TERRELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MEETING
DATE: MARCH 4, 2015
TIME: 8:30 AM
PLACE: TERRELL COUNTY GOVERNMENTAL BUILDING
PRESENT: BO HAMBY, ROBERT MOTLEY, GAIL FAUST, BILLY MCCLUNG, MARGARET HALBROOK, NICK
MCGHEE, GEORGIA COUNTRYMAN, JULIETTE JONES TOOMBS, ED WADE, MARTHA ANN COE, KELVIN
BROWN, SHERIFF JOHN BOWENS, LINDA ANN SPILMAN, BARNEY PARNACOTT, PHONSO DONALDSON,
ED COLLIER AND BETH PARNACOTT.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: CHAIRMAN WILBUR GAMBLE, VICE-CHAIRMAN BRAD STAFFORD, LUCIUS
HOLLOWAY, ERNEST JOHNSON AND CRIS WEBB.
CALL TO ORDER: CHAIRMAN GAMBLE CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER
PRAYER: HORACE KEEN
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: MOTION TO APPROVE THE MARCH 4, 2015 REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
WITH NO CHANGES WAS MADE BY BRAD STAFFORD AND SECONDED BY ERNEST JOHNSON. THOSE IN
FAVOR OF THE MOTION WERE BRAD STAFFORD, LUCIUS HOLLOWAY, ERNEST JOHNSON AND CRIS
WEBB. MOTION CARRIED.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: MOTION TO APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 4, 2015 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
WITH NO CHANGES WAS MADE BY ERNEST JOHNSON AND SECONDED BY LUCIUS HOLLOWAY. THOSE
IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION WERE BRAD STAFFORD, LUCIUS HOLLOWAY, ERNEST JOHNSON AND CRIS
WEBB. MOTION CARRIED.
QUESTIONS ON PRIOR MINUTES: NO QUESTIONS
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT: CHAIRMAN GAMBLE TOLD THE BOARD THAT HE SAW AN EDITORIAL ON WALB
CHANNEL 10 ABOUT A CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER IN WORTH COUNTY THAT IS NOT COMPLYING WITH
THE LAW. CHAIRMAN GAMBLE STATED THAT HE WILL ASK FOR A VOTE AT THE NEXT MEETING
CONCERNING THE LEGAL DISPOSAL AND SALE OF SURPLUS COUNTY PROPERTY. COUNTY PROPERTY
SHOULD BE DECLARED SURPLUS AND THEN ADVERTISED FOR SALE BY SEALED BIDS OR LISTED ON A
PUBLIC AUCTION SITE. THE PUBLIC MUST BE GIVEN NOTICE BEFORE COUNTY PROPERTY CAN LEGALLY
BE SOLD. ALSO, ANYONE THAT IS ASKING TO MAKE A PURCHASE MUST PLACE THAT ITEM ON THE
AGENDA AND NOT HIDE IT IN THEIR REPORT.
NOTIFICATION TO FIRE DEPARTMENTS OF CONTROL BURNS: ED WADE ASKED IF THERE IS ANY WAY
THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS CAN BE NOTIFIED WHEN A CONTROLLED BURN PERMIT IS ISSUED?
PARROTT FIRE DEPARTMENT IS BEING CALLED TO RESPOND TO FIRES AND WHEN THEY GET THERE
THEY FIND OUT IT IS A CONTROLLED BURN. CHAIRMAN GAMBLE SUGGESTED THAT THE PARROTT
FIRE DEPARTMENT CALL THE FORESTRY UNIT AND REQUEST THAT THEY BE NOTIFIED WHEN A
CONTROLLED BURN PERMIT IS ISSUED IN THEIR AREA.
TREASURER’S REPORT: PHONSO DONALDSON PRESENTED THE FEBRUARY 2015 TREASURER’S
REPORT. MOTION TO APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 2015 TREASURER’S REPORT WAS MADE BY ERNEST
JOHNSON AND SECONDED BY CRIS WEBB. THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION WERE BRAD STAFFORD,
LUCIUS HOLLOWAY, ERNEST JOHNSON AND CRIS WEBB. MOTION CARRIED.
CLERK’S REPORT: BETH PARNACOTT PRESENTED THE BANK BALANCES AND EXPENDITURES FOR THE
MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2015.
EMS – 911 REPORT: BO HAMBY REPORTED FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2015 911 ANSWERED A
TOTAL OF 424 CALLS, 214 EMS, 134 TRANSPORTED, 80 NOT TRANSPORTED, 40 CALLS FOR TERRELL
COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT, 43 CALLS FOR DAWSON POLICE DEPARTMENT, 2 CALLS FOR
DAWSON FIRE DEPARTMENT, 11 CALLS FOR TERRELL COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT, 116 CALLS FOR
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND DEPOSITS IN THE AMOUNT OF $28,530.29.
EMS RESPONSE TIME COMPLAINTS: ERNEST JOHNSON TOLD THE COMMISSIONERS THAT HE HAS
RECEIVED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE EMS-911 RESPONSE TIME. COMMISSIONER JOHNSON
ASKED JULIETTE TOOMBS TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED TO HER MOTHER. JULIETTE TOOMBS STATED
THAT EMS WAS CALLED TO HER MOTHER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. MS. TOOMBS’ MOTHER
HAS ONE LEG AND THE FAMILY DOESN’T HAVE ANY WAY TO TAKE HER TO THE HOSPITAL. MS.
TOOMBS’ MOTHER WAS HAVING SOME PROBLEMS AND THE FAMILY CALLED EMS TO TAKE HER VITAL
SIGNS AND ADVISE THE FAMILY IF SHE NEEDED TO HAVE MEDICAL ATTENTION. IT TOOK THE
AMBULANCE AN HOUR AND A HALF TO COME, BUT IT WASN’T AN EMERGENCY SO IT WAS OK. THE
SECOND CALL THAT WAS MADE TO 911 WAS MADE BY THE HOME HEALTH CARE NURSE. THE NURSE
FOUND A PROBLEM THAT REQUIRED MS. TOOMBS’ MOTHER TO BE TAKEN FOR MEDICAL CARE. IT
TOOK THE AMBULANCE THREE AND ONE HALF HOURS TO RESPOND. WHEN THEY DID ARRIVE ONE OF
THE EMT’S TOLD THE FAMILY THAT THEY NEED TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO TRANSPORT MS.
TOOMBS’ MOTHER. MS. TOOMBS EXPLAINED THAT ON ROUTINE DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS THEY
SCHEDULE A MEDICAL TRANSPORT VAN TO TAKE THEIR MOTHER AND THEY HAVE TO CALL AHEAD
THREE DAYS TO SCHEDULE THE TRANSPORT. BUT WHEN IT IS NOT A ROUTINE APPOINTMENT THEY
HAVE TO DEPEND ON THE AMBULANCE SERVICE FOR TRANSPORT. MS. TOOMBS INFORMED THE
BOARD THAT IT WAS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY AND HER MOTHER HAD TO HAVE HER OTHER LEG
AMPUTATED. CHAIRMAN GAMBLE TOLD MS. TOOMBS THAT THE AMBULANCE SERVICE IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND EACH CALL SHOULD BE TREATED AS A SERIOUS ILLNESS.
CHAIRMAN GAMBLE TOLD MS. TOOMBS THAT THE EMT SHOULD NOT HAVE TOLD HER THAT SHE
NEEDS A BACKUP PLAN TO TAKE HER MOTHER TO THE HOSPITAL. CHAIRMAN GAMBLE TOLD BO
HAMBY THAT HE MUST DO SOMETHING TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE RESPONSE TIME OF THE
AMBULANCES AND REPRIMAND THE EMT THAT TOLD THE TOOMBS FAMILY TO HAVE A BACKUP
PLAN. BO HAMBY STATED THAT THE EMT THAT TOLD THE FAMILY TO HAVE A BACKUP PLAN WAS
KERRY CREW AND IF THE BOARD TELLS HIM TO, HE WILL REPRIMAND HIM. BO HAMBY TOLD THE
COMMISSIONERS THAT THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND THE WAY IT WORKS. WE HAVE A CONSTANT
TURNOVER OF ON-CALL STAFF AND CHARLENE WON’T LET FRANKIE GOSA WORK. THE CLERK
EXPLAINED THAT CHARLENE TOLD BO THAT FRANKIE GOSA WAS WORKING TOO MANY HOURS AND IT
IS DANGEROUS FOR ONE PERSON TO WORK THAT MANY HOURS. CHARLENE DID NOT TELL HIM THAT
FRANKIE GOSA CANNOT WORK. CHAIRMAN GAMBLE TOLD BO HAMBY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM
AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE BOARD START LOOKING IN TO TURNING THE EMS SERVICE OVER TO
A PRIVATE COMPANY.
EXTENSION SERVICE REPORT: NICK MCGHEE ADVISED THE BOARD THAT THE NEW 4-H AGENT HAS
BEEN SELECTED AND APPROVED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA. MR. MCGHEE ASKED THE BOARD
FOR APPROVAL OF MARGARET HALBROOK FOR THE POSITION OF 4-H AGENT. MOTION TO APPROVE
THE HIRING OF MARGARET HALBROOK FOR THE 4-H AGENT FOR TERRELL COUNTY WAS MADE BY
BRAD STAFFORD AND SECONDED BY ERNEST JOHNSON. THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION WERE
BRAD STAFFORD, LUCIUS HOLLOWAY, ERNEST JOHNSON AND CRIS WEBB. MOTION CARRIED. MRS.
HALBROOK WILL BEGIN WORK ON APRIL 1, 2015 AND THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA DOES NOT HAVE
A PROBLEM WITH MRS. HALBROOK SERVING ON COUNTY BOARDS.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: COUNTY CLERK READ A WRITTEN REPORT.
WARDEN’S REPORT: NO REPORT
ROAD SUPERVISOR REPORT: BILLY MCCLUNG ASKED THE BOARD FOR PERMISSION TO SEEK QUOTES
FOR THE PURCHASE OF A DIRT PACKER MACHINE FOR THE ROAD DEPARTMENT. WARDEN MCCLUNG
ADVISED THAT HE WAS APPROVED IN THE BUDGET TO PURCHASE A PATCHING MACHINE, BUT HE
THINKS THAT A DIRT PACKER MACHINE WILL BE BETTER USED. CHAIRMAN GAMBLE INSTRUCTED
BILLY MCCLUNG AND CRIS WEBB TO OBTAIN PRICES FOR A DIRT PACKER MACHINE AND BRING THE
PRICES AND THEIR RECOMMENDATION TO THE COMMISSIONERS AT THE APRIL MEETING.
SHERIFF’S REPORT: SHERIFF BOWENS PRESENTED A WRITTEN REPORT.
RECREATION DEPARTMENT: MARGARET HALBROOK REPORTED ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE
RECREATION DEPARTMENT DURING FEBRUARY 2015.
USE OF RECREATION DEPARTMENT FACILITY FOR JULY 4TH RED, WHITE & BOOM: MARTHA ANN COE
ASKED THE COMMISSIONERS FOR PERMISSION FOR NEW TERRELL TO USE THE RECREATION FACILITY
TO HOST A JULY 4TH CELEBRATION ON JULY 4, 2015. MOTION TO ALLOW NEW TERRELL TO USE THE
RECREATION DEPARTMENT FACILITY ON JULY 4, 2015 FOR THE RED, WHITE AND BOOM CELEBRATION
WAS MADE BY BRAD STAFFORD AND SECONDED BY LUCIUS HOLLOWAY. THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE
MOTION WERE BRAD STAFFORD, LUCIUS HOLLOWAY, ERNEST JOHNSON AND CRIS WEBB. MOTION
CARRIED.
DELINQUENT GARBAGE ASSESSMENT REPORT: BETH PARNACOTT READ THE WRITTEN REPORT
SUBMITTED BY SANDRA O’STEAN.
DELINQUENT ADVALOREM TAXES FORGIVENESS OF INTEREST AND PENALTIES: LINDA ANN SPILMAN
REQUESTED FORGIVENESS OF INTEREST AND PENALTIES IN THE AMOUNT OF $165.42 ON PROPERTY
THAT WAS SOLD TO BOB RAINEY. AT THE TIME OF THE SALE, THE DELINQUENT TAXES HAD NOT BEEN
RECORDED. MOTION TO FORGIVE INTEREST AND PENALTIES ON DELINQUENT ADVALOREM TAXES IN
THE AMOUNT OF $165.42 ON PROPERTY BOUGHT BY BOB RAINEY, BECAUSE THE DELINQUENT TAXES
WERE NOT ON RECORD AT THE TIME OF THE SALE, WAS MADE BY ERNEST JOHNSON AND SECONDED
BY CRIS WEBB. THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION WERE BRAD STAFFORD, LUCIUS HOLLOWAY,
ERNEST JOHNSON AND CRIS WEBB. MOTION CARRIED. THE FIVE PARCELS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
MAP/PARCEL
B02
086
B02
085
B02
084
B02
B02
082
079
SERVICE CONTRACTS ON MOBILE RADIO EQUIPMENT AND EMS EQUIPMENT: MOTION TO APPROVE
PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE AGREEMENTS TO ALBANY COMMUNICATIONS FOR REPEATERS AND
CONTROL STATIONS, NOT MOBILES AND HAND HELDS, FOR THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT, ROAD
DEPARTMENT AND CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTE WAS MADE BY CRIS WEBB AND SECONDED BY ERNEST
JOHNSON. THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION WERE BRAD STAFFORD, LUCIUS HOLLOWAY, ERNEST
JOHNSON AND CRIS WEBB. MOTION CARRIED.
REVOCATION OF CONDITIONAL USE: KELVIN BROWN MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO PAY DELINQUENT
TAXES, 2014 BUSINESS LICENSE FEE AND WILL BUY HIS 2015 BUSINESS LICENSE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
AND WILL MAKE THE CHANGES THAT ARE NEEDED TO KEEP HIS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT. MOTION
TO ALLOW KELVIN JOHNSON TO KEEP HIS CONDITIONAL USE FOR HIS BUSINESS AS LONG AS THE
TERMS OF THE CONDITIONAL USE ARE BEING ADHERED TO WAS MADE BY ERNEST JOHNSON AND
SECONDED BY LUCIUS HOLLOWAY. THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION WERE BRAD STAFFORD, LUCIUS
HOLLOWAY, ERNEST JOHNSON AND CRIS WEBB. MOTION CARRIED.
PRESENTATION OF 20 YEAR SERVICE AWARD TO BETH PARNACOTT: BETH PARNACOTT, COUNTY
CLERK WAS PRESENTED A PLAQUE FOR TWENTY YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE TERRELL COUNTY BOARD
OF COMMISSIONERS.
USE OF LARGE MEETING ROOM AT NO CHARGE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS BANQUET: MOTION TO ALLOW
BRONWOOD ROAD CHURCH OF CHRIST THE USE OF THE LARGE CONFERENCE ROOM AT NO CHARGE
TO HOST A SENIOR CITIZENS BANQUET WAS MADE BY ERNEST JOHNSON AND SECONDED BY LUCIUS
HOLLOWAY. THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION WERE BRAD STAFFORD, LUCIUS HOLLOWAY, ERNEST
JOHNSON AND CRIS WEBB. MOTION CARRIED.
CHAIRMAN GAMBLE ADJOURNED THE MEETING.