debbie@jcnews.com
Jones County Commissioners started their first meeting in May by paying tribute to law enforcement with a presentation to the Jones County Sheriff’s Office.
JCSO Lt. Wesley Ransom accepted the resolution on behalf of the department.
Board Chairman Chris Weidner called the May 6 meeting to order, and Ransom led the opening prayer and pledge.
The commissioners approved four zoning requests. The first two were unopposed zoning requests, one to allow a double-wide on a property off Jasmine Drive and the next to allow a second dwelling on a property on McKay Road.
Item three was approval of a resolution to allow distilled alcohol package sales as a conditional use in the county’s C-1 and C-2 districts, and the fourth to rezone a property in Clinton to R-1 with historic overlay.
State Rep. Floyd Griffin visited the meeting. He introduced himself with a brief history, beginning with being a native of Milledgeville. Griffin said he served in the military and retired as a full colonel.
He worked in the family business, Slater’s Funeral Home, and later became a state senator. Griffin said he represented Jones County as a senator. He paid tribute to Benny Gray, who supported him and helped him get votes in Jones County.
Griffin said he was the mayor of Milledgeville for one term. He referred to the Georgia House of Representatives as the people’s house.
“I will give you time when you need it,” he said.
The representative said he plans to have town hall meetings and is available to meet in his Milledgeville office by appointment.
“My district ends at Joycliff Road, but once elected, I represent the entire county,” he said.
New Business
Johnathan Shaw presented the board with health insurance options for county employees. He talked about the county’s high claims and the high use of the emergency room for non-emergency visits.
Shaw said the county paid $2.5 million in premiums, and the company paid out $3.4 million in claims. The bottom line was the county’s renewal for the coming year would be an increase of $490,000.
Commissioner Sam Kitchens made the motion to approve the plan closest to what the county has now, and the motion was approved unanimously.
Greg Boike with the Middle Georgia Regional Commission presented the next two items, which involved the capital improvement elements necessary because of the county’s impact fees. The fees are at zero, so the process was a formality.
County Administrator Jason Rizner talked to the board about Local Road Administration Funds that are a supplement to the annual Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant but without a required match.
Rizner said the application is needed in June and asked the board’s preference for use of the funds. He said they could continue down the road list or repair damaged culverts and bridges. He said each would be eligible uses for the funding.
Kitchens said the culvert in Juliette needs to be a priority. He made a motion to use the funds for the culvert and use any remaining funds for roads.
Commissioner Wendy Vaughn asked about the need for bridge repairs. Rizner said there was no danger the bridge would fail, but it would need to be addressed in the future.
The chairman called for the vote, and the motion was approved unanimously.
Rizner next brought up Jones County Transit. He said Jones County’s thirdparty contractor will stop service at the end of June. His suggestion was for the transit service to be operated in-house. That would mean the dispatcher and three drivers would become county employees. The administrator said he was working through job descriptions for the positions.
Rizner also talked about HB 92 that requires the county to certify an estimated rollback millage rate for tax assessment notices. He said there was no guidance with the bill. The administrator recommended the county use the same rate as last year.
Kitchens said he is comfortable that the tax rate will not go beyond last year’s rate. He made the motion, and the vote was approved unanimously.
Commissioner John Wood talked about the need to reduce the speed limit on Highway 11 in the Bradley area. He suggested lowering the limit from 45 mph to 35 due to accidents and people walking in the area.
Old Business
Commissioner Daylon Martin spoke to the board about the Safe Streets for All grant. He said he has been looking into ways to improve safety for walkers and riders.
Boike said suggested a study to find numbers. He said he has worked with the study before, and the county could partner with the City of Gray.
Boike said the city is interested in sidewalks. He said it is a federal grant, and the first step is a planning grant and then the implementation grant.
The grant is for $175,000. The match for the grant is 20% and would be split between the entities. Boike said the planning grant has a high percentage for award. He said if the county is comfortable moving forward, it could open up other funding streams.
Martin made the motion to approve moving forward, and the motion to approve was unanimous.
Weider gave and update about the Jake’s Woods project. Dr. Kevin Brown approached the commissioners at their April 15 meeting inquiring about what was happening with the development of the site. Brown said the family would like to buy the property back if the county had changed its mind.
Old Clinton Historic Society President Earlene Hamilton presented a history of the property and its purchase by the county.
Both Weidner and Wood offered their equipment and expertise to assist in the development of the property.
Rizner then explained the county was waiting on a survey to be completed that would set the project in motion, and the chairman asked for a realistic timeline.
Kitchens made a motion to reaffirm the county’s commitment to proceed with the project of development of Jake’s Woods as a recreation area. The motion included the development of a timeline by the county administrator upon the receipt of the survey.
The motion was approved with a unanimous vote.
During commissioners’ comments, board members remembered former State Rep. Susan Holmes and Councilman Benny Gray and expressed their condolences.
The next meeting of the Board of Commissioners is scheduled May 20.
