County to search for new road dept. head

Madison County is searching for a new road department head.

Charles Temple, road department director for 23 years, recently resigned from the post after voicing his displeasure with a county vacation policy.

County building and grounds director Alan Lapczynski served double duty during December, handling building maintenance and road director duties during the holiday season.

Lapczynski said the workload has been intense.

“I didn’t have a day off,” he told the board.

County commissioners have voiced confidence in Lapczynski’s ability to handle road oversight duties. And they floated the idea of Lapczynski continuing to hold both posts, with some positions added to lessen his workload.
However, commissioner Jim Escoe voiced disapproval of the idea, saying the duties are too diverse.

“We’re trying to overlap two departments way too much,” said Escoe.

Lapczynski said he would consider the proposal, but he informed BOC chairman Anthony Dove Tuesday that he felt he could “best serve the county and his family by remaining over just building and grounds.”


Dove said Lapczynski will remain over the road department until a permanent director is hired.

The chairman said the BOC will need to meet soon to discuss an array of issues, including the vacant road department position, the beer and wine license procedures, EMS billing guidelines, county employee retirement incentives and health care coverage for part-time county employees.

No date for that meeting has been set.

SPLOST REVENUES

In other matters, Dove reported that special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) revenues were up $136,000 in 2012.

“That puts us back in the range of 2007, which was our highest point,” said Dove.

ZONING ISSUES DISCUSSED

The commissioners approved requests from Mike and Wendy Pullian to rezone three tracts of 1.22 acres, .521 acres and 1.103 acres on Human Road to rural residential.

In a separate zoning matter, the board heard from zoning commission chairman Wayne Douglas, who reported that the planning commission is combining B-1 and B-2 zoning designations into one “B” (business) category. Douglas said this will eliminate confusion for business owners.

ELECTION BOARD RESOLUTION

County commissioners discussed the proposed establishment of an election board in Madison County, with election oversight duties being transferred from the county probate judge to the county registrar, a post held by Tracy Dean.
The county registrar will serve as the chairman of the three-person election board, with the other two members nominated by the county Republican and Democratic parties.

The board recently agreed to have the county Grand Jury recommend an election board chairman to a Superior Court judge. But commissioners voiced concern Monday about the possibility of someone other than Dean being nominated for the post.

“I don’t want her job to be in jeopardy,” said commissioner John Pethel, referring to Dean.

The commissioners then agreed to have the BOC make a recommendation to a Superior Court judge on the election board chairman, leaving the Grand Jury out of the process.

The resolution to establish a county election board must be approved by the Georgia General Assembly.

THOMAS NAMED VICE-CHAIRMAN

Commissioner Stanley Thomas was approved 3-1 at the BOC table to serve as the board’s vice chairman in 2013. Thomas abstained from the vote, while commissioner Jim Esoce provided the lone “no.”

VACATION POLICIES

In another matter, Thomas said he would like for employees to be allowed to donate unused vacation time to fellow employees who qualify for aid under the Family Medical Leave Act.

“Anyone could find out tomorrow that they have a terminal disease,” he said.

Currently, sick days can be donated by employees to a “bank” of unused days. Thomas said he’d like to see unused vacation days added to the donation policy.

The board took no vote on the matter.