Commission - Regular Meeting

Go ahead and get started. Please rise. Do a pledge of allegiance. You'll bow your heads. Del, thank you for this day, Lord. Thank you for this opportunity to come together and do the county's business, Lord, and just be with us as we make decisions that affect people in this county, Lord. Just also just be with our first responders, uh, police, sheriff's department, and firefighters and our military folks overseas. Uh, bring them home safe, Lord, and just be with those folks who were affected last week over at Fort Stewart to get through that trauma, please. Uh, Lord, just uh, be with us again as we make decisions in Jesus name. Amen. We're going to invite up uh Lincoln with the Boy Scouts. He's going to lead us in the pledge of allegiance. Lincoln, if you want to um if you want to bring any of your buddies up, you can, too.

Okay. He volunteered, so that was good. That's that's a leader right there, Boy Scout. That's right. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Lincoln. Good job, buddy.

Want to welcome everybody. I don't think we have any elected folks here, do we? No. Let's look at that. Nope. So, u we'll go ahead and just just so everybody knows in our community development, the Drayton Parker companies that has been withdrawn. It got withdrawn uh last week. So, that we will not be talking about that here today, just so everybody knows. Uh with that being said, we'll take approval for the agenda. Mr. Chairman, I make a motion uh to approve the agenda as presented. Second. No, no, no. Oh, I apologize. Sorry. We do have one specifically. Sorry, excuse me. I mean, that was a solid

motion to approve the agenda with the removal or tableabling of item number four under the attorney's um information. Second. All in favor say I. I. Oppos. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner. All right. Approval of our July 2025 minutes. Make a motion for approval. July amendment. Second. All in favor say I. I. All right. Next is the approval of our consent agenda. Mr. Chairman, I make a motion that we approve our consent agenda. Second. All in favor say I. I.

It passes. Thank you. All right. Now, we'll take a motion to close our meeting and open up our public hearing to hear our items here. Mr. Mr. Chairman, I make a motion to close the regular meeting and open the public hearing. Second. Second. All in favor say I. All right. Thank you. We are now in our public hearing and number one item again has been removed. So we can take that off. And while he's getting set up, what we'll do is we'll go through our items, close our meeting, go back into our regular meeting to vote on those items.

Good evening, commissioners. Yeah, the first item tonight, the Drayton Parkers Company's second reading. That item has been withdrawn. So, moving to our second item. This is the second reading of an ordinance to amend the zoning map for property uh at 40 Church of God Road. The applicant is requesting to reszone to the B1 neighborhood commercial zoning district from its current RR1 rule residential district uh in order to move a real estate business into uh that location. Staff and planning and zoning recommended approval of the reszoning subject to the following conditions. One, an interim parking plan shall be submitted and approved prior to permanent occupancy of office use, and a final parking plan shall be submitted to the community development department within 60 days of completion of the roundabout construction. And secondly, a new plat combining partials 0251-050 and 0251-049 shall be submitted for review and approval within 60 days of zoning approval. So, this property is located on the north side of the county close to the intersection of Church of God Road and US Highway 280. And you can see the current zoning right here. And it neighbors that larger lot that's also zoned B1. And you can see it does also fall within the community crossroad and emerging suburban comprehensive plan character areas, which does support those local neighborhood commercial uses. And this shows you some existing conditions. So you can see the office proposed for use as well as in the bottom corner that is the existing building which has since been removed in anticipation of that roundabout construction. And this shows you the approximate ride ofway taking as well uh as an overlay of what the rideway will look like which is where we got our parking plan uh condition from since it's a little you know up in the air about how that final access will be determined. And with that I can answer any questions you may have. Anyone have any questions?

No, I'm good. Anybody here from the public wish to speak for against this item? Harry? None. Thank you. All right. Item number three, Ronda Jones conditional use permit for rural event venue 300 Jones Arosa Place, parcel 064-0901.

Uh, this is an application for conditional use um for a rule event venue. The applicant does also reside on the property and will continue to do so. Um, the planning and zoning commission did recommend approval for this use with the following conditions. That the applicant obtain a commercial driveway permit from GOT prior to any building permits being submitted for review. That they complete all required improvements and buildings, including obtaining those required certificates of occupancy prior to holding any events. Um, this also include parking and the fencing that will be required along the lot. um that they not exceed 50 events per year. If they desire to hold any additional, then that would be a major amendment and have to go through the public hearing process. And that the overnight lodging use is limited to 12 people. You'll see the location here off of 144. I'm in a closer view there. Um and again, this is for conditional use. Um they will accommodate up to 12 people in separate bridal and groom suites. Um and the location is approximately a half mile north of the intersection with Kil Kenny Road and a total of 21 acres. Uh with their residents currently on the property. Uh it is zoned A5 agricultural as required for the rule event venue. Um with surrounding properties also being zoned A5 agricultural. They did provide a concept plan which you see here um to show their proposed improvements for the use of this property um which they're planning to accommodate up to 400 people though every event will not be that many people. Um the home you'll see highlighted there um does have a separate entrance already that is proposed to be used for the groom suite um and will have bathrooms with outside access for events as well. Um the proposed parking area will be gravel and have a fence along the adjacent property line to provide buffering. They're also proposing a small um prep kitchen and bathrooms um that will be near the existing home um and have designated an air open area as well for receptions and tents um and when

utilized those tents will be provided by outside rental companies. And finally, they are also proposing a bridal suite with paved ADA parking and accessible bathrooms um for events as well. And they will be adding that building. The applicant did also provide this example as the type of architecture that they are going to be um doing for these buildings. And here you'll see some site photos um driving onto the property um the area for the parking um and where the general vicinity of the bridal suite. And here you can see the existing home um with access off of the pool area for the groom suite um and as well as an overall view of the site. Um, and then terms of criteria, rural event venues are required to be located in an A5 zoning district with a minimum size of five acres, which this is. Sorry. Um, they again are planning to accommodate up to 50 events per year. However, the applicant indicated it's more likely to be about 12 events a year as it is their primary residence. Um, and that all events uh will take place on Friday and weekends. Um, and will be over by 11 pm per requirements with any music ending by 10 pm. Um, and all buildings and structures will also be set back 100 ft from the property line. Uh, bathroom, parking, life safety, and other requirements are also met. And if they do um, utilize a tent for an event, they will have to get a temporary um, structure permit to ensure that that meets all standards. Um, and they are also requesting that overnight accommodation for up to 12 people as part of this request. Um, and I'll go back to the conditions here. Um, and so again, planning and zoning did recommend approval um, with those conditions and I can answer any questions you may have.

Um, I really would like for us to reduce the number of events. Uh, I, you know, and Rhonda and Randy are great folks and this is going to be a wonderful venue down there. I just kind of put myself in the neighbor's place and I know they're not going to have 50 events but they could and if my next door neighbors every weekend were having a party that lasted till 11:00 that would get old after about a month. Yeah. So you have to revise those condition. What I would like to do is let's maybe change it to 15. Um I I think when when you vote you can change that condition. Okay. Yeah. I just I want And I believe the applicant's here so you can Oh, absolutely. That's right.

Any additional questions? Anybody else have any questions? Hearing not anybody in the public wish to speak for or against? I have a question just we just answer you come up say you're going to state your name please and we don't if it's a simple question we answer. We don't we don't go back and forth. I think this is just a easy simple question. Good evening. My name is Meredith Gibson. Um my question for the applicant, what is your current um are you dry? Are you flooded right now? Um I know there's been are you what

are they dry in their yard? And is their property dry at this time or is it flooded along with several other properties on 144 right now? That's my question. And I think that I would urge you as the commissioners to please consider that in your decision because it's a mess out there right now. There is I don't know your propertyy's not flooded now. It's dry. Jones the property is not flooded. We're on the high right there. Our elevation about 19. There are some standing puddles that are dissipating over the last day or so as the sun's been out. There's standing water in some areas that always been standing water during heavy rains like this. We are not flooded. We have 100% access just like we always do.

Okay. Yeah. Brian County. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Yeah. That that that rain event that we had uh Matt explained it well to us. It's like pouring water in a funnel goes out as long as but if you pour too much it runs over and that's what happened in this rain event. We did go check on every resident along 144. uh checked on them a couple times on Saturday and as of today and they all refused any help. So we did go check on those folks that were flooded just so people know that I do have a question because if you come up ma'am is it about this? Yes.

Okay. Just come up and state your name please. My name is Tamela Stropnik. I live down the road from there but my son-in-law lives right by it. um 400 people. Seriously, I that's a lot of people. I have um a goodsized piece of property at down at my house and you know that's that's a lot of people to have in any area at one time and they have to all go up that one drive in and out. Um the traffic is going to cause a problem. It's right there by a curve. I mean a very bad curve

and the fire station. So is it going to cause problems for the fire station to be able to get in and out and you know 400 people back there if something happens is the fire station going to be able to get to them. So that's my question is 400 people is a lot of people to have in one spot. Yeah. That's that far back into the woods. for I think that is the form that that might be what the ordinance allows just like the 50 that was in our ordinance and we're going to change that. So I I don't think an event will be there that big from what I've understood from the applicant and talking with folks. So because I know at Fort Mallister you can only haveund and something people for their events at their building. Yes, ma'am.

They're not even allowed that many. Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you. I'd be happy to answer that. Yeah, if you want to come up and say it. State your name so we can get it on record. Everybody's question. So 400 people a 400 people event. I would expect maybe one of those maybe one every two years,

but um we've allowed we've located enough parking to handle that many people. And in all the paperwork I turned into the county, you'll see where there was provisions made if there is an event that large. I think I stated 300 or more that we would have um offduty police officers manning that and would have over a year in preparation to get ready for that size event. So I def I'm going to live there. I definitely don't want 400 people in my yard every you know even though we have a lot of land and plenty of space for it. But that's why the additional bathrooms and all the other provisions have been seen about and there are safety protocols that are required for this type of permit that have also been seen about and taken care of which I think y'all would make available if she'd like to read those.

Okay. All right. Thank you. Sure. Thank you. Anybody else wish to speak? All right. Hearing none. Thank you. Uh we are done. So, we will take a motion to close our public hearing and go back and rejoin our regular meeting. Mr. Chairman, I'll make a motion to close the public hearing and go back into the regular meeting. Second. Second. Favor say I. I. And we're back in our regular meeting and we'll go back and vote on these items. First item up to vote is TMPR Commercial LLC. Second reading of an ordinance to amend the zoning Matt for 36 acres parcel 02510-50.

Mr. Chairman, I make a move to approve the request to reszoning of parcel 0251-050 from RR1 to B1 with the following conditions. An interim parking plan shall be submitted and approved prior to permanent occupancy of office use. A final parking plan shall be submitted to the community development department within 60 days completion of the roundabout construction. and a new plat combining parcel 0251050 and 0251-049 shall be submitted for review and approval within 60 days of zoning approval. I'll second that. Second. Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor say I. Opposed?

Thank you. That motion passes. Next up, Ronda Jones conditional use permit for rural event venue 300 Jones Arosa Place 064-9-01. Mr. Chairman, I move to approve the conditional use permit for 300 Jones Arosa Place, a rural event venue uh with the following conditions. The applicant shall obtain a commercial driveway permit from GDOT prior to any building permits before submitting for review. The applicant shall complete all required improvements in buildings, including obtain certificates of occupancy prior to holding any events. This also includes the parking and events required along the parking lot. The applicant should not exceed, this is where the change is 15 events per year. If they desire to host additional events, this would be considered a major amendment to the CUP and be required to go through the public hearing process. The overnight lodgings have be limited to 12 people.

Okay, I'll second that. Second that. Okay, any discussion? Yes. Um I think 15 might be a little too low just in case there's four in December or something. Well, I mean I my point was I just tried to put myself in the neighbor's shoes, you know, and I mean I I love my neighbors and if they have a party, they usually invite me. I would like to see 20 if we could make it 20. two a month. Okay. Okay. I'm cool with that. Make a 28 conditional 20. Okay. Y'all okay with that? We need to re withdraw that motion and do it again. I take back what I just said. Thank you, county attorney. We We I was going to do it. Go ahead. Say it again.

Yes, please.

Okay. Deja vu. I move to approve the conditional use permit for 300 Jones Arosa Place for rural event venue. The applicant shall obtain a commercial driveway permit from GDOT prior to any building permits being submitted for review. The applicant shall complete all required improvements in buildings, including obtaining required certificates of occupancy prior to holding any event. This also includes the parking and fence requirements along the parking lot. The applicant shall not exceed 20 events per year. if they desire to host additional events. This would go through a this would be considered a major amendment to the CUP and be required to go through the public hearing process of review. The overnight lodging shall be used use shall be limited to 12 people.

Right. That's a motion now. And you motion second. Second. All right. Any more discussion? All in favor say I.

All oppose. Okay. That motion carries. Thank you. We're down to our community to development non-public hearing. Ever Salman's first reading of an ordinance to amend the zoning map for 2.50 acres parcel 011-00009. Thank you. Yeah. Our first non-public hearing item. This is the first reading of an ordinance to amend property on Ash Branch Church Road. the applicants requesting to reszone from the RR 2.5 to the RR1 uh rural residential subdiv subdivision district. Uh this is a first reading only. So it will go to planning and zoning next week and we'll be back before you uh in September for a final decision. This is on the north side of the county, north of Penrook, but south of the Bullet County line. And this shows you the current uh zoning map here as well as their proposed subdivision. And I can answer any questions you may have. Anybody have any questions?

Driveway. No, I'm good. Will be driveway. Okay. Thank you. No questions. All right. Item number two, the adoption of the annual CIE report.

Good evening, commissioners. This is the final step in approving and adopting our annual update that is required by DCA for our South Bryan Transportation Impact Feed District. Each year we must provide an annual update to DCA. Then they need to approve it and then we keep our qualified local government status. As part of this process, last month I came before you and I presented the annual update. You authorized me to transmit it to DCA. I'm pleased to say DCA has reviewed it and said we are in compliance and now this is the final action. I need you to formally adopt the annual update. So this is an action item. I will need a motion and a vote on it. Okay. Anybody have any questions for her? No.

Thank you. All right. Thank you, Audrey. Thank you. Next up is our first reading of an order. Mr. Chairman, I need a motion and a vote. Okay. Well, okay. I'm sorry. I've got the first reading. Okay. Uh yes, we need a motion and a vote. Mr. Chairman, I'll make a motion to move to adopt the annual update of the capital improvement element as presented. Second. Any discussion on that? All in favor say I. I. Okay, that motion carries. Thank you. Thank you, Audrey. Sorry about that. That's a good Now we're on the first reading of orders to update Brian County sign regulations by amending sections 114-66, 1114-667, and 114-1304 of the UDO.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is a continuation of some amendments we are presenting to this board for our sign ordinance. This is the second round of our um proposed amendments. This is first reading, so we do not need a motion or vote on this one. This item will go to the planning commission for a recommendation at their August 19th meeting and then it'll come back before you for a second reading and a formal vote at your September 9th meeting. Uh, this ordinance updates the Brian County sign regulations by amending section sorry I have to turn this way I can't see that screen. 114-66 subsection B to modify freestanding sign allowances for large buildings by amending section 114667 exhibit 667B and sub and subsection B to establish a tiered wall signage standards for based on building size require master signage plans for large scale industrial and business parks and add standards for development entrance signs and internal wayfinding signage in the I1 and I2 districts and by amending section 1141304 to add a definition for wayfinding science and I can answer any questions you may have.

Anybody have any questions for our first readings? No. Okay. Thank you, Audrey.

All right, Ben, we're up with our county administrator items and we'll vote on each of these as we go. Item one is the uh consideration of the word award of the Belfast River parallel force main construction con uh contract. Uh this is a new parallel force main along Belfast River Road in South Bryan. We've engaged Thomas and Hutton to engineer and design this. It was put out to bid. Three bids were received. Uh our recommendation is uh to recommend that BRW Construction Group LLC uh since they're the responsive low bidder and for you to consider approval and award this parallel force main along that route to that company in the amount of $6,865,239. This of course I will note is funded entirely from the water and sewer revenue created by that department.

Okay. We would need a motion on that one. Mr. Chairman, I move to award the construction contract for the Belfast Keller Parallel Force main project to BRW Construction Group LLC in the amount of $6,865,239 and authorize staff to execute the necessary contract documents in order to initiate the project. Second. Second. Any discussion on that? All in favor, raise your right hand. All oppose. Okay, that motion carries. Thank you. Number two, item two, 2025, municipal election IGA with the city of Richmond Hill.

Yes, sir. This is a bookkeeping item we do every year. Uh city of Richmond Hill is seeking a contract with Brian County Board of Elections uh to conduct municipal elections. This agreement spells out what the duties of the elections board and their staff are and what the duties of the cities are in respe. Our recommendation is to approve the intergovernment agreement to conduct municipal elections with the city of Richmond Hill. Okay, we need a motion for that. Mr. Chairman, I move to approve the intergovernmental agreement to conduct municipal elections with the city of Richmond Hill as presented. Second.

Second. Any discussion on that? We we do all these the municipalities elections through our elections department. Just makes it easy for everybody to know. Right. No other discussion. All in favor say I. I. Oppos. Okay. Thank you. That motion carries. Number three, 2025 road resurfacing project change order.

Yeah. Back in March of this year, the board of commissioners approved a contract with platinum paving and concrete uh for the 2025 road resurfacing project. Uh during this project, we recognized some of the roads, particularly Mill Run Road and Sils Road has some structural issues uh base underneath needed addressing or lack thereof for certain areas. And this is a change order to address address those issues and improve those roads and get them up to standards. And the change order is uh titled change order number two in the amount of $229,357.15 for the 2025 road resurfacing project.

Mr. Mr. Chairman, I move to approve staff to execute change order number two in the amount of $229,357.15 for the 2025 road reservicing project. Second.

Second. Any discussion on that? Hearing none. All in favor raise your right hand. All opposed. Can that motion carries? Thank you. Item number four, award Jernigan Road construction contract. Yeah, this is a road improvement on the north end uh end of the county adjacent to the new interchange uh that's scheduled to be completed in 2027. This project consists of the construction of a two-lane road beginning with Komar Road which is built by others uh private industry uh and approximately 4 miles northeast to old Kyler Road which is being uh uh connected by Georgia Department of Transportation. work includes construction of this new two-lane road with rural shoulders and roadside drainage uh and as a requirement of the grant that that the intersection is built with. So, uh bids were received. Our recommendation is the Low Builder Mlennon Enterprises in the amount of $899,144. Mr. Chairman, I move to approve the Journal Road improvements construction project to McClendon Enterprises Incorporated in the amount of $899,144.

Second.

Second. Any discussion on that one? All in favor, raise your right hand. All opposed? Thank you. That motion carries. Item number five, uh, the award of groundwater sustainability program contract for on call well drillers. In order to comply with the requirements of the Georgia EPD groundwater use permits, uh the Brian Bullet groundwater sustainability program was created by both of those authorities and uh with the express purpose of assessing claims of impacts to existing Flidian aquifer private residential drinking wells, small community system wells and non-drinking agricultural wells within that fivem radius which is defined the mitigation area. Uh part of that plan is to have on call contractors that can address some of those issues. Uh RFP was put out. The uh uh recommendation is to go with Beasley well drilling, Mobly, Mobly well drilling and Sha well or Shaun well drilling as well. Uh three to satisfy that requirement for three uh responsive I would call well repair personnel. Okay. A motion on that.

Mr. Chairman, I move to adopt the standardized fee schedules for claim investigations, well repairs, and new well installations, and authorize the chairman to execute the necessary paperwork for the three GSP on call well driller contracts. Second. Second. Any discussion on that? So, this this is basically like when the sheriff's department calls a tow truck, it just there's just a list. Yes. Yes. Yes. And did they give us a report at the end of the year how many calls they've made, what they've done.

They will have to give us a report and report to us. Of course, the calls will come through us through our website, through various other forms of contact that come through us. Then we'll contact whoever's available and get out there the soonest. And uh and they of course have to turn in invoices for the services performed. So, we'll generate what's what we're seeing as far as the impacts if any. and uh of course the cost to be calculated and and and kept up with as well per governmental county standards. Okay. Okay. Any more discussion on that? All in favor say I.

Opposed? Okay. That motion carries. Item number six. Savannah Land Holdings water service agreement.

Item six, Sand Holdings uh water and service sewer agreement. This has been a long time in the works. uh we entered it into a water and sewer agreement in August 28th of 2002. So uh that uh that 23-year-old agreement is is being rewritten written with this new agreement and the county and Savannah land holdings mutually agree to the terms and conditions of this new agreement and updated agreement and the new water and sewer service agreement repeals and replaces uh that existing agreement and its five amendments that have taken place over that 23 years.

Mr. Mr. Chairman, I move to approve the chairman to execute the water and sewer service agreement with Savannah Land Holdings as presented. Second. Second. Any discussion on that? Hearing none. All in favor say I. All opposed. Okay, that motion carries. Thank you. Item number seven, development authority Brian County Board appointments.

Good evening, commissioners. The development authority of Brian County has several board members whose terms have expired July of this year. Board members whose terms are expiring include Trip Addison, Garrett Sherling, Mark Bolton, and Donald McGomery. The Development Authority Brian County Board members serve four-year term. Uh the recommendation is to consider appointments to the Development Authority of Brian County. Okay, Mr. Mr. Chairman, I move to reappoint Trip Addison uh to the development authority of Brian County and appoint new members Christy Cox, Chris Bar, and Tiffany Zaggler. I'll second that. Second that. Any discussion on that? Hearing none. All in favor say I.

I. Oppos? Okay. Thank you. All right. Item number eight is the Brian County Sheriff's Office shooting range.

Yes. So Thomas and Hutton in conjunction with the county prepared bid documents and associated plans for phase one of the Bryan County Sheriff's Office shooting range which includes a 50yard outdoor shooting range and covered pavilion. Upon approval of the documents, the project was subsequently advertised for construction bids. Bids were received for the project on July 29th, 2025 and evaluated by Thomas and Hutton. Six bids were received and evaluated and Thomasson and Hutton has prepared uh the attached letter you received a recommendation. The recommendation is to consider approval and award of phase one of the Brian County Sheriff's Office shooting range to Sykes Brothers Incorporated in the amount of $595,324 and to authorize staff to execute the necessary contract documents in order to initiate the project. Motion.

Mr. Chairman, I move to approve and award phase one of the Brian County Sheriff's Office shooting range to Sykes Brothers Incorporated in the amount of $595,324 and authorize staff to execute the necessary contract documents to initiate the project. Second. Second. Any discussion on that? Hearing none. All in favor, raise your right hand. All opposed. Okay, that motion carries. Thank you. Thank you, Katherine. Now we are to our county attorney items and remember item number four got removed from the agenda.

Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman, members of the board. Item number one is anou and indemnification agreement with Hyundai HMGMA for the mega site. HMGMA is in the process of expanding its wastewater infrastructure and to include connecting to manhole number 12 which is a Brian County part of its system and installing a monitoring system out there as well. What thisou does is it allows HMGMA to make temporary and permanent connections to the Brian County system and it provides various indemnities from HMGMA to Brian County for any costs and expenses associated with that. Uh there are no expenses for the county as part of this project. It's all HGMA. So I recommend approval of this agreement.

Okay. A motion on that. Mr. Chairman, I move to approve the indemnification agreement, a memorandum of understanding concerning discharge system for wastewater between Brian County and Hyundai Motor Group Metaplan America LLC as presented. Second. Second. Any discussion? All in favor say I. All opposed. Okay, that motion carries. Thank you. Next up is G. Genesis Drive lighting agreement.

So what this document does is it's an agreement between the county and G do which is the Georgia Department of Transportation for the installation of lighting systems on Genesis Drive. Genesis Drive of course is the road that fronteds in between the mega site and I16. And this agreement provides that G dot will install the lighting system and the county will provide the energy and operation for that lighting system. I recommend approval of this G dot agreement. Okay. Mr. Chairman, I move to approve a resolution authorizing the execution of an integrable intergovernmental lighting agreement between Brian County and the Georgia Department of Transportation for Genesis Drive. Second.

Second. Any discussion on that? Hearing none. All in favor say I. I. Opposed. Yep. Got one abstain and we got four. Okay. A motion carries. Thank you. All right. the acceptance of Genesis Drive in the road right ofway.

So this item, Mr. Chairman, members of the board, is for the acceptance of Genesis Drive. Genesis Drive was constructed by G DOT pursuant to a contract it has with the contractor and that road is ready for dedication to the county. G DOT has agreed to provide funding for future major maintenance resurfacing, which is essentially any major repairs that need to be done to the road. And what this document does or this item does is it accepts the road and it accepts theou between G dot and the county for that maintenance. Okay. I recommend approval. Get a motion on that one.

I'll move to approve the resolution accepting the dedication and road right away of Genesis Drive by the Savannah Harbor Interstate 16 Corridor Joint Development Authority. Second. Second. Any discussion on that? All in favor say I. All opposed? Abstain. Substain. Yep. Okay, that motion carries. Thank you. And item number four has been tabled. Huh. Item number four has been tabled.

Yes. Item number four has been tabled. Yes. Thank you. Uh Lori, if we'll get public comments, we'll go through and what we do for public comments. If uh some may might have signed up not want to speak, but if you don't want to, that's fine. We'll give you five minutes to come up and say whatever you want to say. We don't get into a discussion. We just hear what you have to say. All right, Philip Corbin for Parkers. Since that item was pulled, do you want to speak if you're here? Okay. Richard Appleton, if you'll just come up and state your name and we'll give you five minutes to speak on what you want to speak on.

Hey gentlemen, my name is Rich Appleton. I'm the owner of the Strathy Hall Plantation House over in Strathy Hall, um Jeffrey Nielson's district. I've owned the property since 2017. Um I purchased the property from a long line of people that have been very historically intact with the house dating back to 1756. Um people from Henry Ford restored it, Joseph Mallister lived in it. Um the house dates back a really really long time. We later on purchased the Strathol Cemetery, did a lot of restoration processes on that and restored the Strathol Cemetery, which is the old original slave cemetery back to what it is today and was back then. Later on, we acquired a 37 acre piece of land off the causeway, converted that into a wildlife preservation and historical protected area where the rice fields lay. Later on after that we acquired two more properties where the houses on the Oichi River were believed to have been built partially on the cemetery itself. We purchased those two properties, demolished the two houses and then put a restriction a construction restriction on those two areas and then resold those two properties. Most recently, I've purchased a property down the Avenue of Oaks that leads from my house down to the Oichi River. basically a small worm slope per se. One of the only Avenue of Oaks in coastal Georgia that runs from a 1700s era plantation house to the Ogichi River. The previous owners of this house put a fence straight down the middle of this historic landscape and asked a number of tree companies to actually come and cut those oaks down. What I ask of you guys today is understand the efforts that us in the public are making to preserve history

and if you guys can please consider doing a little more to preserve it and put it into action instead of writing. All right. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Great job. All right. Next up, Amy Mitchell. You'll just come and state your name for the record, please. You give five minutes to speak. Yeah, sure. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Good evening. My name is Amy Mitchell. I'm a property owner in District 4 and former president of the Richmond Hill Historical Society. I'm requesting your attention tonight because I believe we're at a critical turning point in Brian County's history. Per the 2020 census, Brian County is the fastest growing in the state of Georgia and the sixth fastest growing county in the entire nation. That kind of growth brings enormous responsibility. We, as stewards of this community, have a duty to make sure that as we grow, we do not lose the very character, history, and sense of place that made people want to be here to begin with. According to the Brian County website, quote, "The comprehensive plan should act as a guide for communities in achieving their goals and objectives and should be used as a decision-making guide by local officials and community leaders. Did you know that the 2023 Brian County Comprehensive Plan uses the word historic 139 times? Clearly, it has already been acknowledged that our historic resources matter, but acknowledgement is not protection. And unfortunately, neither is being listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Thus, without action from the county, these resources will eventually be lost. One property, one landmark, one piece of our shared story at a time. Brian County has had multiple atrisisk properties in recent years. The 2024 sale of the Brian Neck Presbyterian Church and Mance, which housed the oldest congregation in the state of Georgia. It is my understanding that the man is slated for a gut job renovation that would risk the property's national registered designation. The recently proposed and fortunately withdrawn reszoning of a property for the purpose of developing a gas station a mere five feet from graves at Burnt Church Cemetery, the original site of the Bryne Neck Presbyterian Church and burial place for the area's founding

families and many other sins. the improper handling, misplacement, and destruction of artifacts, human remains, anderary objects at multiple Native American archaeological sites as claimed within the United States's federal lawsuit against the developer and waterways. And a success story uh to keep things light, the 2023 sale of the clinic where Dr. CF Holton with the backing of Henry Ford treated the people of Brian Neck and eradicated malaria in the late 1930s. Fortunately, Miss Josie Jones, who recognized the historical significance, purchased and carefully restored the structure. Today, Jordan Corley, a local businesswoman, now operates the clinic retail therapy in the space, honoring the history of the building while offering the community of Keller a great place to shop items new and old. These places are irreplaceable pieces of our community's heritage. And aside from the archaeological sites which have fed federal re regulation, they and others have been at risk because there is no formal process in place to evaluate, guide, and protect them. That is why I'm asking this board to take the tangible necessary step of creating a Brian County Historic Preservation Commission and adopting a countywide preservation ordinance to include structures, sites, and trees. This is not unchartered territory, but the city of Richmond Hill and the city of Pinbrook have already taken steps to protect their historic assets. We also have successful examples of counties along the Georgia coast, Macintosh and Chadam, and there are many others throughout the state. We are already at an advantage. Brian County has staff with preservation experience who can be tasked with facilitating this process and also understand opportunities for grants. We don't need to start from scratch. The department Georgia Department of Natural Resources provides a historic preservation ordinance guide shared with you in the folders you received tonight that clearly outlines how to proceed. The first step is

simple. Direct staff to review the historic preservation ordinance guide and begin drafting a countywide preservation ordinance. This initiative is not about stopping progress. It's about shaping it in a way that protects the unique places and stories that define Brian County. There is a perception in our community that the county's priorities begin and end with growth at the expense of what makes Bryan County special. Whether or not that perception is fair, this board has the opportunity to change that narrative. By acting now, you can demonstrate that growth and preservation do not have to work against one another. They can work hand in hand to build a stronger, more livable, and more enduring community. Brian County is changing at a rapid pace. Every month that passes is a month we risk losing another historic resource forever, either by irrevers irreversible alteration or demolition. The decisions we make today will determine whether future generations inherit a Brian County that still has its heart and history intact or one that has traded them away. Will you be the leaders who allow Brian County story and soul to be erased or will you be the ones to take action to ensure they are preserved, honored, and woven into our future? Thank you. Thank you. Great job. Um,

yeah, great job. Thank you so much. And we will 100% I 100% support everything you said and would like to see this move forward in whatever way possible. Is this a local legislation issue and can I think it be a local legislation and then with planning zoning or modra has to write some ordinances. The other thing is all they they reference in this document is city but there are several counties listed. Is it incorporated only or no? We can press this forward through a local ordinance to start a process and get that process started once we have a local ordinance drafted and prepared and presented to you all for review and consideration. we can take the next steps and the first step is that ordinance

and I would just say again that great issue wonderful issue complicated issue that you know I I don't know how you can encumber a homeowner that already has a historic site you know further you've got people like Mr. Appleton is willing to take that on and go find more, you know, but but it's just something that we have to figure out the right way to do it, right? So, appreciate you doing that. All right. Thank you. Next up, uh Rhonda Jones, you do you want to speak? You don't want to speak? Okay, that's what I thought. All right. Uh Meredith Gibson to talk about Parkers. You want to talk because it was taken off the menu or the agenda and flooding? All right. If you just state your name for the record, we'll give you five minutes.

Yes, sir. Thank you so much. I take my glasses off so I can see. Good evening, gentlemen. Meredith Gibson. I'm a local wife, mom. My husband and I own two businesses here in the county. Um, I just wanted to I know that Parker is off the table, but I did just want to share with you guys that we were able to collect s,28 signatures. And each and every one of those 1,628 signatures trusted me to have their voice heard tonight on how they felt about Burnt Church Cemetery. And I know it's off the table now, but that doesn't mean that we just forget about it because I'm sure that at some point it will come up for discussion. And I love what Mr. Appleton, he's my neighbor also, and Amy are doing. That's exactly, you know, Bert Church Cemetery should be a part of that. And in the future when other people come and need to are requesting and putting in an application to change that zoning, I hope that you will remember the 1,628 people that took the time out to sign the petition to keep that zoning as is agricultural and not let it get changed to commercial. That was the first thing. Moving on. Um it's been almost about a year since I stood before you um to talk about flooding. um primarily the flooding at that time was in the north end of the county and in the city of Richmond Hill which you know it's the city but it's still part of Bryan County right so we just have to keep that in perspective um I have a friend here Tanya Kolier and she could not be here tonight because she cannot leave her house um they are completely flooded in on 144 um I've had 13 conversations with 13 different property owners today that are facing the same issues. This has never been a problem before um until we

started clear cutting and building and hauling out dirt and all the rest of it. Um I know Billy Botanicals, Billy Duggar, him and his wife Anna severely affected. Um, from my understanding, there's been a work order to repair the culvert and I just I know it's the state. You you know, I know it's not up to you, but you are the voice of the people. So, it shouldn't be Meredith Gibson and a bunch of her friends trying to urge the state to get this done. That is part of your responsibility. And we just we ask that you please either find a solution for this water. I know you drive down 144. You see it every day.

I will tell you. Okay, let me finish this discussion. Um,

I urge you to find solutions and press the right people. I mean, in just a few phone calls, I was talking to people in Atlanta today about this issue. So, you light the fire under this issue. A work order should not be sitting for three years when it continuously floods. You can act like this isn't important. It's dang important, gentlemen. It is very important. These people are suffering. We're running gas and supplies and bringing them in on kayaks to get the so they can keep their pumps running to get the water pushed out. Tanya, one of the boxes was buried in water. So she made a call to 911 because she was terrified and 911 sent out the utility people and they told her, "Oh, you're fine." So the kids haven't been to school this week because they cannot get out of their property. This is a serious issue and I urge you find some way divert the water. Make it that they have to have retention ponds. I mean the land is there for retention ponds. Let's require when we're clear cutting that we put retention ponds down. And finally, um I can share this list of addresses with you that I put together in about three and a half hours this afternoon. I'd be happy to share them with each and every one of you. Didn't have time to prepare anything fancy to, you know, you can have and look at. I have videos. I have pictures. My phone number is public. please reach out to me so I can share this info with you. I'm not directly affected, but people have called me because of my voice and I'm going to use that voice and I won't stop using that voice until the infrastructure is fixed in all of Bryan County. And lastly, I

just have a question and I know you can't respond to me right here, but I feel that it's important that the people that you represent know who our current fire chief is. So, I would just like to know who our current fire chief is if you could put out a statement. Thank you. Thank you. I I will tell you Cha down there, we went twice to her house on Saturday, documented in an incident report and went to her house today and offered her help and assistance and she refused each time. So, just so you know, believe that. I I've personally been out to many. He went there today and she refused help. Everybody was being taken care of. I personally was out there with public works today. So, just so you know, it's just so you know. Yes. All right. Thank you.

All right. Next up is Hugh Hardy. If you'd like to speak. No. Okay. That's Parker's. Julie Wood, I believe. Parkers. No. Okay. I thought that was her again. I'm sorry. Angela, uh, a rushinger, if you'd like to speak. I would. Okay. Just come up. State your name for the record and we get five minutes. We'll start when we get here. Okay. So, um pull my speech out. I've changed a hundred times and I'm very nervous and I'll probably

You'll be you'll be fine. So, I'm coming to talk to you about the um Brisbane Road project. Mr. Infinger and I have talked about this. Dr. Wallace and I have talked about this. I've worked with Gage and um Paul Teague, Rebecca Ars, and a bunch of other people. Um, essentially, um, on the paperwork and the drawings when they were first given to me in March, I saw that parcel 05 0542 064 in the tax records is actually defined in the plat books um, platbook 402, pages 5A and 5B. And it identifies that as two separate parcels, two separate pieces of land, two separate septic systems, two separate plats, two separate utilities, two separate 911 addresses, two separate homes, two separate individuals that live in those homes. But I have um sorry I could use a tissue but I have um with the road construction progress there there's been a curb installed that blocks the only access that I have to um my out building and it's a um 40x60 twotory out building that has been there since 1991. It's wrapped in a chain link fence. It has septic tanks and drain fields and trees on either side. I have one way in and one way out and that's to the road and now I don't have it anymore. And um I tried to stop this. I rose the awareness of it back when it first started in March and it's been continuous conversations and no resolution. And

as it sits, I haven't had access to my garage in 4 months without taking, you know, you can't pull a boat on a trailer and turn left or right because you got fence, you got drain fields, you got septic tanks. You can go one way to get out of there and that's now over a curb. And I don't feel like that's right. I feel like um my daddy worked for this county and was dedicated to it for 47 years. He he did all the approval processes. He brought the two parcels up to code. He put septic tanks on there. They have separate 911 addresses. They are legally defined as parcels C and D on every loan document, every piece of paper. So, I don't understand why I've continued to get um the response that it's one parcel and I'm only entitled to two driveways. One driveway is on parcel D and there were two driveways on parcel C and it's been that way for 34 years and now it's not and I don't know what I need to do about it.

I've heard about this and I I'm sorry for you and hopefully there's a resolution. I'll talk to these guys and I spoke with Glenn and some folks last week. Angie called me last week and I've tried to do some things to help her and hopefully we're making a little bit of progress. I think Gage is working on it. Um, and I did speak to Glenn. I guess it was maybe Thursday or Friday. We talked the first part of the week. So, okay. So, I don't know. I don't know what the protocol is now. Do I just go sit back down or Yeah, I don't know. Yeah, we'll we'll look into it. Who's the point of contact? Gage. Gage.

Yes. So, we have working with it with engineering and and outside engineering consultants on this issue. There is some old title work that shows as parcel 5A and B the tax parcel has a single tax parcel which makes things a little bit complicated particularly with the current existing engineering design manual on how much frontage you need to have more than two drive points. So we're working through those issues. We are hopeful to get it resolved in the very near future and we'll be in touch with that on that resolution.

Okay. Thank Thank you. Let's get that done. Thank you. Thank you, Andy, too. Appreciate it. All right. Next up, Anna Duggar. If you'd like to come and speak, if you'll just state your name for the record and then we'll give you five minutes.

Hi. Um, my name is Anna Duggar. Um, and I own and operate a farm about 10 minutes drive here, uh, called Billy's Botanicals down the road. We have a 5 acre plot directly off 144 where we um do aquaponics, I grow flowers, and my husband does seafood processing. Um we have lived and worked here for 13 years. Um about three years ago in 2022 around this time, we experienced um unprecedented rainfall um and that devastated our farm. um washed away our incomplete driveway. Um suspended our operations. Um at that time we attempted to get in touch with G DOT um in hopes that they would give us some reprieve of where this water could go. Um I'm heard it referenced earlier. You know, it is much like a funnel. We live, you know, in the low country. We're expecting this water. Um but we live in I guess what would be considered a bowl. Um, we actively take on water from the road, neighboring properties, etc. Um, and I I need to clarify something uh that Meredith had mentioned something about a um covert. We were under the impression that there was a work order with the covert based on a conversation we had with the G dot worker at that time. That work order came to fruition uh for whatever reason. Um thankfully, I talked to Ally today. Um I talked with Matt today. Um, we've been in touch with so many wonderful people from the county and G dot and actually found out that as opposed to being on the low end of 144, we're actually at the highest point. Um, and the water is designed to go down to our neighbors, you know, drainage ditches. Well, that hasn't been dug out since we've lived there. And I can tell you where the water's going. It's going right back on us. And we It's flooding

us out. and we the sun's shining and we live on a lake and we don't have waterfront property. Um so you know it's it's been incredibly frustrating and disheartening. Um you know especially as you know I know a lot of our neighbors are flooded out but we are the true losers of the water games here in uh Keller and so is Tanya. she really is struggling over there as well and she lives, you know, a few ways down from us. Um, so the reason I'm here, um, my husband's been on the phone all day and I felt a need just to show my face. I've emailed every single one of you today and I appreciate your uh executive assistant getting back to me, getting great contact with GOTO, but I just want to keep it on your radar that the water management is is really really cumbersome for the residents right now, especially some of us as opposed to a majority are uh feeling that burden. We've been pumping close to 24,000 gallons uh I would say per hour for the past 48 hours. Um, we're kind of right now we're working with some solutions with G dot. It seems like we finally got some inroads there today uh to figure out a plan for the front of the property. We are currently working with um one of the private owners on the back of our property for installing a covert into the um you know conservation easement back there and they're wanting to do some of their own research to see where that water goes you know because they don't want to take our water and dump it on somebody else. Um, but you know, I just really want to make you all aware of these issues um, in the county, you know, and I understand that a lot of it's G dot and then there a lot of it defaults, you know, your hands are tied because of that, but I just want to encourage you all to

work together and help us out a little bit. It's it's been a rough few days for us. So, thank you so much for your time. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, we we are trying to get with G dot. G dot's really hard to work with. They're not hard to work with. It's just, you know, the roads in the state, right? They're all state roads, but we have I know they've done some work down there on Kilkenny uh and 144 last year, I believe, a year before last in that corner for those properties on both sides. They probably should have gone further up. So, yeah, we were hoping that that was they were going to be making their way towards us and it never came. Yeah, they did. You know, they had their work order for that and that's what they did. So, yeah, we'll we'll try to get them back out there. We'll put a little out there today. Um, a lot of them were out there today. Matt

and Mr. Montaigne. He and I have had multiple conversations about that and and he's he's come up with a couple of good ideas that I think we just need to get get the ball rolling and get some things done. We really appreciate your attention to the matter. Thank you. What's your address, ma'am? Um we're at 21897 Georgia Highway 144. Y Okay. Thank you for coming. We'll get we'll get we'll work on it. Um thank you. All right, Katie Kate Howard, I don't know if you want to speak. It says Ron about Rhonda Jones. I don't know if she's still here. Gone. Okay, she's gone. All right. Ryan Pervvis, you want you just signed in? I think I'm good.

Okay. All right. And then is this uh Becky and Grant Height Parkers? No. Okay. All right. That was all. All right. For public comments. Does anybody have anything else to say? Public comments. All right. Commissioner comments. Any commissioner comments? If not, we will take a motion to go into executive session for litigation, real estate, and personnel. Mr. Chairman, I don't think we need to do that tonight. We're good. Okay. All right. And we are done. That's That's a Yeah. Okay. Good. All right. We'll take a motion to adjurnn. Ajourn before he changes his mind. I know, right?

I'll make a motion to journ. Second. Second. Sec. Everybody in favor say I. I. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We are. Thank you all for coming.