From one of our volunteers who agree to attend a mtg and write up what happened:
Most of this meeting was just cut and dried business. Even Ray found little to object to. (He did suggest that in future, Marche Pittman be permitted to present a balanced budget to the BOC rather than have the BOC draft a budget. Good luck with that, Ray.)
There were two occurrences that stood out: It is clear that the BOC majority intends to keep constructing water lines across the county and to agree to residents' requests for water line extensions if they are anywhere near a present water line without requiring any matching funds from the residents.
The other occurrence was that the BOC majority, if they have a plan in mind for adding water lines, they have not discussed this with Dave Odom of Odom Engineering who was asked to present options for future locations of major water lines. Mr. Odom requested feedback from the BOC on what they want. See discussion below for more on these issues.
There was a wide range of interesting topics on the agenda of the BOC meeting June 1 and only three citizens who had comments. Bob Morgan, Chair of the ETDC, was obviously extremely annoyed that the BOC declined to fully fund the ETDC's budget request for the next fiscal year. Apparently, the ETDC wanted its Director, Robert Williamson, to be made a permanent county employee and the BOC decided to retain him on contract only.
Sky Conard pointed out to the BOC that the county contract with Northbrook may put them in competition with ICWD for the water in the Green River if the ICWD contract is signed.
Virginia Walker had a question about the ICWD draft contract which would permit Polk County to add a surcharge over and above the amount ICWD would charge Polk residents for water. She wondered if there is no limit to the amount of the surcharge, but got no answer.
Cathy Ruth of the Planning Board, presented a request from a local church for an amendment to the county sign ordinance because their proposed sign is larger than the present ordinance permits. A hearing was scheduled for the amendment.
Melissa Bowlin of the Tax Office made a recommendation that the middle bidder, Wampler-Eanes, be awarded the contract for the reappraisal of county property because they will make actual site visits, claim expertise with equestrian properties and have good references.
Stu Ryman of Altamont Environmental gave a presentation of the review his firm did on the dredging of Lake Adger which began with a comparison of airplane views from 2010 and 2013 which showed the huge increase in sedimentation of the lake. A bathymetry study showed much of the lake is only inches deep and very little is up to ten feet deep. If left unchecked, the upper part of the lake will soon totally silt in and will be considered "wetlands" and not eligible for dredging by the state. His recommendations were to lower the lake and dredge to a desired depth, purchase a nearby property (ten acres or more) where the dredged material can be dumped. Dredge the Green River upstream from the lake for a mile and install a sand/gravel extracting facility there to prevent the lake from silting in again. He mentioned state grants to help with the costs but at this time, the state is not making grants sufficient to make
much of a dent in the estimated $2,500,000 to $5,100,000 costs for dredging. Estimates were based on dredging from 5 feet to 10 feet of the lake bed.
Dave Odom of Odom Engineering was listed as presenting options for future locations of major county water trunk lines. He began by saying that the county is now set up well for long term distribution but he understands that the BOC wants to create a plan for trunk lines. He said he is looking for feedback of what the BOC wants. Mr. Pack said that he sees the county creating more trunk lines on county main roads: Hwy 9 north to Rutherford County; Hwy 108 from Cooperiis to Rutherford County; Landrum Rd. from Derbyshire to SC. Mr. Gage and Mr. Gasperson asked if the county could bring the towns into the discussion but Odom did not seem to think this was a viable idea. Odom will bring a proposal to the BOC at a later meeting.
There were a couple of "feel good" presentations from Polk Fresh Foods (John Britton and Kirk Wilson) and Dawn Jordan, the Agricultural Economic Development Director, regarding their impressive achievements assisting agriculture in the county.
Jeff Walker of ICWD, gave an update on the water line installation to serve the Green River Baptist Church. He thinks the final cost will be about $93,000, well under the $150,000 budgeted. Marche Pittman said he has heard from two residents nearby who have asked if the water line could be extended to them (picture a new loop from Poor's Ford Rd. at the Meadowbrook Rd. intersection to East Green Creek. Then, astoundingly, Michael Gage thought that was a good idea. The BOC agreed. Acting as if by saving money on the line to the Church, they now had money to spend on a further extension. Not even Ray disagreed. Jeff Walker thought it OK if it is cost effective. I think he meant if the new customers made it pay for itself. But his remark was ignored. Later, in his incredibly brief "Manager's Report" Marche noted that the reduced tap fees time limit has expired. Gage recommended they be extended for 6 months and everybody jumped on board.
The BOC proposed meeting schedule for the next 6 months was altered to have 1 meeting in September. Gage would like more months with 1 meeting and maybe some morning meetings. He joked at the great citizen turnout they got at the 6 AM meeting recently.
Most of this meeting was just cut and dried business. Even Ray found little to object to. (He did suggest that in future, Marche Pittman be permitted to present a balanced budget to the BOC rather than have the BOC draft a budget. Good luck with that, Ray.)
There were two occurrences that stood out: It is clear that the BOC majority intends to keep constructing water lines across the county and to agree to residents' requests for water line extensions if they are anywhere near a present water line without requiring any matching funds from the residents.
The other occurrence was that the BOC majority, if they have a plan in mind for adding water lines, they have not discussed this with Dave Odom of Odom Engineering who was asked to present options for future locations of major water lines. Mr. Odom requested feedback from the BOC on what they want. See discussion below for more on these issues.
There was a wide range of interesting topics on the agenda of the BOC meeting June 1 and only three citizens who had comments. Bob Morgan, Chair of the ETDC, was obviously extremely annoyed that the BOC declined to fully fund the ETDC's budget request for the next fiscal year. Apparently, the ETDC wanted its Director, Robert Williamson, to be made a permanent county employee and the BOC decided to retain him on contract only.
Sky Conard pointed out to the BOC that the county contract with Northbrook may put them in competition with ICWD for the water in the Green River if the ICWD contract is signed.
Virginia Walker had a question about the ICWD draft contract which would permit Polk County to add a surcharge over and above the amount ICWD would charge Polk residents for water. She wondered if there is no limit to the amount of the surcharge, but got no answer.
Cathy Ruth of the Planning Board, presented a request from a local church for an amendment to the county sign ordinance because their proposed sign is larger than the present ordinance permits. A hearing was scheduled for the amendment.
Melissa Bowlin of the Tax Office made a recommendation that the middle bidder, Wampler-Eanes, be awarded the contract for the reappraisal of county property because they will make actual site visits, claim expertise with equestrian properties and have good references.
Stu Ryman of Altamont Environmental gave a presentation of the review his firm did on the dredging of Lake Adger which began with a comparison of airplane views from 2010 and 2013 which showed the huge increase in sedimentation of the lake. A bathymetry study showed much of the lake is only inches deep and very little is up to ten feet deep. If left unchecked, the upper part of the lake will soon totally silt in and will be considered "wetlands" and not eligible for dredging by the state. His recommendations were to lower the lake and dredge to a desired depth, purchase a nearby property (ten acres or more) where the dredged material can be dumped. Dredge the Green River upstream from the lake for a mile and install a sand/gravel extracting facility there to prevent the lake from silting in again. He mentioned state grants to help with the costs but at this time, the state is not making grants sufficient to make
much of a dent in the estimated $2,500,000 to $5,100,000 costs for dredging. Estimates were based on dredging from 5 feet to 10 feet of the lake bed.
Dave Odom of Odom Engineering was listed as presenting options for future locations of major county water trunk lines. He began by saying that the county is now set up well for long term distribution but he understands that the BOC wants to create a plan for trunk lines. He said he is looking for feedback of what the BOC wants. Mr. Pack said that he sees the county creating more trunk lines on county main roads: Hwy 9 north to Rutherford County; Hwy 108 from Cooperiis to Rutherford County; Landrum Rd. from Derbyshire to SC. Mr. Gage and Mr. Gasperson asked if the county could bring the towns into the discussion but Odom did not seem to think this was a viable idea. Odom will bring a proposal to the BOC at a later meeting.
There were a couple of "feel good" presentations from Polk Fresh Foods (John Britton and Kirk Wilson) and Dawn Jordan, the Agricultural Economic Development Director, regarding their impressive achievements assisting agriculture in the county.
Jeff Walker of ICWD, gave an update on the water line installation to serve the Green River Baptist Church. He thinks the final cost will be about $93,000, well under the $150,000 budgeted. Marche Pittman said he has heard from two residents nearby who have asked if the water line could be extended to them (picture a new loop from Poor's Ford Rd. at the Meadowbrook Rd. intersection to East Green Creek. Then, astoundingly, Michael Gage thought that was a good idea. The BOC agreed. Acting as if by saving money on the line to the Church, they now had money to spend on a further extension. Not even Ray disagreed. Jeff Walker thought it OK if it is cost effective. I think he meant if the new customers made it pay for itself. But his remark was ignored. Later, in his incredibly brief "Manager's Report" Marche noted that the reduced tap fees time limit has expired. Gage recommended they be extended for 6 months and everybody jumped on board.
The BOC proposed meeting schedule for the next 6 months was altered to have 1 meeting in September. Gage would like more months with 1 meeting and maybe some morning meetings. He joked at the great citizen turnout they got at the 6 AM meeting recently.