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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-23-1998 Meeting I FINANCE & APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ROOM - November 23, 1998 1:00 P. M. PRESENT: Hons. Bridges, Chairman; H. Brigham, Vice-Chairman; Beard, member; Jim Wall, Attorney; Randy Oliver, Administrator; Harrison Sears, Tax Assessor; North Williamson of the Tax Commissioner's Office; Lon Morrey, Comptroller; Lillian Katharine Blanos, Augusta Clean & Beautiful Director; Lena Bonner, Cllerk of Commission and Nancy Morawski, Deputy Clerk of Commission. ABSENT: Hons. Larry Sconyers, Mayor and 1. Brigham, member. Also Present: Stacey Eidson of The Metropolitan Spirit, Sylvia Cooper of The Augusta Chronicle and Hons. Mays and Colclough, Commissioners. Tht:: Clerk: We have a request for an addendum item as per our agenda. Mr. H. Brigham: I so move. Mr. Beard: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. I A request for a refund of 1996 and 1997 taxes in the amount of $258.60 to Fred and J\1ary Ray for overpayment of taxes on Map 199, Parcel 23, was read. A request for a refund of 1996 and 1997 taxes in the amount of $258.60 to Loretta Pt~rry for overpayment of taxes on Map 118, Parcel 166, was read. A request for a refund of 1996 and 1997 taxes in the amount of $258.60 to Wendelll\l{oore for overpayment of taxes on Map 13-4, Parcel 211, was read. A request for a refund of 1997 taxes in the amount of $129.30 to Helga Ludwig for overpayment of taxes on Map 128, Parcel 1.05, was read. Mr. Beard: I so move. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A I:equest to consider waiving penalties on various personal property accounts for R & H Manon, Inc., was read. I Mr. Williamson: This would be for a refund of penalties in the amount of $845.88. Mr. Beard: I move that we approve Mr. Williamson's recommendation. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to consider abatement of 1997 taxes on Parcel 75.01 and 390 on Map 36-4, was read. Mr. Oliver: These should have been paid by the former property owner. Mr. Williamson: These properties were obtained by Springfield Village in March of 1997. They may have been prorated at the closing. Mr. Chairman: Should we check into that? Mr. Williamson: Yes, we can. Mr. Chairman: Let's do that and then bring it back at the next meeting. A request to consider abatement of 1998 taxes for Augusta Mini Theatre, Inc., was read. Mr. Williamson: Mr. Allen recalls that he did collect the prorated taxes from the seller from January 1 through July 31 and as a result, I recommend that we have them pay that amount and abate the remainder of the year. This would abate $986.62. Mr. Beard: I so move. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request for a refund of 1997 taxes in the amount of $169.32 to Wallace S. Edwards for overpayment of taxes on boat account # 139304, was read. Mr. Beard: I so move. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to rescind the contract with Bethlehem Community Center for SPLOST funding, was read. I Mr. Wall: We entered into an agreement with Bethlehem Community Center and it was contingent upon them showing they had clear title to the property. They have not been able to do that and will not be able to because they hold tht:: property in trust. The Methodist Church will not deed the property out directly and since the project description was to build on that property and since it appears this is impossible, it seems appropriate to revoke the contract and free up the money. Mr. Beard: I so move that we rescind the contract. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. A r'equest to increase the budget of the County Attorney by $75,000.00, was read. Mr. Wall: I requested an increase in the budget for $75,000 but I believe some of it will be carried over and hopefully we won't use it all. Mr. H. Brigham: I so move. Mr. Beard: Second. I Motion adopted unanimously. A r'equest to approve a Resolution exercising option to extend term of Public Purpose Lease with Richmond County Public Facilities, Inc. for a period of one year. (COPS issue), was read. Mr. Beard: I so move. Mr. H. Brigham: Second. Motion adopted unanimously. At this time Mr. Don Ellefson of ADSI-United Van Lines appeared before the Committee regarding the driveway access proposal for Payton Road Properties, LLC. I Mr. Ellefson: When we last appeared before the Committee, we were trying to resolve our situation of getting access to our property. The County Attorney suggested that we ask for relief from our County taxes through Amendment 75 and we were turned down for that. We've been to the Development Committee and the Chamber of Commerce: about this project and we haven't been able to get anywhere. We have purchased a 50-foot access from another property owner and right-of-way to satisfy DOT requirements and our total cost will be around the $150,000 to $160,000 range. We were hoping to get some participation in some form from the County. (Mr. Mays enters the meeting) After a lengthy discussion, Mr. Wall: We could maybe consider participation regarding some portion of the decellane, which is an improvement to the public road. (Mr. Colclough enters the meeting) After further discussion, Mr. Chairman: Jim, could you check into the decellane and see if there is any way we could participate in in that regard? Mr. Wall: Yes, I can. I'll talk with Mr. Murphy. Mr. Beard: I'll move that we accept this as information and continue to work with them through the Attorney and our engineers to see what could be done. Mr. H. Brigham: I second that. Motion adopted unanimously. A request to approve funding in the amount of $400 to sponsor the First Quarter, 1999 Brier Creek Soil Conservation District Dinner. (To be funded by "Commission Other"), was read. Mr. Bridges: It will be Richmond County's responsibility to host this dinner for the first quarter because it moves to different counties each quarter. Mr. Beard: I'm a little concerned about spending out of next year's budget before its adoption. When is the dinner? Mr. Bridges: It is in January and plans need to be made in advance. Mr. Oliver: We could make it subject to approval of the budget. Mr. H. Brigham: I move for approval subject to the approval of the budget. Mr. Beard: I'll second it. Motion adopted unanimously. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission NWM