County looks at relocating eternal flame to Post 194

Pictured is an artist's rendering of the new gymnasium, currently under construction at the Curry Colvin Recreation Complex.

If all goes as planned, the eternal flame in front of the Lincoln County Courthouse will be moved to American Legion Post 194.

The matter was on the agenda at the regular meeting of the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners held Thursday, April 10.

The action is being considered in response to a plea made to the commissioners at last month's meeting by Al Bean, a veteran and president of the Concerned Citizens of Lincoln County.

The flame, which is in disrepair, has not been used at all since 1995. In fact, there is not even a gas line connected to it at the present time.

In his comments, Bean asked the commission to address the problem and make every effort to effect the necessary repairs or replace the damaged equipment in a timely manner.

During the commission's April 10 meeting, Ernie Doss, director of public safety for the county and a member of the Legion Post's executive committee, said, "On January 29, 1970, The Lincoln Journal reported that American Legion Post 194 voted to erect an eternal flame at the courthouse. The newspaper story also stated that the legion would be responsible for the expense of operating the flame.

"Based on available information, it looks as if American Legion Post 194 is still responsible for the operation and maintenance of the flame."

After discussing the matter with the post's executive committee, Doss said the committee expressed a desire to move the eternal flame to the Post Home where it would be displayed at a new memorial being installed at the post.

The committee is set to vote in the issue at its regular monthly meeting set for Tuesday, April 15.

In other information, Doss noted that with today's gas prices, it would take approximately $4,000 a year to keep the flame lit 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The eternal flame currently stands behind a monument to those Lincoln Countians who have sacrificed their lives in defense of their country.

Whether or not the flame is moved, Doss recommended that the county install a low-voltage spotlight on a timer near the base of the existing monument to illuminate the memorial at night. "It is our belief that illuminating the monument will show our community's support for the men and women who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom and way of life."

At the conclusion of the discussion, the commission voted to install a spotlight at the memorial.

In other business, the commission:

.. Heard the Department of Public Safety Report given by Director Doss, who said the ambulance and fire/rescue services responded to 118 calls for emergency assistance during the month of March. Call volume was down eight calls when compared to March of 2007.

"However, call volume was up five or six percent last year and six or seven percent this year - over the last few years, we've seen an increase of from 15 to 18 percent," said Doss, who added that he and his staff are presently looking into the reason for these increases.

He went on to say that the county has taken delivery of a new Ford F- 450 Type I ambulance, which ran its first call that day. The $105,398 vehicle was purchased with SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) funds.

The new ambulance, MED 1, will replace a 1988 model.

Recreation Complex.

Concerning the E-911 center, operators handled 1,023 emergency calls last month, monitored 6,788 radio transmissions, and dispatched a total of 613 public safely, law enforcement, and fire calls.

.. Heard the Department of Public Works Report given by Directory Roby Seymour, who said his office billed 1,335 water customers and 417 "availability" customers last month for a total of $41,073.

Concerning roads, the director reported that his staff has been busy working on the building pad for the new gymnasium at the Curry Colvin Recreation Complex; hauling crushand run, cold mix, and sand; working on signage and drainage pipes; clearing trees off of rights-of-way; motor grading; patching potholes; working on the erosion problem at the Hero Metal Furniture distribution center; and installing and extending driveways.

.. Heard the Recreation Department Report given by Kathie Davis, who indicated that the plumbing has been installed in the new restrooms at the recreation complex. It is estimated that they will be completed by the end of the month.

She further announced that Eddie Fletcher Park is now open. "The public works department has built a concrete base for the Eddie Fletcher monument because we had problems with people running into it. The men also delivered sand and did a fine job of cleaning the park area."

In other items of information, Davis noted that the Lincoln County American Cancer Society (ACS) Relay for Life will be held Friday and Saturday, April 25 and 26, at the recreation complex. Fifteen teams and over 100 cancer survivors are expected to take part in the annual event, which is set to begin at 7 p.m.

The director invited those present to attend the relay.

In closing, Davis reported that the foundation for the new gymnasium will be poured this week.

.. Heard the Finance Department Report given by Director Traci Bussey.

.. Heard the Planning and Zoning Department Report given by Director Meg Burg, who said her office issued nine business licenses during the month of March for a total of $450. The county likewise received $400 in revenues in connection with zoning requests.

Regarding code enforcement, 59 building permits were issued last month for a total of $3,292, and 124 building inspections were conducted.

Moreover, during the month of March, the code enforcement office opened three new cases and closed seven, issuing six notices of violation. The office currently has 34 active cases.

.. Voted to adopt an amendment to the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance, upon the request of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

.. Voted to grant a request from the developers of the Serenity Point subdivision for a cash escrow reduction in the amount of $39,688.92, which would leave a balance of $1,953,534,08 in the account.

.. Voted to renew the county's lease with the United States Army Corps of Engineers for use of the Fishing Creek Boat Ramp. The lease will run from October 6, 2007 to October 5, 2017.

.. Voted to renew the county's lease with the corps for use of the Holloway Landing Boat Ramp. This is also a 10-year lease.

.. Voted to approve changes to the Water Service Delivery Strategy Map to include property added to The Retreat at Lake Thurmond subdivision by Lee Builders, Inc. The change will give the city the authority to run water lines to this area of the new subdivision.

• Voted to purchase a pre-manufactured fiberglass communications shelter at Graves Mountain from Crown Castle at a cost of $5,000. Crown Castle decided not to renew its lease for tower space at the mountain.

.. Voted to adopt a resolution establishing the franchise fee rate, at the request of AT & T. This means the county is authorized by law to collect a franchise fee at a rate up to and including five percent of each cable or video service provider's gross revenues generated within the unincorporated areas of the county or the maximum amount established by federal and state law after January 1, 2008.

.. Voted to approve an agreement with Farmers State Bank that will allow the county to offer direct deposit to its employees at no charge.

.. Voted to approve a purchase order with the corps of engineers, calling for the county to provide law enforcement services at Clark's Hill Lake. The annual contract will allow the county to bill the corps for up to $16,204.56 for law enforcement coverage from April 1, 2008 to September 1, 2008.

.. Voted to contract with Rayle EMC to install a security light at the Highway 220 East Boat Ramp. The light will cost the county $13.95 per month, which covers maintenance.

.. Voted to allow county employees to accrue up to six weeks of sick leave.

According to an analysis of the subject prepared by the county's General Government Committee, "Since the county provides no short-term disability, the county's department heads have requested that the commission consider changing the personnel policy to allow employees to accumulate up to six weekly shifts of sick leave.

"If an employee had to be absent from work for more than two weeks and had to take leave without pay, it would definitely create a hardship for the majority of employees."

Employees still will not get paid for unused sick leave upon termination of employment, and the accrual rate for sick leave will not change. It will take six years to accrue six months of sick leave.

In addition, all employees, who are absent from work for more than three days, must provide a physician's statement verifying the disability and dates for expected leave.

.. Voted to renew the annual CSRA DHR (Department of Human Resources) Coordinated Transportation Contract. The contract calls for the CSRA DHR to reimburse the county for the number of trips made by the county's transit system, at an amount not to exceed $14,500.

The reimbursement rate increased by $1 per trip, according to County Clerk Roxanne Ashmore.

The contract will run from July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009.

.. Voted to appoint Mike Garnett and Alana Burke, executive director of the Lincoln County Development Authority, to the CSRA Unified Development Authority. Garnett's term will expire December, 31, 2009; whereas, Burke's term is not set to expire until December 31, 2010.

The next regular meeting of the commissioners will be held Thursday, May 8, at 6 p.m. in the courtroom on the second floor of the courthouse.