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 Finance Committee Meeting Minutes

Glynn County Board of Commissioners

4:00 P.M., Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Third Floor Conference Room

W. Harold Pate Courthouse Annex

Brunswick, Georgia

 

Present:

                        Committee Members:  H. Lynn and T. Thaw

Other Commissioners:  C. Johnson

Staff:  E. Carter, D. Chunn, E. Clark, P. Corbett, M. Doering, F. Flournoy, P. McNicoll, M. Milton, D. Newbern,  J. Peterson, Y. Phillips, B. Rowell,  C. Stewart, A. Thomas, S. Trautz, W. Worley

Press:   M. Permar

Others:   M. Davis

 

 

1.      Consider approval of the Consent Agenda.

 

a)      Approve the May 10, 2005 Finance Committee Minutes. 

 

b)      Deny a request from Mr. Bo Frier, Farmers and Merchants Bank, that $559.23 paid in penalties and interest on bill #0415719 for 2004 property taxes be refunded.   

 

c)      Approve the real property correction to the 2004 Digest as recommended by the Board of Assessors and/or the Chief Appraiser at their May 11, 2005 meeting. 

 

d)      Declare the unusable items listed on the attached page as surplus and approve the sale of these items in the best interest of the County.                      

 

e)      Authorize payment of the excess tax proceeds from the tax sale of parcel no. 04-05268 in the amount of nineteen thousand, six hundred ninety-seven dollars and ninety-one cents ($19,697.91) to attorney William T. Ligon for distribution per legal priorities. 

 

The following motion made by Commissioner Thaw and seconded by Commissioner Lynn passed unanimously.

 

Recommend approval of the Consent Agenda.  (Vote: 2-0-0)

 

2.      Consider increasing the FY 04/05 budget for the Glynn County Juvenile Court by $5,875.00 with funding to be provided by the General Fund fund balance. 

 

Mr. Phillip Corbett presented the request from the Juvenile Court Judge.  Commissioner Thaw stated that Mr. Charles Stewart, County Administrator, had sent a letter to Judge Rountree concerning his budget request.  The following motion made by Commissioner Thaw and seconded by Commissioner Lynn passed unanimously.

 

Defer until a later meeting the request to increase the FY 04/05 budget for the Glynn County Juvenile Court by $5,875.00 with funding to be provided by the General Fund fund balance.  (Vote: 2-0-0)

 

3.      Consider

a)      accepting the FY04 Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG) award in the amount of $39,668 for the purpose of purchasing equipment for the Glynn County Police Department;

b)      authorizing the commitment of the necessary $4,408 local match with funding to be provided by the Police Seizure Fund;

c)      authorizing the Chairman be to sign any necessary grant documents subject to the review and approval by the County Attorney; and

d)      authorizing staff to expend the project funds. 

 

Police Chief Matt Doering informed the Committee that this is an annual grant that allows for updating existing and technology and the addition of new technology and equipment for law enforcement purposes.  The following motion made by Commissioner Thaw and seconded by Commissioner Lynn passed unanimously.

 

Recommend

a)      accepting the FY04 Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG) award in the amount of $39,668 for the purpose of purchasing equipment for the Glynn County Police Department;

b)     authorizing the commitment of the necessary $4,408 local match with funding to be provided by the Police Seizure Fund;

c)      authorizing the Chairman be to sign any necessary grant documents subject to the review and approval by the County Attorney; and

d)     authorizing staff to expend the project funds.  (Vote: 2-0-0)

 

4.      Consider

a)      approving the establishment of an enterprise fund for the Building Inspections Division under a user based fee system to begin July 1, 2005 and to be updated annually as a part of the County Budget process. Enterprise Fund – Building Inspection;

b)      authorizing staff to advertise a public hearing for an increase in the development review and construction inspection fees as proposed. 

 

Mr. Ellis Carter, Building Official, presented item (a) and stated that it was realized in 1993 that fees should be adjusted so that the fees equal the level of services provided.  He stated that the County implemented a decrease in Building Inspection fees in 2003 but that the building activity has continued to grow and those fees could possible be $1.4 million by July 1.  The establishment of an enterprise fund would provide a more accurate accounting of the costs related to the building inspection process.

 

Mr. John Peterson, Community Development Director, presented item (b).  He stated that the proposed fees had gone to public hearings in Planning Commission but were never forwarded to the Board of Commissioners.  According to Mr. York Phillips, the analysis of development costs was prepared in 2003 and those same fees are being presented at this time.

 

The following motions made by Commissioner Thaw and seconded by Commissioner Lynn passed unanimously.

 

Recommend approving the establishment of an enterprise fund for the Building Inspections Division under a user based fee system to begin July 1, 2005 and to be updated annually as a part of the County Budget process. Enterprise Fund – Building Inspection.  (Vote 2-0-0)

 

Recommend authorizing staff to advertise a public hearing for an increase in the development review and construction inspection fees as proposed with the condition that the building inspection fee reduction proposal be presented to the Board during the same meeting.  (Vote: 2-0-0) 

 

5.      Consider awarding a contract to Rentz Communications, Inc. in the amount of $525,606 to provide a 1500 kw (Standby) Caterpillar Generator and associated switchgear for the above mentioned project with funding to be borrowed by Glynn County. 

 

Mr. Marshall Davis, Carter Goble Lee, stated that the St. Simons Island Wastewater Treatment Plant was required to have emergency generator back-up.  Six bids were received with bids ranging from $525,606 to $997,315.  He stated that CGL had done a thorough review of the lowest bid and had determined that the bid met all project specifications.  They also checked references for Rentz Communications and found them to be satisfactory.  The following motion made by Commissioner Thaw and seconded by Commissioner Lynn passed unanimously.

 

Recommend awarding a contract to Rentz Communications, Inc. in the amount of $525,606 to provide a 1500 kw (Standby) Caterpillar Generator and associated switchgear for the above mentioned project with funding to be borrowed by Glynn County.  (Vote: 2-0-0)

 

6.      Receive a report on the status of the tax collections and decals for non-homesteaded mobile homes.

 

Mr. Charles Stewart, County Administrator, had received a report of mobile home billings and collections from the Tax Commissioners Office which stated that 71% of bills had been paid by the due date.  He stated that some of the delinquents may have moved out of the County.  Code Enforcement will be working with the Tax Commissioner and Property Appraiser to locate mobile homes that are not in compliance with state laws. 

 

No action taken.

 

 

7.      Consider that funds in the amount of $230,000 necessary for the purchase of the equipment for white/bulk solid waste collection be committed and allocated in the FY 06 budget and that staff be authorized to begin the bidding process immediately for purchase of the equipment. 

 

Ms. Becky Rowell, Assistant County Administrator, presented the request for funding.  The following motion made by Commissioner Thaw and seconded by Commissioner Lynn passed unanimously.

 

Recommend that funds in the amount of $230,000 necessary for the purchase of the equipment for white/bulk solid waste collection be committed and allocated in the FY 06 budget and that staff be authorized to begin the bidding process immediately for purchase of the equipment.  (Vote: 2-0-0)

 

8.      Consider increasing the fleet maintenance budget by $67,000 with funding to be provided by General Fund fund balance. 

 

Mr. Joe Pereles, Public Works Director, presented this item and stated that there are no available funds in other Divisions in Public Works could be used to cover the fleet shortfall.  He commented that the fleet expenses are for vehicles in all departments, not just Public Works. The following motion made by Commissioner Lynn and seconded by Commissioner Thaw passed unanimously.

 

Recommend increasing the fleet maintenance budget by $67,000 with funding to be provided by General Fund fund balance.  (Vote: 2-0-0)

 

The following motion made by Commissioner Thaw and seconded by Commissioner Lynn passed unanimously.

 

Motion to add two items to the agenda.  (Vote:  2-0-0)

 

9.      Consider approval of three Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) grant contracts for the Fire Department and one for the Police Department in the amounts of $106,045 and $156,720, respectively.

 

Mr. Dick Newbern, Grants Administrator, stated that GEMA had just sent the grant contracts and required a turn-around of fourteen days.  Fire Chief Al Thomas stated that the County had applied as part of the Area 5 Southern Counties and that there was no local match required.  Chief Matt Doering stated that the Police grant will fund personal protective equipment and a new Mobile Command Vehicle.  He stated that there would be no additional staffing or operations costs required.  After discussion concerning the use of the mobile command vehicle the following motion made by Commissioner Thaw and seconded by Commissioner Lynn passed unanimously.

 

Recommend

a)   approving three (3) grant contracts offered by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency totaling $106,045 in federal funds to purchase equipment, as listed below, in accordance with grant requirements for the Fire Department to use for reacting to acts of terrorism and authorizing the Chairman to execute contracts, subject to the County Attorney’s approval.

·         The first grant contract is for $32,000 that will finance a Mass Casualty

      Decontamination Shelter.

·         The second grant contract is for $24,045 that will finance an ACU-T tactical package that will provide interoperable communications with all responding agencies in the GEMA Region 5 southeast Georgia area.

·         The third grant contract is for $50,000 to finance a fully-equipped mass casualty trauma trailer that can respond to an incident in a two-or-three county area.

b)     approving the grant contract offered by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency totaling $156,720 in federal funds to purchase equipment in accordance with grant requirements for the Police Department to use for reacting to acts of terrorism and authorizing the Chairman to execute contracts, subject to the County Attorney’s approval.  (Vote: 2-0-0) pages

 

10.  Request that Chairman Lynn identify the Finance Committee items which should be included as consent items in the Commission’s Meeting Agenda.

 

Chairman Lynn identified all items as consent agenda items except item #2 which was deferred to a later meeting.