Franklin BOC to Hold Year-end Planning Session Today

Franklin County commissioners will meet this afternoon for their annual year-end work session.

The annual session at the end of December is a time for commissioners to go over goals and issues for the new year.

On the agenda this year are three important items.  The first includes the jail expansion.

Commissioners expect to get an update on where the County stands as far as securing the financing for constructing two of the four needed jail pods.

Commissioners voted in early November to move forward with the two-pod idea after hearing from County manager John Phillips, who recommended a way for the county to save on design and construction costs.

“We could save some money by putting the project out as a design/build project,” he said. “We would ask people to submit a design/funding proposal. They would come up with a plan that they could build for $1.5 million.”

The county currently has around $800-thousand dollars from a previous SPLOST to go towards the project, but needs another $500-600-thousand.

Commissioners will also be discussing a plan to bring in natural gas lines to the county, primarily to serve poultry farmers, but also to make it available to residential customers.

Last year, the Board held a public meeting where representatives from various gas companies gave presentations on the gas line feasibility.

And the Board will also go over the list of proposed road projects for 2015.

In November, commissioners approved a list of 11 projects for next year after hearing from Phillips’ on the total amount of LMIG funds the county expects to receive from the Georgia Dept of Transportation.

“Based on our formula amount, we will receive $393,518.60 through the program. We are required to provide a 30% match to that. So, we’re looking for around $563,000,” Phillips told the Board.

Also on the agenda, City Clerk Elaine Evans will give a FY15 Budget update, and Commissioners also plan to get updates from Department heads as well as appoint a new member to the Board of Tax Assessors.

Today’s work session takes place at the Rocky Ford Recreation center beginning at 1p. The Board will take a break from 1:30p to 2:30p and then resume work  to attend the retirement reception for Gladyne Davison in the Franklin County Magistrate’s office at the  Justice Center.

The work session is open to the public.