Commission will keep tax website; hires Bussey as new finance director

The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners voted to continue riding the wave of the future by subscribing to QPUBLIC, LLC, an Internet based website containing all sorts of property tax information.

The action was taken at the regular meeting of the commission held Thursday, November 9.

According to Kenny Adair, chief appraiser for the county, QPUBLIC approached him earlier in the year about developing a demo site for Lincoln County.

In addition to general information about Lincoln County, the website features property records which can be accessed be entering the owner's name, the physical address of the property, the parcel number, and so forth. These property records contain information about: The owner and the parcel of land.

Assessment values.

Improvements made to the parcel, complete with site photos and color-coded building sketches.

Accessories which include storage buildings, garages, barns - basically, anything that is not attached to the house.

Recent sales, including sales in the neighborhood as well as the area in general.

"People are really interested in the tax information contained on QPUBLIC," said Adair. "In fact, everything we have in the office is on this website.

"Counting every screen accessed as a hit, we've had 46,059 hits since July - the front page alone was accessed

16,323 times," he continued. "The site is so user-friendly, people are using it all the time."

The chief appraiser further indicated that the website will cut down on the amount of traffic as well as the number of calls to the tax assessors' office. "Also, when people do call, the website will make it easier for our staff to answer their questions. In essence, QPUBLIC will give us the time to do more of the work we need to do in the office."

The service will cost the county $2,666.66 through the end of June, 2007. During that time, QPUBLIC will provide the county with GIS (Geographic Information System) property maps free of charge.

According to Commission Chairman Walker Norman, "Our goal is to make the public as aware of what we're doing and what direction we're headed in as we can. We need to continue doing everything possible to give the public more access to county government."

He then shared a few of the comments people have e-mailed the county concerning the QPUBLIC website. Two individuals are quoted below:

Hank Garrett, Tri-State Appraisal Services - "I am an appraiser from Augusta, Georgia. I have been using your website for the past few months. I have completed over 50 appraisals on Lincoln County properties this year. The information provided on your website far exceeds the data from any other county website use. I would encourage Lincoln County to continue this website."

Shirley Leverett, McDuffie County Board of Tax Assessors - "Wow! This one is awesome! The pictures are so clear. I think it's a 'keeper.' Everybody in our office likes it."

The website address is .

In other business, the commission voted to hire Tracey Bussey of Lincolnton as the county's new finance director. With 13 years of experience in accounting, the Wilkes County native will start work on December 4.

Bussey will replace Beth Antonakos, who resigned as finance director in September to work at Lee Builders, Inc. At the time of her resignation, Antonakos agreed she would stay with the county as long as necessary to train her successor.

Commissioner Larry Collins abstained from the vote because he and Bussey presently work together at Edison Plastics in Thomson.

Chairman Norman then welcomed Bussey aboard.

In further items of business, the commission:

Heard the Public Safety Department Report given by Director Ernie Doss who indicated that the EMS office responded to 86 calls for assistance during the month of October.

The director went on to say that during its first full month of operation, the new E-911 center handled 4,390 calls (both incoming and out- going), 760 of these were emergency calls; 2,020 were non-emergency calls for the sheriff's office; 197 were calls for the Lincolnton Police Department; and 140 were calls made on public safety administrative lines.

With 2,434 calls, the call volume was at its highest from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Doss noted that the center also monitored 6,666 radio calls, 2,117 for public safety and 4,549 for law enforcement.

In other items of information, the director said the center should be Phase II compliant in April of 2007. When this occurs, a 911 dispatcher will be able to pinpoint the exact location of individuals making emergency calls on cell phones.

"In April, we will become one of the few rural counties in the state to be Phase II compliant," said Director Doss.

Heard the Public Works Department Report given by Director Roby Seymour who said, "We're still bushhogging, but we're beginning to wind down. Our next project is to trim over-hanging limbs on the dirt roads in the county."

In regard to the water system, he reported that the water department billed 1,282 customers last month for a total of $35,334.53.

Voted to declare 19 items as surplus property and sell them at an auction set for 10 a.m. on Thursday, December 14, at the county shop on Old Petersburg Road. The list of surplus items includes three Ford Crown Victorias (1995, 1997, 1998); a 1998 Ford 350 ambulance; a case loader backhoe; one lot of field lights; a 1988 International dump truck; a 1990 Mack garbage truck; and a 1993 Chevrolet Caprice.

Heard the Recreation Department Report given by Director Kathie Davis who indicated that football sea- son ended the week of October 19 and soccer season began last week, with 156 children, ages 5-13, participating in the five-week program. Games will be played on Tuesday and Thursday nights.

Davis added that the swimming pool at the recreation complex has a leak, probably around one of the ladders. "We hope to get this straightened out," she said.

Reviewed the Finance Department Report submitted by Director Antonakos.

Agreed to take $50,000 out of the sheriff's budget per his request and apply the money to the county's Fund Balance. The transfer was made possible due to the fact that a project to install a new closed circuit television system and replace MTI control panels at the jail came in under budget.

Reviewed the Planning and Zoning Department Report submitted by Director Meg Burg, who was at home recovering from surgery.

In her report, she indicated that her staff issued six new business licenses for a total of $150 last month and four soil erosion and sediment control permits for a total of $3,328.

Concerning code enforcement, Director Burg reported that 33 building permits were issued in October for a total of $2,575; likewise, 144 building inspections were conducted during the month.

She added that 50 complaints were on file at the code enforcement office as of October 31. Burg's report also mentioned that

the county has collected $66,412.42 in fines and ad valorem taxes on mobile homes.

Voted to refund a total of $722.14 in taxes to Michael Phillips for 2003, 20004, and 2005 due to a computer glitch.

Voted to accept a bid of $25,800, submitted by H & H Industrial Maintenance, to repair Jake Bentley Bridge on Aycock-Norman Road. The Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) has agreed to contribute $15,000.12 toward the project, leaving the county to pay the remaining $10,799.86.

Voted to reduce the tap-on fee from $1,250 to $320 for those on Lewis Crook Road and portions of Highway 79 and Remsen Road who wish to tap on to the county's water system. The offer will expire at midnight on May 31, 2007.

Agreed to table a discussion on the county's employee retirement plan.

Voted to renew alcoholic beverage licenses for the following organizations and businesses: American Legion Post 194, Broad River General Store, Cliatt Crossing, L.W.'s Bait & Tackle, Mac's Bait & Tackle, Rocky Branch Golf Club, and Soap Creek Lodge and Restaurant.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Chairman Norman wished everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

The next regular meeting of the commission will be held Thursday, December 14, at 7 p.m. in the courtroom at the Lincoln County Courthouse.