BUTTS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
124th Session Covering Calendar Year 2022
2021-2022 Biennium
Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for February 14, 2022

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

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

Section 1: Opening of Workshop

The workshop opened at 5:00 PM, with Chairman Joe Brown presiding. Nine docketed items were discussed, which included 1). An overview of all public hearings coming before the board later in the evening, 2). Candidates for the vacant Board of Elections position, 3). A proposed administrative fee for the Health Department, 4). The need to create a special bank account for holding and disseminating ARPA funds, 5). An updated Mutual Aid Agreement between the County Fire Department and the State Prison, 6). The need to purchase a tractor and mowing apparatus for Public Works, 7). A Capital Improvement Plan for Butts County, 8). The Call for Local Option Sales Tax Negotiations and 9). A discussion on proposed legislation to reconstitute the Butts County Water Authority. Two additional items were added to the workshop, including a discussion on adjusting salaries for Detention Officers and a discussion on amending the Personnel Ordinance to allow County employees to run for local elected office. Following discussion, the Board elected to add the jail discussion to the meeting and not to place the personnel ordinance item on the docket for the meeting at 6PM. The Board adjourned the workshop at 5:43 PM.

Section 2: Session Preliminaries

Chairman Brown called the session to order at 6:00 PM. Mr. Brewer introduced Reverend Andy Postell of Jackson United Methodist Church as Pastor of the Day, who gave the invocation and led the pledge of allegiance.

Section 3: Opening Business

Item 2022-02-028 Adoption of the Docket
Mr. Douglas moved to approve the docket, with two items added from the workshop, seconded by Mr. Crumbley with unanimous consent.

Item 2022-02-029 Approval of Minutes
Mr. Henderson moved to approve the January minutes, seconded by Mr. Douglas with unanimous consent.

Section 4A: Old Business

Item 2022-01-019 Rezoning of 74.357 Acres on Wallace Road from A-R to M-1
This item, which had been heard in a public hearing at the previous meeting was tabled to February 14th and called for the rezoning of 74.357 acres on Wallace Road from A-R to M-1 (Light Manufacturing) for the purpose of future construction of an industrial facility (light warehouse or distribution type facility). Mr. Rivers moved to table the item again until the next meeting, seconded by Mr. Henderson with unanimous consent.

Item 2021-01-023 Resolution CR202204 on Local Legislation for Water Authority
Mr. Rivers made a motion to approve the Resolution, seconded by Mr. Crumbley with unanimous consent. The Resolution will be forwarded to the Legislative Delegation and will be recorded in the Butts County Book of Resolutions, Volume 1.

Section 4B: New Business
Planning & Development

Item 2022-02-030 Public Hearing on Case 02(01)2022 Rezone 18.14 Acres from R-1 to A-R
Ms. Lawson presented the findings of the Zoning Commission, which recommended approving the rezoning. Chairman Brown opened the Public Hearing. No one spoke in favor of or against and the hearing was closed. Mr. Rivers moved to uphold the recommendations of the Zoning Commission and approve the rezoning, seconded by Mr. Henderson with unanimous consent.

Item 2022-02-031 Public Hearing on Case 02(02)2022 Rezone 35.00 Acres from A-R to M-1
Ms. Lawson presented the findings of the Zoning Commission, which recommended approving the rezoning with conditions. Chairman Brown opened the Public Hearing. The applicant spoke in favor of the rezoning, no one spoke against, and the hearing was closed. Mr. Douglas moved to uphold the recommendations of the Zoning Commission and approve the rezoning with the conditions they recommended, seconded by Mr. Rivers with unanimous consent.

Item 2022-02-032 Public Hearing on Case 02(03)2022 Rezone 3.98 Acres from R-2 to A-R
Ms. Lawson presented the findings of the Zoning Commission, which recommended approving the rezoning. Chairman Brown opened the Public Hearing. The applicant’s representative spoke in favor of the rezoning, no one spoke against, and the hearing was closed. Mr. Crumbley moved to uphold the recommendations of the Zoning Commission and approve the rezoning, seconded by Mr. Douglas with unanimous consent.

Item 2022-02-033 Public Hearing on Case 02(04)2022 Rezone 58.54 Acres from C-2 to M-1
Ms. Lawson presented the findings of the Zoning Commission, which recommended approving the rezoning with conditions. Chairman Brown opened the Public Hearing. No one spoke in favor of the rezoning, and several spoke against it, and the public hearing was closed. Mr. Rivers moved to table a final decision until February 28th to allow the County Engineer to make recommendations about the road servicing the property, seconded by Mr. Douglas, and approved with unanimous consent.

Item 2022-02-034 Public Hearing on Case 02(05)2022 Rezone 15.96 Acres from P-R to A-R
Ms. Lawson presented the findings of the Zoning Commission, which recommended denying the rezoning. Chairman Brown opened the Public Hearing. The applicant spoke in favor of the rezoning and several spoke against it. Chairman Brown closed the public hearing and called for a vote. Mr. Rivers moved to approve the rezoning, seconded by Mr. Crumbley and approved unanimously.

Item 2022-02-035 Public Hearing on Case 02(06)2022 Special Use for Property
Ms. Lawson presented the findings of the Zoning Commission, which recommended denying the Special Use. Chairman Brown opened the Public Hearing. The applicant spoke in favor of the Special Use, which would allow the property previously rezoned in Item 34 above to be configured for a Campground/Recreational Vehicle Park. Others spoke against the Special Use, following which the public hearing was closed. Chairman Brown called for a motion and Mr. Rivers moved to deny the Special Use, seconded by Mr. Crumbley with unanimous consent. Chairman Brown then called for a five-minute recess.

Governmental Affairs
Item 2022-02-036 County Resolution CR202204 Appointing Member of Board of Elections
Mr. Brewer presented the Resolution which named two qualified candidates for the one vacant seat on the Board of Elections. Following discussion, Mr. Crumbley moved to approve the Resolution naming Steven Rager to the Board of Elections, seconded by Mr. Rivers with unanimous consent.

Item 2022-02-037 Approval of Administrative Fee for Health Department
Mr. Brewer requested that the Board approve a $15.00 Administrative Fee for Health Department inspection letters. Mr. Rivers moved to approve, seconded by Mr. Crumbley with unanimous consent.
Item 2022-02-038 Call for Local Option Sales Tax Negotiations
Upon recommendation by Mr. Johnson, Mr. Crumbley moved to issue the official call for LOST Negotiations, seconded by Mr. Douglas and approved with unanimous consent.

Public Safety
Item 2022-02-039 Approval of Mutual Aid Agreement with Georgia Diagnostic Prison
Upon recommendation by Chief Wilson, Mr. Rivers moved to approve the agreement, seconded by Mr. Crumbley with unanimous consent.

Transportation and Infrastructure
Item 2022-02-040 County Resolution CR202207 Purchasing Tractor and Mower Attachment
Upon recommendation by Mr. Washington, Mr. Rivers moved to approve the Resolution, seconded by Mr. Douglas with unanimous consent. The resolution shall be attached to and made a part of the Butts County Book of Resolutions, Volume 1.

Budget & Finance
Item 2022-02-041 Request to Establish Special ARPA Fund Bank Account by CFO
Upon recommendation by Ms. Blissit to establish a separate bank account for ARPA funds, Mr. Crumbley moved to approve this item, seconded by Mr. Douglas with unanimous consent.

Item 2022-02-042 Request to Approve Pay Adjustment for Sheriff’s Office Detention Officers
Upon recommendation by Mr. Johnson, this item, added and presented at the workshop, was approved upon a motion by Mr. Rivers and second by Mr. Crumbley with unanimous consent.

Reports
Ms. Blissit gave the financial report. Mr. Brewer reported on County Operations and Mr. Johnson reported on County Management issues.

Item 2022-02-043 Executive Session for Litigation
Mr. Rivers moved to enter Executive Session, seconded by Mr. Crumbley. Mr. Douglas later moved to return to regular session, seconded by Mr. Crumbley. Mr. Welch stated that an overview of current litigation had been presented to the Board. Mr. Douglas moved to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Crumbley.

Item 2022-02-044 Adjournment Motion
Mr. Douglas moved to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Crumbley.

Ratified this 14th Day of March, 2022

On behalf of the Board of Commissioners
Joe Brown, Chairman, Presiding

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 an Executive Session was entered into for the reasons stated.

J. Michael Brewer, Deputy County Manager
Clerk of the 124th Session, Attesting