Tuesday's BOC Meeting Agenda

WORK SESSION AGENDA JULY 31, 2006 10:00 A.M. – BOARD ROOM

CITIZENS’ BUSINESS

APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Regular Commission Meeting of July 18, 2006.

PLAT APPROVALS – PRELIMINARY (Cynde) Note: If you oppose either of these, PLEASE come to the meeting to voice your opinions!
2. Riverside Ridge, Unit 2
3. Falcon Ridge @ Anneewakee Trails (Revised)

PLAT APPROVALS – FINAL PLAT ACCEPTANCE
4. The Lakes @ Stewart Mill, Phase 3
5. Riley Estates, Phase 2
6. The Villages @ Brookmont – Entrance Road and Recreation Area #1
7. Holly Springs, Unit 8, Phase 1 (Revised)

PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER
8. Massage Practitioner License (Elise)
Alternative Gym, Inc.
561 Thornton Road – Suite Q, Lithia Springs, GA 30122
(Applicant: Angelica M. Gomez)

BUSINESS
9. The County has received a $2,638 check from Village Auto Insurance
Company for repair work on Rescue #1. The funds need to be added to the
Fire Department’s budget. Amend the budget by increasing Insurance
Claims by $2,638 and by increasing Automotive Other Expenses by $2,638.
(Bob)

10. Transfer $100,000 from the Budget Reserve Line Item to the Legal Fees
Line Item due to legal expenses exceeding the budget amount for the year.
Also, transfer from the Legal Services Department, where it was originally
budgeted, to the following departments: $16,180 to Maintenance &
Construction; $14,187 to Appraisal Department; $91,988 to Planning &
Zoning; $630.00 to Animal Control; $5,000 to General Appropriations; and
$27,359 to Sheriff Detention. (Bob)

11. The Aquatic Center is requesting that $9,000 be added to their budget for
the purchase of chemicals. Since the pool has not operated for a full year
when the budget was prepared, they could not anticipate accurately how
much it would take for chemicals. There has also been an increased
participation which has resulted in more chemicals being needed. Amend
the budget by increasing Aquatic Center Fees by $9,000 and by increasing
Chemicals & Fertilizer by $9,000. (Bob)

12. Authorization to receive a $75,000 contribution from Continental Properties,
Inc. for intersection improvement project at Chapel Hill Road and
Anneewakee Road/Dorsett Shoals Road and amend the SPLOST
Transportation budget line item R20150 by increase of $75,000. (Randy)

13. Authorization to advertise for a public hearing to consider the installation of
a multi-way stop at the intersection of North Helton Road and Liberty Road.
(Randy)

14. Authorization to advertise for a public hearing to consider the installation of
a multi-way stop at the intersection of Liberty Road and West Liberty
Road/East Liberty Road. (Randy)

15. Authorization for Chairman to execute amendment to FY’07 Aging Services
Contract with ARC (Atlanta Regional Commission).

16. Award of bid for solid waste disposal services. (Diane)

17. Award of proposal for red light traffic enforcement system. (Diane)

18. The Council of Juvenile Court Judges has awarded Juvenile Programs a
$5,000 grant for grant cycle year October 1, 2006 – September 30, 2007.
No matching funds are required. Authorize the Chairman to sign the
contract and approve budget amendment. (Jenny)

19. Authorization for Chairman to execute contract with Georgia Department of
Transportation for 6.910 miles of resurfacing on various County roads
(Project PR000-S009-00(544). (Randy)

20. Café 450 Services Agreement. (Diane)

21. Millage Rate. (Bob) Editor's Note: This is the county's way of getting more $$. If approved, your property taxes will go up at least $40.

22. Appointments to the Cemetery Preservation Commission.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

COMMISSIONERS’ COMMENTS

EXECUTIVE SESSION - Personnel, Litigation, Land Acquisition

INMATE CAUGHT!

They may have caught the inmate, I'm not sure though. A policeman just came over the radio and said they all did good and then another came on and said to resume normal operations.

CONFIRMATION--INMATE HAS BEEN CAUGHT!!!!!!! Fox5 said he was just arrested after a two hour manhunt and found him in a residential area.

According to the Sentinel, the two men who robbed Ann's Florist last Friday were NOT arrested and are still on the run. Here's yesterday's police blotter from The Sentinel if you didn't get a chance to read it. I did get a chance to look at today's Sentinel and there was not a Police Blotter.

Florist Robbed At Gunpoint
By Tyra McKinney

Ann's Florist on Highway 5 was reportedly robbed Friday afternoon at gun point. No arrests were made, and the incident is under investigation by the Douglasville Police Department.

In other news:

• Richard Crimes Jr., 21, was arrested Friday for an alleged forgery at the Wachovia Bank on Arbor Place Boulevard;
• Joseph Gast, 20, was arrested July 9 for allegedly shoplifting at the Kroger store on Highway 5;
• Krystal restaurant on Stewart Parkway reportedly was burglarized Sunday morning around 7 a.m.;
• a 15-year-old female was arrested July 7 at Parisian department store for theft and shoplifting'
• Mark Daniels, 24, was arrested Sunday morning for alleged drug and marijuana possession;
• Matthew Martin, 29, was arrested July 7 for alleged drug and marijuana possession.

I'm listening to the police scanner online. Mention of a holdup on Thornton road at a pediatrics office. There's also cars blocking the road on Thorton road and a delivery truck can't get through. And something was going on earlier this afternoon as I saw three police cars (at least one unmarked) speeding up Hwy 5 and going on I-20. And someone called and complained about two juvenilles in their backyard setting fires. So lots going on today.

Police Blotter Sunday Afternoon

There was a hit and run at Cedar Mountain Road. Apparently cars speed on the road. No word on who and/or what was hit.

There was a motorcycle accident at Burnt Hickory and Sleepy Hollow Road. The person driving the motorcycle was unharmed and decided to go home where police caught up with him,

A business next to Dazzles Skating Rink had a window broken by an apparent vandal.

Apparently there is also a problem at night with kids skateboarding in a parking lot. Police will be patrolling the parking lot.

There was a bank alarm at the Douglas Corner shopping center at a mortgage business. Apparently someone at the business typed in the wrong code which made the alarm go off.

Robbery

A robbery early this afternoon at Ann's Florist began with two suspects, one a black male, fleeing the scene on foot into Arbor Station. It was reported that a dozen county and city officers took up the chase and successfully apprehended both suspects. Good job, Douglasville and Douglas County Police!

Police Blotter

No longer do we have to wait for the Sentinel to write up a police blotter--we can listen to scandouglas.com and write a police blotter ourselves. And there's still quite a bit of small town in Douglas County. For example, at 12:30 p.m. today, there was a horse or more than one horse in the road at the corner of Chapel Hill Road and Hwy 166.

Police Scanner

Yes, now you and everyone else can hear the Douglas County Police scanner! So far tonight I've heard about fireworks and a loud party in a subdivision. A lot of the time they use codes so you don't know what they're talking about. The website is http://www.scandouglas.com/index.php
It's pretty interesting to listen to. This website gives you the Ten Codes. For example, a burglary is 10-15. You'll really hear the southern drawl, too. A common question is "Where y'at?" If they're sending an ambulance they'll say 911.

Other happenings tonight: Lots of stoppings of suspicious vehicles.

On Tonight's News

On 11 Alive News tonight, there was a piece about Kimberly Alexander, president of the Douglas County NAACP. She says many have not gotten fair representation for their trial in Douglas County and she says it's because of a corrupt (my word, not hers--can't remember exactly what was said) judicial system. She has a meeting with the commissioners or someone at the courthouse tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. to discuss this with them. She recommends that the current judicial staff be replaced.

I tried to look on 11 Alive's website to see if they had an article about this, but there was not one to be found. I'll try to watch their noon news tomorrow to see if anything comes out of the meeting tomorrow.

Friday's Sentinel

Jail site decision delayed
By Winston Jones/Photo by Nathan Todd

Commission Chairman Tom Worthan yesterday delayed a final jail location decision for a called Board of Commissioners (BOC) meeting at 10 a.m. next Monday. The Douglas County Jail Site Location Committee Thursday recommended building the new county jail at the current downtown Church Street site.

However, Commission Chairman Tom Worthan delayed a final jail location decision for a called Board of Commissioners (BOC) meeting at 10 a.m. next Monday. The committee report was delivered at the 10 a.m. regular Board of Commissioners (BOC) meeting at the courthouse.

Worthan told the board that he was delaying a decision “in the spirit of cooperation with the city.” Reading from prepared remarks, Worthan said, `I would ask that this board not adopt the resolution until we have explored every option available. One last possible site is still under consideration. Owners of the site are not local and negotiations are ongoing through a secondary source.`

Worthan said the board doesn’t have a selling price for the land at this time and needs an agreement with the city to help acquire the property. He said the deal might involve a land swap or `assistance in offsetting the differential in cost.` Terry Baggett, chairman of the jail study committee, called his group’s findings to use the current jail site `the only logical recommendation to be sent to the Board of Commissioners, who will make the final decision.` However, he noted that the committee decision was not unanimous.

Part of road abandoned
By Winston Jones

The Douglas County Board of Commissioners (BOC) Thursday approved abandonment and disposal of a portion of Old Factory Shoals Road. The 4-0 approval followed a scheduled public hearing on the issue during the 10 a.m. regular BOC meeting. Nobody spoke at the public hearing.

Randy Hulsey, county Department of Transportation (DOT) director, noted that the transaction dates back to the Camp Creek Parkway project in the late 1980’s. The county purchased right-of-way from landowner Paul Turner, and in exchange, agreed to give Turner a portion of Old Factory Shoals Road.

Police Blotter

From the Sentinel.

New Car Stolen
By Winston Jones

Douglas County officials are investigating the theft of a new car from a car dealership on Thorton Road. Heritage Volkswagon reported a silver 2006 Volkswagon Jetta was taken from the new car lot sometime between June 13 and June 28. The theft was reported to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office on July 3, when the car was disvoered missing.

In other news, police are investigating a July 3 theft of lottery tickets from an Exxon station on Lee Road. About 50 to 60 $10 scratch-off tickets were reported missing from the store, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office report.


And in other news...

A winner of the CBS show Survivor was arrested in Douglasville yesterday after he shot his puppy with an arrow. He thought it was a wolf. He was charged with misdemeanor batttery and animal cruelty charges.

Planning & Zoning Board Agenda

PLANNING & ZONING BOARD AND BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING AGENDA

July 6, 2006

APPROVAL of MINUTES

May 25, 2006

AGENDA

S2006-44
Divine Destiny Christian Center – Request for a Special Use Permit to allow church services at the property located at 3387 Highway 5, Suite A: Land Lot(s) 127, District 2, Section 5, Parcel(s) 190. Lot size: 1.48 Acres.
[TAB 1]

Z2006-45
J. Michael Samples/Corporate Ridge Associates – Request for a rezoning to remove the zoning condition of 100’ buffer adjacent to Linda Lane at the property located at 1400 – 1460 Trae Lane: Land Lot(s) 707, District 18, Section 2, Parcel(s) portion of 7. Lot size: 14.83 Acres.
[TAB 2]

S2006-42
Sr. Pastor John S. Holmes/Barak International Ministires - Request for a renewal of the Special Use Permit to allow church services at the property located at 2078 Fairburn Road, Suite 1: Land Lot(s) 910, District 18, Section 2, Parcel(s) 32 Lot size: 1.67 Acres.
[TAB 3]

S2006-43
Brian Albertson – Request for a renewal of the Special Use Permit to allow the processing & sales of agricultural products at the property located at 5510 Post Road: Land Lot(s) 11, District 2, Section 5, Parcel(s) 7. Lot size: 16.029 Acres.
[TAB 4]

ADJOURN

Update to 14, Table 4.1; Article 14, Table 4.4; Article 15, Section (c) (2) (a) and Section 1502 (c) (2) (b); and, Article 15, Section 1503 – definitions of “Dwelling Unit’ and “Family” of the Unified Development Code.

July 6 Commission Meeting

Oddly, the Planning & Zoning Agenda has been added to the government cable channel but has NOT been added to the website.

Please be sure to attend this meeting to voice your opinions about the proposed new jail or any other part of the agenda during citizen business. This is your county and every citizen should voice their opinion.

COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA JULY 6, 2006
10:00 A.M. – CITIZENS’ HALL, Douglas County Courthouse

INVOCATION – Ginger Dees, Clerk of Superior Court’s Office

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

1. Regular Commission Meeting of June 20, 2006

PRESENTATIONS/DEPARTMENT UPDATES

2. Douglas County Jail Site Location Committee Report – Terry Baggett

PLAT APPROVALS – PRELIMINARY(Cynde Welch)
3. Kings Bridge
4. Midway Gardens5. The Villages @ Brookmont - Pods F & G (Revised)

PLAT ACCEPTANCE – FINAL
6. Chaparral Ridge @ Anneewakee, Unit 3
7. Lithia Springs Home Depot

PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER
8. Abandonment and disposition of a portion of Old Factory Shoals Road – Land Lots706 and 773 of the 18th District, 2nd Section of Douglas County. (Randy Hulsey)

9. The Juvenile Programs Department has $5,000 in the Purchase of Services Grant line item budget. They are receiving $10,000 this year and need to have the additional $5,000 added to their budget. Amend the budget by increasing State Juvenile Services Grant by $5,000 and by increasing Purchase of Services Grant by $5,000.

10. Authorization for Chairman to execute employment agreements with:
• Eric Linton as County Administrator
• Mark Teal as Development Services Director/County Engineer
• Amy Brumelow as Planning & Zoning Director

11. Approval of Mutual Aid Agreement between Elite Ambulance Service and DouglasCounty Fire Department.

12. Approval of agreement between West Central Technical College and DouglasCounty Fire Department.

13. Acceptance of Family Connection Grant that funds Douglas CORE, authorizeChairman to sign all necessary documents and approve new contract for AmandaBryant.

14. Approval of past-service benefit for pension purposes to employees on Countysupplements.

15. Appointments to the Douglas County Board of Public Libraries.Two appointments – Three-year terms ending June 30, 2009.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
COMMISSIONERS’ COMMENTS
CITIZENS BUSINESS

Apartment Upgrade?

From today's Sentinel.

City asked to help upgade apartments
By Tyra McKinney

A developer wants the city's support in the rehabilitation of Oak Creek Apartments, a low-income housing development. President Herbert Sawyer of HomeCorp Affordable Communities wants to buy the apartments and do $6 million worth of rehabilitations.

"We also want to give the city the option to purchase the property at the end of the 15 year compliance period for $1 more than the mortgage, which is estimated to be about $7 million," said Sawyer.

HomeCorp is asking the city to write a letter in support of the acquisition and rehabilitation of the apartments. He wants to finance the apartments by using the tax exempt bond financing and four percent low income housing tax credits approved by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.

"We just want the city to write a letter in support of the acquisition and rehabilitation so that we can receive the tax-exempt financing and low-income tax credits," said Sawyer.

Blog note: Didn't the article just say this in the previous paragraph??

Councilman Michael Carter said Oak Creek Apartments does not fit Douglasville's approved master plan.

"I just don't think the apartments are the best use for the city's future plan. And the city should not be tied into an agreement for 15 years on a low-income tax housing unit," he said.

Sawyer said HomeCorp will buy the property regardless if the city approves the tax-exempt bond financing and low income housing tax credits.

"We will buy the property and do about a $1 million worth of renovations like replace carpet, appliances, hot water units, etc.," said Sawyer.

According to the city's land-use plan, the Oak Creek Apartments area should be a community center in the future.

The council will vote on the issue at its July 6 meeting at 6:30.

Other items on the agenda include:

• an agreement with the Norfolk Southern Corporation for the city's lease of space on the railroad right-of-way to maintain a public service sign;
• appointing Jeff Notes as acting Development and Zoning Official, with no increase in compensation;
• and an agreement with New Century Real Estate Services, Inc. for property appraisal services on 11 parcels needed for right-of-way or construction easement purposes on the Chapel Hill/Douglas Boulevard intersection improvement project.

Sentinel Police Blotter

It looks like there is now a daily Police Blotter in the Sentinel! I wonder if someone at the Sentinel reads this blog...

Stolen Car Recovered
By Winston Jones

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office recovered a stolen 1995 Mercury Tracer Wednesday at a vacant house on Blad Eagle Way. The car had been reported stolen Monday in Douglasville. Police were called to the scene after a neighbor became suspicious of the car being parked in the driveway of the vacant house.

In other news, gas thefts are becoming more common as gasoline prices go higher, according to Douglas County authorities. On Wednesday, a man tanked up his white Ford pickup at the Exxon and Bankhead Highway and drove off without paying for the $91.50 gasoline tab.

The Sheriff's Office also reports that a customer at Wendy's on Thornton Road Thursday morning tried to pay for his takeout food with a counterfeit $20 bill. The manager was working the window and noticed the bill didn't seem legitimate. The customer tried to snatch the bogus money back, and upon failing to do so, drove off hurriedly in a gold colored Nissan.

Vandals were at work again Wednesday night. A resident at Skyview Mobile Home park reported that someone threw a large rock at his vehicle. The rock hit the passenger side of the car, near the window frame.

In an unrelated vandalism incident, someone Wednesday night or early Thursday morning commandeered an earth moving machine at a Reynolds Road at Stewart Mill construction site. The vandal started the Caterpillar loader, turned over two other pieces of equipment and damaged a culvert.