Bulloch County Commissioners met for their regular bi monthly meeting on Tuesday evening, June 4, 2024. During the meeting County Attorney Jeff Akins reminded commissioners that the current Special Local Option Sales Tax (SLOST) plan expires on September 30, 2025. This is equates to 1 penny of sales tax.
If it is going to be renewed (without any interruptions), they have to have a referendum on March 18, 2025, which requires them to have a plan in place by December. The SPLOST amount is projected to be around $18 million a year, that being $9 million to the county and $9 million to the cities.
Continue reading for all business covered by the Commissioners.
ZONING
APPROVED 1. Jerry Jennings and Craig Jennings submitted an application to rezone approximately 2.66 acres from AG-5 (Agricultural five acres) to HC (Highway Commercial). The property is located on Highway 301 North.
. Special
Jennings plans to build a strip mall center in this area for leasing.
WITHDREW - 2. Southbound Timberland Company LLC. submitted an application to rezone approximately 345 acres from AG-5 (Agricultural five acres) to LI (Light Industrial) for the development of warehouses. The property is located on Highway 119 North.
APPROVED 3. Randy Allen Sims submitted an application to rezone approximately 1.795 acres from AG-5 (Agricultural five acres) to GC (General Commercial) for the purpose of operating a contractor business. The property is located at 270 New Town Road. (with conditions)
Sims plans to use this area to put his trucks, trailers, and excess materials from jobs he has left over. He has been operating this business for the last seven years. Steve Rushing accepted the staff conditions on Sims behalf, and agrees to put up landscape buffers to try to keep the construction noise down for the neighbors.
APPROVED 4. Randy Allen Sims submitted a conditional use application to operate a contractor business. The property is located at 270 New Town Road.
APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA
1. Minutes Approval: Tuesday May 21st, 2024 08:30 AM
2. Motion to approve the annual Vertiv UPS service and support contract for 5 UPS units. Bulloch County Page 1 Updated 5/31/2024 12:44 PM Agenda Board of Commissioners June 4, 2024
This is the yearly service and support contracts for 5 UPS units, one at the 911 center and 4 at the 4 radio tower sites.
3. Motion to approve the first contract renewal with Colonial Oil Industries, Inc. for bulk oil and fluids to be used by Fleet Maintenance on county-maintained vehicles.
At the June 6, 2023, Board of Commissioners meeting the Board of Commissioners approved a one-year contract, July 1, 2023 to June 03, 2024, with Colonial Oil Industries, Inc. for bulk oil and fluids to be used by Fleet Maintenance on county-maintained vehicles. It is time for the first contract renewal for these products. Deke Dover with Colonial Oil Industries, Inc. has agreed to keep the prices from the original bid the same for this contract renewal.
4. Motion to grant an alcoholic beverage license for retail beer and wines sales to SIDDHI 0203 Inc., located at 235 Lanier Drive.
5. Motion to approve a Benefit Run-Out Management Services Agreement with Covenant Administrations (DBA 90 Degree Benefits).
Bulloch County provides, as a component of the employee benefits package, a self-funded health and dental plan for employees and their dependents. The county utilizes the services of vendors to evaluate and pay claims and to perform other plan administration duties.
As of 7/1/2024, plan administration services will transition from the current vendors to Cigna Healthcare. Cigna will begin processing and paying claims for services that occur on or after the 7/1/20224 effective date. There is, however, some lag between the date that medical services are provided and the date the claims are fully submitted, processed, and paid. Claims that occur in one plan year (in this case, 7/1/2023 to 6/30/2024) but that are not paid until the following plan year are called “run-out” claims.
During times of transition, it is customary and prudent for organizations to execute limited-term agreements with incumbent vendors to ensure the proper handling and payment of “run out” claims. To that end, our current third-party administrator, Covenant Administrators (DBA 90 Degree Benefits) has agreed to continue their services during the run-out period.
The attached “Benefit Run-Out Management Services Agreement” formalizes the necessary arrangement for the payment of run-out claims. The terms of this agreement require 90 Degree Benefits to process run-out medical and dental claims for 12 months. Because the volume of run-out claims is heaviest during the first few months and wanes thereafter, the fees for this agreement are based on the following scale:
- 100% of normal monthly fee for months 1, 2, and 3
- 50% of normal monthly fee for months 4, 5, and 6
- No charge for months 7 through 12 The fee is based on a per-employee-per-month charge.
Based on historical numbers, the estimated total cost of this service is $39,534 for the entire 12-month period.
6. Approve a Resolution Authorizing Acceptance of Roads in Wedgefield Plantation Subdivision.
The developer has requested that the County accept dedication of and title to the roads in Wedgefield Plantation Subdivision. Approval of the attached resolution will implement acceptance of these roads and authorize Chairman Thompson to accept a deed for these roads on behalf of the County.
7. Motion to adopt a resolution for the Smart Bulloch 2045 A Joint Comprehensive Plan for a Better Tomorrow Update.
This adoption of the resolution is necessary to meet the state minimum planning standards for this document. Similar resolutions will be presented to the participating cities of Brooklet, Portal, and Register for adoption during their regular meetings in June 2024. The document can be reviewed on the County website.
NEW BUSINESS
APPROVED 1. Consideration of a motion to approve application to GDOT for available Local Road Assistance Funding in the amount of $2,220,281.32 to be used for county road resurfacing. No matching funds are required.
Plan is to use the funds for the resurfacing program, which covers around 50 miles. It helps with road patching and crack sealing. An application would need to be sent, with the intention of fixing public roads along with maintenance and improvements.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Bruce Simons, asked about homestead exemption freeze again. He asked last May for the Commissioners to consider a homestead freeze for senior adults. Chairman Thompson said they would look into it again.
David Bennett, incoming Chair of the Bulloch County Commission, asked commissioners to consider cutting $2 million out of the $64 million budget. It is $2 million you don't have revenue for. You are going to pull from reserves. The budget assumes sales tax revenue will continue to grow. That is a concern with the current economy. Make the budget neutral. Cut $2 million. That would be a huge first step to build goodwill with the citizens of this county.
Send a shout out to Robbie Fisher and Ronnie Newman have gone out of their way to help people with their tax assessment.
Leisha Nevil incoming BOE member asked for everyone to work together.
Lawton Sack asked for more comprehensive budget numbers to be presented to citizens before the Commissioners vote in a few weeks to approve it.
Bill Emily who identifies as an elected official of Senior Citizens of Bulloch County, wants rail road crossings improved.
COMMISSION AND STAFF COMMENTS
Jeff Akins, County Attorney reminded Commissioners about SPLOST expiation deadlines. It has to be renewed in November or March of 2025. It is now too late to get on the November so it has to be done in March 18th. The call for election could be done as late as February 13, 2025. Shontay Jones, Election Superintendent needs it by early January to do a March election. SPLOST pays for capital projects and vehicles like fire engines and ambulances. It generations about $18 million per year. The county retains about half of that. The other half goes to local municipalities.
If it does not pass in March, then there will be a six month gap in funds collections before another referendum is called.
Commissioner Toby Conner asked what action needs to be take by the Commission to move forward.
Attorney Akins said a letter needs to be sent to the Cities. The County and the Cities have to come up with a list of projects to be put on the referendum. Those negotiations have to be worked out before December. Which is not alot of time.
Chairman Thompson asked that they get the letters out as soon as possible to the municipalities.
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Live stream of the meeting
