JONES COUNTY
Jones County Commissioners followed through on their commitment to show their appreciation to county employees for work performed during severe weather over the Christmas holidays.
The Jan. 17 meeting was called to order by Chairman Chris Weidner, and Commissioner Sam Kitchens led the opening prayer and pledge.
The question of holiday and inclement weather pay for county employees was the last item on the meeting agenda, and it was Weidner who led the effort. The chairman said the idea had been discussed at a previous work session, and he asked for the discussion to continue.
Kitchens said he would like the employees to receive the equivalent of time and a half for the time they had to work instead of being with their families over Christmas. The issue gets complicated because of holiday pay, and this is not the first time the topic has been brought before the board.
CFO Lavita Crutchfield previously explained that overtime can only be paid after 40 hours are worked in a week, and holiday pay does not count toward those 40 hours. That means that the employees were paid straight time for the additional time they worked because the pay period included the holiday.
The solution to the issue was an addendum to the county’s inclement weather policy drafted by County Attorney Ashley Brodie that gives the commissioners the right to pay hourly employees extra pay for work that is done during a holiday, along with a severe weather event.
Brodie said the payment would be subject to payroll taxes, and board members would consider each event on a case-by-case basis.
Kitchens made the motion to approve the addendum, and it was approved unanimously.
The meeting began with board appointments, and Commissioner Daylon Martin made the motion to reappoint Sunset Harris to the P&Z Board of Appeals and Adjustments for a five-year term.
The motion was approved unanimously.
New Business
County Administrator Jason Rizner spoke about an agreement between the county and the Middle Georgia Regional Commission for the administration of the federally funded Community Home Investment Program grant. He said the administration fee was previously included as part of the grant, but the county would now be responsible for the $15,000 administration fee.
Rizner said the board previously approved a housing study for Haddock that would be used for the grant.
Martin asked if South Jones County was included in the program, and the administrator said he would check with the MGRC.
Commissioner John Wood made a motion to postpone the item until the agreement was amended to include Haddock and South Jones County, and that motion was approved unanimously.
Consulting Engineer Tim Ingram talked to the commissioners about county water projects and project funding. Ingram said the county had $1.2 million to work with, and the board needed to decide the target area for the projects.
Ingram said there were several areas that had been bypassed by other projects. Martin said there are citizens in his district without water and asked for a work session to discuss the issue in more detail.
Ingram stated there were different funding sources for other water projects. He also explained that viable water projects are limited because of infrastructure.
The engineer explained that moving forward with a connection to another well for the county and generators for Haddock would benefit the entire water system.
Martin made the motion to approve those projects, and the motion was approved unanimously.
Rizner said the Jones County Health Department has several items that cannot be reused when building renovations are completed and asked the board to declare them surplus. The items included exam tables, printers, centrifuges, a copier and scanner. Commissioner Wendy Vaughn made the motion, and it was approved unanimously.
The administrator presented a request from Jones County Animal Services about needed upgrades for its surgery suite that would cost $9-$10,000. He said the policy of spay and neutering animals before they are adopted has been a success, and the money is available in the contingency fund. Martin made the motion to approve the funding, and the motion was approved unanimously.
Comments
Rizner said construction is underway for the bike track at Mattie Wells, and it would take about six weeks to complete. He said a savings due to chipping that is not needed created the opportunity to add a pump track.
He said the addition of the pump track would be on the next agenda. Martin said the pump track was a great idea.
Animal Services Director Jennifer Allen said the new doors had been placed on the kennel doors, and they look great. She added that she has applied for a grant through the Atlanta Humane Society for soundboards.
Jones County Water Superintendent Brandon Stark said new meters had been ordered for the county’s wells that would provide remote access and information about the system. Stark thanked the commissioners for their support and for their help with improvements to the water department office.
The next meeting of the Board of Commissioners is scheduled Feb. 7.
