RUNDOWN: Bulloch Commission Meeting – August 16, 2022

This is an informal rundown of what happened at the Bulloch County Commission Meeting on August 16, 2022.

1. Call to Order – 8:30 a.m.
2. Invocation & Pledge
3. Roll Call – All Commissioners present with the exception of Commissioner Curt Deal, who joined the meeting via teleconference
4. Approval of General Agenda
5. Public Hearing #2 on Proposed Property Tax Increase
   • Proposed Millage Rate Rollback Still Means 10%+ Increase for Bulloch Co. Property Taxes
   • Shari Barr, Statesboro City Councilwoman and Bulloch citizen, thanked commissioners for making Bulloch County prosper
   • No one was present to speak for or against the millage increase.
6. Public Comments
   • A citizen spoke about the density, zoning, and subdivision development impact on farm land and farming land rental prices.
7. Presentation
   • Paula Hall of Feed the Boro asked the county to consider entering into an MOU for funding. County Manager Tom Couch explained that the budget year just began and appropriations were finalized July. He also explained that the county is not authorized to subsidize a nonprofit organization under the Georgia Constitution’s Gratuities Clause, but that the county would work on making the organization a partner agency.
8. Consent Agenda – Agenda items voted on collectively
   There was no opposition to voting on the agenda collectively and the measures were approved unanimously.
   • Minutes of August 2 meeting
   • Minutes of August 3 meeting
   • Motion to approve A/V System Replacement for the State Court Room
     • StageFront handled the original installation of the Audio-Visual equipment in the State Court. Because technology has progressed so rapidly and some components are no longer serviceable, the system is due for an upgrade.
     • The proposal for the upgrade of the equipment plus 1 year maintenance is $106,110.
     • Staff recommends approval
   • Motion to approve the renaming of the two sections of County Road No. 779 a/k/a Randy Lowery
     • The road has been approved to be split into three pieces by the abandonment of the middle section by the Board of Commissioners at the August 2, 2022 meeting. See map
     • The section to the north will be named North Randy Lowery Road and section to the south will be named South Randy Lowery Road. The section that was abandoned will remain Randy Lowery Road with the distinction of being a private road.
   • Motion to approve supplemental agreement #2 for additional scope of services for Heath & Lineback Engineering in the amount of $51,500
     • This is supplemental agreement #2 to allow Heath & Lineback Engineers to expand their scope of services for the design of the S&S Greenway – Phase III project.
     • As a recipient of federal and state grant funding, Bulloch County is required to follow various federal review procedures through multiple agencies.
     • GDOT has identified additional studies and surveys necessary that were not originally anticipated. Those items consist of a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment and Soil Survey.
     • Bulloch County is currently awarded $1,594,400 in TAP grant funds to complete the design of the trail expansion. In addition, the county must provide $398,600 in additional matching funds (20%), for a project design total of $1,993,000.
     • This supplemental agreement will result in a total contract price of $861,171.08, which is well below the available grant funds of $1,594,400.
   • Motion to enter into a contract with Lavender & Associates for a guaranteed maximum price for North Main Annex renovations
     • Following an RFP and approval by the Board of Commissioners to allow the County Manager to negotiate pricing, Bulloch County is entering into a contract with Lavender & Associates to complete the renovations and expansion of the North Main Annex.
     • This contract is for a guaranteed maximum price of $2,000,000. These funds are budgeted and available from the ARPA funding. Once a final price is received, staff will work with the contractor to value engineer items, or reduce costs, to ensure that the project stays within, or below, the guaranteed maximum price.
   • Motion ant an alcoholic beverage license for retail beer and wines sales to Megan Collins, TA Operating LLC, located at 2930 Highway 301 South, Register, Georgia 30452
     • Applicant met all of the requirements, thus staff recommended approval.
   • Appointments to the Development Authority
     • Tal Johnson to serve a term beginning August 16, 2022 through June 30, 2023. This is the unexpired term of Matt Sawhill.
     • Greg Proctor to serve a term beginning August 16, 2022 and ending June 30, 2025. This is the unexpired term of Bruce Yawn.
   • Motion to approve a contract renewal by and between Bulloch County Board of Commissioners d/b/a Bulloch County Correctional Institute and Inmate Calling Solutions, LLC d/b/a ICSolutions (ICS).
     • This is a revenue only service and Bulloch County does not pay anything for this service.
     • View the contract here.
   • Food services permit for a nonprofit

9. New Business

• Motion to approve 12 portable radios, shoulder mics, and programming from MAC to outfit career and volunteer firefighters.
  • The fire department has recently added six new volunteers. They need a portable radio to communicate to 911 and to other firefighters to ensure safe operations on the fire ground. Also, the commissioners have approved six career personnel slated to hired in October.
  • Passed: Unanimously
• Approve a Resolution to Impose a Moratorium on Selected Residential Re-Zoning Applications in Southeast Bulloch County
  • Read the article on this proposal here
    • Passed: Unanimously

11. Commission Staff & Comments

• Jacob Jackson was introduced as the Assistant Director of Public Works, a position to which he was recently elevated.

12. Adjourn – 9:17 a.m.