AMERICUS — The first regular meeting of 2013 of the Sumter County Board of Commissioners (BOC)began and ended with closed sessions. In closed session preceding the meeting, the BOC met with David Garriga, executive director for the PDA, Wally Sumter, Vice President for economic development at South Georgia Technical College and Barbara Grogan Vice President for economic development for the new economic development organization that will be the result of consolidation of the PDA and Americus-Sumter County Chamber of Commerce.

Following the second closed session after the regular meeting, the Board returned to open session where a motion was made by Commissioner Mark Waddell and seconded by Commissioner Andrea Brooks to authorize a loan in an amount not too exceed 2/3 of $400,000 which will be loaned to the PDA for economic development and to authorize certain payment for roadwork for economic development project; possible financial assistance in educational assistance for an economic project; and possible purchase of real estate. All the particulars of this motion will be presented to the Board in an intergovernmental agreement; which will be finalized and approved by the Board at a later meeting.  

Due to a confidentiality agreement with a prospective company Garriga told the Times-Recorder Wednesday that no further details about the project could be provided for publication.

 The BOC elected officers Monday. Randy Howard was elected Chair and Andrea Brooks, vice chair. Reyetta Floyd was elected County Clerk and Anne Barefoot was elected deputy clerk.

The Board heard from Barbara Grogan in open session, concerning the creation of a land bank. Grogan said the establishment of land bank will help the BOC secure funding and grants. She said tools such as a land bank will help increase points on grant applications. The BOC unanimously approved motion Tuesday to approve the creation of a land bank along with the City of Americus.

During the citizen comments portion of the meeting, the BOC heard from concerned County residents, who first spoke at a BOC meeting in December in regards to a cat problem. Lee Gibson, an employee of the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office was one of the concerned citizens who says the cats are causing numerous problems near his residence. Thirty to 40 more cats are currently roaming freely near Gibson’s home. According to Gibson, the cats were brought to the area by a nearby land owner, a resident of Snellville, who rescued the animals and constructed “cat houses” to shelter them, however, more and more of the animals were brought in, causing overcrowded conditions.

The residents complain of foul smells coming from the area, cats coming on to their property and stray dogs coming to the area and killing and maiming the cats. The residents say an ordinance needs to be put in place so this situation can be legally resolved and it does not happen in the future.

The Board also heard from citizen Paul Johnson, who said the County needs to  start working on its budget as soon as possible. Johnson said the coming budget will be even tougher than 2012 and the BOC needs to begin working with department heads now to find savings.

The Board also heard from citizen Harold Jacobs, who lives in North Point subdivision in Sumter County. Jacobs said three weeks ago the owner of the subdivision clear cut the pine trees on the lots he owns and has since moved away. He said debris was left from the cutting and ditches were covered over.

“I want to know if there’s anything we can do as citizens and residents of the neighborhood, to get this man to come in here and clean up the mess that he left,” Jacobs said. “This place looks worse than it did when the tornado came through that exact area,” he added.

He said the owner, Jack Daniel Garret has done nothing but “degrade” the area — from cutting prices on the lots by half and changing the convenants that each of the lot owners built their house under. As a consequence, minimum house size that could be constructed was reduced houses.

Attorney Bill Nesmith told Jacobs that the land owner could be sued as a private nuisance and he would look in to the County’s nuisance ordinance and take a look at the property to see if there is anything that falls under the County’s jurisdiction.

Items passed as part of the consent agenda include:

• Approval to fill a vacant part-time position of civil assistant  at the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office at a $8.26 per hour pay rate.

• Approval to submit request for qualifications for benefits consulting and broker services in light of the health care reform bill.

• Approval of the renewal of the ABL Management Inc. food service contract for Sumter County Correctional Institute for another year, at a cost of $1.13 per meal. Twomey commented that this cost is below what he’s seen in other areas.

• Approval of budget amendment moving $4,707 from general fund from contingency to workers compensation.

• Approval of a budget amendment moving  $9,000 from salaries regular to salaries fire calls, $690 from FICA regular to FICA fire calls and $3,186 health insurance fixed to workers compensation.

The Board will also approved the following items separately at Tuesday’s meeting.

• A public hearing was held on a license request from Bharat Kumar Patel dba Americus Food Mart (formerly Express Lane No. 18), at 110 U.S. Highway 280 West, for alcoholic beverage license for consumption of beer and wine off premises.

• Approval of an agreement between the Board of Commissioners and the Americus Mayor and City Council for housing of city prisoners at a rate of $45 per day per inmate to be paid monthly. Twomey commented that a recent meeting in which Sumter County Sheriff Pete Smith and Americus Police Chief Mark Gerbino discussed the agreement was very cooperative and productive.

• Approval of a resolution to request that the Georgia General Assembly enact local legislation to provide for collection of a technology fee by the Magistrate County for the purchase of printers, phones, computers, etc. Chief Magistrate Judge Shirley Duke had requested the $5 fee per civil action and $5 surcharge per criminal action, saying it would reduce the budget for her office.

The Board of Commissioners will hold a retreat beginning at 8 a.m. Jan. 18 at South Georgia Technical College. Under state law, that meeting is open to the public.