This is an informal rundown of what happened at the September 2, 2025 Statesboro City Council meeting.
Councilman John Riggs and Councilwoman Ginny Hendley were not present.
Call to Order by Mayor Jonathan McCollar
Invocation & Pledge of Allegiance
Public Comments (Agenda Items)
Consideration of Motion to Approve Consent Agenda
A) Approval of Minutes
a) 08-19-2025 Work Session Minutes
b) 08-19-2025 Council Minutes
c) 08-19-2025 Executive Session Minutes
B) Consideration of a motion to surplus a 2013 Caterpillar 816F Compactor from the
Solid Waste Division of Public Works and Engineering
Public Hearing on Proposed Tax Increase
City Manager Charles Penny began with a presentation on the proposed tax increase for 2025.
- Emphasis on public safety – fire and police departments
- Fire Department budget is $8 million
- Police Department budget is $12 million
- 6% decrease in the budget – $87 million budget, down from $93 million because of expiring ARPA funds and grant funds that ended
- Emphasis on General Fund – 8% increase. FY 2025 General Fund $25 million while FY 2026 – $27.3 million – 70% of budget is employees and fringe benefits, and ‘pay for performance’ increases;
- Also accounts for no increase in employee health premiums
- Penny talked about the number of properties on the tax digest that don’t pay taxes, but require city services, specifically churches and buildings of faith and Georgia Southern University (700 acres)
- The millage rate is staying at 8.625 mills, but Penny’s recommendation is to not roll the millage rate back, which means the city will collect more money. Due to higher assessed values, some homeowners could pay more.
- $66.25 increase for a homes valued at $250k
- 1 mill generates $1.2 million in revenue
- The roll back rate is 7.9 mills
- He said the property tax doesn’t even cover the cost of the police department
- “I know everyone doesn’t like to pay taxes, but it is a necessary thing living in this community.”
No one was present to speak for or against the proposed millage rate.
No member of council had any questions or comments on the proposed rate.
Public hearing to solicit input regarding a multiyear installment sale agreement, subject to annual renewal, to be entered into between the City of Statesboro and Georgia Municipal Association, Inc., a Georgia nonprofit corporation, relating to the acquisition and construction of a new fire station in the City of Statesboro, Georgia.
- $4.8 million for Fire Station 3, which includes the building and any furniture inside. The land was purchased previously.
- The City will transfer the property to the Georgia Municipal Association for assistance with obtaining funding.
- The hope is to have construction begin this fall and for doors to open for operation in June 2026.
- No one was present to speak for or against the request.
- Councilwoman Shari Barr said she was thankful to staff for researching the best way to accomplish this task.
Public hearing and first reading of Ordinance 2025-09: An Ordinance amending Chapter 6 of the Statesboro Code of Ordinance to allow for a Local Distillery alcohol license classification
Local investors are looking to put a distillery downtown, so at a previous work session, the city attorney was asked to draft an ordinance to allow this business.
Allen Muldrew of the Downtown Statesboro Development Authority spoke in favor of the project. He told council that this proposed project is part of a bigger project to place businesses in downtown Statesboro. “We’re building in 2025 in an environment that’s 100 years old,” Muldrew said. He said the investors are from ‘here’ and they’re confident in what they’re going to do.
No one was present to speak against the ordinance.
Council voted unanimously to move forward with the ordinance.
Public Hearing & Consideration of a Motion to approve application for an alcohol license in accordance with The City of Statesboro alcohol ordinance Sec. 6-13 (a)
No one was present to speak for or against the application.
Consideration of a motion to rescind the previous approval of the application submitted by Centurion Property 111 South, LLC dba South Apartments for funding under the Security enhancement Incentive Program in the amount of $9,969.50, and conditionally approve an application submitted by Centurion Property 111 South, LLC dba South Apartment for funding under the Security Enhancement Incentive Program in the amount of $13,000.00 subject to the fulfillment of all eligibility requirements.
The initial application was approved in April 2024. However, due to delays with the contracted services, the vendor submitted an updated proposal with an amended scopе of work. This amended application was subsequently approved by the Council in June 2025. Unfortunately, due to ongoing difficulties with the original vendor, the applicant has now submitted a new proposal from a different vendor. The attached documents include the signed program guidelines, the new application for the Security Enhancement Incentive Program, and the recommendations from the Statesboro Police Department.
The funds spent came from ARPA interest. The council has spent all of the money appropriated for these projects with the exception of $13,000, so Charles Penny recommended awarding the balance of the funds to 111 South.
Approved unanimously 3-0.
Consideration of a motion to approve a Memorandum of Understanding with Pineland Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities authorizing the distribution of Statesboro Area Transit vouchers.
Pineland BHDD will create and distribute transit vouchers, as approved by the City of Statesboro Public Works and Engineering Department, for qualified families up to the amount of $4,000. Each voucher will be worth a $5 one-way trip, which will total up to the amount of 800 vouchers to be distributed. Any unused funding will rollover to the next fiscal year.
Pineland BHDD will use transportation grants to fund up to $4,000 worth of transit vouchers. No
funds will be required from the City of Statesboro.
Approved unanimously 3-0.
Consideration of a motion to approve the Fifth Amendment to the lease agreement with New Cingular Wireless PCS (AT&T) regarding the Claude Howard Water Tank at 600 Park Avenue to include upgrades to existing cellular equipment.
AT&T has leased tower space on this site since 2002. The purpose of the proposed Fifth Amendment is to allow for the upgrade of existing cellular equipment on the tank structure. Our third party contractor, Local Government Solution, LLC has reviewed the draft Amendment and recommends approval. City Attorney, Cain Smith, has also reviewed the draft and recommends approval. Rent and other aspects of the lease will remain unchanged.
Approved unanimously 3-0.
Consideration of a motion to donate five (5) Motorola Portable Radios from the Statesboro Fire Department to the Citizens Assisting in Fire Emergencies (C.A.F.E.).
Over the past several years, with the approval of City Administration and City Council, the Statesboro Fire Department has been systematically replacing its outdated portable radios that were not intrinsically safe. These older radios had become increasingly difficult to repair and were not rated for the environments in which firefighters operate. At this time, all frontline units have been equipped with new, extreme-environment portable radios.
Recently, the Citizens Assisting in Fire Emergencies (C.A.F.E.) Team, now under the oversight of Bulloch County EMA and Bulloch VOAD, expressed a need for radio communications equipment. The Fire Department staff has identified five (5) of the older radios (listed below) that, while no longer suitable for frontline fire operations, remain serviceable for C.A.F.E.’s purposes.
Approved unanimously 3-0.
Consideration of a motion to approve a change order on the ENG-122k West Main Street Sidewalk Project with HD Construction in the amount of $124,180.00, to be funded by TSPLOST.
The ENG-122k West Main Street Sidewalk project includes the installation of sidewalk, curb and gutter, and storm drainage structures from Ivory Street to Foss Street. After installation of the new curb and gutter, staff has observed ponding of water in the street on a section of West Main between Ivory St. and Bay St. Further analysis of the project plans revealed a low area that the project design failed to address in the drainage plans. Staff considered options such as installing a drain inlet in the low area, however conflicts with sanitary sewer laterals prevent pipe from being installed. Also under consideration was the installation of a flume under the sidewalk and a drainage swale across private property, however this was determined to be undesirable to nearby property owners. The preferred solution is to change the profile of the street by adding asphalt leveling and removing and replacing at a higher elevation approximately 700 linear feet of curb and gutter and 90 SY of sidewalk to eliminate the low area and facilitate positive drainage.
The total cost of the change order is $124,180.00. The project is funded by TSPLOST. The change order
will be funded from underruns on other TSPLOST-funded projects.
Approved unanimously 3-0.
Consideration of a motion to approve the purchase of a 2026 HX260 International Dump truck from Roberts International Trucks in the amount of $206,450.94 for the Solid Waste Disposal Division, to be funded by Solid Waste Disposal reserve funds and insurance total loss funds reimbursement.
This new dump truck will replace the 2015 Freightliner 122SD that was used in the inert landfill operations. The 2015 dump truck was involved in an accident on the inert landfill and was deemed a total loss by the city’s insurance provider. The insurance company valued the dump truck at $106,000, which will go towards the new 2026 dump truck. The new dump truck will be purchased through Sourcewell Contract #032824 and meets all requirements, specifications and warranty required. The new dump truck is planned to be on a ten-year rotation to minimize the downtime and maintain operational efficiency due to the continuous work load at the inert landfill.
The total cost of the new dump truck is $206,450.94. The 2015 dump truck that was totaled was valued at $106,000, which will go towards the purchase of the new dump truck. The remaining $100,450.94 will be funded by Solid Waste Disposal reserve funds. The new dump truck purchase will have a six-year warranty.
Approved unanimously 3-0.
Consideration of a motion to approve the purchase of one (1) 2025 Ford F-150 Supercab XL in the amount of $41,178.00 and one (1) 2026 F-250 4×2 Superduty w/utility bed in the amount of $55,253.00 from JC Lewis Ford for the Water & Sewer Division of the Public Utilities Department. These items to be purchased with funds approved in the FY2026 CIP Budget, WWD-136 funded by system revenues.
The City of Statesboro issued an invitation to bid for one (1) Ford F-150 Supercab XL and one (1) F-250 4×2 Superduty w/utility bed five (2025 or newer). This invitation to bid was sent to numerous dealerships and advertised for over two weeks. JC Lewis Ford was the only dealership to submit bids for these vehicles. The total bid of $96,431.00 is well below the amount of $110,000 approved in the FY2026 CIP.
Approved unanimously 3-0.
Other Business from City Council
None
City Managers Comments
Public Comments (General)
Anthony Hendrickson – Wanted to announce his intention to launch a local chapter of the National Police Athletic League – want to partner with Statesboro PD and Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office.
Annie Bellinger – Expressed concern about trees and things still not cleaned up from Hurricane Helene. She said there are ditches still full of water and kids are swimming in the ditches. She also expressed that the charge for the city pools is too expensive. She said most families don’t have $8/child to go. “You build these things for the kids, but you push ’em out of there because of the prices.”
Mayor McCollar said the cost is $3, but there are vouchers available at the Honey Bowen Building for those who cannot afford them. He also said he would speak with someone in Public Works to get the other issues addressed today (Tuesday).
Marcus Toole – Said he is happy ‘our old building’ is being put to such good use.
Consideration of a Motion to enter into Executive Session to discuss “Personnel Matters” “Real Estate” and/or “Potential Litigation” in accordance with O.C.G.A 50-14-3(b)
Meeting closed to executive session for personnel at 9:57 a.m.
