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Finance Committee Meeting Minutes

Glynn County Board of Commissioners

4:00 P.M., Tuesday, March 12, 2002

Third Floor Conference Room

W. Harold Pate Courthouse Annex

Brunswick, Georgia

 

 

Present:

                        Committee Members: M. Bedner, J. Chapman and F. Tullos

                        Commissioners:

Staff:  J. Bruner, M. Eckert, R. Guarracino, G. Hegstrom, J. Herrington, C. Little, P. McNicoll, D. Newbern, J. Pereles, J. Peterson, Y. Phillips, B. Rogers, R. Rowell, R. Shell

Press:  J. Rayburn, C. NeSmith

Others:  Marsha Smith

 

1. Consider approval of the Consent Agenda.

a)      Approve the February 26, 2002 Finance Committee Meeting Minutes. 

 

b)      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. 

 

c)      Exercise the 1st year extension option with Fireworks By Santore, Inc., to provide the 2002 4th of July Fireworks Display.  Funding for the Contractor's fee of $10,000.00 to funded as follows: $7,800.00 by the Brunswick and Golden Isles Visitors Bureau and $2,200.00 by the County. 

 

The following motion made by Commissioner Bedner and seconded by Commissioner Chapman passed unanimously.

 

Recommend approval of the consent agenda.  (Vote: 3-0-0)

 

2. Consider authorizing staff to submit a grant application to the Georgia DNR Environmental Protection Division’s Hazardous Waste Trust Fund for reimbursement of eligible expenses at the Cate Road Landfill, adopt a Resolution as required by the grant application, and authorize the Chairman to execute the grant application and Resolution. 

 

Mr. Dick Newbern, Grants Administrator, presented this item and stated that if approved this grant would reimburse costs that have been incurred in the past year.  Commissioner Chapman asked if there were no matching funds and Mr. Newbern responded that there would be none.  The following motion made by Commissioner Chapman and seconded by Commissioner Bedner passed unanimously.

 

Recommend authorizing staff to submit a grant application to the Georgia DNR Environmental Protection Division’s Hazardous Waste Trust Fund for reimbursement of eligible expenses at the Cate Road Landfill, adopt a Resolution as required by the grant application, and authorize the Chairman to execute the grant application and Resolution.  (Vote: 3-0-0)

 

3. Consider budgeting a total of $18,330 (30%) from the Fire Fund for the purchase of 24 replacement SCBAs, with integrated PASS devices, and apply for $42,770 (70%) in funding from the FEMA USFA Fire Grant program to assist with paying for the new units. The Chairman is authorized to sign the grant application.

 

Mr. Dick Newbern presented this item and stated that the County had applied for this grant last year but it was not awarded to us, as it is a very competitive grant.  Chief Carl Johnson, Fire Chief, informed the Committee that the FEMA received applications for $20 billion in grants but only awarded $100 million.  He stated that if the grant is not awarded to the County this year, the cash match would be used to purchase as many units as possible.  The following motion made by Commissioner Bedner and seconded by Commissioner Chapman passed unanimously.

 

Recommend budgeting a total of $18,330 (30%) from the Fire Fund for the purchase of 24 replacement SCBAs, with integrated PASS devices, and apply for $42,770 (70%) in funding from the FEMA USFA Fire Grant program to assist with paying for the new units. The Chairman is authorized to sign the grant application.  (Vote:  3-0-0)

 

4. Consider

a)      authorizing staff to apply for up to $50,000 from the GEFA Recycling and Waste Reduction Grant Program to finance a public information program to market changes in the County’s recycling services;

b)      approving the necessary Resolution to support the grant application;

c)      contracting Keep Brunswick Golden Isles Beautiful, Inc. to provide essential public information services to be financed from the grant; and

d)      directing the Chairman to sign the necessary documents for filing the application. 

 

Mr. Dick Newbern presented this item and stated that there is no cash match required for this grant and that the County will administer the grant.  Commissioner Chapman questioned whether this was a new public information initiative or a continuation of the current program.   Mark Eckert, County Administrator, stated that there might be new information that will be presented depending on the RFP for Solid Waste that is approved on March 21, 2002.  Ms. Marsha Smith, Keep Brunswick Golden Isles Beautiful (KBGIB), stated that changes in recycling would necessitate an expansion of the education program.  After further discussion the following motion made by Commissioner Chapman and seconded by Commissioner Bedner passed unanimously.

 

Recommend 

a)      authorizing staff to apply for up to $50,000 from the GEFA Recycling and Waste Reduction Grant Program to finance a public information program to market changes in the County’s recycling services;

b)     contracting Keep Brunswick Golden Isles Beautiful, Inc. to provide essential public information services to be financed from the grant; and

c)      directing the Chairman to sign the necessary documents for filing the application.  (Vote: 3-0-0) 

 

5. Consider amending the Board of Elections FY02 Budget. 

 

Mr. Cecil Little, Board of Elections Chairman, requested that the Board of Elections current year budget be amended in order to comply with federally mandated reapportionment.  He stated that the redistricting would require seven or eight additional polling locations and costs would increase as a result.  After discussion the following motion made by Commissioner Bedner and seconded by Commissioner Chapman passed unanimously.

 

Recommend amending the Board of Elections FY02 Budget in the amount of $11,461.22 for the purpose of complying with the federally mandated reapportionment.  (Vote:  3-0-0)

 

6. Consider awarding the Barnes Plantation rip rap project to AMC Mother Trucker, Inc. in the amount of $35,000 to be funded by the remaining $18,573.24 from the project developer and Glynn County funding the shortfall amount of approximately $16,500.00 through the General Fund’s fund balance and that the County Attorney seek reimbursement of the shortfall amount from the Barnes Plantation development owners. 

 

Mr. Jim Bruner, County Engineer, stated that the Barnes Plantation developer had posted a $51,000 letter of credit to secure resolution of the land issues and completion of a rip rap at the discharge end of the Barnes Plantation pump station.  He stated that resolution of the land issues cost $32,426.76 according to Gary Moore, County Attorney.  The amount remaining for the actual rip rap installation was $18,573.24.  One bid was received for the project in the amount of $35,000.  Mr. Bruner stated that he understood that the developer had committed to fund the entire project, which meant that they would provide an additional $16,426.76.  Commissioner Bedner requested a breakdown of the monies that had been spent to date and Mr. Bruner read the list from a letter written by Mr. Gary Moore, County Attorney. Commissioner Bedner asked about the total cost of the pump station to date and Mr. Bruner responded that the costs were approximately $800+ thousand.  Commissioner Bedner asked if any public hearings were held when the pump station was built and Mr. Bruner stated that he was not here at that time.  Commissioner Tullos stated that it has been discussed in public meetings regarding the zoning process.  Commissioner Bedner asked how much of the $800 thousand had the County paid and Mr. Bruner responded that to his knowledge, the County had paid none of that cost.  Commissioner Bedner asked if we had ever had a project of that amount with no County money involved and Mr. Bruner stated that, to his knowledge, we had not.  Commissioner Bedner asked if it was legal to ask Barnes Plantation to pay for this project and Mr. Bruner said that he would have to defer to the County Attorney.  Commissioner Chapman questioned whether there was litigation ongoing on this matter and Mr. Gerard Hegstrom, Assistant County Attorney, stated that there was not.  After further discussion Commissioner Tullos requested that Mr. Bruner present a timeline of events that led up to the present situation and stated that this item would be referred to the full Board of Commissioners with no vote from the Finance Committee.

 

7. Consider awarding the Development and Update of Zoning & Subdivision Ordinances Contract to Duncan and Associates in the amount of $122,500. Funding to come from 142.658 Professional Services Contingency budget.

 

Mr. John Peterson, Community Development Director, stated that an RFP had been issued for these services and that a selection committee had reviewed the proposals and agreed that Duncan and Associates was the most qualified proposer.  Commissioner Chapman asked Mr. Eckert for his opinion and Mr. Eckert stated that there are funds available for the contract and that staff had been planning for the for some time.  Commissioner Chapman asked what the end result would be and Mr. Eckert stated that there would be a total rewrite of the ordinance, a development checklist, and greater clarity in the ordinance.  He stated that wording in the current ordinance is ambiguous and the rewritten ordinance would be clear and concise.  Commissioner Chapman asked how much involvement there would be with the County Attorney’s office and Mr. Peterson stated that this firm has their own legal staff and this project would not be a burden to the County Attorney.  After further discussion the following motion made by Commissioner Bedner and seconded by Commissioner Chapman passed unanimously.

 

Recommend awarding the Development and Update of Zoning & Subdivision Ordinances Contract to Duncan and Associates in the amount of $122,500. Funding to come from 142.658 Professional Services Contingency budget.  (Vote:  3-0-0)

 

8. Consider approving the changes/amendments to the Right of Way Ordinance and authorize the Chairman to sign the Ordinance Amendment. 

 

Mr. Joe Pereles, Public Works Director, presented this item and stated that the ordinance had been reviewed and approved by the County Attorney.  After discussion the following motion made by Commissioner Bedner and seconded by Commissioner Tullos passed with Commissioner Chapman abstaining.

 

Recommend approving the changes/amendments to the Right of Way Ordinance and authorize the Chairman to sign the Ordinance Amendment.  (Vote:  2-0-1)  

 

9. Consider allowing staff to be exempt from the bidding requirements in acquiring the services of Jordan Jones & Goulding and to secure the services of Jordan Jones & Goulding to update the 1999 Water Rate Study with funding to be provided by Program 834, Personnel Funds in the General Fund.

 

Mr. Ray Shell, Utilities Manager, stated that Jordan Jones & Goulding (JJ&G) would perform these services at a not to exceed amount of $16,000 and would charge on an hourly basis.  He stated that capital needs had been identified by staff along with cost estimates and priorities.  That information will be provided to JJ&G along with funding sources and the output would be an updated recommendation for rate increases.  Commissioner Chapman stated that staff should be able to perform those services.  After discussion the following motion made by Commissioner Bedner and seconded by Commissioner Tullos passed with Commissioner Chapman voting against the motion.

 

Recommend allowing staff to be exempt from the bidding requirements in acquiring the services of Jordan Jones & Goulding and to secure the services of Jordan Jones & Goulding to update the 1999 Water Rate Study with funding to be provided by Program 834, Personnel Funds in the General Fund.  (Vote:  2-1-0)

 

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

 

Commissioner Tullos identified items 1(b), 1(c), 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8 as consent items.