The Jones County Board of Commissioners dealt with maintenance issues in county buildings at their third Tuesday meeting, both of which required immediate action.
Chairman Chris Weidner called the July 19 meeting to order, and Gray Mayor Ed Barbee led the opening prayer and pledge of allegiance.
Animal Services Director Jennifer Allen and Building Maintenance Director Donald White explained the problem in a room at the animal services building, which houses cats and kittens.
White said they have not been able to get the room cool, and Allen said the cats are having upper respiratory problems.
Jimmy Stinson with Stinson Heating and Air said fresh air is not being brought into the room, causing excessive humidity.
“Our last bullet is a dedicated dehumidification system. It’s a perfect storm with 81 percent humidity in the room,” Stinson said.
He added that it happens very seldom that the problem cannot be attacked with a simpler system.
Allen said the good news is that the problem is in the smallest room in the building.
Commissioner Sam Kitchens said 80 percent humidity is a real problem.
“You basically have a petri dish. This is definitely the route to go,” he said.
County Administrator Jason Rizner said the county would need three quotes to bring the board. He said suggested the system be paid for from contingency funds.
Weidner announced that it was time for the answer to Kitchens’ donation challenge for animal services. The chairman handed Allen a check for $1,000. Kitchens matched the donation with a check for $1,001, and Weidner reached in his wallet for the additional $1.
The donations were in support of the current adoption promotion underway for the dogs and cats currently being housed in the Jones County shelter. Allen said the goal of the event is to get all the animals in the shelter adopted.
Kitchens made the motion to proceed with the instillation of the system and the vote to approve was unanimous.
Tap fees
Water Superintendent Brandon Stark presented an idea to the commissioners to incentivize residents along waterline preconstruction routes to become water customers. The current water tap fee is $1,500, and his suggestion was to reduce the fee to $1,250.
Stark said the actual cost to the county to make the connection is $1,870. Kitchens said the benefit to the county is adding more water customers.
Weidner suggested that the incentive include a payment plan for the connection fee.
“Basically, we would make a sales pitch during construction of the waterline. The incentive ends once construction is complete,” he said.
Kitchens made a motion for the $1,250 tap fee for new customers during the new construction, including a payment plan option. The motion was approved unanimously.
Rizner brought the need to advertise the county’s millage rate to the board. He said the millage rate does not need to be adopted until after the public hearings. His recommendation was to set the millage at the current rate. He said the rate can be lowered but cannot be increased.
“I don’t foresee the need to increase the tax rate. What we advertise will be the ceiling,” he said.
Commissioner Daylon Martin, who attended the meeting via phone conference call, made the motion to approve advertising Jones County’s millage rate, and the motion was approved unanimously.
Rizner spoke to commissioners about the speed breaker problem on Ruby Drive. Mr. Reid was back to present Board members with a petition with 47 more signatures in support of the speed breakers. Reid also let board members know that speed limit signs and children at play signs need to be installed.
Kitchens made a motion to continue with the speed breakers on Ruby Drive, and it was approved 4-0. Weidner abstained from the vote because he owns property in the neighborhood.
Courthouse
Judge Lewis Patterson and Superior Court Clerk Pam Dixon came to the commissioners about serious maintenance issues at the courthouse. Rizner said water has been leaking inside the building following the recent torrential rains.
“If we don’t do something, I fear there will be structural damage. Basically, we need to stop the bleeding,” the administrator said.
County Attorney Ashley Brodie said, in order for anything to be done immediately, there would have to an eminent danger to public health or to prohibit government services.
“The law is strict about the bidding process,” she said. “But I understand it’s a significant need.”
Patterson said employees are having water on their desks.
“I don’t see how there can’t be mold. The water it getting to be more. This is more than an inconvenience. I understand there is a law, but we need help,” he said. “It’s only going to get worse.”
Warren Selby Jr. with Warren Associates Building Contractors said, when they started the analysis of the courthouse, unknown problems were discovered. He said the building is on the National Register of Historic Places, and he fears what might happen with the building in the next months if the problems are not address quickly.
“We might be looking at structural damage,” Selby said.
He said it would be difficult to say where to start.
“Leaking windows could be starting at the roofline.”
Brodie said the argument could be made that there was an eminent threat of the loss of government services.
Selby added that the shingles on the courthouse were placed over a metal roof. He said that means there is no ventilation.
“We could be looking at air quality issues,” he added.
Kitchens said he asked for the courthouse repairs to be placed on the agenda because the problems were just getting worse.
“I’m worried that next week the ceiling could fall in. We knew it was a problem, but now it has become an emergency,” he said.
Commissioner John Wood said the building can be replaced but not people.
“We need to think about safety and put a plan in place,” he said.
Kitchens said he deems the repairs an emergency, and he fears more eminent danger based on the change in the last three weeks.
The commissioner made a motion to move forward immediately with the repairs to the courthouse based on the eminent danger of loss of government services.
The vote to approve the motion was unanimous.
Kitchens made a follow up motion to move forward with Warren and Associates because it is an emergency situation.
That motion was also approved unanimously.
Rizner said the repairs to the courthouse would be paid with SPLOST funds.
Clerk of the Board Shannon Wagner presented the final agenda item, which was to name a delegate for the ACCG Legislative Leadership Conference.
Commissioner Wendy Vaughn volunteered to represent the board at the conference in a motion that was approved unanimously.
The next meeting of the Board of Commissioners is scheduled Aug. 2.
