Though asked to attend the September 9 meeting, neither Sheriff Joe Robinson nor any of his staff were present to answer commissioners’ questions or justify the additional expenditures. The board voted to table the request and asked the finance department to determine exactly what portion of the cost overruns the county was obligated to pay.
Tuesday night, the Sheriff was a no-show again as county finance director Beth Horacek returned before the commissioners to provide further details regarding the Sheriff’s budget.
The budget amendment request included an additional $230,000 in salaries and wages, $52,000 in fuel costs, $122,000 for prisoner medical expenses, $95,000 for prisoner food, $19,000 for maintenance and an extra $60,000 for outside prisoner housing as well as funds for higher than expected group insurance costs.
After a review of the budget and invoices, $15,200 in invoices were sent back to the Sheriff for payment out of the department’s funds. An additional $276,000 in invoices are currently under review by the county, according to Horacek.
Dist. 6 commissioner Ben Hendrix questioned how the Sheriff could have been under budget at mid-year and have since gone in excess of half a million dollars over budget.
“The majority of departments in this county have cut, yet we still have [money] we’re going to have to try and come up with out of reserves,” he said.
Dist. 4 commissioner Isaiah Berry was more blunt.
“This is crazy,” he said. “At mid-year, we were under budget in that department. There has to be some checks and balances somewhere. This foolishness has got to stop.”
Dist. 3 commissioner Bill Healan also voiced his frustration.
“We have sat here twice in good faith and we have had no representative from the Sheriff’s Department to appear and even try to justify what is happening,” he said. “I am deeply disappointed.”
Healan, Berry and Hendrix voted against the budget amendment. Dist. 1 commissioner Jerry Lampp, Dist. 2 commissioner Bill Brown and Dist. 5 commissioner Billy Parks voted to approve the amendment, each voicing the opinion that the county basically had no choice.
Commission Chairman Doug Garrison cast the deciding vote in favor of the amendment.
“I know it’s hard, but our bills have to be paid. This is a financial matter, I don’t see anything to do but vote for the motion,” he said.
In other financial business, the board tabled a vote on the 2009 budget.
After several commissioners expressed a reluctance to implement a stormwater utility fee to offset the cost of maintaining the county’s 300 detention ponds and 98 miles of storm drain piping, financial planners adjusted the budget to compensate for the lack of revenue the fee would have provided.
As a result, budgeted expenditures will now be $441,900 higher than projected revenues.
The budget was tabled to allow commissioners more time to decide if the additional cost will be offset by using the reserve fund or if a tax increase will be necessary.
In other business, the board:
• approved the Barrow County Comprehensive Plan and Comprehensive Transportation Plan.
• officially deeded the airport property to the Barrow County Airport Authority as required by local legislation.
• voted 5-1 to approve a request from the Barrow County Airport Authority for reimbursement of $239,800 related to the acquisition of property for the instrument landing system. Dist. 3 commissioner Bill Healan voted against the measure citing concerns about the use of reserve funds to pay for the reimbursement.
• Recognized Lt. Scott Dakin, Investigator Rachel Love of the Winder Police Department and Pastor Mike Peavy for their work with the Barrow County Fire and Emergency Services’ "Children after the Fire" program. The program was selected as one of seven finalists by the International Association of Fire Chiefs for the IAFC's US Safety Engineering Award for Excellence.
• selected Four Paws Animal Hospital to provide veterinary services for Barrow County animal control.
• approved Geer and Associates to provide audit services for Barrow County.
• selected Fowler’s Furniture Company out of Athens to provide High density filing and racks for the criminal justice facility at a cost of $109,000.
• chose Ivan Allen to provide furniture and work stations for the justice center at a cost of $102,200.
• selected Southeastern Laundry Equipment and Sales as the provider of washers and dryers for the justice center at a cost of $9,900.
• approved an amendment to the personnel policy to continue insurance eligibility for the coroner and commissioners.
• denied a request to rezone 24 acres on Hancock Bridge Road from R1 to AG to operate a horse farm.
• approved a request to rezone 8.54 acres in the area of Rat Kinney Road and Hollis Road from AG to AR for a minor subdivision.
• approved a request to split 5.74 acres on Dooley Town Road into three tracts and rezone the property from AG to AR and R1.
• approved a request to rezone 2.82 acres on Dooley Town Road from AR to R1 and split the land into two tracts.
• approved a correction to the Barrow County zoning map for property located on Jackson Trail Road. The correction will change the property zoning from AG to M1.
• tabled a condemnation of property for a road work project. The county has reached a tentative agreement with the landowner for the parcel at the end of Hoyt King and Hwy. 81.
Even though the zoning board recommended rezoning to AG; even though planning and zoning recommended the rezoning to AG; the board of commissioners voted to deny the rezoning.
The Post had an attorney stand up and oppose the rezoning. Their attorney, John Stells,told lie after lie, with no reference to any zoning ordinance or regulation. I WAS NOT GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO REBUT THEIR LIES. I had to sit there and listen to it, and say nothing. This process in itself is unconstitutional! If someone is going to go before a public hearing and speak lies, then the other party should be given the opportunity to rebut the lies.
Thank goodness, I knew to file an "Unconstitutional Objection" before it went before the commissioners. This means that I now have to file with the courts and have a judge rule on the rezoning.
Since there was NO LEGAL REASON to deny the rezoning, I don't anticipate the judge ruling against me. His ruling will be based on legal facts and precedence, not fiction and the whim of commissioners.
To those who support us, please call your commissioner and let your voice be heard.
2. The financial oversight of the County budget is non-existent!
3. Detention Ponds. My homeowners association - which was formed by a responsible builder - requires annual dues to take care of detention ponds. Now that the county is going in the detention pond maintenance business can we turn ours over to Barrow County? and reduce my expenses. Would love to know the steps to make this happen.
4. I smell a millage increase on the way. To clean up the mess left by a bunch of irresponsible developers whose goal is to pump and dump subdivisions through out Barrow County.
If the builder(s) didn't built them correctly -- fix the problem and sent them the bill. If a home owners association is responsible send them the bill. If it's on private land not in a subdivision then send the homeowner the bill.
Next thing you know we we'll have to pay for installing fire hydrants in neighborhoods that were built without them, and how that passed I'll never know!!!!!!
If the storm water utility fee is implemented the County will charge and collect a fee only where they are providing this service.
"I don't see anything to do but vote for the motion" has been Mr. Garrisons battle cry since he was elected. The real shame is that future elected officals and the tax payers will be the ones paying the price for all the YES men's votes and big spending.