By Matt Gardner
The Appling County Board of Commissioners held their first regularly scheduled meeting of 2012 on Tuesday, January 3 starting at 5:30 p.m. in the Appling County Courthouse Annex. During the meeting the commissioners heard concerns from many local citizens about the proposed changes to the Solid Waste Plan with regard to a proposed recycling/waste processing plant.
Citizens express concern to county officials
Steve Parrott asked the commissioners how the proposed project would impact the people of the community in regards to increased traffic and noise. Another local citizen to voice concern was Dianna Ralsh who stated that they are a close community that takes care of each other and the proposed plant would hurt the community. Mary Watson informed the commissioners that she had lived in the area for over 50 years and had never seen much change in the community. Ronnie Thornton asked if there were any plants like the proposed processing plant in the area that citizens could visit. Jonathan Mann asked the commissioners about the process that would take place before the proposed plant would be constructed.
Sidney Wildes and Alex Johnson answered many of the questions from the citizens. After some discussion, a motion was made Commissioner Sarah Boatright, with a second by Commissioner Theodore Wilkerson, to approve the amendment to the county’s Solid Waste Plan. The motion carried on a split vote with commissioners Boatright, Wilkerson and Jasper Tomberlin voting in favor, Ronnie Rentz voted against the motion and Charlie Leggett abstained.
Other business
Bids for the surplus equipment sale were opened with winning bids being awarded unanimously to 3D Contracting in the amount of $14,550.00 for the Laser GR 231 Road Stripping Machine and to Jerry Parlor for the CAT Bulldozer for the amount $6,520.00. Other bids were submitted for other equipment, but were not approved.
County Manager Lee Lewis informed the commissioners that if a two-year commitment was made for the Fourth of July fireworks display, the price for the second year would remain the same. After some discussion a motion was made by Wilkerson, with a second by Boatright, to make the two-year commitment for a cost of $8,895.00 per year. The motion was carried by split vote with commissioners Boatright, Wilkerson, Rentz and Tomberlin voting in favor and commissioner Leggett voting against.
Wilkerson was appointed as the Vice Chairman of the commission unanimously.
County Attorney Bob Highsmith was reappointed by split vote with commis-sioners Wilkerson, Leggett, Rentz and Boatright voting in favor and Tomberlin voting against.
Called meeting
The commission met for a called meeting on Thursday, Jan. 5. The board voted to enter into a closed-door session for personnel purposes. Following the vote the commissioners, along with Manager Lewis and County Attorney Highsmith entered into the session. Over the next hour and a half the group met with three county employees behind closed doors. Following the session, Lewis announced no action would be taken at this time.
Lewis also presented information to the commissioners about the county?s health insurance. The manager reported that the county is faced with a 30 percent increase this year (an approximate $600,000.00 increase) and he shared ways to potentially reduce the increase such as increasing copays and deductibles. After discussing the matter, the commissioners tabled making a decision to allow more time to study the information presented by Lewis.
(Jamie Gardner attended the called meeting and contributed to this article.)
Sidney Wildes and Alex Johnson answered many of the questions from the citizens. After some discussion, a motion was made Commissioner Sarah Boatright, with a second by Commissioner Theodore Wilkerson, to approve the amendment to the county’s Solid Waste Plan. The motion carried on a split vote with commissioners Boatright, Wilkerson and Jasper Tomberlin voting in favor, Ronnie Rentz voted against the motion and Charlie Leggett abstained.
Other business
Bids for the surplus equipment sale were opened with winning bids being awarded unanimously to 3D Contracting in the amount of $14,550.00 for the Laser GR 231 Road Stripping Machine and to Jerry Parlor for the CAT Bulldozer for the amount $6,520.00. Other bids were submitted for other equipment, but were not approved.
County Manager Lee Lewis informed the commissioners that if a two-year commitment was made for the Fourth of July fireworks display, the price for the second year would remain the same. After some discussion a motion was made by Wilkerson, with a second by Boatright, to make the two-year commitment for a cost of $8,895.00 per year. The motion was carried by split vote with commissioners Boatright, Wilkerson, Rentz and Tomberlin voting in favor and commissioner Leggett voting against.
Wilkerson was appointed as the Vice Chairman of the commission unanimously.
County Attorney Bob Highsmith was reappointed by split vote with commis-sioners Wilkerson, Leggett, Rentz and Boatright voting in favor and Tomberlin voting against.
Called meeting
The commission met for a called meeting on Thursday, Jan. 5. The board voted to enter into a closed-door session for personnel purposes. Following the vote the commissioners, along with Manager Lewis and County Attorney Highsmith entered into the session. Over the next hour and a half the group met with three county employees behind closed doors. Following the session, Lewis announced no action would be taken at this time.
Lewis also presented information to the commissioners about the county?s health insurance. The manager reported that the county is faced with a 30 percent increase this year (an approximate $600,000.00 increase) and he shared ways to potentially reduce the increase such as increasing copays and deductibles. After discussing the matter, the commissioners tabled making a decision to allow more time to study the information presented by Lewis.
(Jamie Gardner attended the called meeting and contributed to this article.)
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