BUTTS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
124th Session Covering Calendar Year 2022
2021-2022 Biennium
Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for September 12, 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
☐ J. Michael Brewer, Deputy County Manager
☐ Rhonda Blissit, Chief Financial Officer

The Butts County Board of Commissioners held a workshop beginning at 5:00 PM on the following matters:

• Discussion of Leisure Services Facility Rentals and Spaces
• A presentation covering online submittals for Planning and Development by C. Abbot & Associates
• Local legislation for Magistrate and Probate Courts to have a technology fee
• Mutual Aid Agreement with Monroe County
• Fuel Bids
• An update on the Central Georgia EMC Broadband project.

Chairman Brown called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm and requested Vice Chairman Douglas to preside. Also in attendance was Commissioners Russ Crumbley, Keith Douglas, Robert Henderson, and Ken Rivers.

Item 2022-09-151 Adoption of the Docket
Mr. Brewer presented the docket for approval. Mr. Brown moved to approve the docket, seconded by Mr. Henderson with unanimous consent.

Item 2022-09-152 Approval of Minutes
Mr. Brewer presented the minutes for approval. Mr. Rivers moved to approve, seconded by Mr. Crumbley with unanimous consent.

NEW BUSINESS

Item 2022-09-153 Consent Agenda
Mr. Rivers moved to approve the Consent Agenda, seconded by Mr. Henderson with unanimous consent. Included in the Consent Agenda were:

• Resolution CR202247 A Mutual Aid Agreement with Monroe County
• Resolution CR202248 Awarding a Fuel Bid to Walthall Oil Company

Both resolutions shall be made a part of the Book of Resolutions, Volume 1

Item 2022-09-154 Resolution CR202249 Requesting Local Legislation; Tech Fee; Magistrate Court
Mr. Crumbley moved to approve, seconded by Mr. Henderson with unanimous consent.

Item 2022-09-155 Resolution CR202250 Requesting Local Legislation; Tech Fee; Probate Court
Mr. Crumbley moved to approve, seconded by Mr. Rivers with unanimous consent.

Item 2022-09-156 LOST Update
Mr. Johnson updated the Board on the status of LOST negotiations with the Cities, which appears to be moving in the direction of arbitration. Jackson has been proposed to go down to 24% and the County go up to 68%. We have proposed these changes in a phased in approach to allow continued growth in sales tax to mitigate any negative impact that might occur. Growth in sales + growth in the value of each percent. These proposals have been presented to the City Council. Jackson has declined our proposal, so the next step is to move forward to non-binding arbitration. This will require three paid consultants to act as arbitrators and determine what is the fairest distribution.
If the non-binding arbitration is unacceptable to either side, then the County would have limited choices but to either accept taking less LOST than what is supported by multiple data sources, or to let the LOST expire at the end of the year. This would effectively stop it. Currently, LOST accounts for several mils of property tax for Butts County. For the Cities, it has helped ensure that they don’t impose any taxes on their citizens. Currently, the issue is now between Butts County and the City of Jackson.

If the smaller cities do not sign off on the agreement, they automatically would drop to a percentage equal to their population. Most of the LOST tax is paid by out-of-town people buying gas. If Butts County and Jackson do not come to an agreement, it will all go away.

Item 2022-09-157 Monthly Reports
Monthly reports of information were given by the Chief Financial Officer, Deputy County Manager, and the County Manager for the Board’s awareness. Mr. Johnson informed the Board that there was conflicting information on where Giles Ferry Road officially ends. Mr. Johnson says that part of the road leading to the river is unsafe and unnavigable and currently has no public use. Part of the road used to have a bridge on it and the bridge is no longer there, so vehicles must ford water to get to it. Mr. Johnson said that the County either needs to fix the road or abandon it and wishes direction from the Board. The Board has indicated their desire for the County Manager and County Attorney to begin proceedings to close the portion of Giles Ferry Road where a private gate is currently located and abandon that portion of the road as it serves no public purpose.

Item 2022-09-158 Executive Session for Litigation and 159; Attorney Summary
With the conclusion of the items listed on the Docket, Mr. Welch requested an Executive Session for Litigation. Mr. Douglas moved to enter, seconded by Mr. Crumbley with unanimous consent. Shortly afterwards, Mr. Douglas moved to reconvene, seconded by Mr. Rivers with unanimous consent.

Following Executive Session, Mr. Henderson made a motion for the attorney to explore an injunction process on a code violation issue on Watkins Road. Mr. Rivers seconded and this was approved unanimously.

Item 2022-09-160
Following public comment and without further business, Mr. Rivers moved to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Crumbley with unanimous consent. The meeting adjourned at 6:55 PM

Ratified this 14th Day of November, 2022 (Due to no regular meeting in October)

___________________________________________
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. I further affirm that the Board did enter upon an Executive Session for the purposes covered under Georgia Law and stated herein above.

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