Board of Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Good morning, and welcome to If I mispronounced that. That. Associate superintendent of Catholic Schools. If you can would like to come forward to the front front of me, ma'am. Serves as associate superintendent for the Office of Catholic you.

A four time national group of excellence. This is Wagner brings twenty two years of experience as a Catholic school principal and sixteen years of teaching in both public and Catholic schools. She's a recipient of the NCEA distinguished Principal Award and served on the ACE Principal's Academy Design Team at the University of Notre Dame. Good morning.

Good morning. Good morning. Thank you so much. I am so honored to be here with all of you. Everyone in this room is here because a woman believed in them at some time.

A mother, a grandmother, a mentor, someone who encouraged us, challenged us, helped shape the person we are today. Good morning to everyone. Thank you so much, presiding Commissioner Johnson and all of the other honorable commissions and distinguished guests. Thank you for allowing me to give this little reflection during Women's History Month. This year's theme is Women Shaping Sustainable Future.

And sometimes when we hear that word sustainability, we think of preserving our natural resources for the next generation. But really sustainability is much more than that. It goes beyond environmental concerns and to encompass things like ensuring financial stability, building those resilient communities that foster hope, and developing leaders of the future so that each generation is prepared and has an opportunity to thrive. As an educator and as civic leaders, we share in that goal. The decisions you make, commissioners, and every day build those stronger communities of tomorrow.

They impact families, neighborhoods and opportunities, often in ways that aren't immediately seen but have a lasting impact that are felt over time. We see these in the schools. We see this in the schools. When families are supported by those strong communities, they come to school well prepared to thrive. They come to school supported.

They come to school ready to learn. And I want to thank you for the work that you do. Women have long been shapers of our future. We can think of women like Rosa Park, whose quiet courage changed the course of history. Mother Teresa, who showed the world the power of compassion and of service.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, championed women's equality and to remind us to fight for the things that really matter and bring people along the way to join us. These women, they left a lasting impact. They opened the doors for the next generation. But when we think about women who impacted our own life, you're probably not going to find them in the history books. For me, it starts with my mother.

My mother was a strong woman of faith and unwavering moral character. Growing up in the Depression, she certainly knew how to stretch that dollar, how to manage a household, how to care for others, even when the resources were pretty scarce. When my father was diagnosed with a brain tumor, I was 10 years old. Our world changed drastically. But not my mother.

She was unwavering, steadfast, a woman of faith and courage. She taught me to put God first, to always do my best, and that you can always reach out to others no matter our resources. That's the beautiful way she lived her life every day. My community played a really important role during that time. I was involved in youth programs, programs like youth support here in DeKalb County.

So important, I believe, to our youth. The coaches that I had mentored, this shy little girl, gave me confidence and showed me skills I didn't know I even had. They provided a stability, encouragement, a normalcy in a difficult time. They showed me something I have never ever forgotten. The strong communities are built when people come together and support one another and foster hope.

That's how leaders are formed. Later in my life, working as a teacher, as an administrator, I continued to be surrounded by strong women. Women who mentored me, encouraged me, shared their gifts with me, trusted me with responsibilities that helped me stretch and grow. And because of them, I made it my goal to do the same. And I know that many of you have had similar experiences with that kind of mentorship and you carry that same responsibility to pass it on.

And that's how you build a sustainable future, one person investing in another. Across communities and across generations, women have been working faithfully towards that same goal, building a stronger and more sustainable future. So today, I invite each of you to reflect for a moment. Who are the strong women that shaped your life? Who believed in you?

Who challenged you? Who encouraged you to be the people you are today? You tell their stories by the way you lead, and by the way you treat others and by the way you serve this great community of DeKalb County. Because sustainable change doesn't happen only through programs and policies, it happens through people. People who pass on their wisdom, their character, their hope from one generation to the next.

Their names may never appear in a history book, but their legacy lives on in us. And the greatest way that we honor them is by becoming that same source of strength and hope for generations that follow. Thank you and may God bless the great work you do here in DeKalb County.

Thank you, ma'am. And if you'll stay around a little later on, we'll get a picture and a pen with you. Thank you. So at this time, we have our pledge of allegiance led by commissioner Michelle Long Spears.

I pledge allegiance to

the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you, Commissioner Longspears. And now we'll have our presentations. We do have two. First one is for the executive director of We Love Buford Highway, and then we have one from the administration well, two from the administration for employee appreciation and national procurement month. So if commissioners would like We do the employees first. Okay. We'll do employees first. Zach, you're up first. And commissioners, if you'll meet us down on the floor.

Good morning, everyone. Me try that again. Good morning, everyone. Someone I used to know used to do that a lot. On behalf of CEO Lorraine Cochran Johnson, I'd like to take a moment to recognize something truly important.

The people who make DeKalb County work every single day. Our employees, the heart of this county. They're the ones who show up often behind the scenes to show our to serve our residents, solve problems and keep our operations moving forward. And while much of that work may not always be visible, its impact is felt across every community in DeKalb County. CEO, Cochran Johnson often says that our success as a county is driven by our people and that could not be more true.

What makes this workforce so special is not just what they do, but how they or how we do it with care, with commitment, and with a deep sense of purpose. Many of our employees have dedicated years, even decades of their lives to public service. That level of dedication matters and it doesn't go unnoticed. Today is an opportunity to thank our employees, to say that you are seen, you are valued, and that your work makes a difference every single day. And while we recognize employee appreciation day to day, the CEO's commitment to this workforce extends far beyond a single day.

It's reflected on how we continue in how we continue to invest in, support, and strengthen the people who serve this county. The 65 over 6,500 employees who show up, work tell the truth every day, and serve the over 780,000 residents. Because when our employees thrive, DeKalb County thrives. At this time, on behalf of CEO Lorraine Cochran Johnson, it's my honor to present this proclamation recognizing Employee Appreciation Day in DeKalb County. And if I could have HR professionals come on up.

Madam Clerk, if you would

I need to know which one is which.

Do you

wanna read this one?

And I'm

sure it's merely coincidental that they're all wearing blue.

Yeah. Yeah.

And I would say it's coincidental I'm wearing blue, but I only have two suits. You had a fifty fifty chance.

Purple gold.

Madam clerk.

Whereas, DeKalb County government hereby acknowledges that its greatest achievements are made possible only through the extraordinary dedication of its people. And whereas, we honor all of DeKalb County's public servants who form the backbone of effective, responsive, and compassionate service through their professionalism and teamwork. And whereas DeKalb County's average employee tenure of of eight years reflects a deep commitment to public service and a continuity of experience that strengthens operational excellence across the organization. And whereas the DeKalb County Human Resources Department provides leadership and employee centered programs that strengthen and empower this awesome workforce to make the county's mission possible across every department. And whereas approximately 6,600 employees deliver necessary services that ensure the safety, health, and well-being of more than 780,000 residents each day.

And whereas DeKalb County boast of having close to 800 employees with more than twenty years of service, 57 with more than thirty years, and six with more than forty years, a significant demonstration of loyalty, institutional knowledge, and long term dedication. And whereas collectively, these employees represent more than 55,882 of combined service, a testament to the expertise, resilience, and collaborative spirit that drive the county's success. Now therefore, I, Lorraine Cochran Johnson, chief executive officer, on behalf of the citizens of DeKalb County, Georgia, do hereby declare 03/06/2026 as employee appreciation day in DeKalb County. We proudly commend the exceptional employees of DeKalb County government whose dedication, courage, and pursuit of excellence propel this county forward. We wholeheartedly celebrate your accomplishments, honor your steadfast service, and affirm that our collective strength will allow us to continue our mission possible and a shape and shape a future worthy of the communities that we serve, proclaimed this March 2026.

Thank you. And I would like to offer the opportunity for Ms. Haynes just to say a few words representing the employees.

Good morning, everyone. Good morning. On behalf of the 6,600 employees, I am honored to accept the employee appreciate proclamation. Thank you to the CEO and the Board of Commissioners for recognizing the dedicated employees of DeKalb County. Our employees are the backbone of this organization.

Each day they serve with care, commitment, passion, professionalism, and this recognition is a meaningful reminder that their contributions matter. To my fellow DeKalb County employees, thank you for your service and the important work that you do every day. You make the mission possible every day. We appreciate you and we celebrate you. And I also just wanted to acknowledge my HR team. Just want to thank you all for your support and everything that you do every day. Thank you for this honor.

Thank you, Ms. Haynes. And before we conclude, if I could have all employees just stand up and give yourselves a round of applause for the work that you're doing. Thank you. Thank you.

You're making a difference. Thank you. And as as our wonderful HR team takes their seats, there's another important proclamation that I would like to call everyone's attention to. And that's the procurement department or procurement proclamation. So on behalf of CEO Lorraine Cochran Johnson, I'm honored to take a moment to recognize a group of professionals who work as essential to how the county operates every day, our procurement team.

Public procurement is a critical part of government. It ensures that our departments have the tools, services and resources they need to serve our residents effective. But procurement is not just about process. It's about impact. It's about making sure public dollars are managed with integrity, transparency and accountability.

It's about creating opportunity for businesses across our community. Through outreach partnerships and programs like the Local Small Business Enterprise Certification, our procurement team is helping to open doors for businesses of all sizes, ensuring that more companies have access to compete and to grow. And what makes this team exceptional is not just what they do, but also how they do it. They deliver their service with professionalism, with expertise, and a strong commitment to serving the people of DeKalb County. As recognized during National Procurement Month, this is a profession that may not always seek the spotlight, but it's consistently it consistently delivers results that keep our county moving forward.

At this time, on behalf of CEO Lorraine Cochran Johnson, it's my privilege to present this proclamation recognizing the dedicated professionals of DeKalb County's Department of Purchasing and Contracting. Let's give a round of applause, and if you guys can come up.

Whereas public procurement and a vital force that keeps cities running, schools equipped, roads safe, and essential services accessible to all. And whereas the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing recognizes March as national procurement month for the communities it serves, a celebration of a profession that rarely seeks the spotlight yet consistently delivers. And whereas during the month of March 2026, DeKalb County proudly recognizes the Department of Purchasing and Contracting professionals who uphold the highest standard of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the stewardship of public resources. And whereas procurement uses modern strategies that drive innovation, impact cost savings, maintain operational efficiencies, and ensure opportunities for businesses of all sizes. And whereas DeKalb County's procurement professionals foster new relationships with businesses, provide outreach to small and diverse enterprises, and oversee the certification of local small business enterprises, LSBEs, under the DeKalb First Ordinance.

And whereas procurement supports departments across the county by securing the tools, equipment services, and resources essential to fulfilling DeKalb County's strategic goals enhancing public safety, modernizing and strengthening infrastructure, promoting responsibility, transparency, and best practices, expanding housing accessibility, investing in the economy and workforce, and advancing accessibility and quality of life. And whereas DeKalb County's procurement professionals come from a wide array of careers, including finance, project management, operations, engineering, sales, and law, just to name a few. All bring a robust skill set encompassing analytical thinking, effective communication, fair negotiation, and strategic insight. Now therefore, I, Lorraine Cochran Johnson, chief executive officer of DeKalb County, Georgia, together with the DeKalb County Board Of Commissioners and our more than 780,000 citizens, do hereby encourage all residents, businesses, and communities to recognize and celebrate the monumental contributions of the dedicated professionals comprising procurement. Proclaimed this March 2026, Chief Executive Officer Lorraine Cochran Johnson.

Thank you. And Director Butler, would you like to make a few remarks?

Thank you for recognizing National Procurement Month, and thank you for recognizing the professional staff that make up DeKalb County's purchasing and contracting I am honored to recognize and celebrate these procurement professionals who, on a daily basis, demonstrate their commitment to public service and local government procurement and their integrity.

Thank you. We've taken a picture. Thank you. Appreciate it.

Good morning, everyone. Hope you all can hear me. Thank you. Keep the roar down, please. We want

to we have some people sleeping here in the house. We don't want to

wake them up. Good morning, everybody. How's everybody doing today? Good morning.

Good morning. Thank you.

Wow. Hey. There's coffee in the back. So today is we're honoring Women's History Month. It is truly an honor and privilege to stand here before you today as we celebrate Women's History Month.

Each year, this month gives us an opportunity to recognize the countless contributions women have made to our communities, our nation, and around the world, often in ways that are unseen but always deeply impactful. It is also a time to uplift those who continue that legacy of leadership, service, and advocacy. Women's history month reminds us that progress is built on courage, compassion, and commitment, and that the work of shaping stronger, more inclusive communities continues with each generation. Today, I am proud to recognize someone who embodies those qualities. Lily Pyebam, executive director of We Love Buford Highway.

We Love Boohai is how I remember it. Has been a tireless advocate for multicultural families, not just here in District 1, but throughout DeKalb County. Her work has helped bridge cultural gaps, connect families to critical resources, and ensure that every resident regardless of background feels seen, supported, and valued. Quite simply, her work saves lives. I have known Lily for quite a few years, and I can personally say how grateful I am for her help and partnership in District 1.

She leads with her heart, with purpose, and with unwavering commitment to community. Because of leaders like Lily, our country is stronger. Our community is stronger, more connected more connected, and more compassionate. It is my distinct honor to recognize her as the twenty twenty six District One Women's History Month Trailblazer Award honoree. And at this time, I'd like to ask the clerk to read the record.

Whereas Lily Padian, executive director of We Love Buford Highway, has dedicated more than thirty years of to advancing community centered leadership across nonprofit, corporate, and consulting sectors, bringing visionary strategy together with meaningful grassroots engagement. And whereas, as a first generation Chinese American who immigrated to The United States as a child, Lily's journey began along the Beaufort Highway corridor, where she learned English, became a citizen, and built lifelong connections, shaping her enduring commitment to uplifting immigrant and communities and preserving their stories. And whereas through her leadership, Lily has championed the cultural, economic, and social vitality of Beaufort Highway, working to protect and celebrate one of the region's most diverse and vibrant corridors while ensuring its future remains inclusive and community driven. And whereas Lilly's ability to bridge high level strategy with on the ground action has resulted in impactful programming, strengthened partnerships, and expanded opportunities for small businesses, families, and multicultural communities throughout Metro Atlanta. And whereas her service extends beyond her professional role, including leadership on local boards and commissions and recognition with numerous honors, including the Georgia Department of Education parent leadership award and distinctions from the Atlanta Business Chronicle and Asian Americans Advancing Justice.

And whereas as a proud Atlanta native, devoted wife and mother, and civic leader, Lily continues to inspire through her unwavering commitment to equity, culture, preservation, and community empowerment. Now, therefore, be it resolved that on this March 2026, I, commissioner Robert Patrick, in partnership with the DeKalb County governing authority, recognizes Lily Pavion as the twenty twenty six district one women's history month trailblazer award honoree for her outstanding achievements and steadfast commitment to serving DeKalb County. Wow.

Good morning. Thank

you

Commissioner Patrick for this honor. I am so deeply humbled to receive this recognition. To be named a trailblazer is something I hold with a lot of humility because the truth is none of us walk alone. We move forward because of people who believe in the work and choose to build something together even when the path is uncertain. There are so many people in my life who have shaped how I lead and serve.

People like Mrs. Juana Alzaga who is here today, who I first met as her student and has become my advocacy rock, still teaching me every day how trust shows up in action. To my Buford Highway sisters, Rachel, Von, Delia, thank you for your heart and commitment to this corridor. And to my dear friend Angela who's also here today, my childhood friend who I met as a tenth grader, both of us raised by strong single moms with immigrant dreams and who now stands beside me in service, keeping us grounded in who we are, where we come from. Also want to take a moment to recognize the men who support us in quiet but powerful ways.

I couldn't do what I do without my husband, Jeff, who has always been more happy to be the man behind who calls me boss lady. How lucky am I to be greeted with morning affirmations like you can do it and I believe in you. I don't always say much back. I didn't grow up knowing how to take compliments. But after more than thirty four years together, he's never stopped giving them and the truth is, it has carried me in ways that matter more than words. I dedicate this moment to my ultimate trailblazer, my big sister Leah, a DeKalb entrepreneur, a nurturer and a warrior who battled cancer for over thirty years.

Sorry.

I believe people like her never leave us. They live on in how we show up, and the courage we carry and in the work we choose to do. I feel her with me every day. This work that we love Beaufort Highway is not mine alone. Thank you.

It belongs to every family, every small business, every child and every neighbor who shows us what it means to build community with dignity, culture and care. Women's History Month reminds us that the justice we voice today was once built through unseen acts of courage. What we choose to build now will become the history our children inherit. In times like these, we're all called to be trailblazers. And I hope we don't just create that history, I hope we get to live it. Thank you.

Could

Angela,

I

Juana, and Rachel who are here from Wheeler Buford Highway to step forward with the pictures please?

Thank you. And miss Wagner, if you'd like to come forward I don't hear it. Is it on? Okay. Miss Wagner, if you'd like to come forward and take a picture and we'll pin you. Also, she is the aunt of my communication specialist, miss Carrie Cortes. So, Carrie, if you'd come forward as well. Thank you.

It's good.

All right. Thank you, everybody. So, now we have comments from the public. 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, or 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 the 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 shall 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 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 opposition to a speaker's position.

Thank you, ma'am. First speakers?

Our first speaker is Jan Dunaway.

Good morning, Ms. Dunaway.

Jan Dunaway, Stone Mountain and at DeKalb Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor. I'm not an expert, but I do know the challenges there are for water and storm water systems. I ask that you approve the data center text amendment brought forward by commissioner Terry and limit the data centers to no more than 5,500,000 square feet, plus add steps to prevent clusterings of these small smaller centers. The data center text amendment continues to not include protections from discharge of the chemically treated water or from immersion solution into our waterways or soil, which have become a major issue throughout the country. Water treatment facilities are unable to filter the glycol heavy metals that are collected in the water and immersion solution, which suffocates oxygen from our streams and rivers or even PFAS.

They cannot be discharged into the storm water system per every scientific article published. The CEO and the MS4 regulations will not take care of this situation. There are solutions that must be required. Many companies offer services to remove these dangerous compounds from the discharged water, and it should be required. Additionally, quarterly reports with specific parameters determined by scientific study, which must be made available to the public within thirty days.

The public must be notified of any spills from these centers immediately, not unlike what's done for sanitary sewer overflows. There must be a plan immediately, not unlike oops. And consequences for these data centers who discharge these dangerous compounds into our soil and rivers or spills. You must protect the citizens and our downstream neighbors. Later this morning, the BOC will vote to to request an allocation for $300,000 for research analysis on how the county's water and sewer system function can be best managed to ensure long term health and stability of the water and sewer assets.

This is to tell if the water and sewer and and enterprise fund should be reorganized, outsourced, and whole or in part to or the creation of a water authority. So does this mean you don't know if the million dollars of that you've spent to expand the Snap Finger Creek water treatment plant will carry us into the future? How can we approve discharges from data centers, not one, but three or four or more, if you do not know what the capacity is now or in the future? How do the citizens and taxpayers of DeKalb trust that our best interest is front and center or that the increases in our water and sewer rates are worthwhile? We are here.

We will continue to speak out in favor on behalf of our citizens of DeKalb. Thank you.

Thank you. Next speaker?

Roslyn McIntyre.

Good morning, Ms. McIntyre.

Good morning. Roslyn McIntyre, DeKalb County, and I'm representing myself. For all the benefits the data campuses bring to the digital world, there is a disproportionate negative environmental impact and social impact. What's more accurate, a return on investment? Listen to the results of these twenty twenty five studies.

UC Riverside and Caltech, Cornell University and the National Institutes of Health all reported exceedingly premature deaths and over six hundred thousand asthma cases totaling an annual public burden of more than $20,000,000,000 by 2028. Georgia examples worsening air quality in Metro Atlanta, unhealthy ozone days rose from 1.8 in 2023 to 5.5 in 2024, a trend correlated with the state's 211% surge in data center development. Sleep and stress due to noise pollution in South Fulton and Coweta County. Environmental injustice in South DeKalb and South Fulton, already bear a disproportionate burden of industrial pollution. Water contamination in Fayette County with the Flint River keepers identifying pollution attributed to data campuses.

Examples from other states, Northern Virginia, fourteen thousand asthma cases annually with a cost of between 220,000,000 and 300,000,000. Shelby County, Tennessee, 160,000,000 in annual health damages. California public health impacts tripled between 2019 and 2023. Morrow County, Oregon, dangerous levels of nitrates leading to miscarriages, rare cancers, and other complications such as a kidney removal. So I asked AI of this question.

Why don't local governments learn from the mistakes and concerns from other local governments when deciding to permit data campus development? The answer? It comes down to a gold rush mentality where the perceived short term economic wins outweigh the long term health risks. The non disclosure agreements companies use keep the public and even some low level officials in the dark until the deal is nearly done. Commissioners, a true assessment of return on investment is more than the promise of money.

It factors in the accounting for total community impact. As the inspirational speaker stated, sustainability happens through people, not just money. Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am. Next speaker.

Donna Brown.

Miss Brown, good morning.

Good morning, chair, commissioners, and staff. My name is Donna Priest Brown, a resident of South DeKalb. I'm speaking today regarding the proposed text amendment for data centers and the use of the special land use permit, commonly referred as a SLUP. Within the draft text amendment for data centers, a SLUP is required. This means developers must agree to conditions outlined in the permit, which may include standards related to infrastructure, environmental impacts, buffering, operational limitations, and community protections.

However, the concern is not simply what is written in the SLU. The concern is what happens after approval. Currently, once an applicant is approved to operate under a SLUP, there appears to be very little to no follow-up process to verify ongoing compliance with the conditions that was agreed upon. In many cases, SLUPs are not systematically reviewed, monitored, or audited to confirm that the developer of business is operating consistent with what was approved by this board. Importantly, this issue is not limited to data centers.

This appears to be occurring with all land special land use permits across the county on all land swaps. When compliance is not tracked, enforced, or revisited, the conditions written in the SLAP approvals risk becoming symbolic rather than enforceable, like our commissioner Spears long stated. This particularly is concerning when discussing developments such as data centers, which may have impacts related to land use, water usage, energy consumption, and so forth and so on. I respectfully request that the board consider the following, establishing a pro formal compliance review process requiring periodic reporting from developers and property owners, assigning responsibility for monitoring and enforcement, creating measurable benchmarks tied to permanent conditions, providing transparency to the public regarding compliance status. If sloughs are to serve as a meaningful planning and accountability tool, they must include not only conditions, but also verification and enforcement mechanisms.

Without monitoring, enforcements become difficult. Without enforcement, public confidence declines. And without accountability, we risk unintended long term consequences for our communities. This reflects ineffective leadership by our county government. This is about strengthening governance and ensuring that approved developments operate in alignment with the commitments made to this board and to the public. And I just wanna say your mission statement says, to improve the quality for the stakeholders for DeKalb County through governance, representation, and accountability. That's what we expect from our board of commissioners. Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am.

Gina Mangum. Miss Mangum.

Good morning. Gina Mangum. I'm a resident of Southeast DeKalb. You've heard it. You've heard statistics. More importantly, you've heard from your constituents, the voters. So I'm not going to belabor that we don't want data centers in DeKalb County. However, we have tried in our time to continue to work with you. I'm here to speak on the substitute amendment, and it's a reasonable start. We do need a slump for every proposed development.

We do need, emphasis on green energy. We need all of that. We really do need, however, to limit the size, and we've done that. But once again, there's a big loophole. What's the point of having a limitation in size and eliminating the campus designation if you can create a campus by putting data centers next to one another?

It defeats the entire purpose. So what we're asking for is to do what you say and hold your word. So first, as commissioner Ladena Bolton has stated, she no longer, is against data campuses. However, she did say that she supports data centers, but not near neighborhoods. Near neighborhoods.

What does that mean to you? Right now, there's only a 500 foot requirement, less than tenth of a mile. To me, that's near neighborhoods. So what we're asking for are distance requirements, both for data centers as well as keeping data centers from neighborhood schools and other vulnerable populations. This has to be part of this text amendment if in fact you want to limit the size, limit campuses, and keep them away from neighborhoods.

So we are asking, although health experts say around five miles, we're asking for a minimum of a mile given that we're trying to limit the size of data camp data centers. The goal is no data campuses. Right? No data campuses, and we must close close that loophole. The other thing we need to do, you've heard it, we've gotta have some water compliance.

I mean, we've got to have a water plan to protect our citizens. That should be obvious. In compliance, as commissioner Longsphere so well put it the other, a few meetings ago, what good is the plan without compliance? Without a compliance plan, it's only worth the paper it's written on. So we're asking that you look at these things and add these provisions. Thank you, ma'am.

Ashley Herita Herita

Good morning, ma'am. Corridia.

Good morning. My name is Ashley Herita. I'm a resident of DeKalb in Commissioner Ted Terry's district. I'm a wife, a mother of a four year old, and I'm also an attorney who practices in DeKalb. In January, Commissioner Terry proposed a resolution condemning ICE's unnecessary use of force, the killings of Renee Good and Preti, and stating affirmatively that ICE's presence in this county was unwelcome.

Like so many other people in our country, I was at that time and still am wrestling with profound anger, grief, and fear about the state of due process in civil rights in our country. So when this resolution was proposed by commissioner Terry, I felt something I hadn't felt in a while. I felt hope, relief. I was proud of my county for bringing this issue forth. Despite what some of you all claimed when debating this issue, this resolution mattered.

You had the opportunity to make clear that DeKalb chooses civil rights over fear, due process over brutality, community safety over federal intimidation. Sadly, that opportunity was squandered. You all spent far too long discussing the fact that as a county government, you could do very little, if anything, to control ICE or the actions of the federal government. Commissioner Davis Johnson, you often led that discussion. You went so far as to say that the resolution would mislead the public.

Please hear me. We were not and still are not confused. We understand the limitations of a county government as opposed to the federal government. We know that a resolution is a statement, not a more substantive action. We were not asking you for for your protection from the federal government. We were simply asking that the county state clearly where it stands. You also emphasized repeatedly that you should we should focus on what this county can actually do. What are you doing? Your suggestion that this should be about action, not words, was a false choice. While you cannot, as a county body, control actions of ICE or the federal government, you certainly have the power to denounce it.

This resolution was not symbolic. It was a declaration of values. It would have told our residents that this county sees them, believes them, will speak up. When thousands of your residents are demanding accountability, a public statement from their elected officials carries weight, and doing so would have been actioned. Instead, after all this public engagement and amendments to fix the language, you all chose to withdraw it. Commissioner Patrick, you, sir, were the one to propose that. Governing out of fear of a hypothetical retaliation of of of what the federal government may or may not do is not leadership. It is fear shaping policy. It is risk avoidance disguised as prudence. We saw this for what it was.

For mister commissioner Terry, commissioner Bolton, commissioner Longspears, thank you. To the rest of the commission, this was not a question of authority or language or process. This was a question of whether you're willing to do something and say something when it mattered. Leaders will be remembered not for what they can control, but what they could what they chose to speak about, and you guys will be remembered.

Thank you, ma'am. Jocelyn O'Neil.

Good morning, miss O'Neil.

Morning. Good morning, all. And ditto, ditto, ditto, ditto, ditto. I can't repeat all that's been said, but I wanna say the entire amnesty that's going on, that's a good thing, but the public needs to be more aware of what we're looking at. I started to come up here for the HR recognition because I worked really hard in DeKalb County for no money. Okay? Worked really hard. I run over a lot

of

potholes. I run over a lot of metal plates. And, you know, when we talk about the tires and tires, if we would get our roads and streets in good shape, we probably wouldn't have as many used tires to throw away. The yellow strips, the orange strips that need to go on, the metal plates, I'm running over I ran over one yesterday. No I mean, it was a metal plate, a hole, and a metal plate.

Come on now. And tires are expensive. Just like with the data centers, the insurance is expensive for the people that have to go in for the devastations that these polluted data campuses do. Now we can't substitute three buildings for one massive building. If you go to Fayetteville Highway 54 West, that thing is humongous, and it is simply scary.

QTS. Please take the time to go down there and look at it. We have a problem simple problems that we can resolve. Street striping. I don't know why we don't have a machine in DeKalb County, as many roads as we have, that could keep the streets up. Bouldercrest, River River Road, I mean, even parts of Glenwood. There's Panola right in front of Walgreens or whatever that is right there. You can't even tell which lane to get in. Why don't we have our own machine as much money as we pay out? We pay out a lot of money for a lot of things, but we're not getting the results for what we really, really need.

We need safety. We need health. I just wanna say, I just don't understand what the problem is, and I'm about to get the ADA involved with Glenwood Road Hill Ditch from La Mesa to Glenmar. It is no, no, no reason for us not to have some money put aside. And I know we're working with the property and and all that type of stuff, but it's past time.

I've been asking for years. People have been killed on that hill. We had the opportunity. Commissioner Messiah, commissioner Bolton, and your teams walked up that hill to see how dangerous it is. And even to pass for someone to pass you going east or west, We had to step up on a slight hill. Let's get these things done. We got a lot of money for a lot of things, but let's get our health and safety first. Thank you, ma'am.

Joan Monroe. Miss Monroe.

Good

morning. I just want to thank Lorraine Cochran Johnson, Ladena Bolton, and Ted Terry, and Stacy Greer for all your assistance. Without your help, item twenty twenty six zero four nine one wouldn't be on the agenda today. So I thank you very much for bringing it to the commission.

Thank you, ma'am. Next speaker. Steven Benning. Good morning, mister Benning.

Good morning, commissioners. I need a little help this morning. The county's website doesn't seem to have any spill reports in the system after 2017. I know we've had sewer spills over the last six years. Where do I find them? The county also hasn't posted any news releases on the watershed department websites during the last two years. Where can a concerned resident find this information? Does anyone here remember Ryan Millsap? He once served as a chairman of Advance DeKalb, a nonprofit branch of Decide DeKalb committed to building economic opportunities within DeKalb County. As he rose to prominence, mister Millsap cultivated important relationships with black leaders and Jewish colleagues and won accolades for his commitment to diversity.

In January 2019, Millsap told the congregation at Welcome Friend Baptist Church near where he was planning the expansion of his movie studio about all the benefits of a pending land swap deal. The attendees were promised 3,800,000.0 in public improvements, including the creation of a new public park and potential new restaurants. Support from the community would be key in convincing the county commission to approve a land swap deal along with over $8,000 in campaign contributions. It was and is a con job, and the county fell for it hook, line, and sinker. Five years later, there's no new park, no expanded movie studio, no workforce, no new restaurants, or green space funding.

Entrenchment Creek Park has now been closed to the public for years, and the land is in disrepair. Some residents recognize this as a con job, a bad deal, and push back on claims about the deal, including original promises made in receiving the original parkland. During mister Milsapp's negotiations with DeKalb County, he sent an email stating that he, quote, laments his political work with African Americans and his distaste for having to do it. On other emails, he has urged he has used the terms effing black people and nasty Jews. Millsap concluded one time that no friendship comes before money in that tribe.

Millsap defends these remarks by saying they constituted locker room talk. Ryan's public persona is different from who he is according to Millsap's former attorney, adding that Ryan works hard to mislead and hide the truth, and he is very good at it. Mister Millsap never planned to build additional studio space with his portion of the land swap or keep any of the promises he made. Now he wants to sell the land to a developer who wants to put a data center on this one time piece of parkland. Before you know it, District 3 is going to be known as Data Central Data Center Central.

It is amazing what 30 pieces of silver buys nowadays. This county sold its soul to the devil, but now it has the opportunity to undo the harm it has done and still refuses to do so. I guess doing business with racist crooks and con men is just the DeKalb County way. I want our parkland back now. Beverly Dabney.

Good morning, miss Dabney. Miss Beverly? Good morning.

Good morning. Beverly Dabney,

Dundra,

District 3. I come before you today. We have tried unsuccessful for over four times trying to get speed bumps on Dundra. We submitted just as recent as in January. They we submitted. She said, yes, you have the necessary approval of 25 signatories out of 67. However, 13 are business owners. Some you need to get a copy of the divorce decree. You need things on business from the state. All kinds of flaws so that we cannot get these speed bumps.

Today, I need the commissioner's help in assisting us to get these speed bumps done dry before children or mature adults are no longer with us. We have climbed hills numerous times. It seems like everything that we have to do in this community is to push back on. I have sent a copy of the email that was sent to us, and I would like your assistance in us getting speed bumps on Dundra.

Thank you, ma'am.

Cheryl Dudley.

Miss Dudley.

Good morning. Cheryl Dudley, Unincorporated DeKalb and Stone Mountain. First, I would like to thank the code people and the commissioners for taking care of some things in my neighborhood. That's the positive comment. The next one's not really well, not negative.

But I come before you today to ask again, as I ask at two of Commissioner Bolton's town hall meetings last year, to please come up with a plan to keep immigration customs enforcement, now known as ICE, that was supposed to be for immigration, border security, and not for anything else. The new person that has replaced Kristi Noem as the homeland security person has already commented about sending ICE to polling places. That was beautiful today about honoring the Beaufort Highway people and Women's History Month and progress. And the gentleman who said of continuing progress, we will not have continuing progress if we do not have free and fair elections. And as the attorney who more eloquently spoke than I can noted, again, I understand the difficulty of opposing the so called federal government these days, but there needs to be a plan in place to keep ICE away from the polls.

It is difficult enough as it is right now, unfortunately, with the Georgia legislature and the Georgia election board trying to do everything to suppress votes and and then to put up with ice scary ice people who have mask on, who have murdered two American citizens in front of the whole world, who wear countless numbers of people that they don't even know have died in these so called concentration camps, a term I would never have used years ago because, I am Jewish, and I always felt, no, that that's the the Holocaust. But believe me, being a historian, a history teacher, I am seeing so many bad comparisons between what's going on in that period of time. So I ask you, protect the citizens. That is your one of your jobs. Keep ice away from the polls.

Do something. Show people like this little social circle city did when they cut the water and the and the off and the to that warehouse. By by the way, you might wanna investigate how many properties in this county are owned by Russian oligarchs. Thank you.

Thank you.

David Holcomb. Mister David. Last speaker.

Thank you, ma'am. Good morning, sir.

Yes. I'm David Holcomb. I'm from South DeKalb. I understand there's proposal to compensate the families of public safety members that have been killed on the job, and I understand that. But I'll also like to ask you to include anybody in the county that's killed on the job because they need it as well. That's all I have.

Thank you, sir.

Is this our last speaker?

That was our last speaker. Thank you. Moving on to item D, there is no public hearing today. There are also no appeals. So, now we're moving to appointments not requiring board action and for information only. Good morning, Mr. Welch. You beat me to the punch. Good

morning, commissioners.

Good morning.

If you would like to sound the first item.

Yes, sir. Item 2026. This is district two item 2026 dash zero five zero eight commission district two record the appointment of Ben Bell to the friends of the DeKalb Sports Commission as the district two representative.

So madam presiding officer, we've double checked this item and it appears that the, executive order that created this position or created this board actually allows for one collective position from the board, not individual appointments. So we would suggest this item is ripe for withdrawal, and then conversation between you all as to a, collective representative on the sports council.

Understood. Thank you. Can I get a motion?

Motion to defer this item for two weeks, and I may change that. And request to speak.

Second. Second.

Were you able to hit the I cannot. Unfortunately, aren't up on the screen for us to hit.

You can hit the wood you can actually hit there we go.

There it goes. And you'd second it, commissioner Terry Mhmm. If you'll

hit the button.

Alright. Commissioner Long Spears.

Thank you so much. I appreciate attorney Welch for you grabbing me this morning and letting me know that we needed to further review the executive order. So my understanding initially was that each commissioner received a nonvoting appointment to the sports board. However, after reviewing the executive order, mister Welch reviewed it first. I went back and reviewed it, like, three minutes ago, and he is correct.

There is one appointment that is voting on behalf of the board of commissioners to the sports commission. And I just wanted to draw y'all's attention to something. On the last page of that executive order, it states that this order shall be effective upon signature and remain in effect until 06/30/2026. And right above that in Section oh lord, well, nine, the term is the DUSC, that's the CAB United Sports Commission, shall continue until June 2026. So my point is this, is that if we're going to make an appointment to the sports commission, we should probably do it soon because, it does conclude by the June this year.

And so if you all would consider mister Ben Bell serving as our collective appointment, that would be wonderful. Obviously, it require four votes. Or I just deferred it if you'd like to review his information or you can collectively bring another candidate forward. I yield back. Thank you.

Thank you. Commissioner Terry.

Thank you, Madam Presenting Officer. I kick and know, I think in the middle of it, Attorney Welch, but the we all went to the Sports Commission launch and it was stated that commissioners will be making appointees to the Sports Commission. And then we were e mailed like the next day to say, let the Intergovernmental Affairs Director know who our appointments are. And so I did that like three months ago. So there was a meeting last week and my person went to the meeting.

So I mean, why are we just now learning we have to have an official appointee? That's fine if we have an official appointee, but are the people that the person I sent to the meeting, are they being recognized? Or is it just are they just showing up and they're just a person from the public?

I can't address that, sir. I wasn't in attendance at any of the meetings you're referencing. Alright. All I can go by is the words of the executive order, which in section five a four give one appointment to the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners.

Alright. Well, this will be our reminder for the BOC side of the aisle to read the executive order, or at least maybe ask for it once it's been announced so we don't have to, like, read it three months later and understand what's in it because sometimes we hear an executive order and then it doesn't like materialize until a few months later, then we read the fine print. And then we have to change everything after we've told people and given expectations. So it's just not fair for us to be told one thing and something else happened three months later. It's fine if that's if the Executive Order says that, that's fine.

Just don't tell us something else. So in regard to the our appointee, I mean, can we Madam Presiding Officer, can we literally just put out a call for applicants, ask central staff to review it, maybe winnow it down to a couple of representatives, and let's just pick someone from the public who might be interested quickly because because it's, you know but I thought I I thought the sports commission was supposed to go on for a few years. Like, I don't understand why we would end it June 30. Isn't doesn't the World Cup go past June? I thought we were talking about, like, college playoffs and Super Bowls and all these things.

Commissioner Terry, not to interrupt, but I believe we need to get that explanation from administration and not from attorney Walt. Well, I mean So let's ask Zach to come back with an explanation.

Okay. Well, so just in terms of the picking our appointee, I mean, I know Ben. He's my district counsel appointee. But since we only have one voting member, which I'm still not sure what we're voting on at these sports commissions because I don't I didn't know they had a budget or I mean, I'm not really sure what's the actual plan there. But if we have to appoint someone, if could just develop a process to so we can kind of reach consensus quickly. Thank you.

Understood. Thank you. Commissioner Davis Johnson.

Thank you. And my point would be, why would we defer something that we know we don't have the authority to appoint? And why don't we withdraw? And in fact, that's gonna be my substitute motion to withdraw this item so that we can all get together as a board and decide who we would like our representative to be. And so my substitute motion is to withdraw this item. Second.

We have a substitute motion and a substitute second. If we could update the machines. Thank you. Are you, yielding the floor, Commissioner

Johnson? Yeah. And then my last point was if time is of the essence, that's the reason I want to do this so that we can go on and get a consensus as to who we want to appoint. So that's it. I feel bad.

Thank you, ma'am. Commissioner Long Spears for your second opportunity.

Thank you very much. And so commissioners, I'd like to point out is that the language in this appointment is record the appointment of Ben Bell to the friends of the DeKalb Sports Commission as the district two representative. So initially, I had planned on withdrawing. However, based on the unclarity, I think some of us are feeling about what that appointment looks like. Perhaps there's an opportunity for mister Bell to serve in a nonvoting capacity as it sounds like at least one individual has already been doing on the sports commission.

And, again, I reached out to him. I think it would be gracious of all of us to allow me the opportunity to tell him what's going on already with this before we just simply withdraw the item. Yield back.

Commissioner Terry, for your second opportunity.

Yes. I just wanna point out that after again, I'm just I'll forward this email to everyone. So this has been known for four months now, looks like. So I after the sports commission launch and there was the announcement and we were asked to, you know, identify people that we we would send, I don't think it was ever meant to be voting. It was just meant to be like advisory. I don't see a problem with that. I mean, maybe we could just ask the CEO to amend the executive order. That'd be simple. Right? Attorney Welch, executive orders can be amended, right,

simply by changing the words can't be amended. Yes, sir.

Okay. And is that just simply a matter of changing language and just sort of pronouncing this as the new executive order? Is it what's the bureaucracy to change an executive order? How how quickly can it be done?

That's fully within the CEO's purview.

Okay. But that let okay. So let me ask a procedural question. How does an executive order get changed functionally? Is it just changing it and then saying, here it is?

I believe traditionally a new executive order is generally issued to replace a previous one if changes are made, but there's any number of ways that can be accomplished procedurally. Okay. Okay.

Well, Zach, maybe that would be something to consider because I got because, again, I emailed the administration point person on November 10 and just yeah. Like, this person, Eric Carlton, who's very interested in the sports commission to be my appointee and got an email back saying, great. We'll look forward to seeing an invitation. I mean, it just there was no indication that the person wasn't, you know, welcomed or isn't following the executive order. It just great looking forward to it, and we'll let you know when the quarterly meetings are.

And so they've they were they attended the meeting last Thursday. So, anyway, it's just the problem is that we got constituents who were excited about the sports commission. And if I have to go back and tell them, just kidding, you're actually just there to, I guess, observe. You know, it just makes me look like I don't know what I'm talking about. It makes us look like we don't have our stuff together. This should be very straightforward. It's just I mean, I understand the point of the point of the Sports Commission. It's just meant to create ideas and programming around the World Cup and maybe future sporting events. So it shouldn't be this dramatic. Hopefully, we can just go forward with our appointees, kind of like the Arts Council.

I mean, it seems like that's generally a fine approach. Yield back.

Thank you. Commissioner Bolton?

Thank you, madam Peel. And, commissioner Spears, that's very reasonable, your position, and, which is one of the reasons that I did second the withdrawal. I had a person just like you guys who were attending the meetings, and they go back and they report to the community. And I too would hate to have to explain to them why now they can no longer serve, but then there's still an item on the agenda where it appears that someone else may be getting the opportunity. So if there is a way for us to continue to allow our appoint appointees to attend the meetings and report back.

I would support that. But I I would also say if the withdrawal does fail, commissioner, I will support your deferral. But, considering that, I do have to go back and explain to my appointee and then the community that he reports to, I I would rather it be withdrawn because I don't wanna cause any confusion with the folks that have already been attending the meeting. I yield back.

Thank you. Commissioner Messiah.

Thank you so much, madam PO. And so just, to echo my expectations and and thoughts based on being in attendance for the rollout conversations in and around this particular issue, was my understanding that each commissioner, if they so chose, would actually have an appointee. Additionally, I had even asked that in the absence of, because of my interest in what's going on, that a commissioner could actually, attend and participate, in their stead. So absent an appointee, they could actually be the their own representative. We do have not just the World Cup coming up.

We also have Super Bowl in two years. And I, specifically from this dais, mentioned that we have ongoing sporting effect, events, including the FedEx Cup that takes, place right in one of my district, neighborhoods right in my community. So being, you know, the only city hood I have, City Of Atlanta, a stone throws away from, Downtown Atlanta, District 3 bears the brunt of a lot of direct sporting events that take place in and around, the city of Atlanta and downtown specifically. So, I would like to be able to further flush out and have a conversation to see if she may be amenable to an amendment to the order. I think opposed to, taking a demand approach or all or nothing, just trying to see if we can have a conversation.

So I think a deferral would allow for that opportunity to take place. Additionally, if there is that possibility materializes, then I wouldn't wanna withdraw an item that would allow a commissioner to have their appointee to move forward. And with that, I yield back to you, MNPO.

Thank you, commissioner Davis Johnson, for your second opportunity.

Yeah. What I would yeah. Yeah. What I would just like to say is this is that I don't think if because I think everyone has appointed someone someone to this oppose. And if by chance, the CEO amends her position because I would like my person to serve.

I appointed my chief of staff. I'd like him to serve. But and I'd like to give him the advantage to stay on. I'm sure like everyone else would wanna do. But if the CEO changes her position, then fine.

But if not, we shouldn't have, in my opinion, to give anyone the appearance of an advantage to be appointed for this position by the board when most of the board members have appointed someone. So that is my position. Because if there's a withdrawal and we come back and they come and the CEO determines that she's going to amend, it's amended. And no one has a preference, and no one is given an a perceived advantage. And we can collectively choose a person if necessary.

But it's my hope that it's amended because I like to keep my person on it as well. I guess I could have done a I guess I could have done a substitute to put my person on here, but I didn't because it wouldn't be fair. It's a perception perception of that advantage that I'm concerned about. So I yield back.

Thank you. Commissioner Patrick?

Thank you, madam presiding officer. Ideally speaking, what I would love to see happen is is at our this Thursday, there's a sort of an explanation from the administration of where things are, where things could be going, and not necessarily make a kerfuffle up here over a commissioner's request to have someone placed on that board. I know we have a vote we have to get through, but ultimately, I'd like to see us where we get some more information again from the administration, perhaps legal, can walk us through all the details a bit more clearly. We need to come together. This is not a thing to have a fight over, honestly.

Come on, Ted. We can live together.

Thank you, commissioner Patrick. And I will echo that. So what excuse me. What I would like to request from you, c o COO Williams, if we can get clarification on the individual appointments, because it was actually my understanding that the commissioner appointments didn't actually need to be an official appointment, but that one official appointment did need to occur. So if we can get that clarification, I think that would allow the individual commissioners to keep their person on, but we make one collective appointment.

That was my understanding of the process. So, if we can get that clarification, and if the executive order needs to be amended to reflect that, I would appreciate that. All right. Thank you, sir. Seeing no further request to speak, the motion on the floor at this time is a motion to withdraw this item, which is five zero eight. If we can open the machines for the vote.

Can I ask the question?

Yes, ma'am.

My question is this, is this if we vote, is this to record District two's appointment Just like everyone else's appointments have been recorded.

So this item does purport to record an appointment from district two. I've just checked while we've been standing here, I don't see where any other commissioners put an appointment through this recordation process Correct. Which I think is part of the reason that we've just caught it. But, yes, if approved, this item would reflect district two's appointment, which again, I don't see an allowance for that appointment in the executive order as currently written.

Okay. Okay.

That was mine. Okay. That was mine. So okay. So would do do you feel that we could get a different understanding of what you just stated at the next CAL meeting?

I will have to defer to the administration. The executive order says what it says.

Yeah. That's what I'm saying. Would we get a different understanding? Could we get a different understanding of what you just stated at the Cal meeting from legal?

I'll look again, ma'am, but the words on the page are very plain. There's one appointment from the Board of Commissioners in the voting section. It is as a collective appointment. I'm not suggesting that you cannot have monitors attend. I'm simply reporting what the words of the executive order say.

Okay. So the motion on the floor is still to withdraw, so the machines are open. Missing two votes. Motion to withdraw is does not pass. So, we'll go back to the original motion to defer. For two weeks. Friendly amendment. What's your friendly amendment?

Just to ask if the administration can come back by the Committee of the Whole with a way we can kind of tweak some of this agenda item and maybe another agenda item.

I mean, that was my request, but I don't think we need that as a friendly amendment to the deferral. It's gonna happen.

Well, I was looking for it to be an official, you know, acknowledgment from the board for Zach.

So my request isn't official. It is Thursday. All right. So we have a motion to defer, seconded by Commissioner Bolton. Please open the machines for a vote.

All right, motion to defer passes. Please stay up, Attorney Walsh. Yes, ma'am. Next item, item twenty twenty six dash zero five two one, Commission District 2, record the appointment of Kyle Williams to the friends of the DeKalb Arts Council as representative.

Madam presiding officer, I'd like to, if I can, provide a little clarity as to the appointments to the Arts Council. These points will apply to the item you just sounded o five two one as well as items items o o five five three three five, five, o o five five one one two, two, o five two seven, and o five four three. As my read of the agenda shows that all five of those, purport, to appoint district representatives to the Arts Council. So just for clarity, the official name of the entity is the DeKalb Arts Council. All five of these appointments should reflect appointment to that body, the DeKalb Arts Council.

Again, just for clarity, each member of the board of commissioners per this executive order can appoint a standing member to the DeKalb Art Council. Only standing members can vote and only standing members count towards the quorum. So under this executive order, you do all each get an individual appointment of a voting member. The term for each member is four years, given the date of, sort of inception of, this council. We have assigned, term dates of 03/01/2026 through 02/28/2030 to all five of these appointments, so they will remain uniform.

So, I say all that simply because there is a little bit of differentiation between, the names of the organizations between these five items. A couple of you have identified your appointees as standing members. That is correct. They are all to be standing voting members on all five. Happy to address any questions, but hopefully that brings some clarity to this appointment process.

We we have questions. Okay. Commissioner Long Spears.

Would you like me to make a motion first or go into my comments?

I actually would like to have comments. We'll make the motion, and then because I think I can clean this up by reading it correctly, but if you want to defer.

No, actually, I would I motion to approve item five twenty one with possibly a few friendly amendments, but I wanted to ask Mr. Welch what I'm reading in the EO.

And what I had planned to do when I was reading the appointments for the record was to read it correctly. So attorney Welch, does that suffice? And then all the appointments would just be recorded into the record that way.

Correct. And technically, you know, there's no vote required on these items, though I understand procedurally for discussion purposes why you're going the way you're going. But Mhmm. To to answer your precise question, madam presiding officer, yes. If you if you read the appointment with the proper name of, the organization and as a appointed appointed to the as a standing member, I think the record will reflect accurately.

And before we move on to questions, just to make sure I have this correct. So it would read, for example, record the appointment of Kyle Williams as a standing member of the DeKalb Arts Council for as the District 2 Representative.

Yes, ma'am.

Alright. Do you still have questions? Yes, ma'am. Okay.

Thank you very much. Mister Welch, I am reading I'm on page two of the executive order, DeKalb Council for the Arts that was initially executed in November 2025. We have gone back and forth on this item over and over again. So it does what she just read as a standing member, that is not what's in the executive order. In the executive order, it states under section five membership, standing members with voting privileges are the 11 members of the board of directors for Destination Decab, which are the same board members for Discover Decab.

And second is the executive director and CEO will be the chair of the board with nonvoting privileges. So that is the executive director of the Arts Council that has recently been appointed. Section b state

If I could, ma'am, you that that executive order has been replaced. There was a second executive order issued on the February 2026. Okay. I believe that has been provided, but, again, those don't come through law.

Hold on. Does anybody else have

this one? I haven't looked for wait. Attorney while you're looking at attorney Welch, if you can continue.

Yeah. And so what it states under membership, section five, standing members a one, one appointed by the chief executive, a two, one appointed by each member of the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners.

As a standing voting member?

As a standing member. Yes, ma'am. And then section b outlines agencies and organizations invited to participate as friends of the DeKalb Art Council. And then there's a section c with discretionary participants as invited.

Okay. So, we're still in my time. So this was issued, you said, on February 25, sir?

It looks like it was executed on 02/25/2026. Yes, ma'am.

Okay. Well, just to confirm, so in the new February executive order, it states that each each of us, not collective, have one voting member to the Arts Council?

Yes, ma'am. A one standing members. One appointed by each member of the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners.

Alrighty. Well, my motion motion stands to approve, and I absolutely accept joyously your friendly amendment so that mister Williams can be a voting member of the Arts Council. That is exciting. And unfortunately, I don't recall seeing that executive order. So if you wouldn't mind sending it or maybe other folks received it, but I don't recall that I did, but I wish I would have. Thank you so much and I yield back.

Why are we voting?

Right. So I will let Commissioner Davis Johnson speak, but I'm actually I can request that you withdraw so I can go through the procedure of recording it correctly. There's no vote needed.

Okay.

I'll just read it correctly into the record. All right. Yes. That's what I was trying to explain. It's not in the wrong section. We were just getting explanation before I continue.

I just have a question.

Yes. Commissioner Davis Johnson.

And this is for Zach because I I do remember discussing it was a discussion about an advisory role as opposed to a standing role, voting role. So that has since been changed from the administration. Is that is that what Matthew was saying?

Yes. From the presiding officer to the commissioner, yes. That's what mister Welch is saying. Matter of fact, I'm trying to look up the the executive order, but, yes, I believe the revised executive order, allows for a voting member, appointed by each commissioner. Okay.

Fantastic. Okay. Alright. Thank you. So, can continue reading the appointments in for the record.

Great.

All right, thank you. Thank you. Item 2020Six-five 21, Commission District two, record the appointment of Mr. Kyle Williams as a standing member of the DeKalb Arts Council as a District 2 representative. Also, item for District 2, item twenty twenty six-five 45, all commissioned districts, appointment of Roseanne Blakney to the DeKalb County Women's Commission.

On to District 3 items, item twenty twenty six-five 35, to record the appointment of Camille Gilmore as a standing member of the DeKalb Arts Council as the District 3 appointee. District 5 appointments, item twenty twenty six-four 94, an item to record the appointment of Ms. London Hornsby to DeKalb County Women's Commission. Item twenty twenty six-five 12, an item to record the appointment of Ron Mayo as a standing member of the DeKalb Arts Council as a District 5 appointee. Top of page four, item twenty twenty six dash zero five two eight, an item to record the appointment of Caitlin Brewster to the district five community council board, item twenty twenty six dash zero five two nine, an item to record the appointment of Peter Butts to the District five Community Council Board.

District 6 item, record the appointment of Lauren Keefer as a standing member of the DeKalb Arts Council as a Super District 6 appointee. Super District 7, item twenty twenty six-five 43, record the appointment of Dolores Burgess to as a standing member of the DeKalb Arts Council. And from the chief executive office, item twenty twenty six-five 100, all commission districts record the appointment of Mr. Merriam Williams to post eight of the DeKalb County Planning Commission. For the tax commissioners.

We're on top of page five. Record the appointment or item twenty twenty six-four 17 to record the appointment of Joyce L. Neal to the position of Chief Deputy Tax Commissioner. That concludes all the ones to be read into the record. We are now on appointments item

Madam Signing Officer, just a quick question on 05:45.

05:45.

So that one is for the city of Doraville's slot, I believe, commissioner Longspears.

Pardon me. Restate your question, please.

The o five 45, the women's commission?

That is correct.

Miss Blatney. For Doraville.

For Doraville. Yes.

For Doraville. Uh-huh.

And would it be possible, madam Presanciapso, in the future, the title would just Yeah.

We actually

add that in.

In our agenda setting for Cal, we recognize that the District 2 appeared to have a bunch of women's commission appointments. So we're gonna try and clarify that so it does not look inappropriate. But I did not catch that one. Thank you.

And that is Doraville, yes.

That was Doraville. We'll sure the records reflect that. Thank you. All right, appointments. This is for District 3. We're in the middle top of page five, item twenty twenty six-five 33, appoint Ms. Denise Carter to Pulse three of the Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Affairs Board. Is there a motion?

Motion to approve.

Thank you. Is there a second? Second. Second by Commissioner Terry. Please open the machines for the vote.

Motion carries. Thank you. These are chief executive office appointments. Item twenty twenty six-one hundred ninety one, all commission districts appoint Mr. Hunter Hines to the Chamblee Dorrville Community Improvement District Board.

Move for action.

Thank you, ma'am. Item twenty twenty six dash zero three zero two, all commission districts, excuse me, appoint doctor Sarah Pettinad to post two of the DeKalb Regional Land Bank Authority. Move for action. Top of page six. Item twenty twenty six dash zero three zero eight, all commission districts appoint reverend doctor James Todd Speed to post one of the DeKalb County Hospital Authority.

Move for action.

Item twenty twenty six dash zero three zero nine, all commission districts appoint Elizabeth m Roberts Roberts, Esquire to post one of the DeKalb Regional Land Bank Authority.

Move for action, madam Peo. I have a motion, and I move to approve agenda items ending in 191, three zero two, three zero eight, and three zero nine as approved out of the PACS committee.

Thank you. Is there a second?

Second.

If you hit the button, Commissioner Contra. Thank you. Seeing no request to speak, please open the machines. Motion carries. We are now on the consent agenda under airport. Are you ready, madam deputy presiding officer?

Yes, ma'am.

All right. Item 2026Dash04919, Commission Districts 106, termination of standardized tee hanger space lease agreement for Charles e Taylor. There is no cost to the county. Move for action. Under board of commissioners, item twenty twenty six dash zero five two three, approval of minutes of the 03/17/2026 committee of the whole meeting.

Move for action.

And we will pull we're pulling item zero five five seven. So under District 2, item twenty twenty six dash zero five zero seven, allocation of $5,000 from the district two reserve for appropriation to Paws Atlanta to support their pet food bank.

Move for action.

Item twenty twenty six dash zero five four eight, allocation of $59,263 to 100 black men of DeKalb County to support the DeKalb Youth Explorers program.

Move for action.

District 3 item, item twenty twenty six dash zero five three six to appropriate $10,000 from the district three reserve for appropriations to how big is your dream for the 2026 spring break and summer academy. Move for action. Copy page eight. District six item twenty twenty six dash zero five three zero to appropriate an amount not to exceed $8,700 from the super district six reserve for appropriations to out of hand theater incorporated for two educational and civically engaging theater productions in 2026.

Move for action.

District seven items. Item twenty twenty six dash zero five four four, an item to allocate $5,000 to DeKalb Schools Educational Foundation Inc from the district seven reserve for appropriations funds for the state of the district supporting educational programming.

Move for action.

Item twenty twenty six dash zero five five one, an item to allocate $2,000 of reserve for appropriation funds to 100 black men of DeKalb County. Legacy is not extinct event for enhancement of educational programming for youth.

Actually, we're gonna pull that item and come back with a substitute.

Thank you, ma'am. So moving to item twenty twenty six dash zero five five two, an item to allocate $2,000 of the reserve for appropriations district seven funds to BlackBoy Blueprint for student participation in blueprint legacy summit.

Move for action.

Item twenty twenty six dash zero five five three, an item to allocate $1,000 of the district seven reserve for appropriation funds to Horizon over the spectrum for sensory friendly family programming.

Move for action.

Top of page nine, twenty twenty six dash zero five five four, an item to allocate $2,000 of the district seven reserve for appropriation funds to the DeKalb Symphony Orchestra for 2026, DeKalb Symphony Orchestra Outreach Concert.

Move for action.

And last item from the CEO's office, twenty twenty six zero five one eight, approval of the minutes of the board of commissioners meeting of 03/10/2026.

Move for action. And with that, madam presiding officer, I move to approve items two zero two six zero four nine nine, two zero two six zero five two three, zero five zero seven, zero five four eight, zero five three six, zero five three zero, zero five four four, zero five five two, zero five five three, zero five five four, and zero five one eight.

Thank you. Is there a second?

Second.

Motion and a second. Please open machines for the vote. Consent agenda is approved. We will go back to item twenty twenty six dash zero five five seven, all commission districts to amend item twenty twenty five dash one five nine eight as previously adopted on 11/02/2025, adopting the board of commissioners 2026 regular business and committee of the whole calendar. If I can get a motion to approve and then we can have a discussion.

I move to approve. Second. Move to approve this item. Second.

Okay. Thank you. Motion to approve. And on the printed agenda item, we had discussed our adding the night cal meetings as well, and we have gotten communication with Mr. Seigler about when we could have a meeting to approve the millage rate.

So I believe when we had these discussions in November, commissioner Terry had brought up an idea of trying to have a little bit of a break in July. So mister Seigler has worked on this item and he's coming forward. It looks like we can there's two options. We could approve the millage rate on June 30, but also on July 7. I have no cals in July and then meet again on July 28. Would you like to speak to the millage rate, sir?

Yes. Good morning, madam PO. The two options that we looked at were either doing it, well, originally, we were tentatively scheduling the millage rate adoption for July 14. So it could be done either July 7 or June 30. That is from just a practical and legal standpoint that we do think that's possible to do. There were some concerns or issues raised by the property the chief appraiser that there might be some changes through the general assembly to some of the assessment notices that might change that schedule. But until that actually comes out, we don't know what those changes would be and what impact that would have on the schedule.

And if attorney Phillips, question for you, putting you on the spot. I didn't know we were injured, sir. He worked so hard he injured himself for the county. Just see the other guy. Good morning, attorney Phillips.

Good morning.

It's my understanding we have to have two BOCs per month. So if we had a meeting at the BOC on June 30, but not, we would end up only having one on July 28. Is that acceptable or do we have to have the two?

We are supposed to have two action meetings per month.

Okay. So as much as I like the idea of June 30, I think we would have to have it on July 7. So that is the amendment, additional amendment to the calendar that I am proposing at this time. There might be some later on, but at this time that is the proposal. Commissioner Long Spears, you've requested to speak.

Thank you. Okay. So I don't have anything in writing with what you're proposing. So the first thing that I could find, by the way, the first thing that I'm trying to understand is that you're proposing two night cal meetings. What dates are those? Or was it on the agenda?

That is on the agenda item.

Okay. Could you just tell me?

Off the top of my head, can't.

June 2 is a NyCal.

Thank you, Ms. McKenzie. October what? As

proposed on the agenda item, there would be one for June 2 for 05:30PM and also October 6, 05:30PM.

Okay. And, guest location is still TBD? Yes. Here we are. Thank you very much for this. That's awesome. Alright. The next question I have is, so what we have written on here on our initial calendar was June, which is now gonna be '9 June 9 biz yes. Which is the ninth. June 18, Thursday, Cal. June 23, this meeting, which gives us our two meetings in June. And then July, you were suggesting that the Cal remain on the seventh. Is that right?

No. July 7, make that a business meeting.

Okay. So July 7 will be bid.

July 20 business and there would be no meeting on July 14 or July 21. So we have two business meetings in July but no count.

Okay. All right. Thank you very much. Yield back.

Thank you. Commissioner Terry.

Thank you. I am good with the Knight Committee the Whole changes. One thought maybe that might help us achieve some of the goals we were setting out to do, when we talked about this in November, is if we actually had a July 7 and July 14 BOC meeting, and then the twenty first, twenty eighth would be summer recess basically, and then August 4 would be a cal and potentially could move that cal as well.

Let me make sure I understand what you're saying, sir. So a BOC on July 7 and then a BOC on July 14.

Mhmm.

And then nothing on the twenty first or the twenty eighth.

Exactly. And I might propose moving the August 4 as well to the Monday before the eleventh.

So

do you I think everyone needs to process that. Do you have anything else to speak on, or I'll go to Commissioner Davis Johnson?

Well, maybe just to keep things flowing, does anyone have any thoughts on that? You can use my time to answer.

Could you repeat what you're proposing?

Yeah. Basically, just front loading the required two meetings in July. So the last two weeks of July, there would not be meetings. And then the small amendment to that is to have the August 4 cal move August 10.

So just so I understand, so July would both be business meetings. Mhmm. And we wouldn't have another CAL until when in August?

August 10.

So effective, will it be going from July 14 to August 10 or eleventh? It says eleventh on this.

Yeah. I think the eleventh would still be on the calendar. Just moving Cal.

Same move. Moving Cal to the Monday before.

Question. Acceptable for the administration?

I we can't do an agenda for the CAL meeting on the August 10 and then have the BLC meeting the very next day. That's not enough time. Right.

I think if we to do that, I would have to set the agenda for the eleventh, the presiding officer.

But do you I'm okay with that.

Process? Everything from CALS, you know

But if I'm sitting

have to give different deadline dates. Okay.

Yes. Mhmm. And then the presiding officer would have to set it as we're I will have to set it in July for the fourteenth as well.

I'm okay with that.

Okay. Do you have a question in general or a question for commissioner Cherry?

Yeah. Well, I guess. Go ahead.

I'm just not sure if he needs to yield his time.

So we are not looking at a meeting for August 4. Right?

My suggestion would be to move the committee of the whole to the tenth.

So okay.

But we can't do that.

But she can send the committee of the whole.

Mhmm. Yes.

Okay. So we

Correct.

So I'm good with that.

Okay. Okay. Anyone else have any

thoughts on that?

I'm still on your time. Okay. Just making sure because I have something I'll have to reschedule. Okay. So our last meeting would be July 14, and we would not meet again until August 11.

Mhmm. Correct. Yes.

Okay. Thank you. Alright. I appreciate that.

It's your time. It's eight days.

What is it? It's twenty eight days. Other commissioners weighing in.

And I do wanna acknowledge that many larger jurisdictions, including Atlanta, actually take and I don't know if it's written into their organizational act, but they take like a month off, basically, it's a summer recess. So it's a pretty common thing considering that we do meet all the time. We meet every time. And I don't think and maybe just to acknowledge that there might be a longer meeting on August 11 because there might be some things that might be kind of in the queue. But as long as the administration is clear that there's no pressing operational things, right?

Because I think like part of our agenda are policies and resolutions that we discussed that aren't related to service delivery. So I wouldn't want to not have a meeting and then a road paving contract or a contract for vital services get delayed for no reason. So if Mr. Williams can confirm that all departments are not going to have any like they can time it to make sure that those contracts for vital services are taken care of on the seventh and the fourteenth. And then that way we're there's not any emergencies.

But of course, if there is an emergency, I mean, we can always be called in. I mean, I think that's written in our code as well. I'd happy to yield to that, mister Williams.

Madam presiding officer, to commissioner Terry's direct question. If the board is contemplating taking a break for a couple of weeks in August, if we know that now or next week or so, that gives us sufficient time to manage our calendars, contracts, and so forth to avoid the circumstance like Commissioner Terry just mentioned, wherein there is an urgent item that needs to happen during that time period. The sooner you make that decision, we will just manage accordingly.

Okay. Thank you. Great. Thank you. All right. You're back.

All right. Do you still have a question? Commissioner Davis Johnson? No. Commissioner Patrick.

Thank you, madam presiding officer. I'm comfortable with what's been suggested. I wanna put on people's radar that in September, I may have a couple of dates where I'll be asking if we could change our meeting dates, to later in the week instead of on a Tuesday, maybe move it to a Thursday. But I don't have anything confirmed yet, but still wanna let you all know that that might be coming. Thank you.

Okay. So if we are comfortable, and sounds like we are, with the amendment from commissioner Terry, if you can make a friendly amendment, commissioner Terry, to the motion to approve.

Yes. So the friendly amendment to the motion to approve is for July 7 and July 14 to be an official BOC action meeting date. And then in lieu of the August 4 Committee of the Whole, the presiding officer will set the agenda for the August 11 BOC meeting.

Correct.

That sound right?

Okay. Everyone is comfortable with that? All right. We have a your motion and second stand. Yes. Yes. All right. Let's open the machines for a vote. Thank you, everyone. That motion carries. Alright. So let's go back to the item from District 7 that was pulled from consent item twenty twenty six dash zero five five one, an item to allocate $2,000 of reserve for appropriation funds to 100 black men of DeKalb County Legacy is not extinct event for enhancement of educational programming for youths. Is there a motion?

I move to defer this item for two weeks, so we can prepare a substitute. Second.

The motion and the second to defer. Please open machines for the vote. Motion to defer carries. Thank you. We are now in the middle of page nine, preliminary items. This is under community development, item twenty twenty six-four 97, Commission Districts 4 And 7, extension of the contract time provision for the City of Tucker ADA Transportation Plans, PWI.

Yep. Thank you, madam presiding officer. Based on the recommendation of PWI from the March 17 meeting, motion to approve.

Thank you. Is there a second? Second. Same. I think he forgot he's back on PWI. Come on, Ted. Please open the machines for a vote. Motion to approve carries. Thank you. Item twenty twenty six dash zero five five zero, District 3 to adopt an ordinance to amend the code of DeKalb County to address public safety, vagrancy, unauthorized camping, and certain public nuisance behaviors. This is a PEX item.

Motion to defer to the April 28 with a VOC with a stop in PEX on April 14 so it can be heard.

Thank you.

Motion and a second. Please open machines. That motion to defer carries. Top of page 10, Item twenty twenty six-four 78, all commission districts, an allocation of up to 300,000 to contract with the firm to perform research and analysis for the county's water and sewer system. This analysis will determine how the county's water and sewer function can best be managed to ensure the long term health and stability of the county's water and sewer assets and whether optimum service delivery would be achieved through the existing structure, reorganizing or outsourcing in whole or in part of or the creation of a water and sewer authority.

Is there a motion?

Thank you, Madam Presiding Officer. Based on the recommendation of PWI, motion to approve, and I do have a comment.

All right. Is there a second? Second. We have a motion to approve and seconded by Commissioner Messiah. Commissioner Patrick, you have the floor.

Thank you again, Madam Presiding Officer. So,

of

the discussion, of the comments I made during PWI last week when this item came up was was initially when this was brought forward, I was absolutely opposed to it. I believe that this commission, the CEO, and our staff are doing a really job at getting the county in line and with expectations for water and service as well as with what the courts are looking for. That said, if there is an opportunity for improvement, if someone can at least give us an assessment on ways to improve our functions, our processes, that is what I am supporting right here. So just because I'm saying I'm comfortable moving forward with this doesn't mean that I'm for the creation of the Water and Sewer Authority without the data. And even then, it will be a hard sell because I I do believe we've done a good job.

And I think that the residents have said very clearly to all of us, fix it, make it work. In a modern day American city, we should have the best water service system, and we're getting there. But we also have the residents reminding us that we we make that a priority. So with that, thank you very much, madam presiding officer.

Thank you. Commissioner Longspears?

Thank you, Madam Presiding Officer. And I appreciate you, Mr. Williams, distributing the memo from March 23 and then recirculating that. And I am looking at this document and have a few questions. My first question is, has vendor selection occurred yet? No? Okay. Can you talk to me a little bit about what the plan is for that, assuming this passes?

Yes. Thank you, Madam Presiding Officer, to Commissioner Spears. What we'll do is work with purchasing to determine what is the best course of action in terms of pursuing a firm. We have developed a scope of work and we would spend some time refining that scope of work and determine are there opportunities out there in terms of piggybacking quite frankly or is it most appropriate to issue an RFP and if so we would do that as quickly as possible. But we have we don't have a foregone conclusion as to what the procurement method would be at this point.

Okay. All right. So no vendor selection has occurred.

No,

ma'am. And you're looking at two options piggybacking on a current vendor's contract or an RFP, which takes considerable time.

Yes, ma'am. Yes. So statewide contract, the current municipal contract RFP. Because though, you know, it's really the gamut of options as it relates to procurement. This is not a sole source able item, so that is off the table. So we would see what is the most appropriate and most expedient method.

So in my experience with DeKalb County, the RFP process, while we do our best, it tends to be slow. It is what it is. They're meticulous. They're vetting the potential vendors. If you were to go the piggybacking method, would that be quicker in your opinion?

It would be. It would be. Yes, ma'am.

Okay. Thank you. The next question I have, and you might be waiting on receiving a scope of work or someone to respond to an RFP if you end up going that route, is the timeline. So after the vendor is selected, whomever it might be, so from start to finish, how long do you perceive this process to be, or is that still TBD?

I think it's TBD, but Okay. Our our goal would be by the end of summer, I think, to have this concluded. Assume, you know, a quick start. So I guess it's all and and when we start. Right?

Exactly. Okay. And so I may have additional questions, madam Pio. I'm just reading through what was sent. But so for now, you're you do include all of these different deliverables, and I was thrilled to see that you are certainly looking for a way to monitor and evaluate the options and then certainly the progress.

Right. And and and hopefully, you'll see our intent would be to thoroughly evaluate several potential options. And there may be something that we haven't thought of. And we do mention, quite frankly, whether it's maybe privatizing or outsourcing some components, consolidating, which would be bringing the UCO back under watershed or under watershed. There could be a host of things. And we want to thoroughly vet that. And I would anticipate some level of conversation probably through PWI as we progress.

And if at all, but how do you see this entity intersecting with the Urban League?

The entity? I'm sorry.

If what are this so right now, we're looking at per

You're talking about the evaluation?

Right. Project background is possibly considering creation of a water and sewer authority.

Yes.

Are is that if that were to happen, would that replace the Urban League? Would they still be in place performing the duties that we contracted them to do? Is there a vision on that yet, or we're still working for the details?

Right. I think we would still be working through the details because I believe where you're you're talking about is if the authority is created. Right? Correct. Okay. So yes.

It's stated

at Yes. The very Right. Right. So if that happens, all contracts that the county currently has would be become, you know, they're gonna give us the legal analysis as to how that happens. But the authority would be responsible for those contracts ultimately, including the Urban League.

Has the law department had a chance to consider that as an option? Or this authority would be ultimately responsible, I guess, for the would it be the selection of the vendors or just monitoring the contracts?

So if you have an authority and all of it, I guess, that the devil would be in the details. But in thinking it out, an authority if we and that's a number of steps down the road, because there may be a host of other options, Commissioner. But an authority would be responsible for the oversight management and governance of water and sewer. As such, they would be responsible for everything.

Right.

Commissioner Long Spears if I can. It sounds like you have some very detailed questions that I don't think we have answers for at this time because what I believe administration was wanting to know is is there an appetite to start this process?

Start the study.

To start the study. Right, and

see what it reveals.

Your questions seem to be wanting to have some detail on outcomes from the study that they wouldn't have the answers for. So I'm just trying to make sure that we're not putting the cart before the horse kind of thing.

Understood. All right. I still have four and a half minutes remaining, so I'm going to continue with my line of questioning. My next question, sir, goes to, a statement in here somewhere that said you were going to build off of information received from another vendor. Can you talk to me about that? I'm looking for it

right Yes. Believe what that is speaking to is

Mauldin and Jenkins. The operational assessment from last year?

Well, let me

Okay, thank you.

When the board approved the 10 by 10 rate increase, one of the stipulations in the resolution was an operational assessment of watershed. We used Malden and Jenkins. Understand they did they were not part of the other study that we did with the two sixty six findings. There is a separate assessment that is ongoing right now that will be concluded in the next thirty days or so of watersheds specifically by Malden and Jenkins. So that will be something that will be used to inform the information and the study conducted here.

So that study will be complete in the next thirty days?

I believe so. Yes, ma'am.

Alrighty. Very good. Okay. I will hold the remainder of my questions, but I am requesting COO Williams a meeting offline to

Just go any time.

This and just Anytime. Try to understand the Urban League, Malden and Jenkins study that's currently going on

Absolutely.

And some comments related to what commissioner Patrick said that is the PWI care.

I yield back. Thank you. Commissioner Messiah.

Thank you so much, madam Bahio. Just very briefly, I'd like to see and I'm glad that we are taking at least the step and having the foresight to look into, the creation of this authority. Just attending a class at ACCG, a CIP, and it was a discussion in and around the water authority. Some the jurisdictions and local counties have them: Carroll County, Cobb Marietta, Henry County, Clayton County, and just, you know, background coming from New York, have a water authority. And they are responsible for a number of the concerns that I think that we would that we're dealing with even here today, including like an application process, if we're talking about data centers, and monitoring of the water and water quality.

That's something that they would be responsible for and be able to provide an oversight as to any potential pollution of our water and anything affecting our water quality. And then, I think it would help consolidate some of these different aspects of water service providing that we do in the county. So, I am glad just we're looking into the creation of one. But with that, had there been thought in terms of, you know, if we do an RFP or even who we're looking at in terms of a vendor, just seeing whether or not they have familiarity with any oversight of the water and any potential water pollution.

So,

would that be something that would be considered under their purview at this point just a consideration from the administration.

Right. So I think that whatever firm is selected to conduct this study, one of the things we would want them to assess is our current state of compliance with various regulations. Right? And also, by their evaluation, does any form of governance improve the current state or, you know, that type of thing. So that would be part of their evaluation.

All of the whether it's managing assets, whether it's employee retaining, you know, there's a whole host of things that they would be evaluating. And they would look at each form of governance to see, you know, is there a difference?

I got appreciate that. I mean, because I would presume that, you know, any water authority that we created, if that's the route we go, then they would have to work closely with the EPA and GEPD. And so just considering some of what we are dealing with as a realization presently on our table as it relates to water. So thank you for that answer. With that, I yield back to you, Madam Peel. Thank you.

Thank you. Commissioner Terry. Thank you, Madam Presenting Officer. Thank you, Zach, for sending the, RFP draft. The only thing that I would like us to see if we can just strike from the onset is the studying of outsourcing or privatization.

I really cannot find any example of where a privatization of a government a local government asset ended up or a service ended up being a good thing for the ratepayers. If a for profit entity is running water and sewer, electricity, natural gas, what we have seen as the precedent is rates will go up higher than they otherwise would have because of the profit motive. And so the concern would be that if we give away our right to set the rates to a for profit company, then the profit motive will guide how they set those rates. And then, of course, oversight is a whole other ball of wax because the history is that the private entities will try to, in order to make those profits, will cut services or they will have a stronger cutoff regime. Georgia Power is a great example.

They cut off more customers than any other utility company in the nation. A 155,000 people were disconnected from their power last year. And Georgia Power is regulated by the PSC, but again, they're a for profit company, so they're allowed to do things. So I I mean, the creation of a water authority is not a bad idea. I was at the Park Pride event on Sunday and spoke with someone from the Clayton County Water Authority, and I was kind of joking that, you know, we were considering this and, you know, telling you know, what should we be concerned about? And and the person did acknowledge that the board of commissioners makes the appointees

Mhmm.

To the water authority. So there is a tie to the elected body and ostensibly the board that votes on rates and hiring the director. Those are things you're sort of putting into the authority, you know, Bailiwick. And so, you know, if we did create an authority and it's an, you know, an independent authority, it wouldn't truly be independent in the sense that it would be sort of, unaccountable. It's like a lot of other authorities.

Right? So that would be my only friendly amendment to the, motion to approve Commissioner Patrick, from PWI is is I just don't even think we should go down the route of studying privatization or outsourcing. Just I don't see it ending in that result that we are going to like. And if it saves us time and money, then I think we better focus on the other attributes of the RFP. Any thoughts?

If I could. And I definitely see your point, Commissioner Terry. But there may be may be worth discussing if they look at because there's a whole host of components, and I listed, like, plant management, your billing. You know, there may there may be components. Maybe it is not in the evaluation privatizing the entire system. I believe the city of Atlanta had done something like that. But I don't think it's necessarily uncommon where you have maybe plants or billing or different components that are sourced. So that's kind of what I was thinking for just to get a full of evaluation as possible.

Okay. So in the line, the first line where it has outsourcing or the the first bullet point of the three sort of, I guess, main options, outsourcing, reorganization and then creation of an authority. So, yes, you do say in whole or in part to include and then you can do the different

That's kind of what

was saying.

So would it be acceptable to just remove the privatization part of it? That's think saying it's kind of

trying to say the thing. Yeah. But I

think But if you do I mean, it's I think it's fair to look at all the different operations and and if it makes sense, in essence, I guess, would be a vendor under watershed running that component. I guess, of how we do our isn't that we outsource billing to another company or the mailing of it or something?

Animal services would be probably the best example.

Okay. Yes, that's a good point. Yes, I thought the water billing, it got mailed to another address and

Well, but our staff manage it all.

Okay. But someone handles that

The actual mail out part. Yes.

So that's all good.

We have a vendor, but it's our staff.

Okay. So Commissioner Patrick, that'd be my suggestion as a friendly amendment if you're amenable to just take off the table the full privatization. But if we left the outsourcing section in here, I think that would cover what mister Williams is trying to get get at in terms of the study.

If it's alright, I'd love to hear some of the other commissioners that have their names up here. I'll take my name off of this. But I don't I don't have a big problem with that. But but love to hear what everyone else has to say before going all in.

Okay. I'll I'll yield back and let the discussion continue.

Okay. Commissioner Bolton.

Thank you, madam Peel. Before I get into my question, I did want to just say I I agree with you, commissioner Messiah. I appreciate with the authority there being the capacity for oversight over both residential and commercial. So when it comes to data centers, we do actually have someone watching the water usage. I know that will make the community and us as leaders comfortable as well.

And then I wanted to iterate as well that when I first saw the privatization, I did have concerns about that. So I do appreciate you indicating there would be a separation of power, so to speak, where operationally, we would have more support. But when it comes to rate setting and some of those more critical things that was that could potentially, if we decide to go through with this study, that would stay under the umbrella of what we will continue to authorize and have control over. We we don't want these things to get away from us because this is definitely a slippery slope. So I do appreciate you bringing that up.

But I wanted to just ask you again, COO, to clarify between the current M and J study that you indicated will be done in about a month or two or so versus what you're requesting here? Just to make sure that the community is clear that we're not duplicating efforts since we're talking about multiple studies for the same department.

Yes, ma'am. Thank you for the question. And currently, Malden and Jenkins is in the process of conducting an operational review, much like they did with 18 other departments this time last year. So that is the basis for the study that is going on. They're looking at operational efficiency, effectiveness, and systems within the watershed department.

What we're talking about here would be reviewing the oversight management and governance of the county's water and sewer assets. So in in many ways, what it would be looking to do is to see is our system of governance and oversight the most efficient and effective for delivering this service to the public? Or are there other systems or ways of doing it?

So ultimately, what I'm hearing is that this is an attempt to look holistic holistically at the concerns that we've gotten from residences residents, excuse me, with respect to operations and how they're impacted by it, but also the way we're being governed. So we're trying to hit it from all sides so that the seesaw is balanced and not tipped to one end or another where you see an impact in one place but still frustrated in another.

I I I think that that hits the nail on the head. And and by way of an example, a question worthy of asking is if you look at our history, and and right now, commissioner Patrick is is spot on. And this last year has been the best year ever in in our water and sewer department, the functions, the money, everything. Because the administration and the board of commissioners has aligned, and and staff is behind leaning in getting the work done. Thirty years ago, that could not have been the case or we would not have had a consent decree.

Okay? And so the question really becomes, thirty years from now, when the residents of DeKalb are looking back, what was most successful. And what we will be determining with a study like this is to is what we're doing the likelihood going to get us the most success? Or is a change likely to get the most success for the residents?

Thank you, sir. I yield back, madam Peele.

Thank you. Commissioner Patrick, since you made the motion and commissioner Terry have the friendly amendment, would you like to revisit that?

Again, you're just striking the word privatized or full privatization.

Yeah. Zach, were you okay with that? Because I think the outsourcing would get would look at all the components and so that opens up to look at all of the levels of service without keeping full privatization.

Yes. I think so. I mean everything is probably worth looking at. But if the Board does not have the appetite for looking at a full privatization, that's fine. I mean, there's major components still that can be studied. So I'm good with that, with the outsourcing, if that's