Jones County Commissioners discussed the importance of the upcoming vote on the county’s Transportation Special Local Option Sales Tax and ways they can help educate the public about why it is needed at last week’s board meeting.
Chairman Chris Weidner called the Sept. 17 meeting to order, and the opening prayer and pledge were led by Commissioner Wendy Vaughn.
The commissioners welcomed Denise Carswell and Al Ricks as visitors who talked about needs on the road on which they have lived for 30 years, Honeysuckle Drive.
Carswell said something needs to be done and described driving on the road like driving on popcorn. She said public works has been diligent about filling in the potholes, which she appreciates, but that has created the countless mounds in the road.
Ricks said they were asking for some sort of paving and asked for it to be on the list for resurfacing.
New Business
TSPLOST education sessions were first item on the agenda. County Administrator Jason Rizner said the public works department had made an education video, and he played it for the board.
The administrator said one idea was to let the public know about the road projects that could be done with the TSPOLST funds, but he asked for direction from the commissioners.
Weidner said it was a good idea, but they needed to be careful not cross the line to advocating for people to vote for the TSPLOST.
Commissioner Sam Kitchens agreed.
“We can’t legally advocate but we can educate the public about what it could do to help with the roads,” he said.
Commissioners agreed on ideas of holding work sessions and educating the public with information about road projects that could be done with TSPLOST funds.
Rizner next talked about the need to approve a resolution required to fund Jones County Transit. He said the resolution is required every year for funding. Commissioner Daylon Martin made the motion, and it was approved unanimously.
The final item of New Business was about a Middle Georgia Clean Air Coalition grant project for electric vehicle charging stations. Rizner said the Middle Georgia Regional Commission is working with the coalition to identify sites for the charging stations.
The sites chosen in Jones County are the Morris Bank Recreation Complex at 166 Recreation Rd., the Government Center at 166 Industrial Blvd., the Knox Civic Center at 161 W. Clinton St. and the Highway 49 Recreation Complex at 436 Georgia Highway 49.
Martin said the agencies did a great job identifying the sites.
Kitchens said he agrees the county should host the charging stations, but he preferred the option of the charging stations being handled by a third party and not the county.
Weidner suggested an alternate site in the county instead of the Knox Center.
“There are plenty charging stations downtown,” he noted.
Martin made the motion to participate with the charging stations grant project, and it was approved unanimously.
B&W license
The only item of Old Business on the agenda was to hear from Crystal Duggans, whose beer and wine license was revoked by the commissioners Sept. 3.
Duggans was accompanied by Kamisha Hancock, who adamantly defended their right to serve alcohol, referring to a section of chapter six in the Georgia Code.
Hancock and Duggans admitted to serving alcohol but said they did not believe they violated the code.
County Attorney Ashley Brodie explained that the business was approved for a beer and wine license, which did not allow them to serve liquor.
Martin had a question about the charges, and Brodie was able to get Jones County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Earl Humphries on the phone.
Humphries was placed on speaker and said the Jones County Sheriff’s Office reacted to a complaint about the violation. He said the establishment had been charged with the violation of selling alcohol, which violated the permit, and it was also charged with selling liquor to a person underage.
The chief went on to say the liquor was sold on separate occasions to persons who were undercover for the JCSO. He said those charges had been turned over to the Jones County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
Martin stated to Duggans that she admitted to selling alcohol and made the motion to suspend the beer and wine licenses for all three of her businesses.
The motion was approved unanimously.
Tax Assessors
Rizner said the Tax Assessors Performance Review would take place the week of Oct. 15 and let the commissioners know they would be contacted for interviews.
The administrator reminded the board there is a cost for the ratio study, and the Sales Ratio Review by the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts was scheduled Oct. 1 at 10 a.m. at the Government Center. He said he was not sure of the location inside the building because the Jones County Grand Jury would also be convening that morning.
The chairman of the tax assessors, Mary Watts, resigned from her position on the board Sept. 11. To date, there have been no further resignations.
Comments
Jimmy Crutchfield spoke to the commissioners about the issue with the sales ratio and tax assessors.
“I want you to know we are behind you. We know about the ratio problem, and we want to be at 38 percent. In the last three years, we have lost $2.1 million, and that has to be fixed,” he said. “I know the tax assessors determine the ratio.”
The speaker said he is aware that Bibb County had the same problem in 2006, and Jones County is at risk to face big financial penalties.
“We need to get this fixed right now. We need to have a reevaluation by an outside vendor,” he said.
Vaughn gave a shout out to the first responders of the Jones County and Gray Fire Departments who remembered 9/11 by joining the march up Stone Mountain.
She also spoke about the death of Joyce Coulter, Sept. 12.
Vaughn said Coulter was near and dear to her heart. She said Bobby and Joyce Coulter started Jones County Rescue to give back to the county after the death of their 3-year-old son.
“They gave back in a huge way,” she said.
The commissioners recalled at that time fire and rescue for the whole county was run by volunteers.
“Throughout Jones County, she will be remembered,” Vaughn said.
Martin talked about the importance of the TSPLOST and alcohol sales, both on the November ballot, to Jones County.
He said the county loses out on tax revenue every day when people drive to the stores at the edge of the county to buy liquor.
“We have to do it for the right reason, and that is to get the taxes off our houses,” he said.
Weidner stated that it is the consensus of the commissioners to use the revenues from both the TSPLOST and alcohol sales for roads.
