Jones County Commissioners took care of business at their first Tuesday April meeting, including the unexpected receipt of almost a million dollars in state funds for road projects.
Board Chairman Chris Weidner called the April 2 meeting to order, and Tim Ingram led the opening prayer and pledge.
Zoning items were first on the agenda. Commissioners approved a zoning change from Ag-1 to C-1 with a conditional use to allow a motorcycle repair shop and machine shop at 395 Eatonton Highway. Commissioner John Wood made the motion, and it was approved unanimously.
The board also unanimously approved a variance to allow an additional lot at 128 Thurman Way for the placement of a mobile home. Wood also made that motion.
County Administrator Jason Rizner brought the first item of New Business, the receipt of $910,113 in additional LMIG funds. Rizner said no match is required for the grant money and asked board members their preference of the use of the funds.
A letter received by the administrator announcing the additional LMIG money explained it was part of $250 million that was included in the state’s amended 2024 budget by Gov. Brian Kemp and the legislature.
Rizner said the application deadline for the funds is June 15.
Commissioner Sam Kitchens suggested continuing with the roads on the current list that were not funded. Commissioner Daylon Martin said he was fine with using the projects on the LIMG list.
Weidner said he would like to have staff come up with recommendations. Board members agreed by consensus, and the administrator said he would bring recommendations at the next meeting.
The next item was presented by Ingram, the county’s consulting engineer. He presented a bid for an elevated water tank. The engineer recommended awarding the bid to Phoenix Fabricators and Erectors for the Alternate No. 2 plan. He said the alternate plan would save the county money. The low bid submitted by the company was in the amount of $2,854,835.
Martin made the motion to award the bid, and it was approved unanimously.
The recommendation for the next bid award was a joint effort from the Jones County Water and Public Works departments. Rizner explained the recommendation was to award the bids to both of the companies submitted. He said both of the departments need asphalt patching, and the approval of two vendors would make it easier to get the patching done when needed.
Kitchens made the motion to approve the recommendations, and the motion passed unanimously.
Old Business
Wood presented the only item of Old Business, an update for the Union Hill Church Road bridge replacement project.
The commissioner said there was a deadline for the use of Georgia Department of Transportation funds, but since work has begun for the project, that was not an issue.
Ingram explained they were still working on the environmental permit. He added they are working on their fourth or fifth submission. “We’ve been dealing with this for nine months,” he added.
Wood said time is of the essence due to the inconvenience of the residents.
Department heads
Rizner said he has been working on finding a date for the annual county clean up. He suggested the date of May 4 or 18. The consensus of board members was the morning of May 4 in order not to conflict with Clinton’s War Days.
The next meeting of the Board of Commissioners is scheduled April 15.
