Jones County Commissioners had a full agenda at their second July meeting with a church needing a place to meet, a neighborhood barking dog issue and the first discussion about a proposed skate park.
Board Chairman Chris Weidner called the July 16 meeting to order, and the invocation and opening prayer were led by Josh Echols, pastor of Gray Community Church.
Weidner started with a special recognition for Albert Bonner, who received the American Public Works Association Employee of the Year Award.
Bonner was called up to receive a certificate of excellence from the commissioners. Public Works Director Shawn Wood said Bonner is very deserving of the award.
“He is an exemplary employee who does what is asked with no fuss and no questions,” He is one of the hardest workers you’ll ever meet,” Wood said.
Bonner has been employed by the county since December of 2010 and works in the Sanitation Division of the Public Works Department.
The first visitor on the agenda was Alan Woodrum, who had first spoken to board members at their June 18 meeting. Woodrum said he was back because he had been unable to get on the Board of Education agenda and could not get anyone on that board to speak with him.
“I came to the commissioners to get answers. All I’ve been able to find out is what people don’t do,” he said. “I’m asking for someone to get me answers.”
Woodrum said there is a state law that gives people over 65 an additional exemption for school taxes.
“As a taxpayer, I deserve an answer,” he said.
County Administrator Jason Rizner said there is a process for tax exemptions that includes the introduction of local legislation to the state legislature. He said, however, it has to start with the local board involved.
“State representatives and senators are not going to do it without the support of the Board of Education,” he said.
Woodrum said he knows of retired people who are struggling.
“Unless you know about it, no one tells you,” he said.
The speaker went on to say that Jones County has the best schools, which is the reason he moved to Jones County.
There has been an additional Board of Education $15,000 tax exemption in Jones County for seniors since 2003. Kenneth Birdsong, who was Jones County’s state representative at the time, brought the request to Board of Education members, who approved it unanimously.
Applications for the tax exemption can be made at the Jones County Tax Assessors Office.
Commissioner Wendy Vaughn, who joined the meeting via conference call, said she would work to get information together and give Woodrum a call.
Samuel and Carolyn Ross came to the commissioners with a problem of constant barking of their neighbors’ dogs keeping them awake throughout the night. Animal Services Manager Jennifer Allen said she went to the residence, and the neighbors were in compliance as far as their care of the dogs.
Allen said the dogs barked when she first arrived but quieted in a few minutes.
The Rosses suggested she should come back at night.
County Attorney Ashley Brodie said it did not appear the issue was one the commissioners could help with and suggested the couple could take civil action.
New business
Echols spoke to the board on behalf of Gray Community Church. He requested a long-term rental contract to allow the church to hold their Sunday morning services at the W.E. Knox Center.
In addition to helping the church, Echols noted it would create a revenue stream for the Knox Center. He said his church had 100 percent growth since January and now has an average attendance of 200.
The pastor said the church wanted to rent the center for a year and had future plans of constructing a building.
The church had been meeting at Gray-8-Skate and has its own sound equipment.
Parks and Recreation Director Bert Rosenberger said he had spoken with the pastor and was in support of the rental. He said long-term rentals are not as much work for the county.
Commissioner Daylon Martin said he came before the board 11 years ago, asking the same question for his church, and was denied. He said that was why he ran for commissioner.
Martin said he was in support and suggested charging one-half the daily rental cost. The commissioner made a motion to rent the Knox Center for $225 a week for a year. The vote to approve was unanimous.
Barbi Parker spoke to the commissioners on behalf of Lacy Hancock and her family. Parker asked for support for a Jones County Memorial Skate Park to honor Hancock’s nephew, Euel Smith.
She said the 17-year-old was an avid skateboarder, and the skate park would be a fitting tribute to his memory. Smith lost his life to suicide March 28.
“There is a growing movement for action sports,” Parker said.
She said local skate boarders use sidewalks and private property because there is no dedicated space in Jones County. The nearest skate park is 30 minutes away.
Parker said she been contacted by a state senator, who pledged his support.
Commissioner Sam Kitchens asked if there was a location identified for the skate park. Parker said thoughts were one of the recreation centers or at the Government Center.
The commissioner said he was part of the construction of the skate park in Macon.
“I want to be clear that I support this, but it’s important for it not to be a burden to taxpayers,” he said. “It’s huge that you came to us with a plan with support and backing.”
Commissioner John Wood agreed the skate park was a great idea and he would support fundraising efforts. Weidner said the county’s inclusive playground started just like this.
“I’m all for it. I think the plan has a great future.”
Martin asked the estimated cost, and Parker said it would begin at $200,000 to $300,000, but it could go to $1 million.
Rosenberger said he is a fan of kids having a safe place to live and grow.
“It’s a small price to keep kids safe,” he said.
Rizner talked about the millage rate. He said it was time to advertise the proposed millage rate for 2024. The administrator said typically the rate advertised is the same rate as the previous year. He reminded board members that the advertised rate can be lowered but cannot be increased without going through the advertising process again.
Following a brief discussion, Martin made the motion to advertise the tax rate using the 2023 rate. The motion was approved unanimously.
Weidner brought the final item on the agenda, the Christmas Tree Lighting in Haddock. He said the Haddock revitalization members would like to shut down a part of Bowen Hill Road for the food trucks for the tree lighting festival.
The chairman said the event is scheduled Saturday Nov. 23 and invited all commissioners to attend.
Wood said the event had been cancelled the past couple of years due to COVID. He made the motion to allow a portion of the road to be closed for the Nov. 23 event, and the vote to approve was unanimous.
Department Heads
Rosenberger said summer recreation activities were wrapping up, and they were getting ready for fall sports signups.
Shawn Wood thanked the commissioners for recognizing Bonner.
“He is an excellent employee. Every employee we have does a great job, and I thank you for making a big deal out of this; it was a big deal,” he said.
Kitchens said knowing the number of applications for the recognition, it was well-deserved.
Martin suggested Jones County celebrate its employees with an employee of the year recognition.
Rizner said the county is still working through the process of the Liberty Park improvement project.
“I thought we had a good plan, but we have to change course,” he said.
The administrator said the plan was to use the state contract for the work, but the prices that came back were much more than first estimates.
“That’s not the route we are going to take,” he said.
Rizner said they have revised the plan and will be taking each element and price it separately. He said they are working with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for an extension of the funding grant until the end of the year.
Martin said he is a fan of using local contractors.
Kitchens said he thinks the pricing process could be accomplished using sealed bids, and board members all agreed.
For commissioner comments, board members said they were anxious to start the budget process. The meeting with department heads is scheduled Aug. 16 at 8 a.m. in the Charlotte Wilson Conference Room.
The next Board of Commissioners meeting is scheduled Aug. 6.
