BUTTS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
123rd Session Covering Calendar Year 2021
2021-2022 Biennium
Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for September 13, 2021

Commissioners:
☐ Ken Rivers, District 1
☐ Robert Henderson, District 2
☐ Joe Brown, District 3, Chairman
☐ Keith Douglas, District 4 Vice Chairman
☐ Russ Crumbley, District 5

Executive Staff:
☐ Brad Johnson, County Manager
☐ J. Michael Brewer, Deputy County Manager
☐ Andrew J. Welch, III, County Attorney

Note: There was no board meeting in August due to lack of need.

Section 1: Workshop
Chairman Joe Brown called the workshop to order at 5:30 PM with all Members seated. The workshop is the first official meeting held in the new join Courtroom & Commission Chamber. Items discussed included:

29. Discussion on Zoning Matter (Alcohol Licensing for existing business under new ownership)
30. Discussion on Board Appointments
31. Discussion on Amending Title V of the Personnel Policy
32. Discussion on Vibrant Communities Grant for the Chamber of Commerce
33. Discussion on Contract for Aging Services from Three Rivers Regional Commission
34. Discussion on Procurement for a Body Scanner for the Judicial Wing.
35. Discussion on Automatic Aid Agreement with Henry County

Following these discussion items, the workshop was adjourned at 5:50 PM.

Section 2: Opening of Meeting

Chairman Brown opened the September meeting at 6:00 PM. The Invocation was given by the Reverend Andy Postell of Jackson United Methodist Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance

Item 2021-09-136 Approval of Docket
Mr. Rivers made a motion to approve the docket, seconded by Mr. Henderson, with unanimous consent, 5-0.

Item 2021-09-137 Approval of Minutes
Mr. Crumbley moved to approve the minutes from July, seconded by Mr. Rivers, with unanimous consent, 5-0.

Section 3: New Business Presentations

Public Affairs
Item 2021-09-138 Presentations
The Board heard Special Recognitions from Leisure Services, recognizing both State and National Gymnastics Champions.

Following this, a presentation was made by Lynda Brown requesting that the Board consider funding the purchase of a set of “Documents of American Law and Government for the Court wing. Following discussion, Commissioner Rivers moved to purchase the set for $1200.00, seconded by Mr. Henderson and approved 4-1, with Mr. Douglas in dissent.

Community and Economic Development
Item 2021-09-139 Approval of Alcohol License for 1501 Jackson Citgo
Zoning Administrator Christy Williams presented recommendations to approve the alcohol license be granted, the cause of need being new ownership. Mr. Rivers moved to approve, seconded by Mr. Douglas and approved 3-1-1, with Mr. Crumbley in dissent and Mr. Henderson abstaining.

Governmental Affairs
Item 2021-09-140 County Resolution CR202120 Supplemental Appointments to Boards
Mr. Brewer presented the resolution to the Members requesting they authorize the Chairman to sign the Resolution which appoints Carole Lunsford to the DFACS Board of Directors and Justin Couch to the Board of Elections and Registration. Mr. Henderson moved to approve, seconded by Mr. Crumbley with unanimous consent. The Resolution shall be recorded in the Book of Resolutions, Volume 1.

Item 2021-09-141 Amendment to the Personnel Ordinance
Following presentation by Mr. Johnson, Mr. Rivers moved to approve amending the Personnel Ordinance of Butts County, Title V, Article 5.06, Paragraph 1 to read as follows, with the additional text underlined and in italics:

Nepotism, or the employment of two or more members of the same immediate family, can undermine the effectiveness of government as well as the integrity and reputation ascribed to it. To that end, no two members of an immediate family will be employed by Butts County within the same department, or under the same supervisor, except under emergency circumstances, as authorized by the County Manager. Additionally, no two members of an immediate family will be employed at the same time, regardless of the department in which either employee works, if such employment could result in an employee supervising, directly or indirectly, any member of his or her immediate family.

Mr. Rivers moved to approve, seconded by Mr. Crumbley with unanimous consent. It was also stated that this would be further refined and revisited in the near future.

Item 2021-09-142 Ratification of Vibrant Communities Grant for Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Brewer presented a request from the Chamber of Commerce to have the County serve as the administrating agency for a grant they were seeking from the State. It was understood that the Chamber would bear any matching costs ($1175.00) and the County would not bear responsibility. Mr. Rivers moved to approve, seconded by Mr. Crumbley with unanimous consent.

Item 2021-09-143 Approval of Annual Contract for Aging Services with Three Rivers RC
Ms. Chrissy Crabtree presented the annual contract for aging services to the Board. Mr. Rivers moved to approve, seconded by Mr. Douglas with unanimous consent.

Public Safety & Courts
Item 2021-09-144 Approval to Purchase Whole Body Scanner for Judicial Wing
Mr. Johnson presented a request to use Federal funding to purchase a security scanner for the Court wing which will scan for weapons, temperature and contraband. The funding source would be funds from the American Rescue Plan Act which are deemed suitable for such purchase and would cost $149,000.00 to obtain. Mr. Rivers moved to approve, seconded by Mr. Douglas with unanimous consent.

Item 2021-09-145 Approval of Renewal of the Automatic Aid Agreement with Henry County
Chief Wilson presented a renewal of the existing automatic aid agreement with neighboring Henry County that had become outdated. This is to provide automatic response between the two bordering counties. Mr. Rivers moved to approve the agreement, seconded by Mr. Crumbley with unanimous consent.

Reports & Information Items
Item 2021-09-146 Monthly Reports
Deputy County Manager Michael Brewer reported on statistics and call volume for the month of August, noting that while most areas had seen a slight decrease in volume, ambulance calls were much higher than normal due to pandemic related calls.
County Manager Brad Johnson reported on Finances and that with 16% of the budget year completed, the County had received 13% of annual revenue and had expended 15%. He also reported on various accomplishments over the past month and that the Courts were on schedule to begin moving into the new wing in October.

Item 2021-09-149 Public Comment
Mr. Crumbley requested that Public Comment be allowed prior to Executive Session and without objection, this item was relocated. Lucretia Lambert spoke on truck issues with County Line Road.

Section 4: Concluding Business

Item 2021-09-147 Executive Session
Mr. Rivers moved to enter Executive Session for Litigation, seconded by Mr. Douglas with unanimous consent. Later Mr. Rivers moved to reconvene, seconded by Mr. Crumbley with unanimous consent.

Item 2021-09-148 County Attorney Report
Mr. Welch reported on an attorney concern regarding special counsel and requested action from the board. Mr. Rivers moved that Special Counsel Newton Galloway, in the matter of Tussahaw Reserves vs. Butts County, be allowed to remain on the case but that the Board consents to his representation of clients in matters before the Board of Commissioners and the County which at times may be adverse to the County. Mr. Douglas seconded the matter and it was approved with unanimous consent.

Item 2021-09-149 Adjournment Motion
Mr. Rivers then moved to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Douglas with unanimous consent. The meeting was thus adjourned at 7:30 PM.

Ratified this 14th Day of October, 2021

___________________________________________
On behalf of the Board of Commissioners
Joe Brown, 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 and that the board did, during the course of the meeting, enter upon an Executive Session for the purposes of litigation discussion.

J. Michael Brewer, Deputy County Manager
Sitting as Clerk of the 123rd Session
Butts County Board of Commissioners