This is an informal rundown of the Statesboro City Council meeting on November 3, 2026.
All council members were present. District 2 is still vacant.
Call to Order
Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance by Mayor Pro Tem Shari Barr
Public Comments – Agenda Item – No one present to speak
Consideration of a Motion to Approve the Consent Agenda
A) Approval of Minutes
a) 10-20-2026 – Work Session Minutes
b) 10-20-2026 – Council Minutes
c) 10-20-2026 – Executive Session Minutes
d) 10-23-2026 – Council Minutes
e) 10-23-2026 – Executive Session Minutes
Approved unanimously 4-0.
Consideration of a motion to approve Resolution 2026-41: A Resolution to adopt the first amendment to the Fiscal Year 2027 budget for each fund of the City of Statesboro, Georgia, appropriating the amounts shown in each budget as expenditures/expenses, adopting the several items of revenue anticipations, and prohibiting expenditures or expenses from exceeding the actual funding appropriated.
The amendment is to reduce the General Fund Budget, Statesboro Fire Fund Budget, and Central Services Budget. It also includes an increase in transfer from the Solid Waste Collection to the General Fund. The City needed to reduce the FY2027 Budget by $1.34 million. This amendment reduces the budget by $1.04 million.
Approved unanimously 4-0.
Consideration of a motion to award a three-year contract with the option to renew for two additional years on a year-to-year basis for health insurance brokerage services to NFP.
The City of Statesboro issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) to provide insurance brokerage services for health insurance services. The opportunity was advertised per our policy and directly sent to all known interested local insurance agencies as well as many firms from other areas.
If approved, NFP will continue to manage the city’s current contract with the current carrier Anthem and will manage Anthem in the best interest of the City of Statesboro. NFP’s brokerage fee is based on client usage and administrative fees. When the Anthem contract has expired, NFP with shop the market for the best carrier to continue the provision of health services for the City. The services managed by NFP include, but not limited to; health insurance, dental insurance, FSA, Vision, all life insurance programs, long-term and short-term disability, accident insurance, critical illness insurance, hospital indemnity insurance, employee assistance program and the employee health center.
Council will be presented the new carrier contract for approval in the future once the current one with Anthem has expired. NFP has provided excellent services and results currently and in the past.
Approved unanimously 4-0.
Consideration of a motion to approve the purchase of 34 Motorola V700 body worn cameras, 10 battery chargers, 34 batteries, and five-year warranties from Motorola Solutions in the amount of $70,516.60. This purchase will be funded from 2025 SPLOST funds.
SPD purchased multiple Motorola WatchGuard Vista body worn cameras in 2017. These cameras have been utilized daily for the past nine years, recording countless hours of footage. As of 2022 the WatchGuard Vista cameras were discontinued by Motorola with service and support ending in 2025. At this point the only way we have been able to maintain operability for the WatchGuard cameras is by borrowing parts from other agencies which have transitioned from the platform and no longer need the spare parts.
SPD currently operates 28 Motorola V700 body worn cameras purchased last year. These are modern and effective body worn cameras.
The WatchGuard Vista cameras are nearly a decade old and failing rapidly. There is a real danger that an equipment failure during a critical incident will deprive investigators and the public of footage needed to fully explain the event. As unsupported devices, it is only a matter of time before each of the legacy WatchGuard Vista cameras fails.
Approved unanimously 4-0.
Consideration of a motion to approve Task Order #7 with Atlas Technical Consultants, LLC. for right of way negotiation services for the ENG-115B Blue Mile Phase 2 Project in the amount of $197,950, to be funded by 2023 TSPLOST funds.
TR Long Engineering has prepared preliminary plans for the ENG-115b Blue Mile Phase 2 project. The project is a continuation of the Blue Mile roadway improvements, which include drainage, sidewalk, turn lanes at selected locations, street lighting, landscaping, utility relocations, and street paving. Phase 2 begins just north of the intersection of South Main at Fair Road, and continues north to Grady Street.
A public involvement meeting for the project was held on August 25, 2026. Right of way acquisitions, easements, and sign relocations will need to be negotiated and secured in order to proceed with the project.
A Master Services Agreement with Atlas Technical Consultants, LLC. was approved on October 1, 2024 for On-Call Professional Services, and a renewal was approved on July 7, 2026. The agreement’s scope includes right of way negotiation services. Task orders for right of way acquisition services are negotiated specifically for each project when requested. There are 37 parcels included in the project.
The task order proposes a cost of $5,350 per parcel for negotiation of the right of way, easements, and sign relocations required for the project.
Approved unanimously 4-0.
Public Comments
Quan Williams – Wanted to address council about a criminal trespass incident at the Statesboro Library in October.
Sandra Bohlen – Wanted to address council about being displaced as a renter because of the property owner not paying all of their legal obligations to the city.
Other Business from City Council
Councilwoman Shari Barr offered a list of upcoming events.
City Managers Comments
City Manager Charles Penny addresses statements made about staff by the public. He said regarding the Burkhalter Road property for the possible data center, staff was approached by a developer about zoning and they recommended Office zoning, but nothing else has happened. He said city staff in the Planning Office did for that developer what they do for anyone else who comes to the city.
Consideration of a Motion to enter into Executive Session to discuss “Personnel Matters” “Real Estate” and/or “Potential Litigation” in accordance with O.C.G.A 50-14-3(b)
Council went into executive session at 9:32 a.m.
