Animal control, redistricting needs voiced

Coco’s provides pet food and supplies to needy families, promotes spaying and neutering, provides limited foster care and educates citizens on the need for a permanent animal control facility.

"Since July 2011 we’ve donated more than 3,000 pounds of food," she said. “We’ve fostered and placed 15 dogs since September and we’re now fostering nine dogs."

A service dog and a foster dog from Coco's Cupboard who was rescued as a stray were at the meeting but had to stand outside because the room was packed to capacity.

County manager Mike Phillips said he had provided commissioners with an animal control plan for their review.

Commissioners discussed adding a part time position at the registrar's office to allow for school board redistricting. The issue was carried over from the Nov. 14 meeting. Registrar Sandi Chamblin said current employees must attend a week-long class and need someone to be in the office during that time. She asked for the part time employee to help during school board redistricting, which will start soon.

“We’ll use the employee two days a week until we get all the borders checked. Then we’ll cut the position back to one day a week," she said. "No overtime would be involved. For the rest of the budget year, it’ll probably cost $10,000. I’ll try to keep it under that but it depends on how long it takes for school board redistricting and if we have to do redistricting for commissioners districts."

Commissioners voted unanimously, with commissioner Carol Bass absent, to transfer not more than $10,000 from the contingency fund to the registrar's budget for the rest of the fiscal year to fund the part time position.
Commissioners also approved changes to the county code regarding the electronic sign code. Changes suggested in a workshop held by commissioners went back to the planning commission and were discussed Nov. 8. The planning commission raised the maximum text size from six inches to 12 inches and reduced the text variation time from 15 minutes to two minutes.

"The main changes have to do almost exclusively with electronic signs," said building and zoning director David Allen. "The permitting process has been strengthened so applicants must demonstrate their sign can be in compliance with the ordinance. If not, they have to get approved by the variance board before they can get the sign."

Commissioners asked if the change brings the two electronic signs in Pike into compliance and were told the church is in total compliance. Allen said Patriot Motors can reduce the text change rate to 15 minutes, five minutes or two minutes, but is not able to change the size of the 15 inch letters on the sign.

"In December, he’ll seek a variance for text size only," Allen said.

The county also:
• Approved the 2013 LMIG project list (formerly LARP), to include resurfacing four roads including Sullivan Road off Highway 19 to Howell Road, Dripping Rock Road from Highway 18 to Upson County, Twin Oaks Road from County Farm Road to Drew Allen Road and Etheridge Mill Road from Shackelford Road to Liberty Road, as well as patching various roads.
• Appointed Jo Ann Wrye as the county legislative coordinator.
• Heard from Molena city councilman George Ingram about a proposed Molena fire station lease but postponed a decision until an agreement based on a monthly fee only can be proposed.
• Approved payment of $5,000 to the Meansville volunteer fire department.
• Approved on second reading the new code on alcoholic beverages with commissioner Tommy Powers opposed.
• Approved a request by Southern Rivers Energy to waive fees for upcoming meter exchanges in Pike starting in January 2013. Smart meters will allow customers to monitor energy use and will be remotely read. Customers will not be charged for meter exchanges but faulty bases will be replaced.
• Heard commissioner Don Collins recognize department heads and the county manager for a good job keeping spending down and not having to draw on the Tax Anticipation Note line of credit.
• Approved retail sales of beer and wine for several gas stations, including Cadies Corner in Zebulon, Ferguson's in Concord, The Rock Store in Zebulon and Mountain View in Meansville.
• Postponed Securus contract negotiations to the Wednesday, Dec. 12 meeting.
• Announced a draft vehicle use policy to be reviewed and approved at a future meeting.
• Held a public hearing and amended the county code to strengthen subdivision sections dealing with wetlands and flood plains and how they relate to laying out subdivisions.
• Held a public hearing and approved a special exception in an agricultural-residential district to allow property owners to use a recreational vehicle as a temporary residence at a home construction site on the west side of Friendship Circle.
• Changed the GIS fee schedule for sale of large maps for $10 instead of $30 and small maps for $5 instead of $15.
• Delayed discussion of salary verses hourly employees in the commission office.
• Approved a resolution setting the initial salary of the chief magistrate judge for the upcoming term 2013-16 at $49,182.
• Held a public hearing and authorized the filing of an injunctive relief in superior court regarding the Rigsby litigation.
• Postponed discussion of Pike County Agribusiness Authority and Chestnut Oak insurance coverage and a decision to extend the consulting service of Harbin Engineering regarding landfill issues to the end of the fiscal year June 30, 2013 until it is determined why the proposed fee increased from $5,000 to $8,000.