The second Tuesday meeting for the Board of Commissioners started on a positive note with its annual audit report highlighting the strength of the county’s finances.
Board Chairman Chris Weidner called the meeting to order, and the prayer and pledge were led by Josh Echols of Gray Community Church.
The audit report was presented by David Irwin with Mauldin and Jenkins. He said the external audit was performed for fiscal year 2023 as is required. Irwin said Jones County received a clean opinion, which is the highest level of assurance.
“There were no audit findings, insufficiencies or material weaknesses. That’s something to be proud of,” Irwin said.
The auditor said that is a testament to hard work of Jason (Rizner), Lavita (Crutchfield) and the entire staff.
Irwin went on to talk about accounts. He reported $105 million in capital assets, which was a $6 million increase; $47.3 million in cash or cash equivalents; and $43.5 million in liabilities, a $1.5 million increase.
The auditor said Jones County has a net position of $61 million, which is an 8 percent increase.
He said this information is mostly used for audits, but it shows it was a good year for the county.
Irwin said the county’s general fund had $23.4 million in revenues, an increase of $1 million over the previous year, and $21 million in expenditures, which is a decrease of $800. He said the general fund’s ending balance was $19 million and reminded board members that the general fund balance is not necessarily cash but the difference between assets and liabilities.
“Jones County has a fund balance equal to nine months expenses. That is a strong fund balance for a county our size,” he said.
Irwin told the commissioners they had done a great job continuing to increase the fund balance, and the county consistently stays within its budget.
The auditor also said the performance of the water and sewer enterprise fund was impressive.
Commissioner Sam Kitchens said they needed to mention Crutchfield, Jones County’s CFO.
“She makes sure the money is spent as it needs to be. We need to thank her, the department heads and Jason,” he said.
Crutchfield came to the front of the room to speak to board members.
“It’s not because of me. It’s prayer and favor God has shown on us. It takes a village to do this. I thank Jason for not micromanaging but for making sure the law is followed,” she said. “We have such a great staff, and it takes all of us. We need to continue to keep up the good work for all the constituents of Jones County.”
A text amendment for the county code was the next agenda item. Zoning Officer Tim Pitrowski said the county is getting an increase in metal siding requests. He said the Planning Commission requested the amendment to allow metal siding.
The request was to allow metal siding on dwellings as a permitted use in the AG-1 District and as a conditional use in all of the residential districts.
Weidner commented there is a lot of goodlooking metal siding these days.
Commissioner Daylon Martin made the motion to begin the text amendment process to allow metal siding, and the motion was approved unanimously.
Pitrowski stayed at the podium for the next agenda item. The officer explained he was asking for a discount for the online renewals of the county’s business license fee.
He suggested a 10 percent discount for online renewals because of the significant decrease in staff time to process the renewals. Pitrowski said credit cards are charged an additional online fee, and the discount would help offset that.
Martin made the motion to approve the discount, and the motion passed unanimously.
Martin brought the next item, which was a request to start a text amendment to change the county’s variance and appeals process. He said there was a problem with a past decision that he took as a personal issue.
The commissioner’s request was to send the final decision of the appeals process to the Board of Commissioners. He said he did not agree with no oversight for the appeals board.
Martin made the motion to begin that process, but the motion did not receive a second. With no second, the motion died.
The commissioner’s only comment was, “that’s a terrible choice.”
Department heads
Pitrowski added a comment pertaining to Crutchfield.
“Lavita acts like the money is hers; she guards it well,” he said.
The chairman agreed. “She keeps us all in check,” he said.
Rizner announced that the ground penetrating radar process would begin at State Place Cemetery next week. He said Jones County jail inmates had done a tremendous job clearing and cleaning up the cemetery.
“We’re ready when he gets there,” the administrator said.
Comments
Ken Adams spoke under citizens comments. He told board members he was confused as to why they did not want to correct what he saw as a problem with the appeals board.
Kitchens said the commissioners appointed the Board of Appeals.
“We don’t need to have the final decision,” he said.
Adams said his next step would be court.
“I’m going to sue you for all I can sue you for,” he said.
Adams’ disagreement with the Board of Appeals was a decision that allowed metal containers to remain in a backyard on East Virginia Avenue.
Gladys George expressed concerns about the gate to State Place Cemetery. She said older people cannot lift the gate and asked if it could be left open.
Board comments
Commissioner John Wood said he appreciated people who come to the meetings, and he believes board members should be accessible.
He thanked Crutchfield for her efforts and said he looks forward to the budget process each year.
Kitchens said the boards that are appointed do have responsibilities, and he would like training for those board positions to be mandatory.
Commissioner Wendy Vaughn said she visited State Place Cemetery and she was amazed at the work that had been done clearing it since Feb. 22.
“Now you can see the gravesites. I know we are going to make it right for all involved,” she said.
Vaughn agreed that all board members need training so everyone is on one page.
Martin said the board has sometimes been reactive and not proactive. He said he would like to see more people make themselves available to serve on the county’s boards.
He reflected on the organization Jones County PLAN that worked to resolve many issues in the county.
“We need to bring it back or something like it,” he said.
Martin said the government should be transparent, accountable and consistent.
The meeting adjourned to enter closed session to discuss real estate and personnel.
The next meeting of the Board of Commissioners is scheduled April 2.
