This is an informal rundown of what happened at the July 15 Bulloch County Commission meeting.
Call to Order
Invocation & Pledge
Roll Call – Commissioner Toby Conner led the meeting. Chairman David Bennett and Commissioner Timmy Rushing were absent. All other commissioners present.
Approval of General Agenda
Public Comments
Marcus Toole – Address commissioners about infrastructure, housing, and density. He said if Bulloch County doesn’t keep up with the housing demand, housing prices will continue to climb because of scarcity.
“If you don’t allow for the high enough density, the farmable land will go away faster than they otherwise would. And the reasons is, is that, with the economy, the local economy going the way it is, there will be enough people in this community that can build a house on a 5-acre lot, they’ll all build on a 5-acre lot when otherwise they might choose to build on a quarter acre lot or an eighth of an acre lot. Or they might choose to live in a condominium or a townhouse. You’re just going to have to build the infrastructure and it’s going to cost and taxes are going to go up. And property taxes are a part of the cost of housing so I’m very much aware of that. The cost of housing is going to go up either way. The question is how fast is it going to go up and how high is it going to go up?”
Kathy Dixon – Spoke to commissioners about the project list for Bulloch County. She suggested the projects should be paused, despite being paid for with TSPLOST funds, because the county needed to evaluate the roads in bridges in need, before looking at walking trails and roundabouts.
Consent Agenda
The consent agenda was approved unanimously 4-0.
Minutes of June 26, 2025
Minutes July 1, 2025
Motion to approve a purchase order in the amount of $99,100.00 for framing work of the new office building for the Crime Suppression division of the Sherrif’s Department on Randy Lowery Road.
Three quotes have been obtained for the installation of all framing work as per plans. This is to include all labor and materials. Four framers refused to quote due to amount of work they currently have. This is for the new office building for the Crime Suppression Division of the Sherrif’s Department. It is to replace the old building that was recently torn down. South Georgia Framers, submitted the low quote of $99,100.00 for this service. Approval is recommended.
Motion to approve a purchase order in the amount of $17,104.00 for trusses for the new office building for the Crime Suppression division of the Sherriff’s Department on Randy Lowery Road.
Three quotes have been obtained for the purchase of trusses as per plans. This is for the new office building for the Crime Suppression Division of the Sherriff’s Department. It is to replace the old building that was recently torn down. Mutherin Lumber Company submitted the low quote of $17,104.00 for this service. Approval is recommended.
Motion to Approve Catastrophic Inmate Medical Insurance Renewal
This is a renewal quote for catastrophic inmate medical insurance, covering inmates at the Bulloch County Jail. This renewal proposal provides the same per-claim limits as our current plan – a $75,000.00 specific deductible per inmate and a $500,000.00 limit of coverage per inmate. This insurance plan covers medical expenses that exceed $75,000.00, up to a maximum of $500,000.00 per covered claim ($1,000,000 policy maximum). The premium (cost) is $4.37 per inmate per month, which represents a 3% increase from last year’s cost of $4.24 per inmate per month. Total annual cost for 347 inmates is $18,196.68. Approval to renew the Catastrophic Inmate Medical Insurance, with the terms shown on the attached proposal,
is recommended.
Motion to enter into a mutual aid agreement with the City of Statesboro Fire Department.
After the termination of the mutual aid agreement between the city of Statesboro and Bulloch County, I sent a mutual aid agreement to Chief Grams to get approved. Statesboro approved it on July 1st and I am asking we approve our part today. I recommend approval.
Motion to approve the purchase of two stock E-One fire engines from Fireline for $1,379,402.00.
This item was moved from the Consent Agenda to NEW BUSINESS for further discussion.
This purchase is part of the apparatus replacement plan for the Bulloch County Fire Department. With the addition of the two additional fire stations, these engines will be added to our fleet as primary engines and the older engines will move to volunteer stations to serve as reserve engines for our staffed stations.
Motion to approve the purchase of reporting and management software for the Bulloch County Fire Department from First Due for $34,552.88.
A couple of years ago, the Bulloch County Fire Department purchased the First Due software after reviewing a few different types of software. At the time, First Due was the cheapest and it has performed well for us. We ask that you approve this purchase to keep the same reporting and management software.
Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
To approve a solicitation for proposals and enter into a contract with AG Witt, LLC for the Hazard Mitigation Plan Update in the amount of $36,950 based on the evaluation criteria that was used to determine the scores of the submitted proposals. This project will be funded by the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) 4501- 0066 Grant, which has been awarded and approved for acceptance by the Commission in the amount of $31,112. The uncovered amount of $5,838 will be funded through the Office of Emergency Management’s FY 2025-2026 budgeted General Fund.
Approve the cancellation of the current contract with Pictometry International Corp. and approve the new Master Services Agreement for new imagery
This item was moved from the Consent Agenda to NEW BUSINESS for further discussion.
The GIS Department is requesting approval to cancel the current agreement with Pictometry International Corp. and approve the new Master Services Agreement for new imagery. The current contract is a three year contract with a three year extension on pricing; which is being finished early in order to get a new set of imagery.
Approve the appointment of Judge Lorna DeLoach to the Coastal Regional Commission Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council for a three-year term commencing on July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028
The CRC serves as the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for the 10-county region. The Aging Services department, or AAA, is required by the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) to have an Advisory Council made up of members from each county in the region. Each county has an allotted three seats to be appointed for a three-year term.
Approve the reappointment of Walter Gibson to the Coastal Regional Commission Council to a one-year term commencing on July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026
Each county in the 10-county region of the CRC can appoint at least one non-public member to our governing body, the Coastal Regional Commission Council. Due to the population size of Bulloch County, there is an additional non-public appointment. For a total of two slots. Each appointment must be reappointed every year for the start of our new fiscal year in July.
New Business
Approve a Resolution to Withdraw an Objection to an Intended Annexation by the City of Statesboro
Pursuant to O.C.G.A. 36-36-113, the Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution on June 18, 2025 objecting to a proposed annexation by the City of Statesboro of property located on Old Register Road and U.S. Highway 301 South with a proposed zoning and land use as PUD (Residential and Commercial). The presented resoltuion formally withdraws that objection.
Commissioner Nick Newkirk asked why the Georgia Department of Community Affairs declined to appoint an arbitration committee for the dispute, which ended the objection by the county.
Akins said the application was not complete. He said it was filed by the deadline, but not all of the information was included. “We’ve run into that issue with them before,” Akins said.
Motion by Simmons, second by Davis. Motion passed 3-1 with Newkirk opposing.
Motion to approve a Contract between Bulloch County and Beasley Well Drilling & Pump Services, Incorporated for a period of three (3) years for the purposes of providing on-call well driller services associated with pre-mitigation assessments and well mitigation methods including, but not limited to, setting existing well pumps deeper, replacing well pumps, and drilling a new well, on a unit priced basis. The cost for services associated with this three (3) year Contract period will be funded by the Bulloch-Bryan Groundwater Sustainability Program Joint Mitigation Fund.
This is to request approval from the Board of Commissioners for Bulloch County to enter into a Contract with Beasley Well Drilling & Pump Services, Incorporated as part of the Bulloch Bryan Groundwater Sustainability Program (GSP). On 10/07/2024 the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD) issued Permit No. 016-0013 to the Bryan County Board of Commissioners to utilize 3.5 million gallons per day (MGD) on a monthly average and 3.5 MGD on an annual average from the Floridan aquifer from two wells located in Bulloch; and Permit No. 016-0014 to the Bulloch County Board of Commissioners to utilize 3.5 MGD on a monthly average and 3.125 MGD on an annual average from the Floridan Aquifer from two wells located in Bulloch County. The four wells collectively are proposed to serve the Interstate 16 Mega-Site in Bryan County and other associated development. As part of the Special Conditions in these two permits, Bryan and Bulloch Counties are to “create a joint municipal managed fund, which may include contributions from other entities, to address any potential significant impacts to existing Floridan Aquifer wells in an area defined by a circle with a 5 mile radius from the center point at the I-16 and Highway 119 interchange”
In order to facilitate expedited mitigation measures for qualifying affected wells, the Bulloch Bryan GSP shall procure and contract with multiple, at least three (3), responsive and experienced licensed local well drillers, to perform Bulloch Bryan GSP approved mitigation measures on an on-call basis. Under the guidance and direction of Bulloch County GSP Manager and Bryan County’s Consultant, Thomas & Hutton Engineering, Bulloch County is leading the procurement phase for On-Call Well Drillers. The procurement phase started with a public advertisement release of the Request for Proposal (RFP) on the webpages of Georgia Procurement Registry and Bulloch County Vendor Registry on 04/24/2025 with a Proposal due date of 05/08/2025.
Bulloch County received two (2) proposal responses on 05/08/2025 which does not meet the minimum requirement of at least three (3) responsive and experienced licensed local well drillers. Bulloch County and its Consultant, Thomas & Hutton Engineering immediately began revising the original RFP and making preparations for a second public advertisement release. The revised second RFP release started 05/15/2025 with a public advertisement release on Georgia Procurement Registry and Bulloch County Vendor Registry with a Proposal due date of 06/05/2025. Bulloch County received three (3) Proposal responses on 06/05/2025 and found all three (3) Proposals to be responsive. The Bulloch County Board of Commissioners approved negotiations with each of the three (3) responsive well drillers on 06/17/2025. Successful negotiations with Beasley Well Drilling & Pump Services, Incorporated concluded 07/03/2025.
Therefore, Bulloch County GSP Manager, Mr. James Pope is requesting Board approval to allow Bulloch County to enter into a Contract with Beasley Well Drilling & Pump Services, Incorporated to provide on-call well driller services for a period of three (3) years as detailed in the attached GSP On-Call Well Mitigation Program – Repair, Audit, Inspection, and Replacement – Attachment B – Fee Schedule. The attached Fee Schedule includes cost measures associated with pre-mitigation assessments and well mitigation methods including, but not limited to, setting existing well pumps deeper, replacing well pumps, and drilling a new well, on a unit priced basis. The cost for services associated with this three (3) year Contract period between Bulloch County and Beasley Well Drilling & Pump Services, Incorporated will be funded by the Bulloch-Bryan Groundwater Sustainability Program Joint Mitigation Fund.
Commissioner Nick Newkirk asked if the fund was set up. CFO Kristie King said the fund is not yet set up, but will be agreed upon by Bulloch and Bryan County soon. Newkirk said he was concerned about approving the funding from a fund that did not yet exist. County Attorney Jeff Akins said if an issue arises, the county can pay for it and be reimbursed by the fund.
Newkirk asked when the wells would be operational, to which P&Z Director James Pope said sometime this quarter.
Approved 4-0.
Motion to approve a Contract between Bulloch County and Mobley’s Well & Pump Service, Incorporated for a period of three (3) years for the purposes of providing on-call well driller services associated with pre-mitigation assessments and well mitigation methods including, but not limited to, setting existing well pumps deeper, replacing well pumps, and drilling a new well, on a unit priced basis. The cost for services associated with this three (3) year Contract period will be funded by the Bulloch-Bryan Groundwater Sustainability Program Joint Mitigation Fund.
See above for terms. All 3 well drillers will be subject to the same fee schedule, according to County Engineer Ron Nelson. |
Approved 4-0.
Motion to approve a Contract between Bulloch County and Sean’s Well Drilling, LLC for a period of three (3) years for the purposes of providing on-call well driller services associated with pre-mitigation assessments and well mitigation methods including, but not limited to, setting existing well pumps deeper, replacing well pumps, and drilling a new well, on a unit priced basis. The cost for services associated with this three (3) year Contract period will be funded by the Bulloch-Bryan Groundwater Sustainability Program Joint Mitigation Fund.
See above for terms.
Approved 4-0.
Motion to approve the purchase of 0.12 environmental wetland mitigation credits for the OTC ISIR Training Center connector road from Earl Dabbs Drive to US 301 at a cost of $60,000.00. The purchase of these credits will be funded from the 2019 SPLOST.
During its regular meeting 10/15/2024, the Board previously approved a request from Ogeechee Technical College for funding assistance in the amount of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) for road construction to be paid from the 2019 SPLOST funds (Refer to attached 10/15/2024 meeting agenda).
During its regular meeting 11/19/2024, the Board previously approved a Contract with EMC Engineering Services, Incorporated in the amount of Thirty-Eight Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($38,500.00) to perform professional engineering and design services for the construction of a connector road between Earl Dabbs Drive and US 301 South for access to the OTC ISIR Training Center, to be funded using 2019 SPLOST funds (Refer to attached 11/19/2024 meeting agenda).
The location and design of the OTC connector road project from Earl Dabbs Drive to US 301 crosses an existing wetland area causing impacts in excess of the allowable threshold of 0.1 acre as established by USACE. As required by the environmental permitting process, EMC Engineering and its environmental subconsultant, RLC, made every effort possible to evaluate the project location and design to avoid and minimize impacts to the existing wetland area. However, the proposed road location is based on the established curb cut location along US 301 and therefore the location of the road cannot be shifted. The resulting wetland impact of 0.16 acres was avoided and minimized to the maximum extent practicable. The cost for in-leu fee mitigation for wetland impacts within this watershed is ~$540,000.00/acre. EMC Engineering’s environmental subconsultant, RLC, was able to locate mitigation credits at a discounted rate. Therefore, on 06/26/2025 Chairman David Bennett signed a Purchase and Sale Agreement for Mitigation Credits with Hart Mitigation Bank to purchase the required 0.12 credits for Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000.00) (Refer to the attached Invoice and Purchase & Sale Agreement). Purchase of the aforementioned credits will be funded from the 2019 SPLOST.
Approved 4-0.
Motion to approve the purchase of two stock E-One fire engines from Fireline for $1,379,402.00.
This item was moved from the Consent Agenda to NEW BUSINESS for further discussion.
This purchase is part of the apparatus replacement plan for the Bulloch County Fire Department. With the addition of the two additional fire stations, these engines will be added to our fleet as primary engines and the older engines will move to volunteer stations to serve as reserve engines for our staffed stations.
This will be funded by the 2019 SPLOST funds and a pre-planned purchase, according to staff from the Bulloch County Fire Department. Arrival time is expected to be September 2025.
Approved 4-0
Approve the cancellation of the current contract with Pictometry International Corp. and approve the new Master Services Agreement for new imagery
This item was moved from the Consent Agenda to NEW BUSINESS for further discussion.
The GIS Department is requesting approval to cancel the current agreement with Pictometry International Corp. and approve the new Master Services Agreement for new imagery. The current contract is a three year contract with a three year extension on pricing; which is being finished early in order to get a new set of imagery.
Commissioner Newkirk asked if the increase in cost was annually or one time. GIS Director Casey Brown said the contract was for 6 years. The new contract offers enhanced imagery and provides better resources for the department. The previous contract only allowed for the enhanced imagery in the city. The cancellation has to do with an early renewal to obtain better imagery.
Newkirk said during budget talks he was told this would be an income-producing line item. He noted his issue is greater visibility of properties for taxation.
Brown said the imagery is on the website and is used by everyone, including businesses and the public, and will offer improved efficiency. Staff said without the imagery, they would need additional staff.
Approved 3-1 with Newkirk opposing.
