Here’s what happened at the January 18, 2022 Bulloch County Board of Commissioners meeting:
Call to Order
Invocation & Pledge
Roll Call – Commissioners Ray Mosley and Jappy Stringer were not present.
Approval of General Agenda
Public Comment
David Reid addressed Commissioners about expanding EMS stations and possibly using inmates to man fire stations to help improve response times.
Sandra Butler also addressed Commissioners to ask about an update on the paving planned for Hightower Road. The county engineer said they are working on the procuring the design and surveying, which is expected to be presented to Commissioners at the next meeting. Once the survey is done, the right of ways will be set to be approved and construction will begin after that.
Consent Agenda
Consent Agenda was approved unanimously as a single vote for all 6 items
- Approval of November 23, 2021 Town Hall Minutes
- Approval of Minutes of Jan 4, 2022 5:30 PM meeting
- Approval of January 11, 2022 Town Hall Minutes
- Approval of Memorandum of Agreement with the GDOT for the replacement of the bridge on Akins Pond Road. Bulloch County would provide $50,000 in right of way acquisition funds for the project, from TSPLOST funds.
- Motion to approve the purchase of 10 APEX 1000 radios in the amount of $33,494.80 through a state purchasing contract
- Motion to approve the purchase of motor grader blades for a total amount of $59,214.80.
New Business
- Motion to accept a Transportation Alternatives Grant (TAP) award in the amount of $348,000 and enter into a supplemental agreement with GDOT for preliminary engineering of the S&S Greenway Trail Extension
- Bulloch County applied for and was awarded a TAP grant in the amount of $300,000 with a $75,000 match in 2018 from GDOT for assistance with design services for the S&S Greenway Trail Extension. After accepting the grant funds, the County entered into an agreement with GDOT.
- Though the grant funds have been expended, design fees still remain. As such, Bulloch County applied for additional TAP funding and was recently awarded $348,000 with a 20% (approximately $87,000) match. Upon acceptance of these additional funds, the County will need to execute a supplemental agreement with GDOT.
- Approved unanimously
- To authorize a resolution to make application for two SAFER Grants for the hiring of 12 full-time personnel, and to cover the personnel costs for one existing Volunteer Coordinator and related recruitment and retention activities.
- SAFER only pays for the base amount of salary and benefits at the beginning of the performance period. If awarded, the personnel costs would need to be absorbed beginning in the FY 2027 budget, requiring the likelihood of adjusting the fire tax millage rate in increments staring in FY 2024.
- $300,000 in annual resources would become available for three years, but the county would need to plan to maintain the funding after the 3-year period of the grant, which could include tax increases
- Approved unanimously
- Motion to approve an Amendment to the Position Control Schedule of the FY 2022 Budget
- The Ogeechee Judicial Circuit has been awarded $1.825 million inn ARPA funds for a performance period lasting until 12-31-2022 from the Judicial Council of Georgia. The purpose is for reducing court caseloads created by the pandemic.
- Bulloch County has agreed to act as fiscal agent at the request of Judge Peed. In addition to funding selected judicial agencies, temporary personnel for Bulloch County was approved for the performance period. Therefore, the position control amendment is to authorize the following temporary grant funded positions 2 FT deputy clerks; 2 FT court security deputies and 2 PT court bailiffs.
- Approved unanimously
- Approval of the Purchase of Baseball / Softball Uniforms/Equipment
- Bulloch Recreation Athletics division accepted bids for Baseball / Softball Uniform & Equipment needs for the 2022 season. After speaking to various recreation departments throughout the state, many were stating that they were experiencing problems getting jersey and equipment orders from vendors.
- With this in mind, quotes were secured by staff through an informal bid process. Staff reached out to various vendors used in the past that staff had confidence in handling an order with the quantities needed. BSN Sports provided a bid of $33,413 for all items requested. Approval of the bid from BSN Sports was recommended.
- Approved unanimously
Commission and Staff Comments
Executive Session – Real Estate – meeting adjourned to go into executive session at 9:26 a.m.
Adjourn
