Board of Commissioners Agendas and Minutes - Regular Meeting

County Board of Commission May 11th, 2026 6 p.m. meeting. Please stand for the invitation given by Dwayne for due Michael Baptist Church followed by the pledge. Let us pray. Good heavenly father Lord we just humbly come to you Lord. We just thank you Lord for this day Lord. Thank you Lord for all your many blessings Lord. And Lord I pray you bless upon upon this meeting Lord upon these commissioners Lord. I say a special prayer for our country Lord and our um upcoming election and for our state Lord. I just pray you put your put the right man in office Lord. Again we just thank you Lord for all that you have done Lord and all that you will do. In Jesus name I do pray. Amen. I pledge to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

This time we'd like to adopt the agenda. Is there any changes to be made to the agenda? No, sir. Mr. I have a motion. Second. All in favor? Presentations. Miss Jodie Sharp with director of economic development. We're going to report on fleet mary weather.

Good evening chairman and commissioners. Thank you for allowing me a few minutes tonight to share with you the result of our keep weather beautiful cleanup day on April 25th. I want to begin by thanking each of you for your continued support of keep Merryweather beautiful. Events like this did not happen without the support and cooperation of the board of commissioners and we are grateful that this board continues to recognize the importance of keeping Merryweather County clean, welcoming and beautiful. These cleanup days take extra I would also like to say a sincere thank you to our amazing public works department. These cleanup days take extra manhour, extra coordination and a lot of hard work behind the scenes. Public works does the heavy lifting and we are very grateful for their dedication. Our volunteers deserve a huge thank you as well. This April we had over 170 volunteers working throughout Berry weather counts. They clean neighborhoods, roadsides, and public spaces. And together, they collected over 300 bags of trash. That 300 bags of litter is no longer sitting on side roadsides, in our ditches, or in the places our citizens and visitors see every day. This event is also made possible by our sponsor. Their support helps provide supplies, materials, promotion, and resources needed to pull off a countywide event like this. We are grateful for businesses and community partners who continue to invest in keeping Merryweather County clean and beautiful, and we appreciate the waste management companies who provide the dumpsters for this event. We know that this event was not burnt. In some locations, items were dumped the night before the cleanup was scheduled to begin, which meant dumpsters were already full before volunteers and residents had the opportunity to use them properly. We also know that some

properties were left in less than ideal conditions after the event and we are aware of these issues and we are already looking for ways to improve the process moving forward. But the truth is there is simply a tremendous amount of trash to address across the county. The city of Manchester has created a very practical model for handling citizen drop off items, tires, and recyclable materials like scrap metal. And that brings me to my point. Eat Merry Weather Beautiful Cleanup Day happens twice a year. Twice a year we fill dumpster load after dumpster load. And honestly, I believe if we did it every weekend, we'd same see the same results. That tells us the need is not just twice a year. The need is constant. Cleaning the cleanup days make the county beautiful for a few days and they are absolutely worth doing. But then a few weeks pass and the trash piles appear. Citizens who want to do the right thing need responsible, accessible places to take items before those items end up dumped on the side of the So tonight, with appreciation for everything this board already does in support of county services and community improvement, I would respectfully ask you to give thought to the possibility of developing a county convenience center similar to what Manchester has already created, ideally in the central part of the county. Right now, we have Turkey Run Landfill serving the north end of the county and Manchester serving the south. A centrallylo convenience center can help fill that gap. It could provide citizens another option for proper disposal, reduce illegal dumping, support future tire agency efforts, and possibly create recycling opportunities like scrap metal where any funds generated could go back into helping operate the center. This is not something I expect be solved overnight. I know the board has to consider cost,

location, static operations, and long-term maintenance. But I also know this board has shown a willingness to look at practical solutions that improve the quality of life for our citizens. I believe this is one of those opportunities worth discussing, researching, and planning. Because if you want a cleaner Merryweather County long term, we need more than two cleanup days a year. We need infrastructure that helps citizens keep it clean all year long. Thank you again for your continued support to keep Mary and thank you for supporting the work of the IDA and for all that you do to serve the citizens of Mary. Thank you Jody. Thank you.

I do want to make a comment to Jody and to the citizens also. I've been asking this for years. I think we need to have man stations throughout the county that are open uh three days a week in one end, three days a week in another end. um it would give opportunity for a senior citizen that may need additional money to work there to have it gated in but yes I do think it's something that we need throughout the year so thank you finance report Miss Tammy Lang

yes sir uh commissioners on the first page of your report are the bank balances as of this afternoon along with the updated interest from the investment accounts at the bottom of the page are the April amounts received for lost splot. On the second page of the of the report, the sloth balance is $86,56349 and the T- sloth balance is $92,756.92. That's all.

Any questions? Thank you T department commissioners. I don't have any but I would like to introduce our new recreation director Jamani Bronner. He's in attendance. It was start of May 1st and he's a new recreation parks and recreation director. Welcome. Thank you. Welcome. I know he's got ball games now to get back to tonight. So I just want to introduce him real quick to the board. We'll be expecting you to get a report next month. Set us some comments. No.

Minutes. April 28th, 2026 regular meeting at 6 p.m. Anybody have a chance to read all the minutes? Any change? I'll make a motion adopt the minutes from April 28, 2026 regular meeting six o'clock. Second. All

in favor? Public hearing case number PC26-5 request from George Finley aka 915 LLC to reszone park 186-1-1 36.43 acres from A1 agriculture to NHC neighborhood commercial for the proposed use of cabinets for hunting events. public hearing.

I'll make a motion and go with the public hearing. Second in five rush in y'all can stop me. Good evening board. Mr. Henley was um approved last year for special use for the Honeyount Event Center. He is now wanting to add additional items on the property such as cabins, RV slots. Um, and when I looked into all this, I was looking at the focus farms because they have the similar situation with additional items with the restaurant, the cabins and all. And so I had um told Mr. Pinley that neighborhood commercial um would probably be the way to go with that. So we went to the planning commission and the planning commission looked at his application and read over it and they had recommended approval of the 36.43 43 acres for from A1 special use to neighborhood commercial for the proposed use of four cabins and five RV slots for the hunting camp in events. They also put stipulations on there that there'd be no more than four cabins at a max thousand square foot each and let no less, excuse me, no more than five RV slots, which would um allow for him to put some because he mentioned horse trailers when they came out doing the hunting or riding horses and then putting in some um chuck wagon style cabins. Um and then then they said the max stay would be three days for either one. Um, so that was the board's recommendations. Mr. Pinley is also here to answer any questions you may have.

Good evening. Good evening. How's it going? Good evening. You guys got any questions? Cassandra pretty well said it. Um, oh, I'm sorry. Joey Finley, 9217 Mount Palma Road, Senoi, Georgia. This staff analysis and recommendation, it reads different than what you said, but it sounded like it to me. Says the planning commission meet and recommends approval of up to just five cabins or the honey may have written that may have up. So, what would we approve? What you said or what's written? No. what I said. What was what I said? I do apologize.

And this also says four days, not three. Yep. But it also says up to a combination of up to five. So when this reads is no more than five total cabins, RV or wagons, either or five total. So I don't Yeah, I reread my notes and I have to apologize for that. I reread my notes today and all that. Um, unfortunately I was out last week. Uh, when I read the minutes, it said four cabins and up to five RV slots. So, four cabins not exceed 1,000 square foot each, right? Five RV slots. That's the max with a maximum stay of three days. A max stay of three days.

That's per RV slot and cabin. Correct. When this was brought to my attention, oh, go ahead. Um, the first thing I thought of was, uh, why aren't we seeking a special use permit instead of reszoning 36 acres for neighborhood commercial or four cabins? And I was instructed that he thought that's the way he had to do it. Yeah.

But after looking into it, it doesn't have to be. Uh, it's in my district and, you know, we can all talk about some more if they got some more questions. But I'm fine with the stipulations. But if I was to make a motion on I'd want it to be as a uh special use permit that way that just covers that point because we approved it last year for them to have hunting events and and whale hunting and so forth when whenever that's going to take place. And if you got that I do I travel to hunt emit travel to hunt. You go to these places. It's nice when they got a cabin to offer too. It costs extra money, but at least you got a place to stay there while you're hunting and and enjoying the facilities. So, I don't have a problem with the cabins, but it just concerns me to change the whole corner track there to neighborhood commercial uh for four cabins.

My recommendation would be glass. My recommendation is the stipulations is fine unless someone on the board wants to change those. But I wanted I would like to see it as a neighborhood as a special use permit for that only and that's it. If anything else is done got to come back before the board or to go to your department uh instead of reszoning all of it neighborhood commercial. Can I ask a couple of questions on that? Sure. And and I don't to me I don't care if it's on neighborhood commercial. I don't care if it's on agriculture. Special use permit's fine to me, right? That's that's good. Um, if I we' have known that, I wouldn't have spent $1,000 to try to have it resone. But what's that?

The reszoning fee to go to neighborhood commercial is $1,000 that I paid to to to do that. So if I knew special use permits to res is it the same $1,000 do a special use permit? I don't know what it cost. Special use is a reason.

Yeah. So, I just want to clarify a couple things as far as the limited number of cabins and and andor RV spots. I want to explain the RV spots, right? Uh we're not opening RV park. Um although I think the ones that's been open in the county is fantastic idea, but um there's certain there it's called a Kosoga wagon. Um I think I've showed 7-Eleven pictures of it, but I saw it at the SCI show and it's actually a one-bedroom, one bath. It's a covered wagon, but it hooks up like an RV and it's on wheels. Now, that wagon is gonna stay on that spot, right? But, so that's what we were talking about. Now, the second use on the RV spot is when you've got this this will be used for potentially hunting, Jean, you can relate to this. When you got somebody coming from Kentucky headed to Ocala, right, for a horse show, where do you stop and let your horse out? You don't have anywhere. So part of our thought and and we don't have 100% certainty on what we're doing here yet, right? This is all dreaming and thinking and I'm just going through the legal motions to try to set up what I want. But having an equin area, right? If you want to stop over and spend a couple nights and ride some trails, I I don't really know what that looks like. I don't own those. But as far as limiting the number of cabins, you asked me that specific question. Um I I don't know what that looks like. And I guess we got to start with four or five and I got to come back if it does well and we can I mean it's it listen man it's a nature spot they can fish they can ride they can do I don't quirk have a limit on the number of cabins they can build on there 25 acres a day resto I don't know the answer to that but it's the same exact principle as what they're doing four miles down the road right it's we're going to except we're going to offer potentially offer some quail hunting I'm still studying through that and that's the event venue the quail hunting lodge all this is still in in play. Um, but I I don't care if it's on neighborhood commercial or not. I'm not putting a

Dollar General there. So, special use is fine to me. I would like consideration on if we limit it to say five cabins in five spots, fine. If it does well, I want to have the option to come back and ask if I want to add a few more cabins. I want to have that option. That's the only thing I would ask. All right. Well, you would always have that option. It's just whether you would get it or not.

Yeah. you know, and what started the special use thing when you called and discussed it with me and I said, "Why don't you just go under special use?" And you said, "I tried, but they told me I had to do neighborhood commercial." So, I looked into it and realized you you don't have to apply neighborhood commercials and then it kind of keeps everything, you know, it's it's kind of like if you decide not last year, you came in and got it reszone to have the hunt preserve quill hunt. That's right. But that may or may not take place. It's going to take place to some degree. I ain't sure how much public I'm on out of conversation that I'm not sure. You're not sure. It may or may not take place. Same thing

in my district with the neighbors around there. I don't feel comfortable just changing 36 acres into neighborhood commercial and then maybe decide not to even build the cabins and then turn around sell the property as neighborhood commercial. So, if it's if you're coming and asking for it to be for these cabins, which I think is great, and I know a lot of horse people that travel that likes to have a place to stop before they take off the next day. And if you're going to do the quail hunt, you need to provide something for your hunters. So, that's why I think it it helps keep everybody on the same page. Uh, special use. And you even agreed on the phone, you said, "Well, I'm fine on special use." So, and so I'm good. I don't care what

I'm just one vote, but I'm just one vote. But if I make a motion, it could pass. It may not pass. I don't know. But I feel better for my area in the district and and I've worked with you and you're a great guy, but I just feel like it needs to be under special use at this time. Yeah. And I would also add to the three days is three nights. So we're, you know, free night, three night maximum. So somebody comes in on Thursday night, Friday night, Saturday night leagues on Sunday. I don't want somebody to stay an extra day and the code enforcement come out there and shut me down. So

and that was actually what I was going to suggest cuz like if we go out of town and go hunting, we're normally going to be gone more than three days. So, I was wanting to see if we could increase that to I mean no more than like seven nights because a lot of times if my family goes out out of town to hunt, we're going to make a week of it and then we're going to be shopping in that area and spending money in the community as well. So, I was going to see about especially if they're staying in the cabins to make that like a seven night minimum is what I was going to request. And I'm fine with that cuz you don't get much done in three days, right? But anybody move? Well, I'm making sure that I'm not overstepping y'all have any more questions. I don't want to jump anymore, please.

Anybody else for against I just I just think when we do make the motion, we need to clearly state since this is all doubled up exactly what we're stating. Jean make the motion. We got to have got four and against. Anybody else? Anybody for this? Anybody for this other than Mr. Penley? Is anybody against? Okay. Thank you, Joey. Thank you. We need a motion go out of public hearing. Correct. I'll make a motion to close the public hearing. Second.

All in favor? Well, since it is in my district, I'll uh I'll make a motion for us to uh approve it based on a special use permit and change to three nights to seven nights. The numbers still the same or everything else stays the same. Four cabins, five RV slots. What's that? Four cabins and five RV slots. Everything else stays the same for this time. And RV wagon slots is the same thing. Yes. Okay. Five cabins, five RVs. Oh, four cabins. So, we're counting wagons as an RV. Yeah, because they look like RVs. They can be made.

So, your motion is a special use permit to allow four cabins not to exceed 1,000 square feet, five RB RV/wagon spots with a 7 night maximum. Yes, sir. That's my motion. I second. All invited. Sorry.

Thank you. All right. Now, we got a public hearing case number PC26-7 request from county to county to close Hosben Road aka Pony Farm Road approximately 3,410 ft. The road has no substantial public use. We need a motion to go into public hearing. So move second. All in favor.

Commissioners, this is brought to my attention by Allison um in reference to I think DOT has requested this road to be closed. Um I did send out letters to adjoining property owners. I only received one letter back and it's from Miss Lyn Lenon G L N O N. and she is has no concerns, no objections to the road closing. Um, I did reach out to each department. The fire department came back and said there's no concerns. Sheriff department had no concerns. 911 had no concerns. And the road department had no concerns. And this was requested by G dot to have this road closed. I have a MO. Make a motion going.

I already did. Yeah, I was sorry. Uh, we had this letter delivered so you need to read it over and mouth wasn't on the same page. We we also got a letter from uh Robert Lee Todd representing Curtis Whitaker that he's uh opposed to the road closing the less he can get. Do I need to read the whole letter? You don't have to read it at all. Okay. He's opposed to the road closing. Would you like to say anything, Mr. Todd? That's oppos.

That's that's how he accesses a couple of tenant houses and some interior places in his property. He doesn't really have any objection to taking the bridge out and closing it at the bridge, but he he would like the south end of it to stay open. In the alternative, he said he wouldn't have any objection to closing it uh if he could get be titled to the whole road so he could maintain it himself, you know, and not be worried about neighbors down the road and future neighbors down the road wanting to take half of his road that he's been maintaining. Right. That that's his position on, right? But if if but if if the road closed, he he owns a property to the center line of the road that's being closed.

That's correct. So all he would have to do in my opinion is take a little bit more of his land and make him a new road. Correct. If it could be if it could be done. I don't know that it's fracking, right? What you call that? That's a he he mentioned in some correspondence with me that the road's got some serious drop off issues um on the sides that um would prevent use accessing that road from the side actually. So I I don't know that that would be practical. Does he on both sides? He does not. If he own both sides, it would be an issue.

He's worried about people who on to the east side being able to take the east side of the road and him not being able to maintain full access to that road. I mean, he don't mind maintaining it. I think he's got a dozer he keeps over there and all, but and he doesn't he doesn't mind the bridge being taken out and putting a guardrail up there. And um anyhow, that's that's his position. That's all I was here to give you all that load and let y'all know what his position was. Thank you. Why couldn't the guard rails be put up just to close the bridge completely off, no travel through, but then just leave the road alone so people on this side and his side still can go up and down to the property?

I mean, this stuff does here. having no G dot want to close. It's not a G dot road. They're wanting to close cuz the bridge is not safe. But if there's a Brian, if there was a like we did that other bridge till it we figure something out on it, but if it's blockade on both sides where nobody can travel and still even take the bridge out, they want to take it out, but then just leave the road like it is. And he wouldn't have to worry about the east side. They wouldn't have to worry about his side. They could all still use that path. We could just barricade the bridge if we didn't if you didn't close the road just left the breed but not st.

Yeah, that would be that would be acceptable to him, you know. I mean, he just wants he's got two tenant houses down there in disrepair, but I mean I think he's got plans to he rebuilding old bar. I think it looks pretty nice, but you know, he wants to be able to access those houses from that road. It's only access to those houses. But if we close just the bridge, then we can keep the rest of the roads up. Correct. Unless you wanted to close the other way. Yes. Yes. I don't know what kind of repair the road is in. Mr. Whitaker didn't get noticed in this until I haven't been over there. Um, so I don't know what kind of repair. I don't know. You know,

let's see what Brian says. I don't mind bridge. I don't want the county to spend a pile of money over there to bring it all the way up to standard. And that's what you're going to do. Uh that road hasn't been anything 20 years. It looks like a George power he's been through a few. Right. I didn't even know it was break assess. I didn't know it was there until the DOT man got stuck. Why do they want to slow? Because the bridge is so close, right? So we didn't even know it was a road because it's so the grass was this high when it's power that runs right down the right side of it. We thought it was power accidents. no houses to be seen off of that.

But with all that being said, been 20 years, if we barricaded bridge on both sides, the homeowners could still We're not We don't have to go bring it up to standards immediately. But at least the homeowners can if they want to get his motor grader out there or bulldozer or push hog. They can't work on county road. They can't work on it. County road and we have to bring it under county standard. Well, Nathan, if we close it, the road goes away. Period. So if we deed it over the road to him, he can that he can maintain that. But you can't. But the law doesn't let you do that. You got Okay. Split it down the middle. Yeah. Down the middle.

I mean, if that guy would agree to that in advance, yeah, you can't make them give that half. But I was thinking they're not even accessing it. If we close it, it takes away everybody's access and then that other home. I mean, the other property owner has no say if we close it. But if we keep it open and did that, I don't see how the law can say we can't deed something that we're maintaining. If we close the entire road, Yes. nobody has access that property owner or this property owner. But if we keep it open, then they have half and half. No, no, no. half the road. If we close it, but if we keep it open,

Whitaker would owe half and whoever owns half. If we keep it open, then Right. But I'm saying if we close it completely, nobody has access to it to the road at all. It goes half and half to everybody. Yeah. All right. We can't close it, not give Mr. Whit access. That's what I The property owner on the north side is requesting closure. We can close from there to the bridge and leave the remaining part open. B if you want to. That's what this is. They they want it abandoned. Their property's on the other side of the bridge, the north side of the bridge, so it can be closed.

Determine if if the road ceases to serve have it ceased to serve any public purpose or not. If it has, then you can abandon as well obviously it hasn't. So, it's been 20 years. But could he not reach out to the other land owner and see if they could both agree to have an ement? Well, yeah, but that that's after we That's got nothing to do with y'all though, right? Thank you, ma'am. Yes, just Thank you. Could we uh There's a bunch of options there, isn't it? Could we table this to another meeting to give since he has representation here to reach out to the other side and let them work out? What you can do is continue the public hearing. That's what I mean. Continue.

Yes, sir. Then you won't have to readvertise and you can reopen the public areas. that Mitch Todd, would that benefit to where y'all could reach the other party owner and go if they close it? He's only going to have a strip to go down. You're only going to have a strip to go down and the two of them can work out a unless you hand for them work out a easement that they both have access to that road. Yeah. Yes, sir. That would be fine. Um, and that would have already been done except Mr. Whitaker didn't know about this road closing until about three days ago. Okay.

And he called me up and had me fix his letter up. So y'all would at least know he was opposed to unless he could maintain some kind of accent. Maybe if you give us a maybe a month to figure out and and I think they talked I don't know. Yes. Well, I said everybody have been talked to on the south part and I think they're available to whatever do but we won't know until we get it done and I say maybe a month and have it all worked out. So June 8th of next the 8th of next month would work. Uh a month from now. Okay.

Yeah. Because y'all have to work that part out to where all we do is when we close it, y'all know y'all got a game plan. That's correct. Cuz we won't be part of the That's what we want to make sure we got a game plan before y'all close. We make that out. Before I make a motion, council, does he need to ask who's here for? I think he should let anybody.

Okay. Is anybody here uh for the road closing to speak in favor of closing the road? Anybody here to speak against closing the road? access.

They got property that that borders this on the north side and they want to be able to access the back side of that property. They own property between this road and 85 and they utilize the back side of that road to access the west side of that property if that makes sense. Is this the client you represented with this paper? It's a different we need to state their name and address please. They will not suffice. It's great at Lady Ryder, but they live in Lady Ryder. Well, we live we live at P House Parkway, but we own the farm there um

adjacent and we needed a letter at 13668 Highway 85. That's where the farm address is. Okay. Thank you. And she she accesses it. You got a map up there. We have a map in the packet. Yes. You access it from the north end, right?

Yes, sir. They got their property up here and they I'm sorry that their property right there. They access they utilize that back side to get into their property for delivery such as that. They don't want where they can't get in it. That make sense? Yes, sir. They don't live there. They just use the property. I own the property. Okay. So, you're opposed to closing the road at all? I'm opposed to not having access.

So, if the road is closed, as long as I have access, I'm fine. But if this is going to take away the access and y'all are going to pile a big pile of rocks at the end of the road that I can't get around, I would not do that. I would be I would be completely opposed to that. But if the bridge were closed, that would not be any issue at all. Well, do you own the property on both sides of the road? No, sir. We own the property between um between Hall or Pony Road and Highway 85. Okay.

And on the other side, 85 as well, that that little sliver down. So, who owns on the on the west side of Curtis Wood? That's that lady. Glendon Glendon. Glennon. Glennon. Okay. That's Yeah, Margaret. Margaret Glennon. Yes. Okay. Thank you. Mr. Mr. Chairman, I'd like to make a motion to uh continue the public hearing till a date when next month's meeting

June 8th. Yeah. At 6 p.m. I'll second it. All in favor? Thank you very much.

Any appointments? Yes, sir. Unfinished business. Consideration of additional funding for road paving table from the April 13, 2026 regular meeting. Commissioners and light of the work session we had earlier, I request that we remove this item from the agenda till we bring back proposed spending of the surplus money and not just for road for buildings everything that was discussed during the work session because this is strictly for road paving. Okay. On this side to remove it from it from the agenda. We need a motion to remove it. Yeah, sure. So move. All in favor? Second. Second. All in favor.

Consideration and approval of relocating fire administration offices at 756 Woodbury Highway building a table from the April 28 26 regular meeting. We need to remove this one as well. Correct. Based on the same reason. I make a motion to remove. I'll second that. All in favor? That just keeps it from being a old business over and over again. New business consideration and approval of additional Tesplit.

Commissioners, we actually got the cost got invoice in this morning. It is the $54,4480 after purchasing an emulching head. The remaining balance includes a typo in here. It should be $9,211.17 and an additional $42,550 $456.98 previous allocated for striping following 911 parking lot repayment project for total available balance in Tespos uh $51,65715. This should match the commitment page. This leaves a balance of $2,82.75 that will be additionally needed from Tespos. Staff is requesting to reallocate the funds of $9,211 17 from the mulching head and an additional $2,82.75 out of TLS to pay for the striping.

What? $280275. Those numbers are not matching what's on our sheet. No, the 516 I'm sorry 5165715 is $1 difference. I had the wrong one. So you're saying it's $9,200 17. You just said 9,211. It's on what's in your uh action paper is it should be $11 more. Should be 9211. There's a typo on my part. It should match. It still matches a 5165715 that's on that commitment page. Okay. And then this is shortfall number. Correct. $2,82.75. $1

8027. That's the 80275. It's the $11 addition needed. No problem. Well, it's the No, I need 20 $2,800 2.75 from Teslas and to reallocate the $9,2117 from the mulching head. So, it's two items. You want to reallocate $9,21.17 from mulching head to road striping. Correct. And allocate $2,82.75 from T squass. Correct. To road strip. And that'll pay for the road striping of 24.45 road miles.

Okay. I'll put that in the form of a motion. Second. All in favor? Consideration and approval to issue an RFP for a new ambulance bill. Commissioner Inspire Chief Stevens has developed the specifications for new ambulance and staff is requesting approval to issue a RFP to attain pricing and estimated completion time. The information will brought back to the board for the board consideration and determine a a funding source. So this is just basically requesting to put out a proposal to see what a new am will cost. It's not a commitment to buy. It's just rem number to the board. I make a motion to allow the RFP.

I second. All in favor consideration approval of HBAC proposal cost for the third floor of the courthouse. Commissioners River City has brought forth a HVAC project for third floor for a total of $441,352 with additional engineering fees totaling $35,38.16. For a combined project cost of $476,66016. The HVAC portion of the project in the amount of $441,352 will be funded through SPLOS while the engineering fees of $35,30816 will be paid from the general fund. Approval of this project will require an amendment to the existing AIA contract to reflect the increased overall courthouse project cost for transparency and record keeping purposes. This amendment will also require the chairman signature.

This is above and beyond what we've already approved. This is the next phase of the courthouse renovations. Well, these phases are coming quick. This good progress we're making. Yeah, I think the west side is scaffold off. North side is scaffold off. So, so based on the SPL balance, I mean, are we able to keep up with with it to Commissioner Thgo point? It's coming quick. Are we keeping pace with SPLAS funds? We are. We also have the um authorization to borrow up to a million dollars from the general fund projects and repay it back with SPOS. So that's what we're probably going to

I don't foresee that this will be a four to five month project and I think SPLS allocations will pay for it and come in before it's due. Okay. And we have not had to use that action of bars yet. So Okay. Okay. How much do we have in contingencies or do we

uh what I just handed you the front page is an updated contingency log and it includes the change order for the additional masonry work on the south uh that I've got a hard number for. So if we approve that change order, we'll have 11,59850. But the HBAC uh issue right here that we'll talk about is is renovation of the HBAC for the third floor. And we've also included a $15,000 contingency for that project that we can leave in or take out if you want to leave it in there. Just an additional money. So this proposal for the HBAC is for just the renovation of the third floor. It includes the electrical work to get the HBAC working and also the demolition of the ceilings. The next proposal we're working on for you is to actually finish the third floor with new carpeting, ah tree, paint, drywall, and that will come, I'm hoping, by the end of this month. Um, so we'll have another proposal at that time for the actual finishes. This is just the HVAC portion.

Which proposal would it be? Is it going to include I guess probably the next one. Are y'all going to remove the old units like those split units that are in there and fix those walls for those? All the HBC work is in this proposal right here. So, will that be removing that or will that be in the next proposal? Removing that the outside units and the and the uh interior. Okay, good. I just know those weren't working. So, I was hoping we're going ahead and getting those out of the way and fixed up. Yep. Let's see. I don't see I didn't see you. No, I don't see the HVAC at all in this quote in this scope you gave us. This is the roof. I mean the uh this I think uh door

Mr. Evans just gave you for the next agenda item, not the HVAC. So he was saying he just gave us the Hback.

It's in I was looking at what he passed out. So he is in there removing all that stuff. It's part of this book. Okay. Okay, I'll make a motion to approve the HVAC project for $451,352 be funded through SPL engineering fees and $35,30816 from general fund and allow the chairman signature. Second.

All in favor? All right. Consideration and approval of courthouse change order number 10 for south and east elevation including additional tuck pointing brick replacements and terracotta van repairs.

This is related to the handout that Mr. Evans just gave you and there's a typo in the action letter. The remaining balance I have of 30,875. It should be the 11,59850 that's on this contingency log that Mr. Evans just handed you. I was looking at the 30,875 at the bottom, but it's actually 11,59850. And these were anticipated pairs due to the north and west that we have to do on the south and east. This just puts all three in one instead of subchange orders like last time.

So where will all this put us on the 2 to 3 million that we've been looking at for total cost with the HVAC? Adding the HVAC to it, you're at almost 2.6 2.579131. And this is part of the contingency. So it's built into that number I just gave you. Can we shut that deal?

I make a motion we approve the courthouse change order number 10 for the south and east elevations including additional pointing brick replacement and terracotta van repairs. I'll second five. and allow chair to sign. Allow chair to sign. Consideration approval of the design for the third floor HVAC system at Court Avenue.

Commissioners, River City Contracting EMC have provided a cost estimate for the third floor HVAC. Due to the ongoing issue with the first floor HVAC system, staff is requesting approval to proceed with design and cost estimate for replacement first floor HVAC system as part of the overall courthouse project. Once price has been finalized, this matter will be brought back to the board for approval with funding to be private through SPLS. So this is similar to the third floor where they went out and got the design, came back with the price. There'd be no action taken. This is just for them to go out and get the price for the first floor.

Why is this? This was a part of the original school. The whole entire courthouse, all three HSCs will be replaced. Just first is needing attention sooner than later. The next phase will be the third floor renovations, but also we need the first floor HVAC a price on it so we can know what that's going to cost. I think they need to do the courthouse renovations first. We're going way exceed where we first came in at. Even with this, I mean, we're already looking at $476,000 for the HVAC on the third floor. I can promise you it's going to be that much on the third floor. Close. And that's going to put us up at 3 million. And that's old renovations to the third floor.

But this is just to let them start getting the price together, right? Like not making any movement on it. Just It sounds like they're having issues with the AC current. Exactly. We are we spent money getting all the leaks stopped up for now, but there's no telling how long that's going to hold out. And there's quite a few window units in that first floor around the building. Find out what it's all Yeah. Yeah. I I'll make a motion you allow the quoting process. I'll second.

Mr. Chairman, if you don't mind, before we move, since we're on all this courthouse stuff, I don't know if we can or not. I had a call on requested to uh you just forgot about it. It's no big deal about the tree. We were going to have it at this meeting to discuss about that one small tree to remove since we've already adopted agenda. It's going to be still added. Do we have to wait till the next meeting? Legally added, we have to do it for a motion. Good. Yes. I'd like to make a motion to amend the agenda to I guess would it go to number 11. Just say I have whatever you want to have

to to add the discussion of the removal of the small tree that's blocking the when you come down 109 it's blocking the flag pole. It's blocking the view. We're spending all this money and you got the big tree here and the big tree here and this one's coming up. It would that tree needs to be removed and the desktop and this tree before we lose that tree. So, it needs I was hoping to discuss that tonight while we're in the process of getting everything done. Discussion of removal of small tree on the west side. Yes, ma'am. No, it's Is that west side or east side? 109. You said coming off the gra. Yeah. Yes, it's a good view coming from the ground. Thank east side.

I apologize, Mr. K. No, I thought I put that on. Now I was trying to figure out what made me think about we're doing all this courthouse stuff. So like going where is tree at? So that was a motion. That's motion. I see it. All in favor? So that be that motion was for what? Discussion or just the board wants to remove it or not? For removing it. I make the motion we remove the tree on the west side. You want to wait? Yeah, we have to add it to the agenda. We have to add it on as he said.

Oh, we don't have to. No, it's been added. You can talk about it without talking. Well, we're talking about Go ahead. Make I was saying I make a motion that we go ahead and remove the tree on the west side of the courthouse. And whatever needs to be done in the east side, whatever needs to be done on the deadline, we need to get prices on it or Yeah, that's what I want. Who's going to remove it? Right now, there's no price modification to your motion. Right. I know. That's why I wanted to stop it before we did that. I wanted to have the discussion before we make a motion so we could talk about those things. But Okay. We didn't get a second so we could discuss it. You withdraw your motion. Yes.

Okay. Thank you. Number six. Go ahead. We'll get to it at you. I thought we discuss it. We can discuss it up to y'all. We're on it.

All right. We'll go on in. I guess we'll wait till 11. We can make four more things. Consideration of approve and approval of the MedComa contract. Commissioner, this item is to approve the Mecom ACA compliance contract. Previously, this cost for ACA employer reporting services was covered by the county's former insurance broker, NFP following the transition of Mark 3. These services were not included in the per per employment cost per employee cost structure and will now require direct payment by the county. annual cost for the ACA employer reporting services $3,52 and will pay for the paid for by the human resources budget where sufficient funds are available. Legal council has reviewed the contract and metcom has agreed to all requested changes. ACA compliance refers to meeting requirements of the affordable care act including employer reporting obligations related to employee health insurance coverage and eligibility. Staff recommends approval of agreement authorization for the chairman to sign.

And this is annual, correct? That's annual. And we did save more than $3,52 by switching insurance agencies. It was picked up by AMP. And when Mark 3 did uh picked it up, they do a per employee cost and their cost was $15 and not 25 or 30. So they were not able to pick up the 3,000 because of the low cost per employee. What I'm asking is the total what we pay in NFP and we decided to go with Mark III because they were cheaper. We don't pay an insurance broker. They they get paid um based off the services. They get a percentage of that. They carry they carry. We don't pay a a fee to any of brokers. I make a motion to approve. I'll second. All

in favor consideration and approval to issue an RFP for repairs to 124 North Court Square. Commissioners, this is a request that send out a RFP for the interior and exterior renovations of the 124 North Court Square, which is I called the tax assessor tax commission building. Staff will develop scope of work, issued the RFP, and bring the proposed costs for necessary repairs back to the board for consideration. This was part of what was discussed during the work session.

I make a motion to allow RFP. Second all in favor consideration and approval of an NBID agreement with F&M bank for splashed and T splash account

commissioners I met with Alan Parm of F&M bank in Manchester discussive county's participation in the NB bid program the national bank enter deposit company inbid is a bankowned reciprocal deposit network that provides expanded FDIC insurance coverage by distributing large deposits among particip participating banks participation in this program may also prov pro provide higher interest earnings on the county splice and t-loss accounts staff has participated in demonstration of the program and the county's auditors have indicated they see no issues with the county utilizing the service the program functions similar to the state's LGIP account but through F&M bank staffers requesting approval to open accounts for the 25 TLOS and the 26 floss funds in order to compare interest earnings against the current LGIP account and utilize the option to provides the best return on investments. Approval will be contingent upon legal review of the contract and authorization for the chair vice chair to sign. And the authorized users on the account will be finance director Tammy Lackey and county administrator Sean Gordon.

It's basically the same thing we do today as one. Yeah. Great. And when we get done with the commitment sheet, 2020 splice, next payment will wipe that account out. And the 2020 TP splice is only 18,000. So next payment, wipe that out. So we'll be down to two accounts, the two new splice and t-plas. I'll make a motion to approve. Second fis discussion regarding allowing the cattleman's association to hold a rodeo county pro members. I met with Larry Rampley and Daryl McCoy regarding this request. Mr. McCoy is present discuss the request and answer any questions the board may have. I think

we got a call about nine or 10 days ago that Longleaf Powerhouse has cancelled on the stock contractor and they're not going to have a rodeo engaged. So the stock contractor called us and said if you guys could find a location, we'll have a rodeo. So we're proposing that we have it across the street here in that open lands. We'll clear it, take care of it. We're in charge of parking, portifies, and taking care of the uh of the money coming in. So, we'll share that with the stock contractors. The dates are June 5th and 6th, so we don't have a much time. So, we appreciate y'all hearing this tonight. The stock contractors assured us that he has adequate insurance to protect us and the county, and he'll provide that to the county attorney. Is there anything else we would need council?

Well, I mean, if the commissioner what I told uh Mr. Bortman is the commissioners were interested in it, you need to make sure he had one had a place, number two, that they had sufficient liability insurance, but you need a contract for obviously, you know, that says whatever. But that was my main concern was there's a lot of liability associated with rodeo and protect by that. I mean, I need to see the limits, but um I'm sure if it's for rodeo and they're not, you know, but I'd want to look at that, see how much contractor will forward the insurance policy to the You know what the limits are? Who is it? Know what the limits are? Liability limits. I don't pay. That's the important.

Yeah. Do we have adequate access to the property in and out with this amount of traffic and weighted trailers? And I mean we well we'll bring in the horses and all from the county line road and we'll bring in the spectators here off of this road off of Is there access to the property from either road? Yes, there's a cover and drive and everything already. There's there's access to the property right across the street.

Yeah, let me back up. Yes, an arms event. I have no idea what it takes with from a legal perspective. I have no idea about these questions. I have I don't know. I'm finally have a rodeo, but I would like the contract to be sent over for John to give it to you and look at just like we do other things to either add this, take this out and so forth if it's if it's sufficient and us it's a great thing for the community. Well, the SC contractor does 15 or 20 rodeos a year and he uses the same insurance people and the same so it's been accepted by the other people around the southeastern United States. So, he's assuming and we're assuming it would be acceptable county,

right? Are there permits that would need to be purchased for something like this to happen like a special permit, special event permits, things like that?

Does it have to be advertised in a certain amount of time? It does not. Where would you come in off of County Land Road? Yeah. County Farm Road. Yeah. On the back side. That's where the horses and trailers and stuff would come in from. Spectators would come in off this road right here. Yeah. What about like traffic control? I don't right. No, I like I don't know how to I don't I don't know if you want to come in off of uh 27 out you might but I don't know either with the sheriff and and do whatever the proper thing to do. Yeah.

Well, I understand they probably have plenty of insurance put. We're working a deal with the cattle association and use county property with the cattle association need to be providing something too. depends on I mean I don't know who's going to put it on but if you were going to allow somebody to use your land to put a rodeo on you number one you need a contractor whatever that is but the request is cumin association to put on this road probably their contractor has insurance him and so forth and property but I would think the cattle association would want some kind of binder for that event week and it won't cost that much that would be an additional insurance uh in case somebody decides to go they going to sue them Oh, we want to make sure they have insurance to cover up too.

Them putting us as the uh what do you call it when they get additional additional insured on their policy too. I mean I believe that the contract and the cow rodeo captain association I think and her is so I don't know but I'm sure they've got contract they I'm sure they got everything in place. We look at it. We're looking at three and a half weeks. I don't that's what I'm saying. I only know about those things far as putting it on. Well, could this board say we'll approve it based on the contract and getting clearance from our council? Do whatever you want to do. I'm saying I don't I don't I only speaking to the liability. I have no idea about

Let me ask this. Even if the cattleman's association has a liability and it's in there, we still have to have a certain amount of liability, too, right? Well, I mean, even if the contract covers part of it, we could still be sued. Well, you're going to get sued anyway. That's why you want them to have We're not necessarily getting sued. We could be sued. I'm saying if there is a lawsuit, you should assume the county is going to get sued. And that's why we want them to have plenty of insurance to take care of us if we get sued and them. I mean, rodeos keep going on all the time. People know how much. Well, I tell you, they coming to the county if they get something happen. They are. I promise you that.

Yeah. If I may, your your concerns are the same as our concerns. When we talked to the contractor, we met with him last Friday, right? And our concerns were the same as yours. We got to make sure we got the county covered and the cattleman association. There it is. I'm fine. I'm fine with it if if like the fencing and the bleachers and the lighting and I mean the power goes to all that. So group will be in charge of that. We'll take care of all that and bringing out like generators for the lighting and whatever because there's not electricity out there. Well, there's lighting that they they run off of I guess I'm not sure it's a gasoline or diesel fuel, but you bring in the lighting sections.

The C association will have to do that. You bring in the generator light and crank them up. And just like last year, the one they had over there, girls too close to the gate, something hit the gate, hit her in the face and knocked her out. So, there's always a chance when you're dealing with the livestock something going to happen. But it's a great sport and I'd love to see here right here in the county, but we got to cover those bases. And wouldn't we need in the contract if there's any like damage to the property like public works didn't have to go out there clean up the trash? Like that's all that should be in the contract. That's what we're hoping. This is a big rush. I mean, in a perfect world, they would have a contract and you had already details, everything they're going to do. And I could tell you, yeah, this is turnkey operation. Sounds like that's what they're pitching, but I don't I don't know.

Right. I just don't want public works have to go back out there on Monday morning and clean up a mess from the weekend that you know that puts the burden on them. Well, I don't think that'll happen. So, well, our commitment is to make sure event we we leave the property better than we found it and we're going to work with the FFA, the 4H, whoever wants to help us take care of the trash and make sure that they go back on Sunday and pick up all the trash when it's all said and done. Well, since it's three and a half weeks away, it's going to take some time. you know, need to get things going. I don't mind making a motion to approve the cattle association to use the county property, but based on the contract and enough liability that satisfies our council for this board.

Understood. They have to provide the contract. No, that's what I said for them to you to look at for you to look at and during those three weeks, if he says add this, add that, it's up to y'all to get that done. If not, then you're going to have to scratch it. But at least give you permission. I I want to give permission tonight if the board is willing so you can get that ball rolling. How soon could the contract get to our attorneys? All right. How soon could the contract get to our attorneys for the review? 510. It could be tomorrow. You put that for the motion. I did. I'll second that. I'll invow the chair to sign. Allow the chair to sign it. How does this happen? So, we just need to get that contract

and all the details worked out. What was your votes from? Anything else? No. Thank you very much. I voted against because I don't have enough information request from cattle association for a work session regarding a community agriculture center. Commissioners, during that same meeting, I was asked at the board consider a work session with the cattleman association regarding the community agricultural center. Well, they're not a government entity and I don't think that it would really be beneficial to have a executive session for that. If we're going to have a discussion openly for them, then I think we need to have it in public. A work session. Oh, work session. I'm sorry.

Yeah, we could have work session. I agree. I mean, I don't think that we've ever done a work session for a private entity. So, I would rather it be just in a regular meeting, not just a special work session just for that. That's what I mean.

If I may, the reason we want to have a work station is we have we have drawings done, preliminary drawings for the egg building and the arena and so forth that we're talking about building across the road. So we want to make sure that these are acceptable in a preliminary state of what we have got drawn up that we can move forward uh to start soliciting money and stuff like that. Yeah, this was that discussion we had before just a work session. Yes, I following that that prior discussion about we talked about before and possibly getting the a center built having

maintain it. Yeah, it can still be done inside. Yeah. So if if it's if it's not illegal, I mean, we can we can put it on an agenda, do it in a regular meet, make the meeting go longer, but if it's not illegal, why couldn't we? If we've already opened that discussion, why don't we want to sit down and see what more information and what the presenting? I don't think anybody's saying they don't want to have a discussion. Why need to be a separate meeting agenda? It could just be done at presentation meeting. Yeah, it won't take more than 10 or 15 minutes like a normal topic. Why does it need 30 45 minutes to go through it? 30 45 minutes. Yeah. Is there a condensed version?

That's why we were thinking work working sessions. So, but whatever y'all want to do. I mean, I'm fine with either. I'm fine with either work session or I'm fine saying when you put it on the agenda, we set aside 30 30 minutes. Put it under presentations. Yeah, I make a motion. I make a motion to allow under presentations. Second in what meeting? It doesn't matter with Allison and find a time for presentations. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Number 11, removal of tree from east side of the courthouse. Discussion.

So, I know we were talking about it, but how long's the tree been there? Does it serve a purpose? Was it planted by somebody that serves a historical anything? I mean, there's a whole lot to cutting trees down around areas like that. So, we have to staff have to research that to see if there's any significant history behind the tree, right? We need to do that because it could have been an Arbor Day special done by some memorial somebody and we get it. I mean, I agree. I It's blocking the view, but we need we need to make sure. Yeah. Yeah. We can check into it and then for tree removal, we have three on hand that we could call and get quotes from if it does not have a historical presence to the county. Yeah.

Is it possible that if we do decide we're going to cut a tree that we could check to see if public works could remove the tree? I mean, with their equipment, it's not that big. It's not the big ones. Okay.

If it was the big ones, we'd have to really worry about it's the it's the one that's coming up through there. It's not even the center of the courthouse. When you're coming down there, all of a sudden all the limbs, you didn't notice it till the lease came back, but you don't even see the flag pole. You can't even you're not even going to view the the front of the courthouse. All the money we're spending to fix it. It's just it would be a inspiration view. People traveling through going, "Wow, what a courthouse. The top is amazing." Now, I meant to say that while ago when you were speaking, uh that looks great from the top coming down and and the citizens are talking about it. So, you're doing a great job over there. So it's it don't make difference one way or the other. I mean this yeah I can go up and see the bucket truck is operational hasn't been planted by a group that it's

but you need to get no historical effects to it. Anything that serves a actual purpose as to why that tree was planted there then I'm okay. I got answers that just a discussion just a discussion. So we go first we need 109 here. That's why I was the graange of I was like from Woodberry. I can see it from the Woodberry highway. That's why yes

well I'll make a motion to allow to get quotes if it does not serve any of the historical or special condition. in final report from Ken Middle.

Commissioner, as I mentioned, we had a new rec director. He started May 1st. He's working with Randy. He's getting caught up on everything going on with baseball that's coming close to an end. U we met with health spay and neuter program. I think they got an event going on to speak about. I had a meeting in Nunan last week. um have weekly updates for health insurance. Open enrollment begins next Monday, goes through next Friday. We'll have a lunch, hot dog, chips, and drinks here on Friday between 11 and 1 for all employees. It's not just for people for insurance, but it's invited for all employees to come out and get a hot dog and a drink. At the airport meeting, the MNBID demo on the entrance bearing account, we put together RFPs for the commercial reval ambulance remount. I sent one vehicle for painting. Recreation now has their vehicle from plant for no um code enforcement to buy and we're working on getting the concession trailer designed and decaled. Um I'll get with Mr. Bronner and Brian Moore's already sent over some preliminary drawings on that and that's all I have.

All right. Report from county commission. Mr. Greg here. I don't have anything to add. Mr. W. Uh, thank everybody for what they're doing and thank everybody for showing up and everyone just be vigilant, be careful. A lot of weird things that you're reading and hearing out there. So, be diligent and pay attention. Miss Nson,

I did want to add that we have the snip ship with the help spay and neuter clinic back picking up in Merryweather County. They actually going to have a pickup this coming Monday. And right now if you call this week and book it, it's $50 off a spay or neuter on cats and dogs. And I'm excited that we're bringing that back to Mayweather County for our citizens to have it lovely again. And thank you all for showing up and your input. Mr. King.

Yeah. Uh this past weekend was the cotton fair. Uh it was a great success. They were afraid it was going to be raining all day that Saturday, but moved out early enough that morning. Turned out to be a beautiful day. We had a big crowd there all day Saturday and Sunday. So, uh, that was great that they had that success. Uh, thanks for everybody what they're doing on the on the, uh, staff. Uh, Brian, again, uh, people are very appreciated. I sent you several potholes. People call me up, they tell me exactly where they're at in a mailbox address and man, they call back probably within 24, 48 hours and go, they done fixed it. So, y'all are doing a great job there. Just remind everybody a week from tomorrow is the election day and vote citizen realize that this board has worked together. fantastically. You said it through this last year. We're getting aggressive things done. We're getting a lot done in this county and I hope the citizens will see that to where we can continue working together and get things done. Jeremy.

All right. All I'd like to say is uh thank you to the to the work employees and the staff for the job they do and and thank I'd just like to say thank you to the constituents for bearing with us and and we try we trying we getting uh a lot of things done within the especially the courthouse. I'm I'm so proud of the courouses. But uh other than that, I have nothing else to say and uh reporting the county attorney. I have nothing to report. All right. Future meetings and notices. Closing observance of tomorrow day, Monday, May 25th, 2026. Tuesday, May 25th. 2026 regular meeting.

Right. Not with that. 26. Should be the 26th of 2026. May 26. 2020. May 26. Okay. I say it's 25th. It does. That's Alison. Regular meeting at 6:00 p.m. Uh, Monday, June 8th, 2026. Regular meeting at 6:00 p.m. Closing observatively Junth. Friday, June the 19th, 2026. And Tuesday, June the 23rd, 2026. regular meeting at 6 pm. There any need for executive session? Yes, sir. Mr. Chairman,

like a motion to go in executive session for litigation, personnel, real estate, and tax matters and the cyber security. All in favor? Action was taken in executive session. We'd like to make a motion for action of prop auction of property as discussed in executive session. Second. All in favor? Allow additional leave for employee as discussed in executive session. Need a motion. So move. Second. All in favor? Make a motion to adjurnn. Second. All in favor?