CATOOSA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, 800 LA FAYETTE ROAD
March 18, 2008, 6:00 p.m.
The regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners was held Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. in the Catoosa County Administrative Building, 800 LaFayette Street, Ringgold, Georgia.
Commissioner Marks 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: Child Abuse Prevention Month Proclamation; Executive Session: Land Acquisition, Personnel; Approval of RFP from Niles Surveying for Stormwater Engineering Projects Remove: Iworq Software Contract Chairman Clark called for all those in favor of approving the agenda as amended do so by saying aye. By unanimous consent the agenda was approved as amended.
MINUTES
Chairman Clark called for approval of the minutes of the Regular Meeting and Public Hearing of March 3, 2008. There were no corrections and the minutes were unanimously approved as presented.
LEARNING CENTER CONTRACT – SUPERIOR ROOFING County Attorney Chad Young stated an RFP for a roofing subcontract for the Learning Center addition was sent out and Superior Roofing was selected as the lowest responsible bidder. Attorney Young stated that dollar wise they were not the lowest bid but when the architect reviewed the two lowest bids he realized that the lowest bid submitted did not include some items that were required for the project. Attorney Young said he recommends approval of the contract with Superior Roofing in the amount of $67,604.35. Commissioner Marks questioned what the other lower bid was and if they were asked if that included the items left off. County Attorney Young stated the other bid received was from Gutter & Metal Enterprises and the amount was for $56293.80 and the Architect did ask them to go back and bid with the missing items and were $3,000 less than the second low bid from Superior Roofing and after the Architect checked references he was not comfortable with the responses received for Gutter & Metal Enterprises. Chairman Clark called for all those in favor of approving the RFP from Superior Roofing for the Learning Center Addition to indicate so by saying aye. There was no opposition and the RFP was approved by unanimous consent.
TVA CONTRACT – ADMINISTRATION OF ARC GRANT County Attorney Chad Young stated the contract was submitted to the County quite some time ago, and is for TVA to act as the administrator of the $300,000 ARC Grant received by the County for the purpose of connecting the methane wells at the Landfill. County Attorney Young said he has reviewed the contract and recommends approval. Chairman Clark called for all those in favor of approving the contract to indicate so by saying aye. There was no opposition and the contract was approved by unanimous consent.
APPROVE PURCHASE OF TRACTOR – PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Chief Financial Officer Carl Henson stated the Public Works department went out for proposals for a new tractor to be used for transporting heavy pieces of equipment to projects. Mr. Henson stated the County currently has an 86-model mac and received 2 proposals for 2004 model tractors. Mr. Henson said staff recommends approval of the proposal submitted by Fisher Paint Body Frame Shop for $42,500 and also recommends the trade-in on the 86-mac. Chairman Clark called for all those in favor of approving the contract with Fisher Paint Body Frame Shop to indicate so by saying aye. There was no opposition and the contract was approved by unanimous consent.
APPROVE CONTRACT – HASLER – SHERIFF OFFICE POSTAGE MACHINE/SCALES Chief Finance Officer Henson presented the contract with Hasler for the postage machine/scales for the Sheriff’s Office. Mr. Henson stated it is a renewal of a contract and staff recommends approval. Chairman Clark called for all those in favor of approving the contract renewal to indicate so by saying aye. There was no opposition and the contract was approved by unanimous consent.
ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY AGREEMENT – DOT County Manager Mike Helton stated staff would like to receive permission from the Board to join in the DOT Adopt – A – Highway program, Mr. Helton stated the program is where volunteers, county employees, would adopt a mile of road in the County and perform clean ups along the stretch of road. Mr. Helton stated Christal Thomas, Projects Administrator, would be overseeing the project and the project would be at no cost to the County. Chairman Clark called for all those in favor of approving the agreement to indicate so by saying aye. There was no opposition and the agreement was approved by unanimous consent.
APPROVE RFP – NILES SURVEYING – ENGINEERING STORMWATER PROJECTS Stormwater Director Donald Brown presented the RFP for stormwater projects sent out for engineering of current Stormwater projects. Mr. Brown stated Niles Surveying was the lowest bid for approximately $21,340 to be paid for out of SPLOST funds. Chairman Clark called for all those in favor of accepting the RFP from Niles Surveying to indicate so by saying aye. There was no opposition and the RFP was approved by unanimous consent.
COUNTY MANAGER REPORT
County Manager Mike Helton reported on the following:
Commissioner Marks requested an update on the status of Mac Smith Road being reopened.
FINANCIAL REPORT Chief Financial Officer Carl Henson reported on the 5-month fiscal year period ending February 2005. [Exhibit A]
HUTCHESON MEDICAL CENTER – BOND REFINANCING Charles Stewart, Hutcheson Medical Center, stated during the past two years Hutcheson has gone through a tremendous amount of change. Mr. Stewart stated there is completely new management team at the top of the organization. Mr. Stewart stated the new team has focused on improving in the areas of operational excellence, growth, and customer service. Mr. Stewart stated one aspect of the focus on operational excellence has been in the area of quality and several initiatives have been implemented focusing on improving patient care and as a result of the initiatives the efforts have started to garner attention and have been awarded several prestigious awards. Mr. Stewart stated the hospital has also improved in finances, growth, and several other key areas and briefly discussed each one. Mr. Stewart briefly discussed the plans for the future of Hutcheson. Mr. Stewart stated the adoption of the resolution by the Board of Commissioners does not obligate the County in any way it is just required under the Internal Revenue Code to permit the Hospital Authority to issue tax-exempt debt. Mr. Stewart stated the resolution was prepared by their legal council and was presented to County Attorney Patty for his review. County Attorney Young stated he and Mr. Patty have reviewed the resolution and would recommend approval. Commissioner Emberson commended Mr. Stewart and his staff for turning the corner and turning the hospital around and he feels they are doing a wonderful job. Chairman Clark stated he appreciates not only what the staff has done with turning the hospital around financially but also with turning around the quality of healthcare they are now providing. Chairman Clark called for all those in favor of approving the resolution to indicate so by saying aye. There was no opposition and the resolution was approved by unanimous consent.
The resolution is as follows:
PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS:
Mr. Donald Brown presented the following rezoning recommendations:
Case No. 1028-08,James & Linda Slatton, Smith Lane, R-1 to C-1. Mr. Brown stated the applicant is requesting a re-zoning from R-1 to C-1. Mr. Brown stated the Planning Commission approved the request 5-0 subject to 50ft. buffers to apply to all adjoining residential areas. Chairman Clark called for all those in favor of approving the Planning Commissions recommendation for rezoning indicate so by saying aye. There was no opposition and the recommendation was approved by unanimous consent.
Case No. 1029-08,Gerald Simpson, Lime Kiln Road, A-1 to R-1. Mr. Brown stated the applicant is requesting a zoning change from A-1 to R-1. Mr. Brown said the Planning Commission approved the request 5-0 subject to meeting all health department requirements. Chairman Clark called for all those in favor of approving the Planning Commissions recommendation for rezoning indicate so by saying aye. There was no opposition and the recommendation was approved by unanimous consent.
GEFA GRANT APPLICATION SUBMITTAL Carl Henson, Chief Financial Officer, presented the proposed GEFA Grant Application for the Lakeview Sewer Project that would help offset the matching funds required by the County through the CDBG Grant Project. Chairman Clark called for all those in favor of approving the grant application submittal to indicate so by saying aye. There was no opposition and the submittal was approved by unanimous consent.
BOYNTON DRIVE AND POST OAK ROAD INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT Public Works Director Olney Meadows stated Catoosa County Ordinances require that the Board of Commissioners approve traffic improvements/changes and the improvement before the Board tonight is an all-way stop at the intersection of Boynton Drive and Post Oak Road. Mr. Meadows stated the intersection is surrounding by impediments for improvement and by placing a all-way stop at the intersection it will be an improvement for the coming school traffic from the new high school and for the current traffic. Mr. Meadows stated Navco Electric will install a flashing light for the stop, which will enhance the safety for $7,175, and staff recommends approval of the cost of the flashing light as well as the improvement to the intersection. Chairman Clark called for all those in favor of approving the intersection improvement and the cost of installing the flashing light for the intersection to indicate so by saying aye. There was no opposition and the motion was approved by unanimous consent.
Chairman Clark stated he would like to remove Mona Allday from the open Government Committee and appoint Hudon Tatum in her place.
EXECUTIVE SESSION Chairman Clark said the Board would go into executive session for the purpose of legal, land acquisition, and personnel. The vote was taken by roll call and the Board unanimously voted to go into executive session for legal matters, personnel, and land acquisition at 6:41 p.m. The Board voted unanimously to come out of executive session at 7:42p.m.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
PURCHASE OF LIGHTS AT JACK MATTOX PARK County Attorney Chad Young stated the County currently has lease agreements with North Georgia Electric Membership for lights at the Jack Mattox Recreation Park, the Benton Place Campus, and the Catoosa County Jail. The lease agreement with the Jail has a stated buyout option at the end of the term which is coming up, the other two locations do not and the County has expressed an interest in buying those and North Georgia Electric has ask that the County make them an offer. Mr. Henson has ran the figures and given the County credit appropriately for the payments that it has made since the end of the lease contracts and recommends that the County offer North Georgia Electric the sum of $95,714.08 as a buyout option and that the County be given credit for the March lease payment on the lights against that amount. Mr. Young stated he would further recommend that in the offer that if it is not accepted the County exercises the right to terminate the contract and for North Georgia Electric to take possession of their lights effective September 1, 2008. Chairman Clark called for all those in favor of the recommendation of Attorney Chad Young to indicate so by saying aye. There was no opposition and the recommendation was approved by unanimous consent.
ADJOURNMENT There was no further business, and the Board unanimously agreed to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 p.m.