The Griffin and Spalding County Commissioners held a joint meeting at the Courthouse Annex meeting Room at 6 pm Monday night.

The City Commissioners made the County Commissioners aware of a individual that, had a run in with Police a while back, who also owns a hanger there and a large aircraft has asked the FAA to review the Grant Contract with the City and County in relation to two operations that are not in compliance with the FAA requirements for rental at the airport.  Those two operations are the Walking Track, a park that is operated by the Spalding County Recreation Department on airport property, and the Spalding County Sheriffs Department Helicopter Hangar. Those two operations are not in compliance with the FAA standards for rental that must be paid in relation to their several million dollar grants that was used for airport upgrades. The amount of lease that must be paid are over 120,000.00 for both locations.   When The Spalding County Commissioners were told this Commissioner Bob Gilreath went on the defensive stating that he recommend the closing of the Waling Track and the removal of the Sheriffs Department Helicopter form the Airport operations.  One Commissioner told Gilreath that the Commissioners had no authority to tell the Sheriff To move the Helicopter from the Airport as the Sheriff is a Constitutionally Elected Officer and he runs his department as he wishes. Gilreath responded I will Tell him to move.   The issue apparently came at the wrong time for the Spalding Commissioners as they voted recently to pull all funding from the Griffin Spalding Airport of 300,000.00 from the 2011 budget.   A representative of the Department of Transportation and FAA was not present due to sickness on Monday night but it is anticipated that negations can be held with the FAA and Georgia DOT for the two operations.   Commissioner Gilreath stated to the City Commissioners that he wanted to know the name of the individual that contacted the FAA and the City Commissioners related they were not able to talk about the case or name of the individual outside executive session due to legal issues as the case was still an on going investigation, and negotiation.  Gilreath then stated to the Airport manager who was in the back of the room to name the individual and he also declined stating that there were legal issues and he could not discuss the on going case.  Gilreath then state he would find out on his own and would contact the individual as he wanted to talk with him.   One individual present stated if the County has cut their funding for the Airport in the 2011 budget what gives Gilreath the right to involve himself in a on gong City case with a tenant at the airport? 

In another issue discussed at the joint meeting was the County Parks and Recreation department taking over the City Park and operations there.  During the meeting the City asked about taking over the Spalding County Sold Waste and during that conversation the meeting took a ominous tone which sparked Commissioner Bob Gilreath to ask about the City's Plan to charge Spalding County Residents for solid waste removal which County Residents at present do not pay Commissioner Hollberg stated that it was unfair for City residents to pay for solid waste removal and the County not to pay if the city took over the operation in the county.  Commissioner Dick Morrow stated that he did not feel that Spalding Citizens should pay if they were taking their garbage to the prescribed dumpster's as the CountyResidents do not have pickup at the door as city residents do.  Another issue is the old land grant from the State in relation to Camp Northern Property which was granted to the City for a Park and recreational use many years ago.  The City still enjoys the grant for the area of the city park proper and certain other areas of the city park.  In addition the City owns adjacent property that makes up much of the 18 Hole Golf Course area.   Both Commissions discussed the costs of the operations of the City Park and its services of the Golf Course, the Put put, various pavilion rentals, pool and ball fields and how the County Parks and Recreation Department could better manage the property as it currently operates all parks in the County with the dedicated Department for that purpose.  The Cost of the Sold Waste operations if given to the City  in exchange of the City Park would be close to the same but about a 200,000 savings could possibly be realized to the County in overall costs should that exchange happen. Currently it costs approximately 1 million dollars to operate the County Solid Waste  operations, and The City Park operations is about 700 to 750,000 Annually.   The Spalding Commissioners asked for a cost break down be furnished to them for a review of the City Park Operations. Commissioner Gilreath stated that this would allow the County to review the issue better and know exactly what they need to do to consider approval by the full Commission later.   The Commissioners agreed to hold another joint meeting as soon a possible for further negations and approval.  County Attorney Jim Fortune and City Attorney Drew Whalen stated that all that is needed is the deeds to transfer the property and for the Grant from the State to be reviewed. .