Board of Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Good morning, and welcome to our board of commissioners meeting. This is Tuesday, March 3, and I just wanna say what a jovial group we have this morning. I love all the networking and communication that was going on this morning before the meeting. So, at this time, I will call the meeting to order. And, we do not have any special recognitions today, but we will then move to public comment. So today, we have, miss Tina Hobbs that will, come to the podium. Thank you.

Good morning. It's Good morning ladies understand that two zero two six by dash one four nine for the yrc had been ratified which doesn't mean it's been approved But I would like for y'all to go to the YRC to see what's really being taught to these kids, how it's being taught, and who is teaching it. I just got a few questions about that. How many students will attend the day or evening classes? What specific programs will be taught at the center and what initiatives will they accomplish?

What staffing arrangements have been established to operate the center? The, one to four is what it used to be. And, who is certified to teach the classes? Who's responsible for providing the curriculum? What specific classes are planned to be taught? Do we have certified tutors available and instructors? What teaching certifications are held for the specific programs offered at the center? And are these certifications provided by the state? Are are snacks are sufficient compared to an actual meal? Because in the daytime, it's from like 09:00 to 03:00.

If they just have a snack, that's not a meal. And at nighttime, it's like 03:00 till 08:30 to 09:00, and that needs a meal too. But they really only get snacks. That's what was on the thing today. What revenues were received by the grants by the county by the state for the students she's here for the last five years where does the lift over money go from the grants are any classes being held outside of weekdays because sometimes it has them on Saturdays or special things.

What education requirements are necessary for instructors and tutors? Are education consultants teaching curriculum and what state certifications are needed? What type of tutoring, do they help with homework, reading or math, is being provided pertaining to the $42 per student? Because I know that's not gonna pay the salaries and all for everybody. Who is track the effectiveness of the classes? You know, did it work? Did it not? Have we ever tracked that? And what are the specific funding sources for the YRC? I love the YRC.

It is for the kids that get in trouble, but they they put them on the right track. And that's what we need more for these kids. I'm gonna send y'all these questions through the email because I just like to get an answer back. But I just really think with the new judge that I'm not sure if he knows really what's going on with that there. And I was like that to be looked at.

Have you addressed these to him?

Yes, but I didn't get an answer back.

You emailed him Yes. Questions? Okay. Alright. Very good. If you'll make sure to copy the clerk, she'll also make sure that we get those.

Thank you very

Thank you.

I appreciate it. Alright. Next we have mister George Kalajczak.

Commissioners, citizens, employees of Rockdale County. Just several items. I did wanna follow-up from what Tina presented through the our investigations with the the Taxpayer Association we found out that there was a a new van bus purchased in 2024. We're wondering if it was ever delivered and if not was that funding put into a separate account. And we want to find out more about transportation as far as parent drop off.

Do there need to be a CDL certified people driving the bus if it's over 15 passengers? Are there safety cameras in here to make sure that we're abiding by the rules and regulations of the van operation or bus operation and if it what our information shows that it was leased what is the annual lease payment Would it have been better to buy the bus? We don't know. So, we do want to sit down and and have a very nice coffee or tea meeting and you know, just find out the answers to these items.

And where did you see this bus?

Well, we don't we don't know. That's what we're trying to find out. There is a van, but we don't know about this bus that was leased or purchased. So we we just want to find

recreation department?

No. That's with YRC. You know, that's where it was leased through.

So Where did you hear about the bus?

Through our in invest internal investigations.

Okay. So if you'll just send an email as well to

the Yep. Clerk, we'll

figure out the information that you received.

Okay. Thank you. Some other information. As you know, I've been down at the Capitol a good bit over the last few weeks. Proud to announce House Resolution fourteen sixteen was introduced on February 19, which now proposes a creation of a joint study committee on the generational stability of family farms.

And this is a follow-up from the Senate study committee well over a year ago. As you know, we've lost 2,600,000 acres in farmland to unplanned development throughout the state since 1974 and if this is one of the measures that they're taken at the state level because if we don't do something and make this secure by 2040, we'll lose another 800,000 acres of farmland. There was a Senate study committee and I'll give you some copies of this regarding tourism in the state and as we know agritourism is a large it's a largest increasing sector of that. But from a state brand marketing concept, Georgia spent $5,000,000, Tennessee spent $40,000,000. And can I have a little extra time here?

And we'll also provide you information on h b eight twelve and senate bill four four seven, which are going through the legislative process right now, which will affect all the planning and soil and erosion permitting processes throughout the state. Plenty plenty of negotiations still going on with ourselves, Georgia Municipal Association, and ACCG. And finally, we're having our annual Georgia Soil Water Conservation Commission erosion and control day in Athens on March 10. Our local representatives that do our inspections are already enrolled. So I will share that when we finish up today.

Very good. Thank

you very much.

Thank you. And thanks for your good work. Alright. At this time, we will move to our agenda. Madam chair

and commissioner Williams, before you get to approval of the agenda, I would like to request that the board amend your agenda this morning to remove item twenty twenty six dash one fifty four. It is a duplicate item that was approved last month.

Okay. Very good. Very good. Alright. At this time, I'd like to make a motion for an approval of the agenda with the amendment being removed. I second the mic. Oh, are

you finished?

That's okay. Alright. I have a motion and a second. I second. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Aye. The motion carries. Next we have approval of the minutes for 02/17/2026. So I'll make a motion to approve the minutes as presented.

I second the motion.

We have a motion and a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Now we'll move to item number six, unfinished business.

And item number six, which is, one thirty eight, a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of Rockdale County Georgia acknowledging and authorizing the implementation of environmental health fees adopted by the Rockdale County Board of Health. We would also like to request this item be deferred to your next board meeting to allow the agency to address you during that time.

Okay. Thank you. I move to defer the resolution until the next regularly scheduled board of commissioners meeting.

Okay. I second that motion. So we have a motion and a second. All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye. The motion carries. Item number seven, new business.

Okay. So would you like me just to keep reading these items collectively?

That would be good. Yeah. That would be good. Okay. Great. And if you'll denote for item number, one forty, where the service is. Is that the sheriff's office? If you'll just clarify. No. So this is multiple locations. Okay. Courthouse administration, sheriff's office, the community center, magistrate court, and the Johnson Park. Okay. Very good.

Alright. Okay. Item 140 is with Cone Incorporated through the general services department. This is elevator services to the county. It's change order number one to contract 2026Dash02. This is no cost increase. It's additional uments for signature only. The amount is $12,539.04. This is for a three year term for various funding accounts and is a budgeted item.

I move to approve. Oh, you're going you never move.

Collectively? Okay. Yeah. Right? I will keep going. Item 141 is with Quality Tire Recycling LLC through the general services recycling center division. This is 2026 drop and hook agreement for the scrap tire pickup at the recycling center. Change order number 3 to contract 2022Dash16. It's a price increase of $5 per ton for a total not to exceed $14,988 based on a monthly pickup for the tonnage and service fees. This is for one year through the general fund and is a budgeted item.

Item one forty two is with quality tire recycling through the general services fleet division for the 2026 drop and hook agreement for tires utilized by vehicles and equipment for fleet services. This is a renewal change order number 3 to contract 2022Dash15. The amount is $5,910. This is for one year through the general fund and is a budgeted item. Item one forty three is with Enterprise Fleet Management through the general services department for changes in leases for three vehicles from the original 2026 board of commissioners replacement program program.

This is change order number 25 to contract 2022Dash164. It's a decrease in the price of $2,613.60 for all three vehicles. The new price is $32,394.44. This is for sixty months. It's capital improvements program projects funded. This is a budgeted item and is submitted for ratification. Item 144 is with Impact Office Interiors through the general services department for the furniture at the historic courthouse. The amount is $57,719.25. It's for ninety days from notice to proceed. This is splash to funded and is a budgeted item.

I'd like to hear more about that. Okay.

Good morning, madam commissioner.

Good morning.

Can give you the overview or did you have specific questions about that?

Give me the give us the overview. Okay. Then if I have specific questions.

Sounds good. Alright. So as part of our our judicial and administrative complex, we have several different pieces. We have the new courthouse. We have the administration building and the renovations to both the three story annex and the historical portion of it.

The historical portion, because we have the 1937 Post Office and the 1939 Courthouse, we're doing selective. We're not just demolishing it or doing major renovations. We're doing selective pieces to it to transform it and into the more modern courtrooms that will be consistent with the new courthouse that we're building. So it all tied together as a big complex. Part of that are several different elements for low voltage, fiber, computer things, and also furniture so that the offices that are in the historic part and the courtrooms that are there and the judge's chambers, things like that, will all match the exact same furniture and style and everything and be consistent with the new construction and the renovations.

So this piece is one of those pieces to replace the broken and the failing and the very old furniture that was in Judge Wood's courtroom, her chambers, the conference room, the jury pool room, and the witness area that's sort of the the back of the house behind the courtrooms, and this will be furniture that's outfitting all of that. So we put that out to bid as one small package.

Showing the historic part. Are we keeping the the essence of the

Yes.

Court house?

Yes. The rotunda will stay the same. The 1939 Courtroom will stay the same. What is now judge Bill's, the other superior court courtroom will stay the same because they're beautiful courtrooms. Yes. We'll be refreshing them, maybe doing some paint. We've already upgraded some of the lighting. We've done some flooring. If you've been out there, you noticed that old pink carpet. It should be red, but it's it's so old. It was pink. We've replaced that. So a lot of refreshing to that building. We're working on the roof and so there's a lot of pieces to it that you do selective with a historic building that Okay. You would do maybe a a total renovation with a newer building.

Thank you.

So that's part of that.

Thank you. Okay.

Thank you.

Okay. Item one forty five is with the Georgia Department of Corrections through the sheriff's office. It's an intergovernmental agreement for the jail's JFIT unit to receive additional correctional training. The amount is $7,750. It's until training course has been completed. This is through the general fund and is a budgeted item. Item one forty six is with the Association County Commissioners of Georgia Civic Affairs Foundation. It's for emergency management agency. The Georgia County internship program grant recipients for summer twenty twenty six. There there is a maximum reimbursement of $3,000 up to two hundred hours.

The term is 05/01/2026 through 09/01/2026, and this is grant funded. Item one forty seven is with reconnect through superior court two for recovery and supervision services for the drug court, resource court, DUI court for account adult accountability courts. It's $12,000 per year. The term is thirty six months, and then it auto renews for twelve month periods until canceled. This is grant funded and is a budgeted item.

Item one forty eight is with Kaiser Permanente through the human resources department for biometric screenings and wellness activities portal. This is part of the Kaiser wellness credits. This is at no cost to the county. The term is 01/01/2026 through 12/31/2026. Item one forty nine is with the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice through the Juvenile Court for Youth Reporting Center.

It's change order number four to contract 2022Dash01. It's $42 per youth per day at revenue to the county. The term is 07/01/2026 through 06/30/2027. This is grant funded, is a budgeted item, and is submitted for ratification. Item one fifty is a requisition through the general services department for TSA Incorporated. This is for the backup cloud storage for surveillance at the mental health ward for one year. The amount is $20,218.27. This is SPLOST funded and is a budgeted item.

So with this one, we're talking about the new pod at the jail. Is that what we're talking about?

Yeah, Emer, once again.

Good morning again. Yes. So this is part of the last piece, the mental health stabilization unit. Right. They have cameras on there. And, because of their requirements, they're required to store them. And we have several elements to try to keep the cost down. One is on-site, but then when it's longer than ninety days and they need additional storage, they're able to use the cloud storage for additional backup time. That way they preserve it, in accordance with their their regulations.

Okay. Is there some reason we're calling it the mental health ward? Because I thought it was the mental health stabilization unit that you just said.

It is. It is the mental health stabilization unit. But when we first started the project, you know, a couple years ago, that was the project name that we had assigned to it at the time. So it's kinda stuck with it. But they're gonna do that. Yes.

Okay. Yes. Thank

you. Alright. Item one fifty one is a requisition through the transportation department for AECOM for Tucker Mill Road at S R 212 Scott Highway for the traffic engineering study. The amount is $43,533.90. This is through the general fund and is a budgeted item. Can you stop right there

for us? Director Kelly, can you present on that item? Can you and talk about the other work on 02/12 that we discussed.

So good morning, chair. Good morning, So, yes, we all know 212 is a high profile areas. Lots of cars. Car count is significant every day. I wanna say there are twenty twenty five thousand plus several sections in there.

We have intersections 138. This one here particular is Tucker And Honey Creek. They're a little bit off because you have two high capacity roads coming into a third that's that's generating lots of traffic, lots of turns, lots of vehicles. So this study this particular location is what can we do to resolve that. There have been some histories of accidents, left hand turns, people making some wrong decisions on speeds.

So we're looking at what are our options is a roundabout work, And there's even some some discussions about maybe a eight where you'd have two roundabouts that mimicking a mimic the number eight to allow people to come out of Honey Creek and Tucker Mill at the same time. But we need to understand what does that do to other parts of 212? Does that push issues somewhere else? How does that affect the flow of traffic

Mhmm.

Throughout the whole area? There's a secondary area that we're looking at as well, which is high a high profile area. Smyrna and 212, which is maybe half a mile up. Mhmm. That is significant. There's a church right here with lots of property. There's some homes, and then we have several issues there that we need to look at. We have done the study for that one already, and we are looking at rec recommendations with GDOT because GDOT is, of course, the owner operator for 212. But we're looking at recommending roundabouts, a large scale roundabout there for that one versus a actual signal. And we're gonna coordinate with GDOT on that to get their concurrence.

So So I know this comes out of the general fund, which means your budget.

Correct.

So for that area, talk about the funding mechanisms for projects on 212 since it's a state highway.

So this one is a little bit unique. Since it is a state highway, we would would look to coordinate with ARC on what affects the area. So population growth, what that does to air. So that is identical for both to Tucker Mill, Honey Creek, and this one because this is gonna affect a large scale of everyone that flows for homes, business, so on and so forth. So this is something that we would turn to GDI, but also turn to ARC for opportunities for funding because of the large scale implications of those changes. So we would look at grants through them, possibilities to get their concurrence to buy in because of the magnitude of this. So it would help us work to work in that in that area.

And would this money count towards any matching funds?

Likely it would. Likely it would. That typically depending on what is is $80.20 for large scale projects and sometimes it's seventy third depending on what what what what the actual project is. But there will likely be a matching component to that.

I'd prefer ninetyten but I

haven't seen that yet but we'll try to get

there. Alright.

Well I thought you'd say a 100%.

Well I'm

flexible. That's me being just trying to be realistic Right?

I have

to think of those yet, but

Thank you very much.

Alright. K. Item one fifty two is a requisition through the sheriff's office for GT distributors for SWAT vest. The amount is $19,986. This is through the general fund and is a budgeted item. Item one fifty three is a requisition through water resources for Ferguson Enterprises for AFC hydrants. The amount is $71,485.40. This is through the water enterprise fund and as a budgeted item. Item one fifty five is a requisition through water resources for Delta Municipal Supply for emergency request for replacement of two damaged meters supporting local residential communities. The amount is $44,000.

This is through the water enterprise fund and is a budgeted item and is submitted for ratification.

And let me ask about that to director Pete, if I may. For this item, when we're replacing damaged meters, is is that fee then assessed to the neighborhood or how are those funds?

No. No, ma'am. This fee is not assessed to the neighborhood. This actually we're paying for it out of our enterprise fund. These are large meters size eight inch meters and that's why the cost is what it is. Significant. Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. And there's two of them that need needed to be replaced.

Okay. Alright. How old are the meters for replacing

the gas? These meters are are pretty old. They've been in the ground for several years. Don't know specifically how many, but I know it's been in

It several

was pretty old. It was pretty old. You know, looking at the looking at the material of the meter. Was pretty damaged. Yes, ma'am.

Alright. Very good.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay. Item 156 is a requisition to the water resources department for Herc Rentals. This is for a pull behind 500 gallon vacuum trailer with pressure washer. The amount is $78,240. This is through the water enterprise fund and is a budgeted item.

Item one fifty seven is a requisition through the water resources for Vortex Company for the Almond Branch sewer upsizing phase one. The amount is $4,059,971.32. This is through the water enterprise fund and is a budgeted item. Item one fifty eight is an expenditure request through physical link communication for technology services for installing fiber lines for the water central security program cameras. The amount is $36,742.

This is through the water enterprise fund and is a budgeted item. Item one fifty nine is a list of surplus of equipment, and as always, you can go to the website for to see our sub surplus equipment at ww.govdeals.com. The first department is fire rescue. We have parks and recreation through the senior services division, planning and development through the code enforcement division, the sheriff's office, transportation department, and water resources. Item one sixty is disaster debris management plan through the emergency management agency.

Item one sixty one is a resolution amending resolution twenty twenty five dash zero five and amended by an amended resolution number twenty twenty five dash seventeen to further extend the temporary moratorium on certain residential development activities through 06/30/2026 and for other purposes.

Can we talk about that for a minute?

Yeah. Thank you, madam clerk. Yes. If we could have director White come to the podium.

Good morning yes ma'am and so this is a request to extend the moratorium it expires this month and so what we want to do is align the moratoriums termination with the completion of the UDO update and so this

additional So three it's unified months development ordinance just for our viewers.

Yes ma'am

appreciate that

and so that'll allow us to bring both of those things together later this summer and tackle some of the residential challenges and requests and desires that we've heard from the community and get those things done so there'll be a seamless transition between the end of the moratorium and the start of the new UDO.

Okay. Yes. I know that the developers, of course, were not happy when we established the moratorium. But on the other hand, the developers are not happy with how it's looking at this point. Correct. And so there needs to be some time. It takes time to make all those adjustments. Correct. Yes. I I think this is good to do this so that we can get it right. It's easier to just stop, get it right than it is to go back and say, oh, we need to change this and this and this.

That is the plan. And so this additional time, especially March, April, will give us time to address the feedback we heard from the town hall. Mhmm. We're introducing some new zoning districts removing some others so we still need to tinker and refine the the lot standards some of the bulk standards that go along with those things based on the feedback that we heard so this will give us time to do those things

okay thank

you As much as I didn't want to extend it, kudos to you and your team for talking me into it. I I I in all fairness to the small business, you know, owners and developers, you know, we wanna make sure that they have time to give thoughtful feedback and make sure on our side that we're doing our best job researching other communities and practices and, and really creating a better community through the upgrades in the Unified Development Ordinance. And I know we've given citizens a lot of opportunities to give feedback about the Unified Development Ordinances and the changes, but I think still there's a lot of people that want to have input as we come to a close on the upgrades that will be made. So we'll look forward to more meetings and opportunities for the public to engage.

Yes, ma'am.

Alright. We'll

make sure we advertise. Thank you for the consideration. So

madam chair and commissioner Williams, if we could stop right here and take items one forty three, one sixty one and then we can take one sixty two separately. Correct.

Okay. Very good. I make a motion to approve items. I believe we said one thirty eight.

I would say 140. 138 was deferred.

So Oh, that's right. So 140. Through 161. Through 161. Make a motion to approve those items. I second the motion. Thank you. I have a motion and a second. All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye. The motion carries. Item one sixty two is text amendment case twenty twenty six dash zero three. An ordinance of the board of commissioners of Rockdale County, Georgia to repeal in its entirety subpart b, planning and development of the code of ordinances of Rockdale County and all prior unified development ordinances and amendments thereto to adopt a new subpart b, planning and development entitled the unified development ordinance of Rockdale County, Georgia, dated 02/24/2026 to provide for incorporation into the code of ordinances to provide for continuation of prior zoning conditions and approvals, to authorize codification, renumbering, and technical corrections, to provide for severability, to repeal conflicting ordinances, to provide for an effective date, and for other purposes this is submitted for a first reading.

Okay. So for some people that might have sounded like blah blah blah, but it's so much more. So exciting. So we wanna make sure that people understand that this vote will mean that it goes to the planning commission for further discussion and review. And so we hope that the public will continue to engage with this process. I believe the website is rockdaleudo.gov? That's correct, miss ma'am. Okay. Rockdaleudo.gov, and we'll put that on the the taping today so people have access to that.

So are we jumping the gun a little bit since we just extended the

process. So I think you're not jumping the gun. So what you're doing by putting this into the public hearing process, you're allowing in fact more opportunities for people to comment on these items that are going through the public hearing process. If you were to delay this, you would put yourself up against a tighter timeline for anything that could happen while it's winding its way through the process.

So let's talk about just a couple of items that might be heard during this process that citizens may be interested in. Because it seems complex but they're real things that could be for up for consideration that we've heard from citizens.

Yes.

So can you talk about a couple of those?

Yes ma'am. So a few things that we've touched on as I mentioned before the introduction of new zoning districts, so we're considering a conservation village zoning district to replace some of the existing agricultural residential zoning districts that we have now. We're also looking at the introduction of tiny home development, as a housing option for Rockdale County, cottage development style, so they're both single family detached homes in general, but the clustering of the homes is a different type of arrangement. And so I know you've heard a lot about the missing middle at various conferences and training exercises and so that's a big thing in the planning world. And so we want to bring and introduce those housing products and concepts to our UDO as additional options for housing accessory dwelling units ADUs allowing for that accessory option on single family detached properties for you know, they have seniors on-site, you have kids in certain instances, may have kids, they can't afford to have their own place.

This is another option where you can keep them close and cut down on some of the cost. Looking at that, updating the use table so we hear about the dislikes all the time be it well I won't call any particular uses but certain uses that may not be desired by the community so this is an opportunity for the community to come in and weigh in on what things are allowed what things are prohibited which zoning districts should they be allowed in should there be restrictions limitations to those uses all those things are part of this process.

And so in the working of that process is there a consideration for transitional housing?

Yes ma'am yes we have addressed that with our consultant in the use table we're still refining it so we're looking at the number of individuals that will be allowed in those settings and then which where they're appropriate which zoning districts are most appropriate based on the number of people so we're still working on that right now

okay because I had a phone call yesterday from somebody who's interested in establishing this I think she probably isn't ready to do that yet but she was trying to just get some information as we don't with the only as my understanding is right now the only zoning that allows that kind of thing is commercial

correct yes

yeah and so will we keep that the same or will we

so we're exploring introducing it in residential areas with some limitations it may include a special use permit which will be a public hearing process the community will get an opportunity to see the plans to weigh in

yeah that would be only really hard to get past

yeah that's an option we'll also look at some other conditions we'll look at the state regulations as well to see if they're appropriate in residential areas and what that transition should be between commercial institutions and then residential institutions.

And I think collectively the board has talked about looking for diversity in our housing models and the aesthetics to be of high caliber. So some of those things have been addressed through this process, but we appreciate your team's good work in trying to carry out the vision for a better looking Rockdale as we continue forward with some of the things that were, you know, permitted and on the books from years ago, but, you know, still haven't been carried out. We wanna make sure that those are nice addition to the community.

Yes ma'am understood

alright thank you

so we need a motion

okay

so I moved to approve the first read and refer the ordinance to the Planning Commission

I second that motion so I have a motion and a second all in favor say aye aye the motion carries and that concludes our agenda items at this time we have board comment Commissioner Williams?

Okay. I am super excited, director Holmes, of our Arts Matter program that is coming up on March 24 at the JP Carr Center from six to 8PM. The idea is to look at how the arts impact health, the community engagement, economic development. As I was I've I've thought of more things this morning that that we that we need to include. It's such a vast array.

I've the goal is for people to gain an understanding, but also to experience the arts. So that when you leave, you've had a little touch of the arts, some visual musical arts, we're hoping to get some dramatic kinds of skits or monologues. And just think about, there's some evidence that says that it it can actually relieve stress, calm again, and make your brain start working more creatively itself. But there's also a lot of other other impacts from the arts. So that will be March 24 from six to 8PM at JP Carr community center.

So the entire community is invited. We've invited students. We've invited some adults to participate. And we're I I am really excited about this one. During women's history month, I would like to recognize and thank my fellow women board members.

Thank you.

Commissioner, Tonya Smith. Yes. Who's empty this morning, but and chairwoman Van Ness for their leadership and dedication to Rockdale County. I also wanna honor all the women who serve and support our community from public safety and public works to administration, courts, and volunteer leadership. Their commitment, expertise, and compassion make a lasting difference every single day.

In celebration of Women's History Month, I'd like to highlight Joan Trumpeuer Mulholland, whom I had the pleasure of meeting at the airport as we were boarding our flight to come back to Atlanta after the conference in in DC. Her inspired story includes becoming a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, marking sixty three years of service, and she continues her legacy through the Joan Trumpauer Mulholland Foundation, which supports HBCU students and preserves civil rights history. One of the things that she showed talked to me about was she showed me a picture of the sit in at Woolworths in the most common, most used photograph of that. She's right in the middle of it. Incredible.

And I had seen an article about her. And when I realized that was who was sitting next to me at the airport, I was like, woah. This is really a big deal. Her nonprofit provides weekly scholarships, and her dedication is a powerful reminder of the impact women have in shaping our communities in the world. So she she was part of sit ins and all the civil rights engagement movements.

The her t shirt is her mugshot from when she was put in jail when she was a college kid. So to learn more to support her work, you can visit www.bijone.org, which her son now manages manages and has her schedule for her. She was off to Saint Louis to speak to a group there. She's well into her eighties.

Impressive.

Those are my comments.

Very good. Deputy Director White, can you come up and tell everybody about a couple of events we have coming up in the near future? We have one on March 13.

March 13, yes. We have DCA one zero one.

The Department of Community Affairs.

That is right. Department of Community Affairs is going to be speaking, and you are gonna be hosting it. We originally had it scheduled for JP Carr. The turnout, we set up a Eventbrite account for people to get tickets free to attend. Sold out in three days, so we've had to relocate it next door to the auditorium. It'll be between 10AM and noon, and it will be hosted by the Department of Community Affairs. And There's gonna be a lot of topics, including vouchers, homelessness, several other topics off the top of my hand. Mhmm. I I can't quite recollect, but we have the

flyer Grant opportunities. Well.

Yeah. We have the flyer on the Facebook page of Rock Dale County, so anyone watching the stream that is not familiar, go to the page, you'll see the whole flyer and it's got all the topics listed and there's still tickets available on Eventbrite.

Very good. And this is a collaborative effort because the Department of Community Affairs offers this 101 seminar as information to the community. This is not a voucher registration or anything like that for residents who are looking to get a voucher, that is not what this event is about. It's about simply tone about program options for Rockdale County and seeing what we have in place at this time.

Yes ma'am.

So should be a great event and I appreciate their staff members that'll be here on-site to answer questions

for people Yes.

As well.

And we should also oh, there's the flyer right there

Yes.

For people who are in the audience or watching the stream. So, yes, it will be ten to noon. Community develop community development block grants, community home investment programs, Georgia Dream, utilizing downtown resources to support small businesses. So it's gonna be a really great event, and obviously, we're gonna have a very big turnout.

Yes.

And we about that. We should also point out that your big event in April, the state of the county, we have shifted the date from Wednesday, April 29 to Tuesday, April 28. So it will now be the day before, same time, 09:00 in the morning. Doors will open at 08:00.

At the auditorium. And where

In the auditorium, next door.

Next door. Should be a good event with lots of information for our community members and businesses. And then we also, I thought we had one, oh our Farmers Market is coming up on it's gonna be Sunday, April 19. The plans for that are still in the works, but that will be our kickoff right before Earth Day. So that event will be starting Sundays about one to four, and then Wednesdays we'll do 03:30 to 06:30 roughly. We are fine tuning the hours for that, with the one on Sunday being at 1400 Parker Road, and the one on Wednesdays right now, tentatively scheduled at Pinelog Park.

Wonderful. We will definitely have a big PR push on that for sure.

And for the community members, anybody that knows farmers or other people that have, maybe cottage licenses and making food that's already gone through the process with environmental health are able to participate as well as artisans. So we look for a good range of options to be at those events, and we're excited to reenergize and get the farmers market back in order.

Looking forward to it. Looking forward to being a part of too.

Yes. Thank you very

much.

Madam chair. Thank you, commissioner Williams.

Alright. At this time, if there's no other comments for the board, you're good?

I'm good.

Okay. Yes. Oh, okay. Alright. We'll play this video then and this is for any citizens, who are interested in any open records request. This will share we'll share information with you.

We are excited to announce the launch of a new online service designed with you in mind to streamline your request for public records. Here's how you do it. First thing you'll need to do is go to the Rockdale County website and then click government and then open records request. This takes you to our new digital open records request page that looks like this. Next, sign up and create a new account.

Once you're logged in, you'll be able to make open records request. Everything is broken out into different county departments that you can make requests for. You can select board of commissioners, planning and development, Rockdale County Fire Rescue, e nine one one, or Parks and Recreation. If the department you are looking for isn't shown, please keep in mind that the sheriff's office and other elected offices handle their own records request. This new portal is only for departments that are directly under the POC.

Once you select which department you're submitting a request for, you'll see this screen. Fill out your name, phone number, email address, street address, the description of your request, then under I request, select only to review slash inspect, paper copies, or electronic copies when available. You can also attach any extra information you may have at the very bottom then hit submit. At any time, you can track the status of your request by hitting track status. Electronic copies will be sent directly to your email address. Paper copies will be mailed to your mailing address and it's just that easy. This is another way that Rockdale County is working for you.

Thank you very much. I appreciate that. Yeah. I also wanted to say that across the country yesterday in schools across America, doctor Seuss's day was celebrated. And so children were reading across America and that's super exciting.

I know there's a lot of activities that are going on this week. But we know that the school systems, private schools, homeschool parents, everybody collectively should be reading to their children, right? We know that that significantly improves a child's education and education is a ticket to anywhere you want to go. So whether it's Fox and Socks or other places you'll go, there's so many books to choose from that Doctor. Seuss authored.

And so I hope that parents will be encouraged by just this message and grandparents and community members to get involved in the schools in the community. There are opportunities for mentorship. The boys and girls club also has opportunities for mentorship. And so it's just a phone call way to get engaged and be a part of a child's education. So with that being said, at this time, do we have a need for executive session?

No, madam chair.

Alright. Then I adjourn this meeting and wish you well. Thank you.