Paul Johnson addressed the August 13 meeting of the Sumter County Board of Commissioners during citizens comments. He brought concerns about citizens having to go through the hearing process at the zoning board to get approvals. “There should be some leeway given to the code enforcement officer, where they do not have to go through the zoning board or the zoning commission, for something that’s basically common sense.” He also addressed changes to the zoning plan. “It should have been done years ago.”

County attorney Hayden Hooks addressed the Board. She mentioned that when candidates were being interviewed for the permanent position of County Administrator, there were questions about whether the role was codified in the ordinance. “And in doing that, we realized that the current ordinance limits the role of the County Administrator just to administering the personnel system. And so this is designed to detail all the responsibilities that the County Administrator does fulfill and has filled for many years.”

Chair David Baldwin questioned Hooks. “This is basically taking the job description we’ve always had just putting it into the code.”

Hooks replied. “That’s correct.” She mentioned that it would mirror the job description from Human Resources. Commissioner Clay Jones made a motion to accept the measure, seconded by Commissioner Jim Reid, passing unanimously.

Interim County Administrator Doug Eaves addressed the Board about another proposed change in code. “This is just a codification of something that was previously enacted by the Board of Commissioners which had never made it into the policy. When I first got here, back in January, I was trying to determine what my capabilities are and what my approvals limits were, and I was told that I can approve anything between 5 and $50,000 as long as it was budgeted within the department.”

Eaves mentioned he was unable to find the rule. “When I was working on some other things I went and looked for that in the purchasing authority, and it was not there. I could not find any record of where it was actually voted on.”

Eaves presented a codification. “I’ve codified what was the previous understanding of the purchasing limits of the authorization of the administrator.”

Commissioner Mark Waddell made a motion to accept the measure, seconded by Commissioner Jim Reid. The motion passed unopposed.

Eaves also gave an update. “We have advertised the County Administrator’s position. . . we did have one resume come in that I forwarded to you.”

Eaves also mentioned the needs for further changes. “Back in 2017, the general assembly enacted legislation related to credit cards, purchasing cards, dealing with the both Counties and Constitutional officers. The policy that we have in place, financial policies, do not address the required elements that have to be in that, so we weren’t in compliance with the State law.”

He detailed proposed changes. “I’ve designated the finance manager as the purchasing card and credit card administrator of Sumter County. He’s responsible for conducting monthly audits, that’s in the law.” Eaves also detailed guidelines for Constitutional officers. Waddell made a motion to approve the changes, seconded by Reid, passing unopposed.