Board of Commissioners - Regular Meeting

We call the meeting of the Liberty County Board of Commissioners to order. Good to see everyone. Let me go ahead and say now, Mayor Crystals, happy holidays to you and your families and your loved ones. Uh Mr. uh Mosa has the meeting properly advertised. Thank you, sir. I see evidence there. Will you please lead us in our invocation, sir? and our pledge of allegiance. Please stand if you will, ladies and gentlemen. Let us pray. Gracious and kind father, we thank you for this beautiful day and your bountiful blessings. We thank you for life and liberty and we thank you for being so gracious to us. We pray now for divine wisdom for this body. Pray that you give them what they need in this hour. And Father God, we pray for mankind everywhere, especially those who are the least, the last, and the lost in these last evil days. Be with them and help us to bless them. 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, and liberty and justice for all.

Thank you, sir. We'll try to move expeditiously tonight if we can. Um I do know there's a ordinance issue. U Jeff is not here. I guess he'll be here, but that we don't there's no public hearing tonight. There's no public hearing tonight. We're just going to simply hear from the first reading of of one of our ordinances. Uh Mr. Jamie Sh, will you come forward, please, sir, and present your tax collection update? Good evening, board. How are y'all doing this evening? All right, good. Citizens of Liberty County, how are y'all this evening?

Okay, weather would make me feel like that, too. So, uh, I just have a couple of quick updates. Um, property tax bills are live. So, if you are ready to pay your property taxes, even though the bills have not gone out, you can go online to our website. Um, you can pay with the echek or you can pay with your card for a small fee. Um, also we did have our tax sale on December 3rd and we had one property only one property go to sale. So that means mostly everybody paid their monies. Let's clap for that. And then the last update and I have a license plate that u they're actually discontinuing the Peach State license plate. So this will be the last year they make it. But this is y'all can see that this is America's 250. So, this plate will actually go into go into circulation starting January 1st. It'll be the same price as a standard plate, which is 20 bucks. And we are ready to issue this thing out. So, if y'all don't have any other questions, that's all.

Yeah, I'll bring it so you can see. Amy, if you will, let's let's make a teaching moment. Can you and I have some conversation about folks just understanding of how the steps that lead up to a tax sale. Walk the audience through that if you will, please sir. It's a five It's a fivemon process. It starts off with a 30-day le uh levy letter, a 60-day letter, and then we move to posting in the newspaper, and then posting to your property if it's not paid by that time. So, it takes about five months for that process to go through. So, it's just not something that we just do in a week's time and and it does it like that. So, that's it for that.

Thank you, sir. Chairman, I have a question, Mr. Sharp. Um, going back to tax sales, how many years did you go back on what? On the tax sale that you 20 18 17 the one that you just had went to 17 to 23. Yes. So that should put us out there in some of those years of what about 97 98% collection. We're at a 90 for 2025. I think we're like a 97% collection rate. Okay. Okay. Uh Mr. Shaw. Yes, sir.

What would the uh what were the VA tags the vet tags look like? Same. They're not chang same. All right. And those are available in January. January 1. All right. Thank you, sir. All right. You're welcome. I'm sorry, Mr. Sharp. I mean, I went there in November for my birthday. Uhhuh.

January. No, you'll put it on that one. No, only if you want it. If you have the old plate, you can keep the old plate. But if you want that plate, you won't have to pay an extra charge for it. Okay. The same. Yep. And we'll just swap it out for you. Everybody want a new one? I hope so. They they sent us about a thousand of them. So, yeah. Yeah. You say that again. You probably need more than a thousand. They'll they'll send them to They gonna send them to us. All right. You're welcome. Finance, Miss Richardson.

Uh, good evening, Mr. Chairman, commissioners. Good evening.

I'm here tonight to report on the county's October 2025 financial statements. Um this is the fourth month in our fiscal year and beginning with the general fund at the end of October we have collected approximately 17% of our revenues budgeted and expended 31% of our total expenditures. Um October remains fairly early in the fiscal year. Uh we do expect the revenue collections to increase significantly um beginning in January. Overall expenditures are actually tracking slightly below budget um for this point in the fiscal year and the current the county is currently maintaining um 3.7 months of operating expenditures in our unassigned uh unreserved fund balance. This is an increase over last October uh which we reported 2.9 months. So this reflects a stronger financial position for this point in the fiscal year. Uh turning to the departmental um expenditures for the general fund. Um there are still a small number of departments that are tracking slightly ahead of schedule um primarily due to the timing of contract renewals um and certain vendor payments that are required to be paid in full uh early in the fiscal year. Uh this is the case for IT and superior court for their law library expenses. Um in addition there are several departments who have uh recently been approved budget amendments to uh be implemented in January. Um this will address certain overages um in the year-to-ate figures. Um this includes the tax commissioner, the clerk of

superior court, uh and the road department, uh which I believe we've discussed, um but was for some unanticipated equipment repairs. Um for the remaining departments showing variances um as of October, none are causing any uh major concern at this point. We fully expect these departments to um to normalize and align with their budgets. uh as we progress through the fiscal year. If we turn over to solid waste, um at the end of October, the solid waste fund is showing um a small net income for the year, 18,000. Um it's collected 24.2% of its total revenues and also expended 24% of its um budgeted expenditures. Um, at this time there are no single departments that are over budget for the uh solid waste fund. And looking at the special revenue funds of the county, um, also there are none that are exceeding their budgets through October. So I'm moving on to the sales tax reports. Um sales tax seven, the October revenues totaled 1.15 um million. This is another strong month of collections. To date, the county has expended 20.6 million on our um SPLA 7 uh expenditures and projects and we've collected 34.3 million since this uh sales tax began. Turning to Teespost. Um for October we've collected 1.08

million and since the inception of Tesla we've collected 59.8 million and expended 28.3 million. Um and October was the last full month of our Tespos collections. Um I did notice in the November um cash activity that a little bit trickled in November, but um less than $15,000. So uh we will await until we uh start collecting the T plus 2, but we're ecstatic that that passed and so we can continue to fund those projects. Um but that concludes October unless you guys have any questions

on sales tax seven. At the bottom you got a footnote down there for number two. Ambulance is 650,000. That is for two of them, right? Or one. Uh yes, sir. And I believe Crystal would know better. Um but they're about to be delivered or picked up. Yes.

Okay, good. So, how many will uh how many will you have now? Any questions for Mr. Richardson? I just want y'all help me walk through this commission if you will. When she gave us the um und designated fund balance of 3.7 months was on that page. Yes, sir. um year ago 2.9 we're in a better position. Um slightly. Yes, sir.

Yeah, slightly. What was the uh the minutes that we set was was designed to add 300 or $600,000 to the uh 600 to FY26 budget? Yes, sir. All right. Here's here's my point. Um, and then we all know that we had some uh unexpected expenditures this past year. And I see my Rose man out there. You know, we had to do a whole lot of work uh with drainage that we didn't expect to do. Uh he he and his crew did and I'm hoping that maybe coming years won't cause as much damage, but we do we did it did uh what's the word? Expose is that the word some drainage problems that we had. We we've got to work on.

Yes, we still do. we've got to work on. Uh and that fund balance helps you to do those kind of things. Um and then on top of that, we still have some uh CIP items that are dangling out there that need to to be addressed. Yes, sir.

So, my point is I know we we're trying to be very and you should be conservative with our budget and with our millillage, but just just make sure that you're able to fund what you need. Otherwise, it's going to be a real problem for you. uh you're not going to be able to do the things that you do. Uh because when those drainage problems came, our citizens did not mind calling us. Our citizens did not mind calling us. And and once again, we were able to see some other areas of improvement that we need to do that. Uh as well as we replacing uh expensive AC units,

no less. I'm not even factoring in ambulances and fire trucks, those kind of things, which super expensive. So my point is let's just as commissioners make sure we do our very best to balance the effort between being frugal being u frugal in the in the eyes of taxpayers as well as ensuring your county operates efficiently. Does that make some sense? Yeah. And I'm hoping that once the Go ahead. Uh just one thing to add to that was um yes, we had to float those also with Hurricane Helen, those debris removal um vendor payments. Yeah. U totaling over a million dollars

before we got our FEMA money. And same with that um islands box covert project. We had to fund that until we got our reimbursement. So yes, it's very important to have excess. Okay. And I guess I'm going to go back and Mr. Mosley, if you will, in your next department head meeting express to your department heads. And I guess we got to speak to constitutional offices, too. Everybody has to be on guard uh to ensure that they are uh spending their their funds wise in the departments. I'm not sure when you did the true up. Is that what you call it? How how how did that come out this time? Hadn't got there yet.

Um so the books auditors are uh finalizing our financial report. um they will come to present it in mid January. Um but since we had our insurance fund is combined with our general fund on the financial statements this year, not really in our system that we track um in finance, but um it's it's it's quite a bit. Yes, sir. It's it's in a positive way. Um but Yes, sir. Maybe we look at some of those CIP items that we need, right? Yes, that would be a good time. Yeah. Okay. Y'all just keep us on Yes, sir.

Yes, sir. And in fact, we're moving the CIP process and what we're doing is hoping to bring that to you guys a lot early. And Sam has pretty done a great job in monitoring a lot of the finances, but we want to bring that to you guys ahead of time so y'all can really think about we want to fund this. So, we want to give y'all adequate time. So, we're in the process of moving it forward now. All right. All right. Mr. Chair, just one question. what you said uh with elections that 32,000 was was that our election or was that one of someone else's? Joseph, who did Rhonda say that we're going to be able to bill for some of that? Which election was held that wasn't

Midway in Flemington? Midway in Flemington should be what or or was it public service outside of our regular election? Public service commission. There is um I'll have to get with Rhonda. I sent her some I was just Yeah. So because the PSC we have to eat that, right? Yes, we do. We have to eat that. Yeah. That probably been in October. Theirs were in November, right? Okay. So they wouldn't have been on here, right? So it was PS. Okay. That was it.

Just so you understand what Commissioner Fraser referencing to, there was a PSC election that was statewide that we had to participate as if we had someone from Liberty County in the campaign. Open all your polls. You had to do all the things you would do for your regular election. No questions asked. Mandate from the state. So, and we had not budgeted for that. Correct. All right. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Long.

Good evening. I'll try to run through my status report. I got several things and if you don't mind, chairman, when I get to the live oak, I'm going to skip it and just we'll do live oak as the next item. Okay.

So, basically, um Thomas and Nutton is working on Trapport West uh roadway development. Uh we've been kind of doing review trying to make sure that's going on track. Uh they're about ready to submit those plans for review. Uh so that'll be going on here pretty shortly. uh state patrol parking resurfacing. The bids on that are out. Uh it should open on uh January 6th. Um Steven Road uh we had a lot of questions about uh the drainage on Stevens Road. Um we've got uh we need five easements to be able to make that work. Uh we sent out uh easement requests to the property owners uh earlier this week. They probably haven't gotten anything in the mail yet because we do send them a certified return receipt. Uh, and we haven't gotten anything back yet. So, they should be getting those. Now, what that'll do is that'll allow us to uh create a ditch so that we can drain a portion of Stevens Road up next to the end of the pavement. Now, when it gets way around to the back, not really going to be able to do a lot back there just because the road's about leveler lower than the swamp beside it. So, we got to uh work on that. um the Islands Highway drainage improvements. You know, we had a meeting last month uh with some of the property owners. Uh we went out there to do some surveying. Um and Mr. McCartney was not there the day we were there and his wife asked that we come back at another time when he was there. So, my office and

them are trying to coordinate a day that they can be out there together. That's not raining. So, trying to get that squared away. Uh Kings Road, we've got several improvements set up for Kings Road. Um, that's probably going to be a a project we're probably going to need to look at bidding out to do that because it's quite a lot of driveway pipes to change on that. Uh, not quite. We are ready construction planwise, but permit-wise, I'm going to need to uh get a CM Coastal Marsh Protection Act permit uh because we're going to be discharging into the river right there at the Tuton property. Um, so I don't need to go make changes to that without my CMPA permit. Now, as a side note, everybody knows that we were working on the uh Islands Highway box covered and the CMPA permit was an issue this time last year. If I'm not mistaken, today is the day that that permit is supposed to be finalized.

Okay. So, we've been through since March, so our permit's finally going to get here. So, thought that was kind of interesting to know. Um the Bington Ferry Crossroads roundabout. Um, I do want to uh see if I could have maybe a little extra 10 minutes or so uh in our midmon meeting in January. Let me just kind of throw a few things up on the uh board. Let you guys uh tell me whether you like it or don't like it and if I need to do any changing, then I can do that. So, we we've already done all the surveying out there and I'm trying to get a good layout that works and trying to do a layout that I can actually build it while maintaining traffic on it. Um, which is going to be our biggest challenge. Is it ready where you can send it to us before January? We can look at it or No,

no, sir. It'll be like the I'll send it to you week before the meeting because I've got a good bit of tweaking that I'm working on it now.

Uh Butter Blunt Road. I got a preliminary set here with me, Timmy. Um my designer and all. We talked about a couple things today where we want to do a little different in the ditches. I'll show you after meeting what we got. Um I I plan on being ready to bid that during the month of January. Yes, January. It sounds like a long way off, but it's just next month. Um, that way we'll be ready to go. Well, let me back up. We need to get our rightway because we got rightaway we need to purchase and I I'll get with you on that and we'll talk about how we want to handle that. Um, Pean K Lane waterline extension.

Uh, my contractor's got all the water in. He's not out of time yet, but um we had to change the way we make our connection to the water line and uh we're waiting on that change in price so we can make that connection because that's all that's left is making that connection on the church side of Highway 84. The problem is is the way we had it designed. We were thinking that the drainage pipe was on the front side of the pipe. Well, it's on the back side of the pipe. And to put all my fittings, I don't have enough room to go in the front between the back of curb and make it work and come back around. So, I've got to tap it from underneath and then come around. Are you saying that's on the church side, not on the Pan? It's on the church side. Yeah. Okay.

Yeah. So, we had the hole opened up and we had DOT there. DOT's been there. So, they're they they have been involved in our in our change, so they know what we're trying to do. Um, Commissioner Walden had talked to me a little bit about Macintosh Lake Road intersection. Um, we're finished with that. I had a one or two little changes with send back to DOT. And so, we should be getting our permit from DOT. Hopefully, I'll be able to put that out for bid in the January time frame. And it's basically a deceleration lane and a right turn lane u for uh Macintosh Lake Road. Um, because it gets kind of hard to get in and out of there during rush hour. Not that there's a lot of cars, it's low volume, but if we get the development in that area, we're anticipating it's going to be a problem. Um, Bacon Town Road, uh, real quick on that. Um, they were held up for the longest time for the power pole from George Power that got moved Tuesday. Now, uh, one of the things they came on in, we did the asphalt, the first layer. We were um waiting on them to come back to do that the other, but we wanted to get all our drainage fixed before they came back so that we didn't scar up the new asphalt. Well, they we'd all decided, well, let's try to go ahead and maybe pave it before Christmas and then we'll just protect the asphalt because we're having such trouble with Georgia Power. Well, they tried to come last Thursday and I kind of turned them away because what was going to happen is they were leaving a job. They were not going to be able to start paving until about 10:00 in the morning because you got to be 45 and rising on the temperature for to be able to put down asphalt. And what was going to happen is before the weekend they were going to be able to get one lane all the way across. And then with the cold weather we had today or this week, yesterday would have been the only day suitable day to put down asphalt. So we would have ended up and they're the asphalt plant is closing

next week and the week after Christmas. So then we would have been stuck with a half paved road from last week to second or third week in January. So I said I don't want to do that. So I held them off. So they're they're not not coming. They're not not coming because I'm trying to give us good product. So I don't want you to think that they're abandoning the job or anything like that. I'm trying to help manage to get the good product. And yes, the guardrails are too low. They know it. They'll fix the guardrails. And also, we're still holding half of their money. We're holding what we can hold. All we've done right now is paid for the asphalt that they've got down. Okay. All right. That's it.

So, because we we do need to pay them for what they're due for, uh what they've got underground. I don't I don't agree paying them all till it's finished. Now we are already holding 10%. So we do hold 10% naturally. So part of our uh requirements is we do hold 10%. Now the state doesn't allow you to hold 10% when you do uh retainage anymore. Um so there is legal precedent that they but we still try to hold on to the 10%. We had a lot of backup on that. So you're saying that that a company like that can come in and for some reason the job is not completed. We have to pay them all. No. Pretty well except for the 10. You got to pay for the work that you had done.

Right. But the work the work that was done is not completed. That's my point. Well, so the work they've done I want complete work. Understand? This is a unit price contract. All our contracts are unit price contracts. Mhm. So what they've done is they put down the base material and so they we're paying them just for the base material plus we're holding 10%. So they have another whole layer. They have another $600 or $700,000 left on that contract. We're not paying them. So we're still holding the significant amount. Okay. All right.

Okay. Um Sunshine Lake Road. Uh we've issued contracts to JB JW Oliver. We're expecting those back any day so we can get those executed and get that out the door. Uh Jones Creek Park's turning around pretty good. I hadn't been out in a week or so, but they've done some grading and that should be coming around pretty shortly. Um getting that together now. Um I'm trying to make sure I get down. I'm skipping live oak. We're gonna come back to live oak. The roadway striping project is mostly complete. Um they still have a few little odds and ends that need them to fix. So we're still holding a little bit on that. Um the Flemington Village signal, we've got our final pay request from the contractor. We've been holding on to it for a little while. Um everything's done. Uh I think the DOT has finally released the bond on that project. Uh so we can release the funds on that project. Um Libert County EMS building is proceeding. It's coming along. on the right. Uh we got some of the water connections made. We're going to make some more water. We made some last week. We still have a few more things to do as far as water connections go. Uh that was a pretty intense thing. Um Mary Todd Road. So, uh you know, we've been talking about Mary Todd about the number of uh owners we have out there and Miss Connie kind of went in the back. I probably ought to go on and come back to when she comes back. Here she is. Um we've been talking to a couple different people to get assistance with the uh purchase of the rightway. Um so the guy we've talked to uh we have a price we have a price from u company coastal I put it up there on your list and I'm sorry I got it out of whack on my list here. Coaster Realy. Now, he is a guy

that does uh a lot of DOT appraisals and he's accustomed to doing appraisals for right away and rightaway take. Um and we have a price from him, which is basically $2,100 per parcel uh to do the appraisal. We'll get him to do that. Um and then we're uh talking to another retired DOT gentleman that would actually go out and do the negotiations. Um, so I'm going to come back to you with another contract for the guy to actually go out and do the negotiations. But Mr. Chairman, I've been speaking with Trend a little bit about this and I think this is the route we're going to have to take uh to get that taken care of. See how far we go. Yes, ma'am.

Okay. My teeth I mean I have enough in my splash to take care of that. Yes, ma'am. So, do you want to vote tonight to uh let agree to let him do it because that is pretty big mount that everybody needs to do or do you want to do it at a regular meeting? The 67300. Do it tonight if you want to do it. 67300. I make a motion we approve like five years. Yes, ma'am. Is there a second motion? Second. Second 67300. Yes, sir. With approved from Mary Tyler Road. Any further discussion? Commissioner is moving on. Yes, sir. All in favor, show hands, please. Thank you very much. We appreciate that.

All right, Loose Frasier Road Bridge. It's open back up. It rides nice. But we got a problem. What's that? Coming from the uh Riceboro side, it's rough. The transition from the old to the new asphalt. Okay. It needs to be looked at. Coming from Riceboro towards Hinesville. Yeah. Okay. I'll ride that. I usually go home that way and I don't ride back in the morning that way. So, I hadn't noticed it. Yeah. So, I will check it. Okay. And last question I got for you. Okay. Oh. Oh, last question. Mr. Mosley out with the motion and the second with the last vote.

Oh, we good. My signs for 84. Yeah. Yeah, I mean I I can go ahead and stop on. I think I've covered most everything else I need to do before I go back to live oak. Okay. Yes, sir. My signs for Highway 84. Signs for Highway 84 at the fire station. Right.

So, I'm kind of battling with the DOT permit department. We gave them the additional rightway that we needed on the property that we own. They were thinking that we were giving them right away on uh the piece property that's next to us that that trailer sitting on. And I'm telling them that we don't have that property. we can't give you the additional 10 ft on that. So, we're a little bit back and forth on there. Um, I'm about to have to kind of escalate it a little bit more to go ahead and get that turned loose so we can get those signs. They've agreed to put signs in, but they want us to do the rightway and I've already given them the rightway that we can give them. I just can't give them something I don't have. So, but I am working on that. Okay.

Okay. So, the next item is uh Live Oak Drive. Commissioner, I mean, so we I thought you wanted to Oh, we are. Expedite it. Yes, sir. For time. Yes, sir. Uh, Mr. Long, if if we can uh set up a meeting with you and I beginning the year. Okay. Early as possible uh to just go over Okay. All right. Uh because we might have to do some value engineering, okay? Or might have to ask my fellow commissioners for some help with this. Okay.

Because because this price is a little high and you know um I I do have some other projects in the district I I want to look at, you know, with some with the sidewalks and everything and just looking at at this this price and then finding out that a change order has to be done.

Yes, sir. So, and let me kind of explain that and let me kind of make my presentation about it real quick and then that way you kind of understand. So, basically we took bids. Um, we had the low bidder was uh JW Oliver for a matter of 202,428,920. Um, we feel like he could probably do the work. Um, he's got several little projects working on with us. Um, that that he will be okay doing the job. um and we would normally recommend to go ahead and take a a job entering a contract with him. Now, subsequent to the bid, right?

And to today, uh the city was out there uncovering some lines because they had a leak and Adam Parker called me and said, "Hey, Trent, you need to come look at this line." And it's an asbestous concrete line. It's an old u this this is a old type of pipe. Yeah. I'm ready. That's that's really known for importantly. Huh. Yeah. It's it's it's pretty it's some nasty stuff. Yeah. And if you tap it, I have to tap it nine times.

And a lot of times when you're tapping it, it cracks and then it just runs and it doesn't stop at a joint. It just goes. So, uh, we're going to run into some real trouble trying to tap it nine times the way that I got it designed. Um, and I talked to the city engineer and he said, "Yeah, you better to go ahead and replace all of it." Now, uh, Mr. Mosley and I also talked about it is that we need some assistance from the city, uh, in helping with replacing that line, too. Um, because, you know, we're having to really, it's an improvement to their system to get it out from under the road. So, I agree. We need to have that conversation. We need to get some money,

right? So, I mean, if we could just sit down with the city because uh I mean, Mr. share with this project being 2.5 million plus another 80,000 on top of that and then uh you know with the sidewalks on Vernardo Paul Caswell and Honey Ridge that's a whole another just another million and a half right so yeah it is so let's do that um now I will say this uh we normally have uh they have to hold their prices for 60 days so we probably need to do it the first week of January that's fine so if we can make that happen. We'll do that. Okay. Okay. So, Mr. Chair, uh do you need to entertain a motion to the table or we just on it? Just

we can removal of off the agenda. Is it on here? Just do nothing. Sometimes sometimes it's better to just do nothing. You're right. Let's just do nothing. Can I ask one question from talking to Mr. Simon? Did you get the indication that the city might be willing to participate in the funding of moving some of this infrastructure? Well, I got the standard answer. Look into it. We can work on that because uh just just one more question. You know the normal answer I got.

What's the total uh what is this like a quarter of a mile? Yes, sir. It's a little over 3,000 ft. So, it's more than a half mile. It's almost more than a half. It's a It's a The hardest part about it is, you know, the road and the way the yards drained, we got to have a lot of drainage pipe to pick up water and the way it all lays out. Yeah. It's just it's a hard job. But I will tell you, I know it's it has been the the work that the city's done in the other part of the neighborhood has really really helped that neighborhood, right?

And I I I really commend you for taking on this project because that will kind of finish that upbeat of that project. I I I wish we would have did it when Commissioner Thrift and I share shared that little piece. I got a lot of dirt. No, but you chose a really good project. So, I know it's expensive, but it is a very good project. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But I mean, if if we could just sit down and begin year because also

uh you know, my district is inside the city limits of Hansville, but it's the older portion of it. And that's probably when you first became an engineer. Y'all ain't have to put curbon gutter up and all that. And and now, you know, when are we looking for uh when whenever we're dealing with the pedestrian traffic. What are you saying? I'm old. No, I'm just I'm just saying you're seasoned. You know, I'm playing. You have you have experience, but uh and you know, even in my particular uh subdivision, I mean, yeah, it's older.

Yeah. So, and there's it's there's a lot of people walking, I mean, from kids to to adults in these particular uh neighborhoods. So, you're absolutely right. you know, especially Honey Ridge, you know, going around that curve. You know, I always be thinking about when people are walking around there. So, I know exactly what you mean. So, maybe uh we get with our friends with the city and they might want to participate with it as well. Mr. May, would you think you and I could have not? Because you asked not. So, we at least ask them. Yes, sir. We will get a meeting set up. Try to do it. We're going to need to leave it on the agenda because if we're because your meeting is the 6th, 6th in June. Yeah. Right.

Yeah. So, we're gonna have a short period to do that. Or what I may have what I may just have to do, and forgive me, I'm I'm trying to think out loud a little bit. Since our 60 days is likely to run out on January 11th, I'll write a letter to JW Oliver asking if he can give an extension of his price for 30 days. There we go. And then that way it gives us a little bit of time. All right. Sounds good. Thank you. I can do that. Okay. Sorry. That takes care of that. All right. All right, you'll move right on to the uh agreement for county engineering services.

Yes, sir. So, um I gave everybody a copy. Um you should have it in your agenda. Um we kind of went through just kind of it's the same contract we've had, same scenario that we've had in the past. Um I have updated our our hourly rates and where we go. um basically we provide at least a minimum of 100 hours a month for you uh for the base price and uh work basically the same way we do now. We do everything pretty much on hourly rate. Uh we don't do a lot of percentages on contracts or anything like that which in the long run saves you a lot of money uh when it gets to your projects. Um so you know right now when we started this it was uh just me. Um, and right now one of the benefits you get from us is you get me, you get an inspector, you get a a clerical staff, you get surveyors, and and we've got a little bit of everybody that can kind of help take care of the projects as we go along. Um, so I just I'm at your mercy. We'd like to continue with this and

you know, Mercy any questions or comments about Mr. Long's renewal of his contract of engineering services. I I just have like one or two. Okay. I appreciate you, Mr. Long, and all the work you've done for us in the past and hopefully in the future, but uh ju just a quick question. Uh and you said you did make adjustments in exhibit A for prices. Yes.

Uh what were the old ones? So, we were um $8,000 for $100 a month for 100 hours a month, which was um basically $100 an hour for just me. And that's the rate that we started with actually back in 2000. So, uh we had had the old rate and hadn't adjusted anything for almost 25 years. Okay. Right. And then uh I guess another question whenever you're talking about the classification and the billing rates

is are these individual rates included in that that 10,000 and then once you hit over the 10,000 you you bill individually for for this price. Yes. So what'll happen is it'll be a different combination of different things most of the time. Let me see if I can't answer this the correct way because it's not quite as straightforward as you think. Most of the time I try to provide my 100 hours to you as the base which is me. Okay. Which really gives me a billable rate of about $120 an hour versus $175 an hour. Okay.

And then from that I try to have my you whatever else that the guys are doing uh we're we're doing the billable rates on them. Okay. So I I guess for for example after we we hit that that plateau of 100 hours for for that price. So say for in example we have another project a road project or something that you're working on. Will will say for instance will you be bill will you bill us for the principal and everybody else who's including working on the project? That's right. Okay. So it could be either two of these or everybody. Two of these or anybody? Yes, sir.

You go. Okay. But I try to make sure that I personally give everybody $100 and 100 hours a week. Not a week. I probably work $100 a week, but Right. 100 hours a month. Okay.

Um it was me. Um certainly you've seen and you're privy to all the growth that we have and the projects that we have. Um what's your report called on being able to manage all this that we have? Uh and I don't know do we see that once the big projects like the roundabouts are done and uh the bypass is done there'll be some falling off or do we expect that Liberty County is going to continue to have these infrastructure needs because we're not not only dealing with um roads we're dealing with water and

uh yes council and all those things. Yes sir. So, um, what you'll see on our normal contract and our normal monthly billings that we're doing now, um, we're providing, you know, there's a list. It's general engineering and theund the 100 hours a week, 100 hours a month really covers your general engineering. Now, we take the same approach on our projects on a project by project. That way the county can charge that to your sales tax, to your water, or to your other funds so that you're not hitting your your

you're not messing with your general fund. And you you've got you've got a set amount that you can put in your general fund. And I think generally uh we budget less in the general fund for engineering services than you do my contract amount for. Yeah. I think um I can't remember now. You're only budgeting like $70,000 a year in general for me. The rest of it comes from sales tax, t-plashed, planer view, or other outside fees. Yeah. Because I do know in my crystal ball, we have uh Independence Parkway bypass phase two to work on. We got to rearrange that meeting with with with those folks and get started on that.

Yes, sir. see some of those projects that are like that. You know, I've I've got one big project with the Islands Highway. You know, if we move into the the uh next phase of the bypass, uh definitely going to have to be a a consulting firm such as Atlas or Thomasson and Hutton that can do those kind of projects that are a little bit have a little bit more have more horses in the barn is the best way to say it. So, but the local projects, the local roads and and what we're doing, we do pretty well with those. Now, I think you've seen more change orders this last year come out of our projects than and you don't always get to see and I don't tout when we bring projects in under budget. Um, like this red light that we're about to do is we have it under 12 $12,000 under budget and we get a lot of our projects under budget at the end of the year. Um, unfortunately you only hear the bad news is when I have to come to you for a change order and I try not to do that very often.

Um, safety d safety uh improvements. What's the latest on on that? I remember in past years we were able to get some dollars uh to help with safety projects. I think the entrance to Bill Carter and 84 is one of those. So where so right now why the roundabout Bington Ferry 17 and Lewis Fraser those are going to be some safety fun safety

safety funds that they're using for that. Um they haven't come out with an announcement lately of available safety funds. Um, and I'll be honest with you, uh, it may be getting close to time for us to kind of go and I know we're already going to talk about the the next phase of the bypass, but you know, maybe search for some more help from DOT on some of our other jobs. Yeah. So, we need to reup our, you know, we have requests, Miss Anne Purcell, for about eight different things um, that she's kind of working on for us. You know, one is the uh, bridge over I95, which is something we desperately need for all that to happen. We've got some requests in there for uh

widening and doing some work on State Route 119 uh between Walarville and Riceboro because that road is in the morning time. It's it's you can't get around anybody. Racetrack. It's a It's either a racetrack or you're poking along and then you get people road rage. So, we've got some request in for her there. We've got like eight different things that we have a request in for that we just need to keep keep asking because you know the uh DOT commissioner came down a couple months ago when we presented all those to him. So we just need to keep that up. That was July. Okay. It was July. Well that long ago we need to schedule a 2026 meeting with him. Yeah we do. We need to go ahead because it takes a couple months to get it together.

Yeah. All right. I just Mr. Sure. Will this contract be looked at every 3 years, five years, or so we have not the length of the last one? Yeah, we can we have this one set up so that you can do an annual renewal or you can look at it every five years, however you want to look at it. Okay. But won't go more than five years. Okay. And this question right here and the all the information and all the work that you do for the county is stored over at your office. Correct. Yeah, we do give everybody we do give copies here. Okay.

For of all the projects. So every contract we get, you guys have a set of plans. You have a set of contract documents. Okay. So we try to make sure that you have what you need here. Okay. So, uh, anything that I have that's stored is yours and it is open to public record and you know Okay, Mr. Mos will let you know that we do respond to the open records request and we try to give what you need. Okay. All right. Need a motion. A motion. Yes, Mr. Chairman. I make a motion. We approve the contract with TR Long Engineering for the county's engineering services. Second. Second. Motion second. We approve the contract as presented. Mr. along and we'll stop right here. Say thank you for your service, sir. Every time I've called you, you responded.

Yep. Yes, sir. Thank you. Thank you. And all your staff, so I'm glad. I want them to be able to Sometimes it sometimes it seems like uh we're moving in every direction at the same time. But but we appreciate that, sir. All right. All in favor? I'm sorry. Okay. All right. Thank you very much. Thank you. All right. That's it for me tonight then. I think I'm going to say new. Well, no. Before we got down to the

the engineer services, I was um into the new business, but up under your your report, Tren, I would like for you to add um you sent me an email and I appreciate that. I would like for you to add uh Allenhurst, you know, Wetstone, uh Gibson, all all of that out there. Um you you know, to get you're going down St. John's, you got to go to Allenhurst to get to Hinesville on St. John's. And today I I talked to um the councilman for that district and you know how part of the road is in Allen Hurst, part of the road is in Hinesville. Yes.

And all of it is in my district. So I'm willing to help them. I talked with him and he he's he's interested. I know Mayor Willis is interested. So, um, and I got a note on my phone after the first of the year, hopefully, um, the four of us could get together and talk about it and see, um, you know, which road that we want to do because I I know St. John's, Wet Stone, and it might be another one that's, um, that's shared between Allen Hurst and Hinesville. Again, all all of them is my district, but the city and the Gibson, the two cities share. I think Gibson

I think it is Gibson but I talked with uh Councilman Ortiz today and um and I'll get with Mayor Willis and we'll set up a meeting after the after the first of the year and um we'll decide what we're going to do and how we can um work together to um you know instead like you said just instead of paving the Allen portion of U St. John's and leave the Heinesville portion that you know that doesn't make sense. So, we'll work that out. And also, um, are you coming up this way tomorrow? I'll be here in the morning. I got to go in the morning. About about what time? I'd like to meet you down on um on 84 about that water issue on the airport.

No, no, no. 8 84 7498. The the one that we Yeah. Yeah. I know what you're talking about. Yeah. Um, I got a status meeting at uh 7:30 and I can run out. I can be there before 8. No, I got 8:00. I mean, let's say I can do a little early if you want to. Nine. Nine. Can we do nine? I think so. Let me double check. Make sure. I'll double check and I'll text you. Okay. I left my phone at my desk. All right. Okay. My wife has a habit of calling me or texting me while I'm talking. Check. You know, if if if not at 9, TR um anytime after 9, just call me. I I'll be free. I got a meeting at 8, but anytime after 9, we'll be good. Okay. All right. I'll be glad to do that.

Okay. That's all I have, Mr. Thank you guys. Thank you. Thank you. And I'm I'm not here for uh drum point event. Okay. All right. Good. Emergency medical service MOA. Miss Crystal. Quick and short.

Good evening, chairman and commissioners. Um in your agenda, you should have a copy of a MOA for Savannah Tech. This is a current MOA that we are already bound with. However, this is for a renewal cycle. that renewal cycle will expire December 2027. At that time, we will ask to renew again. Um, again, this is a MOA for us to allow them to have their EMT and paramedic students perform their clinical rides with our service. Um, it's been proven successful through the past as long as well as other schools that we also are affiliated with. So, short, sweet, to the point. I'm just asking that we can renew this contract to have a continued relationship with Savannah Tech. All right. Simple contract renewal. Nothing different.

Nothing. I'm sorry. Simple contract renewal. Nothing different. Yes. Yes. Nothing has changed. Okay. All right. Mr. Chairman, I make a motion we approve contract between Liberty County Board of Commissioners and Savannah Tech. Second. Motion and second. We approve the MOA as presented from Miss Hler. Any further discussion? All in favor, show hand, please. Position. Two minutes.

All right. Thank you. I I would, if I may, I would like to circle back around to the purchase of the ambulances just for full transparency and re-education to our taxpayers. Um because that cost comes at about 650,000. I do just want to emphasize that historically we stay on track and attempt to with the if the funding is available we like to order an ambulance once per year because of the lead time in manufacturing ambulances right now is extensive. Our last time we ordered our ambulance was in February of 2024 which was the purchase of these two ambulances that we are now finally receiving. So to backtrack, we did not purchase an ambulance this year because we purchased two the previous year. So because of those lead times. So we kind of worked our way ahead of that. So I just wanted to remind everybody of that. Okay.

And Chris, I happened to see on the on the news um this is a national problem. It is. Unfortunately, there's not a dealership that just has ambulances on the lot. So, when you have an ambulance that goes down for severe maintenance issues or an ambulance is wrecked or you just need to buy a new ambulance, it's not like going to the dealership and buying a car. You have to order it. They are customuilt and right now the lead times are at least 18 months. However, they have reassured us that that has gotten better. Um, that all happened as a result of COVID and they're finally getting caught up with the orders that were backordered from materials and and whatnot. So in the future, we do see that timeline much improving.

It's been brought before congressional committee. They're going to look at it because it's not just you. It's um Brian Brian. Yes. Yes. All all of us. M Chris, the unit that was wrecked, where is that unit at now? Has it been replaced? We are in the process. It is at Custom Works. We are remounting that unit. What that means is that instead of purchasing a brand new outfitted ambulance, that box was still good. Okay?

So, instead of purchasing a whole new ambulance, we are using that as a remounted unit and they have to mount that old box onto a new chassis, which is what they purchased. Um, that in the lead time, we're probably about six months out from last conversation. When we finally got it up there to custom works, they were looking at about a year turnaround time for that. actually if we look at it overall right now we're looking at three. Yes. That will within a year's time.

Yes. Um so right now we have eight ambulances. That includes the one that was damaged. Eight ambulances in our fleet. Then two new ones will be 10 to our fleet. Now we will go back like I said and look at mileage on units and see if we need to retire some. Um, the fact that we are now focused on 911 response and not transfers has drastically helped our mileage and wear and tear on our ambulances as well. So, that's something that we're going to be looking for as well. Okay. All right. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you'all. Mutual aid, Miss Chief Darby. Let's see how quick he can be. Two minutes, sir.

We started with two minutes. She went longer. Awesome. Uh, chair, commissioners, good evening. Uh, before I I do get started, I spoke with Mr. Mosley and and Miss Lamisha. Uh, Liberty County Fire um was awarded the Georgia Times Task Force. Uh, TIMS team of the year. I know I just said a bunch of acronyms.

TS stands for traffic incident management enhancement system. TIMS is traffic incident management. Um, back in 2019, the commission authorized me to enter into an agreement with the state that I would sign a open roads policy. Anytime that there's an accident on the roadway from the time that all available um responders get on scene, that roadway has to be completely open in 90 minutes. Sitting and waiting circumstances, the year that we had the semi-truck hit the bridge. But we do work in a lot of collaborations. Chief Rooney, our assistant chief uh for prevention and education, actually heads up our TIMS team. That was passed over to him once he got hired from me. Um but this year, Liberty County was named the TIM team for the state of Georgia. Um and in turn, we also did submit for the Tim's time task force grant uh to get additional traffic safety equipment for our crews and we were awarded $9,111.60. Um,

moving into uh the mutual aid agreements, chair, commissioners, these mutual aid agreements are nothing new. These are simply just renewals. Um, however, tonight, two of them will be new. Um, contracts are still the same. The partners that I'm asking for mutual aid agreements with tonight will be with Long County. That one is a renewal. uh adding one for Glenn County and adding one for Bryan County. To clarify, mutual aid versus automatic aid. Mutual aid is units on scene are requesting for assistance from a counterpart. There is no guarantee that those assistance will be coming. So because areas still have to provide coverage to their primary district. Automatic aid is when a call comes out, two units, two stations, two organizations will respond to the call. So this is mutual aid. There is no exchange of any kind of monetary funds. Um the practices that you're reading tonight are already in place. This is just the black and white um for us to follow up. These are sub agreements to the agreement for the GMAG uh which is the Georgia mutual aid agreement signed by the board of commissioners, myself to the state uh that was signed back in 2021.

Okay. I have evidence of the Brian County, but unless I'm open Yes, sir. or I do ap So all of I I do have all three of them here. I only printed one because the name is the only thing that changes at the top. Okay. Okay. All right. All right. So, I do apologize. Trying to trying to save trees, sir. Yes, sir. Gotcha. Gotcha. In fact, one of these will be digitally signed. Okay. All righty. Commissioners need a motion. Yes, sir. John, I'll make that motion that we enter into all three agreements, Loun County, Brian County, and Glenn County for mutual aid.

Second motion and a second by Commissioner Frasier that we approve the mutual aid agreements as requested by our fire chief. Um, any further discussion on that process? If not, then we would let it be known. Approval by show of hands, please. Any opposition? Motion passes unanimously.

All right. Thank you, chair, commissioners. Moving on to my second item on the agenda. This is going to be the Liberty County Fire Rescue, Liberty County Board of Commissioners ordinance for community risk reduction. Community risk reduction is a standard practice across the nation. Um, community risk reduction is something that we have not been receiving points for on our ISO rating. Um, because there community risk reduction takes staff to be able to stand up, implement, and hold it accountable. This was talked about at one of the planning commission meetings. Uh I believe it was two months ago. Um it has now gone through legal review. Um it's been screened by our fire prevention education uh chief, Chief Rooney, who is going to be the holder and enforcer of it uh through the board. Um it's been reviewed by myself as the authority having jurisdiction. Mr. Mosley's reviewed it. So now we are bringing it to you for approval. Commissioner, we did discuss this in our one of our work sessions,

right? Um, anything different than than what we discussed?

No, sir. Just just a quick recap. This is allowing us to get into enforce ordinances, state and lo and federal laws as it relates to international fire code, um fire and life safety codes. Um burn permits trying to to limit you'd be surprised how many people burn uh household trash. Um and it's it's illegal to do that. So there's there's mechanisms in here. Uh food trucks food trucks, as you're aware, are starting to get crazy. Right now, Liberty County does not have anything. We have to have something on the fire side uh from the state. So, this is us adopting state law, putting a small small Liberty County twist on it and being able to move forward.

Speak again about ISOs.

So, as far as ISO, so community risk reduction is a segment that uh we do get reviewed on. Uh part of the things that are taking place into that is inspections, pre-fire plans, community risk reduction, public safety education, getting out to the schools. Uh this year, I believe alone at the schools, we are looking at 16 different contact days that we've been at the schools just in the first uh semester. Um and that is elementary school, middle school, and high school uh combined. So um huge increase for us. um this will turn and increase the points that we receive. So the next time that an ISO review comes through um we may there is no guarantee may be able to get one step further in reducing our ISO which currently Liberty County is an ISO rating of a 44 Y.

Does Hinesville have this? They do. Yes sir. But again, this is a very very common um it it this is giving Liberty County the ability to enforce state law, but this doesn't I was just looking at the food article two. Yes, ma'am. Food trucks that doesn't overlap with the health department and what we do down there. No, ma'am. As far as their permit, what it is is it allows us to go in and ensure as the requirements for fire and life safety code that their suppression systems are proper. Um, we are just one more step in the approval process for that food truck to go live. We are not eliminating anybody in the process.

Mr. Chair, I I guess I I have a question too. Uh, whenever you speaking about the uh ISO rating. Yes, sir. And and but the rating is different in different areas, right? Like prime example, Hinesville, what what is ours? Hinesville Fire Department. Don't quote me. I think their whole their core score is a three. Okay. So, but what I'm saying is out in Commissioner Thrift district is different than portions of Commissioner Stevens is so I just isn't flat.

So, ISO there, as I said, we like there's two scores always issued. We are a foury. Anything within five road miles of a fire station and a credible water source is a four. Anything that is outside of five road miles of a fire station and a credible water source is a 4Y. The difference, nobody hold me to it, but on average is $300 to $400 difference a year on insurance premiums,

but it's it's also from my because I I know we talked about this forever when we was trying to go full-time live with the fire department, but it also is determines what insurance company you have too, right? Uh, so insurance is some insurance companies use ISO, some don't. If that answers your question. Um, we we don't dictate who does who doesn't. Um, I'll throw companies, this is nothing to hold me to. All state here in Liberty County may use ISO. All State in Long County may not use ISO. Why? I don't know. That's a company policy.

Right. And and Mr. Mr. Chair, the only reason why I was saying that and I hate to harp on this ISO rating again, but I I know there was issues out in the more rural areas in the past and that's why we went fulltime. Uh is there any way possible, I don't know how, when, who could do this, but to educate our citizens on which companies use the rating and which ones don't because like you said, it could it could save them three or $400.

So, we have tried attempted that in the past. Uh, Commissioner Frasier, the difficult point with it is companies can flip that switch at any point in time. Yes, sir. Because in order for a company to use ISO, they have to contact ISO, which is a third party vendor, pay money to get the data. So there's there's money that they're spending every year. So sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. I'm not in the insurance business. I'm in the business of trying to keep insurance premiums down. Understood. Thank you. All right. Chair entertain a motion.

J make that motion that we accept this risk reduction program for Liberty County. Is there a second to the motion? Second motion and second. Commissioner Blunt. Any further discussion? My only observation is that I'll let you chair. My only question is is uh on the last page we did not have a date of effect.

Yeah, I see that. Um, my question for you is board, when would you all like to see this go into effect? There are some growth pieces. Um, I will tell you from the county fire side, um, where we're going to have to implement processes, so it's not going to be immediate. Um, I' I've told you all this once before, when we get out with these inspections, I'm not looking to sit here and find every single person. We need to educate our public before we start finding our public. So, you want 90 days? 90 days. I'm going to look at you. No. Can Can we Can we push for March 1st? Okay. Chairman,

with this being an ordinance, is that something who's going to keep it? Your comp the fire department keeps it in enforces it or does it go to So it ordinance go it'll get uploaded into MUN code. Yes. Um enforced by the board of commissioners through us as a department underneath you. So if somebody goes to building a license for a food truck, no, they have to get inspected by the health department in Yes, ma'am. And we have those processes in place where somebody comes to get a business license. There's a check sheet that says business license, fire department, public health, come back to building and licensing. Here's your document.

Found out yesterday that they are one of the modules. building license fire is one of the modules we did. So we communicate. Okay. We went we entered into a program that building licensing use called I works. Uh I believe we just got into it this past September and it's made for seamless working between the two departments. Yes. All right. Did we vote? Yes, sir. All right. All in favor? I'm sorry. Thank you, Mr. Brian. Thank you all. Have a good night. Merry Christmas. Happy holiday.

Uh just one caveat, follow up on what commissioners F is saying, we can never guarantee as commissioners that uh these services will lower ISO, but I do recall that for the where Brian go for the um when we did the substation, is that what you call it? Commission Steven at at Islands Highway. It sure helped those folk out of white, you know. So, it's kind of like I much I much rather have it available to me to help if my insurance company does honor the uh right the so as as versus saying that it Yes, sir.

A blanket thing. So when you opened up the Isa White fire station, on average it saved approximately $1,000 per resident and in one week we had gotten 67 requests for updates to ISO letters to where we have to type them up, send them to either the insurance company or the homeowner. So on average $1,000 one week, that's $67,000 back in taxpayers pockets. So we'll we we'll bank on it that it helps those persons whose insurance companies us. Thank you sir. Okay. Uh Mr. Rickson fails

and a section by virtue of orders. Good evening commissioners. Hello sir.

I was asked by Mr. mostly to come in and give you a presentation on this annexation that was approved by Hinesville earlier this month and will be effective on January the 1st. This petition was submitted by Newbridge Residential Parks to reszone and annex uh 13.74 acres of of land from SFMH which is single family manufactured home and MHP which is manufactured home park to pod plan unit plan unit development uh and as I said annexation into the city of Hindsville for a town home and apartment complex. Uh the property is located on Live Oak Church Road and you can see there the uh the partial numbers there. As always, we posted the property with the sign and ran an ad in the coastal courier. And this is the this is the property in question. All this area over here is Griffin Park. It's been in the city of Hinesville. Uh this area right here is the area that was annexed. Uh you might recall if you're familiar with it. This is Live Oak Church Road. might recall that this area was a somewhat dilapidated mobile home park. I think it was operated by uh the Waters family for a long time, but it it uh got sold and got fell in further into disrepair. So, uh the new owners, Newbridge wanted to get rid of the mobile home park. They asked the city of Huntsville to annex them. Hunsville didn't want to annex it until they got rid of the mobile home. So, they entered into a development agreement. It took them about a year to relocate all these people to other parks that they own, but they've since done that. Uh most of the people that were in here got relocated to a large mobile home park that they own in Walarville and according to the uh according to the applicants they were very happy to be relocated there. So that was a concern that Hinesville had that was met by the developer. So all this that you see on here has since been cleared out and uh so it's the mobile home park has been removed and the they've abandoned all rights to that and they've uh as part of that deal they were able to get reszone

for the town homes and apartments that they want to build. Just looking at the zoning map this blue area right here is Griffin Park. You can see here this area was in the county and now will be in the city. The orange area is the area we said was single family multif single family manufactured housing. This area over here was the area that was zoned for mobile home park and you can see the jurisdiction map that was that's as it currently stands but on January the 1st this area will become part of the city of Hinesville just like Ripen Park and you can see just the annexation exhibit. That's the boundary of the area that they're going to annex or that's been annexed. This is the development plan. These are the town homes over here. There's a utility easement underfoot utility easement that runs through the property. So, the town homes will be on the northern side of the easement and the apartment complex will be on the southern side of the easement. They're looking at about 100 up to 184 apartment units on this side and I think 36 town home units on that side. That's it. I'd be glad to answer any questions about that. Again, that that's effect that that annexation is effective January the 1.

Mr. Chairman, that is in my district and evidently they don't need to ask me for permission. They've already done it. and they've done and with with moving those mobile home it looks great out there and I'm sure that this developer is wanting um the amenities or what that the city can offer them the water and the sewer. So it it's a plus as far as um what it will look like in the future. We but they don't need they we don't need to vote on this. We did send a send a letter on this to Joey Brown in February of last year when they applied

as we've done for the other eight or so annexations since I've been here. But Mr. Mosley has indicated that y'all would like for us to present in the future when these come up. So the next one we would come in and and present that to you. So just so you still in my district I believe unless um Commissioner Fraser wants to take it but you won't need a new road over there. Right. That's my district. I'll take it. Just a matter of of making us aware of what's going on. Yes, sir.

If if the county did oppose, you have the you have options available in the state law to to do that. That's the purpose of us sending that letter to your administrator. And if you do have an issue or a concern, you can oppose that. There's a process. It looks good. They they put a lot of money in. Right. So, Mr. Chair, I just got a question. old dilapidated stays in the county, right? They cleared up now it can come into the city. That's right. The city that was one the city Yeah. pretty much made them total clean it up and then come back and ask for or it was going to stay with us.

Yeah. And in order to get 184 units, they had to attached to the city's water and sewer. So, right. You don't have water and sewer in the area. That's the only way they can build this. I mean, this will add to the tax base of Liberty County by having this compared to those old dilapidated mobile homes. Understood. But and and and I'm glad you said that. So, where are they going to connect for to tap in for uh Griffin Park? I'll be Griffin Griffin Park is here. So, there are water manes in approximate, but I don't know exactly where they would come in from, but probably either down that easement there or uh down this guy road or guy avenue, I think is what that's called.

Right. I I guess I'm just being devil's advocate and just wondering because see what I'm saying is uh if I'm not mistaken, but I know that's Commissioner Gillard's uh uh portion, but don't you all uh don't the city of Hinesville provide something to City of Walterville like water and something waste water? Yeah. Right.

So, you understand what I'm saying? Like they could do that with this project as well, couldn't they? Well, city of Walterville paid Hinesville for that water capacity and and the county could do the same. If you wanted to pay the city of Hinesville, I said that wrong, didn't I? Walterville paid Hinesville for the capacity. You could pay Hindsville for the capacity and you could own some capacity out here and then they wouldn't have to they wouldn't have to annex, but that would be that would be an outlay for the board of commissioners to buy that capacity. I was just I was just looking at all options. Also, Commissioner Frasier, um on your your drainage and road project from from Trinity out to 196 um on Live Oak, that's um that's unincorporated Liberty County as well,

right? And but they have their own city water and s city sewer and city garbage. Right. Yeah. Because at at a outside fee, right? Because I remember years back the city wanted to annex that portion and then they they took a vote and the voters denied. Right. Right. That was about 10 years ago. Right. So the only thing I'm saying with like projects like this, you were saying it's going to be how many parcels total? These are there about 36 town homes over here and 184 apartment units over here on the other side.

Right. But I I know there's different ways to do this. the uh the NX. And what I'm saying is like how about these? Well, if they didn't want to be in the city because like me, I pay city and county taxes with them. If it stays in the in the county, they would just have to worry about county taxes. But I guess with the developer, because he's doing prior and we're going along with it, then the citizens that purchase don't have a say. So yeah, I I I would like to think and I agree with that if the

if the developer wasn't doing the the whole that whole development and it was just individuals, they they probably would say, "No, I don't want it." But it's but it's we moved them I mean they moved them out, right? And and the developer owns it and I guess if you own something for the most part you can just about do what you want. He's not going to sell their apartments. He's going to rent And that's what's happened with Griffin Park. That was in the unincorporated county and and and Hansville annexed that and then the property above that that RTS has just bought and they're building another 800 houses up there. So there's been a good bit of annexation in this area. Yeah. Yeah. It's all around. It's it's still um 15th Street,

still Hinesville, Liberty County, right? as when the developer goes in because of the the amenities, any of the things that this the services that the city has that that the county don't have. When the developer clears it out, cut down the trees, he say, "Hey, Hinesville, you know, I want to be in Hinesville." And you know, you get police fire, garbage, uh, water, sewer, um, building inspection, road maintenance. Me, you know, that's too much. I I I I I get it, but I mean it just I don't know.

But but you know that's why it was voted down the last time because it it wasn't a whole development. It was individual houses and those people said no twice. Like real because I mean they're they're going to have to pay county and city That's right. taxes when other option would be us just paying the city of Hinesville for those services and then let them handle that. Well, if you if you bought the water and sewer service from Hinesville, then you would be the you would be the provider of water and sewer, but the sheriff would be providing the law enforcement and the county would be providing the fire for that area. I mean, but we provide the fire now for the area. Right.

Right. You do. That's right. Okay. All right. Thank you, sir. Okay. U I'm sorry. First reading, Liberty County Ordinance to amend chapter 6, animals, article one in general.

Okay. Uh this is a ordinance that's been uh um the county attorney has provided this ordinance. You know, there's been a lot of discussion over the last year about uh people wanting to have chickens in their yards. And uh there's there's a provision in your code of ordinances, not the UDO, so it's not the one that I I present to you all the time, but it's in your animal ordinance. And it says that nobody can have a chicken coupe or an animal enclosure within uh three within 300 feet of any neighboring property. And this uh county attorney has drafted an ordinance to reduce that significantly from 300 feet down to 200 feet. I mean to down to 150 feet. And uh Mr. Mr. Blunt, do you have anything you want to add to that? This is this is the first reading, so um you know, it's for you to consider tonight, I think.

Right. And uh what I'd like to say is, uh thank you to some of y'all in the audience. Uh y'all helped bring this to my attention. Um it might not be quite what you want just yet, but it's a start maybe. Um I've looked back at the codes. I've looked at a lot of things. Um this here it will help only um A1 AR1 currently and everything. Uh there's such a thing as a subdivision that can be in A1 or AR1. Uh for the most part what I'm looking at y'all out there, y'all are Lake George, which is R12. Um, but like I said, with what y'all have been diligently bringing before me, calling with talking, um, I think this will help some of Liberty County and maybe a start. Um, I'm one vote. I'm hoping that we can get the rest of my commissioners on board with this. Um, and we'll see where it goes from there and all.

Okay. You heard from the commissioner from that district. Are there any other comments as related to the proposed ordinance change? This is the first reading and Mr. Rickersonson, you'll bring this back when, sir, whenever you put it back on your agenda for action. I I'll be back. January 6 January. January 6. Okay. January 6. Uh citizens, until such time, you I think many of you all have access to Commissioner Blunt. So, um utilize that um if you will. Please ma'am, please sir. And we'll hear it again on It's not a public hearing, sir. It's not a public It's not a public hearing, but how does the public get heard for it? What did I just say? What did I just say?

Tell me. You're in You're in the room. Lay down a law of 150 ft and you said that's it and we can revisit it again later. Shut him down. Right. You're out of order, sir. That's it. That's how you handle that. You're out of order and you know you're out of order. All right. Thank you, Mr. R. Okay. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas.

All right. Discussion on Drum Point Way District 1. Who's presenting? Mr. Chair, members of the commission. Uh, Commissioner Stevens brought to our attention uh, Michael Fuel. Oh, okay. Uh, Drum Point Way, which is on Colonel Island. Um we were informed that the citizens uh voted to install the gate and it was done tren sometime in the last 50 days.

Um there 20 houses that front the road. Um it is a deed county road. Uh it's a deed road to the county and Trent and I were talking and Trent said to upgrade this road to our current standards. It's going to cost a lot of money. um in but in order for the county to consider the process, you will have to go through the road abandonment process. And one of the things that Trent uh uh mentioned to me was we need to see if if the public safety and that is ambulance and fire can access the gate because that's going to be important if something happened on the side and you can't and and that is the that's how it looks, right?

So that's about it. So there's a new gate now that operates by emergency uh vehicles with the sirene. This one don't. So there's no way to get into if someone within that gate needed help fire service or anything. There's no way to get in unless you have a pass. So that's the question that I I brought to Mr. Mosley's attention. A lot of the gates nowadays when the emergency vehicle gets to it, you're supposed to be able to chirp a siren and then it should open the gate. Now, I don't know if it does or not. You may have gone out and tried it. I tried it. It don't work.

Okay. So, um yeah, that that's where something has to be worked out for agreement. Yeah. Yeah. So, I I I do live in a gated community and it it does have the where you pull up, you chirp a siren and it opens. So, um that's how everybody gets in. Um but also your waste collection needs to be able to get in as well. We're not going to have a waste collection. Oh. So, but anyhow, so this is a private road. Private road with 20 homes. This is a public road. I mean a public road. Mhm. But it's not maintained by the county. We do maintain it. If we do, we just had we hadn't done anything to it in a long, long time.

It looks pretty decent. They went and put, right? We do mow the grass, right? I mean, it looks like a fair grass on the left side of road, right? We have been in there a few times. We We normally didn't go in there unless they called. It was one of them roads that Okay. They didn't want nobody in there until something come up and we go in there a few times. Cut limbs, cut little grass here and there. But it's a county county county road, right? We got it 1960. And they can lock it off if they for whatever reason. If they they just decide that, hey, this this is what we're going to do. You you can't do that. Why don't they take it back?

That's right. You you you can't you can't do that if it's public. Yeah. They can't shut it off and say, "Hey, I'll let you in every now and then if you you know, if we feel like it." You you can't do that. My question would be if you're chirping and it didn't open, you had emergency situation. What's the second alternative to get in?

Yeah. Chair, commissioner. So, uh, part of that community risk reduction. This is that enforcement. Subdivisions, any gated community, any gated access is required for IFC to be able to have emergency access, whether it's fire law or EMS. Um, should there be a malfunction, should it not be there, we will damage the gate because it prevented us to get to an emergency call. You going you going to ram the county fire truck or the ambulance into the gate? To be quite honest with you, sir, situation will dictate. It'll either be pushed with the front uh uh half-inch steel bumper on the front of the firetruck or we will get cutters out, cut the gate. We'll get uh K12s out, cut hinges. But yes, but in all this

What about dragging out the time frame of getting there? Yes, sir. You could. Yeah. Uh say that again, Commissioner. It uh in all that distraction, losing time. You are you're delaying the 911 response. It could wind up being a lawsuit either way. the county attorney handle it. And and an easy fix for this is it doesn't necessarily for us and I've worked with Trent on this project on projects like this before. It doesn't have to be solely siren activated. It could be siren activated. It could be a a punchpad number that is on file with the dispatch center. Um it could be uh our Knoxbox system where we put a key and do an override. It could be radio uh PTT activated. Right. So, but

but Trenton Trenton, you don't have sirens on your on your vehicles, do you? The road department, you you don't have So, um you can say it could be activated by a siren. Um I mean, that's e that's the ambulance, that's police, that's fire. Yes, sir. And of course, Marion. But, but um Trent Trent, I need some active out there. Trent Trent Trent doesn't have when they go in there to cut grass to pick up trash to pick up a dead cow or whatever. He don't have a siren, so he got to call you to come let him in.

No. And that's correct. And that's where they could use a pin pin number that is kept on file for county use for the easement. Uh Dolphin Island is that way. Um there's punch pad and if Trent is needing to get out on that island, he can call and get that number to get access. Same same with utility companies. That that's a lot of sugar for a dime for a public road. Y 100% agree, sir. And m check just uh one more. Correct. Dolphin Island public. So So reading this, it says that they voted in the last 50 days to to install the fence. Let me say something about that, Commissioner. I Is that a HOA?

No. I know one fellow that is tied to the county. He didn't know anything about it and he's our county attorney. He he has a house down. Well, obviously everybody knows who now. Uh but but it doesn't matter to me, right? But but the point that I'm saying is even to be able to put up for a vote, is it is it that they have a HOA? No. No. I guess they voted among themselves or something. So just to answer your question about the county attorney, he was shocked that it was up, right? Mhm. But what are you all requesting? Oh,

so I thought it was about abandonment guidance. I mean, you can go through the abandonment process. Uh we need to work with them immediately to gain access for public uh safety. Um and go through the abandonment process quickly. Um, and I would, this is a call that you and a county attorney have to be made, have to make, but they may have to leave it open until that process is done. I'm like, Commissioner Thriffic, and then Commissioner Gilbert, maybe some others, too, who just hadn't said it. You can't go around fencing off county roads, right?

Yeah. because it seemed it seemed like, you know, they decided that they didn't want want us to that they wanted it to be private and and they did it, right? And you you can't do that. I mean, you know, whether they want us in there or not is public and everybody in this room could leave here tonight and drive through there and turn around and come back out and do that um until the cows come home. You you you can't do that. I mean, not that anybody would, but it's a public road. Right. Right. And I'm I'm going home in a few minutes on a pup road, right? And if somebody over there decided that they was going to block it off because they didn't want me to come through there, you can't do that. Right.

Now, if it's if it's a private subdivision and you got a gated community, you you you could lock yourself up in there if you want to, but you but you can't lock off county property, right? That's what we're aware of. You you can't do it. And whether the whoever didn't know about it or not, none of that matters. We know about it now and it's it's listed somewhere as public, right? And that's what it is. Until it's not. And for us to talk about abandon it. Abandon it. Why? Because they don't want it. M

No, that's Mr. Chair. I I and I know this in your district, but from from my understanding, even with this presentation, you're saying it needs work, right? You on this road. My question. Okay. Well, let's go with both of those. Let's tell them to open it up until we go through the abandonment process and then they can have the road. That's I That's kind of where I was I was thinking. Yeah. But but until such time cuz all them dirt roads you you talk about you got to you don't want no more to make the for 25 miles of dirt road. Exactly. So why take on another mile and a half of Yeah. No. You see what I'm going through right now?

But it's not dirt. It is still Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, even with that, you just can't give it to them because they want it. It has to be charged to somebody. This doesn't automatically go to them. Now, this is a call that Kelly has to do. The abandonment process opens it up for public. If somebody wanted to secure it, they could. So, you know, it's the abandonment process is a lot more complicated than that. And I don't claim to know the whole process,

but uh Kelly could probably enlighten us a good bit more on that. Um but there is a process to go through and it doesn't automatically go to them which is kind of the scary part. Um but you know I think the intent of all parties would be that we go through the abandonment process let them have the road then they make sure they have the access for uh public services and then we could go through and they could have the road because then we could then we have to worry about the expense. We're going through an abandonment process because that's what that's what they want.

That's what they want. That's what they want. So, and if it was up for sale, I could buy it and get me a a toll booth guy to stand there and charge 50 cent to let people come in there. And and when Clint get ready to go go in, I can let him in free when put out a fire. I said, "Come on. Come on." Because because it's mine because because it's mine now. But Trent, we need some partners in this. Trip, what will be the guidance between here and the time for our next meeting when we can have uh once we make contact with Kelly? I I I would say that um it needs to be opened and left open.

Davis, that that's my opinion. Yeah, that it needs to be open and left open. Now, who do we contact? That's the question, sir. I don't know the answer. Oh, like a point of contact? Yes. There's not one on here. Yeah, I know. I know somebody we can contact. Okay. At least 19 people out there voting. And and you know, I'll give them benefit of it doubt. Maybe they didn't know that you couldn't just put up a gate. Uh but I I certainly would check it out before I put up. It's a nice looking gate, too. It is. That's That's the only thing I would say a code for. I would I would vent that before I did that. Be hard for me.

So the columns on the side were already there. there. Yeah, they were there. So, you tell them there's no HOA. No. And they got together and made a vote. And then after they voted, they all came up with some money, $20,000 to put the gate up, man. I need like that. That was some strong neighborhood. Everybody likes someone needs to take care of this. Yeah, let's do that. The attorney. But yeah, I I just it's our road and and I get it. But Commissioner Stevens, you know, that's why So, Mr. Chair, you want the uh county attorney to send official letter Yes, sir. to himself. He needs to

It needs to be It needs to be It needs to be open until such time as we abandon it. I choose not to abandon it. I'm I'm I'm just saying because I'm not and even after even after the abandoned road problems they need to go through the public safety requirements for emergency access. That's just one less problem. Something that we said um maybe a meeting or so ago, you know, if we if we just throw out all the rules, we won't have any rules. That's right. Yeah. Yeah. But I'm I told you I was going home in a few minutes and um I'mma stop by my neighbor's house and we going to shut down our road. Well, I don't go around. I'm I'm friends with them, too. They They know. Hey, man. Hey, let's shut it down.

So, let's send the letter like you said and then um they can we they can too. I mean, the least we can do is check to see that they get a permit. Yeah. Probably didn't. All right. Get one. All right. Uh minister report. Thank you, Mosley. Man, this has been interesting. Listen, Mr. chairman. I mean, we we can't read, too. So, you want me to read all this? No, no, no, no, no. Okay. Oh, yes, sir. No, I was going to ask, Mr. Chairman, can can we just get just a little a little bit of Shakespeare before you get started? Never mind. We need calm you down. You You want some Shakespeare? Calming. No, that's okay. Okay. I was going to give you some.

Go ahead,

y'all. Y'all see this on the thing right here? Just want to share that Bob received a check in amount of 20,000 for reimbursement from Hurricane Helen and read from there. Uh Mr. Chair, I want to send out dates and times for us to do a workshop. And the second thing is, Mr. Chair, we want to get together reconvene the um committee for subdivisions with Trent. So I want to get with those gentlemen that were on that so we can we'll send some dates out that we can get back together for that project. And then uh also want to send you some dates on planning for our commissioner's workshop, our annual workshop. And I'm trying to think what's the third thing. I wrote it wrote down. I can't find it. Uh but those I I'll send dates out to you guys in the interest of time. So Mr. Chair, that concludes

Go ahead. Don't report Uh but but that concludes uh our our park equipment, playground equipment has come in and all the the the group who bought the playground equipment from Susie King Taylor has purchased that and it's been cleaned. And uh the the three parks, Bribay, uh Ray and I talked about doing Bribay first and coming and doing Jesse Stevens and doing Susan King Taylor last. Uh and uh we'll have that area really looking nice because those some very nice playground equipment. Yes, sir. Did Alan White get the playground equipment? Yes, sir. Did they did they got it all out and gone? Okay.

But you know, just looking at this and we've been talking about $20,000 and that's what Bob got. He could buy him a fence, could he? You said you wouldn't go home, didn't you? Burned him up. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Mr. Chair, one more thing. uh and voter commissioners. Uh Jamie has a a contract with the city of Flemington to collect their funds for tax collection

and um we we we need to get one for the city of Walaiville as well. But this is the city of Flemington that has uh signed up on it and in the process uh when he collects uh $2 per parcel goes to the county goes in the county coffers as part of the collection. So uh this is the agreement with Flemington. We just need to execute it tonight and that'll be official. So, I almost forgot that. Do we know that Wall Davios is in route there? Uh, I think it he talked to him. I remember back in uh when they were first considering, I think he talked to him about it was either August, September when he talked to him and approached him. He made the announcement tonight that, you know, some people are paying their uh taxes. So, the process has started. So,

yes, sir. But, but I don't but he he does not have an agreement with City of Walterville. I do not hold a check. You don't send them their something. You can't put the cart before the horse. Yeah, that's right. So, so I I will I will ask him to see where it is and try to get that to the board at the first meeting in January. Okay. So, you need a motion. Have they had all their meetings, Walter Bill? Their meetings all wrapped up for this year. They meet every day. Make us a great looking Mr. former chair. Former meeting now. Come on now. Speak up. Every day. All right. Mr. Touch bases with I mean I know I guess it's Should Jamie be want to touch base with water?

Yes, sir. He would be the We have him do that. Okay. Okay. ASAP. All right. That's all for the good. So, uh, you need a motion. Yes, sir. So, Oh, I'm sorry. So, what's what's the uh recommendation motion? uh to enter an agreement with the city uh city of Flemington governmental or just between the C tax commissioner. It's actually an agreement between the tax between us and city of Flemington and he is a part of that. Okay. Make a motion we approve with the Flemington City of Flemington collect their property taxes. Yeah. Is there a second?

Second. Motion second. We approve the agreement to collect taxes working with our tax commissioner. Any further discussion? All in favor? Show of hands. Get that one done and fabulous should be and Mr. Chair, I'm being shown uh our Liberty Fire Services will have their graduation for class number seven at 6:30 at the Liberty County Community Complex uh and uh Sam Harris Sam Harris tomorrow night. And also on January the 7th 16th 16th they will start class number eight for new recruits.

Nice. So, and you had your reminders about the swearing in, right? Commissioners from Yes, sir. Okay. And Mr. Chair, just before we leave, uh, in January, is there any way possible, uh, we could recognize the young men and women from the recreation department. Uh, we've had, I think, a total of four teams, three of them, uh, one district if I'm not mistaken. I had to get those numbers. Then the 10 youth, uh, football team, one state. So, if we could We already planning on it. There we go. Thank you. As a whole, we would recognize them as a whole. As a whole, because that'd be a big group. Well, that's good. Y So, state champions. We do. Yeah. All right. Good.

Make a big fuss over those state champions. All right. Uh, officer, thank you so much. I I was wanting you to take a seat. You were making me tired standing. I feel a whole lot safer in here, but I think I'm as fast as up here. So, thank you so much. Chair, a motion to adjourn. So, move. Check it. Merry Christmas.