This is an informal rundown of the Bulloch County Board of Commissioners meeting from May 5, 2026.
Call to Order
Invocation & Pledge
Roll Call – Commissioner Timmy Rushing was not present.
Presentations
1. Proclamation Presentation: Portal High School 2025/2026 Basketball Team
2. Proclamation Presentation: Public Works Week
3. Bulloch County Fire Department Award Winners Recognition
Public Hearings
- Public Hearing and Consideration of a Resolution to Impose a Temporary Moratorium On the Acceptance of Residential and Planned Unit Development Applications
- BACKGROUND: On February 17, 2026, the Board of Commissioners approved a resolution imposing a 90-day moratorium on the acceptance of residential and planned unit development rezoning applications, subject to an extension for a longer-term temporary moratorium after a public hearing. A public hearing was advertised in the Statesboro Herald for the May 5, 2026 meeting. If the presented resolution is approved after holding the public hearing, a temporary moratorium on the acceptance of residential and planned unit development rezoning applications will be imposed until the earliest date of (1) December 31, 2026; (2) approval by the Board of Commissioners of an extension to the moratorium following a public hearing; (3) an affirmative act by a majority of a quorum of the Board of Commissioners terminating the moratorium; or (4) the effective date of the adoption and enactment of an impact fee ordinance by the Board of Commissioners. The purpose of the moratorium is to allow time to develop and enact an impact fee ordinance so that future new residential development and planned unit development will be required to pay a proportionate share of the cost of new public facilities needed to serve that development
- No one from the public was present to speak on this moratorium.
- DISCUSSION FROM COMMISSIONERS: None.
- Motion from Conner to adopt the resolution to extend moratorium, second from Newkirk. Approved 5-0
- Public Hearing and Consideration of a Resolution to Impose a Temporary Moratorium On the Permitting of Data Centers in Unincorporated Bulloch County
- BACKGROUND: On February 17, 2026, the Board of Commissioners approved a resolution imposing a 90-day moratorium on the permitting of data centers in unincorporated Bulloch County, subject to an extension for a longer-term temporary moratorium after a public hearing. A public hearing was advertised in the Statesboro Herald for the May 5, 2026 meeting. If the presented resolution is approved after holding the public hearing, a temporary moratorium on the permitting of data centers in unincorporated Bulloch County will be imposed until the earliest date of (1) December 31, 2026; (2) approval by the Board of Commissioners of an extension to the moratorium following a public hearing; (3) an affirmative act by a majority of a quorum of the Board of Commissioners terminating the moratorium; or (4) the effective date of the adoption and enactment by the Board of Commissioners of an amendment to the Bulloch County zoning ordinance that addresses data centers. The purpose of the moratorium is to allow time to conduct comprehensive research and evaluation to determine if data centers should be prohibited or allowed in unincorporated Bulloch County and, if allowed, whether they should be subject to certain supplemental standards and to enact any necessary ordinance amendments.
- READ ARTICLE:
Approval of Zoning Agenda
Tereion Dawson has submitted an application for a conditional use to operate a Family Personal Care Home. The property is located at 115 Flintshire Way, PIN 032 000035 065.
Approved with conditions recommended by P&Z in a 5-0 vote.
Ricky Kangeter has submitted an application for a conditional use to operate an automotive repair business. The property is located on Ash Branch Church Road, PIN 154 000043 000.
Approved with 13 conditions recommended by staff in a 5-0 vote.
Padgett Construction has submitted an application for a condition modification to the conditions approved by the Board of Commissioners on May 8, 2019. The request is to modify Condition #1. The property is located at 19477 Highway 80 East, PIN 123 000031 000.
Approved 4-1 with Commissioner Ray Davis opposing.
Padgett Construction has submitted an application for a conditional use to develop multiple-family dwellings. The property is located at 19477 Highway 80 East, PIN 123 000031 000..
Motion to approve made by Simmons, seconded by Mosley. The motion failed in a vote of 2-3 with Conner, Davis, and Newkirk opposing.
Motion to deny made by Newkirk, seconded by Davis, and passed 3-2 with Simmons and Mosley opposing.
Approval of General Agenda
Public Comments
Spencer Johnson - Spoke about a road issue approved during the previous county commission meeting. He said two commissioner vote on the Ponderosa Road matter without disclosing conflicts of interest. Specifically, he said Simmons did not disclose family members living on the road and Mosely did not disclose that he lives on the road.
Tim Powell - Spoke about the paving of Banks Creek and Ponderosa Road and the continued delays, approximately 42 years. He said the road paving approved last meeting (and slated to be voted on again in a re-do during the current meeting) should be moved to the top of the list, as residents have waited long enough. He also said that the parking lot at Fletcher Park took 50 days to be paved while the Banks Creek and Ponderosa Road projects have been lingered for well over 16,000 days.
Commissioner Simmons said he's been working on the road (Ponderosa) ever since he's been a commissioner (32 years) but he's only one person while Mosley is only the second person. "Only reason you came up here and said all that is cause you runnin.' You don't care about that. You just tryna make somethin' out of nothin'. That's all that is...You can't tell me that you care more about Ponderosa than I do. Ain't no way."
Consent Agenda
All items approved unanimously with #3 and #5 moved to 'New Business' for additional discussion.
- Minutes of April 21, 2026 8:30 am meeting
- Roof Repair Request
- This request for approval is for roof repairs over the Control Room, Laundry Room, Offices, and Shakedown Areas of the prison. The current roofing system in this area is approximately 20 years old. Over time, leaks have begun to develop, resulting in increased maintenance costs and potential for further facility damage if not addressed promptly. This project was approved in the FY26 Capital Budget Request with a total allocation of $28,000. The current contractor low estimate for completion is $26,953.00, which is within the approved budget. We reached out to 4 contractors with only 2 returning bids and the other 2 declining to bid. Approval is requested to proceed with the roof repairs to prevent further deterioration, reduce maintenance costs, and ensure the continued operational integrity of the facility.
- Approve a Contract for Agenda & Meeting Management and Next Request Open Records Request Management Software from CivicPlus in the amount of $55,734.50
- Due to the 2027 end-of-life date of our current meeting management software with Granicus we must transition to a new software program for creating and distributing meeting agendas and minutes. CivicPlus is offering a comparable software program with the addition of an open records component at approximately the same costs of our current software IQM2/MinuteTraq. This contract billing will begin at the new budget year July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.
- County Manager requested this item be moved to NEW BUSINESS.
- Motion to Approve Splash in the Boro Waterpark 2026 Concessions Agreement with Blue Mile Pizza LLC dba Tarantinos Grill
- The Concession Agreement licenses Blue Mile Pizza LLC dba Tarantinos Grill to operate concession stand/grill at Splash in the Boro effective May 6, 2026 through September 8, 2026 for the 2026 Waterpark season. In consideration for this license, Tarantinos will pay Bulloch County total compensation of $60,000 payable in three installments of $20,000.00 each (May 1, June 1, July 1, 2026). Aquatics Division Manager Alex Estrada negotiated the terms of this agreement with Tarantinos and recommends approval.
- 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 the majority of the LRA funds for professional services to establish and support a Paved Road Asset Management Program, Bridge Structure Asset Management Program, and Project Management & Construction Engineering Inspection services. Additionally, the Engineering Department is proposing to reserve a portion of these funds to support improvements to the new Bulloch County Fire Station #16 along SR67 involving design, engineering, and construction of a new right-turn deceleration lane and commercial driveway improvements. The below table represents the Engineering Department’s proposed plan to utilize these funds during Fiscal Years 2027 and 2028. The Engineering Department recommends accepting the allocation of GDOT LMIG LRA FY 2026 funds as proposed.
- This item was moved to NEW BUSINESS.
- Motion to approve an Interlocal Participation Agreement with Purchasing Cooperative of America, a National Purchasing Cooperative.
- Purchasing Cooperative of America is a national purchasing cooperative with legally procured contracts available for public entities in all 50 states and U.S. Territories, Canada and Mexico. The PCA mission is to provide innovate best value contracts, employ the highest ethical standards in public procurement, and provide real time money and savings for all PCA Members. Eligible entities join and participate in PCA for free.
New Business
#3 from Consent Agenda - Approve a Contract for Agenda & Meeting Management and Next Request Open Records Request Management Software from CivicPlus in the amount of $55,734.50
Per county clerk, this contract awards 14 months, offers discounts for bundling, and an Open Records software program in addition to a cost savings.
Approved unanimously 5-0.
#5 from Consent Agenda - 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.
Approved unanimously 5-0.
Approve a motion to rescind action previously taken in regard to the paving of Banks Creek Church Road and Ponderosa Road and to add to the paving list that segment of Banks Creek Church Road from Rocky Ford Road to Ponderosa Road and that segment of Ponderosa Road from Highway 25 to Old Dill Road
BACKGROUND: Action taken at the previous meeting in regard to the paving of Banks Creek Church Road and Ponderosa Road needs to be rescinded because it failed to specify the specific segments of these roads for which petitions have been received. The presented motion both rescinds the previous action and states the segments of these roads to be added to the paving list.
Commissioners Mosley and Simmons recused themselves due to a conflict of interest. Approved 3-0.
Approval of Purchase for 2 CASE Tractors with Batwings from Tidewater
BACKGROUND: The Road department is requesting approval of 2 Case Tractors and 2 Woods Batwings from Tidewater via Sourcewell Contract # 082923-CNH-1. With this purchase, the road department is also trading in 2 tractors that have continued to have costly repairs. Total trade in value is $42,500.00, leaving the purchase total of $292,600.00.
Approved 5-0.
Approve an Amendment to the Interlocal Cooperation Agreement for the Statesboro-Bulloch County Land Bank Authority
BACKGROUND: In December of 2002 the City of Statesboro and Bulloch County entered into an interlocal cooperation agreement to establish the Statesboro-Bulloch County Land Bank Authority pursuant to Article 4 of Chapter 4 of Title 48 of the Georgia Code. The primary purpose of the Authority was to acquire and rehabilitate tax delinquent properties in the City of Statesboro. In 2012 the Georgia Code was amended to expand the powers granted to land bank authorities and to allow authorities already in existence to amend their agreements to utilize the expanded powers. The City has requested approval of the presented amendment to the interlocal cooperation agreement for the Statesboro-Bulloch County Land Bank Authority to state that the Authority shall have all powers conferred to land bank authorities as contained in Article 4 of Title 48 of the Georgia Code as it currently reads and may be amended. Approval is recommended.
Approved 5-0.
Commission and Staff Comments
Adjourn
Watch the commission meeting:
