge were led by Pastor Jason Dillard of Gray Methodist Church.
Board appointments usually get a quick vote, and the meeting moves on. Questions about a possible violation of a Georgia code resulted in postponement of the vote on three of the five appointments on the agenda.
A work session was held prior to the meeting, during which two candidates for one position on the Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals and Adjustments were interviewed by commissioners.
Oddly enough, the question that derailed that decision had nothing to do with the two candidates.
Commissioner Daylon Martin questioned the legality of a person holding a position on more than one board, which was not the first time he brought up the issue.
That question was about the appointment of Earlene Hamilton to the Historic Preservation Commission because she serves on the Planning and Zoning Board. Hamilton chairs that board.
Martin stated he did not have a problem with Hamilton, but the violation of a Georgia code, which he referenced from a ACCG handbook.
Following the pledge, Janice Roberts received a unanimous vote to be reappointed to the DFCS Board for a term of five years. The vote for Hamilton and Mary Murray had already happened when Martin brought up the question.
Murray also serves on the Jones County Development Authority Board.
The result was the vote for Hamilton and Murray were rescinded and the vote for the P&Z Board of Appeals postponed to allow County Attorney Ashley Brodie to look into the code section referenced by Martin.
At the conclusion of that decision, Dustin Riley was appointed to the Macon Area Transportation Study/Citizens Advisory Committee with a unanimous vote.
Visitors
George Scoville brought up an issue of what he described as junk cars in his neighbor’s yard. He said the cars had been there two years and asked the county’s definition of inoperative.
Code Enforcement Officer Tiffany Davis said she was aware of the issue. Davis stated the cars had tags and were registered. According to the county code, she said the cars were not in violation because they were tagged and registered.
“We can’t tell people where to park,” she added.
In an odd turn of events, Scoville brought a witness with him who said he is the owner of the cars. The owner stated the cars do not run and had to be pulled around with a chain when moved.
Brodie asked the witness if he realized he was asking to be ticketed, and he said yes. The owner then admitted he was in the midst of a divorce.
Weidner’s response to that information was the commissioners did not want to get involved in that, and he moved on.
New business
Emma Warren spoke to the commissioners about two flags to honor veterans and first responders. The flags are “Honor and Remember” and “Honor and Sacrifice.”
She said the Honor and Remember flag was created by George Lutz after his son was killed while serving in Iraq. The purpose of the flag is to honor members of the armed forces who were killed in the line of duty. The flag has been adopted as an official symbol in 29 states, including Georgia.
Warren said the Honor and Sacrifice flag was also created by Lutz after Sept. 11, 2001, to honor first responders who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Her request was for the county to order the flags to be flown on holidays.
Jones County CFO La Vita Crutchfield presented a Finance Professionals Month Proclamation to the board. She said the proclamation recognized the individuals who safeguard the resources of the government.
“People behind the public trust ensure the taxpayers’ money is managed safely,” Crutchfield added.
Government Finance Professionals Week is March 16-20.
Martin made the motion to approve the proclamation, and the motion passed unanimously.
Crutchfield stated that the audit books with the county budget were on the table in the front lobby and available to the public.
Comments
Commissioner Wendy Vaughn spoke about the loss of Terrance Gore. She said he leaves an amazing legacy.
“I watched him grow up and got to see him come back as a major league baseball player,” she said.
Vaughn said he was a student at Wells Elementary, Clifton Ridge Middle and Jones County High School.
“It was amazing to read the tributes to him,” she said.
Vaughn suggested adding signage to the entrances of Jones County.
“I’d like to see signs that say, ‘Home of Terrance Gore,’” she said.
Weidner opened the floor to public comments, and Brittany Calhoun said she was curious why the Planning and Zoning board position has been open since November.
“Please remedy this,” she said.
With no more business, the meeting was adjourned to enter closed session at 6:50 p.m. The meeting reopened at 7:55 p.m. and was readjourned with no action taken.
