Board of Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Meaning of Liberty County Board of Commissioners order running just a few minutes behind. We'll make up for that commissioners for that. Um, Mr. Mosley, has the meeting been properly advertised? Yes, sir. Thank you. I see everything. Will you be so kind as to please come and lead us in our prayer and our pledge of allegiance? Yes, sir. Stand, please.

Let us pray. Gracious and kind father, we thank you for all that you do for us on a daily basis. We're so mindful that you have blessed us to be an awesome nation. We pray right now, Father, that you give this deliberative body wisdom and understanding, knowledge as they transact the business of community. And Father God, before we go any further, we still want to pray for one of our own. Uh, Father God, we ask that you would heal and touch uh our commissioner uh um Walden. Father God, be with him and strengthen him right now. And we bless you. For it's in Christ's name we pray. Amen. Amen.

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, sir. Please.

Yes. I um Mr. Chairman, commissioners, um everyone, I did speak with Eddie today. He's um he's in the hospital, but he has a a schedule appointment in Savannah back at Petemont. Not Savannah, Atlanta, Pete. So, that's scheduled for Monday and he should be home by the middle of the week, uh Wednesday, no later than Thursday. and um you know still recuperating but um he's planning on coming back um pretty soon but he he he would have had to um he's in the local hospital in Savannah but he would would have been going to um Pedmont anyhow so they're just going to take him up there this weekend and have his procedure and then he'll hopefully be home by the middle of the week.

Thank you sir. In good spirits. That's good. Those of you who in touch with that know we're still praying for him. All right. Alrighty. We're going to make one of Where is Where's my county attorney? He's he he has to leave early you all. So, he's asked to do item 5A. But let's go ahead and start with our magistrate court annual presentation by Judge Michael McGurt. Good to see you, Judge McGurt. Good to see you all. Good afternoon. Stay on the sports side. Welcome to our house.

Happy to be here. Good evening, everyone. Good evening, commissioners, chairman. So just to give a overview or helicopter view of what 2025 in Majesty Court looked like. So very busy year. However, we we we've handled everything gracefully and most effectively as we could. So just a quick quick overview quick overview 2025 civil cases. Now, as I speak, civil cases, these are just cases where individuals may file suit for recover money against another individual or buy a company against an individual. We had a total of 2,382 of those cases filed in 2025. As far as dispossessories, which is evictions, so a landlord or homeowner wanting to evict someone in 2025, we had 1,476 evictions last year. um going into abandoned motor vehicles. That is vehicles that's disregarded. The tow company is needing to uh rid the car. They may have had it for an extended period of time and they're needing to get rid of it. Uh we had a total of 186 of those filings. foreclosures, uh, which would quick would be a filing where an individual may have property, a contract for property, defaulted on that contract, and kept the property. So, instead of them possibly pursuing criminal matters, they may try to file civil suit to go and foreclose on that property and take it back. We had 199 of those filings. Um, and then a garnishment, we had 154 total garnishment filings in 2025. So that's a a general scope of the civil filings. Now that the total number of filings that we had, concluding all of those was 4,396 total filings in 2025.

As we go into more so of some of the criminal side, which um I I've took the numbers to some of the information that could be public information that anyone could do a records request to pull um is the numbers that I I'm providing here with some of those filings. So, warrant applications, these are applications that can be filed by citizens against another citizen. We had a total of 211 warrant application filings, 37 good behavior bonds, and 115 county ordinance offenses that were filed. Now, the county ordinance offenses, those are rapidly increasing uh as to where we were in 23 to 24 to 25. So that that's the total number of filings that we had in 2025. So a ve very busy year overall as far as the filing. So our job was tasked with effectively processing those cases as quickly as can from filing to disposing of them of making a decision and getting them heard and uh closed out. So in total we had I would say a rough number. We're currently in the process of the case count and finalizing that to turn that into our um organization for that. We had a total of 2,650 cases disposed of and that's a total number over all the filings of that 4,000 uh total number. So, with that give or take cases that were ready and were ready to be heard, we disposed of 2,650 of those. Um, so far here in 2026, 2 months in, and we're at 338 civil filings, 263 of those are uh dispossessories. And for I don't have a solid number on our criminal filings just yet, but um that was that's the work that we've been

doing in 2025 so far in Mastery Court. Um we've had few personnel changes. Miss Wanda, she has gracefully retired after 23 years I think with the county with Master Court. Um and with that we've also welcomed our new full-time Master Judge, Miss Miranda Cole. So good things happening in Master Court. a lot. Case counts are steadily growing. So, I look I look to see and predict that I think we'll have more filings this year than we had last year being that where we already are already going into 300 dispossessor filings and we're 49 days into the new year. So, going to be another busy year. Any questions?

Pete, my interest commission when he talked about the increase in the ordinance cases. Yes. So, is that I'm just wondering is that because our staff is more comfortable now bringing those to you or just is the is it the growth factor? Have are you able to do any kind of tracking of what's caused that increase?

Yes, I I think it's a combination of all of it. I think it's a combination of of the turnover of being able to again effectively hear the cases, make a decision, and get effective results. I I think that is that is one of the biggest things that I I've been trying to do. Um hear the case, take the evidence as it is, and make the fairest and correct decision possible as quickly as possible. Um, but I think it's a combination of just the overall the growth of the the the county as a whole. Um, I think word is out. I think more more people are becoming aware of how the process of county ordinance works and the complaints being filed. So, um, it's it's not necessarily the effect of the county doing anything because again, our county ordinances are all generated by a complaint. They're not

they're not proactive code enforcement riding around. Once a complaint is filed, if code enforcement deems it to be a violation, then it comes to our court. So, I think the people are becoming more aware of that process and they're calling and making the complaints and they're being verified. Yes. Uh, judge, now you said dispossessory. What What was that word? Uh, dispossessories. It's evictions. Eviction. Yes, sir. And you mentioned um county ordinance violations. Um, do they result in fines or just you tell them that they need to go over there and straighten up something? I mean, do they get fined if they violate the county ordinances?

Yes, they can be fine. Um, but I I take it to the approach of giving them the opportunity to come into compliance. But what whatever the case involves into from that initial hearing is is more so of the courts just being reactive to what is being presented to us. Um but it can result into a fine or uh with county ordinance cases it is a possibility of jail time which is by statute by Georgia law. But you I mean you you let's say um someone complained uh there comes before you with a complaint of having a junk car in the front yard or whatever that ordinance may be you'll tell them that they need got so many days to move in and then if they don't you give them like a another warning or something like that or so more so all of the violations they'll have a 30-day period before it even comes to our court to rectify the situation and if it's not rectified then it comes to our court And at that point, we'll make our decision from there whether that results into a fine. Um or again, it is a reality and a possibility that one could be arrested and due jail time behind a county ordinance if it is deemed that there's just flatout defiance to meeting compliance with their ordinance. But in general, it can lead to typically it leaves with a a fine. I'll start with the base fine and then again, it'll evolve from there based on what they are presenting back to the court. Well, I'm I'm going say this now and I So you you give them a fine and um and they don't pay it. Do you take them to small claims court and they stand before you again?

No. The No, the ca the case doesn't close until we get compliance. Okay. Yes, sir. Thank you. Yes, sir. Mr. M Judge Mccur, I do appreciate you enforcing or enforcing the ordinances in my district one particular area where the property it was mostly all rentals and uh that person has really cleaned it up very well. I mean there's still work to be done but I appreciate your office. Thank you ma'am. What you have done already continue do the good work you're doing enforcing the ordinance. Thank you ma'am. You're welcome. Great job. Yes, sir. Judge Mcgurt. Yes, sir.

If I had known you was here today, I would have been on time. First time. First time being late. Uh, what about the rest of us? Uh, just want to say thank you for the help that you've done in that in the eastern part of Liberty County in certain areas. We still got some more places to go touch. And like I know it starts off with code enforcement and then works it way on to you, correct? Yes, sir. Um, what about the word I call it dumpster diving. Is that legal or illegal for somebody to do it?

Um, that would be a legal question to ask, but I do, if I am not mistaken, our county does have an ordinance against dumpster dumpster diving. Okay. Okay. So, I So, that would be a Kelly question, attorney question. Yes, sir. I'll get with him later. If I'm not mistaken, I do think the county has a dumpster diving ordinance. Okay. Because uh sometime we go to the dumpster and you can't get in because there's two or three trucks there. They down in the dumpster taking stuff out and I don't know where they take it, but Yeah. Yes, sir. Okay. But matter

and we have we have proper sign that says no no no no scavengers no scaven. Yes sir. Just a matter of enforcement then it says right. So that goes back to another issue. Also illegal dumping from other counties. There signs up for that but it happens. Yeah. Okay. Any some more cases coming your way. Thank you. Thank you. Any other questions? No sir.

Did you get um you raised a question and I think I kind of uh copied Kelly on that that you know there one particular case you had where where where you needed another tool to use uh and and I I know I'd advise you to check around with your colleagues to see what they were doing because you said if I may quote you that this person was saying they don't have the money to pay the fine you know correct yeah um

yes that that is a situation where um again is not wanting to unjustly punish anyone. Um and I'm not going to hold it against someone if they were not just financially able to pay a fine uh of a ruling of my decision. So, not wanting to hold that against him for something that he's flat out not able to do, I wanted to seek an option for community service to where maybe at that point of foregoing the fine amount and maybe just doing some community service as the rectifying for a situation that he's just not was not in the financial position to be able to pay. So with that situation that that is a current work in progress to add that to another tool to our toolbox as the court to have a a system in a a organization in place to be able to work with another organization to provide a community community service as another tool or option for someone that may be indignant and can't pay your fine or not suited to go to jail or to be incarcerated or in custody. So, the option of enforcing community service would be another great option that I would think we have.

So, our attorney will help us get there um with what whatever ordinance we can attach that to or or this is something that we have now that just may need to be amended, Mr. Davis, but we work on that with you. You got to give you what you need to get because we appreciate what you're doing. So, yes, sir. Yeah. And we know that circumstances. And uh will you need the detail to the degree of what agency would accept people for you have you can assign you can assign me today to community service. Correct. That that would be good to to know what what a agencies may want to partnership and help out with that. That would be good. All right. Yes, sir. We'll work on it, sir. Thank you, sir. Thank you all.

Thank you for coming. U Samantha, if you don't mind, let me work in um Attorney Davis. so he could make his next engagement. He's going to for commissioners to uh speak to item 5A.

Yes, sir. I regret Commissioner uh Frasier is not here, but um you know, Commissioner Frasier has been interested in in uh exploring ways in which the county can incentivize and support uh retail businesses in the incorporated areas of the county. And there have been a number of uh proposals I think that have been discussed but he has decided to uh partner with the local development authority and he's in conversations with the director of the development authority to identify existing programs or perhaps expand programs that could be used to accomplish his uh his goals. So I think he anticipates reporting back to the board sometime in the near future after he's had conversations with the director of development authority. But uh that's about all I can report as of now.

All we need to hear, sir. Okay. Uh and you'll work with the judgement on the other be happy to. Anything I can do to help and probably probably wouldn't need to amend the the local ordinances. All right. And Commissioner Steven, you'll the the dump I'm sure it's not called dumpster diving or whatever it's called that uh ordinance that speaks to that. Scavenger. Scavenger. Scavenger. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, our thought process is that we have what we need on the books. for just not enforcing it or we need to educate our our monitoring folk to not being enforced being enforced. Okay. Well, that's on our side, Mr. Moser. That's in your court then. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, sir.

Thank you. May be excused. Good evening. Finance. Uh good evening, Mr. Chairman, commissioners, good evening.

The first item uh for finance on the agenda this evening is to amend a final budget amendment for the 2025 fiscal year. Um last month our auditors came to present the audit uh for that year and we are required by state law and allowed by state law to uh finalize our um year finalize our our budget um in the they call it the 13th month of the period of the year. Um and so now that the audit is behind us and we have uh solid numbers, I would just request that um you all approve a resolution for the general fund. Um so there'll be two general fund and for the special revenue funds to reflect the uh the results um from our FY25 audit. And so in your packet of um I believe there are the two resolutions and then each of those have an exhibit behind it. So the first one will be for the general fund um and it includes the pages directly from our um act for our financial report um and it just shows the budget to actual or it shows the original budget, final budget and then actual for the year. So, I'm proposing that you all adopt the final budget for the year.

So, and we do this every year. Um, and I know we're working on 2027 right now, but uh we just got to make sure we're in compliance for 2025. Mr. Chairman, maybe there was a different form of approving, but I don't remember approving, but So the you said the original the final um yes the variance with the final be approving um it's just the final budget the the final column so if you do if you are looking at that general fund what is the bottom line the second page on the first one

yes ma'am 8 million yes more no that is um that is what that is our revenue over expenditures That's the net. This is in a different format. Yes, ma'am. And I apologize for that. Um it's just I thought was um the cleanest and quickest way to get the information to you all. Um under the second exhibit, there's 16 separate funds that need to be adopted and it kind of consolidates it all in our financial statements. But for the general fund, um no ma'am, it doesn't mean an increase of that uh for the total budget fund balance end of year. Yes, ma'am. So that means we were to the good.

Yes. In the fund in the fund balance. Fund balance revenue total revenues minus expenditures was a positive 8 million. Yes, ma'am. Positive. Okay. Correct. But the actual budget itself um for general fund was 62.2 million originally. Um and I'm looking at the revenue total and then the final budget 62.6 million. So it's just a slight increase but we um we are required to adopt the final just for to be in compliance. So it's not much difference at all. That's the general funding said and the other fund has how many? Oh yeah 16 separate funds. Um so the state requires us to um

itemize them. Yes. All of the special revenue funds. You don't have to by law do the capital project funds, but we do um as well as our enterprise funds, but we don't we're not required by the state to do those only the special revenue funds and the general fund. Okay. Um yes to do separate separate separate approvals. So I've made a motion we approve uh the first final budget amendment to the general fund. There's a second to that motion. Second motion second we approve this and that's to the good $8 million.

Yes sir. All right. Any further discussion? All in favor? Show hands please. All right. First one to approve. Thank you Commissioner Thrift. Now this the busy one. Exhibit B. Exhibit B. And many of these actually didn't even change from the original as proposed. Um they were the the same, but I've included those anyways just for uh reference. But um the ones that did increase or decrease um did officially need to be adopted. But yes, there are 16 special revenue funds presented um in their budget form in exhibit B.

Can you very quickly point out those that did increase?

Oh, I know ARPA was one of them. Um and as we spend down that remaining fund those remaining funds um just it varies by year based on the projects that we were able to uh expend the money for. Um 911 usually has um a change so I know that one changed. Um multiple grants funds. That's another one that kind of varies each year. Um let's see. the jail fund um or the commissary fund which was very very slight. Let's see. No, that one the 250. No, that one actually stayed the same. My apologies. Um I think all the little ones except

How about the record service center? The records. Let's see. Opioid. Opioid actually did change to records. Um I haven't kept that one yet. Let's see. I don't see anything that's glaring here, but I'm just kind of coming through here. Um, they're usually excellent with their budget. Um, and staying staying within and no, I didn't I don't see an increase for theirs. Um, but the last one I think was that was good.

Let's see. I apologize. Yeah, the um opioid um if I hopefully we'll be ending this and closing the fund um unless more money is is attributed. But uh so this one just varied because of the um the amount that we received within the fiscal year versus the previous fiscal year. Um but there was since we didn't expend any money this year that anything collected is deferred to the next period. Okay.

And which one was that on? What page? Um the opioid it's um it has a page number of 96 at the bottom and in and those uh 16 but that budget was um approved at well uh that budget is recommended to be approved at 55,000 but it actually didn't have any current revenue or expenditures but in FY26 we sure will if um if those are expended by by the that's the one that out the most Richard is those grants. I guess you got them all compiled in one. Um, our multiple grant fund uh has a lot of the grants. Yes, ma'am.

Yes. But that one there's in the red. So, do you think is there one that's okay? You got them up here. Part of that is that money we're waiting for from FEMA that we can't quite call revenue yet. Right here. I see now how it works. Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. So, we have we had the expenditures paid out and um but we can't call that revenue yet because we haven't gotten all of the money from FEMA. We got most of it. So, it will turn around. It will equal zero at the end. Um but yes, ma'am. Okay. Say the check is in the mail. Yeah. Always. Okay. Got it. Any good commissioners? Yes, sir.

Chair entertain a motion. I make a motion for approval of the minutes. Is there a second to that motion? Second. Motion second. We approve the special revenue exhibit behind. Okay. Yes, sir. Thank you for walking us through that. Any further discussion? All in favor? Show your hands, please. Motion passes. Thank you.

Um the next item is the December 2025 financial report. And starting with the general fund um through December we have collected um 26% of our budgeted revenues and have spent 46% of our our total expenditures. Um this does drastically start to turn around in January and then continuing on to February uh when we start getting some large uh property tax dollars from the uh tax commissioner's office. But this is probably our leanest month um December and we have 2.8 months of operating expenditures in our fund balance. Um this time last year it was 2.0 months. Um so we are slightly ahead of last year. Um and um essentially means we're more cash flush in our leanest time which is very positive. Uh looking at the departmental expenditure rep um categories, uh there are only a few that are showing uh ahead of schedule or over budget uh through December. Um one of them being elections. Um however, this doesn't capture um the billings we just did to the to the two cities that had elections. Um and so the amount we build um in total to those um municipalities offsets the entire amount of the overage. So

we're right side up currently. Um, uh, tax commissioner, I think we've mentioned this before, but this increase was just a one-time, um, payment for a retirement contribution required for, uh, a previous long-term employee who who left the county. Mhm.

Um judicial administration, the court reporters, and um this just varies by court calendars and uh the timing of the payments and when those court reporters get the information signed by the judge and to finance to pay. Um but currently through December, it looks like we are ahead of schedule. Um but we'll continue to monitor that one and make sure the budget uh is appropriate for that. Um the last one is the superior court which the this one's showing over budget for um payments made on behalf of the law library that are at the beginning of the fiscal year. So this one's going to show over budget for uh for most of the year actually um just by its nature. Um then everything else is operating within um its budget currently. And if we turn the page to solid waste, we currently have a small net loss. Um expenditures do exceed our revenues of about $150,000. Um this also starts to turn around when we uh collect on some of those property uh assessments or those uh solid waste assessments. And um we've collected

I'm reminded I'm reminded we were going to try to have uh someone to keep an eye on that so that people don't opt out of paying their solid waste portion. Yeah. I don't remember who the gatekeep keeper was, but somebody was going to be the gatekeeper. We met as a team back in um July, June, and we were kind of waiting to the tax commissioner. I didn't share with them that I wanted to have a follow-up meeting so we can move forward.

Um, so far for through December, solid waste has collected approximately 34% of total revenues for the year and expenditures uh are right around 37.7%. Um there are currently no individual departments for solid waste showing over budget for this month. Um and we don't really anticipate anything, but you never know what arises um during the fiscal year. U also flipping the page to the special revenue funds. There are currently no no special revenue funds um showing over budget through December as well. Um so that's a good thing is um now for the sales tax reports t-plas t-plast as we as we are aware has ended this t-plast number one I'll call it um but a little bit of money did trickle in for December um about $13,000 um and total collected for teas since inception um 59.8 8 million and we have spent to date 34.6 million.

And last but not least is our sales tax 7. Um December was certainly a good month of collections. We have collected uh 1,195,000 for the month of December. Um we have spent 23.4 4 million on our sales tax seven projects. Um, and we've collected a total of 36.6 million. And that concludes December, unless you have any questions. the the 13,000 that'll be just evenly distributed or is there

for the commissioner's road money or I'm sorry I wasn't sure where where it lands I just got got to land somewhere that's how we had it proposed unless you guys want to change it I believe yes sir I just want a good place for it and I guess I want to ask stay right there Lara All right. Will you you mind coming to the um for help me out? Um going back just a little bit, Samantha. Sure.

Um when you talked about uh employees retiring and and the payouts, some some companies have strict policies on that and and well, I guess there's a variation of policy, but what is Liberty County's and is it the same for us as it for constitutional officers or or does it vary? How how does that work? So leave payouts are capped under the board of commissioners departments and our board governed departments. Um elected officials sometimes differ in their leave payout cap. What does that mean? Sometimes different.

It depends on the elected official. So, some of them, such as the sheriff's office, follow the state annual leave cap of 360 hours versus the county's annual leave cap of 240 hours. And I knew there was someone in uh justice center not too long ago. I knew that came to your desk. Oh, yes, sir. Yeah. So, so what what was the procedure followed for that constitutional office? Are they following the counties or which department? They asked for extension and that person has taken leave. Yeah. Oh.

So, but they abide by our cap. They abide by our cap. So, for the most part, they abide by everybody abides by our cap for Yes. And if they don't, they have to meet with us and let us know because of the year-end um accountability, you know, future liability that we have to report to the state. You know, if everybody left tomorrow, what would our liability be for leave payout? So, we have to report those numbers at the end of the fiscal year. And so, we we need to know when there's differers. Yes.

Sounds like there need to be a little work tweaking somewhere. I you know I know we can only control what we can control over here. I understand that how that works all these years. U but I do think that um any responsible man I'll just say manager. We want to ensure one you want your people to take off when they need to take off you know right

you know because after a while they gonna get burned out. So, so why let them build up this big bank of of hours after and then work for us for 36 years and then there's a big pair that has to be done because supposedly they could not uh take off, you know. So, however you communicate that message back, uh, Mr. Mr. Chairman, on that particular issue, these ladies could attest that I had that conversation with that constitutional officer with the plea to please allow her employees to take take off so that they can rest and not be um burnt out. I did express that they were there as witnesses. Yeah, you can't make it a bank, you know.

Correct. And I'm not saying the employees are doing that, you know, but it can't be a bank, right? I think it it's more on the managers to manage that. Yeah. And we also don't want employees to lose time at the end of the year. I agree. I fully agree. I fully agree. We worked hard to get unfair pay. Commissioner Giller, but you know, Mr. Chair, you you you say you wouldn't say it, but uh I'll say it for you. Yeah. And and you know, and what that is and um Mr. Moses said um about the the burnout. Um that ain't happening either. That's not what's going on.

No, it's not that much stress. Yeah. Yeah. But uh but I know I know y'all having leadership classes. That should be one of the chapters. Somebody takes. All right. I'll take that back. Thank Thank you. All right. But Miss Mosley, when you I know you meet with the departments, but let's take the liberty to to to send that message to the to the constitutional officers also

to please be more what you use the language that we need to have, but you may have already dealt with that somewhere else, Miss Hunter. So, so whatever language we need to have so that they're on board with our practice. You don't want to put your county in any kind of in financial jeopardy. I know one employee won't do it, but I just remember some some a large amount of hours some employees were holding and and supposedly they were not able to take off. You know, that's just that that can't be something that's consistently done year after year, right?

But you know, Mr. Chairman, I think um Laura said that um you know the policies may vary for the constitutional officers and the county employees, but I think we can um you know, we could look at a a policy that would that that can fix that. You know, you let's say you you have to take it and that way it don't build up to um some enormous um

number. Let's say you got someone that that you know that they're going to retire in a couple of years and they just don't take off and then it builds up and like you said it it turns into um a bank a par a parachute kind of you know and you get that at the end but I mean it shouldn't it's a benefit to a crew leave and and take it off. I don't think that it should be um that you just let it build up and then you get it all at once on on your last day or something like that. But that's you know if that's if we don't have that policy we can look at doing that. Yeah. Yeah. So I'm going put that ball in the court. All right. And if it uh if I need to meet with them, I don't mind meeting with them. Whatever it takes you to make

All right. We got your back. All right. All right. Thank you, Mr. Ma. You you you stirred up something here today. Okay, Mr. Long's coming to another factor with with that is fairness. You know, uh you may be council officer all the employees of county employees. So over here I'm kept to the standard and over there I'm ask.

Yeah. Okay. Uh good evening. Uh first thing that's on the agenda for me is the uh Lewis Frasier road bridge. Uh they are finished with that uh project now. Um and we've been out to inspect it. They did ask that we take it over for maintenance. Uh Clinton Wells and I did look it over. We inspected it, walked around all around it, looked at everything. Everything seems to be in good working order. And um we are recommending that the board of commissioners formally take action to uh adopt or take the Lewis RA Road bridge back over for maintenance. I don't think he heard you. I'm I'm sorry. Sorry. No, that's okay.

Trying to We're trying to assist our commission over here. That works good. So now we just need a motion from the commissioners to resume maintenance of the Louis Frasier road bridge. Oh really? Chairman I make a motion that we accept the Louiswis Frasier bridge peacock canal. Second dot is saying they're done. Yeah. Done. They did a there's a warranty period on it but we're good. Yeah. All right. They did an excellent job. We had a motion in a second. Did I hear not here? Yes. Both. Okay. Um for the Louiswis Fer bridge that county now will maintain it.

So just kind of go on our inventory and we'll do the whatever bridge inspections that we do for all of our county bridges. Okay. All right. It'll fall back in just like it was before. All right. Any further discussion? All in favor? Show hands, please. All right. It belongs now back in the hands of Liberty County Department.

Yes, sir. We will let them know that y'all accepted it last tonight. Um, I'll run through a couple things on the uh my status report and then kind of answer any questions. State Patrol parking. Uh, we didn't identify any funds for that. So, we're going to reject the bids and turn all the bonds loose on that so everybody knows what's going on. Um, Better Blunt Road. We're making progress on the easements. Um, so a little bit more time there, Mr. Blunt. We'll try to uh take some action on what's remaining. Um, Freeman Grove Road. Um, Mr. Mr. Blunt, I probably do need to sit down and talk with you sometime next week. I did meet with the contractor. We're able to identify about $18,000 worth of savings on it that we might be able to do something a little different. Um so I want to talk to you about that and then at the midmon meeting or the regular meeting um I'd like to go ahead and make a recommendation for you. Um Baker Bills Road. This is a road that uh it's been on my status report for a little while. Uh Eddie Walden had asked us to look at doing that redway and it's a uh short dirt road right there in the city of Flemington right near city hall. Um I did spoke and the redway is on one property owner's property and I did speak to the property owner and uh they're not interested in giving any or um providing any rightway for that roadway. And then there's her house and then two other houses at the back. So there's not a lot of houses on it. So, um, when Commissioner Walden gets back, we'll let him know, let him decide which way to go. But, uh, right now she's not interested in, uh, the rightway. So, they'll kind of effectively shut that project.

Without the rightway, it would not meet county standards. It doesn't meet county standards now. And, and it's just a almost a one lane dirt road that we grade down to a couple of houses and it functions fine. It's not a not a problem. I think Commissioner Walden is just trying to prevent having to he's trying to get rid of the dirt roads where the motor graders got to come into town. Is it a excuse Mr. Chairman is it a it's a road that it's a the road belongs to the city of Flemington or to the county?

It's uh inside a city of Flemington. I did not look to see if it's on their intergovernmental agreement list but I believe it is on their intergovernmental agreement list. It should have if the motor grade go down. But I was saying I mean who owns it? We have prescriptive headed with that. If you got a commissioner that want to pave a a county road and someone that lives down there don't want it that um you know that shouldn't stop it if it's if it's ours. Right. So all we have on is prescriptive easement. Okay. Mr. chair. Uh there's only a few people who live on that road. Correct. Three houses. Three. Three houses.

And I mean all of them are related, correct? For the most part. The two in the back are right. But the Miss Davis who owns in the front, she's not. And that's the one who's and it's all her property. So I I agree with Commissioner Gill. No, what we'll do is we'll right now that's kind of where we are. see which way Eddie wants to push for that. All right. Uh Bacontown Road. Uh they did get the asphalt down this week. Um and the temporary striping. It does ride much better. A whole lot better.

But it's a lot better. Uh took a lot of work to get it there. Um they've still got shoulders fix. Uh they'll be back working on shoulders again Monday, next week. Um and then they've got to uh work on to tie into the road department uh driveway. They'll be bringing a different asphalt machine in to get that. I didn't want to I didn't want to run that big old asphalt machine back over to fresh asphalt to get back to those driveways when they put it down. So, they didn't want to tear up anything we had done. I didn't want to go backwards. So, but they'll be back next week to do that as well. So, hopefully they'll be getting that uh wrapped up. Um,

Trent, try not to make let them make the same mistake that they did on Bill Carter with the grassing. Oh, yes, sir. Please. Yeah, they they brought different dirt in this time. They didn't bring any really sandy dirt that didn't have very many nutrients in it. But yes, sir, I agree with you 100%. So, I think they don't want to make that same mistake either. No.

So, um, if you haven't been to Jones Creek, it's looking great. Uh we got some landscaping that's out for bid now. Uh hopefully that'll be going in pretty shortly and we'll have some activity out there in April. Um live oak drive improvements. Um and and I I know you want to try to meet. Um Lameisha told me you want to try to meet. So I'm just going to present some information tonight and um then hopefully we can make the decision and take action in the regular meeting, monthly meeting. Um, as everybody's aware, uh, there's a water line that needed to be moved. Uh, the city, uh, wanted to move the entire thing, uh, but they didn't want to, uh, provide any funding for it. So, they did tell us through, uh, Commissioner Gillard that they were not going to be contributing on this project. Uh, one of the things that I did go back and do was back off from going all the way to 196 with it and just replace the parts that I can that I have to. and I use some of uh the city's engineers ideas on try to the placement of it and I'm able to get the project back down to uh within reason within like less than $10,000 the same price as our regular contract price of the $2,428,000. Um, so if we're able to find funding or if you're able to get some contributions from other commissioners or other places, um, then we can let this project go forward. So, but yeah, I was able to scale back and use some of the ideas to try to get us back down to a more reasonable number instead of the big change order right up front.

Right. So, that being said, you know, we'll we'll we'll try to get together and um we'll get it back on the agenda. Appreciate it. Um we talked about Lewis Fraser Road Bridge. And I think that's the main thing I wanted to talk about tonight. Anybody have any questions or projects you want me to go over? Just about the um the fencing at the fire station is completed. the fencing at the fire station. So, behind Middle Park Fire Station. I'll get back with you on that.

Okay. Did they not get that put in? Yeah. Okay. We got Okay. All right. I didn't know. All right. Chairman, it's long. Uh well, we had the meeting uh I guess about a month ago and we were the mayor of Allen Hurst was here. Yes. And the the the project that I was going to support him on funding is is that Yes, sir. It's on here. It's up front. St. John's front. Yep. Um that was this the three roads that Yes, sir. that go St. John City. Yeah. And we really caught St. John's Road area. Okay. Because there's several little things on there. Where is it? It's it's on your report here.

Number two on the front page. number two on the front page on the other front page the one that has title block with a letter head on it St. John's road improve. Okay. Yep. Okay. So, we um and we're moving forward with design and uh they're they had to get their W2 and their account reactivated with Georgia uh Georgia DOT. So, that's almost all finished and so hopefully we'll have their Elig money and so they'll feel better about going out and bid on that. Okay. So, that we gonna move forward with that. Yes, sir. We are we're moving forward on the design part. They're just they're trying to get We're trying to help them get their money. Was Is Samantha still here? She's gone.

She's gone. Okay. Was she in that meeting? I can't remember. Mr. Chairman, was she in that meeting? Because I know I committed I committed um a dollar amount. I don't know if it's in that um finance report. I Yes, sir. I wrote it down, but I don't have it with me and I don't remember either. So, but I just want to make we we uh remember we went back and we sent out a little email that kind of uh outline who was contributing how much so that we all had a documentation of what was being funded. Yeah. He was going to spend all of his in and what he needed. I was going to give him the rest of it. Yes, sir. That's right.

Sh. Even though it's I kind of consider it a joint I guess it it well it is a state project. The independence proc bypass when I'm in Hampo. uh they give minimal um reports on the progress. Is there a way we can get a someone to DOT? Would they would they come before this commissioner and and give us a report on the progress of the bypass? Is that something that's in order, out of order, not done?

So, um I I regularly attend meetings with them. What I can start doing is I can get you a little update on it and kind of get somebody to come over and kind of make a report. They won't be able to come like every month, but they can try to come make it, you know, give you a little bit of information. You got a point. Will you give us a little verbal then on I can. Yeah,

I can. I know they're working on the bridge hard and heavy now and it's the bridge is 1500t long. So, it's going to take a long time for that bridge. So, that's one of the longest lead lines. So they are working on that now and it's going well. Um I know that they have been uh moving the water lines and the utilities that are in the way uh especially along Carter Road. Uh they just ended up pressure testing uh the water line relocation along Carter Road uh last week. Um then they are moving up um to have a couple other places kind of along Griffin Road. I think they have to do some um waterline relocation. There's a couple places they got to do some relocation. They're moving to the next phases of the waterline relocation. That's moving along well. Um, but in general, they're making good progress in their own schedule.

But it's they still have another year and a half before they're even finished. And what's the latest on the um discussion about a traffic signal at intersection of 84 and Independence with the the project? That's Yes, sir. So, there's a a driveway that's coming that'll serve uh Dryen's project. Um, if his project goes any further, there'll have to be a left turn lane and kind of talking a little bit about a signal on it, trying to get it going. So, but you kind of get caught who's paying for the signal. So, but yes, sir. That is being discussed, but if it if it meets DOT's quote unquote threshold,

it did not. It did not. Yeah, it did not. It did not. And and that was kind of part of the problem is it did not meet the threshold. And uh when you did all the warrants, you know, the department was saying that more people were turning right to follow the state route and those don't count toward the the signals. So, but yes, sir. But as as is planned or as it's going now, Mr. Dry Road will when when the bypass is done, Mr. drive. They will line up. They will line up without a traffic signal at a major intersection. Yes, sir. And it his will be right now will be right in right out. Yes, sir. Who's whose district is that?

I think it's Gear. All right. I think it's Commissioner Gear on 84. 84 bill. at 84 at the 84 right there at 84 in the county line county right at Reynolds paving on 84 it's going to be me I think that's you I think I used to take in that district right there at the red light and this just a half a mile put put it this way Trent I've got the uh the gas station I don't have pockets I've got the gas station across the street here okay maybe yours All I got all the way down to Dorsy Road

on that side. You got all the way Darcy Road. Then it is yours. Darcy Road. He did give it to me until the one that goes behind the jail. Once I pay for it, he he'll take it. There you go. Commissioner G. Here's what I'm here's what I'm thinking. Um when Mr. Dryen does a does this total bill out, will it still not qualify? You think it may when it So what what happens with that is

that's a little bit in the future and yes sir if they've got to go do more if let me back up the long county zone zoning ordinance right now is stopping the development on the build out on that one. So he has another phase that's coming. So he'll have 150 lots that are in there that has a another primary entrance and exit off of Hardman Road. Yeah. So, um, right now it probably won't meet the warrants still. Um, but once we get to the bigger number of units, then yes, sir, it probably will. So, this is not planning for the future, this is planning afterward.

Well, you know, that's that's also a difficult scenario because we ran into the same scenario when we were dealing with the Department of Transportation. Um, this subdivision was on the drawing board and they would not consider it because it was not under development. So, they couldn't they wouldn't consider it. So, kind of wrote it out. So, they don't take a lot of consideration in for things that are planned. It's got to be here or under development. Oh, something bad happens. Yeah. Yeah. Yes, sir.

Yeah. I'm I'm just thinking so and we'll move on. Are there not extra points for uh freight traffic that's coming to that intersection? Are there not you're not just talking about cars? You're talking about Yeah, you're not just talking about cars, but you're talking about the the traffic the trucks that are turning. Yes, sir. They're they're all part of that consideration. There's a formula they use for uh counting the trucks and the cars and equivalencies, number of turns and Yes, sir. They they we we went through a long drawn out process with them trying to get a red light there and it didn't meet their warrants. So

we may have to give it the same treatment that we did for the traffic light at public's commissioners. Um it's one of those got to have must have. You know, good thing we have T-spots we can use those kind of things for. But if last question, but if if the county puts in the traffic light, then then we're done. DOT pays for the maintenance and it becomes DOT's yes equipment and the inventory there well there's a there's some things that we have to I have to answer that question I don't know 100% but uh it will be under control of DOT as far as timing goes

um there are some maintenance responsibilities that we'll have as far as certain things but let me get that straight to let you know that answer all right because I I can't envision right now having not with the freight line. Good lord. Yeah. Big trucks turning in there, making that left turn. Mhm. The county purchased one in at Publix, right? We did not. Yeah. Yeah. We did a shared We shared shared with the city. That was shared with the developer. The developer. The developer paid some of it. Some of Yeah, we did. And then some commission. Imagine. Yeah. I mean, I just

Yeah. So, but yes, sir. We we can look at doing some of that and see. I'll be glad to look into that for you. Please do. We need to talk about it here. Okay. Mr. Chairman, I'm sorry. This may not be the right time, but I got a couple of calls, Trent, while you're standing there. Is there any actions coming from Brian Richmond Hill uh concerning water dumping into the river that will affect the the river coming through Liberty County? Are you aware of anything like that? So ask me that question one more time.

There was supposed to been a meeting in Brian County, okay? and they were wanted to dump water from some development uh factory over there that they wanted into and it would affect downstream. We're not talking I don't think they're talking about the nickel. No, the nickel. Not the nickel plant. No. Have you heard anything about that? I have not been notified any of those meetings. That's all I need to know. Thank you. Yes, sir. Sometimes I am, but I I have not been notified of any meetings. Okay. And I haven't heard of any yet either. Okay. So, a lot of times I hear them. Yeah. Kind of being around, but I haven't heard of any. Okay. Okay. Thank you, sir.

Thank you. More to follow. I can tell. Have a good night, Miss Marty. Cers on. Carter phase 2. Final plat. Yes. Good evening, commissioners and chairman. Good evening. Um, just as a little aside, I was on my phone when you were talking about whose district boundary hall in. I think it looks like it's yours, Commissioner Stevens. I know it's his. Okay. I'm 100% sure it's his.

Um, so I'm here to present Cottages on Carter phase 2A final platin acceptance of dedications. This is developer Walterville Properties LLC, which is a Dryen um corporation

and it was designed by Emac Engineering. It is for 18 lots for single family homes. The total of cottages on Carter phase 2 is 56 acres and it is zoned standard zoning which is R12 which and it is located on Bill Carter and Lewis Frasier roads in district 1. This is the overall holdings of Walterville or was originally the for the Walterville properties. Um there we go. If you can kind of see it's a little dim, but there's Bill Carter Road and then it turns into Lewis Frasier down here. This was phase one, which has been final platted completely. And then this is uh phase two, the limits of phase two. And this was the preliminary plot for phase two. You'll see everything that's colored there is part of phase two. The pink lots are the house lots. The green lot is that cemetery lot and the blue is drainage and wetlands area behind there. So for phase 2 a final plat, we're talking about these 18 lots here that are outlined in blue. There are only two sheets to this final plat. Um these are the limits again that I showed you that are outlined in blue before. And then this is the signature page. It's pretty simple. Um the lot requirements for cottages is in the R12 zoning is a minimum lot size of 12,000 square feet which is where the 12 comes from in the designation. U minimum lot width of 80 feet. However, this will be on septic systems and the environmental health rules say that you have to have a minimum lot size of half an acre and you need to have a minimum lot width at the drain field location of 100 feet. So you could still have that 80 feet along the road frontage, but then it would have to

widen out to 100 feet for wherever that drain field is designed for. The dedications that go with this final plat are the extension of Stone Court about a fifth of a mile and the water and storm water improvements. These proposed dedications to the HOA will be forthcoming in uh subsequent final plats for the rest of uh cottages on Carter phase two. So the storm water improvements are complete and the installation of the remaining improvements are guaranteed by letters of credit in the following amounts for the uh primary improvements which includes the paving, striping, signage, and fencing of $130,968. The secondary improvements uh letter of credit is $110,880 and that goes towards the sidewalks and trees. And then a letter or credit in the amount of $98,553.30 is in hand for uh maintenance of those improvements. A recommendation by the LCPC staff since this no longer has to go to the planning commission anymore is um for cottages on Carter phase 2A approval of the final plat and acceptance of the dedications noted on the plat. We do have the owner and the engineer here if you have any questions for them and of course any for me.

Marty, could you back up on some of your slides? Back on up about five. Go ahead. Right. This is the back side of it right here. That's that's where the second road is. Second road is coming out at or is that the second road right there? Nope. So what you see here are existing has been constructed as part of phase one. Mhm. Uh if I go back to this slide, you'll see there will be another road that does connect out onto Lewis Frasier, but that is not in this phase because we're talking these 18 lots up in this area. Okay. Yeah.

Okay. All right.

Okay. But is it is it your office or is or is it our guys downstairs that would alert the commission of things out of kilter for a development? Who would who would who would who would say uh this is not working per the plan? Who who would be the person to to come back and let the uh commission know something maybe out of kilter? Is that is that an inspection that you all do? Inspections that my people our people do? No. The LCPC only does the final plat or the platting for subdivisions in the unincorporated area. Sir, it's not you. So, so it's our guys. That's okay.

Because I know we get the um some periodic reports from Trent on projects, but um this kind of thing. We don't get reports on on how that's going. Um I don't think it's a bad idea. I don't think it's a bad idea.

Commissioner um Stevens, thank you for helping Mr. Busy. You if you're good, sir. Chair, entertain a motion. Chair, I make a motion that we accept the final plaque on um cottage of uh cottage of Carter. Second. Motion to second. We accept the final PL. And I have to say, um, I haven't been there lately, but when I ride through, it looks good. Yeah. Very well done. So, we appreciate developers who do what they say they're going to do and enhance uh what we have here in Liberty County. So, we appreciate that. Yeah, the larger lots are nice, too. I think personally and and even Commissioner, I even watch the traffic. It's not bad.

No, it's not. It's not bad. That's present. And have the other when the other part's done, there'll be another road out. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Do that. So, that was good. All in favor, show of hands, please. Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you. CDL certification for Senate program. Miss L. Hello again. Hello again.

So in your packet, I prepared a memo about what I'm going to talk to you about tonight and also I have a few slides up in the on the screen that match. Um, but we're talking again tonight about the CDL incentive. This is an idea that was brought up last November and we talked about it a few weeks ago in the workshop during the day and so I'm back before you again with some of the numbers that you asked me to bring you on a cost analysis. What would it cost to implement a CDL incentive for our employees and what you know what would make the most sense and be the most cost effective. So, we started talking about the CDL incentive as a way to um

I have the clicker to help prepare our employees for advancement to um incentivize those employees to go out and better themselves with training. Um it would help us recruit and retain qualified drivers by having them on our staff. and paying them an incentive to do so. And then on the flip side for the county, it it could possibly give our managers more flexibility in the work environment. So if somebody's out over here, we can pull this employee and put them on that job um if they were qualified to do so. So, we looked at what positions um require a CDL currently in the county and as of January, there's only two. Uh because we did remove the CDL requirement in the road department for heavy equipment operator and motorgrader operator because they aren't technically required. It was just something that a previous public works director put in place. Um so, we have removed that. So the only two positions now are in solid waste. That would be the sanitation truck driver. And in the road department, that would be the truck driver, CDL position. Um both of which of course are in the public works division under Mr. Wells. Um one in solid waste, one in the road department. So to me it would make the most sense to offer an incentive to the road maintenance worker which is the only other um position in public works that doesn't require a CDL and would benefit them to have an incentive and the county

because they're all under one division and under one director. On a side note for Commissioner Stevens, I did speak with Chief Derby on the requirements for firefighters because there were some conversations about employees in other departments that what if we offered incentive to employees and I mean we have an accountant with the CDL license, but I don't know that we'll be pulling her to go drive a garbage truck. it. Um, but firefighters are required to hold a class E license in order to drive a firet truck. A class E license is similar to a class A CDL, but does not require an annual medical card and prohibited uh commercial use is prohibited. The training for a class E is actually provided by the fire rescue division during training and they have to get it before their first year of uh is up. So they're already kind of covered. And we have 11 road maintenance workers. So that's what I used as a basis for the cost analysis. So we talked about, okay, let's give all road maintenance workers a dollar an hour. just built in, right? They're on the ready. If they get their CDL, they're getting this incentive whether or not they work in a CDL level job. That's one way you could do it. And I ran the cost for that. Um, and as Commissioner Blunt said last time, they they work 280 hours in a calendar year. That would be $2,080 per year per employee times 11 would be $22,880 a year extra.

If we do it another way, which would be a pay differential, so for the actual hours that that road maintenance worker is performing the duties of the CDL driver, you could pay them the the difference. And I spoke with Mr. Wells. He said that might happen once a month where they're they could possibly fill in. So multiplying that out, that would be around $337 a year. And for those 11 employees, that would go up to $3,700 a year if we wanted to do it that way. And that is what I have to present to you today. Any questions?

Chair, I don't have any questions, but um I mean, as we all know, this was something that I brought up, you said, last November. Mhm.

Yeah. And um you know, maybe it's because um I've been working in the private sector for the last 34 years and and and that that's what we do. I thought it would have been a good idea. Uh but I I know um you know this is local government and when government moves it it moves slow and u and if it moves it moves slow and um this here was something that I can't really slap my finger like that. That's how it's done in the private sector. This is a little different and I had no idea that when I brought that idea that we would involve Dr. Condre or whatever his name is and Car Vincent and Vince Douly and Hersel Walker and everybody that goes to Athens.

Kirby Smart just to Yeah. Kirby Smart or Richard Macau, everybody that's ever been to Athens to a football game at the University of Georgia to employ them to um try to incentivize a young man who is not going to the army. Mhm. Not going to college.

It's a job with Clinton. I'm down at the road department and he's coming in. He's cutting grass, picking up paper, maybe driving a tractor, running the weed or whatever. But he's going to be there. He's local. He's going to um clear some land behind his granddaddy's house and put him a double wide back there, get married, and raise a family. But he's going to work for the county. And he doesn't have a CDL,

but he's going to be there for a while. and he he get that CDL and he's going to be a valued employee to Clinton in the road department. That that's what this was all about. I had no idea that um that um that it couldn't have been done like the next morning, but um and and I guess I mean you got the numbers in there, but we we talking about a young man 19 years old by the time he's 22 and worked there. Clinton like him and he he can help Clinton if he had that license and James Henry who has a CDL is out and they got a big project this guy could fill in because he has a CDL and drive the dump truck or something that that's that was my thought. But that's based on me working in the private sector which moves a a lot faster than this. So, I I don't know where we going to go with this. And um I know you said that um maybe Clinton thinks it's a good idea, maybe you think it's a good idea, maybe all of us think it's a good idea, but um I had no idea that we would still be talking about this um and had to involve the um a pay study, I guess. And that's what Dr. Condre does. Joe,

yeah. All of that. Well, that was a simple email. Uh I prepared these numbers. Okay. Right. But but but it's still it's still being talked about where the boy that wanted it if he'd have got it and I don't know we got 11 employees that I guess that don't have it. Correct. Yeah. And um and I could just throw this out. Um out of that 11 um this time next year, 11 of them still won't have it, but it's there if they want it. And in 10 years,

maybe two of them would have it. I mean, you know, they're not going to just run down to the DMV and start getting their license today or tomorrow, but it is an incentive if they wanted to do that. That that's that's that's where I was headed with this.

Well, I would also like to point out to the board that uh in 2022, we implemented a living wage uh and the road maintenance workers were one of the ones that fell below or right at that living wage. And so, we have improved the starting salary for road maintenance workers. And I also feel like Mr. Wells has reduced the barrier for promotion by eliminating the need for a CDL for the some of those higher paying jobs. And so if you're a road maintenance worker who's a proven employee, you can be promoted without the CDL. So to what position? Heavy equipment operator and motor grader operator, which are quite a bit more per hour.

You could take this maint. What was the M Stevens? Hold on one second. You take the same road maintenance worker operator like Laura just said uh with some training under Clinton or whoever might be running the department or helping this younger individual uh could move up to motorbraider operator, heavy equipment operator that takes an incision to want to learn the equipment and all. Um I know if you looked at all 11, they decided to run out there and get this. That's just a big dollar figure. the countyy's got to occur.

But the chance of that happening is like it's it's blank freezing over. That ain't going to happen. And and and you know, and and the private sector that I work in, um heavy equipment operators, um one of the requirements is a CDL. Now, you know, I know you can work out in the woods on the escalator and you don't need a CDL, but that's in that job description. required in my profession also for my my equipment operator because I never know and the reason I do it is because I never know when I might their motivator breaks down or something or it needs to come into the shop we have to put it on the little boy. I need that person to go get the little boy and be able to go get that piece of

Yeah. Well, and and you kind of want the guy to be able to load up the equipment and haul it himself. That's correct. As opposed to going out there waiting on somebody to haul it for him because he doesn't have a CDL. Now, that's that's operations of a

of a road department. But but but again um I mean you know we we we talking about if all of them did it tomorrow which we know they won't know $22,000 for um for that um for getting that CDL. But but again, that that was a a thought I had and I I think it was uh it came to me because of one guy that did have it and I think somebody left or quit or whatever and he did get promoted. And so he's a I guess a heavy equipment operator now. He's a truck driver, CDL. Okay. Truck driver. Yeah.

But you know, but he was he was there with the CDL in his pocket and he was cutting grass or something. He was a a street maintenance worker or something like that. To go get it. Yeah. Yeah. He He went and got it. He went and got it and he's he was rewarded for it. Yes. Yeah. Mr. Stevens, you trying to la the 11 that you are counting now, that's minus the ones that already have CDL and heavy equipment operator.

Those 11 are the road maintenance workers or street maintenance workers. uh slots that we have in the road department and they may be filled right now or not. I think they may have one or two still waiting to be filled. Maybe one, but there are 11 slots for road maintenance worker. I think well let's back up. I think there is two or three slots down in now that is filled, but those guys already have heavy equipment. They operate heavy equipment and have a CDL. So that's why I'm asking are those in those are not included in the level. No, they're not.

Okay. And you said it was your idea to rule out your you and Derby to rule out the the fire department. Correct. Right. because it's a class E license that they are required to get to operate a firet truck as a state certified firefighter. Okay. Now, is that for a engine or for a tanker? Now, you're getting too technical for me there, Commissioner Stevens. I'm not sure.

Well, it's there. these these things are out there, you know, and it does have air brakes and it does carry 30 around 30,000 gallons of water. Mhm. Just ask go back to your slide that had um your recommendation. Did I don't have a recommendation. You just have a I have two options that I feel

make sense for this incentive. One is a permanent built-in incentive and one is a pay differential for the hours they work in the CDL job. That's what you were talking about that

right? So, if a person if a person uh let's say on option two here goes on his own and go gets a CDL license and everything and he's uh maintenance worker, street maint whatever you want to call him, you know, and a guy is out sick leave, vacation time, whatever, he would be eligible to move up to one of those truck driving positions, make that money while that person's out, whatever. And then when the person comes back, he would move back to where he was at, back to his original pay and everything. But in that time that he's operating in someone else's capacity, he wouldn't make the dollar more. He'd make the full salary of the truck driver,

right? You know, so then when the person comes back, he'd go back to his normal position and everything. But in this, he's getting training to where in the event one day you have the permanent opening, he could move up the truck driver. he's already got the experience that Clinton or whoever's running the show at the time and all could be looking at him molding shaping him like he wants to and that's just an in incentive on your own to go get that and because you know you're going to be rewarded to move up in the real world versus oh I will go get the CDL but I'm going to sit here I don't want to go no higher there are people in the world like that because I have something that work for me out they want certain incentives and all but then when you get there and you want them to actually do the job I didn't sign up for that at Well, you know, we funded this for you. Now you got to do it. Some have quit me because of that. They don't want to be held accountable.

Right. Right. So, so is that description he just gave, is that option two? That is option two. And that could be something we build into our timekeeping system to where that that worker would just transfer into the new job when they were working that job and then transfer out of the job. But what I want to make clear is if the person the street maintenance worker gets his CDL on his own and all and he gets that opportunity to work in the truck driving position for either one of the two you showed and all he would actually move up to whatever tier level for that truck driver. That's what I I want to make sure it's not just a dollar for him. No, that would I drop that cost for it's about $4.

Yeah. So that Yeah. So he would bewarded more. So that $4 is not really a reflection of that 337 a year, is it? Well, it is. I was estimating one day a month for a year. So 96 hours at that $4. Okay.

It could be more, it could be less. I was just using an estimate. Um something was mentioned about um timing or you know we're not talking about a whole lot of money here. So it wouldn't wouldn't be anything to hurt budget wise, right? You you want to work into the That's what I was going to suggest. Do this. We getting ready to do budget now. So, right. Okay. What? Go ahead.

The pay differential. Um let's say somebody's on out today and Clinton need someone to drive that truck. He the guy would get it that for that day and then tomorrow when the other guy come back he'll go back to his and it if the guy um had a dentist appointment after lunch and you fill in for you just do it for that time. Okay. Yeah. And let's keep on going with this. if uh if he just had to take one from um from Midway to Wavville u 20 minute ride.

Our timekeeping system tracks in 15minute increments. Well, he would get that for Wow. Yeah. I um I mean you could set you could set that policy, you know. Good idea in November, but I don't I don't think Richard did subscribe as bad. I mean for for whatever time they worked you know in that position given but they'd have to clock out right of the old position clock in the new position like that at Liberty Regional something you know when you changed we clock out we had two cards we had two cards but which one you worked thank you for your hard work Laura but that's the best let's just leave it let's just leave it

thank you for all your hard work and dedication let's just leave it no no let's let them look at it for the the budget, you know, when you work up your budget. All right. I think I have something here, Commissioner Gillum. Yeah. No. Hey, I'm I'm good. I I don't have a CDL. I'm good. I'm not going down there. I'm glad you I'm not going down there to drive truck across the street and and they pay me for three minutes. Yeah. I'm I'm good. 15. Hey, no. What? 15 minute increments. I'm just going to Wow. Yes. We do that for shift work.

Yeah. Yeah. Let let's let's just um Don't worry about it, Joe. We good. I'm about as serious about this as I've been about anything. We we good. Thank you for your hard work and dedication, Laura. What's next? Ajourn, Commissioner. Huh? Think about it for a second. That I thought about it since November, but man, I'm telling you, but for this person that actually does that and they go over to work, I mean, most people don't work more than 15 minutes. You know that. So give go ahead and give them you know their their due pay for for their capacity for whatever time they do. So y'all want to look at it on the pay differential side. Not okay.

Where is the incentive to get to and you you know you just don't go down there and and take a test and walk out with your license. I mean this is a it's a big program. We I mean you got to sp you got to go through a bunch of training and classes and everything and there's a cost associated with that for the person that does that. $3,500. Yeah. Now that that that was another thing who who was actually going to pay for that. Well, the the guy that that did it the other day, he he did that on his own. He did it on his own.

He was looking to better himself. So So he did that, but he could do that now. And then uh he get to do it um what around Christmas when the guy's on vacation if Clinton needs to drive a truck that day while the guy's on vacation. If not park the truck and he did all of that. Now he's got the license in his pocket but he never get to drive a heavy duty truck for the county because we just broke it down and took all the the glory out of the incentive program because he may or may not ever get to use it. But he did go through all that training to get it.

But he may not ever operate as a CDL driver for Liberty County because somebody didn't have a dental appointment or Clinton didn't have to move the truck down to Waltharville or halfway to Walville. So get the 15 minutes. Hey, stop him because we don't want to go over budget. But I'm good.

Okay. Uh Mr. Chair, members of the board, a couple things we would like to report. Uh youth programs, our youth under the uh youth commissioner preparing to go to Atlanta and uh meet with Representative Williams and other youth commissioners on next Wednesday. And also staff have met and developed the uh brochure for the 2026 summer youth employment program. Uh any youth who meet those criteria uh they're encouraged to go to our website and uh go in and complete a application online. Uh second thing I'd like to let you know in terms of finances is we are all uh the finance department sent out uh budget templates to all uh BOC staff as well as constitutional officers with a due date of Mar Monday, March the 2nd. They also are putting together the CIP and we'll be getting ready for the commissioner's uh planning workshop. Uh city of Riceboro Commissioner Stevens has uh sent us a check for the HVAC reimbursement. I think it was about 7576,000. So, that uh item is paid for. And um they also are coordinating vehicles to be sold on Gov deals. If y'all been by the um uh public works shop, you'll see the vehicles are are steady uh getting uh less and less. And so, that area is being cleaned up. And the last thing I need uh for you guys to vote on is we have an agreement with Stifle, who's our bond underwriters, to do a financial analysis of our current debt and future debt. If you look in your paperwork, it's in there. Uh this is basically to no cost to the county and I would urge the board to um adopt that agreement. But it's a simple agreement where they basically will go in and look at all our current debt and any future debt that we're looking at. And it is uh free to us.

Does that conclude your motion on that? Yes, sir. I thought you might have some more. No, sir. That's that's it. Uh Mr. Chairman, motion. I make a motion that we allow what was the name now? Stifle. Stifle. Yes, sir. To do a bond financial analysis. Financial analysis for Liberty County at no cost. Is there a second motion? Second. Second. We secure the services of Stifle to do our financial analysis. So, we want to uh take a good look at where we are uh to help us determine where we're going, how to get there. So, that's at no cost. No cost. Yes, sir. Okay. No cost.

All in favor? No. No. Incentive. I voted yes on that. Yes, sir. Thank you. Thank you, kind sir. All right. Chairman. Yes, sir. No, you don't have it.

Go ahead. I I hadn't authorized it to come to you yet. Uh to everyone out here tonight, there will be I will be having a town hall meeting on March the 5th at 6 o'clock at the S St. James Community Center in Homesttown. So, uh anyone who wants to come out and we can figure out what's going on or figure out which way we need to go. 6 6 p.m. Thank you, Miss Monica.

Supposedly, Mr. Chair, did you say the workshops is going to be at the airport on the 16th and 16th and 17th? Half a half a day each starting at 89. Uh 8:30, sir. Okay. 8:30. All right. We we'll start putting that together. That's going to be the big the day when the two big jets come in. You get a chance to watch them this year. I see you thumbming through papers. Are you good, sir? Yes, sir. Okay. All right. That's all for the good of order. Sh motion to resj. All in favor? Sure. Did I get that? You can get you choose one. Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Chairman. One thing I did forget,

Mr. Mosy, we need to make sure that we are u all of the commissioners on the issues of I'm going call it abuses abuse of the 911 system. You familiar with that time, sir? Yeah, if you don't mind, Mr. Chair, what is Well, hold on a minute. Commissioner Stevens is talking about we have Hold on, Mr. Mosley. Chant motion to go back because we can't we journed. So yeah, we go back into regular session for a quick announcement. Yes. So move second. Second. All in favor. All right.

Uh chairman, board of commissioners, what commissioner um Stevens is talking about is we have a citizen that um constantly calling the 911 to to get services from us from coming out to changing light bulbs to the I mean everything. And they're very concerned because what it does is it it it it's constantly it's all the time. All the time. All day. All the time. And they've reported her to defects. Defax has tried to have interactions. Were not engaged with defects. Uh she's a veteran. Veterans affairs have tried to interact with would not engage with veteran affairs. Um, the only thing that we feel like we're at the point and staff's at the point is if the sheriff would do something in terms of possibly a an arrest or something because right now it really is abusing the system

and my my understanding she still drives. So So she's a able-bodied individual. She just constantly calling 911 for services. Is it a behavioral health issue? Well, we can't get nobody in to evaluate her because she won't participate. So, she's just calling 911, the emergency 911, right? And for stuff like what? To lower her to to actually lower the temperature on her thermostat and feed the simple, right? But but when she called it, don't they don't say, "What's your emergency?" Yes, sir.

Yeah. But she they don't go out they don't go out to feed the cat, do they? They pretend they she pretends it's a cardiac issue or whatever that that's an actual emergency. When they get there, that's when they discern or detect that it's not right. Uh truthful initial truthful emergency, but but you you won't know if she's truthful until you get there. Until you get there. Yes, sir. Right. So, you have to respond, right? Respond. And and that's tying up resources. What what commissioner is saying and it's it's actually driving up the budget, driving up the cost on the EMS and fire side. MS vehicle responds. That's gas. That's time. And it's taken away from other people who may really have legitimate needs. Real emergency. Real emergency. Yes, sir.

Wow. Sad. Can't change your phone number, can you? No, sir. You can't do that, sir. Answer the call. Yeah, you must answer the call. I mean, we we don't we don't know what to do. I mean, we we really don't. But once again, we maybe we are we can't be the only county that's having this kind of thing. Some some of us must have experienced or are experienc now there there is a state law against abuse of 911 services. Yeah. So that Kelly I mean Okay. Well, let's talk about our county attorney. We're going to have to do something.

Yeah. Because I I understand the frustration. Yeah. So So it's a scam call really then when you when you actually arrive on scene. Yeah. Because that takes what? Uh EMS or fire service. Fire everyone going out. She has vicious dogs or dogs on on on Oh yeah. And chief has gotten bit several times I believe by the dogs. And the time you don't go is something serious and you get then you can get. So anyway, I just I forgot about that. But all right. Thank you for bringing that. Yeah. Chain a motion to adjourn. So move. Second. All in favor. All right.