Pickens County commissioners approve series of agreements, contracts and appointments

The Pickens County Board of Commissioners approved a series of contracts, rezones, surplus declarations and appointments during its March 17 meeting in Jasper.

The board voted to: approve an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Jasper governing regulation of county- and city-owned properties inside each other’s limits; adopt an updated Emergency Operations Plan and a statewide mutual aid and assistance agreement; authorize a GDOT bridge replacement agreement on State Route 136 at Tuckenridge Creek; accept paving contracts for county parking and road projects; approve 2024 budget amendments; authorize multiple surplus equipment sales; and confirm several appointments and reappointments to county boards and commissions.

Several items were routine and carried by voice vote with no recorded roll-call. For multiple motions the board responded “Aye” with no oppositions recorded on the public record. Where detailed cost figures were provided in packet materials, the board acted to authorize the chairman to sign the related contracts and agreements.

Key outcomes recorded in the meeting packet and by motion on the floor include: - Intergovernmental agreement (City of Jasper): approved; chairman authorized to sign. - Emergency operations plan: approved; chairman authorized to sign. - Statewide mutual aid and assistance agreement: approved; chairman authorized to sign. - GDOT agreement for bridge replacement on State Route 136 at Tuckenridge Creek: approved; chairman authorized to sign (see separate article for details). - Parking lot paving contract (county administrative building and library): awarded to Johnson Paving LLC, Blue Ridge; low bid $419,827.56; motion authorized chairman to sign construction documents. - Road paving contract (multiple county roads): awarded to Colton's Trucking; low bid $2,001,060.13; authorization included contingent removal of Henderson Mountain Road segment if EPD approvals are not received in time. - Tourism development agreement with the Pickens County Chamber of Commerce (hotel/motel tax use): approved; chairman authorized to sign. - Budget amendments for 2024 presented by finance staff: approved. The packet reported an increase in billing revenue of $1,235,079 to date for 2024; the amendments were described as reconciling about a 5% revenue increase and a 3% increase in expenditures. - Multiple surplus equipment items across departments were authorized for disposal and sale via GovDeals, including vehicles and miscellaneous equipment from water, recreation and fire departments. - Reappointments and appointments: Board of Health reappointments, planning commission appointments and reappointments, beer and wine board appointment and EMS advisory council reappointment were all approved; terms and expirations were read into the record. - Minutes (February regular meeting and March work session): approved. - Several rezones and a conditional-use modification were approved (see separate article on rezones for details).

The board also authorized staff to initiate a public hearing process to consider abandonment of a portion of Pettit Road and approved a resolution and required legal notice to begin that process.

Several items were presented as packet items with details available to commissioners in the meeting packet; where the public record lacked itemized roll-call votes the minutes record voice approval with “Aye” and no recorded opposition.

The meeting recessed into an executive session to discuss lease or disposal of property before returning to adjournment.