Members of the Emanuel County Board of Commissioners convened Monday, March 21, for their regularly scheduled monthly meeting at the John C. Coleman Hotel. The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Chairman Jim Sherrod. Present for the meeting were Commissioners James Canady and Commissioner Hugh Foskey. Commissioner Desse Davis was absent, and Commissioner Keith Thompson expressed his pleasure at being at the meeting in person following several months of virtual meetings necessitated by Covid protocol. County Attorney Richard McNeely gave the invocation and Commissioner Hugh Foskey led the pledge.
Minutes were reviewed from the February 21 regular meeting and a March 16 workshop meeting. These minutes were approved as presented, with Foskey making first motion for approval and Canady seconding.
In New Business…
•Commissioners approved the purchase of a front-end loader for the transfer station. County Administrator advised that this process is routinely performed on an approximate 5-year basis and advised board members of the importance of the machinery in collecting county trash in efforts to Keep Emanuel Beautiful. Upon the purchase of a new front-end loader, the current one in use will be utilized as a backup loader and the current back up front-end loader to be auctioned. Commissioners approved the low bid purchase of a front-end loader submitted by John Deere in the amount of $219,203. Canady made first motion for approval and Foskey seconded.
•Commissioners approved the purchase of a snap-on diagnostic tool for the county’s mechanic shop in the amount of $25,989. Foskey cast first motion for approval and Canady seconded.
•Commissioners then reviewed bids for the 2022 LMIG project and awarded the project to lowest bidder Scruggs, formally known as Dykes, who placed a project bid for $1,133,147.50. Administrator Singletary advised that project payment would be made through LMIG funding to include a 10 percent match made by the county. This project will include the resurfacing of Coleman Lake Road, Old Keas Mill Pond Road and the non-DOT portion of Highway 57 that was given to the county. Canady motioned for approval and was seconded by Hugh Foskey.
•Administrator Singletary then addressed Commissioners with bids for the CSB parking lot resurfacing and reconfiguration of the health department’s front parking lot project. Commissioners awarded the project to lowest engineer bidder Sikes Brothers in the amount of 527,036.90. Thompson made first motion for approval and was seconded by Foskey.
•Proposed retirement resolution changes were then discussed and included changes to retirement and employment status. Changes included allowing full-time employees to transfer employment over to part time status with ability to pull retirement funds. Singletary advised that this will allow the county, in certain situations, to create a part time position for employees in effort to retain work-related experience. In turn, the county will cease future retirement payments once an employee transfers their status over to part-time.
•The board then discussed budget amendments presented by Administrator Singletary that included adjustments to revenue and expenditures, employment statues and other changes. Thompson motioned for approval of the proposed budged amendments and Foskey seconded.
Comments
•Chairman Sherrod and Administrator Singletary gave updates on current and on-going project improvements in the county.
•Chairman Sherrod also announced that a second Keep Emanuel Beautiful meeting has been set for next week on March 29th at 5:30 PM in the Commissioners board room.
With no further discussion to entertain, the meeting was adjourned. Thompson cast first motion and was seconded by Foskey.
