Special Session
The Holmes County Board of Commissioners met in Special Session on the above date with the following members present: Commissioner Kenneth Williams, Commissioner Monty Merchant, Commissioner Jim King, Commissioner Phillip Music, Commissioner Ron Monk.
Mr.
Greg Wood,
Angie Jonas, Deputy Clerk, was present and kept the minutes.
Commissioner Merchant led the prayer and pledge.
Vice Chairman Music opened the meeting.
Pursuant to public notice, the Board held a Special Session to swear in elected Commissioners Jim King, Phillip Music and Ron Monk. Judge Owen Powell conducted the ceremony.
Vice Chairman Music asked for a nomination for the Chairman of the Board. Commissioner King made a motion to nominate Commissioner Monty Merchant as the Chairman of the Board. Commissioner Williams seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner
King made a motion for Phillip Music to continue as the Vice Chairman of the
Board. Commissioner Williams seconded the motion. The motion passed
unanimously.
The
Board discussed the invoice in the amount of $40,332.40 from C.W. Roberts for
the
Administrator
Wood asked whether the Board would be discussing the Commission Assignments
portion of the re-organization item. Chairman Merchant stated that this would
be discussed at a later time.
The
Board discussed the County contribution to the Library Budget. Administrator
Wood explained that in order to keep the Library at the fifty percent aid level
from the State, the County would need to contribute another $73,029.00, in
addition to the $31,679.00 which had already been budgeted. He stated that
there is currently $194,079.00 available in General Fund contingency. He also stated that he had received a memo,
which advised that the State is anticipating a ten percent “across the board”
cut and suggested that in anticipation of the State aid cut, the County could
contribute at least the ten percent or $11,768.00 to contingency in order to
“keep the Library going”. He also referenced an article that cited that the State
is also anticipating a one billion dollar shortfall in revenues as well. Mrs. Susan
Harris, Library Director, explained that State contributions in grant match
programs are in twenty five and fifty percent increments and confirmed that the
$73,029.00 is at the fifty percent match level. She stated that the Panhandle
Public Library Cooperative System (PPLCS) contribution does not count toward the
County matching funds. She also stated that the Library was requesting a larger
budget this year in anticipation of better services being provided to the
public and that the County’s contribution this year would affect grant funding
in the next two years. Commissioner Williams stated that should the State make
more cuts next year, he would like the Library to operate at the funding level
that the County has already contributed. He also stated that with the current
situation, he does not anticipate any raises beyond those that are given
annually to all employees. Mrs. Harris stated that minimum wage will be
increasing in January and that some Library employees will be getting a raise
as they currently earn minimum wage. Mrs. Betty Treadwell, Library employee,
stated that the Library is an essential part of the community and asked the
Board to continue to support the Library. Commissioner King stated that he
could not support contributing the $73,029.00 because of the unknown effect of
the billion dollar state revenue losses on the County’s budget. Commissioner
King made a motion to contribute $11,768.00 to the Library budget. The motion
died for lack of a second. Commissioner Music made a motion to contribute
$73,029.00 to the Library budget. Commissioner Williams seconded the motion.
The motion passed with Commissioner King and Chairman Merchant voting no, and
all others voting yes.
The
Board discussed the meeting schedule for December. Commissioner King made a
motion to set a meeting for
Administrator
Wood stated that there is a vacancy in District one due to the departure of Mr.
David Cullifer. He asked if it would be allowable to hire Mr. Wesley DuBoise as
a heavy equipment operator, since he has worked in this capacity previously.
Commissioner Williams made a motion to hire Mr. Wesley DuBoise. Commissioner
Music seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Attorney
Young offered his congratulations to the current Board.
Commissioner Williams made a motion to
adjourn. Commissioner Music seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
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Clerk Chairman