BOC meets behind closed doors for 35 minutes

A closed session was not on the agenda but the BOC amended the agenda at the start of the meeting to include a closed session as item number 14 on the agenda. Three more items were on the agenda to be discussed but they were moved forward to be on the agenda after the closed session.

The commissioners went behind closed doors for 35 minutes. Clerk Jenni Gailey, assistant clerk Erin Decker and county attorney Randal Frost were in the closed session. Human resources director Judy Greer was called into the closed session for toward the end of the meeting.

When the commissioners came back to the public meeting room, there was no discussion of the closed session. Instead, chairman Milton Dalton went on to the next item on the agenda, which was an increase to county fees. Other items still on the agenda for discussion and possible action were public safety board and resolution related to the board of tax assesssors.

ACTION TAKEN

The following actions were taken by the BOC in unanimous votes during the open portion of the meeting:

•increasing zoning fees and alcohol license fees. The few zoning fees will be effective Jan. 1 and the new alcohol license fees will be implemented as they come up for renewal.

•approving a resolution stating that the board of assessors falls under the county’s personnel policy.

•tabling filling two vacancies on the public safety board until the Sept. 28 meeting.

•approving a request from Ken Owens to rezone property at the intersection of McCoy Bridge Road and Hwy. 441 from ARR to C-2 to relocate his farm equipment sales business. Paul Jones, an adjacent property owner, spoke in opposition to the change of the property to commercial use. The approval of the request came with a condition that if the tree line has any breaks in it along the property line, trees will be planted to provide a buffer.

•approving a request from Brandon Linn to make improvements to the amphitheater at the Scout facility as part of an Eagle Scout project. This is located on county property.

•denied a variance request from David McNeal to reduce the setback requirements on either side of his property to 10 feet.

•approving requests from Mackie Etris, representing the Commerce Lions Club, and Dave Gaddis, representing the Sons of the American Legion to hold fund-raisers at the recreation complex. The Commerce Lions Club asked to use two ball fields on Nov. 20; while the Sons of the American Legion asked to use one or two ball fields on Nov. 13.

•approving a contract with the City of Alto to purchase or sell water on an as-needed basis. The contract includes a price of $3 per 1,000 gallons. The proposed contract called for this fee to be in place for one year but the BOC changed it to state that the fee would be good for five years.

•denying approval of the Aug. 31 meeting minutes due to a dispute over whether commissioner Rickey Cain voted in favor of a motion for new fire chief Jim Fuller to recruit volunteer firefighters. Charles Turk questioned why the minutes had been changed to read that Cain voted against this. Turk said it was a unanimous vote of approval from the BOC. Assistant clerk Erin Decker reported that Cain called her and said he voted against the motion. Turk said, “We need to vote no, yes or abstain. You shouldn’t be able to change your vote Wednesday morning.” Cain was not at the meeting Tuesday night to comment on the matter.

REPORT ON HOSPITAL

Also at the meeting, Steve Clapp gave an update on improvements and plans at BJC Medial Center/Restoration Healthcare. He reported that nine physicians invested in the hospital.

“We believe physicians should be helping to lead the charge,” Clapp said. “I think physicians need to be back in charge. They should use us to help implement.”

Clapp said plans are to rename and hospital and to continue to make improvements, as well as bringing in more specialized physicians.

“We are trying to improve morale in the organization and trying to rebuild our reputation in the community,” he said.

Restoration Healthcare has already added some equipment, including bone density machines and a sleep lab.

“In the first four to five months, we spent $125,000 in improvements,” Clapp said. “We have a lot more to do…We also got back in the black and are making a little money.”

Clapp said Restoration Healthcare plans to be involved in the community, adding that they have already brought lunch to the EMS staff in Banks and Jackson counties and sponsored a football program at the Banks County High School.

“We are doing things in the community and will continue to do so as we go forward,” he said.

In other business Tuesday night, Don Hamrick spoke on the poor conditions of Rattletrap Road and asked the BOC for some assistance. No action was taken but the board did ask for additional information