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[3:54] >> Heat. Heat.

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[8:04] » Tuesday, August 18th. 2026 meeting of

[8:07] the county county board of

[8:08] commissioners.

[8:10] We're going to begin begin with an

[8:11] invitation by Commissioner Goodman

[8:13] followed by the pledge of allegiance.

[8:15] Gentlemen, remove your covers, please,

[8:17] and let us stand as you are able.

[8:20] Let us pray. Our Father and our God in

[8:23] heaven, we humble ourselves and we come

[8:26] to you begging forgiveness for our many

[8:28] sins.

[8:29] Father, we also ask that you give us

[8:33] wisdom tonight as we consider the things

[8:35] that are before us. Father, as we speak,

[8:39] our law enforcement people are involved

[8:41] in a manhunt. We pray for the safety of

[8:44] all of our law enforcement officers, for

[8:46] the safety of the person they're

[8:48] hunting, and we pray that this will come

[8:51] to a peaceful conclusion. Father, there

[8:54] are needs in our community that we don't

[8:56] even know about, but you are aware of

[8:59] everything. And we pray that you will do

[9:01] your will in healing and restoring those

[9:04] people. Father, we thank you for all of

[9:07] the many blessings again. And these

[9:10] things we ask in all your name. Amen.

[9:13] >> Amen.

[9:15] ledge to the flag of the United States

[9:18] of America and to the republic for which

[9:21] it stands. One nation under God,

[9:25] indivisible, with liberty and justice

[9:27] for all.

[9:29] [clears throat]

[9:34] » Okay. I don't know of any amen uh

[9:36] amendments to the agenda. Does the board

[9:38] have any amendments, deletions?

[9:41] Seeing none, move on to the adoption of

[9:43] the agenda as presented.

[9:45] >> Mr. Chairman, I move to adopt the agenda

[9:47] as presented.

[9:49] >> Second.

[9:50] >> We have a motion in a second. All in

[9:52] favor?

[9:55] >> Motion carries. I forgot roll call.

[9:58] >> All commissioners present. [laughter]

[10:02] >> We're all here, but we're not all.

[10:03] >> As long as I just forget roll call.

[10:05] That's a pretty good deal, right?

[10:08] >> Okay. We move on to approval of the

[10:09] minutes for the August 4th, 2026 regular

[10:12] meeting, public hearing, and executive

[10:13] session. Um assume everybody's read the

[10:17] minutes. Any deletions,

[10:21] comments?

[10:22] If not, entertain a motion to approve

[10:24] the minutes of the August 4th, 2026

[10:26] regular meeting.

[10:31] » Motion to approve them.

[10:33] >> I'll second.

[10:35] All in favor?

[10:37] Motion carries. Move on to We've got

[10:40] three presentations tonight. The first

[10:41] one is by Miss Peoples, Amy Peoples for

[10:44] the employee of the quarter.

[10:50] » Hello. Good evening everyone. My name is

[10:52] Amy Peoples and I'm here on behalf of

[10:54] the employee recognition committee and

[10:56] I'll be presenting the award for the

[10:58] employee of the quarter for the second

[10:59] quarter of 2026.

[11:02] The employee selected for the employee

[11:04] of the quarter has been with Camden

[11:05] County since July of 2021. He started as

[11:08] an intern and then he continued helping

[11:10] out as a pole worker during election

[11:12] time. In 2022, he earned a full-time

[11:15] position with elections and registration

[11:17] and has become a very vital part of

[11:19] their team. This employee was nominated

[11:22] by several of his peers. He received

[11:24] three nominations. And here's what some

[11:27] of those nominations said. This employee

[11:29] is a valued part of our elections team.

[11:32] He is essential in assisting with the

[11:34] four Cs of our team. He explains

[11:37] processes with clarity. He shown with u

[11:40] numerous contributions displayed to

[11:42] staff and the public. He shows a deep

[11:45] concern with each voter obtaining fair,

[11:47] accurate, and transparent confidence

[11:49] with participation participation in our

[11:52] elections.

[11:53] This employee is the first one to step

[11:55] up and offer help when needed. He's a

[11:58] loyal, humble employee who takes great

[12:00] pride in his work and he is definitely

[12:03] an asset to have working for Camden

[12:05] County. And then the third nomination

[12:07] said that he's always a pleasure to be

[12:09] around. He's dedicated to his work and

[12:12] his co-workers. And at any given day or

[12:15] time, Dennis is always giving out his

[12:17] smiles. So, I'm proud to present the

[12:20] employee of the quarter to Mr. Dennis

[12:22] Irvin with the elections and

[12:23] registration.

[12:26] >> [applause]

[12:30] » Come on up, Dennis.

[12:35] [applause]

[13:04] Where's the spot?

[13:09] [laughter]

[13:22] Yeah, that's really

[13:46] » [applause]

[14:01] » Dennis, I'm happy you had on that

[14:02] beautiful new red shirt tonight,

[14:05] buttoned all the way to the top.

[14:08] No, in honesty, uh, nobody deserves it

[14:11] more. Dennis, appreciate you so very

[14:12] much. I want to thank Amy, uh, for

[14:15] heading up the employee appreciation

[14:16] committee, too. If she weren't on the

[14:18] committee that decides who the employee

[14:20] of the quarter is, she would probably be

[14:21] it herself 10 times over. So, thank you,

[14:24] [applause] Amy.

[14:28] All right. Um, in in the vein here of

[14:31] elections, um, I want to continue with

[14:33] this proclamation of the Camden County

[14:35] Board of Commissioners recognizing

[14:36] September the 15th, 2026 as National

[14:39] Voter Registration Day. Whereas the

[14:42] right to vote is a fundamental

[14:44] cornerstone of our constitutional

[14:46] federal republic, empowering United

[14:48] States citizens to have their voices

[14:49] heard and participate in the governance

[14:51] of our great nation. The right to vote

[14:54] is sacred and it empowers individuals to

[14:56] shape the direction of our community,

[14:58] our state, and our nation. Whereas

[15:00] National Voter Registration Day is a

[15:02] nonpartisan national effort to ensure

[15:05] that every single eligible United States

[15:07] citizen has the opportunity to register

[15:10] to vote and to make their mark on the

[15:12] future of our country. Camden County,

[15:14] Georgia recognizes the gravity of

[15:16] fostering an engaged and informed

[15:18] electorate with resources and unimpeded

[15:21] access to participate in the electoral

[15:23] process with the understanding that

[15:25] active participation in this

[15:27] constitutional process is vital to the

[15:29] well-being and progress of our

[15:31] community, state, and nation. September

[15:33] the 15th, 2026 marks National Voter

[15:36] Registration Day, a day dedicated to

[15:38] raising awareness about voter

[15:39] registration opportunities and ensuring

[15:41] that every eligible United States

[15:43] citizen has that opportunity to register

[15:45] to vote by proclaiming September 15th,

[15:48] 2026 as National Voter Registration Day

[15:50] in Camden County. We reaffir we reaffirm

[15:53] our commitment to fostering a robust

[15:55] republic and encourage all eligible

[15:57] residents to register to vote and to

[15:59] make their voices heard throughout the

[16:00] nation. Now therefore, be it proclaimed

[16:02] by the Camden County Board of

[16:04] Commissioners that September 15, 2026 as

[16:07] National Voter Registration Day, and we

[16:10] encourage all eligible United States

[16:12] citizens to seize this opportunity,

[16:14] register to vote, and engage in this

[16:16] constitutional process. Let us work

[16:18] together to strengthen our

[16:19] constitutional federal republic and

[16:21] ensure that the values of freedom,

[16:22] equality, and civic participation

[16:25] continue to flourish in our great county

[16:27] and our great nation. proclaim this 18th

[16:29] day of August 2026. Robbie Cheek,

[16:32] chairman, Camden County Board of

[16:34] Commissioners. So, I'd like to ask the

[16:36] election folks to come up here uh so

[16:38] that we can celebrate you for everything

[16:39] that you do uh for this process to

[16:41] receive this proclamation.

[16:44] [applause]

[16:51] » Nobody make any sudden movements. They

[16:53] might not need us.

[17:06] You need a wide angle lens for this one.

[17:15] » You're going to need multiple rows until

[17:21] rows.

[17:31] Rock, you need one of those conductor

[17:32] sticks.

[17:36] [laughter]

[17:41] » It's awesome to have this many people

[17:42] here

[17:44] >> participating.

[18:05] I didn't realize.

[18:08] >> Yeah. Hey, I don't need a work comp

[18:10] claim.

[18:13] [laughter]

[18:14] Yeah. Yeah.

[18:30] fine.

[18:35] » Thanks you guys. [applause]

[18:47] We actually we won't have another one

[18:48] until later,

[18:50] >> but we will have another. You can sit

[18:51] down for now.

[18:53] Y'all can come back.

[19:04] Okay. Our third presentation tonight is

[19:06] the acceptable use policy presented by

[19:09] Miko McGovern.

[19:17] Oh my.

[19:18] >> Yeah. Read it all.

[19:19] >> Yeah.

[19:21] Are you going to read all of this?

[19:23] >> Uh, as a matter of fact, if I did, would

[19:26] you hear me though? Because it that is

[19:28] uh 44 pages. Um, I did bring it along

[19:31] for you to have and to take with you.

[19:34] And that's uh that's a part of why uh

[19:37] today is the way it is. Uh today is the

[19:39] day that we present it. give you time to

[19:42] look at it uh digest it and then come

[19:45] back with any uh questions for the next

[19:47] meeting before we try to ask for its

[19:50] approval. So um but I will kick off with

[19:52] a good evening and uh a real reason you

[19:55] know for why you have this thick stack

[19:57] of documents in front of you. So as part

[20:00] of our continuing effort to strengthen

[20:02] and modernize Camden County cyber

[20:04] security and technology posture uh we're

[20:06] presenting an update to the acceptable

[20:08] use policy. Uh today is about

[20:09] socializing the changes. Uh giving you

[20:11] visibility into what's being updated and

[20:14] why it matters and how it aligns with

[20:16] our broader technology governance goals.

[20:18] No decisions or approvals are being

[20:20] requested this evening and we will also

[20:23] have a video uh about the acceptable use

[20:28] policy to help just kind of speedrun

[20:30] through it. Uh it's the same video that

[20:31] we'll be using alongside of its roll out

[20:34] uh as long so if it were to be approved.

[20:38] So the acceptable use policy covers uh

[20:40] all devices, networks, email and cloud

[20:42] services used for county work. Um and

[20:45] this is for any personal device that's

[20:48] used as well. Uh is it's appropriate and

[20:51] inappropriate uses of county technology.

[20:55] Uh security best practices, compliance

[20:57] with security standards. Uh it's it's we

[20:59] already have an acceptable use policy in

[21:01] play. Um and this is this is an update.

[21:06] Uh the reason why we're updating it is

[21:09] uh the old the last one's old. So um you

[21:12] know we could start there. It's at the

[21:13] bottom of the list, but the last policy

[21:15] was updated and signed in 2019. Uh it's

[21:17] time for a new one. Uh this this also

[21:21] reflects the increase in regulatory

[21:23] accountability and uh the recent

[21:25] alignment with our cyber security uh

[21:27] posture that we that I came on board to

[21:31] bring us into. So, um, we we have gaps

[21:34] in security and we close those gaps

[21:36] every day. And this this is one of the

[21:39] ways that we're working to close the gap

[21:40] to protect the county's liability, its

[21:42] staff, and the citizens,

[21:46] [sighs]

[21:47] high-risisk violations during uh driving

[21:50] this update, excuse me. Uh so so we do

[21:52] see uh all kinds of use uh mixed use

[21:54] throughout the county and we want uh a

[21:57] single pane of glass for how we see the

[22:00] appropriate use of county systems. We

[22:03] don't want to to see people as as we're

[22:06] trying to prevent the use of personal

[22:08] email to circumvent any county security

[22:10] um personal messaging apps. Uh we're trying to prevent uploading county

[22:14] documents to personal cloud services.

[22:16] the these things were not as prevalent

[22:19] in the county back in 2019. Actually,

[22:21] these things didn't exist at all in the

[22:22] county. It's not that they didn't exa

[22:24] exist at all in the world, but they were

[22:26] not a part of our infrastructure. Um, we

[22:28] want to talk about the the use of public

[22:30] AI tools for county data. So, there's a

[22:35] beginnings of how we want to handle

[22:36] that. Uh, there's sections in the new

[22:38] AUP that mention it. Uh, and bypassing,

[22:41] filtering, and security controls. We

[22:42] want to try to really point out that

[22:45] there is just because you can get

[22:46] somewhere or just because you eventually

[22:48] end up somewhere that doesn't mean

[22:49] you're supposed to be there. So, um we

[22:52] want to we feel like the the new

[22:53] acceptable use policy is a way to uh

[22:56] again socialize, cover down, and make

[22:58] sure that we all understand what we can

[22:59] and can't do.

[23:01] Uh what the commissioners need to know.

[23:03] So, I I do want to point out what we

[23:05] aren't trying to do. We're not trying to

[23:06] push an immediate vote today. Uh we're

[23:08] not trying to rush anything and or give

[23:09] you any surprises. That's why I did uh

[23:12] print out a packet for you to take with

[23:14] you and uh digest and read at your at

[23:17] your leisure over the next uh period of

[23:18] time until we meet again. Uh I can also

[23:21] share that digitally. Uh so so that way

[23:24] you can see it uh on your computer

[23:25] screen or the screen of your choice. Uh

[23:27] but we are really trying to socialize

[23:29] the AUP updates. Uh we want to explain

[23:31] the rationale and gather your feedback.

[23:33] um we we really just want to go ahead

[23:35] and take a clean break from the 2019

[23:37] into the 2026 and also and beyond,

[23:40] right? Um and and today we we do again

[23:43] have a a video uh that that we're going

[23:46] to use to uh roll out with. Uh yeah, go

[23:50] ahead and roll that.

[30:01] As you can see that video, it it's very

[30:04] to the point. It's short, easy to

[30:06] digest, and very clean. This video was

[30:09] created by Sophia Harlos. It's our IT

[30:13] intern. We we just saw a presentation

[30:16] from her at at one of our previous

[30:18] meetings as a as a way to show you, you

[30:20] know, I just want to give her her kudos.

[30:22] You she put that together. Uh you can

[30:24] see how great it was. Um so we're very

[30:27] fortunate to have had her on the the

[30:29] team to produce such a valuable tool for

[30:31] organizational's use. That's going to be

[30:33] used alongside the rollout of the new

[30:35] acceptable use policy. Uh it's just a

[30:37] tool in the toolkit that we've put

[30:38] together uh should it be approved. Uh it

[30:41] will help ensure staff and officials

[30:43] clearly understand the updated policy

[30:45] and the ex uh expectations that come

[30:47] with it. Uh as far as that goes, there's nothing else to really, you

[30:52] know, show you this evening. It it will

[30:53] take time for you to read, digest, and

[30:55] understand what there is inside of the

[30:57] acceptable use policy. This will govern

[30:59] everything that we do here in our our IT

[31:01] environment. Uh I thank you for your

[31:02] time and attention. Uh we look forward

[31:05] to bringing the final version back to

[31:06] you for approval at the next meeting.

[31:12] Thank you. Questions from the board.

[31:16] >> Uh does this does this apply to all

[31:17] county government? So I know there's

[31:19] like a constitutional officers, the

[31:22] court employees, uh or is this just

[31:25] general government?

[31:26] >> The the best way to express the answer

[31:27] to that is that this applies to county

[31:30] information technology systems. So for

[31:33] anybody that gets an account or uses

[31:37] information technology systems within

[31:39] our organization, they fall underneath

[31:41] the accepted use policy. So that could

[31:42] be a contractor, uh it could be uh any

[31:44] person that's afforded access into our

[31:46] information network. Um there is on the

[31:49] very first page a caveat that talks

[31:51] about uh some elected officials,

[31:54] constitutional officers uh as well. And

[31:57] I I encourage you to read it. the the

[31:58] third paragraph on the first page. I

[32:00] think

[32:00] >> it says we're exempt from having to

[32:02] change our password every now and then.

[32:03] [laughter]

[32:04] >> Yeah. I don't have to I don't I'm not

[32:05] I'm going to give you an extra couple of

[32:06] uh days or months on yours. So, uh but

[32:09] that's that's how it uh it falls in play

[32:12] for everybody that uses the technology

[32:14] more so than um does it apply to

[32:16] government?

[32:17] >> Thank you.

[32:17] >> No problem.

[32:19] >> So, I guess there's a certain amount of

[32:20] self-p policing we have to do when we're

[32:22] on the system, but who who monitors

[32:24] beyond ourselves? So, uh, we we do have,

[32:28] uh, another member of the team that that

[32:31] works tirelessly

[32:33] staring at security tools, uh, and

[32:35] that's Miko McGovern. Uh, please go

[32:37] ahead and introduce yourself.

[32:39] >> Uh, yes. Hi. Um, I believe this is my

[32:42] first time talking or being in this

[32:44] public forum. I'm Miko. [laughter]

[32:47] I'm the security and compliance officer

[32:49] here at uh, Camden County. And uh really

[32:52] if we go back through the presentation

[32:56] and you see that second bullet point,

[32:59] the aligning to the NIST CSF 2.0, the

[33:02] CJIS and the PCIDSS. These are all

[33:05] security frameworks that help me guide

[33:08] what is acceptable and what's not

[33:11] acceptable. So, um, we have plenty of

[33:14] security tools that can see you, for

[33:17] example, if someone is going to a site

[33:20] they shouldn't be going to, if they're

[33:22] accessing systems they shouldn't have

[33:24] access to, stuff like that. So, you are

[33:27] correct. There is a level of self-p

[33:29] policing and that's why we are sending

[33:32] out that video made by Sophia so people

[33:34] can understand how to self police but

[33:36] there is also an element behind the

[33:38] scenes where I'm making sure everything

[33:41] is going the way it should be.

[33:43] >> Thank you. Of course

[33:45] >> I appreciate the time and attention. Any

[33:47] other questions?

[33:47] >> Thank you. Any other questions?

[33:50] >> We said we got time to read it and

[33:51] you'll come back and we'll do it all

[33:52] again.

[33:53] >> All over again.

[33:54] >> Sounds good.

[33:55] >> Thank you.

[33:59] Okay, now we move into our first public

[34:01] comment section. This section is for

[34:03] items on the agenda. If you wish to

[34:05] speak, uh, limit your comments to three

[34:08] minutes. And if you come to the podium,

[34:10] speak your name and your address.

[34:14] >> We don't have any registered.

[34:16] >> Nobody signed up. Does anybody in the

[34:18] audience want to speak about agenda

[34:20] items only?

[34:23] >> [snorts]

[34:23] >> Okay, seeing none, we'll move forward to

[34:26] u

[34:28] item number one on the regular meeting.

[34:30] Um this is approval of the equity

[34:32] sharing agreement and certification of

[34:34] the seized assets fund and Debbie Gordon

[34:36] is going to present that.

[34:42] » Uh good evening. Uh my name is Debbie

[34:44] Gordon. I'm the senior director of

[34:46] finance for the Camden County Sheriff's

[34:47] Office and I'm here to present the

[34:49] federal equitable sharing agreement and

[34:51] certification. This is an annual

[34:53] agreement certifying that the Camden

[34:55] County Sheriff's Office is following the

[34:56] guidelines as it pertains to federally

[34:59] forfeited cash and property which are

[35:01] equitably shared with participating law

[35:04] enforcement agencies. All of the numbers

[35:06] on the form have been prepared by the

[35:08] Camden County Sheriff's Office Finance

[35:10] Division and verified by the Camden

[35:12] County Finance Department. Um the agency

[35:14] requests the board to approve the

[35:16] agreement as prepared by staff.

[35:19] >> Thank you.

[35:21] Questions from the board.

[35:23] >> Uh yeah. So could you explain

[35:27] the annual certification report for me?

[35:29] I'm looking at it here. So I

[35:31] >> So basically it's an audit every year

[35:33] that we do um that

[35:36] shows that we are following the

[35:38] guidelines that we're supposed to um

[35:41] when it comes to spending

[35:43] equitable shares.

[35:44] >> And so what's the difference between

[35:46] justice funds and treasury funds

[35:48] >> where it comes from who sees the money?

[35:51] >> So what are justice funds?

[35:54] >> Department of justice and then uh the

[35:55] treasury funds the department of

[35:58] treasury. Yes.

[35:59] >> Oh. Okay. All right. And then so we

[36:02] received 39,960 for law enforcement

[36:04] equipment

[36:05] >> from Department of Justice. Cool.

[36:08] >> And these are these are all like what we

[36:10] received, not expenditures. Correct.

[36:14] >> No, you have the summary form um of

[36:17] everything that

[36:19] was done, whether it was received or

[36:21] spent. there's a more detailed um

[36:24] information and process whenever we

[36:27] spend the funds, but that those numbers

[36:28] are also included on this form.

[36:30] >> Okay, cool. Thank you.

[36:31] >> You're welcome.

[36:35] » Okay. One of the notes is it can't be a

[36:37] use for to supplement or replace the

[36:40] regular budgeted monies. It's anything

[36:42] outside of the regular budget.

[36:44] >> Correct. It has to um specifically

[36:47] benefit the sheriff's office directly.

[36:50] Okay.

[36:52] Any more questions?

[36:55] You entertain a motion.

[36:56] >> Mr. Chairman, I move we approve this

[36:59] agreement.

[37:01] >> I'll second.

[37:03] Have a motion and a second. All in

[37:05] favor?

[37:07] Motion carries.

[37:09] Item number two is uh from GEMA Homeland

[37:13] Security Program Grant Award. Approval

[37:15] for equipment from Julie Hager.

[37:18] I am requesting approval of a grant

[37:19] award through GEMA state homeland

[37:21] security program for equipment in the

[37:22] amount of $94,999.35.

[37:26] These funds are available to counties to

[37:28] prevent terrorism and other catastrophic

[37:30] events. Funds will be used to purchase

[37:32] election security equipment. The

[37:34] project's purpose is to protect election

[37:36] infrastructure, maintain continuity at

[37:37] polling sites, and ensure the safety and

[37:39] confidence of election workers and the

[37:41] public. No matching funds are required

[37:43] for this project. At this time, I would

[37:45] like approval to accept grant award as

[37:46] presented.

[37:49] >> Thank you.

[37:52] >> Question from the board.

[37:53] >> Yeah, I move to approve the funds. I do

[37:55] have a question though once I get a

[37:57] second.

[37:58] >> Quit.

[38:00] >> It's going to be battery backups and

[38:03] lighting equipment, auxiliary emergency

[38:06] lighting, and panic buttons.

[38:08] >> Let's get a motion if we could that way

[38:09] we can open for discussion. Could

[38:11] >> offer one.

[38:14] Smith made motion to accept. I'll second

[38:18] have a motion in a second now. Let's

[38:19] have discussion. Uh

[38:21] >> and so it sounds like permanent battery

[38:23] backup and light auxiliary lighting

[38:25] equipment.

[38:25] >> Yeah. Not not permanent. Um permanent

[38:28] would require a whole different level of

[38:29] assessment and a grant. You've got

[38:31] infrastructure environmental

[38:33] >> and we change precincts.

[38:34] >> Yeah. This is to provide the ability to

[38:36] deploy backup capability to make voting

[38:40] machines operate regardless of the grid

[38:42] dropping off while providing effective

[38:45] safety and security lighting within the

[38:48] facility that has lost power.

[38:50] Ultimately, you're powering every device

[38:52] because remember these voting machines

[38:54] are not talking to the internet. That's

[38:56] a separate and distinct process. What

[38:58] we're doing is stabilizing and ensuring

[39:00] in an allhazard environment that if the

[39:03] building's okay, we're going to have the

[39:05] ability to run voting because this

[39:07] deployable equipment will ensure it's

[39:09] like a UPS plugged into the wall and if

[39:12] power drops off, it's still running. And

[39:14] so that's the whole goal is once we're

[39:16] in all of those kind of external

[39:18] precincts, we have this as our

[39:20] deployment package to make sure that we

[39:22] remain up and operating.

[39:24] >> So it looks like a cooler size battery.

[39:26] You're going to

[39:27] >> Yes, sir. lifepo type battery, you know,

[39:29] handle. They're called electric

[39:30] generators basically, um, but not in the

[39:34] sense of a combustion engine.

[39:35] Separately, also, there's another

[39:37] feature in that that Shannon and I had

[39:38] discussed back initially in the

[39:41] planning, and that's a duress system.

[39:43] So, this is a wearable uh that can be

[39:45] activated that can signal out to

[39:47] indicate that there's a problem in the

[39:48] precinct where they're detecting the

[39:50] potential that there's either a host

[39:52] hostility, there's an act, something's a

[39:54] miss that they they may require

[39:55] assistance with.

[39:58] Thank you.

[40:01] » Any other discussion,

[40:03] questions?

[40:06] We have a motion in the second. All in

[40:08] favor?

[40:10] Motion carries. Thank you all.

[40:14] Moving on to

[40:16] Julie wants her picture.

[40:17] >> Oh, we get a picture. Nice.

[40:56] » [applause]

[41:18] » Okay, now we move on to item number

[41:19] three, which is reappointment to the

[41:21] Department of Behavioral Health and

[41:23] Development Disabilities Region 5

[41:25] Advisory Council. We have Don Gray as a

[41:29] nominee to be reappointed.

[41:34] Do I entertain a motion?

[41:44] I I make the motion that we reappoint

[41:46] her to that. I would I'd like to know a

[41:49] little more about that board, but uh

[41:51] she's been on it, so I'd make the motion

[41:54] we leave.

[41:54] >> Second.

[41:55] >> Yeah, we have a motion in a second. Any

[41:57] discussion

[41:59] >> other than you'd like more information

[42:00] about the board moving forward? Cody

[42:02] actually sent me some and I I read what

[42:05] you said and

[42:06] >> it had some criteria. I'm not going to

[42:08] mention it right now because I'm not

[42:10] sure. Um but it's basically a mental

[42:14] health board. Am I correct?

[42:16] >> Uh yeah. So the DBHCD is the Department

[42:19] of Behavioral Health and Developmental

[42:21] Disabilities. Um and essentially all of

[42:23] the state funding for those types of

[42:25] services flows through the DBHD to our

[42:27] community service boards like Gateway.

[42:30] Uh, and so the mental health services

[42:32] you're receiving are d in our county are

[42:34] directly affected by this.

[42:36] >> I guess I what I meant was what I read

[42:38] basically is an advisory board.

[42:40] >> Yes, sir.

[42:41] >> To help us spend money correctly

[42:44] >> in that area.

[42:45] >> Well, yeah. And well, and take take our

[42:47] concerns with the services we are

[42:49] receiving

[42:50] >> to the DBHD to maybe address some of

[42:52] those issues. Absolutely.

[42:53] >> Okay. Thank you.

[42:55] >> And Miss Gray is willing to be

[42:57] reappointed obviously. Uh uh since I've

[42:59] spoken to her. Yes, sir.

[43:01] >> Yes, sir. Okay, we have a motion in a

[43:03] second. All in favor?

[43:07] >> Anybody opposed?

[43:16] Okay, moving on to item number four.

[43:18] This is a reappoint to the fam the

[43:20] Department of Family and Children

[43:21] Services Board for Sander Craig and

[43:24] Kathy Dixon.

[43:27] This is reappointment. I assume both are

[43:30] willing to reserve or serve again.

[43:33] Entertain a motion.

[43:35] >> Mr. Chairman, I move for the reappoint

[43:36] of Miss Craig and Miss Dixon to the

[43:39] Department of Family and Children

[43:40] Services Board.

[43:41] >> Are we both of them or just one?

[43:44] >> Oh, I can do it one at a time if you

[43:46] >> I think we do them collectively since

[43:47] it's one agenda item.

[43:48] >> I'll second it.

[43:51] >> We have a motion and a second. Any

[43:52] discussion?

[43:54] All in favor?

[43:57] Motion carries.

[43:59] Moving on to reports, the calendar for

[44:02] August and September 2026.

[44:05] >> No changes to the calendar.

[44:07] >> Okay. No changes in the calendar. So,

[44:10] we'll move on to uh county administrator

[44:13] comments. Joey, you have anything?

[44:14] >> Yes, sir. [clears throat]

[44:16] I'd like to invite everyone to our

[44:17] second town hall meeting, which will

[44:19] take place on August the 25th in Maple

[44:22] Ford, which is in Waverly. Uh I do

[44:24] invite everyone and bring your ideas and

[44:26] uh we can all sit down and discuss and

[44:28] have a good time for that evening. So

[44:30] thank you very much.

[44:31] >> I was going to mention this during the

[44:33] county commissioner comment section, but

[44:34] I'll go ahead and mention it now. But uh

[44:37] attending the one at Woodbine, excellent

[44:40] uh format, excellent discussion. We need

[44:43] to keep doing these I thought was very

[44:45] well presented and very well taken from

[44:47] the public. So [snorts] let's keep doing

[44:48] them. Thank you very much.

[44:54] Okay, now we move on to our additional

[44:56] public comment section. This is for any

[44:58] uh one who wants to speak to the board

[45:00] about anything that's not on the agenda.

[45:02] Uh you're limited to three minutes. If

[45:04] you come up, state your name and your

[45:07] address.

[45:07] >> We do have one registered now. It's

[45:09] Ricky Manning. Go Ricky.

[45:31] Good evening, commissioners. Rick

[45:32] Manning from Bullhead. Uh, I'd like to

[45:34] start off with first wishing a happy

[45:37] heavenly birthday to Chief Mars Peoples.

[45:39] He was a faithful servant to this county

[45:41] for many, many years. And I'm sure if

[45:44] he's looking down upon us, he's very

[45:46] pleased with what's going on with

[45:49] what he left. They're still doing a

[45:52] great job and following in his

[45:53] footsteps. And thank you all for that.

[45:55] Now, let's move on. Anyone that did not

[45:57] make that summer town hall that Joy just

[45:59] mentioned, it was very interesting, very

[46:01] informative. I firmly believe that Joey

[46:04] and his staff are sincere in wanting to

[46:06] better our county and bring citizens and

[46:08] county government back together. The

[46:11] problem is winning the trust of the

[46:13] people back. It is proven fact that

[46:15] citizens employees of both the county

[46:18] and local businesses are reluctant about

[46:21] voicing their concerns due to

[46:22] retaliation against them. I know this

[46:25] firsthand as I have been threatened,

[46:27] slandered, and lied about by this very

[46:29] government. I have also been subjected

[46:31] to taxf funded spying on my social

[46:33] media, even as far as my private

[46:36] messages being archived.

[46:39] Y'all know it. Some of y'all don't, but

[46:43] anyhow, they've been archived before. We

[46:45] put an end to it. This retaliation

[46:48] concern was one of the main topics in

[46:50] our citizens group meeting re recently.

[46:52] Until this abuse of power is addressed

[46:54] and stopped, you will never win the

[46:56] trust of the people back. We've got to

[46:58] work on this, folks.

[47:00] Seems that when anything is brought

[47:02] forward, the messenger is the one that

[47:04] faces the raft instead of the problem

[47:06] being looked into and admitted to if it

[47:08] is wrong then corrected. We have a

[47:10] problem of not abiding by the very

[47:12] policies, the UDC codes and other laws

[47:14] that are written for all of us. Reminder

[47:17] that the county is not exempt from most

[47:19] of all of their own policies and codes.

[47:22] I will state once again that the five of

[47:25] you part-time commissioners can in no

[47:27] way keep up with everything in this

[47:29] county. You're not expected to neither.

[47:33] Gentlemen, we have a serious spending

[47:35] problem.

[47:37] Which reminds me of a parable I was told

[47:39] long, long time ago.

[47:41] Who knows more about the wise use of

[47:43] water? The man with a bountiful well or

[47:46] the man in the desert?

[47:50] Well, the water is our tax funds. So,

[47:53] stop wasting him because you can go back

[47:55] to the taxpayers's well and draw more

[47:57] from it. You're acting like the man

[48:00] that's got the bountiful well. Be the

[48:02] man in the desert and use every drop of

[48:04] water wisely as it is our tax money.

[48:07] Thank you.

[48:08] >> Thank you.

[48:11] Anybody else signed up?

[48:13] >> No, there's one.

[48:14] >> Anybody else would like to speak to the

[48:16] board?

[48:19] Okay, seeing none,

[48:22] uh, we'll move on to commissioner

[48:23] comments. I already made my comment

[48:25] regarding Joy's town hall.

[48:28] I got one. One, one of the things that

[48:32] I've noticed that's been happening

[48:33] recently, especially uh, since Joey has

[48:37] become it u, our main guy, is the fact

[48:42] that people seem to want to work

[48:43] together, whether it's staff or whether

[48:46] it's us. tomorrow. Um me, the sheriff,

[48:52] Joey,

[48:53] um and u who?

[48:59] » Yep. James Coughlin, JDA, and uh

[49:03] Jonathan Blunt, the head of the school

[49:05] board are meeting with the uh board of

[49:08] realtors, realtors, and uh all of us are

[49:11] going to speak. uh they asked me to come

[49:13] and tell them the state of the county

[49:16] and uh the state of the county is that

[49:18] uh these guys are doing their job and

[49:20] they're doing a great job as well as I

[49:22] can see. So I just I just want to share

[49:25] that that I appreciate you. I appreciate

[49:28] the idea that all of us are trying our

[49:31] best to work together at this point. Uh

[49:34] that's that's refreshing to me. I've

[49:36] been here for I'm going on my fourth

[49:38] year. can't say that's happened the

[49:39] whole four four years, but it is now.

[49:42] So, I'm grateful.

[49:44] >> Well, I think that doing town halls and

[49:46] what you're doing tomorrow, um what

[49:49] Joy's doing, I think that helps to build

[49:51] transparency and more communication in

[49:53] the in from the public.

[49:55] >> We need to keep doing that. And, you

[49:58] know, I've only been here a year and a

[49:59] half. Um but I just feel like it's we're

[50:02] getting much better at what we're doing.

[50:03] We just got to continue driving down

[50:06] that road and making it happen.

[50:11] Well, I'd like to thank you, Mr.

[50:12] Manning, for that that parable, that

[50:14] reminder, uh, to be wise with the

[50:16] resources that are provided to us. And,

[50:19] um, I was unfortunately I was at

[50:20] training. I was away. I was not able to

[50:22] make the town hall. But I did hear

[50:24] nothing but wonderful things and I look

[50:26] forward to seeing those more often as

[50:28] well.

[50:30] >> Okay. Any other comments?

[50:35] Okay. entertain a motion to adjourn the

[50:37] regular meeting and convene an executive

[50:38] session to discuss litigation, real

[50:41] estate, and personnel.

[50:44] I'll make a motion to

[50:47] have a motion in a second. All in favor?

[50:51] We'll be back.

[1:55:19] Okay. Entertain a motion to adjourn the

[1:55:21] executive session and reconvene the

[1:55:23] regular meeting.

[1:55:24] >> So moved.

[1:55:25] >> Second, Mr. Chairman.

[1:55:26] >> Have a motion and a second. All in

[1:55:28] favor?

[1:55:30] No action related to the executive

[1:55:31] session. So we move on to uh

[1:55:34] adjournment.

[1:55:35] >> Mr. Chairman, I move that we adjourn

[1:55:36] this meeting.

[1:55:37] >> Second.

[1:55:38] >> Have a motion and second for

[1:55:39] adjournment. All in favor?

[1:55:41] Thank you everybody. Great meeting

[1:55:46] didn't

Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting - August 18, 2026

Agenda

Transcript