Jones County Board of Commissioners held a work session to discuss a project list for a proposed Transportation Local Option Sales Tax and a plan for the leadership succession of the position of Emergency Management Director.
The April 2 meeting was called to order by Chairman Chris Weidner, and he called on County Administrator Jason Rizner to talk about the TSPLOST project list. Rizner explained the purpose of the work session was to get the thoughts of the commissioners about preferred projects in order to work on cost estimates. Commissioner Daylon Martin said the board had talked about the roads list that evaluated all the roads in the county. He said bridges also need to be looked at as well as other transportation- related projects.
The commissioner said the roads list did not include dirt roads, and he would like a portion of the TSPLOST funds, 30 percent, allocated for dirt roads. Martin said the railroad spur for the county’s industrial park should also be considered.
Weidner said he was 100 percent in favor of including dirt roads. He also brought up fact of the state’s increase in weight limits of roads and stated that was responsible for damage being done to the county’s roads.
“The state has not done us a favor,” he said.
Commissioner John Wood said it was important to make sure county roads are built properly in order to handle the loads.
Martin said the county should be requiring bonds from the trucking companies putting the additional weight loads on the roads.
“Our roads aren’t built for that,” he said.
The commissioner said the bonds could help pay for the repairs the additional loads cause.
Weidner said that would be difficult when the trucks were following the state weight requirements.
Commissioner Sam Kitchens said he did not think the logging companies were getting rich, and going against the bonding companies would have an adverse effect on the logging company.
Martin said if there were complaints, he was OK with them calling him.
Weidner asked Rizner how specific the projects placed on the ballot for the approval of the TSPLOST needed to be. “I think that’s a political question. Counties are doing it both ways,” the administrator said.
Martin asked for an estimate of the anticipated TSPLOST. Rizner said, looking at the current one-cent sales tax collections, he estimated collections at $16-17 million. With the 75-25 split with the City of Gray, the county would receive approximately $12 million.
Kitchens said the road paving list could be used to come up with project estimates. He said he understands some of those roads have been on the list for more than 10 years.
Rizner said he is putting together a cost estimate for four roads the county is in the process of paving now.
“We can identify a good number with those roads,” he said.
Martin again said he wanted 30 percent of the collections for dirt roads to make sure they are not left out.
Wood said the county needs to think about future roads being built in the county.
“We need to make sure they are built to last and not coming apart in a couple of years,” he reiterated.
Martin asked if there were building standards for roads, and Rizner said there are standards.
The administrator said the county is still within the timeline for having the TSPOLST referendum on the November ballot.
Fire and EMA Director
Weidner said the board had a work session with volunteers in February, and he liked the ideas of the volunteers.
Jones County Fire Station 11 Capt. Vann Collins was the spokesperson for the firefighters at the work session. He proposed using part-time firefighters to fill the fulltime fire protection schedule for the county. Collins said the plan would save the county $200,000 in benefits and provide experienced firefighters.
The plan included a parttime EMA director with full-time staff support and battalion chiefs to handle day-to-day operations in the director’s absence.
The chairman said he felt the plan was a win-win for the county.
“It would give us seasoned veteran firefighters plus cost savings. The plan gives us more bang for the buck,” he said.
Kitchens said he agreed. He said he was the first to question having a part-time director until he saw the details of the plan. He said the county is struggling with volunteers, but that is happening everywhere.
“You don’t see volunteerism handed down in families like in the past,” he said.
The commissioner said the pay will help some firefighters who have given up their vacations in the past for an unpaid job.
“Being able to give them relief and provide the ability to have quality firefighters; I like it, and I know it’s worked in other counties,” Kitchens said.
Wood said it is different having part-time firemen and a part-time chief. He said in his opinion, the county needs a full-time fire chief.
“I think we would be going backward. I realize we have less volunteers, and there may be a future where we have no volunteers,” he said. “I feel being chief is a full-time commitment. I’m not sure part-time can handle it.”
Commissioner Wendy Vaughn said she talked to people who have worked in the fire department for years and talked to the proposed parttime chief, Thomas Coleman. She said Coleman answered a lot of questions for her.
“I know we need to get someone in the position quickly. I love the part-timers in the stations,” Vaughn said.
She said she understands the county’s current situation.
“Could it be a band-aid and save us money? Yes. I’m willing to do it short-term,” the commissioner said.
Vaughn said she knows Coleman has the support he needs from the firefighters.
She said she was fighting the idea, but it does make sense for now.
Martin said he also met with firefighters, and they made the plan sound possible. He said they know the system works, but it can work better.
“The idea that the department came together to come up with a solution is heartwarming. They support each other and that’s huge,” he said. “I say, let’s give it a shot.”
The commissioner said he would also like to see the incorporation of a trained EMA dispatcher.
“I’m excited. I hope it works as good as it sounds,” he added.
Vaughn said it is important to have a full-time deputy chief to hold the plan together.
Collins thanked the commissioners for accepting the plan.
“We can hire seasoned people and save money,” he said.
The captain said the county will be able to put a full-time department in place without benefits.
Weidner said any board members who attend conferences hear the praise for volunteers in Jones County. He said that ranges from animal services to firefighters.
“People here come together and bring us good ideas,” the chairman said.
