BUTTS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MINUTES OF THE BOARD FOR JUNE 24, 2019

5:00 PM Workshop
6:00 PM Meeting

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

Staff:
Steve Layson, County Administrator
Michael Brewer, Deputy County Administrator
Rhonda Blissit, Chief Financial Officer
Benjamin Vaughn, County Attorney

Section 1: Workshop

Chairman Rivers called the workshop to order at 5PM, The June 24, 2019 Commission Meeting Workshop has been called to order by Chairman Ken Rivers. The first item was a presentation on Land Use Management by ACCG representatives Mike O’Quinn, Mary Beth Brownlee and Bill Twomey. Ms. Brownlee gave the main presentation. The next item on the Commission workshop was a discussion by the IDA on Tax Allocation Districts with Executive Director Bob White making the presentation to the Board of Commissioners. The workshop adjourned at 5:54 PM.

Section 2: Regular Meeting Preliminaries and Recognitions
The regular meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM and Mr. Brewer gave the invocation and led the pledge of allegiance.

Item 2019-06-116 Adoption of Docket
The docket was approved unanimously following a motion from Mr. Douglas and a second by Mr. Henderson.

Item 2019-06-117 Approval of Minutes
Mr. Douglas also moved to approve the minutes, seconded by Mr. Henderson with unanimous consent.

Item 2019-06-118 Recognition of 14U Soccer Team Champions
The Board recognized the State Champion Recreation Soccer Team for ages 14 and under for their outstanding accomplishments and positive reflection of Butts County.

Item 2019-06-119 Proclamation for Amateur Radio Week
The Board gave the annual proclamation of recognition to the Amateur Radio group and thanked them for their work. The proclamation was approved upon a motion from Mr. Douglas, seconded by Mr. Brown with unanimous consent.

Item 2019-06-120 Proclamation for Butts Mutts Animal Rescue Group
Upon a motion by Mr. Douglas and second by Mr. Brown, a proclamation passed by unanimous consent was presented to Butts Mutts in appreciation of their work sheltering, fostering and adopting dogs in Butts County.

Section 3: Old Business

Item 2019-05-096 Passage of CR201915 Regulating Roadside Solicitations
Mr. Brewer presented CR201915, a Resolution to regulate roadside solicitation and collections to the board. This was introduced in May and is back with modifications for Board approval. Mr. Douglas moved to approve the resolution, seconded by Mr. Brown and the motion passed 4-1 with Mr. Crumbley in dissent and all others in favor. The resolution will be made a part of the Book of Resolutions Volume 1.

Section 4: New Business

Item 2019-06-121: Public Hearings on Various Text Amendments to the UDO
A public hearing was held on text amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance. Christy Lawson of Community Development is presenting. Chairman Rivers open a public hearing on watershed update. No public comments. Mr. Henderson moved to approve, seconded by Mr. Douglas with unanimous consent.

The second text amendment would allow people to apply for the placing of a swimming pool in the front yard of a residence in situations where there might be a lake or other in the background. The Chairman opened a public hearing with no comment. Mr. Brown moved to approve, seconded by Mr. Crumbley with unanimous consent.

The third text amendment would allow commercial greenhouses or plant nurseries in A-R zoning under a special use if granted. One citizen spoke in favor of. None spoke against. Chairman Rivers pointed out that this amendment will open the door for commercial vehicles and wear and tear on the road in this residential area. Mr. Crumbley moved to adopt the text amendment to the ordinance on greenhouses, seconded by Mr. Henderson and the motion passed 3-1-1 with Mr. Rivers in dissent and Mr. Brown abstaining due to a conflict of interest.

Item 2019-06-122: Public Hearing on Special Use for Cell Phone Tower ZC 05(01)2019
The next public hearing was for a special use for a cell phone tower on Lamar’s Mill Road. Following the presentation by Planning, the public hearing was opened. The property owner spoke in favor of the special exception. Two adjacent property owners spoke against. The public hearing was then closed and the Chairman asked what the pleasure of the board was. The County Attorney made several recommendations. Chairman Rivers then received a petition against the height of the tower from a number of adjacent property owners and requested the Members consider this. Mr. Brown moved to postpone and pass this to the Board of Appeals, get their recommendations and ask the property owners to review possible alternate sites. This was seconded by Crumbley and passed with unanimous consent.

Item 2019-06-123: Public Hearing on Rezoning or Special Use for Greenhouse ZC 05(02)2019
The next item was a public hearing for a rezoning or a special use for a greenhouse in an Agricultural Residential zone. The property owner has represented his approval of the conditions previously recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission. The Chairman noted that the business had been operating illegally for four years without having a license to do business. He then opened a public hearing on the matter. Commissioner Brown recused himself from this action and was one of three people who requested to speak in favor of the special use, in addition to Jeannie Branch and George Weaver. Speakers supported following the exact recommendations of the Planning and Zoning Commission, to permit a special use that would go with the owner and not the land and leaving the zoning AR but allowing him under a special use to operate a greenhouse. The Public Hearing was closed. Commissioner Crumbley expressed that he feels there were mistakes made on both sides and he moved to approve the special request following the recommendations of the Zoning Commission. Mr. Henderson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously, 4-0 with Mr. Brown abstaining.

Item 2019-06-124: Rezoning from R3 to CT on Private Road ZC 05(03)2019
The next public hearing was on rezoning an area off a private road (Steele) from R3 to C2 zoning for a commercial truck repair facility. It is consistent with the future land plan. The Zoning Commission has recommended approval. No one spoke for or against and upon a motion from Mr. Brown to follow the Zoning Commission’s recommendations and seconded by Mr. Henderson the motion passed 4-0 with Mr. Crumbley abstaining due to being a relative of the applicant.

Item 2019-06-125: Special Use for Repair Facility on Private Road ZC 05(04)2019
The next public hearing was on a Special Use for the same Repair Facility as required by Zoning. No one came forward to speak for or against. Mr. Brown moved to accept the Planning and Zoning recommendation, seconded by Mr. Douglas and the motion passed 4-0, with Mr. Crumbley due to being a relative of the applicant.

Item 2019-06-126: Approval of Alcohol License
An application was brought before the Board for an approval of an alcohol license at 1501 Halls Bridge Road. Mr. Douglas moved to approve, seconded by Brown and it passed 3-1-1 with Crumbley in dissent and Henderson abstaining.

Item 2019-06-127: Approval of Alcohol License
An application was brought before the Board for an approval of an alcohol license at 278 Marina Circle. Mr. Douglas moved to approve, seconded by Brown and it passed 3-1-1 with Crumbley in dissent and Henderson abstaining.

Item 2019-06-128: Passage of CR201916 Authorizing Chair to Approve Certain Documents
Mr. Brewer presented CR201916, a Resolution granting powers to the Chairman or Vice Chairman to sign ceremonial documents in lieu of Board action. Mr. Douglas moved to approve, seconded by Mr. Brown with unanimous consent.

Item 2019-06-129: Passage of CR201917 Making Midyear Board Appointments
Mr. Brewer presented CR201917, a Resolution making a range of appointments to various boards. Mr. Douglas moved to approve, seconded by Mr. Brown with unanimous consent. Reappointed were Burt Jones to the Water Authority; Bill Driggers to the Elections Board; Toni Clark to the DFACS Board; Sandra Haisten to the McIntosh Trail Community Services Board; and Justin Phillips to the Construction Board of Appeals.

Item 2019-06-130: Passage of CR201918 Governing and Restricting Pay Supplements
Mr. Brewer presented CR201918, a Resolution restricting and governing certain pay supplements to court officials and elected officers. Mr. Douglas moved to approve, seconded by Mr. Henderson with unanimous consent.

Item 2019-06-131: Passage of CR201919 On the Naming of County Buildings and Properties
Mr. Brewer presented CR201919, a Resolution governing how county properties including buildings, roads, parks and other properties were named for individuals and placing policies in place that would restrict this. Mr. Douglas moved to approve, seconded by Mr. Brown with unanimous consent.

Item 2019-06-132: Passage of CR201920 On Auditing Requirements of External Agencies
Mr. Brewer presented CR201920, a Resolution on Auditing Requirements for External Agencies receiving appropriations from the County. Mr. Brown moved to approve, seconded by Mr. Crumbley with unanimous consent.

Item 2019-06-133: Approval of Contract for Indigent Defense with John B. Miller, Attorney
The next item was the approval of a contract for Indigent Defense. Mr. Douglas moved to approve, seconded by Mr. Brown with unanimous consent.

Item 2019-06-134: Authorization to Initiate Intergovernmental Agreement
Chairman Rivers presented the next item which is a request to the Members to vote to initiate the negotiation process with Lamar and Monroe counties to go to a population based split of the budget costs of the judiciary. Motion was made by Mr. Brown, seconded by Mr. Crumbley and passed with unanimous consent.

Item 2019-06-135: Amendment to the LMIG Program to Remove a Road
Mr. Layson made a request to remove Walthall Road from the LMIG road paving program for this year because the contractor had to go up in price beyond available funding to the county for this year. Mr. Rivers stated that while he understood the reason this needed to be done, that he hoped the board would give this road top priority the following year when more funding became available. Mr. Crumbley moved to remove the road, seconded by Mr. Douglas, and to put this at the top of the priority list in 2021. The motion was passed unanimously.

Item 2019-06-136: Granting of Easement to Civil War Heritage Trail
The next item was the granting of an easement to place a Civil War Heritage Trails marker at the Indian Springs Hotel. Mr. Brown moved to approve, seconded by Mr. Crumbley with unanimous consent.

Item 2019-06-137: Approval of Historic Preservation Grant for Historical Society
Mr. Layson presented a request from the county historical society whereby the county would give its approval for the historical society to seek a historic preservation grant. Mr. Crumbley moved to approve a grant for the Historical Society, seconded by Mr. Douglas with unanimous consent.

Item 2019-06-138: Financial Update
County financial officer Rhonda Blissit gave the monthly financial report to the board. With 92% of the year complete, the County has collected 94% of the budget and expended 95% of the budget, according to the Financial Report given by Ms. Blissit.

Item 2019-06-139: County Administrator Report
Mr. Layson reported on various projects including an update on the extension service building remodeling. He reported that the court would be ready to move in within eight weeks.

Item 2019-06-140: Executive Session for Real Estate
Crumbley moved to go into executive session, seconded by Brown with unanimous consent. Mr. Crumbley moved to reconvene, seconded by Mr. Douglas with unanimous consent. The Board will abandon a portion of Wallace Road and will vote to begin to do so. Mr. Brown moved to begin proceedings, seconded by Mr. Crumbley seconds with unanimous consent.

Item 2019-06-141 Adjournment Motion
Mr. Brown moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mr. Crumbley with unanimous consent.

Ratified this 8th Day of July, 2019

/S/ 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 do swear and affirm that the Commissioners did enter upon an Executive Session for the purposes of discussing one real estate matter, meeting the requisite conditions for going into closed session as allowed under Georgia law.

/S/ J. Michael Brewer, Deputy County Administrator
as Clerk of Butts County