Booster Club formed for recreation department

In other business Tuesday night, the BOC:

•approved a variance request from Frankie Wood to redesign two lots, 1.89 acres and 2 acres, at 1175 Welborn Road to allow for building lots. The property is zoned ARR. Mrs. Wood spoke on the request.

•heard from Betty Hicks and Judy Freels about an “excessive water bill” due to a water leak. One bill they have received was for $500 and the next bill will be for $1,305. The BOC did not reduce the bill but did agree that the women could have one year to pay the bill.

•heard from forester Jack Caitlin of Caitlin Forestry Service on his timber analysis on Windmill Farm and his recommendations for selling the timber.

•agreed to pre-qualify Byrd Brothers, DRC, TFR and DTS as contractors to be used if needed for debris management.

•approved a request from EMA/E-911 director Deidra Moore to take sealed bids on a tornado siren to be purchased with a hazard mitigation warning grant. The siren will be placed at the 911 center overlooking the ball fields.

•agreed to a request from recreation director Joe Gailey that a $5 user fee be charged for non-county residents to use the recreation center to play basketball, walk or exercise.

•denied a request from the Town of Homer to provide animal control services in the city. Commissioner Ernest Rogers said, “With the economy the way it is, I don’t see the way the county can do this at this point. I don’t see how we can tie up a person involving that much time with animal control in the City of Homer. Maybe at a later point. But, at this point, I don’t see it.”

•agreed to pay $19,900 to Russell Hatcher Electric for electrical repairs at the water treatment plant. On a related request, the BOC denied payment of $1,117 to Higgins Construction for work needed to the conduits in preparation for the electrical repairs. The BOC also agreed to a $15 per cubic yard of concrete credit by Higgins Construction and Crom Corporation totaling $3,885, as well as a decrease to $949 from $1,633 from Higgins Construction for changing from stainless steel vent to PVC vent.

•agreed to update the county employee benefit retirement plan to be in compliance with federal law changes.

•agreed for the chairman to sign off on the hazard mitigation grant the country received for $21,250.

•agreed to a request from fire chief Jim Fuller to declare a 1971 ladder truck as surplus and sell it.

•agreed to a request from the sheriff’s department to replace the computer server, which