This is an informal rundown of what happened at the Bulloch County Commission meeting on June 2, 2026.
Call to Order
Invocation & Pledge
Roll Call – All Commissioners present.
Public Hearing
- Public Hearing and Resolution to Abandon a Portion of County Road No. 220 a/k/a Jim Waters Road
- Joey Sumner addressed commissioners as the sole house on the road, which connects Harville Road to Highway 46. He said all of the adjacent landowners were in support of the request to close the road due to the high rates of speed at which people drive on the road.
- Rushing made a motion to deny the request to close the road, second from Conner. The request was denied 6-0.
- Public Hearing and Resolution to Abandon County Road No. 94 a/k/a Honey Bowen Road
- Bowen Freeman addressed commissioners said his family owns the property on both sides of the road. It’s a hot spot for graffiti, road hunting, and illegal dumping.
- Robert David Freeman Jr. also addressed commissioners in favor of closing the road.
- County staff reported that the property is close to the Candler County line but Candler County is neutral on the decision by Bulloch County.
- Mosley made a motion to close the road, second from Simmons. Approval of closure in a vote of 6-0.
Approval of Zoning Agenda
John Walsh has submitted an application to rezone approximately 3.11 acres from AG-5 (Agricultural 5 Acres) to HC (Highway Commercial) for the expansion of the current business on site. The property is located at 2577 Nevils Denmark Road, PIN D01 000001 000.
This is a countertop business that’s been in this location for several years. The expansion is for a warehouse for storage.
Staff recommended approval with conditions.
P&Z recommended approval with 5-0 vote.
No one was present to speak against the rezone, but Alana Olsen submitted a letter regarding environmental concerns. Chairman Bennett expressed that the majority of her concerns were moot due to the request being for storage and not for actual manufacturing practices.
Rushing made a motion to support, second from Conner. Approved 6-0.
Woonerf, LLC., has submitted an application for a condition modification to the conditions approved by the Board of Commissioners on October 2, 2018. The request is to modify Condition #1. The property is located on Highway 46, PIN 079 000008A000.
Motion by Simmons to remove Condition #5 and approve the request, a second was made by Newkirk. Approved 5-0.
C S Bunce Enterprises, LLC., has submitted an application to rezone approximately 0.428 acres from AG-5 (Agricultural 5 Acres) to HC (Highway Commercial) for the purpose of an addition to a parcel utilized for operating a contractor’s office. The property is located on Highway 67, PIN 110 000026 001.
No one spoke in opposition.
Motion by Conner to approve with conditions, second by Rushing. Approved 6-0.
Damascus Rehabilitation has submitted an application for a conditional use to permit a recovery residence. The property is located at 1831 Barri Way, PIN MS69000003 000.
Motion from Rushing to approve, second from Simmons, unanimous approval 6-0.
Approval of General Agenda
Public Comments
Jimmy Deloach – Addressed taxes and rising costs. Said he’d never thought he’d be in favor of doing away with property taxes for senior citizens, but he is now. His taxes have gone up $1400 in recent years.
Consent Agenda
Motion made by Rushing, second by Mosley to approve in a single vote. 6-0 vote.
- Minutes – May 19, 2026 8:30 AM
- Minutes Approval – Executive Session
- Service and Support Contract for 5 UPS units
- This is the yearly service and support contract for 5 UPS units. One unit at 911 and 4 units at the 4 radio tower sites. This is a budgeted item.
- Motion to grant an alcoholic beverage license for retail beer and wines sales to K&P Petroleum, LLC., located at 3575 Hwy. 301 South Statesboro, GA.
- Motion to grant an alcoholic beverage license for package retail beer, wine, and distilled spirits sales to Buzzway 67, LLC. located at 17067 Hwy. 67 Statesboro, Georgia.
- Request to enter into a contract with GDOT for the design of the runway and taxiway lighting upgrade
- The runway and taxiway lighting at the airport is outdated. Parts for repairs are hard to find. Because it is a safety issue, the FAA & GDOT have agreed to fund the design of upgrading the lighting. GMC, the Airport Consultant Engineers, will design the project. The total project is estimated to cost sixty-six thousand six hundred seventy-nine dollars ($66679.00.) The FAA will participate at 95% ($65012.03), GDOT will participate at 2.5% ( $1666.980). Local matching funds of one thousand six hundred sixty-six and 98/100 dollars ($1666.98) will be required.
- REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA ENTIRELY – COUNTY MANAGER SAID IT WILL BE DONE IN-HOUSE. Motion to Approve County Grounds Contract Renewal from Statesboro Southern Scapes, LLC in the amount of $159,813
- The County Grounds Contract with Statesboro Southern Scapes, LLC is up for renewal as the current contract ends on June 30, 2026. The original contract was approved by the BOC at the 6/18/2024 meeting. Staff reports success using contractors for maintaining the county grounds and would like to continue to do so for the fiscal year 2027. This was requested and anticipated during the budgeting process this year to allow funds to be appropriated for FY27. Staff has received email confirmation from Statesboro Southern Scapes, LLC agreeing to renew the contract with the same terms.
- It is the recommendation of Cannon Petitjean, Recreation & Parks Assistant Manager, to approve a renewal of the contract from Statesboro Southern Scapes, LLC for the period beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027, for $159,813 under the same terms and conditions from the original contract made in 2024. This is the third and final contract.
- Motion to approve quote for Fletcher Park Restroom Footings and Concrete from Perkins Concrete Finishing, LLC in the amount of $19,746
- Quotes for this project were requested from four vendors and three quotes were obtained which include layout, digging foundations, pouring/finishing foundations, setting forms, pouring and finishing restroom floors. Perkins Concrete Finishing, LLC, turned in the lowest quote in the amount of $19,746.00. This project falls under the guidelines of the Public Works Construction.
- Tony Morgan, Recreation Assistant Director, recommends that we accept the quote from Perkins Concrete Finishing, LLC in the amount of $19,746.00. This project is funded through allocated SPLOST funds.
- Bulloch County Correctional (Adult Education)
- This is an agreement with Ogeechee Tech to provide GED services to the Inmate Population at BCCI. There is no cost for BCCI with this agreement.
- Bulloch County Correctional (GDC Housing)
- This is the annual contract agreement with the Georgia Department of Corrections to house inmates at Bulloch County Correctional Institute.
New Business
Consideration of Changing Commission Meeting from June 16 to June 18
Simmons requested the meeting be moved to the 18th due to Election Day. Since it’s the meeting to vote on the budget, it will also move the meeting to the evening.
Newkirk asked if they were going to move all meetings on Election Day or just this one since the same issue will apply in November.
Conner asked if he needed to recuse himself because he’s on the ballot on Tuesday. County attorney Jeff Akins said no. Rushing made a motion to move it to the 18th, second by Mosley. Approved 6-0.
Approve a Resolution Approving and Authorizing Execution of a First Amendment to Intergovernmental Agreement for Imposition of the Floating Local Option Sales Tax (“FLOST”)
On August 19, 2025, Bulloch County, Statesboro, Brooklet, Portal, and Register entered into an intergovernmental agreement (“IGA”) calling for a referendum to impose a sales tax (“FLOST”) pursuant to Article 2B of Chapter 8 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. The referendum passed with a majority vote on November 2, 2025, and FLOST collections began on January 1, 2026.
Based on the version of O.C.G.A. 48-8-109.42 in effect at the time the IGA was entered into, the IGA provided that each July 1st the County would distribute to the parties the FLOST proceeds collected during the previous calendar year to be used for property tax relief in the current calendar year. However, Senate Bill 33, which became effective on May 11, 2026, has clarified that FLOST proceeds received by a political subdivision from July 1st of the previous calendar year through June 30th of the current calendar year must be used for property tax relief in the current calendar year. Therefore, the IGA needs to be amended to provide that each July 1st the County will distribute FLOST proceeds collected during that period instead of the previous calendar year.
This means that for 2026 the County will distribute proceeds collected since the beginning of FLOST collections on January 1, 2026 for property tax relief in 2026.
Approval of the resolution approving and authorizing execution of the amendment is recommended.
Approved 6-0.
Motion to approve a Contract with Parker Engineering, in the amount of $27,500.00 to provide professional services site engineering work at the Pine Inn Road New Solid Waste Collection Center. The cost for this work will be funded by FY19 Solid Waste SPLOST
The Bulloch County Solid Waste Department is proposing to relocate the existing active Solid Waste Collection Center, located on Foster Williams Road near the SR46 intersection, to its proposed new location on Pine Inn Road approximately 1,500 LF south from the SR46 intersection. The site engineering work involving the Erosion, Sedimentation & Pollution Control Plans and application for a land disturbance permit was prepared and administered by Parker Engineering, LLC, during the summer of 2025. Once the land disturbance permit was active and approved, the Roads Department installed the driveway access, cleared the proposed area on the site, installed all required temporary erosion control devices and BMPs, and began grading and embankment operations in late summer of 2025. Although the Engineering Department has continued to monitor the site as required by the Land Disturbance Permit, no further work has been performed at this location.
Through careful planning, discussion, and consideration involving County Leadership, Solid Waste, Roads, Facilities, and Engineering, the next course of action needed to complete the buildout of the proposed new Solid Waste Collection Center is to complete the remaining site engineering work started by Parker Engineering, LLC. The remaining site engineering will involve 1) Topographic Survey, 2) Final Design Services, 3) Permitting Services & Meetings, 4) Construction Staking, and 5) Construction Administration Services & Closeout. The total budget for delivery of the before mentioned services is $27,500.00 which will be funded by FY19 Solid Waste SPLOST. The Engineering Department recommends approval of the Contract with Parker Engineering, LLC for $27,500.00 to complete the site engineering work at the Pine Inn Road New Collection Center.
To ensure the project complies with all applicable land disturbance, site development, and environmental permitting requirements associated with manned collection centers, the Engineering Department engaged Parker Engineering to provide the necessary engineering and design services to bring the site into compliance with state permitting standards. Parker Engineering is already familiar with the site through preliminary engineering services previously performed for the Public Works Department resulting in an active NPDES permit for at. This work will serve as a continuation of those efforts through final design and construction observation. This work will be performed internally by equipment not equipped with elevation and grade monitoring. To ensure the work is in compliance with Parker Engineering’s design, construction site visits at milestones will be coordinated through the solid waste director to Parker Engineering.
Approved 6-0.
Commission & Staff Comments
County Manager Chris Eldridge – Said the county received confirmation from GDOT regarding 4 crossovers for I-16.
Adjourn
Meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
