APPLING COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS  CALLED MEETING MINUTES November 7,2023 @ 5:30 P.M.  CALLTOORDERWERMVILCOME/NVOCATIONPLEDGE November 7, 2023 at 5:301 PM at the Courthouse Annex.  The. Appling County Board of Commissioners held the regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, The meeting was called to order by Chairman Leslie Burch and he welcomed all those in attendance. Commissioner Sellers gave thei invocation and Mr. John Mitchell led the group in thej pledge. Present were Chairman Leslie Burch; Commissioners Randy Sellers, Theodore Wilkerson, Daryl Edwards, Doug Harris and Charlie Leggett. Also, present were County Manager. Al Meadows, County  Attorney Tracy Brown and County Clerk Robyn Evans.  APPROVALOF AGENDA  A request was received to add) Public Input (Scruggs & Co.) to the agenda and notation that Executive Session would not be needed. Commissioner Harris made a motion to approve the amendments to the Commissioner Harris made a motion to approve minutes from the below meetings. Commissioner  agenda; Commissioner Sellers seconded; unanimously approved.  APPROVALOF MINUTES  Wilkerson seconded; unanimously approved. A. Regular Monthly Meeting October 3, 2023 B. Called Meeting October 17, 2023  OLD BUSINESS  A. Action Pact (Sr. Citizen Center) Request for Van  County Manager Meadows shared with the Board: "The Community Action Agency now. known as Action Pact has been serving seniors in Appling County since 1977. The nutrition program offers meals int two different settings to meet the needs oft both active and homebound seniors. Action Pact provides nutritious meals and nutrition education in both settings and relieves elders' isolation. Whether. Appling In 2013, the County bought a 2007 Buick minivan for Action Pact that has been used to deliver meals. Action Pact has servedat total of 18,468 hot meals in a 12-month period; 12,000 of those meals were delivered, and they logged 10,203 miles in our county. The vehicle was purchased from Keven Carter at ap price of $12,807. This vehicle: now has in excess of 129,000 miles and) has needed over $6000 in repairs. The current vehicle is ini need of replacement. Ihave spoken with Keven Carter, who isa a supporter of Action Pact, and hei is currently searching for a replacement vehicle at the best price The current vehicle is classified as a county vehicle with county tags and insurance. The county shop has performed all repairs." County Manager Meadows recommended thel board consider replacing the current Commissioner Harris made a motion for County Manager Meadows to begin negotiations fora replacement vehicle up to $18,000; Commissioner Wilkerson seconded; unanimously approved.  County's seniors crave food or company - or both = Action Pact feeds the need.  available for the use of Action Pact meal delivery.  vehicle with a used vehicle in the $15-18,000: range price range.    PUBLICINPUT  A. John Mitchell - County Vision for Future  Mr. Mitchell shared with the Board his concerns for the future of the County, stating the Board had no vision or goals set and he hasn't seen any new ideas or different proposals for the direction ofthe County from any of the Commissioners. He also stated that he believed the Commissioners have become complacent in the last ten (10) years, only handling budgets and day-to-day operations and S.P.L.O.S.T. projects. Mr. Mitchell asked the Board, "Where do we go from here?", and offered some suggestions: (1) Implement and man: fire stations at the four (4) corners oft the county; (2) move: fire apparatus immediately; (3)ordinancei for UTV's and ATV's traveling county roads; (4) control of the influx of old trailers (mobile homes) being moved intot the county fors safety concerns. Mr. Mitchell asked the Board if, "we can continue to do the same old things; what is your vision?". He then addressed the Board and stated that the Citizens Chairman Burch replied tol Mr. Mitchell by stating that change was coming and it's because the crowds are Mr. Raffield, Vice President and Division Director of Scruggs & Co., spoke to the Board regarding the recent bid placed for aj portion ofLMIG road work. Mr. Raffield stated that Scruggs has completed over $10 million ofwork for the County in the past ten (10) years and in most cases, have hired local folks as laborers. He stated they own property in the County and the County benefits from the sales, ad valorem tax, hotel and restaurant taxes, when they work int the area. He then mentioned that he was surprised when the County overlookedt them for al local vendor, and when Scruggs was $42,000 cheaper than whom the bid was awarded and questioned why that happened. Mr. Raffield shared with the Board that Scruggs considered themselves local. When asked by the Board how many local employees they had, Mr. Raffield  have full confidence in the County Manager and thej jobl he's doing.  speaking up and showing up. B. Steve Raffield - Scruggs & Co.  could not answer. NEW] BUSINESS  A. ACBOC-2 2024 Designated Holidays/Office Closures  A draft memo designating official County Office closures for the 2024 Calendar year, was reviewed by the Board. Commissioner Legget made ai motion to approve; Commissioner Edwards seconded;  unanimously approved.  B. ACI BOC-2 2024 Regular Monthly Meeting Schedule  A draft memo designating regular monthly meeting dates was reviewed by the board. The meetings are scheduled for the first' Tuesday ofe each month; however, due to holidays changes were made for. January and September dates. A copy of the schedule is attached to the minutes. Commissioner Sellers made a motion to approve the schedule; Commissioner Harris seconded; unanimously approved.  C. ACBOC- County Employee Christmas Bonus  Thel board reviewed as summary ofthe bonuses approved for county employees for the last three (3)years. After some discussion, Commissioner Harris made a motion to approve the employee Christmas bonus for the same amounts as last year (see below); Commissioner Sellers seconded; unanimously approved. Full-Time Employees $500; Part-Time Employees $250; No bonus for County Commissioners or  Constitutional Officers.    HERIFFSREPORT - No updates were given at this meeting. ACHOSPITAL, AUTHORITY - Quarterly Update  CEO. Andrea Graham gave a quarterly update fort thel Hospital Authority, stating that thel hospital was very busy working to bring specialty services to our community. Ms. Graham noted several important updates: the admissions/bathroom project was completed in October; they hired ai new: nursing home administrator; the Pavilion had no falls for thirty (30) days and will be having an annual Halloween costume contest for residents; employees; will hold their 5th annual BINGO fundraiser for cancer; and the cafeteria will holda  grand re-opening on December 1st, 2023.  PUBLIC BUILDINGS & GROUNDS - Dwight Watts  Mr. Watts, Buildings & Grounds Supervisor, shared with the Board that his staff were changing all the annex lightbulbs to LED bulbs which should yield approximately $500/month in savings for the annex building. Het thanked the Board for allowing him to purchase the lift (equipment): and stated they'd used it for replacing light bulbs, working on gutters, work at recreation department properties, and more. Commissioner Harris reminded Mr. Watts to ensure county decals were placed on all trucks and the lift. Commissioner Wilkerson thanked Mr. Watts and his staff for their hard work with the lights and other  projects.  RECREATION DEPT. -1 No updates were given at this meeting. He gave updates on various roads currently being addressed.  ROADS & BRIDGES Brooks. Johnson  Mr.Johnson, Road Department Supervisor, shared that the second round ofli liter pickup was 60% complete.  EXECUTIVE SESSION  The agenda was revised to reflect no executive session was needed at this meeting.  COUNTY MANAGERSREPORT  County Manager Meadows shared updates as below.  2018 SPLOST - The 2018 SPLOST tax collections will be complete on December 31, 2023. On January 1,2 2024, the 1% sales tax will begin for 2024 SPLOST. Prior to. December 31, 2023, the county will publish ai non-technical report that includes completed projects, revenue generated, expenditures, unfinished projects, and estimated completion date. Paving Progress - 2023 TIA projects are well underway; Nails Ferry and Ten Mile roads are currently being paved and are scheduled to be completed by December 31, 2023. Crosby Chapel Road work continues and is scheduled for completion in mid-December 2023. The. Aquatic Center parking lot paving project will begin in approximately two (2) weeks and scheduled for Harris and Company Auditors are currently conducting the 2023 audit for the County offices which includes the 2018 SPLOST. The official results will be complete by the first quarter of Veterans Day Parade this Saturday, November 11,2023. Ifyou are a Veteran and would like tol be in the parade, please contact Barbara Reynolds at 904-728-3485. The program will begin at 11:00. AM on the west Courthouse lawn. County Manager Meadows stated he hoped to see  completion by December 31,2023.  2024.  everyone there.    CHAIRMAN'SCOMMENTS the coming weekend.  Mr. Burch thanked everyone: for coming and stated he hoped to see everyone at the Veteran'sI Day Parade Commissioner Harris mentioned the recent Battle of the Badges fundraiser held in conjunction with Christ Community Church and stated those funds were designated for "Shop with a Cop" project. He stated they anticipated to serve approximately 151 kids with around $3000 donated; but were excited when they surpassed $8000: raised. He thanked all those that donated and participated in thisj just cause. There being no: further business or discussion, the meeting was adjourned at 6:201 PM.  ADJOURN  Robyn Evans, County Clerk 0 ATTEST  Leslie Burch, Chairman  BDANLEO  APPLING COUNTY GEORGIA  &ols Buel