Concerns were expressed about closing a portion of the Fred R. Prater Parkway during the regular meeting of the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners held Thursday, March 11.

The road leads to the Knox Scout Reservation, which has experienced problems with vandalism, and deeding the road to the scouts will allow the area to be secured.

In his comments, Mike Reese, a fireman with Martin’s Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department, asked about access to the property in the event of an emergency.

“Since we don’t deal with keys, we would like to suggest an automatic system with a key code.”

Jeff Schwab, scout executive and CEO of the Georgia-Carolina Council, Boy Scouts of America, said, “We want to ensure that all emergency agencies have access to the camp We will take Mr. Reese’s suggestion under advisement. We want to be good neighbors.”

Speaking from the audience, Mitch Stopher said he walks down the road every day and wanted to be sure he could get past the gate.

According to Schwab, “We have a full-time camp ranger, whose house will be situated a short distance from the front gate. Guests of the camp just need to check in with him. I don’t envision any problems. Although access will be denied when scouting programs are in progress.”

The same would hold true for using the reservation’s boat ramp.

“Our goal is not to deny access to the camp but to protect the scouts and the property,” the scout executive said.

To date, the reservation’s rifle and archery ranges have been burglarized, poachers have been discovered hunting on the property while scouts were in residence, scouts have almost been hit by cars driving at excessive speeds down the parkway, and a number of items have been stolen from the compound including boats and a $14,000 John Deere tractor.

At the conclusion of the discussion, the commission voted to proceed with abandoning the relevant portion of the Fred R. Prater Parkway.

In other business, the commission:

• Voted to authorize EMI (Engineering Management Incorporated) to provide engineering services for the relocation of water lines in connection with the DOT’s plans to place passing lanes down Augusta Highway. The county will incur no cost for EMI’s services.

• Heard the Office of Emergency Services (OES) Report given by Director Casey Broom, who said that ambulance personnel responded to 87 calls for service during the month of February. The average response time was nine minutes.

In other items of information, Director Broom stated that the county’s new ambulance was delivered on Sunday, February 14, and placed into service on the 16.

“All is going well – it’s a good unit,” said the director.

He went on to note that the OES is working to get the rescue unit up and running.

• Heard the Recreation Department Report given by Kathie Davis, who indicated that Leroy Craig, with Youth Education and Sports, Inc., will be holding a football and cheerleading camp the week of April 5 from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. each day. The camp is for children ages 5 to 13.

Also, the basketball program will end on Saturday, March 20, with the Little League baseball season scheduled to begin the same day.

In closing, Director Davis gave an update on the moisture problem at the gymnasium. “The moisture levels were about the same as they were last month. Humidity was between 82 and 92 percent on the back wall.”

She added that S.D. Clifton, the general contractor for the project, replaced the flashing around the windows on the right-hand side of the gym to see if it would stop the leaking around the beam on the inside of the building. “I haven’t seen anymore leaks,” Davis reported.

• Reviewed the Finance Department Report submitted by Director Bussey.

“We are continuing to monitor the budget, and it appears as if we will have to make some small changes in-house to stay within it,” said Commission Chairman Wade Johnson. “It looks like we’re going to make it, but it will be really, really close.”

• Heard the Public Works Department Report given by Director Roby Seymour, who stated that his office billed 1,345 water customers and 491 “availability” customers a total of $51,747.43 for the month of February.

Concerning the road department, Seymour said his staff has been busy hauling crush-and-run and rock; working on signs, vehicles, downed trees, potholes, and the baseball fields at the Curry Colvin Recreation Complex; bush-hogging; repairing, cleaning, and replacing pipes; trimming roads and rights of way; and scraping roads.

• Voted to declare various items as surplus property. The list includes a Ford dump truck, a Chevrolet pickup, several Ford Crown Victorias, a New Holland tractor, a motor grader, two ditch witches, a Jeffery Dresser rock crusher, four sets of old bleachers, old chairs and computers from the courthouse attic, and chairs from the courtroom.

The items will be sold at a public auction next month.

• Reviewed the Planning and Zoning Department Report submitted by Director Seymour, who stated his office issued 23 business licenses last month for a total of $1,150. Zoning fees amounted to $200 for February.

Regarding code enforcement, 29 building permits were issued last month for a total of $872, and 42 building inspections were conducted.

• Voted to rezone property owned by Travis Reed on White Rock Road from A-1 to M-1 to accommodate a mechanic repair shop.

• Voted to grant a special use permit to Travis Reed to accommodate a floral retail sales business on White Rock Road.

• Voted to grant L.W.’s Bait & Tackle a temporary alcoholic beverage license. The applicant was Samirkumar “Sam” Patel.

• Voted to reappoint Ann Scott to the Library Board.

• Voted to reappoint Jim Heard to the Tax Assessors’ Board.

• Voted to reappoint Herbert Moxley to the Planning Commission.

• Voted to appoint Lisa Willingham to fill the unexpired term of Ronald Aycock on the Recreation Advisory Board. Aycock’s term is set to expire December 31, 2012.

“We appreciate people being willing to step up to the plate and make a difference in their community,” said Chairman Johnson.

• Heard comments made by Marvin Goldman concerning the proposed senior citizens building.

• Heard Chairman Johnson commend retired educators Coleman and Nellie Kennedy for their service to the county and for producing three very accomplished children. “If you see Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy, thank them for their service to the community,” stated the chairman.

• Voted to enter into executive session to discuss two legal matters. Upon returning to regular session, no action was taken.

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