Independence Day fireworks to be provided by professional
The Jones County Board of Commissioners considered a plan to update the county’s aging fleet of vehicles at their first Tuesday meeting and approved fireworks for an Independence Day celebration.
The June 7 meeting was called to order by Chairman Chris Weidner. The opening prayer and pledge were led by Tim Ingram.
Planning and Zoning items were first on the agenda. A conditional use was approved to allow a trade shop on Highway 49 for the purpose of housing a Heating and Air Conditioning office and a property on Oak
Valley Drive was rezoned from R-R to Ag-1 to allow a sawmill.
New Business
Tony McDonald with Enterprise Fleet Management presented the commissioners with a plan to replace 52 aging vehicles. The average age of vehicles in the current fleet is over 13 years old with 44 of the 67 vehicles with model years 2012 or earlier.
McDonald said for the past 10 years, the county has averaged purchasing 3.5 vehicles a year, and that would put it on a 19.4-year replacement plan. Enterprise is suggesting a 2.45-year replacement plan.
He said the 10-year projected savings would be $945,433 in maintenance and fuel costs. The estimated budget for the lease of the new vehicles was $326,000 following the sale of the currently owned vehicles.
County Administrator Jason Rizner said the county was in the position of having to do something. He said the average age of the vehicles in the county fleet is high, their mileage is high and most are in rough shape.
“We need to decide to do something like this or start purchasing more vehicles every year,” he said.
Capt. Travis Douglas with the Jones County Sheriff’s Office asked if the sheriff’s department cars would be included. Rizner said they would not.
Board members agreed to postpone a decision about the vehicles to have time to gather more information.
Ocmulgee Circuit Public Defender John Bradley presented the commissioners with the FY23 budget for the public defender’s office. He said Jones County’s portion of the proposed budget was $115,402, the same as the previous year.
He said that amount includes $106,752 for representation of indigent defendants in Jones County Superior Court and Juvenile Court and $8,650 for representation of indigent defendants in Probate Court. The budget year for the department runs from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023.
Commissioner Daylon Martin made the motion to approve the budget, and it was agreed unanimously.
Parks and Recreation Director Bert Rosenberger brought a request to spend $10,000 for a professional company to handle the fireworks for the June 30 Independence Day celebration at Morris Bank Recreation Complex.
The director said the funds were available in the sponsorship account, and it was his opinion going with a professional with insurance was the best option for the county.
“I just don’t think it’s a good idea for the same guy who cuts grass to light fireworks,” Rosenberger commented.
Commissioner Wendy Vaughn made the motion to approve the payment, and it passed unanimously.
Rosenberger also recommended the award of the bid for spray foam insulation of the Mattie Wells gym to Tyco Construction & Industrial Services in the amount of $39,375. He said the bid was the only one received.
Martin made the motion to approve the bid, and it passed unanimously.
The commissioner also made the motion to approve an extension to the third-party agreement through the Middle Georgia Community Action Agency for its transit services contract. The motion was approved unanimously.
Other approved items were declaring three county vehicles surplus and granting beer and wine licenses for Texaco 282 at 249 Highway 22 East and Creekside Food Mart at 3534 Gray Highway.
Old Business
The only item of old business was the bid award for the replacement of streetlights in Haddock. Following a brief discussion about the type of lights included in the bid proposal, Commissioner John Wood made the motion to award the contract to the low bidder, Cornatzer & Associates of Cummings, in the amount of $23,326.
Comments
Chris Smarr spoke to the board in her capacity as owner of Jonesco Marketing in reference to ideas of ways to raise money to help with projects. She said she would like to explore the idea of sponsorships from alumni of the former Jonesco School that was located in the building now used as the Government Center. She said there are a lot of alumni who still live in Jones County, and her idea was a memory wall or pavers that the alumni could sponsor.
Weidner said the idea would be placed on the agenda of the next meeting. He apologized that Smarr was left off that meeting’s agenda.
Kitchens suggested for formation of a sponsorship committee, and Weidner agreed there were a lot of fund-raising opportunities.
The next meeting of the Board of Commissioners is scheduled at 6 p.m., June 21.
