Board of Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Everybody, put some Good morning, everybody. I am presiding officer Shakira Johnson, your district four commissioner. Welcome to the March 10, twenty twenty six board of commissioners meeting. We have a pretty packed agenda today, so we will get going. If we are running low on printed agendas, there is a QR code outside the door posted agenda.

So, at this time, we will start with our inspirational, which is Chaplain Sarah Hooker. Reverend Sarah Hooker is the Julia Thompson Smith Chaplain and director of religious and spiritual life at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia. She is an ordained is ordained as a minister of word and sacrament in the Presbyterian church and has worked in campus ministry, congressional ministry, and hospital chaplaincy, the daughter of two ordained pastors. Life and work in the church has been an integral part of her way in this world. She finds some of her greatest joy in ministry walking beside young people as they figure out who they are and what they want to be and why that's important and valued.

Sarah enjoys nature and spending time in the garden, is a voracious reader, lover of music, singing and listening, and traveling the world with her husband and son. Good morning, Reverend Hooker.

Thank you. Thank you to all of the commissioners, in particular officer Johnson for the invitation to be with you all today. I am Sarah Hooker. I am the Julia Thompson Smith Chaplin, director of religious life at Agnes Scott College, which is an institution of the Decatur community for the last one hundred and thirty seven years. Agnes Scott is a historic women's college, which welcomes undergraduate women's students from all over the country and even the world to its halls and classrooms.

And I have had the great privilege of working there as the chaplain for the last four years. As we start this meeting today in this long, very full agenda, I will invite you all to do and participate in a practice that I encourage our students to do whenever we are in a gathering together. So I'd like for everyone to, put their feet flat on the floor, Find a comfortable position of your body. Place your hands on your lap, on your chest. You can close your eyes or you can look into the distance, and I invite all of us to take a deep breath.

And then to take another, to center ourselves, to center this moment, to center the time that we are spending together in this space, to invite in the presence of those who are unable to be in this space today, for the voices that we are speaking for, for the people that are our neighbors, that are our friends, that we recognize and honor in this space, to the spirit or to the other, to the God that we welcome in, to be with us and to calm us and to guide us. Thank you. One of the things that is such a delight for me as chaplain at Agnes Scott and for my work as a minister and all of my work that has been a minister is to be with students as they figure out who they are and what they wanna be in the world. For young people, and I know some of you in this room are closer to being a young person than the rest of us. Yes.

It feels not long ago, but twenty years ago, I was also a young person in college, more than twenty years ago as I do the math. We have to figure out a way young people have to figure out a way when they go into the world, and how we approach the world, and how we live into that world. How we honor who we are and figure out who we are as a person, and how that works and how that will best serve the world that we are going into. At this time of year in the call in the academic year, we are reaching the end. And that might seem silly to say as we are only ten days into March.

But in our mindset and in the mindset of everyone at at college institution, the semester is done. The academic year is done, and we're all just grinding towards that May graduation date to those finals. And something that I encounter with a lot of students around this time of year, particularly with our senior students who are graduating, is that they figure and they're questioning, who am I going to be outside of this space? Agnes Scott is a wonderful place where it provides four years of community, of home, of understanding, of identity building, of friendship, of support, of mentorship, of learning. And then that senior year comes and panic arises.

What is to come? What happens next? And for these young students, that question is very prescient at this time. It is something that holds deep in them because who are they in this world that is so uncertain and sometimes very scary, particularly as young women. What I've reflected on a lot with students over the last couple of months and weeks in particular is what helps you to make a home?

What helps you to make a a home in the place that you are? This is something that I have maybe not struggled with, but experienced quite a bit in my life. As officer Johnson read in my biography, I am the child of two Presbyterian pastors. And so my life has been filled with moving all across the country. Like a military brat, we Presbyterian, pastors and families are all around the world.

I was born in California, have lived in Colorado, Minnesota, Minnesota twice, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Georgia, and Georgia again. And in my forty three years of existence on this planet, I have now reached the longest I have ever lived in one state at any given time in my entire life, and that is nine years and three months. And so when students ask me this question, how do I find a home? I feel I'm uniquely qualified to answer that question because I have had to find a home in many, many places around this world. And I've never been in one place for very long until now.

And so, what does it mean to build something around you? What does it mean to foster a space of hospitality, of welcome? What does it mean to foster a space of safety, of security, of permanence but impermanence? What are the things that allow us to build that community around us? Where do we find our neighbors? Where do we find our friends? Where do we find our sense of belonging? One thing that I love about Agnes Scott College is our motto. And are there any Agnes Scott alum in the room? Are there any?

That's such a surprise. How anyone related to an Agnes Scott alum or a friend to an Agnes Scott alum? Okay. There's the hands. Yes.

And so I don't know if you have, heard alum say the motto, but it is repeated often and with vigor on our campus that Agnes Scott students are called to think deeply, live honorably, and engage the social challenges of our times. And so these are the building blocks and foundations of who Agnes Scott alum find find themselves as students. But it's also something that they carry on with them into the world. And I often encourage our students to think about how do we live these values out in building their own community, in finding their own home. Because it involves us thinking deeply about who we are and what it is that we want and what we want to see in the world.

It requires living honorably, knowing what your values are and sticking with those, not being afraid to proclaim what those values are and to find your friends and your community partners who share those values to do the work together. And it means using your thinking skills and your values to engage the social challenges of our time. And I think that is key too. And all of you in this space are doing that. That we are here in this room.

You all are doing this work. You all are here as community members for this meeting to think deeply, to live honorably in your values, and you are engaging in the things that make DeKalb County your home, your home place, the place that you love. You are engaging in the social challenges that are before all of you. These are the things that we take with us, that we gather together, that we hold onto as we create spaces, spaces of welcome, spaces of companionship, and spaces that we are able to call home. And so I invite all of us as we enter this meeting, to think about who we are and how we make a home, how we make a home in a space, in the spaces of our neighborhoods, in the space of our county, in the spaces of our state, and of our nation?

Who are we to live honorably, to respect and honor one another, to find shared values and commitment to neighbors and friends so that we can build something together that is engaging the challenges that we find before us, that we do so with welcome, and we do it with love and compassion. I'd like to conclude this time with you all this morning with a poem by the reverend Jan Richardson, who is a pastor and a poet. And this is from her most recent book, How the Stars Get in Your Bones, a book of blessings. And if you ever see me in different spaces or encountered me in other instances, you'll know that I read a lot of her poetry. It speaks to me and it speaks a lot to our students because of her emphasis on blessing.

What does it mean to be a blessing to people and to yourself? And so as we think about and as we reflect on what it means to make a home, I invite you to hear her words, Jan's words, in this poem that she wrote, the year as a house. Think of the year as a house. Door flung wide in welcome. Threshold swept and waiting.

A graced spaciousness opening and offering itself to you. Let it be blessed in every room. Let it be hallowed in every corner. Let every nook be a refuge and every object set to holy use. Let it be here that safety will rest.

Let it be here that health will make its home. Let it be here that peace will show its face. Let it be here that love will find its way. Here, let the weary come. Let the aching come.

Let the lost come. Let the sorrowing come. Here, let them find their rest, and let them find their soothing, and let them find their place, and let them find their delight. And may it be in this house of a year that the seasons will spin in beauty. And may it be in these turning days that time will spiral with joy.

And may it be that its rooms will fill with ordinary grace and light spill from every window to welcome the stranger home. Thank you so much.

Thank you, Reverend Hooker. If you can stay for a little while after our presentations, we'd love to take a picture with you and give you a pen. At this time we have Pledge of Allegiance by Commissioner Robert Patrick. I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America And at this time, we do have two presentations. First one, Greg Street, thirty years of service and community impact.

And then second, we have fortieth anniversary of EGM Services Incorporated. So if are comfortable, commissioners, please meet me down on the floor.

Hello? Alright. There we go.

Good morning. Hey.

How you doing?

Good. Good. Great morning, everyone. It is my esteemed honor to highlight and to share this celebratory moment as we recognize the fortieth anniversary of EGM Services Inc. We are truly grateful for their lasting impact on the late mister Arthur Queen and miss Sandra Queen, their daughter, Kaleesi Queen Robinson, and the entire EGM service team.

Their dedication for vision and leadership have helped shape a legacy that continues to uplift and inspire our community. Your commitment to excellence has created a model for businesses everywhere, demonstrating how strong leadership, community engagement, and a dedication to quality can build not only a successful company, but also a last a lasting legacy. We look forward to moving beyond today's celebration as we've been working through the county's process to rename the street in honor of mister McQueen. We hope to finalize this effort when it becomes before the board on Thursday, 03/26/2026. I was just crying up here.

Like, she's gonna get me with the waterworks. That just means you guys have to come back and join us, at another BOC meeting at 09:00 in the morning. Alright? You won't mind. Right? Thank you again for all that you have done to continue. Thank you again for all and everything that you do and continue to do so. Today, we honor you and celebrate forty years of unwavering dedication and service to our community and to our beloved DeKalb County.

And

commissioner David Shonce wants to say a couple of words as well.

Yeah. I would be remiss if I did not come and talk about my dear friend, Arthur Queen, and his family. I met them when I came in as commissioner and went to their business to talk about an apprenticeship with with with young kids in South DeKalb, and mister Queen and his wife and his daughter and his family opened their arms, and they gave 11 apprenticeships. And I just wanna talk about one because I knew this one boy that graduated from high school, was sitting at home, smoking, doing nothing every day. And I talked to them about the opportunity that they would have.

And, of course, I told them they had to get their life together. They had to take a drug test. They had to do this and that, and they did. And this young man started an apprenticeship with their company. Never had a house. He got him got him a condo, got him a car, and went on to be a very productive citizen of DeKalb County in Georgia. So that tells you what these opportunities, and I just love them both.

Me too.

And we appreciate you all. And I know that mister Queen is looking down because you all are doing a great job. And so I appreciated him, and I just wanted to say that.

Thank you so We just on behalf of the entire EGM services team, my mother, my brother, husband, sister, our GM who's like our family, and then my baby sister over there who's my admin and my everything. We can't thank you enough for recognizing our service to this county. When my parents decided to start this company, they wanted it in DeKalb, and that's where it's been since inception. We're committed to it. I went to school in DeKalb.

I was a teacher in DeKalb. I live in DeKalb. We bleed DeKalb County, and we are about creating productive citizens. Now we do have employees that drive in from Douglas, from Fulton, from Henry, from Clayton, but guess where they're coming? To South DeKalb. And I want you to know as officers, as elected officials, as residents of DeKalb, when you walk through Hartsville Jackson Airport, those windows are from a company right here in DeKalb County. When you go to Mercedes Benz Stadium, those windows are from a company right here in DeKalb County. So be proud of what you have right here in South DeKalb. Amen.

And I'd like to say thank you so much. Today is such a special day, not only for us to be recognized, but today is the third anniversary of Arthur receiving his wings. So it's such a special day. Thank you. Yes.

Can you read the proclamation, please, into the record?

Whereas DeKalb County commissioners, Marita Davis Johnson, Nicole Messiah, and the governing authority paused to honor and celebrate the transformational work of EGM Services Incorporated on their fortieth anniversary. And whereas EGM Services was founded on 03/03/1986 by Arthur and Sandra Queen, whose vision, hard work, and commitment to excellence established a company built on craftsmanship, integrity, and entrepreneurship that has endured for four decades. Today, under the leadership of the second generation of the Queen family, EGM Services remains proudly rooted in DeKalb County, Georgia, contributing to the local economy and serving as a source of pride for the community. And whereas EGM Services Incorporated has demonstrated that it is more than just a glass company, actively investing in the community through initiatives that support feeding the homeless, breast cancer awareness programs, holiday toy drives, youth apprenticeship, apprenticeship, and support for the DeKalb County School District. And whereas Kelsey Queen Robinson, CEO of EGM Services Incorporated, has continued this legacy of service by launching the Arthur J.

Queen Institute, a paid workforce training program designed to create opportunity and empower the next generation of skilled professionals. Whereas the Arthur J. Queen Institute is helping to strengthen South DeKalb by serving as a vital workforce development pipeline, providing residents with specialized glacier training and access to high demand career opportunities. Now therefore, we be resolved that commissioners Marita Davis Johnson and Nicole Messiah does hereby set aside this day to acknowledge and commend EGM Services Incorporated on the occasion of forty years of excellence, dedication to the community, and its vision for the future of the workforce in DeKalb County and beyond, and recognized today as EGM Services Incorporated Day in DeKalb County, proclaimed its March 2026.

Thank you.

And then we have one more presentation proclamation and wouldn't you know it? So in spite of the fact that radio personnel have to be up in the wee hours of the morning and usually be on air at 06:00 in the morning, ours that Greg Street got stuck in traffic, so he is not here yet in spite having to be at a radio station in the wee hours in the morning be on time every morning. He late to this one, but it happens. Again, great morning, DeKalb. My name is Nicole Messiah.

I have the honor and pleasure to serve as your DeKalb County Commissioner District three, and I'm gonna recognize someone who has a voice and a present and who has been consistent in our community for over thirty decades. Many of us know what time it is when the clock strikes 6PM because we hear those familiar words echo across Atlanta airwaves. It's 06:00. It's 06:00. It's time for Greg Streak the Rock.

Hey. Don't sound like him just a little bit. That phrase has done more than introduce a radio show for again for over thirty years. It has brought listeners together, connected communities and created a daily moment of energy and of culture throughout Atlanta, DeKalb and beyond. Greg Streatt represents something bigger than just radio.

He represents consistency and he also represents service. He is ultra big on service and being a real individual, being genuine. As I think about the secret behind more than thirty years of success, I found it is consistency and service. Greg Street says that says what he means, it means what he says. Again, genuineness.

His word carries weight. His actions match his commitment to the community, to our community. It has never been again just about the music he plays. It is about the unmatched love for our youth, his dedication to giving back, and anyone who comes to look at him to break a record or to build a career will quickly hear the same message, give back to the community. Over the third last thirty years, Greg Street has helped broker opportunities to bring together and sit at tables where ideas are formed and futures are shaped.

Many of those contributions he never takes credit for, but he gives lots of wisdom, guidance, and influence that have helped move our culture forward. His timelessness and so his giving, we are honored to collaborate and partner with mister Greg Street on District Three's inaugural annual youth turkey bowl that we last year and had a ball. Today, we recognize Greg Street not just as a radio legend, but as a community pillar, a voice that has represented, uplifted, and connected us all. Greg Street's voice is a voice for the people. And madam clerk, wouldn't mind reading the proclamation, please?

Whereas, beyond his contributions to music and broadcasting, d j j Greg Street has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to to community service through his organization, We Need to Read, which promotes literacy and educational advancement by providing scholarships, resources, and opportunities for students across Metro Atlanta and beyond. And whereas DJ Greg Street has consistently used his voice, influence, and platform not only to entertain but to uplift young people, support educators, and advocate for opportunities that empower future generations. His support for youth education and his contributions to music and culture have made him a respected leader, mentor, and ambassador for the city and the broader DeKalb community. Now, therefore, be it resolved that commissioner Nicole Messiah, on behalf of DeKalb County and its more than 780,000 citizens, do hereby recognize and proclaim 03/10/2026 as DJ Gregg Street Day in DeKalb County, Georgia, and encourage all residents to celebrate his outstanding contributions to music, culture, youth empowerment, and community service.

Thank you so much. I appreciate it.

And if Reverend Hooker, if you would like to come back up, we'd love to take a picture with you and pin you. All right, thank you everybody. At this time we will begin our comments from the public. Ms. Madam Clerk, if you'll read in the instructions.

The purpose of public comment is to allow the public to voice county related requests, concerns, opinions during the commission meeting. Speakers will only have the opportunity for one public comment per meeting. Each speaker must please complete a speaker card and present it to the clerk before the beginning of the public comment portion of the meeting. Cards turned into the clerk from the time general meeting is convened, generally nine a. M, and by the beginning of public comment portion, generally following presentations on the agenda.

The clerk will accept cards on a first come first served basis. Prior to the clerk's call for public comment, speakers who are residents of DeKalb County shall be allowed to speak before residents of other counties are allowed to speak. Speakers will be allowed to speak for three minutes each, and public comments should not exceed thirty minutes in length. When the buzzer sounds to indicate that time has run out, the speaker will be expected to immediately cease speaking and to yield the podium. Those who submitted speaker cards but did not speak because of the time allotment will be allowed to speak first at the next regularly scheduled commission meeting without regard to residents.

Speakers should always talk directly into the microphone and begin by stating their name, full address, and the name of any organization they represent. Abusive, profane, or derogatory language, holding up signs, clapping, yelling, standing, or laying in the aisles to show support for or opposition to a speaker will not be permitted. But a show of hands or quietly standing in place will be permitted to show support for or opposition to a speaker's position.

Okay.

And we are having a little bit of issue with our buzzer, but we have a backup here so that everyone can hear it go off at the end of their time. If we can have our first speaker, please, ma'am.

Oh, yes. We have some speakers that did not have the time to speak last week, so I need to call those out first. Garro Hayes, Garro Carol Hayes.

If you're present, please come to the mic. Okay, seeing no one.

Beth Stevens.

Ms. Stevens. Okay.

Donna Davis.

Ms. Davis. Okay.

Sharon Steele.

Ms. Steele.

And Victoria Hahn. Victoria.

All right, not And seeing

now we'll begin with today's speakers.

Yes, ma'am.

Andrea Sadel.

Good morning.

Good morning, commissioners. Andrea advocates for decalve animals, and I'm from Brookhaven, Georgia. Thank you to the board of commissioners, our county administration, director Fulham, and everyone involved in public safety for the progress that has been made in decab and animal welfare, especially with the proposed increase in spay and neuter and other services to families who need them. Decab is becoming an example of how to do it right in animal welfare, and I'm happy to be a part of it. So we look forward to more.

We're not there yet, and I have a few comments I want to share today. First is the ongoing issue of court case animals. As of yesterday, there were 89 court impounded animals, and no cost of care petitions have been filed since April 2025. We've not had numbers that high since 2024. I urge you to vote in favor of the resolution on the agenda today to resume a regular practice of filing cost of care petitions.

This isn't about actually collecting the cost of the care for the animal as much as it is about encouraging defendants who are intentionally dragging their cases on to bring them to speedy resolution. That alone will save money and free these innocent victims from what is currently their prison. Second, on a similar topic, I wanna mention two cases involving unlicensed breeding businesses. The first breeder was charged with negligence of two dogs in 2024. The case was dismissed, and he reclaimed the one healthy dog who he continued to breed.

The other one passed away. In late twenty twenty five, this dog came back completely emaciated, along with three of her puppies that were covered in mange and unrecognizable as puppies. The second breeder recently had 15 dogs seized from his property, and we understand that he intends to reclaim six of them, no doubt to continue his operation. In both these cases, the breeder should have had kennel licenses for the number of dogs and also a license to breed on a commercial scale. We would like you to consider the reinstatement of an animal case investigator associated with the police department.

We used to have such a position, and these breeders aren't gonna respond to animal enforcement alone. Thank you.

Thank you.

Rosalyn McIntyre.

Ms. McIntyre? Ms. Rosalyn McIntyre? I'm not seeing them next speaker.

Joel Edwards. Mr. Edwards?

Good morning.

Good morning. My name is Joel Edwards 1121292. I've been a member. I've been a citizen of DeKalb County for forty five years. I have two complaints.

One complaint involves public transportation, MARTA. We have been paying a 1¢ sale tax in 1970. The commissioner voted to extend the 1¢ sale tax to 2057. Martyr sent notice that they wanted to extend the sale tax again to 2067. This county is underserved when it comes to murder.

We've been trying to get a light rail to Stonecrest for the longest. Initially, that was supposed to happen. It never did. I am requesting that the board of commissioner have a audit done on the finances that DeKalb County contribute tomorrow. This situation is underserved in our citizen in DeKalb County, and I hope you all would do this in the interest of the citizen in DeKalb County.

The second thing I wanna talk about is I woke up one morning at about 02:00 in the morning, abruptly stunned about what I heard the commissioners did. And what I heard was that they went into executive session and came out and voted for a person that was investigated by the FBI, borrowed money from the county, never paid it back, had workers at his house doing some work, county workers, was involved in corruption in 2015, was interim CEO of DeKalb County, and you all voted for this man to be the chief of staff of the commissioners. I'm trying to figure out what did you all smoke or what did you all snort. It's disrespectful for the citizen of the Calvary County to have a person of that nature as being the chief of staff of DeKalb County. And you all have to look at yourself because you are a a representative of We The People.

Okay? And we're gonna hold you all accountable. Thank you.

Thank you. Next speaker.

Gina Mangum.

Miss Mangum.

Good morning. Gina Mangum, resident of East DeKalb, Southeast DeKalb for over thirty years. As you know, residents have attended VOC meetings and hearings in droves, opposing data centers with expressing valid concerns about their negative impact. As advocates, though, we focus mainly on points on which we can agree. A data center text amendment is needed.

However, data centers require massive amounts of land, water, electricity. Water cooling systems require chemical pollutants, which must be periodically and safely disposed of. Data centers emit noise, light, and other pollutants. These are all things I believe you would agree to. A health and environmental study is needed.

You all voted to do it, but then you did not vote to fund it. Every data center should require a special land use permit. As a practical matter, some data centers are needed for everyday general business operations, as opposed to data campuses whose primary purpose is the development of AI. That's why we have, in good faith, worked so hard to find some middle ground. But while we appreciate the leadership of Commissioner Terry and the work of the PEC's committee, we need assurances that we are all acting in good faith.

After review of the final language in the proposed substitute ordinance that will be on the agenda on the twenty fourth, the amendments do not accomplish what they were supposed to do. The original stated purpose of the resolution was to, quote, strike the data center campus definition to effectively cap every development at 500,000 square feet to prevent unchecked industrial sprawl, thereby banning data campuses altogether. Yet as drafted, the amendment does not prevent individual data centers from being clustered together to effectively create a data center campus. This loophole must be closed to preserve the spirit, integrity, and intent of this provision. Eliminating the term campus alone will not suffice.

And so we are asking you to go back to PEC's, look at the language, and make sure we're getting what was promised. As commissioners, your job is to represent our best interests. All we ask is that you listen, mean what you say, advocate that for us, and then keep your word

Thank you, ma'am.

With your vote.

Thank you. Next speaker?

Steven Benning.

Mister Benning, good morning.

Good morning, commissioners. This morning's stat of the day, percentage of Americans who've given the choice of living sometime in the past, present, or future. The past, 45%. The present, 40%. The future, only 15%. When three times as many people want to live in the past as they want to live in the future, it does not paint a pretty picture of where people believe our society is headed. Congratulations to Lee May, our new commissioner, our new commission chief of staff. Mister Cherry, I suggest you reintroduce your isogenment item to the commission. Perhaps with pastor May's help, the commission can be persuaded by Christian compassion in the tale of the good Samaritan. Jesus was an immigrant.

Right? Mister May was the youngest person to serve on the DeKalb County Commission when he took office in twenty o six. During this time, DeKalb County misplaced over $7,000,000 of park bun funds. In 2013, he was appointed CEO by governor Nathan Deal. He served as CEO until 2016.

During his time on the board and as CEO, DeKalb County had to to sign a sewer and water consent agreement in 2011 with the federal government. This order was basically ignored for four years and contributed to the 10 by 10 rate raise that we are currently under. In 2015, May asked former attorney Michael Bowers to conduct an investigation into the county government. After the investigation, mister Bowers stated that DeKalb government was rotten to the core. We have found what we have found is stunning, Bauer said in the letter.

The amount of money this has and will cost is minimal compared to what widespread government corruption has cost DeKalb County in terms of standing, reputation, and image. Bauer said the corruption started at the top and affected nearly every county department. Lee May was under fire for a number of alleged malfeasance, including taking out a loan from a subordinate. He was also under an investigation by the FBI for having DeKalb taxpayers pay for a severe plumbing problem at his home. Eventually, mister May repaid the county for the raw sewage overflow that destroyed part of his home.

Two people connected to the county pled guilty to charges related to a forged $4,000 check and alleged conspiracy to steal money from the county. Mister May was never charged in this case and said he never received money, but there was speculation that the check was a kickback according to the AJC. As a result of these investigations, mister May was asked to resign amid corruption allegations, but refused to do so. We have been fighting to restore the image of DeKalb County since mister May left. He is the epitome of what DeKalb County was.

I pray that he comes that he becomes the epitome of what DeKalb County can be, but please excuse me if I have my doubts. The commission may think they have caught the big one, but are you sure that the big one hasn't caught you? Be wary, my friends.

Thank you. Thank you.

Next Scott McLean. Scott McLean.

Good morning, mister McLean.

Good morning. First, I wanna thank the commissioners for your willingness to take on the burden of making the hard decisions needed to run a county of 750,000 citizens. It can be a thankless job. I'm a retired contractor, a sixty year resident of District 3. My sons and daughter-in-law also reside in District 3 and run a business in DeKalb County.

In my retirement, I have been volunteering at the DeKalb County animal shelter for about twenty hours a week for four years. I come to you today to encourage you to approve the budget item for animal services, which would run from next month, April 26 through December 2027. Included in that budget for the first time are significant funds to expand access to spay and neuter service along with other basic veterinary care and targeted programs for areas where the highest intake and calls for service originate. In short, this program strengthens DeKalb communities, supports public health and safety, and reduces the factors that lead families to surrender their pets. Because these services are managed by the Department of Public Safety, I want to thank director Fulham for taking an active role in understanding the issues around animal welfare and how best to manage them.

We are specifically interested in the successful implementation of the litter registry. It is my understanding that the Georgia pet coalition is working with district two to get our 16 cities to adopt the appropriate language in the county legislation on the litter registry. And I will close with an update on the pet neighborhood. In my recent conversations with shelter management, I've been told that they are reaching out to director Fulham regarding some maintenance issues and safety concerns regarding the pet neighborhood in addition to the large shelter. That is all. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Next speaker. Good morning, sir.

Good morning commissioners, Ronnie Mayer living in Brookhaven. I've got two signs with me, but they're not protesting signs. I went to the big meeting in Brookhaven last week with the CEO and a young lady who works in her office brought her son and Andrew Young was there for his birthday for ninety four years and I'm first generation American, grew up first generation in Hawkinsville, Georgia, so our family understands. My grandfather, he walked with Andrew, with John Lewis and all those guys years ago, and when you're raised that way, you understand what it is to be a minority. My father died in 'sixty five and we moved up here to DeKalb County when Buford Highway was two lanes.

They called it the Jewford Highway because all the Jewish people who are now retiring as doctors and lawyers all went to Emory and lived right there in all those apartments there. I've got a a poster that I took a picture of right here, and I want everybody to see it. It's beautiful, and it brought me to tears that I had dismayed for our CEO to hang on her wall because I thought it was a great thing. Now let's get down to business. Eighteen years ago, exploits funds for our library.

Eighteen years ago, DeKalb County Library Board had been sitting on my money, our money. Commissioner Spears yesterday came all the way out to Wesley Chapel Road. We had a great, productive meeting. We need the Brookhaven Library at the dog park. It doesn't need to be in that hell hole where the old library is now.

Have unhoused people come off the road tracks and a lot of the moms feel uncomfortable with their children there. It would be a beautiful thing to be in the park, have a place in the basement for our elderly people to have meetings, Girl Scouts and so on. Now let's go on to the next business, the school board. The school board is out of control. They just dropped our property value by 15% in Brookhaven.

I'm going give this to Spears. Is from Asher Park Elementary School. Team Green is showing up and showing out. They all came, all the moms, all the dads, and just the school board knew it was going to be pouring down rain. They knew there was no place to park at Cross Keys. Instead of calling for the meeting at the city center, which the next meeting I want to be at the Brookhaven City Center, all the moms and dads got sopped and wet, and that just proves the school board does not know how to plan anything, and we're tired of it. Thank

you. Thank you, sir.

Jocelyn O'Neil, next speaker.

Mr. Zak, I'm gonna leave this over here for you.

Good morning, Ms. O'Neil.

Good morning. Good morning. I left my glasses this morning, so I'm going to be struggling a little bit. But I just want to say one thing about DeKalb County, we continue to repeat some of our bad habits. And I'm gonna say to you, commissioner Lee may love you, Kinda like mister Pringle. He'll tell you love you and then he'll cut you. So I'm gonna say this, follow the rules. Stay within the policy. We got a legal department. Please don't let us hear anything else.

We've seen and heard enough in previous years. I have asked for a update on Glenwood Road Hill from our supercommissioner and our third district commissioner. I did receive all the road pavings and where the patches are gonna be. That's not what I'm looking for. I want a timeline.

I want to know what is gonna happen with that Glenwood Hill Road because we still have people walking in the road from La Mesa from the top of the hill down to Glenmar. Very, very dangerous and deadly situation. And I'm thankful for the no vote for the 1p. I'm trying to figure out if we already have 1p for Martyr to 57, why do we need 1 more penny to 67? Because hell, most of us ain't gonna even be here.

I'm doing good, whatever, to get to 30 or 35, Twenty, thirty five. So we don't need that extra penny. Sounds like a lot of corruption going on with that. 3569 Larkspur Terrace is my small neighborhood park. We're having people coming in that park after 10:00 at night with children. We need more policing. Our new director, I need to get with you. We need to talk about that. Children in the park after 10:00. What's up with that?

And the parents, our so called parents. The metal plates that we've been putting down in DeKalb County, I wanna thank Mr. Zach Williams for the help that he gave me on Glenwood Road because it was interfering with our romantic nights with that rumbling and popping of the big trucks. So now we're just getting a bump, but come on, we gotta do better and once the plates are being moved, then the product that's left where they fill it in, they're not much better. They're better, but they still are sinking.

So we need to see what the process is or what the material, whatever it is that needs to stop all that. I want someone whoever deals with PSC, they block the road on Rockbridge, 07:00 in the morning, people trying to get to work putting up those big nice metal poles is gonna give us all a little bit of cancer too. It's about as bad as some of that data center But they don't need to be out there at 07:00 in the morning when people are trying to go to work. No data campuses. Just follow the law.

And I want to thank Community Development for the help with my neighborhood, family. The old man, he finally got a roof, it was a process that Community Development started, and it and we have ended that process. I wanna thank

you all.

Thank you.

Gary Jenkins.

Mister Jenkins. Good morning, sir.

Thank you. Thank you. Good afternoon. Morning, commissioners and others. Thank you for the opportunity to speak. My name is Gary Jenkins. I'm a taxpayer and unincorporated DeKalb County. I want to share what I have learned from the city of Atlanta's own documents regarding the post annexation of the Sergeant Avenue Sergeant Avenue area. After reserving the annexation service plan, the CVP amendment, the zoning orders, and the annexation orders, a very clear picture emerged. Atlanta takes the revenue, but the cap keeps the most expensive responsibilities.

The Sargent Avenue area generates nearly a half $1,000,000 in annual tax revenue for the DeKalb County taxpayers. If annexed, that revenue leaves immediately. But, the service plan states very plainly that DeKalb County will continue to own, operate and maintain the treatment water system, the sewer systems, and all storm water responsibilities for this area. It also states that capital improvements for water, sewer, and storm water responsibility. I received will the tax base, the sanitation fees, the zoning authority, and even the school system while the CABP keeps the most expensive infrastructure obligations.

Atlanta plan confirms this is not a full service annexation. Atlanta takes over the police, fire, sanitation, zoning, forestry service, maintenance, surface only, a in the APS school's jurisdiction, but DeKalb will still pay for water infrastructure, sewer infrastructure, storm water infrastructure, all capital improvements for these systems. This is not a ban a balanced transfer. It is a partial annexation where the county loses revenue but keeps the costliest responsibilities. Georgia law requires compensation when annexation harms the county.

Under Georgia code thirty six thirty six one ten through thirty six thirty six one one nine, when an annexation ships cost onto the county, the county is entitled to compensation. The law requires identification of county funded infrastructure, valuation of that infrastructure, negotiation of compensation, arbitration if parties cannot agree. Under the service delivery agreement, annexation all requires a review of service responsibilities tax impacts to ensure the county is not left subsidizing city growth. Why this annexation as written is not a good idea for for DeKalb? Because this creates a structure imbalance.

This is not sustainable and it's not fair to DeKalb County taxpayers. How to make this annexation better for DeKalb? I expect we ask the commission to formally request a physical impact review from the county attorney and finance department in both the compensation provisions require allowing to negotiate adjustments before any sanction is recognized, ensure the cab is compensated for water sewer. This is not about opposing annexation. It is about ensuring that Cab County is not financially harmed. Thank you for your time and for protecting the interest of this Kabb County taxpayers.

Thank you, sir.

Jan Dunaway. Miss Dunaway.

Jan Dunaway, a 30 plus resident of unincorporated Stone Mountain and a DeKalb County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor for over twenty years. I appreciate that there have been significant changes to the text amendment, but gaps remain that must be addressed. I hope you will approve the slip requirement for all types of data centers, cap the data center size not to exceed 500,000 square feet, eliminate the data center campuses, and approve funding for the health study to help protect the citizens of DeKalb County from data center impacts. Distance requirements between data centers to prevent clustering of small data centers is needed to decrease the possible pollution in just one area. That being said, I wanna get to the gaps.

The most recent articles have identified that discharge of chemically infused water is an import is as important as water intake. These chemicals will cause fish kills and remove oxygen needed from our waterways, potentially contaminated drinking water of our downstream neighbors. Clear pretreatment requirements are needed before the chemically treated water is discharged into our sewer system and should never be allowed in the storm water system. Specific parameters for quarterly monitoring and reporting should be determined before approval of the tax amendment. These reports should be available to for public review, and there should be consequences if the parameters are not met.

DeKalb County continues under the EPA EPD consent decree related to water and sewer overflows, water which have cost the citizens of DeKalb millions of dollars in fines. Citizens are facing the water and sewer rate increases of 10% year over year for ten years to pay for these needed upgrades. Even though the phase two project of Snap Finger Creek water treatment plant is completed, increasing capacity from 38,000,000 gallons per day to 54,000,000 gallons per day, will the sewer lines from the data centers to the treatment plant be overwhelmed by the data center discharge volume? No one data center but multiple data centers who will discharge water at least weekly. How much this increase in capacity will the data center use rather than the much needed housing for DeKalb County or business expansion that brings jobs?

Will director of watershed take time to explain the plan included in the text amendment? We deserve transparency. Making money for the few or supporting life for the many, that's the choice you have to make. Thank you.

Our last speaker, Jackie Malcolm.

Miss Malcolm, good morning.

Good morning, commissioners. How you all doing? I'm Jackie Malcolm and I live in District 3 off of Bouldercrest. And I'm just going to speak a little bit on the data campus. I know we that the text amendment is eventually gonna come up, and I'm speaking in case, just in case data campuses come in any district.

Okay. I do agree with Super District six revision of the copy of the text amendment version, but it needs a closer look at the buffers between the homes and the center the center itself. I do not see any distance between the data center from one data center to the next data center. We have to consider the schools, the day care centers, the nurseries, parks, and work worship facilities. We appreciate the fact that the name data campus was eliminated.

We do not want to wind up with several data centers all in the same all on the same property or near the same area. The City Grove community where I live is surrounded by several neighboring counties. City Grove area of DeKalb County is right in the midst of Clayton County and their data campus approval. Being so close being so close to Clayton County, City Grove community will most likely be affected from Clayton County having their data centers because we don't know what their provisions are. If we do not put some restrictions on the number of data centers that then it will have likely have data campuses everywhere.

This will actually defeat the purpose. We would like to accomplish this by having a cap on the number of data centers along with the distance restriction. Remember, we still have not addressed a full conversation with the water issues that we have over the entire county, especially where I live in District 3. Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am.

Madam presiding officer, we have one speaker left. I didn't know if you wanted to hear that today or

We have time for we can do that. And that's the last one that has signed up. Yes. Yes, ma'am. We'll do the last one.

Okay. Faye Colfield.

Ms. Faye. Good morning ma'am.

Good morning you guys. Thank you. There is Jesus' presence in the room because I thought I was gonna have to leave today without telling you about the situation over in Chaparral and in Southeast DeKalb County. Now, I have got these for you guys and this is a copy of what I'm talking about. We have a serious problem section.

We have wild pigs running loose. Now they started off oh, it's not a joke. It's not funny. They started off over in Panola Road near where the Lou Walker Center is, but they also were breeding in Panola State Park. So now they have met up in Arabian Mountain, which is the Calve County property, And they coming off they have torn up the back of Arabian Mountain.

If you think of where Arabian Mountain meets Chaparral, they are back there, they are digging up the ground, they are coming into the Chaparral subdivision. Now, I knew when I moved into Chaparral, I deliberately moved to the back. There were cows back there, there were deer back there, rabbits, everything running loose, couple of little snakes. And I knew we all had to exist together. But these these crazy pigs have now come into the community.

They are dangerous. They have horns. My neighbor's cats went missing. We can only assume that they were killed by them. We also have children who have to wait at the bus stop for the school bus and get off there. At night, they come out. They roam through the community. I was in my bed the other day. All of a sudden, I heard gunshots. And I knew that it was not somebody shooting at another human being because there was no conversation before. There was no speeding cars. These are these pigs. Now they're coming from Panola State Park. They've come into Chaparral. After they leave Chaparral, the next place is going to be the mall and the city of Lithonia.

Now you need to I have talked to members from the congressional staff. I've talked to members from the CEO staff. I've talked to state representatives. I've given you the names of the people I've talked to. You guys need to get together and get these pigs gone before something serious happens.

They have ten, twelve babies at a time. And we're entitled to a safe community. I should not have to go to my mailbox at night or take out my trash with my twins to make sure I can make it back down my driveway. So I'm encouraging you to get with the state, to get with the federal government, and begin a program to eradicate them before they take over the entire Southeastern section of this city. And I don't know who gets these, but you know, that's my problem.

She will grab them from me behind you. Thank you

very Okay, thank you very much.

Pigs. Do something about them

pigs. Oh, it's not funny.

So at this time, commissioner von Spears has something to share with us.

Thank you very much for this point of privilege. On a much more somber note, on behalf of the DeKalb governing authority, Troy Vincent, the president of a 100 black men of DeKalb County and their entire brotherhood, we extend our deepest sincerest condolences to the family of captain Richard Phillips of the Decatur Police Department. He has passed away, and our hearts are aching for him. He was a member of the 100 black men of DeKalb County, a member of the leadership DeKalb class of 2024. And if we could please now take a moment of silence.

Thank you. He will be missed.

Thank you, commissioner Long Spears for that. We have no public hearings today, so we will and no appeal. So we are on the top of page three. Appointment is not requiring board action for information only. We have one appointment from chief executive office, item twenty twenty six Dash0442. All commission districts appoint mister Sheldon Fleming to post eight of the recreation recreation parks and cultural affairs board. Wait. I'm sorry. There's none that need to be read into the record. That appointment was going to Pex, I believe. Okay. Madam Pexcher, do you have

Yes. Thank you, madam Peel. There is a we're gonna defer that to the April 14 b o c with a stop in PEX pending scheduling with mister Sheldon, filming to make sure he could actually come before PEX.

Thank you. If you can hit your motion button. Is there a second? There's a motion to defer this appointment. Seeing a request to speak, please open the machine for the vote. Thank you. We are now on the consent agenda, madam deputy presiding officer.

Okay. I'm ready, ma'am.

Let's do it. Under airport, item twenty twenty six dash zero three eight nine, commission districts one and six, standardized office space agreement with l Caitlin Henry. There is no cost to the county.

Move for action.

Item twenty twenty six dash zero three nine two. Commission districts one zero six. Consent to sublease under contract number 16Dash1710 with $2,005.05 Way Drive LLC. There is no cost to the county.

Move for action.

Under board of commissioners, item twenty twenty six dash zero four six three, approval of minutes for the 03/03/2026 committee of the whole meeting.

Move for action.

Top of page four, item twenty twenty six dash zero four zero three, Commission District 2, District 2 to allocate $18,800 from 2001 Park Bond for improvements at Briar Lake Park.

Move for action.

Item twenty twenty six dash zero four zero four, also District 2, to allocate 21,500 from two thousand one Park Bond for the development of a master plan at 1634 Briarcliff Road, parcel ID 1805702012.

Move for action.

Continue with commission district two, item twenty twenty six dash zero four two seven, appropriation of $20,000 from district to reserve for appropriation to stride ahead for equine therapy.

Move for action.

Item twenty twenty six dash zero four three five, district two, allocation of $15,000 from the district to reserve for appropriation to Bella's blessings to support pet owners in need.

Move for action.

A district five item, item twenty twenty six dash zero four seven nine, an item to allocate $25,000 to How Big Is Your Dream Incorporated for the district from the district five reserve for appropriations funds for the Summer Youth Academy of the Arts.

Move for action.

District 6 items, item twenty twenty six dash zero four two four to appropriate $43,800 as District 6 reserve for appropriations. Student two, Nicole Sage, Sage PR Consulting for event development, production, logistics, and community outreach, FY 2026, Shakespeare on the Green Community Arts and Education Series.

Move for action.

Top of page five, item twenty twenty six dash zero four two five, super District 6 to appropriate $32,978 of district six reserve for appropriations to the city of Avondale States to support and expand the twenty twenty six Shakespeare on the Green Community Arts and Education Series.

Move for action.

Madam deputy presiding officer, the next item we need to have it deferred.

Yes, we will defer that one. Thank you.

Yes, ma'am. And with that, I move to approve items two zero two six zero three eight nine zero three nine two zero four six three, zero four zero three, zero four zero four, zero four two seven, zero four three five, 0479, 0424, and 0425.

Thank you. Is there a second?

Second.

We have a motion and a second. Please open the machines for other votes. That motion to approve the consent agenda, it passes. We will go back to the item that we did not include in the consent agenda item twenty twenty six dash zero four four one all commission districts approval of the minutes of the Board of Commissioners meeting of 02/26/2026.

I move to defer item four forty one for two weeks.

Second.

We have a motion and a second. Please open the machines for the vote. Motion to defer passes. Thank you. Now we are in the middle of page five. Preliminary items under airport item twenty twenty six-three 88, Commission Districts one and six, resolution to accept GDOT tentative allocation of state funding assistance associated with the project for airfield crack seal and remarking at the DeKalb Peachtree Airport, there is a matching cost to the accounting. And this is an ops item.

Yeah. I that's eight eight. Yeah. I moved to defer this item to the next POC meeting, which would be on, let's see, March 24. '24. '4. Yeah. March 24 with the slapping in us.

You. If you'll hit your button, ma'am. And is there a second? Second. Hit your button again, commissioner David Johnson. There we go. Please open the machines for the vote. Motion to defer passes. Bottom of page five, item twenty twenty six-four 58, all commission districts authorizing $9,670,525 of SPOS two funding for facilities improvements to include roofing and HVAC system repairs and replacements for DeKalb County physical and mental health facilities. And this is a PEC site.

Thank you, madam Pio. Motion to defer to the March 24 BOC with the stop and PEC's. And, COO, can we have, the itemized costs for each of those facilities? So, what we are expecting to spend on each of those facilities to equate to the total of just a little over 9,000,000 for PEX when we're here today. Thank you so much.

Ms. Thank you.

Ms. Second.

We have a motion and a second to defer. Please open the machines. Motion to defer passes. Top of page six, item twenty twenty six-four 61, all commission districts to appropriate SPLOS II funding to purchase, install, and repair Lew Walker kitchen equipment.

Thank you so much, Madam Pio. Motion to defer to the March 24 BOC with a stop in PEX today. Again, can we get a total, on that? It'd be great to be able to have a thank you so much. I get back to you.

Is there a second? Second. Thank you. Commissioner Terry's requested to speak. You have the floor.

Yes. Thank you, madam, presiding officer. I did want to ask Zach, what was the total cost for this agenda item?

Rough numbers about 250,000. We're talking about $0.04 $6.01.

Okay. And then how long has the kitchen been

closed? Years.

Three years? Oh, Lord. Okay.

I mean, we've providing food, of course.

But I see.

It has not been fully operating, I think, about period

of time. I'm hearing

it today.

As a matter of fact, commissioner, Marina Davis Johnson had allocated some funding about $80,000 rough numbers last year. But it just the need is significantly more.

Okay. And we'll have

a more

in-depth conversation and text today on that?

Well, the reason why I asked Madam Presiding Officer is I mean, honestly, I don't I mean, I I think sometimes some of these items do deserve a lot of discussion. This one seems pretty straightforward and the fact that the seniors came and asked for this, and it looked like the administration moved pretty quickly to get the agenda item together. So my hope was what we could approve it today, unless there was any major concerns with the item. It seemed like it was something that's longer overdue, and I didn't think it was controversial. Of course, that's up to the PEC chair, but just wanted to offer that if the board would consider.

Again, my motion stands to hear it in PEC's. It's going to be heard in PEC's today as the PEC's chair. It must be heard in PEC's today.

Commissioner Davis Johnson has requested to speak.

Yeah. I've spoken with Lew Walker. I've spoken with the administration, so it hasn't been anything that has fallen under the bridge. We have been discussing this item. I have allocated personal money to it. And I've talked with PACS. They're going to hear it today. We will vote on it next week. If it's been closed for three years, two more weeks won't hurt. So thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you. Seeing no further request to speak, please open the machine for the vote. Motion to defer passes. We are now in the middle of page six, item twenty twenty six dash zero four six zero. All commission districts to approve the usage of SPLAS one and SPLAS two funding to make needed repairs to East Precinct and the police training facility by $3,019,530. This is an IRPS item.

Move for action.

Yes, ma'am. Item twenty twenty six dash zero four five nine, all commission districts to approve the usage of SWAS one funds under category two h for public safety training facility in the amount of $500,000 to evaluate and propose the most appropriate location for a public safety training facility.

Move for action.

Yes, ma'am. At the top of page seven, item twenty twenty six-three 11, all commissioned district statewide contract, very long number, guns, ammunition and accessories for use by the Department of Police Services consists of purchasing from the competitively led statewide contract for the purchase and trade in of weapons awarded to Smyrna Police Distributors Incorporated amount not to exceed a $150,704.50.

Move for action, and with that, I move to approve items two zero two six zero four six zero zero four five nine and zero three one one as it was recommended for approval in the IRPS committee.

Thank you, ma'am. Is there a second?

Second.

We have a motion and a second. I see no request to speak. Please open the machines for the vote. That motion passes. Middle of page seven.

This is a fab item. Item twenty twenty six dash zero three one six, all commission districts. Change order number one to contract number 2000316 of a statewide contract end user computing for use by the marshal's office. This contract consists of the purchase of laptops, surface package bundles, and related accessories. This request seeks to increase contract funds awarded to Panasonic Connect North America, a division of Panasonic Corporation of North America and care of ProLogic, its LLC, amount not to exceed $107,286.30.

Mr. Fabcher?

Sorry about that. Yes. So we're, we'll defer this for two weeks and stop and FAB.

Second. Alright.

A motion to defer and a second

To March 24.

To March 24 with a prior stop in FAB. Thank you. Please open the machines for your vote. That motion to defer passes. Bottom of page seven.

This is an ops item, item 2020Six-one76, change order number 3 to contract 1,351,620, mailing equipment supplies and maintenance services from a statewide contract for use by Department of Voters registration on elections. This contract consists of utilizing the competitively statewide contract for annual mailing and maintenance services for voter registration and elections. This request seeks to ratify previously provided contract term increase. This request also seeks approval to increase contract funds and term through 06/30/2026, awarded to Quadrant Incorporated, amount not to exceed $10,000

Move for action.

Yes, ma'am. Top of page eight, item twenty twenty six-one 199. Change order number four to contract number 10000039871, commercial printing services voting signs for use by the Department of Voter Registration and Elections. This contract consists of the purchase of voter relocation signs. This request seeks approval to ratify a previously provided contract term increase. This request also seeks approval to increase the contract term through 06/30/2026, to continue services awarded to Mr. Nice Print, a contract term extension only.

Move action.

Item 2020Six-two55, change order number 5 to contract number 1325127, and change order number 4 to contract number 1325124, and change order number 3 to 1325126, Landscape Maintenance Services for Public Grounds annual contract with two options to renew for use by the Department of Facilities Management, Public Works, Sanitation, and Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs. These contracts consist of providing landscape maintenance services for the county's public grounds. This request seeks to ratify the increases to contracts to pay for outstanding invoices. This request also seeks to extend the contract term through 06/30/2026, awarded to Artscape Inc, the Simons Group, and Let Us Love Your Lawn. Total amount not to exceed $644,854.

I move for action. Madam presiding officer, I wish to approve 260176. 260199, twenty six zero two five five as they were approved in the ops committee.

Thank you, ma'am. You will hit your button for me. And is there a second? Second. And that was to approve, correct? Yes. Seeing no request to speak, please open machines for the vote. Thank you. That motion to approve carries. We are now at the top of page nine.

100 item twenty twenty Six-two60, change order number 5 to contract number 1258332, change order number 2 to contract number 1058334, and change order number one to contract numbers 10000025800333 and 1,258,335, soil and materials testing, surveying, services and structural analysis, multi year contract for use by the Department of Facilities Management, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs, Public Works Transportation, Public Works Road and Drainage, Watershed Management and Planning and Sustainability. These contracts consist of providing geotechnical and geo environmental evaluations for the engineering constructability and or potential environmental risk of multiple sites throughout the county. This request seeks to ratify previously issued purchase orders in the amount of $56,148.82 for contract $100,000,258,003 33. This request further seeks to increase contract funds for Department of Watershed Management, MP and S, awarded to Matrix Engineering Group Incorporated, Corporate Environmental Risk Management, LLC, Accurate Engineering and Consulting Services, Inc, and United Consulting Group, Ltd. Total amount not to exceed, dollars 436,148.82.

Move fraction.

That was a mouthful. Item twenty twenty six-three twenty seven, all commission districts change order number one to contract number 1358690, cloud solutions and services for use by finance, Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Innovation and Technology. This contract consists of purchasing off the competitively led statewide contract to purchase OpenGov software for budget development, management, reporting, and transparency. This request seeks to increase contract funds for continued use of OpenGov software awarded to CaraSoft Technology Corp, amount not to exceed $413,451

Move to action.

We are now at the top of page 10, item twenty twenty six-three 28, all commissioned districts change order number three to contract number 20000027, network professional services and monitoring, annual contract before options to renew for use by the Department of Innovation and Technology. This contract consists of providing managed network services and maintenance support for the countywide voice and data network. This request seeks to increase the contract's term through to 09/30/2026, and funds awarded to MGT Impact Solutions, LLC amount not to exceed $491,450.13

Move fraction.

Item twenty twenty six-three ninety one, all commission districts change order number one to contract number 1323437 Pest Control Services for use by the Department of Facilities Management. This contract seeks to ratify a previously provided contract term increase. This request also seeks to increase contract funds and term through 09/30/2026, awarded to Powerhouse Termite and Pest Control Incorporated amount not to exceed $65,000

Move action. Madam resigning officer, I move, to defer item twenty six zero two six o, twenty six zero three two seven, twenty six zero three two eight, twenty six zero three nine one as a deferral was recommended and opt to to the March 24 BOC meeting with the stop in ops on the seventeenth.

Second. Thank you. If y'all can hit your madam, miss Davis Johnson, if you do it again. It's not liking you today. There we go. Thank you. We have a motion and a second. Please open the machine for the vote. All right, the motion to defer passes. Bottom of page 10.

Item twenty twenty six dash zero three nine three. All commission districts, and there is a substitute for this one. Change order number 10 to contract numbers 1213631, 1213634, and 1213635, commercial janitorial services for use by the Department of Facilities Management and Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs. These contracts consist of the development, management, and monitoring of high quality commercial janitorial cleaning custodial services and day porters. This request seeks to increase the contract term and funds through 06/30/2026, awarded to Building Maintenance Services, CleanStar National Inc, an A Action janitorial, total amount not to exceed $984,786.

I make a motion to approve the substitute, could someone tell me what's the difference in these two?

Good morning.

Good morning, commissioners. So, the total amount has not changed, but the estimated amounts per vendor has. It is actually being corrected to align with the request from the user department. So, if you dig down into the details, the building maintenance services estimated amount was supposed to be $144,494 Clean Star's estimated amount was supposed to be $675,292 and a action was supposed to be $165,000 Those amounts align with the user department's recommendation form that you have in your packet.

Thank you. With a motion and a second, Commissioner Bolton, you have requested to speak.

I have. And I do recall, bringing up a question regarding those amounts because the amount for building maintenance of East DeCapp Senior Center, Sugar Creek, and Mystery Valley was exceptionally high as compared to, eight action janitorial services. So was that the adjustment that was made based on the question that was asked the last time?

Yes and no. So, the work that was originally planned did not change. The error was an actual error in developing the agenda item. So, it really didn't result from your question, but it was something that was reviewed by the user department in trying to answer your question about the line items, and they noticed that conflict.

Okay. Thank you for making that adjustment. I yield back.

Thank you. Commissioner Carey, can you please proceed?

Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner Bolton, for asking for the breakdown, the helps. So it looks like the CleanStar portion, which is the largest portion, is for 4380 Memorial Drive and new animal shelter. Is that for the expansion section?

Or is

it for the whole shelter cleaning in general?

I'm going to have to defer to the user department on that one.

I don't have the answer to that one.

One more time. The contract for cleaning for the entirety of the animal shelter? Yes.

So it's

going to be the existing or the previously existing and the expansion.

Got it. So that explains why some of them are lower, but this one is higher because the animal shelter has expanded. It's expanded, but it's like 20 fourseven. They clean like all the time, right? Think that was part of the issue we had a few years ago where there wasn't enough.

It's an ongoing challenge, yes. Okay,

thank you.

Do you have another question? So Ms. Shimbolton, I think, is requesting to speak.

I am. Thank you. I do appreciate the adjustment, but can we have can you come and just extrapolate a little bit more on the changes? Because they are very significant from the substitute. For example, with the Building Maintenance Services, Inc, it went from 737,000 to 144,000. That's extreme. I need a little bit more explanation for that. And then with the Clean Star National, it went from 82,000 to almost $700,000.

Sorry commissioners, I'm not sure if this will answer your question.

Okay. These

main pages that you see, they are a summarization of the information we receive from the user department when they have a request. This, the error was on the drafting of the main page, which was internal to my group an error in looking at what the user department requested and what was conveyed on that document. So, the user department's document always said that A Action was supposed to get a $165,000 in this change order request and that clean star was to get 165 and building maintenance 144. Also, this request is from two departments, so it's facilities and parks and recs. So, one the vendors is a culmination of two requests from two different departments.

So, if we look at the packet in its entirety, the user department recommendation forms have their requests. This main page is the summary. The original document submitted was wrong. And so, we're cleaning up that error that was made when we developed the main page to align with what the user department originally requested. Now, as far as the details as to what specifically is being assigned to each vendor and like the increase in work or decrease in work, I wouldn't have an answer for that. But the main page, that was an error in drafting.

Okay. And and you may have just said this, but can you reiterate or maybe the user department will have to do how much is going toward 4380 Memorial Drive versus the shelter?

I would not have that detailed of information. That would need to be from the use department.

Would you like to make a substitute motion to defer so you can get more answers?

It sounds like Zach may have a response.

No, that's what I would prefer. We can just provide a written layout, a chart that shows each facility and the anticipated cost for each. Does that make sense?

Yeah, I would appreciate Can

you make a substitute motion? Doctor. You'll change your motion? Doctor. Okay.

I change my motion to defer this item to the twenty fourth, but the stop back in ops.

To defer the substitute.

The substitute.

Yes, ma'am. Second. We have a motion and a second for a deferral

Okay. Substitute. And, yeah, and I do have a comment.

If you hit your button. Commissioner Davis Johnson.

Okay. Yeah, if we could excuse me. Zay, if we can talk with when you present that, if you present it before the ops meeting

Yes, ma'am.

And discuss it with the members of ops so that any questions can be answered prior to ops. Absolutely. And okay. And we can move on with this item. Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Davis Johnson. Seeing no other requests to speak, please open the machines for the vote on the deferral. Motion to defer passes. We are now at the top of page 11, item twenty twenty Six-three94, contract number 1,367,915, light bulbs, fixtures, lamps, and ballasts for use by the Department of Facilities Management. This contract consists of the purchase of light bulbs, fixtures, lamps, and ballasts.

This request seeks to ratify a previously provided contract term increase. This request also seeks to exercise a second renewal option through 02/28/2027, awarded to Summit Lighting Solutions amount not to exceed $125,000

Motion to defer this item to the three twenty four Board of Commission meeting to stop and ops on threeseventeen.

Hit your button one more time, ma'am. Second. And if you hit your button. Seeing our request to speak, please open the machines for a vote. Motion to defer passes.

We are now middle of page 11, and these are PEC's items. Item 2020Six-three07, contract number renewal for contract number 2000132, pressure washing services for county parks for use by the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs. This contract consists of providing pressure washing services for county parks. This request seeks to exercise the first renewal option through 05/31/2027, awarded to Facility Maintenance and Services Group LLC, amount not to exceed 63,000.

Move for action.

Item 2020Six-three95, renewal contract number 1360830, tree cutting and removal services for RPCA for use by RPCA. This contract consists of providing tree cutting and removal services for county owned facilities. This request seeks to ratify a previously provided contract term increase. This request also seeks to exercise a second renewal option through 01/31/2027 awarded to Sesmus Tree Services LLC. Total amount, Noctex C, dollars 250,000.

Move for action. Yes, ma'am.

We're on top of page 12, item twenty twenty six-four 26, all commission districts change order number three to contract number 120Six-nine307 and change order number 2 to contract numbers 120Six-nine304, 120Six-nine305, asbestos abatement, demolition, and debris removal for use by the Department of Community Development. This contract consists of providing asbestos abatement, demolition, and debris removal services. This request seeks approval to ratify a previously issued contract term increase in provided services. This request also seeks approval to increase contract funds and terms through 12/31/2026, awarded to Southern Demolition LLC, Kisper Construction Incorporated, and Diversified Environmental Management Inc. Total amount not to exceed $480,525.

Move for action. Madam Peel, I have a motion to defer agenda items ending in zero three zero seven, zero three nine five, and zero four two six with a to the March 24 BLC with a stop in PEX today so that they can be heard by committee.

Thank you. Is there a second? Second. Thank you. Seeing no request to speak, please open the machine.

Motion to defer passes. We are in the middle of page 12. These are PWI items. Item 2020Six-one82, change order number 1 to contract number 9000888950 print and mail services, electronic billing, presentment, and data processing for the Department of Finance to be used by the Department of Watershed Management, Public Works Sanitation, and the Peach Tree DeKalb Airport. This contract consists of providing customized bill formatting print and mail services, posting the county's water and sewer portal and other miscellaneous statements to citizens and businesses.

This request seeks to ratify a previously provided contract term increase. This request also seeks to increase the contract term through 12/31/2026, awarded to Level One LLC, doing business as Doxum Company contract term extension only.

Thank you, Madam Presiding Officer. Based on

the recommendation of PWI, motion to approve. Is there a second? Motion and a second by Commissioner Terry. Seeing no request to speak, please open the machine for a vote. And that was a motion to approve.

Correct.

Do we need to do it again? Say that again, I'm sorry.

Stripe the machine again We

can't, it's still on the voting

for us. Okay.

Okay. If you can do that again, Commissioner Patrick.

Again, that's a motion to approve.

Yes. Commissioner Terry, if you'll hit your second again. And open the machines. Perfect. That motion to approve passes.

Thank you. Top of page 13, item twenty twenty six-two 41 RFP number 2020 five-twenty three, RFP Shoal Creek Trunk Sewer Section one, Construction Management Services for use by the Department of Watershed Management consists of providing preconstruction services, construction inspection, and other field services, as well as scheduling and attending meetings and preparing progress reports during the construction phase of the Shoal Creek Trunk Sewer Relief Section one project, recommended awarded to the highest scoring proposer, Benchmark Management LLC, Total amount not to exceed $5,648,923.50.

Move fraction.

Item 2026Dash0277, invitation number 2025Dash069 ITB consent decree, major gravity sewer line capacity restoration for the use of our department watershed management consists primarily to address urgent sanitary sewer maintenance and rehabilitation needs identified through the assessment in the ongoing sewer assessment and rehabilitation program and the maintenance management system. Secondly, this contract will also be used to perform sewer rehabilitation to reduce infiltration and inflow, or I and I, and provide additional capacity for potential development. Recommend award to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, Southeast Pipe Survey Inc, amount not to exceed $21,042,416.45.

Move fraction.

Bottom of page 13, item twenty twenty six dash zero two eight eight, Invitation number 2025Dash087 ITB water valve and air valve replacement and repairs for use by the department watershed management consists of installation and maintenance of valves within its potable water system that had been previously identified as failing, recommend award to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder to GS Construction Incorporated amount not to exceed $19,888,160.

Move for action. Madam presiding officer, as all of these items are over $3,000,000 and we're waiting on mister Lavoie Campbell's department to come back with an audit review and based on the recommendation of PWI. Motion to defer to the March 24 BOC with a prior stop at PWI. Agenda item twenty twenty six-two 41, twenty twenty six-two 77, and twenty twenty six-two 88.

Thank you. Commissioner Terry has seconded. Seeing no request to speak. Please open the machines. Motion to defer Carrie Riesberg now at the top of page 14.

Item twenty twenty six Dash0305, cooperative agreement, bulk solid waste and recycling equipment, source well contract number 010825WQI, freeze by Department of Public Works Sanitation. This request seeks to purchase from the competitively lit source for contract for the provision of commercial containers, as well as steel bottoms and top lifts for roll off and commercial services at various locations within the county awarded to Waste Quip Manufacturing Company, LLC, amount not to exceed $425,518.2

Move for action.

Item twenty twenty six-three twenty nine, contract number 2000223, landfill professional engineering and surveying services, annual contract, first renewal of four options to renew, freeze by the Department of Public Works Sanitation. This contract consists of providing engineering and surveying services related to municipal solid waste landfills, including construction, operating, permitting, and compliance at the county's solid waste management facilities. This request seeks to exercise the first renewal option through 04/30/2027, awarded to Stearns, Conrad and Schmidt Consulting Incorporated, doing business as SCS Engineers, amount not to exceed $2,000,000

Move for action.

Top of page 15, item twenty twenty six-three 36, change order number one to contract number 1318900370 tires recycling for use by the Department of Public Works Sanitation. This contract consists of picking up and removing tires from the Seminole landfill that were collected from illegal dump sites, residential homes, and tire cleanup projects. This request seeks to ratify a previously provided contract term increase. This request also seeks to increase the contract's term through 01/31/2027, and funds awarded to Latham Home Sanitation Company, Inc, amount not to exceed $275,000

Move fraction.

Middle of page 15, item twenty twenty six-one 162, Commission Districts 2 And 6, agreement for the construction and financing of sewer upgrades with NEX Development Partners LLC with a contribution of $832,000.

Move for action.

Item twenty twenty six dash zero three six one, all commission districts agreement for River Lake Information Management Services.

Move for action. Madam Presiding Officer, based on the recommendation of PWI, I make a motion to approve the following items: twenty twenty six-three zero five, three twenty nine, three thirty six, 162, and three sixty one.

Did you say three thirty six?

0336.

Yes. Okay. We have a motion and a second to approve. Request to speak by commissioner Messiah. You have the floor.

Thank you so much, madam Peel. Just a quick question. Because I know that we usually, with our majority of PWI items, they're specific to all all districts. This is two and six. And just looking at the item, it is related to a multifamily unit project. So just wanting to understand that just a little bit more in terms of it being specific to 2 And 6 and understanding the nature just a little bit.

I'm not sure if staff is here, but as I recall, this contract had about $200,000 that the county would ultimately be paying for And the rest of the money is going for are coming from that developer to actually build out the sewer system as well as you need the sewer system to build the houses. And so that's what they're going to do is use that for building housing. Mr. Welch?

Thank you, commissioners. Yes. So, this item to address your question is one of the cost sharing agreements, that you've been seeing come through where a developer agrees to pay a certain percentage of the cost of expansion of the system in order to allow their project to come online. And we have historically simply noted the district in which that project is located. Though I agree with you Commissioner, it does provide relief and some benefit countywide. But that has been the tradition just to put the district and super district where the project is actually located.

Well, thank you so much. That's what happens when you're on another committee and you're off PWI.

She just misses us.

I do. I really do. I was thinking about that earlier. But with that, I yield back to you. Thank you so much. I yield back to you, Menphio.

Thank you. Seeing no further requests to speak, please open machines for the vote. That motion carries. Thank you. We are now under items for decision by the board, district two items top of page 16. Item twenty twenty five-eleven 89, all commission districts, a resolution adopting digital accessibility compliance measures to meet the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disability Act and this is an ops

item. Okay.

Top of page 16.

Top of page 16. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, I make a motion to approve this item. It was approved in NOPS committee.

Second. Motion to approve. And if you hit your button, Commissioner Davis Johnson, ed by commissioner Patrick. Commissioner Longstreet has requested to speak.

Thank you very much, madam presiding officer. Just wanted to extend my appreciation to our IT team under director Shelton. Thank you guys so much. We're just exploring this. I know that this federal requirement does continue to evolve, and I know it's taken considerable time out of your work life to make sure that DeKalb County is compliant, and I feel very confident that we will be.

Thank you also to the Ops Committee for recommending approval on this item. As a side note, just as a reminder, all of our commission websites, we are required to be compliant by April next month of this year. So it's coming up fast and furious. But again, thank you all so much for the hard work. I yield back.

You. Seeing no further requests to speak, please open the machine for the vote. Someone hasn't voted. Hid it though. There we go. The motion carries, thank you. Whenever we get back to Maloof. That's still April, right, Zach? We're moving back to Maloof in April? I'm putting him on the spot.

I'm putting him on the spot. Yeah, that's why I'm not holding my breath. Okay. Bottom of page 16, item twenty twenty six-two 86, all commission districts. Resolution of the Board of Commissioners, the Kepp County, Georgia, reaffirming the county's prior authorization to seek recovery of costs of impoundment and care for court held dogs pursuant to OCGA four-eleven-9.8, urging the DeKalb County Law Department to resume filing cost of care petitions and to create a court held dog coordinator position. This is an ops.

I make a motion that this item be deferred. Enter your mic, please. Make a motion that this item be deferred to the March 24 meeting with the stock back in ops on the seventeenth.

Thank you. Is there a second? Okay, come on. We have a second by Commissioner Bolton. Commissioner Longspheres is requested to speak.

Thank you very much, Madam Presiding Officer. So, I am so happy to announce that our interim county attorney, mister Phillips, has heard us, has heard the animal advocates, and has heard the community that it was time to resume cost of care. So thank you so much for doing that. Yes, applaud him. Thank you.

It was a lot of work for the law team to do it. They are still a little short staffed, but they made this a priority. So that means a lot, and it sends a very strong message that a law department in DeKalb County, we do care about our furry friends, and we are doing the best that we can. Here's an update that attorney Phillips provided to us this morning. Cindy Duke's demand letter sent 02/02/2026, so got that ball rolling. Dukes did not come to reclaim the animal, and it was released from the court held status. There you go. That's good. Now that animal can be foster or adopted out as well. Shane Martinez, demand letter sent 02/02/2026.

He signed a surrender on January 26 at arraignment. Surrender form was sent to the shelter on March 5. We have another win. And this is hot off the presses, by the way. Rebecca Hooker, motion to dispose hearing, March 10. That is today, was at nine a. M. And a little bit of a drum roll, the judge has already ruled and we won, releasing four more animals. Yay. And thank you to attorneys McDonald and Martin for being present and fighting for our furry friends this morning.

The last is Terry Rozier, motion to dispose prepared for filing and the team is in the process of analyzing some details around that case. But we look forward to continuing to provide these updates. So that's the first piece of my comments. Would you like to add to it, Attorney Phillips?

I just want to share, so that we're all clear, the preliminary work necessary to file a cost of care petition is what the public safety team in the law department achieved. And as a result of that preliminary work, you see that animals were released before we actually had to file the cost of care petition. But we continue that work, and we started that work over a month ago, as you can tell from what's there, and we'll continue to do that moving forward.

Thank you, sir. You just threw me the softball. I was also going to thank director Fulham, for him really taking a deep dive into animal services and being present, listening to the advocates' concerns, and just really being open to innovative solutions. And one of those solutions is a position within the police department for a, court dog coordinator, I believe we're calling it in the police department. So thank you, sir.

That was included in the budget this year. In addition, the law department has included in their budget a court dog paralegal. Lastly, and we're hoping to introduce this as a budget amendment this year, we are exploring, as miss Seidl discussed during public comment, an animal cruelty investigator to be in the police department. And I think with those three new positions, we really can aggressively attack this ongoing issue. My third comment relates to the deferral. I understand there's been still some work to be done with this. Would you mind sharing, commissioner Davis Johnson, the reason for that deferral recommendation at a committee?

Yeah. Because you weren't there to speak on it.

Oh, well, alrighty. If

to you speak on it, we

will Yes. Move Okay. Thank you very much. So I will be present at the next ops committee to speak on that item, and hopefully we can move it forward. But to wrap up and summarize animal advocates, all of our red shirts, thank you so much for continuing to show up.

You will always see I'm taking your photo. Someday I'm going to just send you all the photos so that it can remind you how often you do come and sit through our sometimes explosive, sometimes boring meetings. But you are here because you care and you're passionate and you know that we can do better, we are doing better, and we are realizing change. That has taken many years to take effect, but I'm proud of it. I also do certainly want to thank the administration, our CEO, Mr.

Williams and everyone else that has been involved with and certainly our animal enforcement folks. We're just trying to get to the root of the problem. As was stated earlier, in the budget, the increase for the budget, a lot of that increase did, was surrounded around the need to increase our spay neuter services, and it was a very aggressive, amendment, a very aggressive contract expansion. And like I said two weeks ago, I believe that DeKalb County, our county here in Georgia is doing more for animal well-being and has in the last three years than any county in The United States Of America. And I challenge anyone out there who doesn't agree with me to please send me who is doing it better.

So thank you to everyone. I yield back.

Thank you. Commissioner Bolton?

Thank you, madam Peel. And my comments were gonna align with commissioner Long Spears, so I'm not gonna belabor the point. I'm just gonna give a few additionals as well as thank our legal department, our director of public safety, and everyone involved who did such an amazing amazing job with helping to make sure we did have those four dogs released. I did want to speak to the deferral also. The last one was specifically because commissioner Longspears wasn't available to speak on it.

But one of the reasons I supported a deferral previously was because our county attorney did indicate to us that they were already working on the cost of care and then just demonstrated how the preliminary work has helped. So giving them an opportunity to show that they are doing the work before putting forth the resolution. And now that we've seen the result and rather quickly, I I might say I didn't expect to see results so quickly, I would actually recommend rather than a this being a resolution, maybe a reaffirmation of what we're currently doing to support the work and the results that we've seen thus far. So, if you would be amenable to that commissioner, I would make that recommendation.

So certainly, I'm open to a friendly amendment. I did wanna point out commissioner Bolton, it's a resolution of the board of commissioners of DeKalb County reaffirming the county's prior authorization. And so if the county attorney, if you have any suggestions at how to wordsmith that, and certainly, I would support that friendly amendment.

Yeah. Because I was speaking more of what you're doing currently and I see what you're saying is the reaffirmation of what was previously stated. So maybe if we can marry the two of those.

I will offer that offline. I have offered some slight tweaks to the resolution as crafted. I think it is appropriate to reaffirm in terms of the board's authorization for the affirmative litigation. Empowers the law department and the reaffirmation says we may continue to file the appropriate motions. In addition to that, I have offered some slightly tweaked language just saying we'll continue as opposed to restart.

And a few other minor tweaks for commissioner Spears consideration. To be fair, I just got those to her. So I would ask that you give her an opportunity to digest that and see what she thinks is appropriate for her legislation. But I did offer language for her consideration and we're open for discussions about that. But it was just to acknowledge what we've been doing to go forward.

And just to be clear, the four animals that have been referenced were from today's proceeding. There are much more than four animals. Those other cases involved additional animals. Forgive me for not having the total number, but we'll continue to push. And I think it was Commissioner Spears goal to make sure that the paralegal added in the law department would regular reporting. So you would get this information on a regular basis. What we've done, the number of animals, etc. So forth. And we're working to identify that paralegal and get back to giving those regular reports. Thank

you, sir, and thank you commissioner Longspears. Also, to our red shirts, one thing I wanted to share with you guys, if you did not see the last IRPS meeting, employee relations and public safety, we did initiate the conversation with chief Patrick about, an additional investigator to help with the cases, through your advocacy sharing that with us. And, also, the solicitor also brought it to our attention, which is great because all of those that are involved, whether it's public safety, the solicitor, the legal department, everybody has to work together to get it done. And so when folks see the gaps and make suggestions, that allows us as a board to help fill those gaps. So, we have had the conversation and things are moving forward.

So, thank you guys so much for being such great advocates. And with that, I yield back.

Thank you. Commissioner Terry.

Thank you. I agree with all my colleague statements and thank you, County Attorney Phillips for working on this. So basically, you're just you're recommending some tweaks to the resolution.

Okay.

Yes. And out of respect, we shared them with commissioner Spears because it was hers so that she could take a look and No.

That's fine. Yeah. Don't mind.

That's fine. From

But in essence, what the resolution is saying is being done?

Correct.

Okay. All right. Thank I

don't think it's a huge substantive change. It's minor tweaks to acknowledge we're already working, and I did touch the timing of some things in there. Okay.

You guys can deep dive into that at the committee. Commissioner Messiah?

Thank you so much, Madam Pio. And so, the other thing that was discussed was an advocate. And so, we were talking about bridging the actual authority of it and an officer and versus the court and there's just that missing middle and at this point there are volunteers that are stepping in to try to bridge that gap. So similarly to how we have a victim advocate when it comes to court cases that works with the solicitor, that works with law enforcement, actually having an advocate on behalf of the animals that can help bridge that gap as well. So, that's something that was mentioned and, you know, I think will be helpful to actually explore.

Think we mentioned it the last meeting we talked about it. So, just another consideration for law, public safety, and for us all to consider. With that, I yield back to you, Madam P. L. Thank you.

Ms. Thank you, Commissioner Long Spears, for your second opportunity.

Yes, ma'am. Thank you much. So to echo attorney Phillips, he did send thank you, sir, for doing that over some minor tweaks to this current resolution. So we'll review it. You know, certainly sit with him briefly, send out the sub to you guys prior to the ops meeting so that you have the most recent version of that.

And then as a follow-up to commissioner Messiah, she is correct. One of the ideas that has been bounced around for quite some time, and I think miss Nugent might have brought this to my attention several years ago, is something along the lines of like a guardian ad litem, like we do for children and the child welfare system, is a guardian at litem for animals. And so the purpose of that role is, like for the child welfare system, that guardian at litem is representing the child, not the mom or the dad or the state or another institution, but specifically representing the child. If we I do think this is a good idea to explore it, but a guardian ad litem would represent the best interest of the animal, regardless of what the owner wants or the county wants or lifeline, etcetera. So, thank you for resurfacing that.

It is a very good idea and I would be in support of it.

And I did have a question from the Chair of Ops. So, that would be item that might be coming up

in Oh, yeah, the don't worry about

it now. Nancy It's not part of this one. All right, thank you.

Nancy We'll

get this one. We This went fast.

Are still at a motion Hols: to defer this item. Yeah.

If I might finish, I just still have the floor. Okay. Ms. It looks like the clock oh, there we go. The clock's running. So, again, thank you guys, red shirt, so much. I know there's still a lot more to be done, but as you heard, Attorney Phillips, you know, he has provided several updates. He has really gotten the ball rolling again, and I I feel confident that we will bring those court dog numbers down. But please keep advocating. It's just so helpful to us.

As you know, we have a lot of balls in the air, water sewer, transportation, the list goes on and on and on, and animal services is one of our core responsibilities. But your presence, your voices really do make a difference. So, thank you so much, and I yield back.

Thank you. Commissioner Davis Johnson?

Uh-huh. And I'm going to be brief on mine. It would be real good if you could come and advocate in ops because that would be the meeting that we will be discussing these issues in so that we don't have to prolong the Board of Commission meeting. I appreciate what the commissioners have said, but if you could say it in ops, that would be the appropriate place to say it so that we could fully discuss it. And I yield back.

Thank you, Commissioner Davis Johnson. Seeing no further requests to speak, please open the machine for the vote to defer. Motion to defer passes. We are now at the top of page top middle of page 17. These are district six items. Item twenty twenty five-1.85.5, all commission districts, a resolution of the board of commissioners of DeKalb County, Georgia directing the law department to initiate the dissolution of obsolete boards, commissions, and authorities and to consolidate sustainability efforts. This is a ops item.

VANILA Motion to approve as approved in the committee.

VANILA Second. VANILA We have a motion to approve and a second by Commissioner Bolton. Give her time to fix the screen. There we go. Commissioner Massai has requested to speak.

Thank you so much, Madam Chair Madam Piault. Same thing, right? I'm just I'm glad we're moving this ahead. This has been one of the things that I've pushed since coming in the door as a new commissioner, particularly not wanting to add to some of the challenges in terms of the tracking of different boards, commissions having obsolete boards including a taxi board. So I am glad that this is something that has moved forward, again, not wanting to add when I came in to that particular challenge that had existed for some time and realizing that we didn't have a complete process in terms of keeping track of and knowing when we needed to move things along.

And then there was constant boards being created without seemingly taking into consideration the ones that existed and maybe modifying those. And so, there's just so many difficulties related to this process. So, I am glad that this is something that moved forward since it was something I had been pushing for some time. And so, kudos for us taking this next step. With that, I yield back to you Madam Pio.

Thank you. Commissioner Terry.

Thank you, Madam Presiding Officer. So, County Attorney Phillips, so could you just help us understand if we approve this resolution, what the next actions that you'll take from the law department?

The law department has been looking at these items to help put a list before you and working close with the clerk staff to do so. And then the business decisions would be yours in terms of which organizations, and we could help you identify the process for removing them. But as I understand it, you have some that you identify as stale based on inactivity and the like. And by having the whole list in front of you and talking about what we can do to deal with that, I think you'll be able to narrow that down and remove remove some of them. But the first step is giving you the list. And we've already been working to compile that and put it in front of you.

Okay. The list of which ones are are no longer relevant.

Whether whether they're relevant or not is your decision. We're gonna give you a list of them and let you decide which ones you feel are not relevant. That is a business decision that the commission will make.

Okay. Well, intent of the resolution really was for us to acknowledge what you just said, the business decision of these are the boards that we would like to dissolve. I don't think anyone I mean, as far as I know, no one complained about the ones that were being recommended to dissolve or consolidate. So what I was hoping you were going to say was if we pass this resolution, then the next available meeting you will bring us this board are now dissolved. And as opposed to just looking at a list because I I think the the goal was that we should just like there's some ones that are obvious, I think.

I know we still have to make that decision, I guess, officially, but the goal was to just start to move this process along because what I don't want to happen is for us to look at another list that we've already been looking at. So is it possible that the ones that had been identified can move forward with dissolution?

We we will work to identify exactly what has to happen for those to be removed. Yes.

Okay. So there's so in other words

I think I understand your direction.

But these would be the

Some have been identified as we identify others move, but as quickly as possible for those that have been identified, let's take action, identify the appropriate action and move to do that. I hear you loud.

So this will be the steps. So this would be the first one. Sure. But there'll be more to come.

Right.

Okay. Thank you.

Commissioner Longspiris.

Thank you very much, madam presiding officer. So this issue with our boards, our commissions, our advisories, our councils has been going on for quite some time. I was trying to pull up the list that was distributed last December to the commissioners, which actually listed out here it is all of our different, boards, commissions, advisories, etcetera. And I'd be happy to recirculate that just to bring it to the top of your email that you all might find that helpful. But there are quite a few I mean, there's a whole bunch of them on here and at least half of them or more are not even active.

Like there's a Colosseum Authority, for example. It's listed as an inactive board, Civic Center Authority, but then you go up to the boards and commissions list, certificate review board, CATV, Citizens Advisory Board. I I do think it would be helpful, for the attorneys and I do absolutely 100% believe that the clerks need to be engaged on this as well as they do keep the list of the members and minutes and keep track of some of these would be helpful. One question I have for you, attorney Phillips, now you've been with the county a long time, but at one point, I believe that former county attorney Ernstis hired in a consultant to try to kinda clean up the board's commission's advisories issue. Do you remember when that was?

I do not. I know that this has been an ongoing project Yes. For some

Oh, mister Williams knows this. Would you come to the podium?

And I'm going to, madam, commissioner, this is gonna be from recollection, but I wanna say this goes back about six years.

It was before me and it's a year four for me.

Right. Right. I think it was pre COVID.

Oh, okay.

Or may have been, you know, that first year, so five years or so. And and I remember some a lot of work was done. Do you remember? Was after COVID.

It was.

Well, I said it was from memory. So it is a few years ago.

It's a few years ago.

I understand there were challenges with that consultant engagement. Do you think there's value for I guess the administration or the board of commissioners or the clerks or somebody or all of us to explore hiring in outside counsel or an outside consultant Here's to help us organize this.

And then because a lot of work was done.

I heard

Through the consultant, as well as

Clerks.

Ms. Barbara and her team, Terry, mister Welch, Nicole. There was a lot of meetings and I think they made a lot of progress. I would have to, you know, kind of go back, see where we left off to see what is the best course of action. I think that the challenge quite frankly, commissioner, is you had a group trying to clean up thirty years of lack of information.

Mhmm.

Mhmm. So in many instance, it was kind of rebuilding or or trying to reach people who didn't exist on boards who don't exist.

I just have to think that while the relationship didn't work out and it was unsuccessful, there certainly had to have been some nuggets of gold in

there I think they were.

Where I

think we could maybe pick the ball up and then start from there. And maybe it wasn't where you terminated that engagement. Maybe it's five steps back. But if there's any way to kind of expedite this and build on what was learned then, I certainly encourage us to do that. And, you know, if we pull do any kind of working group or anything like that, I would be happy to be a part of it.

Understood. And maybe we'll just get back together with your new chief of staff and miss Barbara, myself, and Oh. Nicole and Matt.

Chief of staff May. I'm eyeing you. Sir, you you might have our first project to dig into. And you've been around a minute, you'll probably recognize a lot of these inactive boards. Alright. Well, thank you so much for that consideration, and I yield back.

Thank you, commissioner Davis Johnson.

I would just like to reiterate again that most of this can be discussed in committee. I have been trying to get through the charter review because everybody is telling me how important it is. I have put special calls on the agenda for several, several weeks now. A lot of these discussions can be made with the administration and or in committee. I don't know why we're reserving them for Board of Commission meetings.

I understand it's an election year, but I'm trying to get through charter review. I can't get any special call meetings because these meetings are going past lunch and many of the other meetings that we have, committee meetings, that are planned, which this is where we need to discuss these items in our committee meetings, not the Board of Commission meetings. So I would just please request that we have these discussions prior to the board of commission meetings so that we can get through, and I can get to charter review as been requested by many members on this board to get to legislation before the general assembly adjourns. So, you.

Thank you, Commissioner Davis Johnson. Seeing no further request to speak, please open the machines for the vote. Motion to approve carries. We are on the bottom of page 17, and there is a substitute for this item, item twenty twenty six-two 44, all commission districts. A resolution requiring a baseline assessment of DeKalb County's health, socioeconomic, and environmental status, and a third party analysis of DeKalb's proposed data center regulations before issuance of a land disturbance permit for data centers. Is there a motion? This is PEX.

Motion to defer to the March 24 BOC with the stop to be heard in committee in PEX today. This up.

Defer the substitute. Understood. Is there a second? Second. Motion to defer with the substitute.

Seeing no request to speak, please open the machines for the vote. Motion to defer carries. Now at the top of page 18, there's also a substitute for this item, item twenty twenty six-two 45, all commission districts, an allocation not to exceed $15,000 of the DeKalb County General Fund to be considered for the 2026 budget to science for Georgia to conduct a baseline assessment of DeKalb County's current health, socioeconomic, and environmental status, and provide a third party analysis of DeKalb County's proposed data center regulations contextualized by the county's current health, socioeconomic, environmental status.

Motion to approve, and I see reverend in in the back, motion to approve agenda item ending in zero three nine six.

No. I'm sorry. We're on zero two four five.

I'm sorry. Motion to defer to the March 24 b o c with a stop in PEX today. My apologies.

The sup. Is there a second?

Is this not going to PWI?

Wanted to go to PWI?

Oh, sorry. It's it's going to both. My apologies.

Sure. Then if that's case, the I mean, had a discussion with it in PEX and there were some questions in terms of comparison of service. So I'm happy as PEX chair to transfer it to PWI, so it can be heard in PWI.

You know, I think the idea was that PEX is fine. I'll go ahead and second your motion.

Sure. Oh, yeah. I'm happy to in good PWI. Yeah, it's going to be heard today. It's on the schedule to be heard today.

Okay. All right. We have a motion to defer the substitute. Commissioner Long Spears has requested to speak.

Thank you very much, Madam Presiding Officer. Just a quick question on the fiscal impact. It says to be considered for the 2026 budget. It was included in the budget we just passed? Okay, so it would to be a future budget amendment? Yes. Okay, understood. All right, thank you much. I yield

back. Thank you. Seeing no further requests to speak, please open the machines for a vote. Motion to defer the substitute passes. Middle of page 18, under CEO, item twenty twenty six-three 96, all commission districts to Cab County Day Center implementation plan for the Cab citizens experiencing homelessness. This is a PEX item.

There we go.

Well, the other one was, too. This was the one I was referencing. So, we're, again, seeing Reverend in the back and Director Mitchell coming. My motion is to approve this agenda item. Really excited about the substitute.

Really excited about the work that we're going to do. Just to note for my colleagues, the substitute which is being passed out now, originally we had discussed the Salvation Army and we needed some there were some capacity questions and challenges. And so now we have New Life that's going to provide this service. And then we had also discussed in terms of behavioral health services, either and also had discussions about Grady and Emory as well. So it was either Claritel or a suitable equivalent, particularly off the heels of NACO and what had been discussed in terms of diversifying our behavioral health services and the recommendations that have been made, actually really strongly considering.

And to be quite frank, preference for either Grady or Emory. With that, yield.

And it was a motion to approve, correct?

Correct.

Okay. The substitute.

Yes, ma'am.

I need a second. Mhmm. Thank you, commissioner Terry. Commissioner Long Spears has requested to speak.

Thank you, madam presiding officer. And I see director Mitchell at the podium, but before he speaks, I do I just want to state that we received a very significant change to this item yesterday afternoon. And, I do appreciate you reaching out. I was at a library board meeting, it was stated earlier, and then I had some things after that. So you and I have not had a chance to speak and discuss it, but I do think it's important for the public to understand how this item has evolved.

But before I go into that, I want to state clearly that I am in support of a day center in DeKalb County. However, this is starting to feel rushed to me and clunky because of the massive changes that have occurred. So just a little bit, chronology and background and context. The file was create created on this item on February 2026. It's placed on the agenda for today, 03/10/2026.

We heard it in committee, the PEX Committee. It was approved. The substitute at that point was approved out of committee, and that was what date was the PEX committee?

We two weeks ago.

Okay. So two weeks ago. Oh, it was actually not quite two weeks ago. It was on a Thursday because we came back from

February 26.