This is an informal rundown of the March 17, 2026 Bulloch County Commission meeting.
Call to Order, Welcome Media and Visitors
Invocation & Pledge
Roll Call – Commissioner Anthony Simmons was not present
Approval of General Agenda
Presentation – District Attorney Robert Busbee
Public Hearing – Public Safety Facility Financing
The Board of Commissioners previously approved a real estate sales contract to purchase 5.07 acres on Highway 301 South from Keith and Patricia Copeland for $1,750,000. The intent is to finance the purchase through an installment sale agreement with the Association County Commissioners of Georgia pursuant to the provisions of O.C.G.A. Section 36-60-13. As a part of that process, O.C.G.A. Section 36-60-13(g) requires a public hearing since this involves the purchase of real estate. Notice of the public hearing was published in the legal advertisements of the Statesboro Herald on February 26, March 5, and March 12.
Cassandra Mikell voiced concerns about the financing component of the purchase, stating that if the county cannot pay cash, it cannot afford the property. She said taxpayers will incur more expense in financing. Chairman David Bennett said the property is being financed with SPLOST so that the money does not come from the General Fund and instead comes from the sales tax.
Public Comments
Kaitlyn Capper – Statesboro Regional Public Library –
Margo Bragg – A landowner addressed Georgia Transmission repeatedly approaching her about her family farm for an EMC substation and the prospect of use of eminent domain.
Cassandra Mikell – Addressed the commissioners on the Impact Fee Board set to be approved later in the meeting. She brought up how the same few people continue to be appointed to serve on the boards.
Consent Agenda
Commissioner Newkirk made a motion to move 3, 7, 9 to ‘New Business.’ Staff asked for #5 and #6 to be moved. The remaining items were voted on collectively and in a single vote. Approved 5-0.
Minutes of March 3, 2026 – 5:30 PM meeting
Accreditation Partner in Care Agreement
This an agreement between the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) and Bulloch County EMS. ACCF provides an accreditation program which is a quality improvement program for hospital cardiovascular teams. By Bulloch EMS supporting East Georgia Regional Medical Center’s cardiovascular program through the advancement of STEMI procedures, protocols, and being a active participant in their monthly meetings, this allows us to proudly display a designation seal on our ambulances if we so choose to do so. This is a way to show the community our dedication to providing them with highest level of cardiac care available.
#3 — Approve Contract with City of Statesboro to Extend water to New Corporate Hangars for $195,470
This contract is needed to allow the City of Statesboro to extend water service to the new corporate hangar site. The estimated cost will be $195,470.00. To be paid from T-SPLOST.
Moved to New Business.
Motion to approve Sole Source Quote from FlowRider Inc/Whitewater for the purchase of FlowRider Foam and Wrap for Splash in the Boro Waterpark
Splash in the Boro Family Waterpark & Aquatics Center is requesting a full foam and vinyl wrap for our FlowRider. This full foam and vinyl wrap will be purchased with CIP budget savings from other FY26 Splash projects that came in under budget.
The wrap that is currently on our FlowRider is original to the structure, which was installed and put into use in 2009. The wrap is what keeps the watertight seal in the confined area of the ride and water out of the electrical pumphouse. The wrap job is now 17 years old. The original wrap only had a life expectancy of 8-10 years. Splash in the Boro maintenance staff completes a yearly wash for proper maintenance. The wrap is now showing fibers through the original coating and degrading on the surface making it unsafe. The wrap is in need of a replacment job. This requires a certified FlowRider team that specializes in this product and will also protect our investment.
It is the recommendation of Alex Estrada, Aquatics Division Manager, to approve this sole source purchase from FlowRider Inc/Whitewater in the amount of $58,550.
#5 – Approve a 30-year Ground Lease with HDM Enterprises, Inc. for corporate hangar construction.
This request is to approve entering into a 30-year ground lease with HDM Enterprises, Inc. for the purpose of constructing and operating a corporate hangar on airport property. The hangar will revert to county ownership upon the termination of the lease.
Moved to New Business due to party to lease changing.
#6 – Approve a 30-year ground lease with Statesboro Airport JV, LLC for corporate hangar construction
This request is to approve entering into a 30-year ground lease with Statesboro Airport JV, LLC for the purpose of constructing and operating a corporate hangar on airport property. The hangar will revert to county ownership upon the termination of the lease.
Moved to New Business due to party to lease changing.
#7 – Motion to approve Trail, Parking, and Sidewalk construction at Fletcher Park and Brooklet Soccer Complex bid from Benchmark Construction of Georgia LLC for $562,494.48
In the 2026 SPLOST budget, we were approved to proceed with Fletcher Park improvements including a playground, walking trail, sidewalks, another parking lot and a restroom utilizing TSPLOST and SPLOST funds. In addition, the City of Brooklet has SPLOST funds that are appropriated for recreation and asked the Bulloch County Recreation & Parks Department to perform some upgrades such as restrooms/pavilion renovation and expansion at Brooklet Park and install a walking trail around the soccer field at Brooklet Soccer Complex.
For the bidding process we combined the Fletcher Park grading, concrete sidewalks, asphalt walking trail construction and parking lot construction with the asphalt walking trail construction at Brooklet Soccer Complex. The bid packet was designed to separate the two projects since there are two funding allocations but to award in full to one contractor.
Three (3) bids were received and reviewed finding no discrepancies in the lower bid. Tony Morgan, Recreation and Parks Assistant Director, is requesting approval for the acceptance of the bid from Benchmark Construction of Georgia LLC in the amount of $562,494.48. This breaks down to Fletcher Park in the amount of $428,527.30 (TSPLOST $367,763.15 & SPLOST $60,764.15) and Brooklet Soccer Complex walking trail in the amount of $133,967.18. Both projects are below the budgeted amounts allocated for each project.
Moved to New Business
Motion to approve an Interlocal Participation Agreement with BuyBoard, a National Purchasing Cooperative.
The BuyBoard National Purchasing Cooperative is a cooperative formed by governmental entities to streamline the buying process for public schools, municipalities, and other governmental entities. Developed to assist members in complying with their purchasing legal requirements, BuyBoard vendors have been awarded contracts for products and services through a competitive procurement process. This allows members to make purchases at a discount and membership is free.
#9 – Recommend approval to appoint Marcus Toole, Keely Fennell, Caroline Nelson, Paul Newman, Dr. Frank Davis, Kathy Todd, and Jeanne Anne Marsh to serve as members of the Bulloch County Development Impact Fee Advisory Committee.
In 1990, the Georgia Development Impact Fee Act (DIFA) was enacted into law, and it significantly impacted the way local governments in Georgia are able to pay for public services and facilities. Impact fees are one-time fees charged to certain building permittees to help defray the costs of expanding capital facilities to serve new growth. DIFA enables local governments to charge new development for a proportionate share of infrastructure capacity it requires. However, the Act places restrictions on the categories of capital facilities for which new development can be charged. It also establishes rules under which impact fees must be calculated, collected, expended, accounted for, and administered.
To ensure compliance with DIFA, a Development Impact Fee Advisory Committee is required to assist in the creation of a Capital Improvements Element (CIE) and will serve as advisors for the creation of the impact fee ordinance. According to Georgia law (OCGA 36-71-5), at least 50 percent of the advisory committee membership must be representatives from the development, building, or real estate industries. The suggested advisory committee appointees meet this requirement and include Marcus Toole, Habitat for Humanity; Keely Fennell, NeSmith Construction; Caroline Nelson, Bulloch First Bank; Paul Newman, Statesboro Real Estate; Dr. Frank Davis, Retired Surgeon; Kathy Todd, Retired Local Government Finance Director; Jeanne Anne Marsh, Planning and Zoning Chairperson. The Advisory Committee is expected to meet up to four times over the course of several months, and will be guided by Bulloch County Planning and Development Director James Pope and Bulloch County’s Impact Fee Ordinance consultant Paige Hatley.
Moved to New Business.
Approve an Intergovernmental Agreement between Bulloch County, Bryan County, and Georgia Southern University for Groundwater Monitoring
As you recall, the Board of Commissioners previously approved an agreement between Bulloch County and Georgia Southern University for groundwater monitoring in connection with the four wells owned by Bulloch County and Bryan County. However, Bryan County has requested to be a party to the agreement. The presented intergovernmental agreement is substantially the same as the previous agreement except that Bryan County has been added as a party. Approval is recommended.
New Business
#3 from Consent Agenda: Approve Contract with City of Statesboro to Extend water to New Corporate Hangars for $195,470
Commissioner Newkirk asked how much Statesboro was contributing to the project. County staff replied that the City paid for design and engineering. Newkirk stated that ‘engineering’ was in the county’s breakdown of costs. He asked if the county should wait until the project is bid out to allocate funds because engineering costs have been fluctuating so much.
County Manager said the county ‘needs to move on this’ because the hangars are already up and he told Statesboro to go ahead an advertise.
Newkirk said he had concerns about taking taxpayer funds and directing those funds to two hangars for private companies without any rent payments from the private entities. County staff said the county would eventually own the buildings, to which Newkirk replied, ‘Yes, after 30 years.’ Staff said there were other benefits to the hangars.
Newkirk also stated the money is coming from TSPLOST, but residents are always coming to commissioners asking for road improvements, that don’t come to fruition, due to a lack of funds. He then belabored that the property owners aren’t paying property tax on the building or fire fees.
Chairman Bennett said when someone parks an airplane out there, the county collects ‘personal property tax.’
The motion passed 4-1 with Newkirk opposing.
#5 from Consent Agenda: Approve a 30-year Ground Lease with HDM Enterprises, Inc. for corporate hangar construction.
This request is to approve entering into a 30-year ground lease with HDM Enterprises, Inc. for the purpose of constructing and operating a corporate hangar on airport property. The hangar will revert to county ownership upon the termination of the lease.
The motion passed 4-1 with Newkirk opposing.
#6 from the Consent Agenda – Approve a 30-year ground lease with Statesboro Airport JV, LLC for corporate hangar construction
This request is to approve entering into a 30-year ground lease with Statesboro Airport JV, LLC for the purpose of constructing and operating a corporate hangar on airport property. The hangar will revert to county ownership upon the termination of the lease.
The motion passed 4-1 with Newkirk opposing.
#7 from Consent Agenda – Motion to approve Trail, Parking, and Sidewalk construction at Fletcher Park and Brooklet Soccer Complex bid from Benchmark Construction of Georgia LLC for $562,494.48
The request to move this item was an error.
Approved 5-0.
#9 from the Consent Agenda – Recommend approval to appoint Marcus Toole, Keely Fennell, Caroline Nelson, Paul Newman, Dr. Frank Davis, Kathy Todd, and Jeanne Anne Marsh to serve as members of the Bulloch County Development Impact Fee Advisory Committee.
The motion passed 4-1 with Newkirk opposing.
Approve a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of Documents Relating to the Financing of the Purchase and Renovation of a Public Safety Facility
The Board of Commissioners previously approved a real estate sales contract to purchase 5.07 acres on Highway 301 South from Keith and Patricia Copeland for $1,750,000. The presented resolution authorizes the execution of documents to finance the purchase through an installment sale agreement with the Association County Commissioners of Georgia in accordance with the provisions of O.C.G.A. Section 36-60-13.
The motion passed 4-1 with Newkirk opposing.
Request approval of Contracted Hauling Fuel Surcharge Pricing
The road department has set contracts with Sand Creek for various hauling services that were approved last year by the Board of Commissioners. Given the recent increases in fuel costs, Sand Creek has requested amendment of the contracted rates to reflect a higher fuel surcharge.
Commissioner Toby Conner recused himself from the discussion and vote due to a conflict of interest.
County staff said with fuel prices going up, the request came due to the fuel costs increasing Sand Creek’s costs by $150-$175 per day.
Chairman David Bennett suggested making an addendum to the contract based on the market so that the fluctuations upward and downward would be automatic. County Attorney Jeff Akins said that would be allowed, but he needed to research the language. Sand Creek owner Clay Conner said he was amenable to the matter being tabled until the county attorney could prepare an addendum.
Commissioners voted 5-0 to table the item until the next meeting.
Motion to Approve a Contract with Ellis Wood Contracting in the amount of $67,640.00 to perform demolition of an existing asphalt driveway and construction of a new asphalt driveway at Bulloch County EMS/Fire Station 1 on Grady Street in Statesboro. The cost for this work will be funded by TSPLOST.
On September 8, 2025, the County Engineering Office was asked to review the existing asphalt driveway pavement condition at Bulloch County EMS/FIRE Station 1 on West Grady Street in Statesboro. The station house at this location has three (3) bays facing Grady Street. The Engineering Office observed severe pavement rutting in the wheel path of the driveway lane exiting the middle bay door of the station house. The most severe rutting was measured to be 1.75-inches in the passenger side wheel rut and 2.75-inches in the driver side wheel rut. Both severe rutting conditions extended for approximately 20-feet of the overall 94-feet length of the driveway. It was determined that Public Works would place two (2) steel plates (10-feet X 10-feet X 0.75-inch) on the surface of the middle bay driveway over the location of the severe rutting and monitor for settlement.
In early January 2026 the decision was made to engage internal resources to remove that portion of the existing driveway aligned with the middle bay of the station house for approximately seventy (70) feet. On January 13, 2026, Public Works mobilized to remove that portion of the before mentioned driveway to a uniform depth of approximately 18-inches. Public Works then placed a reinforced geotechnical fabric on the subgrade, installed graded aggregate base material with an approximate thickness of 18-inches, and applied various methods and techniques for material consolidation and density. Public Works also reinstalled the same steel plates as previously used over the same location in the driveway of the middle bay.
In early February 2026, the Engineering Office was directed to develop bid documents in preparation for the full replacement of the existing asphalt driveway pavement, including the recently installed graded aggregate base material, all of which is in alignment with the three (3) bays of the station house beginning at the station house slab and extending approximately 94-feet to the gutter line at West Grady Street. The pavement structure thickness selected for this driveway is 10-inches graded aggregate base, 5-inches 25MM asphalt base, 2-inches 19MM asphalt binder, and 1.5-inches 12.5MM asphalt surface. The Engineering Office prepared all necessary bid documents and coordinated with the Procurement Department to start a “Request for Quotes” procurement on February 13, 2026 with a deadline to receive quotes on February 27, 2026. The County received six (6) quotes as shown below.
The Request for Quote required the selected contractor to be a GDOT Prequalified Contractor and during the bid review phase of this procurement, it was determined by reviewing the GDOT webpage that Benchmark Construction of Georgia, LLC did not meet the Terms and Conditions of Procurement for award. Therefore, the second lowest quote, provided by Ellis Wood Contracting, was evaluated and determined to meet the Terms and Conditions of the procurement document for award and was 10.13% lower than the County’s estimate for similar work. Therefore, the County Engineering Office recommends approval of the Quote from Ellis Wood Contracting in the amount of $67,640.00 to perform the work on this project. The cost for this work is to be funded by TSPLOST.
