TERRELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MEETING
DATE: SEPTEMBER 9, 2015
TIME: 8:30 AM
PLACE: TERRELL COUNTY GOVERNMENTAL BUILDING
PRESENT: GINA WEBB, FRANK HEWITT, BILLY MCCLUNG, WILLIE LOU WILLIAMS, JEFF HANNER, BO
HAMBY, BISCEGLIA WILLIAMS, GILLIS MITCHELL, SANDRA BOWENS, STEVE EBEL, ALEX HEATH,
ROBERT MOTLEY, DIANE BENTLEY, RAY EUBANKS, PAM HEWITT, ALAN KIDD, BOBBY WATKINS, MAX
SELLERS, CHERRY M. HOWELL, ALICE COUNTRYMAN CARTER, KATHY HICKS, CHARLES PROCTOR,
SUSAN ENGLISH, JAN MILNER, GAIL RAKEL, THOMAS COBURN, KATHY WADE, ED WADE, DARLENE
PAUL, MELONNIE WILSON, CAROLYN TOLBERT, STEPHEN STROWBRIDGE, NELLIE TOLBERT, MARGARET
HALBROOK, PAUL LOSKA, SALLY LOSKA, GAIL FAUST, JESSICA BYRLEY, BOBBY TENNILLE, NICK
MCGHEE, SUSAN BRIM, JUNE O’LEAR, HOWARD OLIVER, CONSTANCE KING, KERRY R. CREW, MARVIN
BROWN, TINA FAUST, CHEVETTE HALLBACK, MAE BENTON, BERNON L. JESSIE, STEPHANIE C. HAMBY
HOLT, DANNETTE BARFIELD, THELMA MELTON, MICHAEL BARFIELD, KEYRANNA MALLES, WAYNE
ROYAL, WILLIAM EDWARDS, JACKSON SCOTT HOLT, RYAN CANNON, LEWIS HICKS, GENE SHATTLES,
PASTOR MARVIN BROWN, THELMA JOHNSON, JEROME JOHNSON, SR., MARTHA BALDWIN, DEANDRA
DORITY, TERRI HIGHTOWER-GRIER, HAROLD BENTON, MARY D. GREENE, JUDI MILLER, RICKI
MILLIRON, SANDRA WALKER, BETTY JONES, LINDA MAYO, MARY HOLLOWAY, RUTH BROWN, PEGGY
PRITCHARD, BARNEY PARNACOTT, JR., MARTHA ANN COE, LINDA ANN SPILMAN, GARY BREEDLOVE,
RANDY WILLIAMS, BILL COMPTON, EZEKIEL HOLLEY, PAULINE HOLLEY, 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
PRAYER: REVEREND DAVID MARTIN
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: MOTION TO APPROVE THE SEPTEMBER 9, 2015 REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
WITH THE DELETION OF THE TOPIC OF ZONING BOARD RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING LIVE
ENTERTAINMENT AT KOUNTRY CORNER, SASSER, GA, 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.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: MOTION TO APPROVE THE AUGUST 5, 2015 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
AND AUGUST 18, 2015 FY2016 BUDGET MEETING MINUTES WITH NO CHANGES WAS MADE BY
ERNEST JOHNSON AND SECONDED BY BRAD STAFFORD. 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 ANNOUNCED THAT THIS IS THE LAST REGULAR MEETING
IN THE 2015 FISCAL YEAR. CHAIRMAN GAMBLE TOLD THE COMMISSIONERS THAT HE OBTAINED THE
TAX ANTICIPATION NOTE IN THE AMOUNT OF $500,000.00 AND HAD TO MAKE A DRAW IN THE
AMOUNT OF $200,000.00 IN ORDER TO MAKE PAYROLL. CHAIRMAN GAMBLE REMINDED THE BOARD
THAT THIS MONEY WILL HAVE TO BE PAID OUT OF THE FY2016 REVENUES. CHAIRMAN GAMBLE
ANNOUNCED THAT THIS IS A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND IT IS NOT A
PUBLIC HEARING AND HE WOULD LIKE THE AUDIENCE TO ACT ACCORDINGLY WHEN THE
PRESENTATION IS MADE CONCERNING THE PRIVATIZATION OF THE AMBULANCE SERVICE.
TREASURER’S REPORT: PHONSO DONALDSON PRESENTED THE TREASURER’S REPORT. MOTION TO
ACCEPT THE TREASURER’S REPORT FOR AUGUST 2015 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.
CLERK’S REPORT: BETH PARNACOTT PRESENTED THE BANK BALANCES AND EXPENDITURES FOR THE
MONTH OF AUGUST 2015. CLERK REMINDED THE BOARD THAT THE FIVE YEAR HISTORY MEETING TO
SET THE MIL RATE WILL BE SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 AT 1:30 PM.
EMS-911 REPORT: BO HAMBY REPORTED FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST 2015 911 ANSWERED A TOTAL
OF 515 CALLS, 184 EMS, 110 PATIENTS TRANSPORTED, 74 PATIENTS NOT TRANSPORTED, 76 CALLS
FOR TERRELL COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT, 90 CALLS FOR DAWSON POLICE DEPARTMENT, 3
CALLS FOR DAWSON FIRE DEPARTMENT, 5 CALLS FOR TERRELL COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT, 157 CALLS
FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND DEPOSITS IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,308.90. BO HAMBY EXPLAINED
THAT THE COLLECTION COMPANY THAT EMS WAS USING SOLD OUT TO ANOTHER COMPANY AND
DURING THE TRANSITION THEY LET THEIR MEDICARE LICENSE EXPIRE. THEY HAVE TOLD MR. HAMBY
THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY LOSE UP TO $45,000.00 BECAUSE OF THIS. THE BOARD INSTRUCTED ED
COLLIER TO LOOK INTO THE LIABILITY ON THE COLLECTION COMPANY FOR THE EMS RECEIPTS.
EXTENSION SERVICE REPORT: NICK MCGHEE REPORTED ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE 4-H AND
EXTENSION SERVICE FOR AUGUST 2015.
WARDEN’S REPORT: BILLY MCCLUNG DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT.
ROAD SUPERVISOR REPORT: TEMPORARY EASEMENT FROM DELIA WEST – BILLY MCCLUNG ADVISED
THE BOARD THAT THERE IS A FIBER OPTIC CABLE LOCATED ON DELIA WEST’S PROPERTY AND HE
RECOMMENDS THAT THE COUNTY STAY OFF OF HER PROPERTY AND JUST PULL THE DITCHES WHEN IT
RAINS. THE BOARD AGREED TO FOLLOW BILLY MCCLUNG’S ADVICE AND JUST KEEP ON DOING WHAT
WE ARE DOING NOW AND NOT GO ON DELIA WEST’S PROPERTY.
GEORGE JENNINGS ROAD: BILLY MCCLUNG REPORTED THAT DURING THE HEAVY RAINS OVER THE
WEEKEND, A SECTION OF GEORGE JENNINGS ROAD WASHED AWAY. THE ROAD IS CLOSED UNTIL IT
CAN BE REPAIRED. THE PIPE HAS BEEN ORDERED AND DELIVERED AND AS SOON AS THE WEATHER
PERMITS THE WORK WILL BE DONE AND THE ROAD WILL BE REOPENED.
RECREATION DEPARTMENT: RYAN CANNON REPORTED ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE RECREATION
DEPARTMENT DURING AUGUST 2015.
DELINQUENT GARBAGE ASSESSMENT REPORT: SANDRA O’STEAN SENT A WRITTEN REPORT.
DELINQUENT ADVALOREM TAXES FORGIVENESS OF INTEREST AND PENALTIES: NO REQUEST
APPROVAL OF REVISED FY2016 LEASE FOR T&L BUILDING WITH ASPIRE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND
DEVELOPMENT DISABILITY SERVICES FOR BUILDING LOCATED AT 508 OAK STREET, SE, DAWSON,
GEORGIA: MOTION TO LEASE THE BUILDING LOCATED AT 508 OAK STREET THAT HOUSES THE TERRELL
LEE MENTAL RETARDATION CENTER TO ASPIRE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT DISABILITY
SERVICES FOR $325.00 PER MONTH, ANY REPAIRS TO THE BUILDING WILL BE DONE BY USING INMATE
LABOR AND ASPIRE WILL PAY FOR ANY MATERIALS OR SUPPLIES; IN THE EVENT SOMETHING HAS TO
BE DONE TO THE BUILDING THAT INMATE LABOR CANNOT DO, THE COST OF THE LABOR WILL BE
SHARED ON A 50/50 BASIS BETWEEN ASPIRE AND TERRELL COUNTY, 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.
COMMERCIAL LEASE FOR PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE AND PROBATION OFFICE IN OLD ARMORY
BUILDING: CRIS WEBB REQUESTED THE ISSUE BE TABLED UNTIL THE OCTOBER MEETING AND ASKED
CHAIRMAN GAMBLE TO CONTACT THE ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE ARMORY BUILDING AND FIND OUT
IF THEY WANT THE PROBATION AND PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICES TO STAY IN THE ARMORY BUILDING
OR NOT.
9:00 PRESENTATION FROM GRADY EMS ON PRIVATIZING TERRELL COUNTY AMBULANCE SERVICE:
RANDY WILLIAMS, REGIONAL DIRECTOR, BILL COMPTON, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND GARY
BREEDLOVE, MARKETING CONSULTANT WERE REPRESENTING GRADY EMS. MR. BILL COMPTON GAVE
THE PRESENTATION. MR. COMPTON SAID THAT GRADY EMS HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 135 YEARS,
THEY ARE NOT A PRIVATE COMPANY AND THEY ARE RURAL MEDICINE EXPERTS. IN SEPTEMBER 2014
THEY SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH DECATUR COUNTY AND TOOK OVER THE OPERATIONS OF THEIR
EMS. THEY MAINTAINED ALL THE STAFF. IN JULY 2015 THEY TOOK OVER PIKE COUNTY. IN AUGUST
2015 THEY TOOK OVER BROOKS COUNTY. IN SEPTEMBER 2015 THEY TOOK OVER HANCOCK COUNTY.
GRADY EMS’ MISSION IS TO FORM A REGIONAL EMS SYSTEM TO ENHANCE LEVELS OF SERVICE. THEY
WILL HIRE ALL OF THE CURRENT EMS PERSONNEL AFTER THEY PASS A DRUG TEST AND BACKGROUND
TEST AT THEIR SAME RATE OF PAY AND HONOR THEIR TENURE. GRADY EMS WILL PURCHASE TERRELL
COUNTY’S AMBULANCES AT FAIR MARKET VALUE. GRADY EMS WILL TRAIN ABBREVIATED EMD – NO
LIGHTS AND SIRENS FOR NON-EMERGENCY CALLS AND USE ALTERNATIVE PATHWAYS TO TAKE
PATIENTS TO NON-EMERGENCY CLINICS AND PROVIDE PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS THE HELP THEY NEED.
TERRELL COUNTY WILL HAVE TO PAY A FEE FOR THE SERVICE, BUT IT WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS
TO THE COUNTY AND WILL PROVIDE AN INCREASED LEVEL OF SERVICE. GRADY EMS DOES THEIR OWN
BILLING. GRADY EMS HAS A COMPREHENSIVE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM FOR VEHICLES THAT
INCLUDES A REMOUNT FACILITY THAT IT OWNS BY THE NAME OF RELIANT. THIS FACILITY DOES
NOTHING BUT REMOUNT THE BOXES TO NEW CHASIS. GRADY EMS IS THE ONLY EMS ORGANIZATION
THAT IS NATIONALLY ACCREDITED. GRADY EMS WILL TRAIN EMPLOYEES TO BECOME EMT’S,
ADVANCE EMT’S AND PARAMEDICS AT NO COST TO THE EMPLOYEE. GRADY EMS WILL KEEP AT LEAST
TWO TWENTY-FOUR HOUR AMBULANCES AT THE STATION IN DAWSON AND ENHANCE IT FROM
THERE. GRADY EMS WOULD EXPECT A THREE YEAR CONTRACT WITH A TWO YEAR EXTENSION
OPTION. GRADY EMS CAN BE READY TO ASSUME THE TERRELL COUNTY EMS IN 60 DAYS.
MOTION TO ABANDON THE IDEA OF PRIVATIZING THE TERRELL COUNTY AMBULANCE SERVICE AND
WORK WITH BO HAMBY TO KEEP THE EMS AS IT IS WAS MADE BY LUCIUS HOLLOWAY AND SECONDED
BY BRAD STAFFORD. THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION WERE BRAD STAFFORD, LUCIUS HOLLOWAY
AND ERNEST JOHNSON. CRIS WEBB WAS OPPOSED TO THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED.
ERNEST JOHNSON STATED THAT “PRIVATIZING THE EMS WILL COST THE CITIZENS MORE MONEY AND
WE NEED TO GIVE BO HAMBY A CHANCE TO STRAIGHTEN THE EMS OUT. WE NEED TO TREAT PEOPLE
THE WAY WE WANT TO BE TREATED.”
2016 LMIG: BRAD STAFFORD REQUESTED THE 2016 LMIG BE TABLED UNTIL THE OCTOBER MEETING.
REQUEST FROM CITY OF DAWSON FOR HELP COVERING THEIR INERT LANDFILL: BARNEY PARNACOTT,
CITY MANAGER FOR CITY OF DAWSON, REQUESTED HELP FROM THE COUNTY IN COVERING THE CITY
OF DAWSON INERT LANDFILL. THIS IS A MANDATE FROM EPD. MR. PARNACOTT STATED THAT THE
CITY WILL PAY THE EXPENSES IF THE COUNTY WILL FURNISH THE EQUIPMENT AND LABOR. MOTION
TO APPROVE THE USE OF COUNTY LABOR AND EQUIPMENT TO HELP CITY OF DAWSON COVER THEIR
INERT LANDFILL AND THE CITY OF DAWSON WILL PAY FOR ALL THE EXPENSES 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.
APPOINTMENT TO ALBANY AREA COMMUNITY SERVICE BOARD: MOTION FOR ERNEST JOHNSON TO
BRING A NOMINATION FOR THE ALBANY AREA COMMUNITY SERVICE BOARD TO THE OCTOBER
MEETING 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.
9:30 AM – PUBLIC HEARING: FY2016 BUDGET – CLERK ANNOUNCED THE TOTAL FY2016 BUDGET IS
$7,820,694.00 AND WITH A TOTAL TAXABLE DIGEST OF $249,257,534.00 AT 97% COLLECTION RATE,
EACH MILL WILL EQUAL $241,779.00 AND THE COUNTY MILLAGE RATE WILL BE 13.5 MILLS. THERE
WILL NOT BE AN INCREASE IN TAXES. MOTION TO SET THE DATE OF THE SPECIAL MEETING TO ADOPT
THE FY2016 BUDGET FOR TERRELL COUNTY ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 AT 1:30 PM 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.
MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING 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.