Jones County commissioners approve conditional use for 4‑H/FFA cattle; approve map revisions, appointments and begin distilled‑spirits text amendment

Jones County commissioners on March 4 approved a conditional use allowing the Jones County FFA and 4‑H clubs to keep a limited number of cattle at a privately owned property, approved revisions to the county’s service‑delivery strategy maps to reflect an industrial‑park sewer project and recent water line extensions, confirmed several board appointments and directed staff to begin a text amendment process to allow distilled alcohol package sales as a conditional use in certain commercial districts.

The Abney conditional‑use request drew the largest turnout of the evening. Chairman (name not specified) read a planning staff summary from Mister Petrovsky that the Planning Commission recommended approval of a conditional use in the R‑1 district so the clubs can keep cows at the Abney property. Holly Abney, who identified herself as the property owner, told commissioners the site is about two miles from Jones County High School, is fenced and “has everything they need to house the cows,” and that hosting the animals would be a temporary arrangement until the school finds permanent housing. After one motion and seconds on the floor, the board voted in favor; commissioners called for the conditional use to allow club livestock at the property.

Why it matters: The conditional use creates an interim location for student agricultural programs run by FFA and 4‑H, allowing the county’s youth agricultural activities to continue while the school searches for long‑term facilities.

Commission actions and other approvals

- Service‑delivery strategy revisions: The board approved revisions to the county’s service‑delivery strategy (SDS) maps so Jones County can show the industrial park sewer area and newly installed water service areas as served by the county. Planning staff said the change is required to secure 1 Georgia equity funding for the industrial‑park sewer and must be submitted to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA). Commissioners made a motion to approve the map revisions and voted aye.

- Appointments: The board appointed Steve Johnson to the Middle Georgia Regional Commission for a one‑year term and appointed Stan Bennett to the Historic Preservation Commission for a three‑year term. Motions to approve both appointments passed by voice vote.

- Water tank logo: Commissioners selected a design variant for a new 750,000‑gallon water tank — described in the meeting as roughly 65 feet tall — voting to use a “JC” logo with stripes.

- Safety program resolution: The board approved a resolution presented by county staff to adopt updated safety‑program documents provided by the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG). Staff described the resolution as an administrative update that does not change current operations.

- Inclement weather / holiday pay: Commissioners instructed county staff (Jason) to draft revised policy language so employees who work on days when normal county operations are closed (holiday or inclement‑weather closures) receive commensurate pay; the board asked for the language to be returned for formal consideration at a future meeting.

- Coroner vehicle: After discussion of neighboring counties’ coroner pay and vehicle practices, the board voted to secure a county vehicle for coroner calls and directed staff to identify an available vehicle and return with details. County staff said the coroner responds to roughly 100 calls per year.

- Distilled‑spirits package sale text amendment: The board voted to begin the text‑amendment process to allow distilled alcohol package sales as a conditional use in the C‑1 and C‑2 commercial zoning districts. Planning staff and commissioners noted the approval of a text amendment and any subsequent conditional‑use applications will require separate planning and zoning hearings and that the process may take three to four months before a liquor license could be issued.

Votes at a glance (board recorded actions)

- Conditional use: Abney property to allow limited cattle for Jones County FFA and 4‑H — motion approved by voice vote (ayes recorded; detailed roll call not specified in the transcript). - Approve revisions to service‑delivery strategy maps (industrial‑park sewer and new water lines) — approved by voice vote. - Appoint Steve Johnson to Middle Georgia Regional Commission (one‑year term) — approved by voice vote. - Appoint Stan Bennett to Historic Preservation Commission (three‑year term) — approved by voice vote. - Approve minutes of Feb. 18 work session and Feb. 27 called meeting — approved by voice vote. - Approve ACCG safety‑program resolution — approved by voice vote. - Direct staff to draft inclement‑weather/holiday pay policy language — motion passed; draft to be returned to board for vote. - Direct staff to secure a vehicle for coroner calls — motion passed by voice vote. - Begin text amendment process to allow distilled alcohol package sales as conditional use in C‑1 and C‑2 districts — motion passed by voice vote; item to return to commissioners in May for follow‑up.

Other business and community items

- Public comment: Resident James Harvey asked the board and staff about opening a gym during summer months for youth basketball and volunteered to help run programming; county staff said applications for a gym attendant are being taken and staff and commissioners agreed to follow up about access and scheduling.

- Emergency sirens and hazard mitigation: County staff provided an update on siren installations and said a hazard‑mitigation plan meeting and public hearing are scheduled for March 18 at 5:30 p.m.

What the board did not decide tonight: Detailed language for the inclement‑weather/holiday pay policy is to be drafted by staff and returned for formal adoption; any conditional‑use or licensing steps tied to the distilled‑spirits text amendment will follow additional planning and zoning hearings.

(Reported from the Jones County Board of Commissioners meeting; quotes and substantive details drawn from on‑record remarks by Holly Abney, Mister Petrovsky, Commissioner Martin and other commissioners and staff during the March 4 meeting.)