JONES COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Questions about Jones County’s indigent cemetery were once again a major topic at the Board of Commissioners’ second Tuesday meeting.
Board Chairman Chris Weidner called the Feb. 20 meeting to order, and the prayer and pledge were led by Julie King. All Jones County commissioners were in attendance at the meeting.
The first item of New Business was presented by King, who serves as branch manager of the Jones County Library. King said she was at the meeting to thank the commissioners for their continued support and gave a presentation showing an overview of the numerous community programs at the library.
The manager talked about programs for adults as well as children. She noted that the library served more than 14,000 patrons from September to January. King touted the library’s partnership with the Jones County School System that added to the huge success of the summer reading program.
Parks and Recreation Director Bert Rosenberger spoke to board members about issues at the Lake Jonesco Golf Course. He began by thanking the commissioners for their support of the golf course.
“But success has caused some problems,” he said.
Rosenberger said the increased players at the course resulted in opening for golfers Monday, which in turn meant no more fishing on Monday. He said he would like to create some opportunities for fishing when possible.
The director said that could be anytime the course is closed, and he would like to publicize those opportunities.
“We are also open for opportunities from first light to our first golfer,” he said.
Rosenberger said golf course staff would let the fishermen know when it is time to leave.
The director’s second issue was also connected to the increased players on the golf course.
He said the increased play on the weekends was creating slow play.
“We have groups playing that are too big. We get complaints, but it’s hard to enforce without range marshals,” he said.
Rosenberger asked the board for direction. He asked to hire four part-time marshals for the weekends. The director said the positions could be paid for by increasing the green fees for non-members by $2.
“This is an immediate problem, and I’m trying to get ahead of it,” he said.
Commissioner John Wood made the motion to increase the green fees for non-members by $2, and the vote to approve the motion was unanimous.
Weidner gave an update about the State Place Cemetery.
“Our main objective is to preserve the integrity of the gravesites,” he stated.
County Administrator Jason Rizner said there had been a discussion about the boundary and the county’s wells. He said a surveyor was engaged to look at the boundaries, and it was discovered there were new graves on landfill property.
Rizner introduced Len Strozier from Omega Mapping, who presented a proposal to map the cemetery.
Strozier said it was an honor to share what he has been doing for 17 years. He said he had mapped over 300 cemeteries in 22 states and felt he could help the county.
“What you are doing will protect the heritage of the past and the legacy of the future,” he said.
Strozier’s estimate for mapping the entire cemetery was $39,831.
Weidner took questions about the cemetery from Debra Daniel-Purnell and Wilbur Greene. One of the questions was how the land was acquired.
The chairman said he did know that the property was purchased by the county in 1981 from Oliver Bateman, which was recorded at the courthouse. He said the cemetery and the landfill were separated.
“We need to find out if there are graves on the landfill,” he said.
Weidner said he had recently walked the cemetery, and there was a lot of history out there.
Wood made the motion approve the proposal from Omega Mapping, and the motion was approved unanimously.
Rizner presented commissioners with a GEFA resolution to add funding for the industrial park sewer and push out the completion date. Following a brief discussion, Commissioner Wendy Vaughn made the motion to approve the resolution, and it passed with a unanimous vote.
Weidner opened the meeting for citizens comments at the conclusion of agenda items.
Ken Adams and Bruce Sherwood asked about progress with shipping containers, and Dazon Bell, Wayne Greene, Wilbur Greene and Rev. DeShazier had more comments about the cemetery.
Brenda Middlebooks told board members that she received a call from Public Works, and they were coming to work on her ditch.
The meeting was adjourned to enter into closed session.
The next meeting of the Board of Commissioners is scheduled March 5.
