Board Approves Inmate Health Contract
Community, Police & Government April 20, 2022
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga.- The Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners approved the inmate health contract with CorrectHealth after the bidding process was conducted.
The board also decided to table the vote on the land-use revisions for another two weeks. This also extends the moratorium on commercial licensing until May 3 when they will take a vote on the revisions.
Sheriff Stacy Jarrard at the meeting.
Sheriff Stacy Jarrard brought before the board a new contract with CorrectHealth that raised the cost to $60,000. This was a jump in cost from what it had previously been so the board directed staff to try to negotiate the cost down.
When that option did not work the board told asked staff to find out if CorrectHealth would be willing to work with the county on month-to-month bases while they put the contract out for bid. CorrectHealth agreed and staff opened up a bid for the contract.
They received two bids. A commission made up of staff and members of the sheriff’s office met with them last Monday. After the meetings, Jarrard requested to stay with CorrectHealth.
However, during the bid process, CorrectHealth’s contract price did go up again. The annual amount that will be paid for their services is $357,765.98 Jarrard and John Ritter Director of Marketing and Business Development for CorrectHealth were at both the work session and meeting to answer any questions the board or community may have had.
“Before the bid process the rate was $256,000.00,” stated Jarrard.
At the same meeting, the board decided to table the land-use revisions vote. The most current draft was put out on Friday, Apr. 15 right before Easter. To view that draft visit https://www.lumpkincounty.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=182.
Commissioners Stringer and Greene expressed concerns with the current draft and wished to have more time to work on a few small details. The rest of the board was in agreement and decided to hold another work session Tuesday, Apr. 26 at 9:00 a.m.
They will release another draft after that meeting and give the community a week to review the changes and express any other concerns. The vote will be held at a special call meeting on May 3 at 5:30 p.m. this will be after the work session.
Kathrine James while speaking to the board about her concerns.
Kathrine James and Steve Sylvestor were both present at the meeting and express further concerns with the document. Sylvestor felt that as the board has worked on the revisions they have become less restrictive. James felt that there was still some clarification needed on how long a person held a land-use permit without making any progress.
“I’ve gotten phone calls and emails both ways some saying we’ve gone too far and some saying we haven’t gone far enough, I think after going through it in a lot of detail I think its a good compromise between property rights and protecting property values,” commented Commissioner District 4 Jeff Moran.
The commissioners also ratified the joint proclamation with the City of Dahlonega to make the month of April Child Abuse Prevention Month. To review when the City approved the proclamation visit https://lumpkin.fetchyournews.com/2022/04/05/council-approves-pay-adjustment-for-employees/.
Council Approves Pay Adjustment for Employees
Community, Lumpkin Co. Basketball April 5, 2022
DAHLONEGA, Ga.- The City Council approved a pay adjustment for the employees of the City of Dahlonega at their meeting on Apr. 4.
The council also approved three budgets for three projects. They delayed voting on the ServLine Leak Protection plan until more information was made available to them to the plan.
City Manager Bill Schmid brought the council the request for a pay adjustment at the work session. The reason for the adjustment is due to the higher cost of living since the last adjustment. Since the council adjusted in 2019 there has been a 10.4% increase in consumer pricing, since Oct. that has been 9.9%.
Schmid requested that the adjustment is between 3 to a total of 7%. At the full 7%, the increase would be $150,974.63. The council voted to approve a 4% to a total of 7% pay adjustment for the employees.
“I think this means an awful lot to our employees who work very very hard,” commented Mayor JoAnne Taylor.
The council also approved three budgets for three projects. Those projects are a rehabilitation project at the Barlow Lift Station, storm drain repair on Mechanicsville Road, and the parking lot overlay for City Hall.
The rehabilitation project is to replace old equipment that is on the verge of failing at the largest lift station in the city. The budget for the project was $590,000. The only bidder is W.L. Griffin Company, LLC. Their bid came in at $872,897.92.
This high bid is due to the increased cost of labor and materials. To have the funds to meet the bid Water/Wastewater Treatment Director John Jarrard asked the council to approve using $320,000 in ARPA funds.
These are the COVID relief funds that are allocated to capital projects. To learn more about ARPA funds and how they work visit https://opb.georgia.gov/covid-response/american-rescue-plan#:~:text=It%20includes%20fiscal%20relief%20funding,local%20governments%20and%20individual%20assistance.
“If I’m going to spend a million dollars of the taxpayer’s money, I want you to take me out there, and I want to understand how we are going to spend a million dollars,” explained Councilmember Johnny Ariemma when he voted no for the project.
The next project is the storm drain repair. The budget for this project is $138,000. The lowest bid is with Townley Construction for $141,612.00. Capital Projects Manager Vince Hunsinger requested that the council move $25,000 from stormwater projects to be determined funds.
The last project is the parking lot overlay. The budget for this project is $45,000. The lowest eligible bid has come in at $53,350. Hunsinger requested an additional 8,350.00 from the Facilities and Property fund.
Finance Director Allison Martin brought the ServLine Leak Protection plan to the council at the Mar. 21 work session. To review the discussion they had go to https://lumpkin.fetchyournews.com/2022/03/22/council-discusses-employee-pay-adjustments/. The council has not received enough information on the plan to move forward with it at this time, so they delayed it until they had more time to understand it.
The council after reading the Lady Indians State Champions proclamation.
The council also made two joint proclamations with Lumpkin County. The first was to make the month of Apr. Child Abuse Prevention Month. The second was to recognize the Lady Indians Basketball team for their State Championship. This proclamation will be delivered at a special assembly at the school and there will also be a parade to honor the girls on Apr. 15 at 12:30 p.m.