Despite opposition, the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners adopted Code Section 70-126 which deals with water service availability; the group also set a monthly water availability or stand-by fee.

The action was taken at the regular meeting of the commission held Thursday, March 8.

The new code section requires those owning property where a water service connection has been installed to pay a monthly water charge for the service, maintenance, and operation of the county water system. The code section will only affect property in areas that are just now getting county water.

After noting that he has received a "flood of e-mails," Commission Chairman Walker Norman pointed out that the water system is supported solely by grants, loans, and customers and operates independently of county government. "We have to pay for the water to flush the system in order to maintain the lines until the houses are built. If we don't flush the lines, the water will get stale. The fewer users you have, the more it costs to operate the system.

"There has been a lot of discussion about this, and we feel this is something we need to do," the chairman continued. "However, we are recommending a decrease in the monthly fee from $20 to $10 to cover the cost of maintaining the new lines."

Speaking from the floor was Janet Gray, who owns property in the Providence Ferry subdivision. "We were all blind-sided by this charge and feel we didn't have a voice or say in it. I am asking you to postpone the vote until we can speak with the commission. This is leaving a bad taste in the mouths of those of us who are really excited about coming here. We don't want to be gouged - we spend money here."

After multiplying the 360 lots in Providence Ferry by $10, Gray stated, "I can't imagine it will cost that much to flush the lines. It sounds like overkill."

"Everything costs more than you think it does," the chairman replied.

In other business, the commission:

+ Heard the Department of Public Safety Report given by Director Ernie Doss who indicated that the ambulance service responded to 107 calls for emergency assistance during the month of February.

The director also reported that Brandon Reed is the OES' (Office of Emergency Services) first full-time employee to complete the requirements for certification as a Georgia firefighter.

As for the E-911 center, dispatchers handled 749 emergency calls last month and monitored 6,220 radio transmissions.

In a related item of information, Director Doss said the center plans to have Phase II of the dispatch system upgrades on-line by the end of April or the first of May. Phase II will enhance the system's ability to locate wireless 911 callers. The caller's address will be displayed graphically on a map thereby making it easier for the dispatcher to determine the caller's exact location in the county.

.. Voted to adopt Phase I of a reorganization plan for the OES which would:

(1) Re-classify the operations supervisor to battalion chief.

(2) Eliminate the position of rescue chief.

(3) Eliminate the concept of a separate rescue squad and re-classify the volunteers as volunteer members of the OES.

(4) Maintain the existing full-time staffing.

Doss pointed out that Phase I is a "paper change" and will have no impact on the budget.

The plan has a total of four phases.

"I believe this plan will meet Lincoln County's public safety needs for the next 15 years," said Director Doss. "I have tried to balance optimal system design with the realities of our limited abilities to fund some of the proposed changes."

Phase I will go into effect immediately.

.. Voted to raise the mileage rate for ambulance calls from $6 per mile to $9.38, which is the Medicare rate for the first 17 miles of transport.

.. Voted to sign a mutual aid agreement with the Martinez Fire Department, Inc. The agreement states that the Martinez Fire Department and the Lincoln County Department of Public Safety will provide each other with firefighting services when the need arises. Moreover, each agency will be solely responsible for its own liability and expenses.

.. Heard the Public Works Report given by Director Roby Seymour who indicated that 1,272 water customers were billed for a total of $34,792.33 last month.

The director further reported that he was notified by the Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) that the county will receive a federal grant for about 20 miles of road striping on Bethany Church Road, Prater Road, and Metasville Road.

.. Voted to release $31,500 from the cash escrow ($42,000) for the water system in the Pointe Shores subdivision. The county will retain 25 percent in escrow until the one-year warranty period has expired.

.. Heard the Recreation Department Report given by Director Kathie Davis who said basketball season will end today (Thursday), with Little League baseball set to begin on Saturday, March 17, at the Curry Colvin Recreation Complex.

She went on to add that lights have been placed on the junior league field and timers will be installed on two of the light poles at the multi-purpose field.

.. Reviewed the Finance Department Report submitted by Director Traci Bussey.

.. Heard the Planning and Zoning Department Report given by Director Meg Burg who indicated that her office issued 60 business licenses last month for a total of $4,350.

Concerning code enforcement activities, 35 building permits were issued in February for a total of $2,142 and 101 building inspections were conducted.

As of March 1, the code enforcement office had a total of 52 property maintenance complaints on file.

.. Voted to grant a front setback variance to Charles and Deborah Ray to accommodate the construction of a porch on an existing home located on St. George Street.

.. Voted to approve the final plat determination for the Dogwood Ridge subdivision, located off of Chamberlain's Ferry Road, subject to the renaming of two roads. The subdivision is owned by Keith Page.

.. Voted to rezone 79.45 acres of land on Tabernacle Church Road from A-3 to R-1 to accommodate a major subdivision. The request was made by developer Laurence Courtney.

.. Voted to approve the final plat determination for Larkspur Landing, a 19-lot subdivision located off of Thomson Boat Club Road. The subdivision is being developed by Generations Fishing Creek, LLC.

.. Voted to approve a memorandum of understanding between the board and the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia calling for the board to allocate $31,755 to help provide 4-H services to Lincoln County youth. The amount will be matched by the Lincoln County Board of Education.

.. Voted to adopt an amendment to the county code that addresses licensing for "vehicles for hire" or taxicabs.

.. Voted to hire Brown-Vizvary Land & Forestry to review and summarize land values with timber leases applicable to Lincoln County at a cost not to exceed $2,500.

According to Kenny Adair, chief appraiser for Lincoln County, Plum Creek is appealing its valuation of $9,270,000.

"This is a very complex appeal - it isn't something we deal with every day," said Adair. "We need a consultant to assist us."

.. Agreed to send a request to the Finance Committee calling for the county to increase its annual contribution to the local health department by $21,000.

"Numbers have been drastically down in the revenue column for the health department," stated Chairman Norman. "Medicaid has cut payments to health departments all over."

.. Voted to post the appropriate weight limit signs on L & N Road to discourage loaded log trucks from tearing up the road.

.. Granted Chairman Norman permission to advertise for bids for painting the interior and putting down new carpet in the Lincoln County Department of Family and Childrens Service office which is owned by the county.

.. Voted to grant a new alcoholic beverage license to the Soap Creek Marina.

.. Voted to appoint Clay Turner as District 2's representative on the development authority.

The next regular meeting of the commissioners will be held Thursday, April 12, at 7 p.m. in the courtroom at the Lincoln County Courthouse.