County Drops Gas Tax Hike Issue

 

Washington County Commissioners voted 5-0 June 16 to drop discussion of a 5 cent per gallon tax increase on gas sold in the county.

 

Commissioners had indicated at their workshop last week they would not proceed with plans to increase the gas tax; however, they did hear from several people at Tuesday's meeting concerning the issue.  Those speaking said they didn't think county residents would be receptive to the increase and would just work at purchasing gasoline outside the county.

 

Commissioner Charles Brock made the motion to remove the question from the agenda and Commissioners Joel Pate seconded the motion which was adopted in a 4-1 vote, with Commissioner Bill Howell casting the lone 'no' vote.

 

$500 Culvert Fee Won't Resurface

 

In separate action Commissioners Charles Brock, Eddy Holman and Donnie Strickland refused to again bring up the issue of requiring a county fee for county personnel putting driveway culverts for residents of the county.  Robert's Rules of Order, under which the county operates, requires someone on the winning side of a vote has to bring up the issue for discussion.

 

County resident Nan Thompson initiated the discussion by commenting that the county can't really afford to give away services that cost the county money.

 

Commissioner Bill Howell said county is continuing to lose money on driveway culvert placement for county residents. Howell said records show that the county is giving away $500 to $700 each time they install a driveway culvert, even though the county resident purchases the culvert.  According to Howell,  the records show that the driveway work costs $600 to $1,900 per driveway.

 

2009-10 Budget Discussed

 

Commissioners also discussed the upcoming FY2009-2010 county budget.

 

County Administrator Peter Herbert said everyone turning in a budget had been requested to make 7% cuts in the dollar amount they are requesting.

 

Herbert said the Sheriff's Department has made a 2.3% cut; 4.2% cut for the Clerk's Office; and 1.3% for the Property Appraiser's Office; however, the Tax Collector's Office and the Supervisor of Elections had not turned in their budget requests.

 

Herbert said the Transportation Department budget has been tentatively been balanced at $2,734,036 with a zero contingency.

 

Herbert did say he was concerned about the budget for the Building Department and said that department may need help from the General Fund next year because the sale of building permits is down.

 

According to Herbert, the funding for the Recycling Center received a serious grant funding cut and there will have to be a staff reduction at the facility on SR 77.

 

Herbert said commissioners could expect to set a budget workshop in July.

 

 

In other business the Board of County Commissioner (BOCC) took the following action:

 

*  Commissioners voted 5-0 to go to a month-by-month lease for the next 90 days with USDA on property they lease at the Ag Center in Chipley. Commissioner Joel Pate said he thought USDA was going to consolidate their offices and move to Bonifay.

 

*  Commissioners said they had received no bids on the county-owned lots advertised for sale in Sunny Hills.  Ensuing discussion included talk of listing the lots with a realtor, or holding a public auction to bring revenue into the county.

 

Commissioner Bill Howell suggested the auction to dispose of around 25 improved lots that have come back to the county.

 

Commissioner Charles Brock said he rather the county hold on to the lots until they can be sold for a higher price.

 

*  In a 4-1 vote approved a motion by Commissioner Joel Pate, seconded by Commissioner Donnie Strickland, the BOCC approved a stipulated settlement dealing with the Skywatch Development.  Commissioner Charles Brock voted against the motion.

 

*  In another 4-1 vote a motion by Commissioner Donnie Strickland, seconded by Commissioner Joel Pate, the BOCC voted to approve a land use plan for Skywatch Development. 

 

The development will be located off State Road 79 and Northeast of Clemmons Road Between New Hope and Vernon. Answering some questions about to proposed development a representative of the property owner said a 100 foot vegetative buffer will be applicable to all properties.  The development will be phased in over eight years, with 100 homes planned each year.  Minimum size of the lots will be one-half acre.

 

*  Discussion of a Dependent District was tabled until the board receives further information.

 

*  Commissioners agreed Public Work employees can take leave the week of July 4th if they want to use leave time.  Commissioner Joel Pate questioned giving the employees the week off with work already piling up.

 

*  In a 5-0 vote on a motion by Commissioner Donnie Strickland, seconded by Commissioner Joel Pate, the BOCC approved allowing the Vernon Fire Department to make a second withdrawal from the Public Safety Fund within 12 months.  The money will  be used to repair the department's extrication vehicle.

 

*  Commissioners voted to increase from $3.00 to $5.00 the fee paid for each civil traffic violation, excluding parking violation.  The funds are used for Drivers Education at Chipley and Vernon high schools.

 

*  Commissioner Bill Howell said he would like to set aside some of the land sale money from the Industrial Park to be used for economic development.

 

*  In a 5-0 vote on a motion by Commissioner Charles Brock, seconded by Commissioner Donnie Strickland, the BOCC approved naming CW Roberts the apparent low bidder on resurfacing work on River Road, Bonnett Pond Road and Bahoma Road at a cost of $680,125.

 

* Commissioners refused to take any action concerning the Sunny Hills Fire Department as requested by Al Gothard who again pointed out that fire fighters have to be designated as a Firefighter II before they can receive pay.  Gothard was referring to pay Glen Zanetic receives from the Sunny Hills fire department.

 

Commissioner Joel Pate pointed out that the County's contract with the fire department runs until Oct. 1, 2009 and until that date commissioners could take no action.

 

*  Commissioners also voted to approve an amendment to the Sunny Hills MSBU.  The ordinance now reads as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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