County looks for more budget cuts

At the commissioner’s meeting on Monday, December 5, county manager Kelly Bowen began to give commissioners additional recommendations for county budget cuts, but told commissioners that she did not have any figures. Commissioner Karen Cheek stated that accountant McCranie had given them figures at their work session meeting on November 21 referencing savings if changes were made in school resource officers and the tax assessors office.

When asked by Dodge County News Reporter Cindy Eckles who was at the November 21 work session meeting, commissioner Cheek stated, “the commissioners”. County attorney John Harrington agreed with reporter Eckles that they (the newspaper) and the public have to be informed about meetings even if they are work sessions, as required by law.

Bowen recommended that the commissioners schedule a work session as soon as possible to discuss additional 2012 budget cuts.

Commissioner Watkins requested that county department heads be present at the meeting. Bowen was instructed to schedule a meeting.

Commissioner Cheek made the motion that the county send a new proposal to the City of Eastman increasing their percentage of the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) funds from the original proposed 22.76 percent to 25 percent and take the increase from the county’s amount. Commissioner Cheek stated that the other municipalities’ percentage should remain the same. The LOST funds are currently in the mediation period between the county and Eastman.

A request from Earl Parkerson, Farrell and Pam Parkerson Baggett and Chuck Parkerson to close a section of Price Road was tabled.
Farrell Baggett told the commissioners that they were requesting the road be closed because during rain storms some areas become impassable, people speeding up and down the road, trash being thrown out and recently over $4,000.00 in vandalism on their property.

Glen Price and Russ Ruffin, who are the two homeowners on the road, requested that the road not be closed. Price stated that gates would have to be put up and the turn around would be on his property. He added that others in the community use the road also and closing the road would cause more problems.

Chuck Parkerson said he could see why Russ (Ruffin) did not want the road closed but that there were a lot of problems out there.

Ruffin added, “We are all family and I hope we can come to a conclusion. We have always looked after each other.”

When ask if the vandalism was impulse or target, Farrell Baggett stated target.

Commissioner Watkins made the motion that they table closing the road and let the families get together and bring a new proposal before the commissioners.

Commissioners voted to appoint Phil Bearden to the Dodge County Development Authority to replace Mark Studstill. Studstill resigned his positions on the authority.

They also voted to re-appoint Dr. Todd Peacock to the Dodge County Board of Health pending Peacock’s permission. Dr. Peacock has served on the Dodge County Board of Health since 1998.

At the November 21 regular meeting, commissioners voted to accept Bowen’s recommendation to give county employees 11 holidays, but to furlough (not pay) five of them. A decision was not made at that meeting which of the holidays would be furlough holidays. At the meeting on Monday, December 5, the commissioner voted not to pay for Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Columbus Day and Veterans Day during 2012.