Commissioner Robert Jones held his first regular monthly meeting at the new Pickens County Administrative Building Friday. The new building is located at the former Mountainside Hospital building on East Church Street just south of downtown Jasper.
Jones said the county hired Aquamania, Inc. last month to conduct an engineering study of the county pool, which is located at Roper Park on Refuge Road. The study cost the county $3,500, and was conducted to determine how much damage the pool has incurred, and how much the repairs would cost.
The commissioner said following the meeting that the county swimming pool is currently a "safety hazard," but initial work has begun to prepare it for public use this summer.
The goal, said Jones, is to have the pool open with regularly scheduled hours by Memorial Day, as in most years since the pool was constructed.
The county hired Aquamania, Inc. last month to conduct an engineering study, which cost the county $3,500, to determine how much damage needs to be repaired at the pool, and how much those repairs would cost. They came up with an estimate of $39,500 to repair all damages.
Jones said the county asked four companies to look at the pool's needs, and all of them but Aquamania Inc., said the facility is in such disrepair that it should be condemned.
"It's in pretty bad shape, but we're going to try to get it operational this summer," said
Continued on page 10A
Jones. He said tiles around the pool are loose, and the gunnite or concrete inside the pool is cracking.
Jones said he does not yet want the county to pay for a new pool, which he said would cost over $200,000. A new master plan for the county's parks and recreation services, which will be funded by a SPLOST sales tax if it is approved in March 2008, includes a new swimming pool.
The unforeseen cost of $39,500 to repair the aging pool was not included as an expense line in the county's 2007 budget. However, Jones said they should have the money to make the repairs.
"We have the money, we just need to decide what fund we're going to get it from," said the commissioner.
Director of emergency services Layne Arnold gave a brief report of activity in his offices. All emergency offices - EMS, fire, rescue and law enforcement - have received significantly more calls for services in the first two months of 2007 than they received at the same time in 2006.
Law enforcement has received 8,452 calls so far this year, EMS has received 930 calls, fire departments have received 731 calls, and rescue has received 1,063 calls, according to Arnold's report.
At the end of the meeting, responding to a question about the status of a further senior citizen property tax exemption, Jones said due to "controversy" surrounding the argument, the plan to pursue such an exemption has been delayed.
He said after announcing at last month's meeting that he was working on a proposal to submit to the state legislature in March, he heard from more senior citizens opposing a bigger exemption than supporting it.
Jones added he hopes to continue working on a proposal this year that goes beyond the current exemption, but is fair to non-senior citizens. He said he hopes to submit legislation to place a proposal on the November 2008 general election ballot.
In other Pickens County news:
A series of agreements pertaining to fire and water services between Pickens County and its eastern neighbor Dawson County were reached in February, Jones said.
Pickens County has begun a lease of property on Monument Road which is owned by a telecommunications company, who has a cell tower on the site. The county agreed to pay the company's yearly property taxes on the tract, and maintain the property in exchange for the lease.
In turn, Dawson County has constructed a water tank on the property. Jones said Pickens will run a water line to a fire hydrant on Monument Road.
Jones said the water tank is to be used only for fire services by both counties. As there are no natural water sources near the site, which is on top of Burnt Mountain, the tank was needed for fire protection for the growing number of residences in the area.
In another transaction between the two counties, the Pickens County water department will run a water line to Dawson County fire station number six. The station is on Steve Tate Highway across from the north gate of Big Canoe. It is owned by Big Canoe, and manned by Dawson County fire services, but it currently has no water.
Jones said Dawson County will pay Pickens for a new water line and meter for the station.
Also approved was a mutual aid fire services agreement between Pickens and Dawson counties.
Jones said the agreement allows each county's emergency fire services to assist in fighting fires across county lines, if such assistance is requested. The agreement will be especially helpful in the Big Canoe community, which straddles the two counties. But the agreement applies to all areas of both counties, Jones said.
Pickens County has similar agreements with other surrounding counties, said Jones.
The county has signed a contract for an engineering study to begin the redesign and resurfacing of Salem Church Road. Jones said the curvy road is "very dangerous," and the initial study and survey will give road planners ideas on how to change the layout of the road.
Moreland Altobelli Associates, Inc. will conduct the study under a contract for which the county paid $72,500.
Pickens County special projects director Joey Low said that cost was paid for with SPLOST dollars. The county will pursue state DOT funding for further work on Salem Church Road.
The commissioner opened bids for a new county drum chipper. He accepted the lowest bid of $85,400 from Vermeer. The only other bidder was R. Z. Zimmerman.
Jones said the new machine meets all Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards. He said the chipper will be used to keep county roads and ditches clear.
Two older drum chippers in the county's possession will be sold, said Jones.
After receiving three bids for cleaning services at the new county administrative building, Jones accepted the low bid of $39,000 per year by Maid My Day.
The company Waste Management won the annual contract for county recycling services. The contract does not specify an overall dollar amount for the year, as it will be determined by equipment rental fees and hauling prices. Jones said Waste Management's costs were less than three other companies who placed bids for the job.
The commissioner signed a proclamation designating April 2007 as Great American Cleanup month in Jasper, Nelson, Talking Rock and Pickens County.