Board of Commissioners - Regular Meeting

I did get a message from Commissioner Walden that he wouldn't be able to be here, but we're still praying for he and his recovery.

That better? Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you. All right. At this time, we ask Mr. Moses to come lead us in our... prayer. Has the meeting been properly advertised, sir? I think I see evidence there. Will you please stand now for the prayer and pledge of allegiance?

Let's change them right now then. Let's change them right now. That's the carpet. The carpet. The carpet, man.

If you hadn't noticed, we had the carpet replaced, and when they replaced the carpet, they transposed the flags.

Thank you, gentlemen. Presentations and recognitions, Boys and Girls Club, Opioid and Date Fund Check Presentation. Ms. Edna Walthow and her team are here. Would you please come to the podium? Ms. Walthow, a few years ago, through the Opioid Settlement Counties, maybe communities, maybe cities too, I'm not sure, counties, are given opioid funds from the settlement fund. to give to the organization to help combat drug use and drug prevention. And so our local Boys and Girls Club has applied and had been awarded. I'll hold that amount to just a minute. As well as the date fund, those funds come

You just lost the chairman. I'm real, y'all.

Thank you. You all will come up for your photo op. We have the check up here.

We can lower it if you want somebody to come in the middle. Oh, no, he's raising up.

Chief Dobby, please come forward. National Firefighters Month. We're going to roll right through these. Proclamation and recognitions, okay.

September 26th? Yes, ma'am. Send us an invite. I will. Yes, ma'am. Thank you.

Well, come on up, sir. Thank you. Bring that with you, if you will. Dr. Bell, you and your team are lining up. We're going to do a three-for-one, just as it's listed here, St. Catharines Beach Sweep, Great Southeast Pollinator Census Proclamation, and Georgia Coast is not an ashtray proclamation.

Congratulations, sir. Thank you for what you do. Is Ms. Willa Lewis behaving down there? I don't know. I tried. She already acting up. I kind of figured. Mr. Scott in this world.

You did a good job, Ms. Moses. See, can you do a good job?

Thank you. If you all would come on up for your photo op.

I guess I could have given each one of them one to hold up, huh? They think it was a different crowd.

The spirit of volunteering is alive and well in Liberty County, Georgia. I thought Dr. Bell was going to brag about our local, our boat captain here, but she didn't talk about it today.

Thank you. Uh, I keep living a beautiful family. Uh, item five acknowledged me the proclamation on the center of Tunis camera senior and representative William Golden to Georgia's original 33 black legislators. Uh, Representative Carl Gidget from Savannah. I said we do this. We were up at the Liberty County daily kind of force today. there was a celebration on the floor of the Capitol to recognize these people. As America still celebrates its 250th birthday, this is a part of American history, and we're proud of that. brag or announce that two people from Liberty County signed the declaration.

Good briefing. Any questions for Judge Grinston?

Thank you for your service. Thank you, sir. We appreciate it. Thank you. Have a good day. You too, sir.

Excuse me. So our enhancement of the kitchen at the complex still leave them short of freezer space? Is that what I'm hearing you say?

I'm thinking if you're going to interject, Ms. Hunter, an educational piece, then you don't say the same spiel to your 5-year-old that you do to your 12-year-olds. Maybe a little bit of a challenge.

Mr. Chairman, I don't really have a question, but I have a comment. And you can see by the meals that were served, Gum Branch has really stepped up or increased the number. And I'm not sure which worker you had out there, but she did a phenomenal job. She was out there early and staying late. And I appreciate that also. One thing I didn't notice, if we could get some bigger signs maybe, a little bit bigger signs. Bigger?

Or either a banner to put on the fence. But I know a banner. You know, if we rent the park, then it might get destroyed. But, you know, a bigger sign may be out by the road. But otherwise, I think Gum Branch did really good this year as far as participants. And that worker. Bring her back out there. I'm trying to get her back. They were there early.

When I see the recommendation about recruitment and sustaining, this is a program where we pay up front, then we reimburse from state. How would you work in a pay increase for staff based on that kind of formula? How would you work that in?

Okay. So that's what's counting. Okay. All right. All right. Make a note. Okay. All right. All right. Thank you all. Appreciate what you've done.

Of course. Oh. Well, yeah. Come right on up. Absolutely. because that's kind of a bus driver. They don't work a lot of hours, but you're going to pay them a decent salary to do. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Thank you. All right. Ms. Leopold. CBB update.

Any questions for the food truck festival that's chambered, not CVV?

I may have missed it. The theme for this year's Christmas?

Chair, I just have a quick question. Ms. Poole, I appreciate everything you do. I know you have to hold two hats simultaneously sometimes. You were saying with going out to Fort Stewart and meeting the new soldiers, that's on a monthly basis.

Understood. I guess with that being said, and when you were talking about the soldiers, You know, I think sometimes when we talk about Liberty County and we talk about this being a retirement community, I think people fail to realize most soldiers are going into the military at 18. So even if they do 20 years, they're still 38. And I know dealing with active soldiers, the average age is around, what, 21?

Okay. So I guess the question I have is, whenever you have communication with them, what are they asking about our community? What are some of the main questions that they ask?

Absolutely. Okay. All right, just was trying to gauge.

That's kind of what I hear Colonel Weaver say, too, just what you've said. Yes, right. They're looking for the outdoors. That's why we've got to lean more toward the trails and the bike paths and all that kind of stuff because people look for that. And you're right, they want to keep them off the road and go into Savannah for some of these excursions.

Yeah, yeah. And it helps towards our sales tax.

Right. Thank you, ma'am. Appreciate it. Appreciate it. I think this might be the shortest presentation we've done in history.

Thank you. Let me go and say this publicly to Leah. You do a lot, and Commissioner Frazier is right, you wear so many hats, and we carry on to do a lot of things, especially when it comes to greeting and treating people who visit our community. So thank you for what you do. Your footprint is well-entrusted in the fiber of soil of Liberty County, Georgia.

And then on top of that... You know, she's my classmate. She's a Liberty County High School Panther, by the way. Just to let y'all know. Not Bradwell, Liberty.

No comment. Thank you, Liam, and your team again. All right. Mr. Trent Long. All right.

Yeah, we just... Matter of fact, we'll meet and then we'll get a meeting with hopefully one of our administrators and try to partner with the city of Hinesville as well. Okay, that's perfect. Sidewalks. Okay.

Whatever it takes to get this project out and on the bed before December 31, that's what I'm looking forward to.

After the meeting that we had the other day, it brought my attention several of them down. It's okay to look at the drawing, but before we have another one, they would like to see some flags out to show exactly. They can look at it themselves, what's going to go, what tree's going to go away, and everything.

As soon as you can get, the closer you get to that, let me know, and then I'll go ahead and have them set up so they can go back.

Can I ask a question, Trent? Is this a good time? You mentioned the good bid price that came in. So is this a good time to maximize the use of our T-Spot dollars?

Yes, sir. Sidewalks are so expensive now. It's unbelievable. I remember sidewalk projects when I first got up here compared to now. Oh, you're not kidding. I don't get it.

The issue is the older subdivisions like Yeah. That have the old ditches. Yeah. Like my neighborhood.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's why we didn't never finish.

Trent, just for curiosity, where would you take that, what you dredge out?

While you're on the jump street, talk about the turning radius to get the boats in and the boats out.

Still got the boat ramped down at McIntosh Liberty County line down there.

What's it a good 15 minutes drive from, if you live in Isle of Wight, to the Sunbury? Yeah, it is.

I want you to explain that because we've been hearing that from people I know ever since I've been here, uh, occasionally that's been mentioned that it would just not be, uh, it'd be a costly measure to do that. And it, and it's not lasting. It's not lasting.

Yes, sir, Mr. Chairman. I've been speaking with Trent and some of the property owners on Mary Todd. Like he said, we've come a long way since we hired and got the appraisals from the consultant. And while these folks are willing to sign the agreement, then I would make a motion that we release the funds to go ahead and pay these property owners for the property. We'll be coming out must-blast.

All right. Okay. Commissioners have made a motion that we accept the bid price. Am I reading right, Mr. Lone? 957.

I do. Because I'm just looking, and it says that with a non-responsive, 14 of the 21 certified receipts were received. So I guess when I'm – or you don't have to just do some additional engineering if they –

Right. But what I'm saying, in the case of you not getting, you know, the whole 100%, what will be the next step?

Okay. Okay, we have the motion to second the discussion. Everybody ready? All in favor, show of hands, please. 37,000, okay. All right. I apologize for jumping ahead.

That's right. I've been a very good steward of my money.

You want to make that statement again about it came in what?

It came in really under what we had originally estimated. I think it was a little over 1.1, something like that. and it came in at 957, so I would make a motion that we go ahead and approve McClendon Enterprises for the repaving of County Line Road. $957, 960, and 13 cents plus the 10% contingency fund. And this project is to start

In my sidewalks. And I understand him piping and all of that. But that's not. That's not even. What is that? A half a mile?

Right. It's not a mile. I know it's not a mile. I've walked that street as a kid forever.

That is unbelievable. McClendon, where are they from? Just out of curiosity. You say you work with them more?

All in favor, show of hands, please. So, Commissioner Stiffen, get the work started on County Line Road.

Talk about that for a while. And, Mr. Chair, we do have it in our ordinance. for Liberty County that all new developers have to do curb and gutter, right? We do. Okay. I just want to verify that because I don't want the next commissioner that might be sitting in my chair, one of y'all chairs, to want to put some sidewalks and it costs them an arm and a leg to be able to do it. Unless we give them a variance. Because this is going to be put in the email so he can come over there to the city. He'll walk over there with me. With us. Please. We'll do it. You know? You remember you used to sit over

I just want to say thank you for the signs on Highway 84.

We're not going to keep you long tonight, okay? No. We'll make it home time for dinner.

Coming from overseas? Are they coming from overseas? I'm just asking.

You're getting into the, where's Crystal? The same concerns that getting EMSs and getting fire trucks and stuff, now it's hard to get.

With the fire trucks and... That's actually a lawsuit on that.

Outside of the availability, you comfortable with the price, sir?

And you're comfortable with the durability?

No one gives you a bad? No, I haven't got any bad, anything bad on it. All right, commissioners.

Second. In the amount of 163,991.03. All right. And the shelf life on these are? Sir.

The shelf life, you think they're going to last for how long?

All in favor? Show of hands. All right, sir. Thank you. Hey, John Deere is going forever, though.

I'm okay with a deer. He's making a commercial.

Commissioner, I'm not going to speak to that, but we talked to the people, a few in your area, but they didn't feel they had enough.

But you were saying any damage. For trees. So if a tree fell in your yard, Well, I mean, no. So the tree will have to fall in your yard, then hit half the building, or? It's for timber, though.

You have to have a timber. It probably has to be in conservation or something.

So it'll have to be in conservation. I would think so. Like planted pine trees, yeah.

Was it in a science class when they asked about if a tree falls in the middle of the forest and no one hears it, is it still a sound? Y'all don't remember that? I do. Oh, my bad.

We graduated into eighth grade. Hey, let's not leave them on the table. Chair intend a motion. So moved. Second. Second. Second. Further discussion? All in favor, show of hands, please. Let's do our part to bring in whatever those funds. You quoted 97.

We'll take it. All right. Thank you, sir. MOU between Liberty County Sheriff and Liberty Regional Attorney Kelly Davis. How are you, sir?

Yes, sir. Mr. Chairman, like I spoke at the last meeting, there's definitely a need for security at the hospital. They currently have a contract with the Sheriff's Department, but it's not as stringent, I guess, as this one would be. And this is kind of in line with like the one that commissioners have with the Board of Education. Yes, ma'am. And so and I know the first year of it, of the like he said, it's going to be a wash, really, because the hospital is going to reimburse the county back. But anyway, the first year it's set up and everything is a little bit higher than they'll negotiate.

Second. My one comment is that one of the retirees who's a friend of mine, and Mr. Steven knows her very well, was injured at the hospital.

They've had several employees injured and had to go out on FMLA, and it just needs to be done.

Yes. That is right. They'll make up the schedule. Okay.

And I hope so, too. Right. Because most of those patients that are causing the harm over there are mental patients, and they need a special type of assistance over there for those patients.

Yes, sir. I was listening to NPR, and they did a story on this, how prevalent it is nationwide. Yes. Injuries in hospitals. Nurses are getting very concerned about their security. I say nurses, hospital staff in general. All right. For discussion, all in favor, show of hands, please. All right. Thank you. Execute that contract, sir. Mr. Dodd, Homeland Security Grant. And the weather report.

Questions for Mr. Dodd? It's amazing what we have to do for security nowadays. That's where we are. All right. Let's please allow our Board of Elections to receive a granted amount of $6,676.65 for security purposes, as stated by Mr. Dodd. Chair, intend a motion. So moved, Mr. Chair. Is there a second? Motion is second. We approve it as presented for the press. All in favor, show of hands, please. All right. We've made Ms.

Getting better and better. How's the weather?

Right. And I'm glad you kind of mentioned that. And I know in the past we've had discussions about, you know, having... because of the weather either is super hot or super cold where we have like warming stations in the wintertime and cooling stations. And, and I understand the city of Hinesville has done their part. And I know I represent, I get elected in Hinesville, but I represent all Liberty County. So what I'm saying is we have citizens outside of Hinesville who might need those, those type of needs. And I know Chatham County, You know, they have some things. I was watching WTOC the othe

Find a way to make one. And generally they generally quote the liability issue too.

You know, I come, like you said before, I'm not going to stir that too much because I don't want, I mean, I understand, but I think that's, I mean, every, every season during the wintertime is a discussion. Summertime is the discussion. So I, I don't, I think, um,

Right. Or just talk to some of your peers, you know, from around this particular area.

Right, right, right. All right. I just want to know if we are going to come with some type of strategic plan for that, but, or we just want to let Hinesville handle everything, everything either way. I just wanted to mention it.

I mean, you get it? Walk a little. I got it. Thank you.

Second, we approve. Thank you. No problem. All in favor vote. Ms. Monica, you have that there? Okay. All right. Administrative report, Mr. Mosley.

Where are we with the decals on the vehicles?

Shows up good when I'm passing them by on the streets. Mm-hmm. Sir? Shows up good. Yes, sir, it does. It does. It looks good.

The numbers on them and all. I'm tracking.

Thank you, sir. All right. Ladies and gentlemen, we now need to go into executive session for a real estate matter. Our chair will take the motion to adjourn this session and go into executive session. So moved, Mr. Chair. Is there a second to that? All in favor, show of hands, please. We will now go into executive session for a real estate matter.

Motion to come out of executive session.

Chair Taylor, motion to come out of executive session. Second. All in favor? All right. Chair Taylor, motion to adjourn. So moved. Second. Second. All in favor? All right, sir. Yes, sir.

Oh, yeah, let me see that. Oh, by the way, y'all, I lost my keys. You don't fit losing things. Man, listen. No, no. I got smart this time.

I lost for both my trucks. So I was able to afford one. I didn't have to pay for the next one.