Commissioners Hold Marathon Work Session

 

CLEVELAND, Ga. — The White County employees’ retirement plan, a budget amendment for the Tax Assessor’s office, purchase of vehicles for the Sheriff’s Office and Fire Department and inclusion of county roads in the Local Maintenance Improvement Grant program were key items on the agenda during a marathon two-and-a-half hour work session Monday.

Commissioners expressed some dissatisfaction with the retirement plan and are considering a change from the current provider Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company (VALIC).”

Chairman Travis Turner said commissioners wanted the answer to two key questions: Would employees save money by making a switch and would they get a comparable return on their investment.

Robert Kim made a detailed slide presentation for an alternative vendor, ACCG/GEBCORP, a retirement arm of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, that deals exclusively with the public sector.

After hearing the presentation, commissioners said they would review the plan and make a decision in the next couple of weeks.

There was a request by the Assessor’s Office for an additional $8,161 in funding due to a discrepancy found in an audit report.

After some discussion, commissioners decided that the bridges on Town Creek Road and New Bridge Road were most in need of repair under the Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG) program. The estimated cost is $489,462.20 but bids have not been let and the actual amount could differ.

There was also a discussion about road paving projects in each commission district. Among the roads being considered are Steve Lewis, Sam Craven, Stanley Nix Danny Palmer, Joe Franklin, Arthur Allen, Apple Drive, Yonah East Estates, Mountain Meadow and Mauldin Road.

Commissioners also heard a request from Sheriff Neal Walden for two new Ford Explorers in the amount of $71,113.92 from Jacky Jones Ford to be paid for with SPLOST funds.

Public Safety Director David Murphy has been looking to purchase a tanker for the Fire Department at an amount not to exceed $75,000 but reported he has been unsuccessful. He asked commissioners to increase the monetary limit and authorize him to purchase the vehicle as soon as it is located. He said used fire trucks are in great demand and that when he locates one it is generally sold before can make an offer.

Commissioners held two public hearings. The first was a request by Larry Freeman to redistrict three acres on Duncan Bridge Road from R-1 residential.

The second was a request by Bryan and Theresa Hamilton for a conditional use permit (CUP) for a multi-purpose event venue at 6394 Duncan Bridge Road.

These and other issues will be voted on in the next county commission regular meeting.