BUTTS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
122nd Session Covering Calendar Year 2020
2019-2020 Biennium
Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for September 14, 2020

Commissioners:
☐ Ken Rivers, District 1, Chairman
☐ Keith Douglas, District 4 Vice Chairman
☐ Joe Brown, District 3
☐ Russ Crumbley, District 5

Staff:
☐ Steve Layson, County Manager
☐ Michael Brewer, Deputy County Manager
☐ Ben Vaughn, County Attorney

Section 1: Workshop Meeting
Chairman Ken Rivers called the September 14, 2020 workshop to order at 5:00 PM in the Auditorium.
The first item was a presentation from the Concerned Clergy of Butts County on needed youth programs in the community, in the form of a Boys and Girls Club. The organization is requesting a partnership and funding from the County in the form of $50,000.00 per year from the County for three years; support of the County Grant Writer to assist them in identifying and writing grants; provide in-kind services to develop the Henderson School Campus for community use and commission a collaborative partnership between all parties and the Butts County Recreation Center to help increase community usage of facilities. Reverend Charlie Barlow and Reverend Dee Sidney presented the proposals.

The next item on the workshop docket was intended to be a discussion on the proposed development agreement rezoning a tract of land located in the industrial development area just north of Jackson on 42. This will be deferred at Mr. Henderson’s request until he can be present.

The next item on the workshop docket was a discussion on increasing commercial fees for planning & development, which are lower than the surrounding counties. County Manager Steve Layson and Brett Hanes with Charles Abbot & Associates led this discussion.

Mr. Crumbley requested that the County look at bidding out right of way grass mowing services to see if the costs of doing this privately would less costly as well as more efficient to the County.

Mr. Brewer requested that discussion on the proposed lease with Caterpillar be added to the workshop and this was agreed upon. Mr. Washington gave an overview of the lease and its benefits to the County in terms of cost savings.

It was noted that there will not be an October meeting of the Board due to the Columbus Day Holiday as well as the anticipated move of county offices from the west wing to the east wing of the Administration Building; however, it was noted that a called meeting might be needed before November. The workshop was then adjourned at 5:37 PM.

Section 2: Welcome and Recognitions, Opening of Meeting
Chairman Rivers called the Regular meeting to order at 6:00 PM and gave instructions to the public about social distancing during Board of Commissioner’s meetings. Following the Invocation by Mr. Brewer, the pledge of allegiance was held. Prayers were offered for Mr. Henderson, who was absent due to a surgical procedure earlier this day.

Item 2020-09-113 Adoption of Docket
With removals, Mr. Douglas moved to adopt the docket, seconded by Mr. Brown with unanimous consent, 4-0. Docket approved and the meeting may continue.

Item 2020-09-114 Approval of Minutes
Mr. Douglas moved to approve the minutes for the August meeting, seconded by Mr. Brown and these were approved with unanimous consent, 4-0.

Section 3: Old Business

Item 2020-05-049 Development Agreement with Mr. Zip Hinton
Under Old Business, Item 49 was back up for a vote on a Development Agreement between the County and Mr. Zip Hinton from the May workshop. Mr. Brown moved to table the vote on the development agreement, seconded by Mr. Crumbley and this was approved unanimously, 4-0.

Item 2020-08-106 County Resolution CR202015 Creating a Recreation Advisory Committee
Mr. Brewer presented an amended Resolution creating two Recreation Advisory Committees that was tabled in August so that additions and corrections could be incorporated. Mr. Brewer advised that the Administration recommends that the Resolution do pass and asked for the Board’s favorable consideration. Mr. Brown moved to adopt the Resolution, seconded by Mr. Crumbley with unanimous consent, 4-0. The resolution is attached to and made a part of the Book of Resolutions, Volume 1.

Section 4: New Business

Item 2020-09-115 Case #09(01)2020- Text Amendment (Camps, Treatment Centers)
The text amendment would be required in order to allow for the location of Three Points Center, a center for the treatment of adopted youth who need counseling and therapy. Tim Haley presented for Three Points Center, the entity requesting this, which has held two Town Hall meetings. The property would be able to house a maximum of 45 female children in the main house. The riding stables would be converted into classrooms and approximately $1-2m in renovations would be invested. Chairman Rivers convened a public hearing with no one speaking for or against the text amendment. Mr. Brown then moved to pass the text amendment, seconded by Mr. Douglas with unanimous consent.

Item 2020-09-116 Case #09(02)2020- Special Use for Treatment Center
Chairman Rivers convened a public hearing on this matter, which is in concert with Item 115 above. Bonnie Sanders rose to speak in favor of the Special Use and in favor of the residential counseling center. Torrie Tanner also rose to speak in favor of the Special Use and was pleased that the agricultural aspect will be protected. The public hearing then closed with no one in opposition. Chairman Rivers called for action by the Board. Mr. Brown moved to table the Special Use vote, pending development of an agreement and a site visit by local individuals to another facility owned by the company, seconded by Mr. Douglas with unanimous consent. Chairman Rivers called a five-minute recess, after which the meeting resumed.

Item 2020-09-117 County Resolution CR202016 Appointments to Boards
Mr. Brewer presented the Resolution calling for the appointment of Mitchell Greenway to the Transportation board to fill the unexpired term of Dewayne Elrod . Mr. Brewer advised that the Administration recommends that the Resolution do pass and asked for the Board’s favorable consideration. Mr. Douglas moved to adopt the Resolution, seconded by Mr. Brown with unanimous consent, 4-0. The resolution is attached to and made a part of the Book of Resolutions, Volume 1.

Item 2020-09-118 County Resolution CR202017 Relocating the County Courts
Mr. Brewer presented the Resolution calling for transferring all courts from the Administration Building to the Central Georgia EMC Annex until construction of the new court wing is complete . The Resolution also contains a termination clause, whereby the County Clerk may revoke the Resolution at such time as it is deemed proper for the Courts to relocate back to the Administration Building complex. Mr. Brewer advised that the Administration recommends that the Resolution do pass and asked for the Board’s favorable consideration. Mr. Brown moved to adopt the Resolution, seconded by Mr. Douglas with unanimous consent, 4-0. The resolution is attached to and made a part of the Book of Resolutions, Volume 1.

Item 2020-09-119 County Resolution CR202018 Declaring Surplus Property
Mr. Brewer presented the Resolution which declared a number of vehicles and machinery as surplus property. Mr. Brewer advised that the Administration recommends that the Resolution do pass and asked for the Board’s favorable consideration. Mr. Brown moved to adopt the Resolution, seconded by Mr. Douglas with unanimous consent, 4-0. The resolution is attached to and made a part of the Book of Resolutions, Volume 1.

Item 2020-09-120 County Resolution CR202019 Opting Out of FICA Tax Deferral Option
Mr. Brewer presented the Resolution which would enact the Employer right to opt out of the FICA Tax Deferral due to administrative burden. Mr. Brewer advised that the Administration recommends that the Resolution do pass and asked for the Board’s favorable consideration. Mr. Douglas moved to adopt the Resolution, seconded by Mr. Brown with unanimous consent, 4-0. The resolution is attached to and made a part of the Book of Resolutions, Volume 1.

Item 2020-09-121 Approval of AirLife One Call Agreement
Chief Mike Wilson presented an updated One Call Agreement with AirLife, our local area air ambulance service. The agreement was adopted upon a motion by Mr. Brown and seconded by Mr. Douglas with unanimous consent, 4-0.

Item 2020-09-122 Approval to Purchase Sheriff’s Office Vehicles from SPLOST
Mr. Layson requested permission from the Board to proceed with purchasing a number of vehicles for the Sheriff’s Office using SPLOST funds. This was approved upon a motion by Mr. Douglas and seconded by Mr. Crumbley with unanimous consent, 4-0.

Item 2020-09-123 Approval of Paramedic Compensation Plan
Mr. Layson requested permission from the Board to increase the pay across the board for all Firefighter-Paramedics due to shortages and losing staff to surrounding counties, which paid more. This was approved upon a motion by Mr. Brown and seconded by Mr. Douglas with unanimous consent, 4-0.

Item 2020-09-124 Approval of Annual Lease Agreement: Caterpillar Item
Mr. Kip Washington requested the Board approve entering into a new lease with Caterpillar, pending final review by the County Attorney. This lease is updated annually and is used to lease road maintenance equipment. This was approved upon a motion by Mr. Crumbley and seconded by Mr. Brown with unanimous consent, 4-0.

Item 2020-09-125 Approval of Commercial Development Fee Rate Adjustments
Mr. Douglas moved to table this item, seconded by Mr. Brown and approved with unanimous consent.

Item 2020-09-126 Monthly Financial Report
Mr. Brewer presented the monthly financial report. With 17% of the Fiscal Year completed, the County has expended 15% of its budget and has received 10% of anticipated revenue for the first two months of the fiscal year.

Item 2020-09-127 Statement from Commissioner Crumbley on Potential Rock Quarry
Commissioner Crumbley read the following statement into the record:

“The Butts County Board of Commissioners would like to provide the public with an update about the activity on Keys Ferry Road. The Board and County staff are closely monitoring the activity on site there and as a result of activities on the premises, has been in contact with the Georgia Forestry and the Georgia EPD. Both entities have inspected the property recently.

The Butts County Planning and Development Department, the Inspections Department, the County Engineer, the County Manager, the County Clerk, the County Attorney and the County Zoning Attorney are all involved in this matter and are monitoring it appropriately. Butts County will ensure that this property follows all of the rules and regulations required under the Butts County Unified Development Ordinance and will continue to appropriately monitor this site and activity to ensure the health, safety and general welfare of Butts County, Georgia.
At this time, while the property owners have publicly stated what they would like to do with the property in the future, they have not yet applied for any rezoning of the property or any additional required special uses.

We always welcome citizens communicating concerns to us and at the appropriate time, we will consider all input in these matters in the proper way at the zoning hearing should the property owners choose to apply for rezoning or a special use permit. Thank you for your understanding of our position and the need to preserve the integrity of the zoning process”.

The County Attorney Ben Vaughn also noted for the record that a Notice of Violation was sent to Mr. Josh Sprayberry concerning improper activities inconsistent with his permit to harvest timber.

Item 2020-09-128 County Manager’s Report
Mr. Layson updated the Members on the building projects and that the Administration Department will move on October 9th. It was noted that this will be the final meeting held in the C. Wayne King Auditorium, which will cease to exist in the weeks ahead.

Item 2020-09-129 Executive Session for Personnel and Potential Litigation
Mr. Brown moved to go into Executive Session, seconded by Mr. Crumbly with unanimous consent. Mr. Douglas later moved to reconvene, seconded by Mr. Crumbley with unanimous consent. Mr Vaughn gave a brief report on a personnel matter and potential real property acquisition.

Item 2020-09-130 Public Comment on Removal of Confederate Statue from Museum
The requested speaker, Jayla Perkins, gave brief remarks on this subject.

Item 2020-09-131 Adjournment
Mr. Douglas then moved to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Crumbley with unanimous consent.

Ratified this 9th Day of November, 2020

___________________________________________
On behalf of the Board of Commissioners
Ken Rivers, Chairman of the Board

CERTIFICATION & ATTESTATION

I do hereby attest by my signature and seal below that the aforementioned minutes of the Butts County Board of Commissioners are an accurate representation of the official actions undertaken by the Board during the open meeting designated for the date and times stated herein. I also attest that the Board did enter an Executive Session for the purposes outlined herein, as allowed by Georgia Law.

J. Michael Brewer, Deputy County Manager
Clerk of the 122nd Session