This is an informal rundown of the Bulloch County Commission meeting on June 3, 2025.
Call to Order
Invocation & Pledge
Roll Call – All Commissioners present.
Approval of Zoning Agenda
Lloyd Strickland has submitted an application for a conditional use to allow a facility to host private and public functions. The property is located on Bell Road.
View the application.
This is for the operation of the Brooklet Farmer’s market. Staff recommended approval. Approved unanimously by Commissioners.
River Bluff Properties, LLC., has submitted an application to rezone approximately 61 acres AG-5 (Agricultural 5 acres sq. ft.) to R-40 (Residential 40,000 sq. ft.) for the purpose of creating a single-family subdivision. The property is located on Highway 119 Connector.
American Aero Real Estate, LLC., has submitted an application for a conditional use to operate a light manufacturing facility. The property is located on US Highway 80 East.
View the application.
Approved unanimously.
Sharon Hill has submitted an application for a conditional use to operate a daycare facility within a residential neighborhood. This property is located at 609 Sweetheart Ln.
View the application.
Approved unanimously.
Approval of General Agenda
Public Comments
Bruce Simons - Talked about taxes and the need for impact fees for all development as well as the eradication of tax abatements.
Macrus Toole - Spoke on behalf of Habitat Humanity and shared updates on recent projects.
Consent Agenda
All items voted on collectively. Approved unanimously.
Minutes of May 15, 2025 10:00 a.m.
Minutes of May 20, 2025 8:30 a.m.
Motion to Approve the tennis courts & basketball courts conversion project at Brooklet Park
The tennis and basketball courts in Brooklet are due to be resurfaced. During this process, we would like to reconfigure the courts by flipping the layout. We would convert the current tennis courts into basketball courts and convert the current basketball courts into six pickleball courts. Pickleball has become extremely popular and the demand for more pickleball courts has increased in the last 3-4 years. Reconfiguring the courts would also help with any parking issues. The resurfacing and conversion project was advertised for bid on May 1, 2025. Advanced Athletic Surfaces LLC was the lowest bidder with a price of $39,980.
After reviewing the bids and checking references, it is the recommendation of Dadrian Cosby, Recreation and Parks Director, to accept the bid from Advanced Athletics Surfaces LLC.
This project is scheduled in the FY2025 CIP schedule, Project ID PARK02, $33,000. We will use savings from other projects to complete the project.
Motion to approve the purchase of a Kubota L5460hst with loader and 6' bucket for Recreation & Parks Development
The purchase of a replacement tractor for the Recreation and Parks Department is listed on the FY25 CIP schedule (Project ID PARK22, $55,000). Tony Morgan, Assistant Manager, has researched several models, specifications, and also looked at availability issues.
Shea Tractor has provided a quote for a Kubota L5460hst with loader and 6’ bucket for
$46,868.90 through Sourcewell. This tractor is an open station and equipped with turf tires needed to reduce ruts on athletic fields. It has a greater lifting capacity than the other two models researched, and the hydraulics are rated and suited for all of our hydraulic needs for the top dresser and laser grading box blade we have for maintaining the athletic fields.
It is the recommendation of Mr. Morgan to accept the quote from Shea Tractor in the amount of $46,868.90 for a Kubota L5460hst with loader and 6’ bucket purchasing through Sourcewell contract number 112624-KBA.
Approve the renewal of the Statesboro Bulloch County Airport liability insurance coverage through Global Aerospace in the amount of $3,890.00
The current insurance policy expires on June 30, 2025. This request is for the annual renewal of coverage.
Motion to Approve Individual Project Order Number 04, in accordance with Master Agreement for Continuing Professional Services dated 08/30/2024, with Kimley-Horn and Associates in the amount of $234,900.00 for providing design and engineering services for permanent drainage repairs to Country Club Road to be funded by TSPLOST.
A portion of Country Club Road from Bent Tree Road to Hood Road was closed to traffic on 05/12/2025 due to safety related concerns associated with slope and roadway loss resulting from 6.90 inches of rainfall within a 24-hour time period 05/12/2025.
Flood damage along this portion of Country Club Road began last year during the Tropical Storm Debby event on 08/06/2024 which produced 13.2 inches of rainfall from 08/04/2024 through 08/08/2024. Country Club Road sustained scour damage along the upstream slope and scour damage to the existing triple barrel forty-two (42) inch reinforced concrete pipe cross-drain and headwall at the downstream outlet location. Bulloch County reviewed this location during and immediately following the Tropical Strom Debby event and found it to be safe for traffic.
This portion of Country Club Road was again affected during the unnamed storm event 11/07/2024 through 11/08/2024 which produced 7.27 inches of rainfall during a forty-eight (48) hour timeframe. Bulloch County monitored this location during and immediately following the unnamed storm event and found it to be safe for traffic.
However, the 05/12/2025 rainfall event created an unsafe condition for traffic causing Bulloch County to close Country Club Road as previously described.
Bulloch County Engineering held a scoping meeting with Kimley-Horn and Associates 05/14/2025 to discuss plans for design and engineering plans for permanent repairs to Country Club Road. Kimley-Horn and Associates has provided Individual Project Order (IPO) No. 4 dated 05/27/2025 which includes a proposal for professional services for the design and engineering of permanent repairs to Country Club Road. Proposed services included are as follows: 1) design project management and coordination, 2) topographical survey database preparation of the area, 3) geotechnical studies, 4) hydrology and hydraulic modeling, 5) hydrology and hydraulic report and coordination with FEMA along with an opinion of probable construction cost, and 6) final design plans for construction, 7) agency permitting, and 8) construction phase services. All services provided by Kimley-Horn and Associates will be in accordance with the Master Agreement for Continuing Professional Services dated 08/30/2024. County Engineering anticipates this project to be handled and delivered in a format similar to the Brannen Pond Road Drainage Repairs Project and the Nevils Denmark Road Bridge Culvert Replacement Project. Kimley-Horne possesses the expertise, knowledge, and certifications necessary to provide design services for a project of this type. Kimley-Horne will follow state/federal guidelines as previously followed for storm damaged drainage repair projects in Bulloch County.
This location has been reviewed and qualified by FEMA for reimbursement once funds become available. Delivery of final design plans for this project are anticipated late January 2026. The total budget to provide design and engineering services for permanent drainage repairs to the closed portion of Country Club Road is $234,900.00.
New Business
Approve an Amendment to Section 3-26(c)(5) of the Code of Ordinances
Mr. Eric Van Otteren, who owns a farm winery on Highway 46, has requested an amendment to the alcohol ordinance that would allow farm wineries to sell distilled spirits and malt beverages for consumption on the premises in addition to wine. The presented amendment to Section 3-26(c)(5) of the Code of Ordinances will allow farm wineries to sell distilled spirits and malt beverages for consumption on the premises, but it requires that at least 50% of a farm winery's total alcohol sales must consist of wine produced by the farm winery. If the amendment is adopted, the fee schedule will also be amended to raise the license fee for a farm winery from $2,500.00 to $2,750.00.
Approved unanimously.
Allocation of Helene Emergency Funds
Public Works was allocated $13 million in emergency funds after Helene. At this point we are not requesting new funds, but to allocate the remaining $2 million previously awarded, to be equally divided into open POs for SDR and Thompson to cover the remaining final invoices.
Approved unanimously.
Approve contract extensions for storm debris and monitoring with Thompson Consulting Services and Southern Disaster Recovery, LLC
Effective March 12, 2025, Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency announced that Bulloch County received a time extension for Category A and B on FEMA-4830-DR-GA Project and extended the new deadline to June 22, 2025
Staff are requesting and recommending extension of contracts with Southern Disaster Recovery, LLC and Thompson Consulting Services to June 22, 2025 to allow both companies to complete any remaining invoices and administrative services to close out the storm declaration.
Approved unanimously.
Motion to Approve a Change Order in the amount of $80,650.00 allowing McLendon Enterprises, Incorporated to perform additional work at the Dekle Road drainage repair location due to further damages caused during the rainfall event that occurred 05/09/2025 through 05/14/2025
During the Board of Commissioners regular meeting 04/15/2025, New Business Agenda Item 7. Motion to approve a contract with McLendon Enterprises, Incorporated for construction of concrete headwalls on Dekle Road, in the amount of $119,945.55, to be funded by TSPLOST was approved. The Contract between Bulloch County and McLendon Enterprises, Incorporated (MEI) was signed and executed by both parties 04/30/2025 and issuance of Notice to Proceed was provided to MEI 05/01/2025. The preconstruction meeting was held onsite at Dekle Road on 05/07/2025 with representatives present from Bulloch County Public Works, Bulloch County Engineering, and MEI. MEI discussed plans to begin work on 05/12/2025 and complete the work 05/29/2025. However, MEI was unable to mobilize and begin work due to a rain event that moved through Bulloch County beginning 05/09/2025 and ending 05/14/2025 bringing a measured rainfall total of 8.48 inches of rain with 6.90 inches of rainfall occurring 05/12/2025.
This project is located along the closed unpaved portion of Dekle Road approximately 2,253 feet west of Kennedy Bridge Road and was originally damaged by Tropical Strom Debby. Bulloch County and FEMA identified this storm damaged location as an unpaved road in need of repair. Bulloch County Engineering developed several options to restore this unpaved section of Dekle Road to a passable condition with “Restore to Pre-existing Condition” being the preferred option. Bulloch County Public Works procured and installed five (5) lengths of sixty (60) inch inside diameter corrugated coated metal pipes and also dewatered the upstream and downstream locations by installing bulkheads utilizing borrow material. Contract scope for performance by MEI includes excavation and preparation for construction of steel reinforced concrete headwalls, wingwalls, and aprons at the inlet location and the outlet location of the five (5) lengths of sixty (60) inch inside diameter corrugated coated metal pipes. MEI’s scope does not include maintenance or removal of the upstream and downstream bulkheads. The rain event that occurred 05/09/2025 through 05/14/2025 (8.48 inches total, 6.90 inches on 05/12/2025) devastated the upstream and downstream bulkheads. The upstream and downstream locations will need to be dewatered in order to advance this project forward and Bulloch County Public Works is unable to provide assistance due to outstanding commitments. MEI has provided a lump sum Grading Complete cost of $28,502.09 to dewater the upstream and downstream locations, a unit cost of $165.25/TON to provide 185 tons of permanent Type 3 Rip Rap including geotextile fabric at the outlet location and on the slopes behind all four (4) wingwalls, and additional steel reinforced concrete quantities in the amount of fourteen (14) cubic yards to cover modifications to headwall, wingwall, and apron construction at the contract unit price of $1,541.19/CY. The total increase to the Contract to perform the additional work as described is $80,650.00. If approved, the revised Contract total for this project will be $200,595.55.
Approved unanimously.
Commission & Staff Comments
Executive Session
For Potential Litigation & Personnel - adjourned into executive session at 7:03 p.m.
Adjourn
8:48 p.m.
