This is an informal rundown of what happened at the May 19 Bulloch County Commission meeting.
Call to Order
Invocation & Pledge
Roll Call – All Commissioners present
Approval of General Agenda
Presentations
Presentation of Audit Report for the Year Ended June 30, 2025
Auditor Richard Deal offered a short presentation of the Fiscal Year 2025 audited Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.
Read the audit here.
Read the TGV article on this.
Solid Waste Transition Proposal
Bulloch County closing multiple convenience centers and manning the remaining open centers along with alternating days they will be open. Date of changes projected to be Jan 4, 2027. This plan is a proposal to stop the abuse at the centers and reduce costs for the county.
Presentation: Classification and Compensation Study and Proposed Pay Plan
The Archer Company completed a Classification and Compensation Study for Bulloch County. The presentation provides an overview of the study's methodology, market findings, the proposed pay plan and compensation structure, and implementation considerations for discussion during the FY2027 budget process.
Public Comments
Tim Powell - Addressed budget concerns and spending practices.
Kathy Dixon - Addressed commission districts and the process for town hall meetings.
Consent Agenda
Approved unanimously in a single vote with two items moved to new business for further discussion.
- Minutes Approval: Tuesday, May 5th, 2026 05:30 PM
- Minutes Approval: Tuesday, May 12th, 2026 06:00 PM
- Approve assignment of lease interest in Building 15 to new owner of Southeast Avionics
- Assignee has purchased the Assignor's entire interest in Southeast Avionics, LLC. The Assignor and Southeast Avionics, LLC entered into a lease agreement with the Bulloch County Board of Commissisoners d/b/a the Statesboro-Bulloch County Airport for Building 15 at 127 Airport Drive on January 1, 2024. The Assignor wishes to assign his entire interest in the lease agreement to the Assignee.
- Approve assignment of lease interest of Building 12 to new owner of Southeast Avionics
- Assignee has purchased the Assignor's entire interest in Southeast Avionics, LLC. The Assignor and Southeast Avionics, LLC entered into a lease agreement with the Bulloch County Board of Commissisoners d/b/a the Statesboro-Bulloch County Airport for Building 12 at 133 Airport Drive on February 1, 2024. The Assignor wishes to assign his entire interest in the lease agreement to the Assignee.
- Ratification of Anthem ASO Rate Confirmation Document and Business Associate Agreement
- Staff requests Board ratification of administrative implementation documents associated with the County's employee health and dental benefits transition effective July 1, 2026. Due to implemented timelines necessary to avoid delays in enrollment and plan setup, certain documents were executed and returned to facilitate the transition process.
- The County Attorney reviewed the documents and recommended Board ratification of the Anthem ASO Rate Confirmation Document and Business Associate Agreement. These documents are administrative and operational in nature and support implementation of the employee benefits plan transition. The ASO Rate Confirmation Document anticipates a subsequent Administrative Services Agreement, which will be presented separately upon receipt and final review.
- Approve an Intergovernmental Agreement for Juvenile Court
- Section 2.1.2 of the IGA for the Juvenile Court in the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit dated August 20, 2019, states that any increases in expenses will need to be requested by the juvenile court judges and approved by the Counties. The attached amendment list the increases in expenses. This amount was included in the FY26 budget, but the formal amendment requires approval.
- Approve a Resolution Authorizing Acceptance of Shiloh Drive in Woodlake Subdivision
- Residents have requested that the County accept Shiloh Drive in Woodlake Subdivision as a public county-maintained road. County Engineer Ron Nelson has inspected this road and determined that it complies with all County requirements. Approval of the attached resolution will implement acceptance of this road. Approval is recommended.
- Approve a Special Event Permit for the Georgia Police K9 Foundation to host a non-profit event at Ogeechee Technical College, 20 Joe Kennedy Boulevard on June 6, 2026 from 5:00pm until 11:00pm.
- -- MOVED TO NEW BUSINESS -- Approve Lease and Fixed Base Operator Agreement with Low Country Flight Services
- Low Country Flight Services currently provides flight training at the Statesboro-Bulloch County Airport. They wish to expand their services to include aircraft maintenance services.
- Approval of Bulk Oil Bid Results
- Staff recommends selecting Colonial Oil over Walthall Oil Company due to our existing service contract and overall satisfaction with Colonial Oil’s consistently reliable service. Over the course of our partnership, Colonial Oil has demonstrated a deep understanding of our operational needs, providing timely deliveries, proactive communication, and personalized support that ensures minimal disruption to our operations. This long-standing relationship has built trust and confidence in their ability to meet both routine and unexpected requirements.
- -- MOVED TO NEW BUSINESS -- Motion to approve the purchase of a 30'x52' Pavilion for Fletcher Park in the amount of $65,805 through Sourcewell Contract
- Purchase of a 30'x52' pavilion (laminated wood gable shelter) in the amount of $65,805. The pavilion will be purchased through Sourcewell (Contract #092325-RCP) with a 15% discount and will be constructed using inmate labor. It is the recommendation of Tony Morgan, Recreation and Parks Assistant Director, to approve this purchase. This purchase will be made using SPLOST funds - Project ID Park 18.
- Approve a Community Center License Agreement with Brooklet, Georgia
- The presented Community License Center Agreement with Brooklet authorizes the County to utilize the Randy Newman Community Center for the Recreation Department's summer camp in Brooklet for a fee of $300.00 per week. Approval is recommended.
- Approve Engagement Letter with Troutman Strategies for Government Relation Services for the Period June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027
- Bulloch County has maintained an agreement for government services with Troutman Strategies for several years. Troutman Strategies has been very effective in helping Bulloch County obtain federal and state funding for various purposes and in navigating the regulatory framework at the federal and state levels. Approval is recommended.
New Business
#9 from Consent Agenda---- Approve Lease and Fixed Base Operator Agreement with Low Country Flight Services
- Low Country Flight Services currently provides flight training at the Statesboro-Bulloch County Airport. They wish to expand their services to include aircraft maintenance services.
- He's getting 60 square feet of office space for $50/month
Simmons made a motion, Rushing seconded, approved unanimously
#11 from Consent Agenda ---- Motion to approve the purchase of a 30'x52' Pavilion for Fletcher Park in the amount of $65,805 through Sourcewell Contract
- Purchase of a 30'x52' pavilion (laminated wood gable shelter) in the amount of $65,805. The pavilion will be purchased through Sourcewell (Contract #092325-RCP) with a 15% discount and will be constructed using inmate labor. It is the recommendation of Tony Morgan, Recreation and Parks Assistant Director, to approve this purchase. This purchase will be made using SPLOST funds - Project ID Park 18.
- The work is going to be used in house with inmate labor.
Mosley made a motion, Davis seconded, approved unanimously
Approve a Resolution to Acquire by Eminent Domain Parcel 4 for the Cypress Lake Road Bridge Project
In order to proceed with the Cypress Lake Road Bridge project, it will be necessary to acquire Parcel 4 by eminent domain. The attached resolution authorizes the filing of a declaration of taking for Bulloch County to acquire fee simple title to Parcel 4 and a temporary construction easement for the duration of the paving project. Approval of the presented resolution is recommended and attorney Jeff Akins said there was an impasse in negotiations and the current owner wants a lot more than its worth. Appraised value is $500.
Newkirk inquired if it was in the wetlands and "unusable land," to which staff replied it was.
Simmons made a motion, Rushing seconded, approved unanimously.
Approve a Resolution to Acquire by Eminent Domain Parcel 12 for the Josh Smith Road Paving Project
In order to proceed with the Josh Smith Road paving project, it will be necessary to acquire Parcel 12 by eminent domain. The attached resolution authorizes the filing of a declaration of taking for Bulloch County to acquire fee simple title to Parcel 12 and a perpetual drainage easement and a temporary construction easement for the duration of the paving project. Approval of the presented resolution is recommended.
Appraised value is $13,500. Akins said the property is in bankruptcy but the lender was non-responsive in working with the county on releasing the property on the part of the mortgage holder.
Motion from Rushing, second from Conner, approved unanimously.
Approve a Contract with Allstate Construction Group, Inc. as Construction Manager for the Bulloch County Jail Addition
Proposals were solicited for a construction manager at risk for the jail addition project through a competitive sealed proposal process that included prequalification. Six firms submitted statements of qualifications, and three of those firms were prequalified to submit sealed proposals by the Evaluation Team. After reviewing the proposals and conducting interviews with the three prequalified firms, the Evaluation Team recommends the selection of Allstate Construction Group, Inc. for construction manager at risk of the jail addition project. The presented contract provides for the construction manager to provide preconstruction phase services in working with the architect on project design and cost on an hourly basis not to exceed $70,000.00. Construction phase services will be provided for 2.95% of the cost of the work with a guaranteed maximum price. Approval and execution of the Guaranteed Maximum Price Amendment, which is included as Exhibit A to the presented contract, will be accomplished at a later date when design is sufficiently complete to enable the construction manager to establish the guaranteed maximum price. Approval of the presented contract is recommended.
Motion from Mosley, second by Simmons, approved unanimously.
Approve a Motion to Authorize Termination of the Agreement with Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire, Inc.
In January of 2004, the Bulloch County Board of Commissioners entered into an agreement with Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire, Inc. ("Goodwill") to allow Goodwill to place donation centers at certain recycling centers operated by the County. A copy of the agreement is included in the agenda packet. Section 9 of the agreement provides as follows: "This agreement may be terminated at any time, with or without cause, by either party upon written notice of termination to the other party. In the event this agreement is terminated by either party, Goodwill shall have a reasonable amount of time, not to exceed 14 days, in which to remove the donation centers from the County's recycling centers." As indicated by the letter from Solid Waste Superintendent Rose Bonner in the agenda packet, there have been various problems with the donation centers that dictate in favor of their removal from the recycling centers. The requested motion is to authorize termination of the agreement with Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire, Inc.
Approved unanimously.
Motion to approve a Contract with Tim Lanier Construction, LLC in the amount of $221,452.00 to provide construction services for FY26-CP-E02 Pleasant Hill Road Drainage Repairs Project. The cost for this work will be funded by FEMA, GEMA, and TSPLOST.
An existing four (4) barrel 9-ft X 9-ft reinforced concrete bridge culvert north of Portal, GA on Pleasant Hill Road at Lotts Creek, approximately 675 feet north of the Moore Road intersection, sustained damage during the August 2024 Tropical Storm Debby flood event. Flood damage at this location of Pleasant Hill Road occurred during the Tropical Storm Debby event on 06-AUG-2024 which produced 13.2 inches of rainfall in Bulloch County from 04-AUG-2024 through 08-AUG-2024. The damage to this reinforced concrete bridge culvert involves one (1) wingwall, on the inlet (upstream) end of the culvert, that sheared off at the connection point of the exterior culvert wall. The roadway at this location is open to traffic and was not damaged.
Following the August-2024 Tropical Storm Debby Event, the Engineering Office and the EMA Director worked closely with FEMA representatives to qualify the wingwall damage for assistance involving federal aid reimbursement. In September of 2025 FEMA approved the Pleasant Hill Road location for assistance involving federal aid reimbursement in the amount of $180,965.00 as detailed below:
| Organization | Mitigation Cost | Project Participation | Project Cost |
| FEMA | $180,965.00 | 75% | $135,723.75 |
| GEMA | $180,965.00 | 10% | $18,096.50 |
| Bulloch County | $180,965.00 | 15% | $27,144.75 |
The Bulloch County Board of Commissioners approved a contract with Parker Engineering, LLC on 19-AUG-2025 in the amount of $18,000.00 for design and engineering services to deliver project plans and bid documents for FY26-CP-E02 Pleasant Hill Road Drainage Repairs Project. Parker Engineering, LLC completed and provided all required deliverables as tasked in February 2026. The Engineering Office began preparing an Invitation to Bid (ITB) in March 2026 for construction delivery services. The Engineering Office coordinated with the Procurement Director regarding acceptable procurement procedures and the Invitation to Bid was released 02-APR-2026. Although the ITB was advertised in the Statesboro Herald, posted to the Georgia Procurement Registry webpage, posted to the internal Bidnet Direct webpage, and provided to a bidders list of local contractors, the County received one (1) sealed bid on 23-APR-2026 for this project as detailed below:
| BIDDER | TOTAL BASE BID |
| Tim Lanier Construction, LLC | $262,763.00 |
The Engineer’s Opinion of Probable Construction Cost (OPCC) for this project was $179,648.00. The total base bid of $262,763.00 received from Tim Lanier Construction, LLC was ~46.27% higher than the OPCC. The Engineering Office coordinated with County Leadership to determine next steps and it was concluded that the bid submitted by Tim Lanier Construction, LLC was unacceptable and further coordination between the Engineering Office and Parker Engineering would be necessary.
On Tuesday 28-APR-2026 representatives from the Engineering Office and Parker Engineering met with representatives from McLendon Enterprises, Incorporated, onsite at the Pleasant Hill Road project location to discuss the risks associated with the project as well as the potential for changes to the scope of work.
On Friday 01-May-2026 representatives from the Engineering Office and Parker Engineering met with Mr. Tim Lanier of Tim Lanier Construction, LLC to discuss the risks associated with the project as well as the potential for changes to the scope of work. The Engineering Office and Parker Engineering agreed to adjust the scope of work as follows:
1) Delete the Traffic Control item - The County will close Pleasant Hill Road on each side of the project location by installing and maintaining a detour for a maximum duration of twenty-eight (28) consecutive calendar days.
2) Revise the Grading Complete item - The County will provide hauling and all necessary granular borrow material needed for construction of the upstream and downstream berms necessary for dewatering the upstream end of the culvert.
3) Add an item for Stabilization Rock - This item must receive approval by the Engineer prior to installation by the contractor. This supplemental item was created to stabilize the floor immediately under the new upstream reinforced concrete apron.
4) Add additional quantity and thickness to the Type 3 Rip-Rap item - The quantity was increased to 235 SY and the thickness was increased to 24-Inches.
5) Revise the construction plans to eliminate Rip-Rap work on the upstream northeast side of the culvert. This change eliminated the need to disturb and prepare the existing ground for mating and Rip-Rap. The existing wingwall at this location is stable, intact, and does not need to be disturbed.
6) Revise Form A-Bid Form: Form A-Bid Form was revised to reflect all of the scope changes described in the above items 1 - 5.
At the conclusion of the meeting, it was agreed to by all parties to provide Mr. Tim Lanier with the revised plans, revised Form A-Bid Form, and allow Tim Lanier Construction, LLC to submit a revised bid for FY26-CP-E02 Pleasant Hill Road Drainage Repairs Project.
On Monday 04-MAY-2026 Tim Lanier submitted a revised total base bid of $221,452.00 for FY26-CP-E02 Pleasant Hill Road Drainage Repairs Project. The revised total base bid of $221,452.00 is 23.27% higher than the Engineer’s OPCC of $179,648.00. This reflects a cost decrease of 23% which was shared with County Leadership and allowed to move forward for consideration and approval by the Board of Commissioners.
Therefore, the Engineering Office recommends acceptance of the revised total base bid from Tim Lanier Construction, LLC in the amount of $221,452.00 to perform drainage repairs to the existing reinforced concrete bridge culvert on Pleasant Hill Road. The cost for this work will be funded by FEMA, GEMA, and TSPLOST.
Approved unanimously.
Motion to approve a Grant application for Bulloch County to receive FY2026 Georgia Department of Transportation Local Maintenance & Improvement Grant/Local Road Assistance Administration funds in the amount of $2,249,153.62 requiring NO local matching funds.
On March 20, 2026, the Georgia Department of Transportation announced that the Governor and the Legislature included Local Road Assistance Administration funds (LRA) in the amended fiscal year 2026 budget. The LRA funds will be administered and distributed using the GDOT Grants (LMIG) Application System. Eligible activities/projects for LRA funds will be the same as the LMIG program. LRA funds require NO local match. Bulloch County’s FY 2026 LRA formula amount is $2,249,153.62.
The Engineering Department is proposing to allocate these funds for Construction Engineering & Inspection services, the Hightower Road & Josh Smith Road Paving Project, and the remaining portion towards the preconstruction & construction costs for the proposed right-turn deceleration lane and commercial driveway access on SR67 southbound at the new Bulloch County Fire Station #16.The below table represents the Engineering Department’s proposed plan to utilize these funds during Fiscal Year 2027.
The Engineering Department recommends accepting the proposed allocation of FY2026 GDOT LMIG LRA funds as proposed.
Approved unanimously.
Motion to accept a sales reservation agreement from YAM GRANDY Mitigation for compensatory mitigation having a total cost of $706,960.00. The cost for this purchase will be paid for using TSPLOST funds with 80% of the cost being eligible for Federal reimbursement.
On 21-MAR-2019, the Bulloch County Board of Commissioners was awarded a Federal Grant in the amount of $300,000.00 to deliver preconstruction engineering (design) activities associated with PI #0016632, Bulloch County, S&S Greenway Phase 3. The required 20% local match from Bulloch County was $75,000.00 for a total original amount of $375,000.00. On 1-JUL-2019 the Bulloch County Board of Commissioners and the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) entered into a Project Framework Agreement (PFA) and allowing Bulloch County to begin the process for procuring engineering design services for PI #0016632, Bulloch County, S&S Greenway Phase 3. Bulloch County staff completed the procurement process for engineering design services and on 21-APR-2020, the Bulloch County Board of Commissioners approved a Consultant Services Agreement with Heath & Lineback Engineers, Incorporated in the amount of $747,671.08 to provide engineering design services for S&S Greenway Phase 3 (GDOT Project No. 0016632). The Notice-to-Proceed with the work was issued 28-APR-2020. Subsequently, the following Supplemental Agreements to the original Contract, with Heath & Lineback Engineers, Incorporated, were approved and executed:
| SA No. | Description | Cost | Board Approval Date | Revised Contract Amount |
| 1 | Add Archeological Studies, Environmental Survey Boundary, 404 Permit | $62,000.00 | 05-APR-2022 | $809,671.08 |
| 2 | Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, Soil Survey | $51,500.00 | 16-AUG-2022 | $861,171.08 |
| 3 | Trail Revisions, Right-of-Way Staking, Environmental Studies | $265,285.01 | 16-APR-2024 | $1,126,456.09 |
The PFA between Bulloch County and GDOT has been amended on three (3) occasions by Supplemental Agreement adding Federal funds along with the required 20% local match as detailed below:
Additionally, the Bulloch County Board of Commissioners and GDOT entered into an Agreement on 05-MAR-2024 for reimbursement of costs incurred during the right-of-way acquisition phase that involved activities including valuation appraisal services, property acquisition services, and the purchase of required right-of-way on PI #0016632, Bulloch County, S&S Greenway Phase 3. The total cost share under the reimbursable Agreement was $310,000.00 with a maximum which GDOT was obligated to reimburse Bulloch County set at $248,000.00 requiring a local match of $62,000.00 (20%) from Bulloch County.
On 08-APR-2026 the environmental subconsultant, Edwards Pitman, notified the Engineering Office of its intent to begin the USACE permitting process for 0016632 S&S Greenway Phase 3 and the Josh Hagin Road Paving Project. As part of the USACE permitting process, mitigation due to environmental impacts will be required. The Engineering Office began the solicitation process by requesting quotes from mitigation banks having available credits within the primary service area for both projects. The results of the solicitation process is shown in the below table.
| Mitigation Bank | Stream Mitigation Credits (2018) | Stream Mitigation Credits (2004) | Subtotal | Wetland Mitigation Credits (2018) | Wetland Mitigation Credits (2004) | Subtotal | Grand Total | |
| 55.00 Non-Perennial | 63.00 Perennial | 1,152.00 | 2.27 | 18.16 | ||||
| Hart Mitigation | Unavailable | Unavailable | $250,000/ Credit | Unavailable | $567,500.00 | |||
| Vallambrosa Mitigation | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | $47,500/Credit | $862,600.00 | |||
| Wilhelmina Morgan Mitigation | No response | No response | No response | No response | ||||
| Yam Grandy Mitigation | $125/Credit | $144,000.00 | $31,000.00/Credit | $562,960.00 | $706,960.00 | |||
As required by the environmental permitting process, Heath & Lineback and their environmental subconsultant, Edwards Pitman, made every effort possible to evaluate the project location and adjust the design to avoid and minimize impacts to the existing streams and wetland area. However, the proposed S&S Greenway Phase 3 cannot feasibly avoid all of the impacts to nearby streams and wetlands. Therefore, the resulting stream impacts and wetland impacts must be mitigated through a compensatory credit transaction to satisfy the environmental permitting process with the USACE. The Engineering Office recommends purchasing the required compensatory mitigation credits from Yam Grandy Mitigation Bank as follows for the S&S Greenway Phase 3 Project as follow:
v 1,152 stream compensatory mitigation credits: $125/credit subtotal cost = $144,000
v 18.16 wetland compensatory mitigation credits: $31,000/credit subtotal cost = $562,960
GRAND TOTAL COST = $706,960
The Engineering Department recommends accepting the quote for compensatory mitigation credits from YAM GRANDY Mitigation with a grand total cost of $706,960.00. The cost for this purchase will be paid for using TSPLOST funds with 80% of the cost being eligible for Federal reimbursement (20% TSPLOST = $141,392 & 80% Federal = $565,568).
Approved unanimously.
Motion to Approve a Change Order to the original Contract with Reeves Construction Company for FY26 CP-E05 Bulloch County Road Resurfacing Project in the amount of $150,933.85 to provide additional asphalt pavement resurfacing work on Pine Inn Road (CR686). The cost for this work will be funded by TSPLOST.
The Bulloch County Board of Commissioners approved a Contract with Reeves Construction Company on 06-OCT-2025 in the amount of $3,122,604.89 for FY26-CP-E05 Bulloch County Road Resurfacing Project. The project is nearing completion; however, Bulloch County is working to prepare property on Pine Inn Road (CR868) for a new solid waste collection center and the existing asphalt pavement is need of immediate maintenance prior to the opening of the new proposed solid waste collection center last this year.
Representatives from the Engineering Office and Reeves Construction Company met onsite to review the existing condition of the asphalt on Pine Inn Road and to discuss the proposed scope necessary for resurfacing the road. Reeves Construction Company submitted a fee proposal to accomplish the scope of work necessary for performing an asphalt overlay. The total itemized budget for this additional work is $150,933.85. The Engineering Office has reviewed the fee proposal and recommends acceptance. The cost for this work will be funded by TSPLOST funds.
Commissioner Timmy Rushing recused himself.
Approved unanimously.
Reports
Available for review on the agenda on the county website.
Commission and Staff Comments
County Manager - No comments
EMS Director Brian Hendrix reminded commissioners of EMS Week.
Budget Work Session
Executive Session (personnel)
Adjourn
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