Bulloch County Commissioners met for their regular bi-monthly meeting on Tuesday morning March 19, 2024. They opened the meeting with a presentation from Joe Dan Thompson with ACCG.
Thomson explained that Bulloch County has been participating in the ACCG Group Self-Insurance Workers' Compensation Fund Dividend for over 40 years. After assessing the program's strength and stability the ACCG Board of Trustes agreed that a portion of the investment and underwriting gains could be returned to members.
To date there have been five distributions back to the members. Over the past five Bulloch County has received more than $1,600,000 through the program. As part of the funds 6th distribution Thompson presented the Commissioners today with a check for $84,113.
ALL APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA
1. Minutes Approval: Tuesday March 5th, 2024 05:30 PM
2. Motion to approve the purchase of Custom Shade Canopies for Splash in the Boro
Project ID SPLA13 / $22,000
3. Motion to approve the acceptance of Georgia Recreation and Park Association (GRPA) BOOST Grant Award for Summer 2024
Bulloch County Recreation & Parks has been selected to receive the Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) BOOST grant for the contract period of May 2024 - July 2024 (Summer 2024) in the amount of $85,000
4. Motion to approve Maxwell-Reddick & Associates to continue with Topographic Survey and Civil Design for Fletcher Park added site amenities
Fletcher park has a newly paved parking lot and had minor house renovations and were able to open the Fletcher House for summer camp. Funding for additional improvements on the park were approved and listed on the FY24 schedule (Project ID Park18). These improvements include a pavilion, restrooms, playground, sidewalks, walking trail and another small pervious parking lot from the Lanier Road side of the park.
For this project to continue making progress topographic surveying and civil design will be needed for layouts of the amenities for the park. Maxwell - Reddick and Associates performed the topographic surveying and civil design for the new parking lot and entrances. The proposed area for these amenities will need the same services but will have an overlay from the surveying from the of the parking lot project. This portion of the project would be a continuation to encompass another 4 acres behind the house.
The proposal from Maxwell - Reddick and Associates is in the amount of $30,000 for these services and the parks and recreation department recommends allowing Maxwell - Reddick and Associates to continue their service.
5. Motion to approve the purchase of a Dell PowerEdge R750xs Server for $15,500 from Georgia Technologies through the County’s Dell account
Per Georgia Technologies, the technical support of the County, the Judicial server is one of the oldest servers in the County. The software vendor has conveyed to Georgia Technologies the Judicial server needs to be replaced as soon as possible. The server is a Windows Server 2012 server and is no longer supported by Microsoft, which creates a security risk.
6. Motion to approve Tidewater Equipment Company Marketing Agreement
Parks and Recreation department requests that Tidewater Equipment Company become the official Equipment Sponsor for the Bulloch County Agricultural Complex through a donation of use of a Case IH Farmall 90C Tractor.
This agreement would be for a period of three (3) years with an option to extend for an additional two (2) years at the completion of the three (3) year period. The three (3) year period will commence on April 1, 2024.
This partnership allows us the use of a tractor at very minimal costs to the department outside of initial signage. The agreement has previously been held by Blanchard Equipment who wished not to renew.
7. Motion to approve contract renewal from Coca-Cola to provide beverages for resell at Recreation Concessions (Athletics, Splash in the Boro & Ag Complex)
The parks and recreation department recommend approval of the first successive one (1) year period contract renewal agreement, beginning April 7, 2024 and ending April 6, 2025.
8. Motion to enter into negotiations with the most qualified responsive firm for valuation appraisal services for S&S Greenway Phase 3
For completion of the S&S Greenway Phase 3 design, the County will be required to acquire 0.296 acres of right of way for drainage improvements,0.506 acres of easements for maintenance of slopes, 0.042 acres of easements for driveway reconstruction, and 0.099 acres of easements for fence relocation.
The County will be reimbursed for 80% of the costs (for up to $310,000), and the 20% local matching funds will come from TSPLOST. The right of way acquisitions must be conducted according to state and federal guidelines because it is being funded by the grant.
The County received submissions from two firms on March 7, 2024, as detailed in the attached memo from the Purchasing Manager. The submissions have been scored according to scoring criteria in the solicitation, and staff is requesting approval to begin cost negotiations with the highest scoring firm. The County Engineer recommends approval of this motion.
9. Motion to approve an EPD Application to Operate a Public Water System
Approval of this item would authorize the County Manager to execute an application for the purpose of permitting Bulloch County to operate a public water service to sell wholesale water to Bryan County from the two wells that it will own. This application is distinguished from the EPD groundwater application submitted in August.
10. Motion to approve a Tenant-Buyer Agreement with The Temples Company
The County currently has a solid waste collection center located on 1.75 acres on Highway 46. In order to have more space and have a safer entrance to and exit from the solid waste center, the County desires to relocate the solid waste center to a parcel of property containing 2.65 acres on Pine Inn Road currently owned by Kirk McGlamery.
Within six weeks prior to closing on a proposed exchange, O.C.G.A. 36-9-3(a)(3)(D) requires publication of notice of the proposed exchange in the legal organ for the county once a week for four weeks. The resolution in the March 19 county commission packet authorizes publication of the required notice.
NEW BUSINESS
APPROVED - 1. Approve a Resolution to Authorize Publication of Notice of a Proposed Exchange of Real Property in Accordance with O.C.G.A. 36-9-3(a)(3)(D)
This property contains a solid waste collection center at the intersection of Pine Inn and 46 at Foster Williams Road. They have had traffic safety issues with this location and need a larger location. This property swap will allow them to meet both of these needs according to Dink Butler, Public Works Director.
APPROVED - 2. Motion to approve a change order with SD Clifton Construction in the amount of $61,591.50 for a sprinkler system and other associated additions (see discussion for explanation) for the EMS station addition for fire suppression.
APPROVED - 3. Motion to Appoint Corey R. Kemp as the Director of Bulloch County EMA
Interviews were conducted for the position, and Mr. Kemp was selected as the top candidate. Mr. Kemp has been employed by the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency from February 2020 until present.
With the retirement of Ted Wynn and Lee Eckles the decision was made to appoint a dedicated EMA Director for Bulloch County. It is a requirement from GEMA that the Commissioners appoint the EMA Director. Out of several qualified interviews we selected Cory R. Kemp as the new EMA Director for Bulloch County.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Len Fatica - Thank you all for having a budget session in Statesboro. Citizens should have been at these meetings to understand what the county is facing. A few weeks ago Ted Wynn retired after 30 years of service. Requesting that the County considering renaming the Bulloch County Emergency Operations Center the Ted Wynn, Jr. Emergency Operations Center. Chairman Thompson said they would take this under consideration.
Cassandra Mikell - On behalf of the Bulloch County Republican Party they are hosting a meet and greet on March 25th at SHS and invite the Commissioners to attend along with the public.
COMMISSION AND STAFF COMMENTS
Tom Couch, County Manager asked that they set a date for a follow up workshop from the budget retreat. They could have the District Attorney and Board of Elections present at this meeting. It could also involve a workshop or work session as well.
Kristie King, CFO proposed after the morning meeting in April. The budget has to be approved by June 30, 2024. Her goal is to have a proposed budget by May 1, 2024 with NO tax increase.
Commissioners thanked the staff and department heads for all of the information they presented at the budget retreat.
EXECUTIVE SESSION (PERSONNEL)
After a brief Executive Session the Commissioners returned and adjourned with no action taken.
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