By Jamie Gardner
The meeting of the Appling County Board of Commissioners held Tuesday, September 4, was a meeting topped by public discussion. Several concerns were addressed during the meeting including a road issue and Lake Mayers usage.
Members of public discuss concerns with commission
First to speak was Tommy Leggett in regard to Noah Lane. Leggett said that the road is in terrible shape. Commissioner Sarah Boatright asked if the road is a county-maintained road and County Manager Lee Lewis stated that it is a private drive. Lewis explained that there are a number of property owners that use the roadway and some of the owners and county officials have worked to get the roadway deeded to the county, but some landowners have not agreed to make the road a county roadway.
James and Maria Cook explained that a relative (Maria’s mother) lives on the roadway in question and is willing to give half of the required land for the road if the other owners are willing to agree. The Cooks explained that the condition of the roadway has forced neighbors to start driving through their relative’s yard. The couple also questioned how the original right-of-way for the existing road could be sold to another owner, which they claim has transpired with one of the property owners that has land joining the roadway. The Cooks explained that if the other landowners were not willing to deed the land to the county then they would need to install a fence to keep neighbors from driving through the yard.
Manager Lewis stated that he would contact the landowners to see if he could get them to agree to deed the property to the county in order to make it a county roadway.
Shawn Floyd spoke to the commission concerning Lake Mayers. Floyd reported to the commissioners that he and others have been utilizing the lake to prepare race boats for competitions. Floyd noted that there had been a few complaints about the boats using the lake. He explained that the racers would normally use the Altamaha River for testing, but due to the river being at a low level, they have no other alternative to test their boats other than at Lake Mayers. Floyd stated that after the initial complaints were reported, he and other racers decided to only test boats in the afternoons on Mondays – Thursdays when it is not crowded at the lake and added that the boaters only go two to three times per month to do testing. Floyd reported that out of seven races he has attended this year, he has won six of the events.
Tim McNeal stated that he helps the racers with their engines and he assured the board that they try to be as safe as possible when testing the boats at Lake Mayers. He added that there are some 8,700 hours in a year’s time and that these boaters only use the lake approximately 100 hours per year. He too assured the commission that they try to limit their visits to the lake.
Other business
Board members agreed to purchase two new 30-page per minute Toshiba copiers from Independent Office Services, of Glennville, at a cost of $3,195.00 each. Independent submitted the low bid for the copiers. Southeastern Business Machines bid $3,850.00 for a 30-page per minute Canon copier.
Following a short discussion, the commissioners agreed to move forward with a recommendation from Lewis to allow the Public Library to move forward with a portion of the technology update/renovation at the library that is part of the ongoing Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST). Of the $150,000.00 allocated to the library in the SPLOST, the library would spend approximately $26,000.00 with this request that includes 13 new computers, four early literacy stations for the children’s area, and a new server rack. Commissioner Ronnie Rentz stated that he was amazed at what one penny could do for the county, referring to the SPLOST.
The board approved the Short Term Work Program resolution that is updated every five years and includes the county and cities of Baxley, Graham and Surrency. Lewis thanked the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission for assisting in preparing the resolution.
Manager Lewis reported that he had received a telephone call last week from the Georgia Forestry Commission. He stated that he was informed that the Appling Unit could potentially lose one ranger as a result of state funding cutbacks. The commissioners agreed to send a resolution to State Representative Tommy Smith and State Senator Tommie Williams requesting that this position not be cut in Appling County. Prior to the vote Boatright questioned if the board could take action on this item since it was not included on the agenda for the meeting. Board Attorney Bob Highsmith stated that the commission could go ahead and vote on the matter. The motion carried unanimously.
James and Maria Cook explained that a relative (Maria’s mother) lives on the roadway in question and is willing to give half of the required land for the road if the other owners are willing to agree. The Cooks explained that the condition of the roadway has forced neighbors to start driving through their relative’s yard. The couple also questioned how the original right-of-way for the existing road could be sold to another owner, which they claim has transpired with one of the property owners that has land joining the roadway. The Cooks explained that if the other landowners were not willing to deed the land to the county then they would need to install a fence to keep neighbors from driving through the yard.
Manager Lewis stated that he would contact the landowners to see if he could get them to agree to deed the property to the county in order to make it a county roadway.
Shawn Floyd spoke to the commission concerning Lake Mayers. Floyd reported to the commissioners that he and others have been utilizing the lake to prepare race boats for competitions. Floyd noted that there had been a few complaints about the boats using the lake. He explained that the racers would normally use the Altamaha River for testing, but due to the river being at a low level, they have no other alternative to test their boats other than at Lake Mayers. Floyd stated that after the initial complaints were reported, he and other racers decided to only test boats in the afternoons on Mondays – Thursdays when it is not crowded at the lake and added that the boaters only go two to three times per month to do testing. Floyd reported that out of seven races he has attended this year, he has won six of the events.
Tim McNeal stated that he helps the racers with their engines and he assured the board that they try to be as safe as possible when testing the boats at Lake Mayers. He added that there are some 8,700 hours in a year’s time and that these boaters only use the lake approximately 100 hours per year. He too assured the commission that they try to limit their visits to the lake.
Other business
Board members agreed to purchase two new 30-page per minute Toshiba copiers from Independent Office Services, of Glennville, at a cost of $3,195.00 each. Independent submitted the low bid for the copiers. Southeastern Business Machines bid $3,850.00 for a 30-page per minute Canon copier.
Following a short discussion, the commissioners agreed to move forward with a recommendation from Lewis to allow the Public Library to move forward with a portion of the technology update/renovation at the library that is part of the ongoing Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST). Of the $150,000.00 allocated to the library in the SPLOST, the library would spend approximately $26,000.00 with this request that includes 13 new computers, four early literacy stations for the children’s area, and a new server rack. Commissioner Ronnie Rentz stated that he was amazed at what one penny could do for the county, referring to the SPLOST.
The board approved the Short Term Work Program resolution that is updated every five years and includes the county and cities of Baxley, Graham and Surrency. Lewis thanked the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission for assisting in preparing the resolution.
Manager Lewis reported that he had received a telephone call last week from the Georgia Forestry Commission. He stated that he was informed that the Appling Unit could potentially lose one ranger as a result of state funding cutbacks. The commissioners agreed to send a resolution to State Representative Tommy Smith and State Senator Tommie Williams requesting that this position not be cut in Appling County. Prior to the vote Boatright questioned if the board could take action on this item since it was not included on the agenda for the meeting. Board Attorney Bob Highsmith stated that the commission could go ahead and vote on the matter. The motion carried unanimously.
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