Finance Committee Meeting Minutes

Glynn County Board of Commissioners

4:00 P.M., Tuesday, April 27, 2004

Third Floor Conference Room

W. Harold Pate Courthouse Annex

Brunswick, Georgia

 

Present:

                        Committee Members:  M. Bedner,  C. Fendig, T. Thaw

Staff:  S. Brian, J. Bruner, K. Bryant, D. Chunn, W. Davis, F. Dees, B. Dimeo, D. Gardner, R. Harrell, D. Harrison, D. Howes, B. McDonald, P. McNicoll,  J. Pereles, G. Moore, B. Rogers,  J. Sanders, C. Stewart, A. Thomas 

Press:  M. Permar, J. Rayburn

Others:   Marshall Davis, Mr. & Mrs. Erbes, Fred Freyer, Don Hyers, Marsha Smith, John Witherspoon

 

Chairman Bedner announced that Commissioner Tony Thaw would be serving on the Finance Committee for the remainder of the year.

 

1.      Consider approval of the Consent Agenda.

 

a)      Approve the April 6, 2004 Finance Committee Minutes. 

 

b)      Deny a request by Mr. Hoke Reeves III that $220.03 paid in interest and penalties on his 2003 Property Taxes be refunded.

 

c)      Deny a request by Mr. John D. Phillips that $914.76 paid in taxes, interest and penalties on his 2000-2004 Vehicle Ad Valorem taxes be refunded.

 

d)      Deny a request by Ms. Roslyn Rensch Erbes that $212.04 paid in interest and penalties on her 2003 Property Taxes be refunded.

 

e)      Approve the real property corrections to the 2003 Digest as recommended by the Board of Assessors and/or the Chief Appraiser at their April 7, 2004 meeting. 

 

f)        Approve the Resolution to amend the FY 03/04 Budget. 

 

Commissioner Fendig requested that item #1d be pulled from the consent agenda for discussion.  The following motion made by Commissioner Fendig and seconded by Commissioner Thaw passed unanimously. 

 

Recommend approval of all Consent Agenda items except 1(d).  (Vote: 3-0-0)

 

1(d)  Ms. Florence Dees, Tax Commissioner stated that she had reviewed Ms. Erbes request and has found that the PT61 form had an incorrect address.  Ms. Dees recommended that the penalties and interest be refunded.  The following motion made by Commissioner Thaw and seconded by Commissioner Fendig passed unanimously.

 

Recommend approval of a request by Ms. Roslyn Rensch Erbes that $212.04 paid in interest and penalties on the 2003 property taxes be refunded.  (Vote: 3-0-0)

 

 

2.      Consider increase the funding of Probate Court operating expenditures by $7,300.00 to allow for all functions to be performed as required by Georgia statute. (15-9-37 & 15-9-41). 

 

Judge Debra Howes, Probate Judge, spoke to the Committee and stated that she needs a $7,300 increase in her budget.  The shortfall resulted in increase in guardianships over last year.  She stated that involuntary commitments are unpredictable and very difficult to budget for.  Commissioner Fendig requested that Judge Howes give a report at the next Finance Committee meeting of her plans to increase revenue in her department.  The following motion made by Commissioner Fendig and seconded by Commissioner Thaw passed unanimously. 

 

Recommend increasing the funding of Probate Court operating expenditures by $7,300.00 to allow for all functions to be performed as required by Georgia statute. (15-9-37 & 15-9-41).  (Vote: 3-0-0)

 

3.      Consider approving the agreement with the Southeast Georgia Health System to receive a 30% discount for services provided to the persons in Glynn County custody with the provision that the County makes payment within 60 days of the date of the invoice for the period of April 30, 2004 through September 30, 2004, and authorize the Chairman to sign the agreement.

 

This item was deferred until the next Finance Committee Meeting at the request of County Administrator Charles Stewart. 

 

4.      Consider awarding the bid to purchase a Hydroscopic Badger from the lowest responsive bidder, Thompson Equipment, Jacksonville, FL, in the amount of $208,387.00 with funding to be provided by SPLOST 4.

 

Mr. Joe Pereles, Public Works Director, stated that bids were opened on April 6, 2004, that seven vendors were invited to bid, and only one responsive bid was received.  The following motion made by Commissioner Thaw and seconded by Commissioner Fendig passed unanimously. 

 

Recommend awarding the bid to purchase a Hydroscopic Badger from the lowest responsive bidder, Thompson Equipment, Jacksonville, FL, in the amount of $208,387.00 with funding to be provided by SPLOST 4.  (Vote: 3-0-0)

 

5.      Consider the following:

a)      approving the retiring of both PTD Rex and PSD Trouble, and remove them from the County’s roll, allowing them to be retired to their handlers; and

b)      accepting the donation of a new canine Bloodhound, (Mabel), from Mr. Phillip Browning.

 

Assistant Police Chief Scott Trautz presented this items and after discussion the following motion made by Commissioner Thaw and seconded by Commissioner Fendig passed unanimously. 

 

Recommend the following:

a)      approving the retiring of both PTD Rex and PSD Trouble, and remove them from the County’s roll, allowing them to be retired to their handlers; and

b)     accepting the donation of a new canine Bloodhound, (Mabel), from Mr. Phillip Browning.  (Vote: 3-0-0)

 

6.      Consider accepting the quote for materials received from Ellis K. Phelps & Company in the amount of $181,881 and immediately commence with the bid process for Modifications to 10 lift stations.  

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Don Hyers, Carter Goble Lee representative, stated that the lift station projects are funded by Splost #4 and that in an interest to reduce costs, the County had opted to furnish the materials for the above listed jobs.  The following motion made by Commissioner Fendig and seconded by Commissioner Thaw passed unanimously. 

 

Recommend accepting the quote for materials received from Ellis K. Phelps & Company in the amount of $181,881 and immediately commence with the bid process for Modifications to 10 lift stations.  (Vote: 3-0-0)  

 

7.      Consider increasing Jordan, Jones & Goulding’s Purchase Order P005114 by $8,000 to a total Not to Exceed fee of $40,000 to install landfill gas vents at the Cate Road Landfill in accordance with the Assessment of Corrective Measures Study approved by the Georgia EPD on May 29, 2003.  The $8,000 additional fee is to cover all costs associated with additional asbestos related activities. 

 

Mr. Jim Bruner, County Engineer, explained the problems with asbestos in the County’s closed landfill and the following motion made by Commissioner Fendig and seconded by Commissioner Thaw passed unanimously. 

 

Recommend increasing Jordan, Jones & Goulding’s Purchase Order P005114 by $8,000 to a total Not to Exceed fee of $40,000 to install landfill gas vents at the Cate Road Landfill in accordance with the Assessment of Corrective Measures Study approved by the Georgia EPD on May 29, 2003.  The $8,000 additional fee is to cover all costs associated with additional asbestos related activities.  (Vote: 3-0-0) 

 

8.      Consider accepting a grant for a Public Opinion Survey (related to the Tree Canopy Survey Grant) with a cash match of $12,500.00 and an in-kind match of $1,920.00.  

 

Mr. Don Gardner, Ga. Extension Agent, presented this item.  Commissioner Fendig voiced his opposition to the survey  and Chairman Bedner agreed with Commissioner Fendig that  the survey wouldn’t give the County any new information and we should not spend $25 thousand for a survey that would not benefit the County.  Commissioner Fendig requested that Mr. Gardner and the Tree Board work with staff to identify trees that need to be set back from the road and provide budget to replace them.  No action was taken on this item.

 

9.      Consider approving staff’s recommendation that St. Simons Island drop off center be relocated to the proposed site as shown on the attached sketch plan. 

 

Mr. Charles Stewart, County Administrator recognized individuals in attendance at the meeting who had worked on this proposal.  Jim Bruner then presented the proposal to relocate the drop off center on combined Airport and County property.  The proposed plan was to move partially onto County property with access provided by mostly Airport property.  After further discussion, the Chairman referred this item to the full Board of Commissioners with no action from the Finance Committee.

 

10.  Consider approving a 10% increase in the water and sewer rates effective July 1, 2004 and direct staff to advertise the proposed rate increase and hold a public hearing in accordance section 2-2-9 of the Glynn County Code of Ordinances. 

 

 

Ms. Phyllis McNicoll, Finance Director, presented this item and stated that this was the scheduled water and sewer rate increase required to finance the revenue bond.  The following motion made by Commissioner Fendig and seconded by Commissioner Thaw passed unanimously. 

 

Recommend approving a 10% increase in the water and sewer rates effective July 1, 2004 and direct staff to advertise the proposed rate increase and hold a public hearing in accordance section 2-2-9 of the Glynn County Code of Ordinances.  (Vote: 3-0-0)

 

11.  Receive a report on W. Harold Pate Courthouse Annex Building re-roofing.

 

Mr. Joe Pereles, Public Works Director, updated the Committee on the roof problems at the Harold Pate Building which resulted from a storm on April 7, 2004.  He stated that the extent of the damage to the roof was major and will require extensive repairs or re-roofing.  The manufacturer of the roofing material has declared bankruptcy and the type of tile currently on the roof is no longer manufactured.  He stated that the cost to replace the roof is estimated to be between $50,000 and $120,000.  No action was taken on this item.

 

12.  Receive report on 4th of July Fireworks Display. 

 

Mr. Joe Pereles informed the Committee that due to changes in NFPA regulations smaller shells will be used in the 4^th of July Fireworks display.  This item was for information purposes only and no action was taken by the Committee.

 

13.  Receive a report on Casino Pool.

 

Mr. Wesley David, Recreation Director, presented financial information on the annual operating costs of the Casino pool.  He stated that the closure of the pool would reduce the budget by $59,575, but would also eliminate pool use for several camps, swimming lesson, and open swimming.  This item was for information purposes only and no action was taken by the Committee.

 

14.  St. Simons Land Trust.

 

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

 

Motion to discuss an item regarding the St. Simons Land Trust.  (Vote 3-0-0)

 

Mr. Fred Freye, St. Simons Land Trust, requested that the County join with the Land Trust in purchasing a tract of land at the intersection of Demere and Frederica.  He stated that the property was under contract for $800,000 and requested that the County pay half of the purchase cost in order to use a portion of the land for a turn lane.

 

No action was taken on this item.

 

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

 

Commissioner Bedner identified all items as consent items except #9 which was referred to the full Board of Commissioners.  Items #8 and #14 do not go to the BOC at this time.