Liberty County Commission, during its Nov. 5 meeting, tabled a vote to adopt a minority/woman business enterprise policy.
Commissioners Gary Gilliard and Justin Frasier said they wanted more time to review the draft policy, and directed County Attorney Kelly Davis to present a revised version next month. Commissioners said the policy should closely resemble one followed by the Liberty County Development Authority. The LCDA’s minority/woman business enterprise policy is broader in scope than the county’s draft, the attorney said.
The county’s proposed policy addressed construction contracts only; the LCDA policy also covers professional services and procurements, Davis said.
The commission also agreed to contract with Strategic Business Solutions, to ensure the county meets the requirements of its minority/woman business enterprise policy, once the final draft of the policy is approved. Strategic Business Solutions is owned by DeLisa Espada, who also has a contract with the development authority.
Also at the meeting, veterinarian Peter Winn Martin asked the commission to consider amending its animal-control ordinance to recognize pet owners’ three-year rabies vaccination certificates. Many pet owners who move here because of military assignments have had their pets vaccinated with three-year rabies shots in other states, Martin said.
Commissioners agreed to name the Liberty County Community Complex auditorium in Midway after former commission chairman John McIver. They said McIver worked on the project for years. The county will dedicate the complex at
3 p.m. Nov. 22.
The commission approved a variance to allow Island Drive homeowner Barry Tice to build a tool shed on his property within the required side and rear-yard setbacks of 10 feet.
Except for Stevens, who voted no, commissioners approved an exception for Dontray Lewis to locate a tattoo business less than 1,500 feet from residentially zoned properties on Oglethorpe Highway. Last month, the Liberty Consolidated Planning Commission could not agree on a recommendation on the request. Joey Patenaude, LCPC zoning analyst, presented the exception request and told commissioners that LCPC staff had recommended disapproval based on the code, which requires that a tattoo studio be at least 1,500 feet from residentially zoned properties. Patenaude said a massage-therapy business had been granted an exception several months ago to locate on that same property.
Liston Singletary III with the Coastal Concerned Men of Liberty County addressed the commission about Ban the Box. The initiative is “…a nationwide movement to end employment discrimination against the formerly incarcerated by removing the question requiring job applicants to disclose their criminal background,” Singletary said. He said many ex-cons cannot get hired because they are automatically being screened out when they check the box. Singletary said those who have not been arrested in five or more years deserve a second chance. He also said jobs can cut recidivism rates by as much as 40 percent in states like California that have banned the box.