Board of Commissioners Agendas and Minutes - Regular Meeting

I'd like to call to order the Mayweather County Board of Commissioners, August 25th, 2026, 6 p.m. meeting. Please silence your cell phones and other electronic devices. Please stand for the invocation given by Jeff McCartney, our new building and its own director.

Followed by the pledge. Let us pray. Dear Father, we come to you tonight Lord, I lift up the missionaries here, Lord, that they can listen to what's going to be said tonight, Lord, and discern what's good for the county as a whole and the citizens as a whole. Father, I ask you, Lord, just to touch each person here, Lord, that we accept what's going on and we look to your guidance, Lord, as we go into the future of what's going on here. Father, we praise you and give you glory in Jesus' name.

Amen. Amen. I pledge allegiance.

We'd like to adopt the agenda. Are there any changes to the agenda?

Yes, sir, Mr. Chairman. Under new business, we need to add number 10, consideration and approval of five-year pricing agreement with cloud permit building and zoning. So consideration and approval of five-year pricing agreement with cloud permit building and zoning.

Any other challenges?

No, sir.

Motion to approve.

Second.

Adam, Commissioner Worsley made the motion. Commissioner Schnauzer, second. All in favor? Presentations?

There is none, Mr. Chairman.

Finance report given by Ms. Lassage. Finance Director Lassage.

Commissioners on the front page of the bank balances as of this morning we should receive the last Boston to spot distributions. Next week. On the second page. Our spots balance is a negative 132,225 dollars and 20 cents. It's too fast balance is a negative 221,766 dollars and 88 cents. And right under that I have added a line saying due to special projects for the piece of equipment that was approved last week that was borrowed from the special projects fund for Teesquast. That's all.

Any questions? Move over to the parlor heads.

None present, Mr. Chairman.

There are some comments.

I believe we have two.

We have two, I think. So let me read this. Speakers must contact the county clerk at Stevens at Meriwether County, Georgia Gov. or contact 706-672-3460 only before the dates and times listed below in order to be placed on the agenda to speak. Speakers must provide their name, address, and topic they wish to discuss. For the second Monday of the month, 6 p.m. meeting, speakers must email a call before 5 p.m. on the day of the scheduled meeting. For the fourth Tuesday of the month, 6 p.m. meeting, speakers must email a call before 5 p.m. on the day of the scheduled meeting. Speakers must direct their remarks to the board and not to individual commissioners or to the audience. Personal disagreements with individual commissioners or county employees are not a matter of public concern and personal attacks will not be tolerated. Speakers will be allotted three minutes to speak on their chosen topics as they relate to matters pertinent to the jurisdiction of the Board of Commissioners. No question will be asked by any of the Commissioners during citizen comments. Outbursts from the audience will not be tolerated. Common courtesy and Civil bips ability are expected at all times during the meeting. No speaker will be permitted to speak more than three minutes or more than once unless the board votes to suspend this room. First, we have Garrett Wayne Peters.

First, This is my first time.

Just your name and your address, please.

My name is Darryl Peters. It's Tucson-Madeleine Road, Woodbury, Georgia. It's a pleasure to meet you all and thank you for the opportunity to speak with you. I've recently had to spend a great deal of time reading our zoning ordinance. One concern I'd ask the board to consider as it reviews zoning policy is clarity and predictability. If the county wants a particular object, use, or activity regulated, I believe the ordinance should say so clearly. Citizens should be able to read the ordinance and reasonably determine what is permitted. When enforcement depends instead upon an administrative interpretation of what an ordinance was intended to mean, particularly where that interpretation goes beyond what the text itself clearly says, I believe that creates a serious problem. A citizen should not first learn what the county believes a law means when that interpretation is enforced upon them. Clear definitions protect both citizens and county employees. They reduce disputes, promote consistent enforcement, and help maintain public trust. Conversely, when written definitions can be displaced by unwritten interpretation of intent, it creates uncertainty and can understandably undermine confidence in local government. Whatever zoning policy this board ultimately chooses, I encourage you to make the language explicit. And just as importantly, once those rules are written, I believe county government should be held to the text, didn't act just as citizens are expected to abide by that same text. Thank you for your time.

Thank you. Next is Mr. Dustin Owens.

Good evening, it's Dustin Owens, 21158 Roosevelt Highway. came up here tonight. I might have jumped the gun a little bit, but I want to direct my remarks to the discussion and direction regarding the proposed residential minimum lot size moratorium. I am here in support of a moratorium at this point. I believe that we need to put a stop to all the zoning changes and go back and review our current ordinance on the minimum residential lot size. You all know me, and I'm an ardent supporter of our form of government and the fact that the citizens of this county, the people, we the people, should direct which direction our government goes in. I support this moratorium at this time because even now, many years after this was changed by previous administration, people of this county are still under the impression that our minimum is five acres. It was five acres, and in my case, when I moved here in 2008, we had to create a 10-acre plot where we live at. It is my impression or my interpretation that the citizens, when this was changed, the majority of the citizens did not know that it was changed, were not aware that it was going to be changed, and did not have a chance to have their voice heard. That's not necessarily the fault of the government. It's also the fault of citizens who don't stay up to task on what the government does. I would like to see our government do more to keep the citizens informed more actively, more town hall meetings, get the citizens involved. I myself have been working hard to get the word out to drive citizen interaction. I believe that just as your job is important for the decisions you make, it's equally the job of citizens to be actively involved and to stay up to task on what is going on. At this time with the moratorium, I believe that we need to go back and look at each and every change that was made in a previous administration and undo all of it, or at least review all of it and go through it with a fine tooth comb and invite the citizens in for as many town halls as we can have to interact, let the citizens voice be heard. And you know me, I'm a big history buff. And I believe in looking back in history and listening to what some of our great leaders have told us and what's happened in this country to drive how we move forward. In his farewell address to the nation on January 11th of 1989, Ronald Reagan stated, ours was the first revolution in the history of mankind that truly reversed the course of government. And with three little words, we the people, we the people, tell the government what to do. It does not tell us. We the people are the driver. The government is the car and we decide where it should go and by what route and how fast. I'm not asking for mileage to be heard. I'm asking for the chance for the citizens and the majority of the people that live in this county to decide what they want and how they want to get it. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Minutes. August 10th, 2026, work session, 4 p.m. I need a motion to adopt, set the minutes.

As long as there are no changes, I make a motion to approve.

Second.

All in favor? I wouldn't say that.

You weren't signed up.

Did you speak at some time before 5 o'clock?

We're running late.

Well, can you give me a second, Mr. Chairman? I can run back there and check with the clerk. Yeah.

Let me check and see if you've got any more questions.

Can we just decide between the board?

Well, it does say as long as they email or call before five. So, yeah, as long as the email came in prior to that, we can.

Adam.

You know, for a second.

Did y'all get a vote in?

Yeah, we did.

And. I don't think I was that happy. We haven't done anything yet. I do have an email. I was in a prior meeting and did not see it. So I do have an email from Miss Mary to speak.

We'll allow.

We will allow her to speak. She did. We had a work session beforehand and just saw your email.

My name is Mary Willis.

We just moved here from Anderson, South Carolina.

We live at 627 Mays Way in Manchester. My comment was that I am in support for the moratorium. I saw with Anderson, South Carolina over 17 years, it went from having beautiful trees, some landscapes, to nothing but fast food, daily car accidents, We had deer dead everywhere. Animals had no place to go. So my concern is that the beautiful country would be turned into more roads, more traffic jams. And some of these companies that make the homes, I've seen numerous complaints about chisel mill, about the sewer systems being blocked up because they didn't allow for the size. So... I just want to put my two cents in just from experience of a beautiful town like Anderson, South Carolina, turning into a city and we can no longer drive. So that's my comment.

Thank you.

Madam, can you give us your phone number, please?

Now we'd like to approve the minutes August 10th, 2026, regular meeting at 6 p.m. Any changes?

I make a motion to wait except for the minutes of August 10th from 6 p.m. Second.

All in favor? Aye. Thank you.

Public hearing?

No. No public hearings.

Appointment to the Planning Commission, District 1, to fill an unexpired term. This is a five-year term. It will expire on January 5, 2029. Yeah.

Mr. Chairman, I had originally appointed Mr. Dale Patrick from District 1. There's some things going on with his business and family and so forth. He had reached out and said he'd be resigning from that position. So I've talked to a few different people, and I'd like to appoint Jeff Scogin. from over in my district to the Planning and Zoning Commission. I'll second.

All in favor? There is no unfinished business. New business. Mr. Larry Dunaway, discussion of 2026 budget for the Mayweather County Water and Sewer Authority.

Commissioners, Mr. Dunaway is here present to provide the Water and Sewer Authority's FY26-27 budget presentation. This is a requirement that the Board of Commissioners approve the Water and Sewer Authority due to the tipping fee agreement with the Board of Commissioners. Mr. Dunaway?

Yeah, you can have something in your packet that looks like this. If you got color on there. There's not many changes in our budget this year. Only big change there, and we had a light item. We're going to be hiring a part-time assistant to help Doris in the office. And we got $22,500 a year for that part-time position. And we'll be going through the county staff to get that person on board. Anybody got any questions on our budget?

Thank you. Thank you, Blair. That's easy. Thank you. Thank you.

This does require action, Mr. Chairman, because this is part of the agreement with the county on the host fees.

We need a motion.

Correct.

To add there.

Just approve their budget for 26-27.

Make a motion to approve this provision.

Second.

All in favor? Grand jury present August 2026.

Commissioners, the grand jury presentment for August 2026 are included in the board's meeting packet. They've been reviewed and discussed by the board. Former acceptance is now required by the board of commissioners. Staff extends its appreciation to the grand jury for fulfilling its responsibilities and duties.

I make a motion. Go ahead.

Go ahead.

I make a motion to approve.

Second.

All in favor? Discussion and direction regarding proposed R1 residential minimum lot size moratorium.

Commissioners, this item has been discussed by the board on several occasions. Staff is requesting discussion and direction from the board of commissioners regarding the drafting of a temporary moratorium on R1 residential development to allow the county town to review the current minimum lot size requirements. The current ordinance for R1 single family residential provides for a minimum lot size of 1.5 acres with public water and one acre with both public water and public sewer. with access from a county paved road. Staff is requesting direction from the board on whether to proceed with a moratorium and review these requirements, including consideration of increasing the minimum lot size to an acre is determined and appropriate by the Board of Commissioners based on the availability of public water and public sewer. And in your packet, you will have the district zonings. And just want to mention that you have your, where it's all gone. Near the end, I believe. Third page is R1. And then you have multifamily residential. Right below that is one acre allowed with public water and public sewer. So you do have two different zoning requirements that you can have with public water and public sewer by our mayor and county warden's list.

How much time do we think we need to review and or modify the ordinance?

It would be probably a text amendment, 90 days. just to make sure we have everything and run it by legal, make sure we have everything in order.

Mr. Chairman, I was one of the ones that asked for this to be put on the agenda. I've been advocating for about two years now, like Mr. Owens did earlier, and I appreciate his comments. A lot of people think that we came in and changed it from five and 10 acres to two acres and been upset about it ever since. But when we came on board, it was already two acres. I had discussed back when Theron was here and for the last two years, like I said, I built houses and I don't even want to see it. But concrete's my main thing. But I've been in business 45 years from Calhoun to Fayette and I've watched it myself and I love living down here. So I didn't like the way the ordinance says if you have water, you can go to 1.5, and if you have water and sewer, you can go to one acre. So I would love to see five acres, but since ours says two acres, I've been asking, and hopefully I'll get the board and we all work together, I'd like to see a two acre minimum period at this time, whether you have water or sewer or not. I don't think the citizens wanna go through our back country roads and just see rooftop after rooftop after rooftop, like you see in Jonesboro, Coweta, and Fayette. Now, if the board decides to go up to five acres with exceptions, like a family member, mother-in-law, father-in-law, and so forth, I'm sure they would always work to accommodate that. But at this point in time, I'm asking for this board to approve for us to have a public hearing to do an amendment to where, because what's going to happen, and I've seen it happen, is you'll finally get a group of investors that's going to come down here and they're going to buy a large tract of land and calculate what they could make off of it at one acre's and then they'll get investors, and then they're gonna come in here and say, we're willing to run your order that says one acre of water and sewer, and we're willing to pay the infrastructure to run that through this property, And it might be a good thing, so we don't have to pay for it, but it's not a good thing for them to get one acre lots. So my goal is, I don't care if they have water, they have sewer, how many millions they want to spend. At this point, they're not going to get less than two acres. And as a builder, and as a builder sitting in this audience, he would have to agree, we usually clear out just enough for the house because it's expensive to clear the whole thing. So to me, if you've got a two-acre minimum and you clear out enough for that one house, you're leaving enough trees and green space around to where it- So you all for the moratorium?

Yes, sir.

Yeah, I just wanted to have a discussion, Chairman. I just wanted to make sure where I'm putting a few words out for citizens to understand why I'm wanting to, the moratorium and then to look into having the open, the public hearing. Yes, sir.

Well, Gene, I want to add to it a little bit because it's pretty self-explanatory to me and it should be to others too. You know, the two acres in place, the one and a half acres says public water, but the difference here is the county doesn't offer countywide water. It is the cities in which citizens pay additional taxes that have that water. So with the county not having a water system, a public water system, We could not provide water to these anyway unless it came from a city. And these cities are mostly on wells anyway, and we cannot depend on that to do it. So I don't think that it will be an issue to me. It's, again, pretty clear we don't have public water to offer in the county. So that's the end of it for me.

Well, some of the cities may travel.

You can, but we don't as a county. And these lots are within the county. We don't have a public water system to offer the county citizens. So it's null and void to me.

I'll make a motion to approve a nine-day moratorium on all one single-family residential.

I'll second. Third. All in favor? Yes, sir.

I have a draft moratorium that legal has already approved that can be signed.

Set public hearing for case number PC2601 for Monday, September 14th, 2026 at 6 p.m. Chisel Mill Design and Build LLC, partial number 028-029, 36.81 acre from rural reserve to residential R1 for the purpose use of two acre lots to one and a half acre lots.

Commissioner and staff is requesting to set a public hearing on September 14th, 2026 at 6 p.m. for case number PC26-001, Chisel Mill Design and Build, LLC, for rezoning of 36.81 acres from RR to R1.

But was that just making a motion for a moratorium with NASF?

No, because they have their applications. It's already been applied. Prior to the issuance of the moratorium, it only invests new applications.

So I'll make a motion to second. Public hearing for September 4th at 6 p.m. Second.

All in favor? Michael, let me ask you something on the moratorium that we just did. There were no specific dates, only a time frame of 90 days. Does it need to be more specific?

No, it has to have a specific end date. We can calculate that. Okay.

I think I had today in my draft and it was November 21st. It's all prepared and legal has already reviewed it with the changes. And there is the stipulation there does not affect any pending plats, pending applications, anything like that. They are safe to be having reviews on heard.

All right. Set public hearing for case number PC. 26-002 for monday september 14th 2026 at 6 pm chisel mill design and build llc partial number 027-009 11.89 acres from low density residential which is ldr to residential which is r1 for the per proposed use from two acre lots to one and a half acre lots

Commissioner, staff is requesting set public hearing September 4, 2026 at 6 p.m. for case number PC26-002, Chisholm Hill Design and Build LLC, rezoning of 11.89 acres from LDR to R1.

So moved. Second. All in favor?

Aye.

Set public hearing for case number PC26-003 for Monday, September 14, 2026 at 6 p.m. Fizzle Mill Design and Build, LLC. Partial number 027-012 and partial 027-012-001. 25.87 acres from rural reserve RR to residential R1 for the proposed use from two acre lots to one and a half acre lots.

Commissioner Stafford's question set a public hearing on September 4th, 2026 at 6 p.m. for case number PC26-003 chisel mill design and build LLC for rezoning of 25.87 acres from RR to R1. All in favor?

Set public hearing for case number PC26-012 for Tuesday, September 29, 2026 at 6 p.m. Complete truck bodies incorporated to rezone 19.37 acres from Agriculture A1 to Industrial I for the purpose of manufacturing plant expansion.

Commissioner and staff is requesting a set public hearing on September 9th, 2026 at 6 p.m. for case number PC26-012, complete truck bodies incorporated to rezone 19.37 acres from A1 to...

So that is like you said, 9th, but September 29th. September 29th. Yeah, okay. At 7 p.m. Second.

I'll invite them.

One more.

Set public hearing for the proposed fiscal year 2026-2027 budget for Tuesday, September 29, 2026 at 5 p.m.

Commissioners, in your papers, a typo at 6 o'clock should be 5 p.m. Staffers requesting to set public hearing on September 29, 2026 at 5 p.m. for the proposed FY26-27 budget. The purpose of this hearing is to receive public input on the proposed FY26-27 budget.

So move second all in favor. Approval of fire EMT tuition is ready.

Commissioners, this agreement established the terms for individuals participating in the Meriwether County Fire EMS Academy. The county will cover up to $5,000 in training and academic costs for the firefighter and our EMT certification. In return, participants must successfully complete the program, attain the required certification and licensor, and remain employed with the county for 24 months following certification or reimburse the county for training costs. Staff recommends approval of the Fire EMT Student Tuition Reimbursement Agreement. This has been reviewed by legal... with some changes and it is, as Danny Stevens aspires, she doesn't wanna execute the agreement.

But when you say tuition reimbursement, that means they're paying upfront, we'll reimburse as they complete or- If they leave the county before 24 months. So who pays the money first, student or the county?

The county.

So that's not a reimbursement, we're fronting that cause.

I think the purpose and what you see a lot of times is the county will pay for training, for fire, EMS, police, whatever it may be. There's actually some state statutes that allow you to transfer as a police officer to a different jurisdiction within a certain period of time after training has been done. But the idea is that if someone were to do that, they'd get trained by Meriwether County and then leave to go somewhere else where their certification may benefit them more than they have an obligation to reimburse Meriwether County run it as a cost. If they don't do that, then that training cost is paid for by the county as part of their package, I guess you would say.

So when you say reimbursement, you mean reimburse if they leave early, they reimburse the county is the way you're wording it, correct, John?

Correct.

I make a motion. We approve the fire EMT student tuition reimbursement agreement and allow Chief Stevens to sign.

I'll second.

All in favor? Consideration and approval of five-year pricing agreement. What's that we had done?

Cloud permit. Cloud permit.

Cloud permit.

This building is only commissioners. The current contract with cloud permit expired on July 31st, 2026. I requested extension through August 31st, 2026, which has been approved. Cloud permit has provided a five-year renewal proposed under the same terms and conditions that the original agreement previously reviewed and approved by legal, which represents a 4% price increase year over year. This is a request to renew the county's existing license for licensing and registration building and code enforcement. Staff recommends approval of the five-year renewal proposal and to allow the chairman to sign. This will be a budget line item out of contract services and a building zoning budget. And the current price right now is $9,000. It's going up to $9,300. So it went up about 4% from last year. And this locks us in at a 4% over five years. Same stipulations apply that it can't lock in over a year, but it's an auto renewal contract year over year with a 30-day term that you can get for separation.

So is it a 4% increase each year?

Yes, sir. And it locks it in for five years.

Year 193, year 296, 72. Correct. So we come in at 10, 20, 30. about 50,000 dollars.

This is a software that code enforcement is used and is built to just about handle everything in buildings only from licensing to permitting to code enforcement.

Now I understand we have a new planning zoning director and is there he's president you're fine with with this software it's it's okay because in the past we'd approve things and then somebody come back and want to change it and uh talk with Mr. McCartney he's from Troop County and I think this software is better than what he was using over in Troop County. Okay. Thank you.

I make a motion we approve the five-year renewal proposal and allow Chair to sign.

I'll say. I'll invite. To vote organic metal driver.

Commissioner, there's a couple of updates on the courthouse and facilities. Remediation on third floor of the courthouse has been completed and has passed clearance testing. The third floor HVAC system is currently being installed and expected to take approximately a month and a half to complete. The cost of the third floor renovations will be presented at the next agenda for approval. Staff is currently attaining their price for first floor and second floor HVAC systems at the courthouse. The courthouse exterior is approximately 98% complete. Trees have been removed, stumps have been grinded, and the area has been cleaned up. Overall, the improvements have significantly enhanced the appearance of the court square. Building A, we are replacing the upper siding with a hardy board, which will provide a permanent solution to the siding that has repeatedly blown off. On the jail, the remaining jail lock installation is scheduled for next Wednesday. Jail plumbing repairs are scheduled to begin this week with replacement of the shower traps. We have 16 attendees at the mandatory pre-bid meeting for the John Brown Road Covert and Pigeon Creek Road Covert, the most I've ever seen turn out for a pre-bid. Bids for both projects will be open on September 4th, 14th at 2 p.m. and presented to the board that evening. I have a meeting tomorrow with a recycled tire grant. It appears we may be able to have one more additional project remaining with grant funds. We've got about 20,000 left over, so we have to expend all of that, so we may get one more project out of that one. We had a department head meeting. Jeff McCartney began August 11th as a planning zoning, building zoning community development director. We have an implementation call tomorrow regarding the additional clerk software. And then next week, I have a meeting with Enterprise, again, to maybe potentially look at partial fleet implementation associated with the county, just to bring that option to the board. And that's all I have, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. The Board of County Commissioners, Commissioner Fred Gill.

Well, I usually don't have much to say, but I will say it. It's always good to see when the room's full like this. And it does say maximum capacity 50, but I'd like to see it where people start to come in more often, just like Dustin said. People need to come out. Let us hear your voice. Let us do what we need to do for you guys and make sure we stay where we need to be for you. We can find a bigger room if we need to to get that there, but it is nice to see the room full tonight. We usually sit up here and it's like talking to ourselves. So thank you all for coming out.

Commissioner Wiersbeck.

I agree with Commissioner Threadgill. It's nice to see the room full and hope it continues to be that way. I will appreciate what everybody's doing to all the activities going on in the county. But we just continue to get more work done. Thank you. Vice Chairman Stamson.

I agree with them. It's great seeing everyone here and getting the phone calls and the emails and the text messages from the citizens letting us know how you feel. I really appreciate all that. I'm happy to see that JW Dunn Road is open. It's been closed now for around five years or so, and our public works department got that open this past week. And that was great. I knew it made some citizens very happy. Our recreation department has kicked off and won every game this past Saturday for their football. And I was happy to be a part of our tanker dedication last Thursday where we had two new fire tankers. And then Manchester got two new fire trucks, and I'm happy for them as well.

Mr. King.

Same as you. Previous commissioners there, it's good to see a crowd here. I was actually out of town and was supposed to fly back to the mar. And then when I saw that, you know, we're going to have a great crowd, which is a good crowd. I changed my flight just to be here because I thought it was that important. So I'm glad to see the people show up and might not have spoke, but sitting there, you speak louder than you think. And we appreciate that very much. And thanks to all the staff members and public works for them.

i just want to say thank y'all for coming out we really enjoy your input uh and believe me we listen to you more than you realize it because we we definitely hear what y'all say and and all that and i just thank y'all for coming out and uh like uh commissioner snails said i was at the dedication of the fire trucks and that we now have a uh what is it big sandy and big johnny uh five trucks and and that's about all I have. Thanks again, and don't forget the car show at Lake Maryville October 24th. We hope to have 100 cars there, so there'll be a lot of nice vehicles you can go out and enjoy, spend the day with your family.

And it supports the rec department.

And what? And it supports the rec department. Thank y'all. Our future meetings and notices Monday, I'll report from county attorney, but he always has nothing, so I skip over it. Monday, future meeting and notice is Monday, August 31st, special call meeting at 6 p.m. Closing the service of Labor Day on Monday, September the 7th. Monday, September the 14th, regular meeting, 6 p.m. We also have that, what, at 5 p.m., the public air.

That's on the 29th.

Yeah, on the 29th, we have a, Public hearing at 5. P. M. and a regular meeting at 6. P. M. And we do have a need for executive. Need a motion going into section session for litigation personnel, real estate, tax matters and cybersecurity. All in favor.

We do not make a motion. We go back into regular session. So all in favor. Nothing was decided. executive session i'll make a motion we adjourn second all in favor