CATOOSA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, 800 LA FAYETTE ROAD
May 15, 2007, 6:00 p.m.
The regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners was held Tuesday, May 15, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. in the Catoosa County Administrative Building, 800 LaFayette Street, Ringgold, Georgia.
County Attorney Patty gave the invocation, which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Chairman Clark called the meeting to order. The following commissioners were present: William H. H. Clark, Chairman; Ken Marks, Commissioner District One; Robert Winters, Commissioner, District Two;
James F. Emberson, Commissioner, District Three; and Dewayne Hill, Commissioner, District Four.
Additions: Settlement Agreement in Horse Racing Case (Young). Remove: Executive Session. By unanimous consent the agenda was approved as amended.
MINUTES
Chairman Clark called for approval of the minutes of the regular meeting of May 1, 2007 and the called meeting of May 8, 2007. There were no corrections and the minutes were unanimously approved as presented.
APPROVAL OF DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION COUNTY RIGHT OF WAY AGREEMENT FOR COLBERT HOLLOW BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION County Attorney Patty presented the County right of way agreement with respect to the Colbert Hollow Road construction of the Chickamauga Creek Bridge. Mr. Patty stated the agreement provides that the County would provide a right of way according to DOT specifications for that Bridge. Mr. Patty said the county has acquired all of the right of way and the documents have been sent and must be signed by the Chairman and the County Attorney. Chairman Clark called for all in favor of approving the agreement do so by saying aye. There was no opposition and the agreement was approved by unanimous consent.
CHANGE ORDER #1 ADD ALTERNATE #2 TO ORIGINAL CONTRACT FOR THE WEST CHICKAMAUGA BASIN SEWER PROJECT. County Attorney Young presented the proposed change order for the West Chickamauga Basin Sewer Project. Mr. Young stated the change order is to add one of the alternates that is to extend the interceptor down Cloud Springs Road for an additional cost of $557,967.82. Mr. Young stated the change order has been requested by Ft. Oglethorpe and will be paid for by Ft. Oglethorpe in connection with the Intergovernmental Agreement. Chairman Clark called for all those in favor of approving the change order do so by saying aye. There was no opposition and the change order was approved by unanimous consent.
REQUEST FOR PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT UNDER MOTOROLA CONTRACT. Carl Henson, Chief Financial Officer, stated that in December of the last year the Commissioners approved the lease purchase of countywide communication equipment through Motorola. Mr. Henson stated that since that time, additional equipment has been identified and requested, part of which was for Courthouse security and 20 additional mobile phones and various speakers and cases totaling $61,785.50. Mr. Henson stated Motorola has agreed to sell the equipment at the contract price. Chairman Clark called for all those in favor of approving the purchase of additional communication equipment under the Motorola contract do so by saying aye. There was no opposition and the motion was approved by unanimous consent.
COUNTY MANAGER REPORT Mr. Brown reported on the following:
Mr. Henson presented the financial month ending April 30, 2007. [Attached hereto as Exhibit A]
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT FOR HORSE RACING CASE County Attorney Young briefly discussed the ongoing litigation that goes back to 2004 in the Keith Community off Mt. Vernon Rd. where horse racing was taking place. Mr. Young stated the case has been settled according to the terms approved by the Board previously. Mr. Young said the individuals that were conducting the horse racing operations ran out of money and the property is now being used as farmland. Chairman Clark called for all those in favor of approving the settlement agreement do so by saying aye. There was no opposition and the settlement agreement was unanimously approved.
HEALTH INSURANCE RENEWAL
Carl Henson presented the Board with the proposed Health Insurance renewal plan. [Attached hereto as Exhibit B] Commissioner Emberson said he attended the meeting with United Healthcare when the renewal options were discussed and recommends the Commissioners approve Option 1.Chairman Clark called for all those in favor of approving Option 1 of the Health Insurance Renewal with United Healthcare do so by saying aye. There was no opposition and Option 1 of the Health Insurance Renewal was approved by unanimous consent.
APPROVE ENGINEERING DESIGN OF FT.OGLETHORPE BALL FIELDS – DIETZ ROAD LOCATION – KECK & WOOD ENGINEERING FIRM County Manager Ron Brown stated the Ft.Oglethorpe Recreation Association has recommended approval of the engineering design of the ball fields located off Dietz Road. Mr. Brown stated the Association received 3 quotes and recommend approval of Keck & Wood’s quote of $13,000. Chairman Clark called for all those in favor of approving the contract do so by saying aye. There was no opposition and the contract was approved by unanimous consent.
Bill Guinn, resident. Said he feels that with the money he pays in the County he should be allotted five minutes to vent. Said in 1998 he built a home in the County at that time he inquired about the underground construction of utilities to his home, Ringgold Telephone Company at that time was talking about bringing TV in on a telephone wire, when he put the underground line in he specified to R.T.C. to please put enough line in the ground so that it will not have to be dug up and redone. Mr. Guinn said he started out with a telephone and satellite TV he could not receive cable because it was not provided in that area. Said he has spoken with Mr. Patty about this problem in the past. Said he applied for NexTV when it came available and they used the same cables that were previously put in. Said when he received his bill there was a NexTV County franchise fee of $1.93, he could not understand and the telephone people said that was what the County charged and they pass the fee on to their customers. Said he read an article where people were arguing over what started the Civil War and he feels it started over taxation. Said he is getting ready to do something about the taxation and he is bound and determined to start a revolution. Said over the next 3 months on the last day of August at midnight he and his family are going to stop work and sit down and not buy gas, not pay any sales tax, not conduct any business in the County or Country, and is urging every one who hears him to get ready because there is going to be a boycott of nationwide people that are productive not governmental workers. He will not conduct business at all for the whole month of September and he is going to stop trucks in this Country for 30 days. Says people will change their tune about taxation and the price of gasoline. Said get ready for September and Operation Jericho.