The Jones County Board of Commissioners adopted the county’s updated solid waste ordinance that contains many of the changes brought about because of the work of blight committee members.
The April 19 meeting was called to order at 6 p.m. by Chairman Chris Weidner and was the third meeting of the evening for commissioners. The third Tuesday meeting was preceded by a 4:30 p.m. work session to talk about how to spend excess SPLOST funds and a 5:30 p.m. public hearing for Jones County’s Capital Improvement Element plan update and approval of Jones County and Gray’s joint comprehensive plan.
UGA Extension Agent Brennan Jackson led the opening prayer and the pledge of allegiance for the 6 p.m. meeting.
EMA Director and Jones County Fire Chief Don Graham announced a special presentation for Jones County volunteer fireman Tony Griffin. Robert Singleterry with the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs presented Griffin with the Volunteer Fire Chief’s Certification.
Griffin was the first in Jones County to receive the certification.
Jimmy Futrell, who is a resident of Hampton Lakes Subdivision, spoke to the board about an issue taking place with the neighborhood’s shared Central Lake. He talked about a March 22 10,000-gallon raw sewage spill and another 3,000-gallon spill that occurred four days before the meeting.
The speaker said residents swim and fish in the lake.
Futrell said he contacted the county water superintendent and found out the spills were the result of the construction of new homes in the subdivision.
County Administrator Jason Rizner said the problem was found after the initial spill. He said pipes were pushed over by a motor grader, and they are trying to find the responsible party.
Rizner said Planning and Zoning is in conversation with the builders to address both spills.
Futrell said he had also contacted EPD.
Wiedner reiterated that the county knew there was a problem and was working on it.
Water Superintendent Brandon Stark said he identified another issue caused by the grading, and it had been taken care of.
“The water has been tested and the quality is fine,” he said.
New business
Rizner talked about the CIE update, required because of impact fees, and the Comprehensive Plan update that needed to be approved. Commissioner Sam Kitchens made the motion to approve both items, and they were approved unanimously.
Jackson was next on the agenda and spoke to the board about the need for a weather station in Jones County. He said there is currently a hole in the coverage with the nearest station in Eatonton.
He said the lack of the weather station could affect disaster designations.
“Jones County has been left out of drought assistance in the past due to no coverage,” the agent said.
Jackson said UGA is willing to provide the weather station if the county would cover the $1,500 maintenance fee.
“This would be highly beneficial to your constituents and a great opportunity to provide assistance,” he said.
Kitchens said farming is the county’s biggest economic driver.
“This is a no brainer,” the commissioner said.
Commissioner John Wood made the motion to work with UGA for a Jones County weather station, and it was approved unanimously.
Rizner presented commissioners an agreement with the Old Clinton Historical Society for a War Days partnership. The purpose of the agreement was to allow the county to provide four golf carts to use at the event.
That agreement led into a discussion about Jones County’s Historic Preservation Commission that currently only has one member. Rizner said the commission currently has three positions, and his question was if the board wanted to consider giving the commission staff support and increasing the number of commission members.
County Attorney Ashley Brodie said with one member, the commission can do nothing.
“It would be a very minor change to expand the number of board members,” she said.
Wood suggested having one member for each district and one member a large, and Kitchens suggested what is needed is experience, interest and integrity.
Commissioner Daylon Martin asked if there was training for members.
Brodie said there is training.
Kitchens commented that because training exists does not mean it is required. He made the motion to postpone the agenda item for more information.
Rizner said one bid was received for the walkways project at the Morris Bank Recreation Complex. He said the budget for the project was $43,700, and the bid received was for $142,000.
The administrator suggested rejecting the bid and including the project as an add on to the county’s LMIG projects.
Old Business
Rizner talked to board members about the renovation of the tax commissioner’s office that was discussed at the previous meeting. Brodie said if the commissioners are comfortable with the project, it is a unique situation. She said the cabinets were donated by Baldwin County, and that would save Jones County a lot of money.
Kitchens made the motion to approve the project, and the vote was unanimous.
Brodie presented the second reading of the Noise and Nuisance Ordinance, which contains the solid waste ordinance, to commissioners. Following a brief discussion, Martin made the motion to approve and adopt the ordinance and the vote was unanimous.
Rizner suggested that the excess SPLOST allocation be postponed. Board members agreed for the administrator to send them a list of the requests from department heads that would allow them to mark their preferences. Martin made the motion to postpone the decision and it was approved unanimously.
The next meeting of the Board of Commissioners is scheduled May 3.
