Board of Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Welcome to our Tuesday, June 23rd meeting. We're glad to have all of you here today. We'll call the meeting to order and start our day with an invocation and pledge of allegiance from Senior Pastor Dr. Tim Barnett at Heritage Hills Baptist. Good to have you today.

All right, let's pray everyone. Father, we give you thanks for today. We give you thanks for a beautiful day in Rockdale County. We give you thanks for life and health and strength, and we give you thanks for the ability to assemble today. We give you thanks for government, which is established by God for our good. We give you thanks for this place at this time where local concerns are addressed in an upright, open fashion. So, Lord, I pray that you will grant us wisdom today, give us the knowledge to be able to make good decisions, and then the wisdom and the strength and the fortitude to carry those out. And we ask it in your name. Amen.

Amen.

All right. Should we stand for the Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you.

all right at this time we have special recognitions and i would ask for a goodwill north georgia to come forward all right i'll just turn this all right so good morning we have a presentation for you this morning goodwill is an important part of our community and we appreciate the opportunities that you give rockdale county to have a good option affordable option for people in our community So this proclamation is by the Board of Commissioners. Whereas, Goodwill of North Georgia has proudly served the citizens of Georgia for 100 years, fostering hope, opportunity, and community strength through its mission to put people to work. And whereas in 1925, a group of civic minded Atlantans found Goodwill Industries of Atlanta from its humble beginnings and a small house with a horse and wagon. The organization experienced steady growth and resilience. Today, the organization currently operates 71 retail stores, 14 career centers, a mobile career center, and more than 40 attended donation centers throughout North Georgia. It employs more than 3,500 team members and diverts over 40 million pounds of material from landfills each year and welcomes more than 7 million guests annually and has served more than 50 million donors throughout its century of service. And whereas Goodwill of North Georgia proudly operates one retail location in Conyers and one ADC in South Rockdale, continuing its century-long tradition of service and unwavering commitment to the local community. and whereas through its strategic approach of a better job, a career, Goodwill of North Georgia's career centers have connected more than 1,600 Rockdale County residents to new jobs while equipping more than 3,500 Rockdale County job seekers with critical skills including resume building, interview preparation, and computer literacy. Additionally, Rockdale County residents, as of today, have made more than 960,000 donations to the organization supporting Goodwill of North Georgia's mission to put people to work. And whereas, throughout its 100 years of service, Goodwill of North Georgia has remained committed to innovation and forward-thinking workforce development. With tailored programs for entrepreneurs, high school students, veterans, and individuals with disabilities, the organization continues to meet the evolving needs of the modern workforce. Its strategic goals include serving an additional 155,000 job seekers by 2030, expanding its retail footprint, and deepening its sustainability efforts to further its positive impact on Georgia's economy and environment. And whereas Rockdale County is honored to recognize Goodwill of North Georgia for its century of service to the state of Georgia, now, therefore, we, the members of the Board of Commissioners of Rockdale County, do hereby proclaim June 19, 2026, as Goodwill of North Georgia Day. In witness whereof, we hereunto set our hands and cause the official seal of Rockdale County to be affixed on this 19th day of June 2026. Signed, Janice Van Ness Chairwoman, Commissioner Post 1, Tawanya Smith, and Commissioner Post 2, Doreen Williams.

Thank you.

Good morning, everyone. Well, my name is Elaine Armstrong, and I serve as vice president of marketing for Goodwill of North Georgia. I'm excited to be here to chairwoman Venice and the commissioners. Thank you so much for this honor. We are very appreciative of it. We've been in Rockdale County for about 20 over 20 years. We refreshed our store, which is... How many of you know where our store is? Okay, everybody knows. Good, good, good deal. So we refreshed that store a few years ago, about four years ago, and have been really deeply committed to Rockdale County. Rockdale has a special place in my heart. I can't go anywhere without going through Rockdale County. I live in Newton, so... So I am just a stone's throw away, and actually my closest Goodwill happens to be our South Rockdale ADC, which is an attended donation center right there in South Rockdale. So it is literally three miles from my house. So I very much appreciate Goodwill being in the presence of this community, but all of you who continue to support it. In fact, Our Rockdale store and that ADC are some of the busiest in terms of donations for us. So we really, really appreciate the way that the community has continued to support us. But thank you. We have been on a road show a little bit because we're celebrating our 100th anniversary this year and have gone to many counties. and have really been embraced with proclamations and those communities really sort of naming a goodwill day. But this is the last one of our fiscal year, which ends on June 30th. So this is a special day for us because we're excited to end a year long celebration right here in Rockdale County. Yes, I happen to have sat next to Chairwoman Van Ness a few weeks ago at an event and told her, hey, we're coming very soon. And she said, we have to get a photo together. And so we are so excited that you really embraced us, really made sure that we felt special because of our 100th anniversary. And we thank you all for your continued commitment to goodwill. And as far as we can be around, we will be committed to the county of Rockdale. Thank you so much.

All right, at this time we'll move to public comment. Leslie Lambert.

Leslie Lambert, 1870 Irwin Bridge Road, Conyers, Georgia. Good morning, commissioners. I would like to speak about the new unified development ordinances and the concern many residents continue to have regarding data centers in Rockdale. I understand that the proposed UDO removes data centers as allowed use going forward, and I appreciate the work that has gone into addressing the concerns of our community. however there's still a great deal of uncertainty among residents many people worry that what is removed today could potentially be added back at some point in the future because of that i would like to ask the board to consider adopting a separate ordinance stating that once the new udo takes effect no additional data centers will be permitted in rockdale county such an ordinance will provide clarity Certainty and reassurance to the citizens who have spent months voicing their concerns about the impact data centers can have on our community. I recognize that there is a data center proposal that was submitted before these changes were being considered and that is still moving through the zoning process I understand that existing applications must be handled according to the laws and regulations that were in place when they were filed My comments tonight, this morning, excuse me, are not about the specific application, rather they are about the future of Rockdale County and the confidence residents have in the decision being made. An ordinance prohibiting future data centers would demonstrate a long-term commitment to the vision outlined in the new UDO. It would send a clear message that Rockdale County has listened to its citizens and has made a deliberate deliberate decision about the type of growth and development it wants to encourage. Many residents have supported the removal of data centers from the UDO but some remain skeptical because they fear the issue could return in a few years. permanent ordinance would help eliminate that concern it would provide certainty not only to the residents but also to developers and investors ensuring everyone understands the county's position moving forward If adopting such an ordinance helps build trust and gives the public confidence that this issue has truly been resolved, then I believe it is a worthwhile step to take. Thank you for your time, your service, and your consideration of this request.

Thank you. All right, Sarah Kennedy.

Good morning, everyone.

Good morning. I've instructed my son not to turn the volume on this time. So I'm speaking to the same effect, but to the document, the UDO, with which I've spoken about many times. So I just wanted to impress upon you a few things. I want to harken back to my days as an educator and an administrator and play a little game, a word association game. And I want you to think about what you feel when you hear these words and hold on to that while we discuss this. McIntosh County, Sapello Island, Gullah Geechee lands. the Indian Removal Act of 1830, the Tuskegee experiments, the Trail of Tears, Danziger Bridge, the mound builders, John Holcomb and Dr. W.D. Conyers, the origin story of this very town, the place that we're standing in. Hopefully each of these names and cases brought about for you a sense of disgust, a sense of sadness, pain, disenfranchisement, and absolute injustice. Would it shock you to know that every single case that I just listed, famous cases where local government did not stand up for their residents and protect them, all happened here in Georgia, or right next to it. Cases of local seats of power that did not speak for the little person that put them in the seats that they're sitting. When I look up at these seats, I think of how incredible it is that this year, for the first time in 37 years, all of the recipients of the Green Nobel Prize were women. Six countries, six fights, all won by women. This is so emotional for me. I'm sorry. The board for the first time is all women. As women, we must be twice the man of men. No offense, men. We love you. You must have the killer instinct to act when needed, but we also have the gift of womanhood the gift of intuition, the gift of creating life, miracle-making, the ability to see the dangers before they come and stop them before they get here. Sorry. As mothers, as women, as sisters, as leaders, what will time say about your seat here, not just as elected women, but as women? I can tell you that agreeing to allow or ignore or pass the exact same disenfranchisement that has been the playbook here in Georgia for 200 years In 2026, that's what people will remember. They will not remember that you were a mental health professional. They won't remember that you were a good steward of the dollar. They won't remember that you're running composting and mushroom classes. What they will remember is whether you chose to act in their defense or whether you chose to do the same thing men have done here for 200 years to populations of people of color, their families and their children. Your grandchildren will look at your name What will they remember? That UDO needs to go back to the planning department. It is unfit and unsafe and irresponsible. Thank you for your time.

Hello, my name is Beverly Bowman. I live at 2351 Costley Mill Road and I'm here to address the transition of Costley Mill Park to the General Service Department. I think that Costley Mill area has been in existence. Actually, it was given over in 1816. So we've been one of the longest running areas to be opened. And right now, because of the feasibility study that I've given you, and I think that you probably read, that it is supposed to be protected because we're in the sub-basin of what the watershed is in. It's supposed to be always protected. And I feel like that Costley Mill Park, if people doesn't know that they are trying to pull Costley Mill Park out of the park system, have it unmanned which means no one would be there to watch over for my anonymous letter and anyway I just wanted to say it would be back to like what it was when we bought it and before we sold it to the county and it was trashed and and then the Sheriff's Department was real glad when we bought it because they hopefully get the drug problems under control so many young folks was going in there and then when they never could catch anybody they'd throw the drugs in the water and they'd go down now to what is our county coming our county water and so uh some of this study says because I can't read it because it's pages of it, y'all. Constley Mill occupies an important site in the region. Its location at the confluence of two main sub-watersheds within the Big Haines Creek Watershed, combined with its position between the Rockdale County water source and the raw water intake for Rockdale County, demand that the site be managed with watershed protection and water quality protection as its primary goal. And the dam area has been, that's come in the raceway that we have reported as Parks and Recreation, which that, you know, it's got some trees growing up. It's over 200 years old and needs to be protected also. My thing is i have a few questions i guess and i don't know whether you answer them as i ask them or whether they'll address later well you can meet with me afterwards okay or another day this week okay that'll be fine either way but i don't i the buildings definitely need to be taken care of and i appreciate the gazebo getting painted for the weddings that's coming up But I just think, you know, without parks people there and having just an open park, we'll be back with crime and drugs and destruction of property again. And that's what we found about the property. But also, Our neighbors doesn't want it. And it's always been called the most beautiful park in the park system. And I can't understand why it keeps getting hit. It was pulled out of the financial thing first this year.

I can assure you that we are going to take good care of that property and be good stewards. So I think you've got some misinformation. I'll be glad to clarify and go through those questions.

Okay. I will be glad to do that and have a meeting afterwards if possible.

I don't need to hit.

But thank you for your time. I appreciate each one of you. Ms. Doreen, I appreciate you always saying you're going to take care of the park, too. Thank you. All right, Ms. Urtha Levy.

Good morning, commissioners. I thank you for this time. I am a resident here in my home for 25 years. I'm also a local business owner. I've met some of you guys during some of the chamber events. And I have been away from government as much as possible, minding my business. However, my recent experience with the zoning commission has brought me to this before you, sorry. I did have a speech, but I'm going to leave off of there. I was looking at the mission statement of Rockdale County, the vision statement, envisions a future where every resident thrives in a dynamic, connected, resilient community. We strive to be a leading model of innovation, sustainability, diversity, where generations collaborate, learn, and grow together. Where I fit in in this part is the grow together part. I'm an educator. I'm a registered nurse and I also am a nurse educator. Due to economic issues, like many people, I've found a way to continue to serve the community in my way of service, which is education, while maintaining my ability to afford my location. I moved from a location in Conyers because the rent kept getting high. I spoke with the zoning commission regarding regulations as far as moving the business to the location where it is now. A year and a half later there were issues and I just, listening to everyone here, I know I can't be the only small business person that's stuck without assistance. So my request is for while we're going through this UDO process is to actually look at it and make the language clear. Like one of the instances that I made last week was On one page of the application for a home occupation license, it says that you can have two people if you're teaching. But in the affidavit that we're required to sign, it says that you can't have anyone related to your business. And that brought me to consider a special use permit. There's also confusing language with the special use permit. One representative of the county said, oh, you will fit a special use. The other person that I was referred to said, oh, this doesn't apply to your case. So while we're going through creating this UDO, just make sure the language is unified throughout. I mean, that's my small part, but listening with the data centers, et cetera, it's confusing throughout. So just I encourage you, I beg you to please make sure this language is clear for all stakeholders involved. Thank you for your time.

Thank you. And I do want to mention that we have a hearing on Thursday night at 6. And there won't be a vote that night, but it will be before the BOC. the unified development ordinance has not been updated for 20 years and so this is a major project i wish i could even think of a relative way to explain how massive the undertaking is for this and because it is complex language in several areas one of the reasons we wanted to do a rewrite is because there are things that Through the years, times have changed. Some things are outdated. Some need to be refreshed. And then certainly addressing new opportunities, you know, that may come our way in Rockdale County so that we can be much more clear about them is one of the many intents that we have. So thank you for that. All right. At this time, we'll move to approval of the agenda.

And so, Madam Chair and Commissioners, we have a request to amend the agenda this morning to add item 2026-323 for the Corey Brown and the TCB ban contract.

So I move to approve the agenda to add item 2026-323 and to approve the agenda as amended.

Madam Chair, I'm sick of the motion.

Okay, I have a motion and a second all in favor say aye. Aye. The motion carries. Next we have the approval of the minutes from June 9th of 2026.

I second the motion.

I have a motion and a second. Are there any questions? If not, all in favor say aye. Aye. The motion carries. Item number seven, unfinished business. We do not have any at this time, so we'll move to item number eight. Madam Clerk.

All right. Item 302 is with Fire Systems Incorporated through the Sheriff's Office. This is for the fire alarm system repairs. The amount is $13,589. This is for one year with automatic renewal for additional term and less terminated. This is through the general fund and is a budgeted item. Would you like me to keep going? Yes. All right. Item 303 is with Locality Media LLC doing business as first do. This is through the Fire Rescue Department for the implementation of fire prevention modules to track, manage, and report fire and life safety system inspections. Testing and maintenance. This is no cost to the county. The service provider pays $20 per report submission. This is for a 12-month term with automatic renewals for successive terms of 12 months unless canceled. This is a budgeted item. Item 304 is with Criminal Justice Coordinating Council through the Juvenile Court. This is for additional funds for the Juvenile Justice Incentive Grant. It's change order number one to contract 2025-105. The amount is $6,343. The term is July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. This is grant funded and is a budgeted item. Item 305 is with Aquatic Informatics Incorporated through the Water Resources Department. This is for the renewal, support, subscription, and license for users of upgraded water information management system for the base data. The amount is $32,189.40. The term is June 19, 2026 through June 18, 2027. This is through the Water Enterprise Fund and is a budgeted item. Item 306 is with Tyler Technologies for the probate court. This is for client success management and consulting agreement. The amount is $41,250. This is prorated for year one. The term is April 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, $55,000 for year two. That term is January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2027. This is through the general fund, is a budgeted item, and is submitted for ratification. Item 307 is with Habitat for Humanity for the Conyers Rockdale chapter. This is to the finance department, a memorandum of agreement for the contract termination for the neighborhood stabilization program project closeout. It's reimbursement to the county of $69,248.57. This is submitted for ratification. Item 308 is with Rockdale Plaza LLC through the General Services Department for the lease extension for the Rockdale County Stormwater and Rockdale County Planning and Development located at 1117 and 1119 West Avenue. It's change order number two to contract 2022-120. This is a three-month extension through September 30 of 2026. This is through the General Fund and the Stormwater Enterprise Fund and is a budgeted item.

Madam Clerk? Yes. Can we get a dollar?

So on the planning and development, it pays $2,689 per month. and stormwater pays $3,289 per month. Okay, so that times three is what the impact would be from the general fund. The planning and development comes from the general fund, and the stormwater comes from the stormwater enterprise fund. Okay, very good. Yes, so they're split up to account for that. Thank you.

Item 309 is with Kolodkin Family Limited to the General Services Department. This is the lease extension at 882 North Main Street, Conyers, for Suites 120, 130, and 140. This is change order number one to contract 2022-87. The amount is $7,066.73 per month for months one through 12. $7,278.73 for months 13 through 15. That term is June 30, 2026 through August 31, 2027 with right to extend lease on month-by-month basis after the first 15 months. This is through the general fund and is a budgeted item.

Madam Clerk, can you tell us about who is housed in that building, please?

I can take that. So that is the district attorney's office and the public defender's office are in that building. So the extension is to allow for the renovation to the magistrate building, which is where the public defender will go once magistrate and probate court move out. And then the district attorney will be in the annex courthouse, which will be completely renovated. So this allows the time needed to get those renovations done. Okay. Thank you.

All right. Item 310 is with the Hospital Authority of Rockdale County for Superior Court 1 for the Health Trust Grant for Accountability Courts. The amount is $17,500 with no match. The term is July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. This is grant funded and is a budgeted item. Item 311 is with David Cole through the Parks and Recreation Department for the Summer Concert Series Performers. The amount is $5,750. This vendor is requesting a 50% down payment three weeks after signing a contract. This is a single event on August 30, 2026 through the general fund and is a budgeted item. Item 312 is the Rockdale Girls Softball Association through the Parks and Recreation Department. It's a memorandum of understanding. It's change order number one to contract 2024-165. This is changing specifics to item number two in the original contract, and it's through July 1, 2027. Item 313 is with the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency through the Emergency Management Agency Department for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The total approved cost is $65,887.84. The federal share is $49,415.88. The state share is $2,067. And the local share is $14,404.96. And this is a multi-year agreement.

Can we get explanation on that?

Yes, Director Webb is here. Thank you. Are you wanting it on the overall cost, how that's done?

It's just the program itself.

So the overall grant is the hazard mitigation grant, which focuses on any type of risk that the county might have. This was created in 2009. Over the many years, it's been re-updated, implemented. In 2023, it was the last update. So every five years, it has to be updated. These funds all come from FEMA. However, the local share is actually, it's not anything the county will pay. It's a reimbursement, and it goes toward my EMA planning specialist salary.

Okay. Very good. Thank you.

OK, item 314 is with the University of Georgia through the Extension Services Department. This is a memorandum of understanding and contract renewal for the state staff. The amount is $118,009. The term is July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. This is through the general fund and is a budgeted item. Item 315 is a requisition through the Sheriff's Office for McCracken Automotive doing business as Brannon. This is for three Ford Explorers patrol vehicles replacing high mileage vehicles. The amount is $48,200 each for a total of $144,600. This is SPLOST funded and is a budgeted item and is submitted for ratification. Item 316 is a requisition through the Sheriff's Office for Dana Safety Supply for vehicle emergency equipment for three Ford Explorers for uniform patrol use. The amount is $19,513.23 each for a total of $58,539.69. This is SPLOST funded and is a budgeted item. Item 317 is a requisition through Fire Rescue for All Safe Industries for hazmat response equipment to enhance and maintain operational readiness and hazardous material incidents. The amount is $30,891.70. This is through the general fund and is a budgeted item. Item 318 is a requisition through Fire Rescue for Chemtech Corporation for transport skid unit replacement for the brush truck. The amount is $19,105. This is to the general fund and is a budgeted item. Item 319 is an expenditure request for Tyler Technologies for the clerk of court software annual invoice. The amount is $342,029.68. This is through the general fund and is a budgeted item. Item 320 is an expenditure request for CSX transportation through the Water Resources Department for engineering inspections and flaggers for the 12-inch sewer crossing CSX right of way at Rockdale Industrial. The amount is $54,439.41. This is through the Water Enterprise Fund and is a budgeted item. So if we could stop right there and take items 302 through 320.

I move that we approve items 302 through 320 for contracts, for ratification, and other expenditures.

Okay, I have a motion and a second. Are there any questions? Hearing none, I ask for a vote. All in favor say aye.

Aye. The motion carries. Okay, item 321 is a surplus of equipment. And just a reminder to view all of these items that are declared surplus, you can go to www.govdeals.com. A, we have General Services Department, the Fleet Division, and B, Public Defender. okay i second the motion i have a motion and a second all in favor say aye aye aye the motion carries okay item 322 is a list of volunteer appointments a is the department of family and children's services the first one is gail jenkins as a reappointment through june 30th 2031 Two is with Monte Telford, which is an appointment through June 30, 2031. That's hard to say, 2031. That sounds crazy. OK, B is with Viewpoint Health Board, a reappointment of Doreen Williams and Yvette Morton Williams through June 30, 2029. C is with the Water and Sewer Authority. One, Mark Hargrove. Term would be January 1st, 2024 through December 31st, 2026. Two would be John Nix. The term is January 1st, 2024 through December 31st, 2026. Three is Nicole Lishner. The term is January 1st, 2026 through December 31st, 2028. Four is Telfany Morgan. The term is January 1st, 2026 through December 31st, 2028. Five would be Connie Lazenby. And the term is January 1st, 2026 through December 31st, 2028. I'd like to request that the board take these items A and C separately so that when the vote is cast for B, that Commissioner Williams is not voting on her own appointment. That would be great.

But before we do that, if I could, I'd like to see if any of the people that are here would be able to come to the podium and just speak about their commitment. I see Gail Jenkins in the audience. Could you just come tell us about the great things you've been doing on the Department of Family and Children's Services board?

Good morning and thank you. It really has been a pleasure working with DFAX. We have all types of programs. The last program we had, just the other day, we had a reunification program at Pine Lawn Park. where five families were reunited together. And then we had approximately eight more children that met their parents for the first time. And it was really a fun-filled event. And the parents were just so genuine, absolutely beautiful with hearts to just embrace these children who need homes.

Well, I want to thank you for your good work. I know that under the leadership of Veronica Parrott and the entire DFACS team over there, they've done a really good job serving children in need in our community. We are still looking for foster care parents, and so I know that that's also one effort that's been made in the community. Yes. Thank you for your leadership and service on the board. I appreciate your ongoing commitment to what they do. Yes, thank you. All right, thank you. Okay, do we have anybody else on here? Connie Lassenby, would you like to say anything? No? Okay, all right, it's all good. All right, did I miss anybody else? All right, we'll carry forward with a motion then.

Okay, I move to approve appointments A1 and 2 and C1 through 5 as presented.

I second that motion. I have a motion and a second. If there's not any questions, all in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. The motion carries.

Madam Chair, I move to approve the reappointments for item B, which is the viewpoint health board.

I second that motion. I have a motion and a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. The motion carries.

Commissioner Williams, you want the record to reflect that you abstain?

Yes, I will abstain from that.

All right. Item 323 is with Corey Brown and the TCB Band through the Parks and Recreation Department. This is for the June 2026 summer concert series performance. The amount is $5,000. The day is June 28, 2026. This is through the general fund and is a budgeted item.

I move to approve the contract as presented.

Madam Chair, I second that motion. I have a motion and a second. And I do want to take the opportunity to let the public know that this event will be Sunday. And I hope that many of you can come out and enjoy the event. I know that we had good participation last year, and we hope even better this year. With that being said, all in favor say aye. Aye. The motion carries. At this time, we'll move into board comment.

Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Just a reminder that we still have constituent services on Fridays at the library from 10 to 12 and that is sponsored through Congressman David Scott's office. And a note on that, they will have a special election to fill his term January, I'm sorry, July 28th. Last week we started the Women Supporting Women's Tea and today is our second session and it's tonight at 6 o'clock, it's from 6 to 7.30 at CE Steel, and you're all welcome to attend, women that is, to attend. Also, I would like to invite everyone out to our Cultivate Fest, and that will be on Sunday, this Sunday, June 28th. And this festival is sponsored through KCRB, which is Keep Conyers Rockdale Beautiful. We will provide a vibrant, family-friendly, environmental festival first. And we're going to have a lot of hands-on demonstrations tables for your kids, for the family to partake in. It's just a bit for the community to come together for a greener and better community. And that will be from 12 to 4, and that's at the lawn at Wheeler Park on 1400 Parker Road. We will have vendors there. We will have bouncy houses. And this will segue into the concert series that Madam Chair spoke about, which will start at 5 p.m. to 7. So it's going to be a day full of fun, entertainment, and things for the family to do. It's a family fun day on Sunday, June 28th, and I invite all of you to come. And that is all for my comments. Thank you.

So... couple of events coming up that we are preparing for on July 16th our senior services center will be having their arts for the ages which is a full day it's a well a half day program where they the seniors and the youth get together and spend the day and they bring some of their artwork they dance they have a fashion show There's lunch, and they have a chance to talk. And so it's this intergenerational event that has been really successful in the last few years. This is the third year for it. That is not that far away, even though it's in July, but we are looking for sponsors for that event also. And then the 8th Annual Nonprofit Appreciation Brunch will be in August, August 20th, and that has been an opportunity to recognize the nonprofits that work in our community provide so many services and do it in in such a good way and currently we are looking for sponsors for that also and there will be a flyer and a letter coming out in the next day or two for that also wanted to mention that we had we lost one of our firefighters and I don't know if you've mentioned this before I got here but That is always a really sobering event. And as good friends with Meg Joyner, who works with Sharon at the EMA, she also was very touched. and experienced some trauma from that whole experience of working in the office with the calls that the call that came in and so I think it's really important that we continue to pray for that for all of our firefighters for all of our public servants for all of our public safety people there is there is a danger to what they're doing and we appreciate their sacrifice very much so did you talk about the service this Friday okay so the service is this friday at springfield baptist 11 o'clock um i don't i don't know if you've ever been to a service for um a safety public safety person but that it's probably one of the most emotional touching kinds of services that there can be those are my comments

thank you I wanted to share a couple of things of course Sunday hope to see you all at the concert I also wanted to let you know in our efforts to continue to strengthen our small businesses in Rockdale County I'll be meeting with the Small Business Administration today and we will continue to work towards finding opportunities for our business community to thrive for those that are established businesses or for those that are looking to start businesses here in Rockdale County we want to streamline the process and make sure that it's as easy as possible to do business with us here in Rockdale County I also wanted to mention that I appreciate our community support. There's been a lot of outreach to the fire department and in many efforts. And so we are working on a program that could allow our community to be a little bit more involved with adopt a station. So it would be an opportunity to support our firefighters and make sure that good wishes come their way on a regular basis for the next several months as they work through this period in time. Additionally, there will be other items that can be donated to them just to make sure that they're encouraged during this time. I do appreciate the leadership of Chief Jimmy Robinson and his team, including Fire Investigator Chief Nick Lynn. Thank you for being here today. But please keep them all in your prayers in the days ahead. Thank you. All right. At this time, do we have a need for executive session?

Yes, Madam Chair, for the purpose of discussing personnel and pending and threatened litigation. Okay.

Madam Chair, is it possible that I can add land acquisition?

Yes. Okay.

I would like to move into executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel and pending and threatening litigation as well as land acquisition. Okay.

Very good. I second the motion. I have a motion and a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. The motion carries. This time we'll adjourn the meeting. Thank you and have a great day.