Jones County Commissioners received a report from Keep Jones Beautiful and discussed the importance of a Transportation Sales Tax at their first meeting in March.
Board Chairman Chris Weidner called the March 5 meeting to order, and the opening prayer and pledge were led by UGA Extension Agent Brennan Jackson.
Planning and Zoning items were first on the agenda. The first item was a request for a conditional use to expand a mobile home park on Baker Road. Petitioner Justin Kelly explained the work that had been done to beautify the property and the new homes he planned to install in the park.
Commissioner Daylon Martin made the motion to grant the request, and it was approved unanimously.
The second zoning item was a request to allow metal siding on a dwelling on Smith Road for the construction of a barndominium. Commissioner John Wood made the motion to grant the request, and the motion was approved unanimously.
New business
County Administrator Jason Rizner presented a budget amendment, explaining that the budget has to reflect actual expenditures and revenues. Commissioner Sam Kitchens made the motion to approve the amendment, and it was approved unanimously.
LeAnn Rutledge with Oconee River Resource Conservation Council and Development talked to board members about Jones County joining the council. She said the council has 14 counties and works with Jones County on projects. Rutledge said the council focuses on land conservation, water management and community development.
She said the cost for two members to be on the council is $700.
Martin made the motion to join the council, and the vote to approve was unanimous.
Jones County/Gray Chamber of Commerce and Keep Jones Beautiful Director Hailey Robinson, accompanied by Jackson, gave an update about Keep Jones Beautiful activities. She talked about Sprouts, the pre-K garden club, updates to the Adopt-a-Spot program, Earth Day and the date of the Jones County Clean Up.
They did not come up with a date for the county’s annual cleanup, but Robinson suggested they could have a spring and a fall cleanup.
Jackson, who also serves as the chairman of the Keep Jones Beautiful board, talked about beautification efforts, including pollinator gardens at the recreation complexes at Highways 18 and 49 in addition to the Government Center.
He said Jones County needs a county tree, and he suggested the Eastern Redbud. He said the tree blooms early, and it would give the community something to put in public spaces.
“It’s not a large tree. It has beautiful foliage in the fall as well as the spring blooms,” Jackson said.
He added that the trees would not be a large expenditure, and they are fairly maintenance free.
The speaker said the tree could help the Jones County and Gray regain their Tree City designation. He said the designation was lost in 2022.
Rizner brought the final item of New Business, a discussion about possible projects for the proposed Transportation Special Local Option Sales Tax. He said part of the process is coming up with projects and their cost.
The administrator said he is looking at the wording of other ballots. He said the ballots have a wide range of specificity.
“Some are broad, while others are very detailed,” he said.
Rizner said he is looking for a balance.
Kitchens said the projects should start with the road list.
Martin agreed the road list was huge, but it did not contain any dirt roads. He suggested the projects include the rail spur at the industrial park and bridges in the county.
Commissioner Wendy Vaughn stated the cost to pave 1.5 miles of a dirt road is $3 million.
Weidner said the county is now only able to do one-third of the roads it could previously repair and repave with LMIG money because of the increasing cost.
“The state is handing us a lot of challenges. Increasing the weight load for roads is killing us,” he said. “There needs to be some way to take the pressure off roof tops. The TSPLOST would help.”
Vaughn said the TSPLOST is not just another tax. She said it’s the fairest tax because everyone who spends money in Jones County pays it.
“People who rent, don’t pay property tax, everyone would help with this tax,” she said.
Vaughn said people needed to be educated about the need for the tax and the fairness of it.
Weidner said most every county that would have been part of the regional TSPLOST now has a single-county TSPLOST.
Rizner suggested a work session in a couple of weeks to work on the project list. He also reminded board members that bonds can be used to immediately start work on projects after the TSPLOST is approved.
Old Business
County Attorney Ashley Brodie talked to the commissioners about the Elections Board bill that would change the makeup of the Jones County Board of Elections. The new bill would change the board from three to five members. She said the bill has to be approved by the state legislature, but there was still time.
The board would have two Democratic members, two Republican members and a non-partisan chairperson, who would vote only to break a tie.
Martin said he would like the chairman to rotate between parties every two years. The discussion about how that could work was lengthy and confusing. A called meeting was announced for March 11 to discuss the issue further.
Rizner spoke to board members about the temporary county logo. He said the four choices were circulated among county employees, and the winning logo received 50 votes. Kitchens made the motion to make adopt the temporary logo so it can be placed on county vehicles. The vote to approve the logo was unanimous.
The administrator also explained the need to send someone to a regional meeting of the Opiod Settlement Advisory Council to represent Jones County. Vaughn made a motion to send Rizner, and the vote to approve was unanimous.
Department heads
Public Works Director Shawn Wood presented a monthly report to the commissioners. He said the department used a streetsweeper in Haddock last month and also in Hampton Lakes and Kingsview Village. He said the streetsweeper did a great job.
John Wood commented that the streetsweeper made a major difference.
The director said bridges in the county are a huge need and should be evaluated. He said the Georgia Department of Transportation does an annual survey, but the county needs a firm look at its bridges. He said he was very concerned about the bridges on Creekside and Stage Coach roads.
Wood said the Public Works Facebook page has been providing information about the department and asked everyone interested to follow it.
Water Superintendent Brandon Stark said the county now has two more certified operators who will be able to run the testing lab in Jones County. He said, when they are certified, it will mean a significant savings to the county.
Rizner reported that Len Strozier with Omega Mapping was now under contract with the county, and preparation is being made to clean State Place Cemetery so he can start the mapping process.
“I think he may be ready to start next week, but we don’t have a specific date,” he said.
There were no citizens comments, and the meeting was adjourned to enter into closed session.
