A request by the state’s Department of Driver Services for funding assistance was soundly rejected by the Fayette County Board of Commissioners last week.
The proposed $50,000 contribution was intended to help offset relocation and building costs for the Fayetteville customer service center to be located at 749 West Lanier Avenue. That money was in the FY2014 capital improvement projects budget to fund a parking lot expansion for the DDS facility on McElroy Road. That project was put on hold while the state evaluated its needs and options with regard to providing driver customer services.
County Manager Steve Rapson noted that such a funding request is not unusual. He added that the DDS facility is expecting to expand from 3,800 to 5,610 square feet with significant staffing increases to handle the workload.
After Rapson’s briefing, Commissioner Randy Ognio made an immediate motion to deny the funding request and was seconded by Commissioner Steve Brown.
“They [DDS] collect the money; they need to fund it,” said Ognio, adding that the county has provided the DDS building for next to nothing for years. “I don’t know what they’ll do if we don’t fund it, but I don’t want to fund it.”
Brown was even more pointed in his criticism of the state’s request.
“I wish the state cared as much about Fayette County as Fayette County cares about the state,” he said. “They cut funding in just about every area and now they ask for $50,000 more. We’ve had to beg them to mow their own state highways. This is absolutely ridiculous and it makes me mad.”
Brown said he noticed several years ago that most of the vehicles in the parking lot at the DDS facility are from outside Fayette County.
Rapson pointed out that the McElroy Road building will eventually need renovation, but can be used for any of several other county purposes, such as public works administration or fire services.
The motion to deny passed 5-0.
In other business, the board approved an alcoholic beverage license for Tobias Lee Booker, doing business as 524 Bar and Grill on Hwy. 85 North in Fayetteville. There was no discussion for or against, and the measure was approved unanimously.
The consent agenda approved by the board included an amended contract between the court and Judicial Correction Services, a $202,386.80 asphalt milling contract with Atlanta Paving & Concrete Construction, a $232,520.80 bid for chemicals used by the Fayette County Water System for water treatment, and a $107,087 order by CH2M for tank inspection and maintenance.
Peggy Glaze was recognized for her 31 years of service in public safety upon her retirement from the 911 communications department. County human resources director Lewis Patterson was recognized for completing the Georgia Local Government Personnel Association’s Certified Human Resource Manager Program.
