Fayette Commission preps for last 2016 meeting, first in ’17

The Fayette County Board of Commissioners’ final regular meeting for 2016 is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 8, and among the business expected to be addressed is the schedule for the upcoming year.

The board will recognize Commissioner David Barlow, who is leaving office at the end of the month, for his four years of service. His seat will be taken in the new year by Fayetteville attorney Eric Maxwell, who bested Barlow in the Republican primary earlier this year. Maxwell went on to defeat Democrat Pam Reid Nov. 8. Maxwell previously served one four-year term on the commission.

Tax Commissioner George Wingo will be recognized for his 24 years of service, having served six consecutive four-year terms.

Chairman Charles Oddo has recommended that a special called organizational meeting be scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 5, to elect a chairman and vice chairman for the year. This is typically done at the first regular meeting of the year, but this special meeting has been recommended because a Jan. 6 meeting has been scheduled with elected officials from the county’s cities to discuss the proposed SPLOST referendum.

Other new business includes consideration of a request by Fayetteville officials to modify an annexation consent agreement and acceptance of a $216,500 bid for lighting at two McCurry Park soccer fields

The board is expected to revisit Commissioner Steve Brown’s request to change the public use hours for county lakes. This has been discussed previously and was tabled at the Oct. 13 meeting. The suggested change from sunrise to sunset would “allow more user opportunities and align hours of operation with other outdoor parks,” as Brown has suggested.

The board will hear two requests regarding the disposition of tax refunds and a request to allow a van pool to be utilized in a county parking lot for physically disabled county residents.

Three public hearings are on the agenda tomorrow night. The board will consider an ordinance amendment regarding setbacks for septic tanks and drain fields, as well as two applications for retail licenses to sell alcoholic beverages for stores on Hwy. 92 in Fayetteville.

The consent agenda includes five Public Arts Committee requests: to develop art opportunities at the 2017 Balloons Over Fayette event; concept approval for the Spring Chalk Art event; concept approval to develop at lecture series program specific to art; concept approval to develop and host pop-up shows; and concept approval to develop art programs in partnership with the Southern Conservation Trust.

Other items on the consent agenda include an ordinance regarding adoption of the International Fire Code, conversion of part-time positions into two full-time firefighter/EMT positions, the proposed 2017 Local Maintenance & Improvement Grant project list for unincorporated Fayette County, an intergovernmental agreement with Peachtree City for paving of a portion of Redwine Road, a $432,000 bid for construction of firing range and observation tower, acknowledgment of Sheriff Barry H. Babb’s decision to dispose of county property, approval of the Interim county clerk’s recommendation to adopt the 2017 Board of Commissioners meeting schedule, and approval of the Nov. 10 meeting minutes.

Winners of the 2016 Model Water Tower Competition will be honored as well as the Fayette County Parks and Recreation Department’s recent win of statewide special event award.

An overview of the McIntosh Trail Community Service Board is also on the agenda.