[0:32] Good morning and welcome citizens of
Douglas County. The May 5th, 2026
[0:38] Commission meeting of the Douglas County
Board of Commissioners will come to
[0:41] order. County Clerk, please take the
role for the record.
[0:44] » Yes, ma'am. Commissioner Henry Mitchell
II, District 1, third. Third. I'm making
[0:51] you younger. Commissioner,
>> District One,
[0:54] » Commissioner Whitney Kenner Jones,
District Two,
[0:57] » present.
>> Commissioner Martin Rexton, District
[1:00] Three,
>> present.
[1:01] » Commissioner Vice Chair Mark Alcarez,
District 4,
[1:04] » present.
>> Chairman Ramona Jackson Jones,
[1:06] » present. Thank you so much, Madame
Clerk. Board of Commissioners and
[1:10] Citizens of Douglas County, we are
pleased to have with us this morning
[1:13] Camila Terrell from our board of
equalization department with us to lead
[1:17] us in our invocation. Please stand for
the invocation and after the invocation,
[1:22] please join me and our board of
commissioners for the pledge to the
[1:25] flag. Thank you.
>> Good morning everyone. It's an honor to
[1:29] be here.
Let's go before the Lord in prayer.
[1:33] » Amen.
>> Heavenly Father, we come to you today
[1:37] with gratitude and reverence, honoring
your presence over Douglas County. Your
[1:42] word declares in Psalms 133, "Behold,
how good and how pleasant it is for
[1:50] brethrens to dwell together in unity."
So today we ask, unify this county.
[1:58] Unite our leaders, our community, and
every household with wisdom, compassion,
[2:03] and purpose. Lord, gl grant clarity to
those who govern integrity in every
[2:09] decision and justice that flows like a
river as declared in Amos 5:24.
[2:17] Let every policy, every plan, and every
partnership reflect fairness,
[2:24] equity, and truth. Strengthen the
bridges between government and
[2:29] community. Lord, let there be trust
where there has been tension, healing
[2:35] where there has been hurt, and
collaboration where there has been
[2:39] division. We speak peace over our
neighborhoods, protection over our
[2:44] families, and prosperity over our land.
According to 2 Chronicles 7:14, as we
[2:51] humble ourselves and seek your face, you
will heal the land. So we call Douglas
[2:57] County healed, restored, and thriving.
And I'll say that again. We call Douglas
[3:02] County healed, restored, and thriving.
And one for the Holy Spirit. We call
[3:08] Douglas County healed, restored, and
thriving. Now, Father, cover this
[3:13] meeting. Guide every voice, and let your
will be done on earth as it is in
[3:18] heaven. It is in your sovereign name we
pray. Amen.
[3:22] » Amen. Amen.
I pledge algiance to the flag of the
[3:28] United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands. One nation
[3:35] under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all.
[3:49] Thank you so much, Miss Camila Terror
for bringing such a wonderful prayer
[3:55] over our county this morning. Um, next,
um, county clerk, did we have anyone
[4:01] sign up for public comment?
>> Yes, ma'am.
[4:04] » Okay. Before you come up, I will just
remind you that you'll have three
[4:08] minutes to speak. Uh when you approach
the podium, please repeat your name and
[4:13] address for the record. Our first one is
Sandra Washington.
[4:38] Not that tall.
[4:47] Good morning, commission. Nice to see
you again. My name is Sandra Washington
[4:52] and I reside at 2935 Flowers Drive. Once
again, I've sat here in this citizens
[4:57] hall and listened to the same appeals by
Old Courthouse, Inc. Yesterday was a new
[5:02] twist. We are mostly an allnew board. We
will do better. Frankly, I don't believe
[5:09] them and neither should you. They want
that chance to do better, and I think
[5:13] it's a sincere idea, but their idea of
doing better is to continue to give them
[5:19] more time. two more years of free rent,
free utilities, free maintenance. That
[5:26] is free for them, but not for the
taxpayer. They want the taxpayers of
[5:30] this county to continue to be
responsible for their private business
[5:35] because they need time. 27 years is
evidently not enough. What other
[5:41] nonprofit does the government support
like this? They keep talking about the
[5:45] value of having a museum in this county
and that is an undisputed truth. We need
[5:50] a museum. There's no doubt about that.
But the museum or the supporters are the
[5:56] only ones saying you want to close us
down. No, we want you to move. That's
[6:02] it. A museum is a valuable resource with
the potential to transform a town like
[6:07] the Booth and Telis museums did in
Carterville. The DC Museum, however, is
[6:12] older than both of those, and it has yet
to be transformative. Oh, the potential
[6:17] is there. But as long as the expectation
is that the public will bear the
[6:22] financial burden, and the BOC will bear
the blame for any failure, whether the
[6:26] lease is renewed or not, all the
responsibility is on someone else. The
[6:31] old museum board made all the mistakes.
The DCT took away our money. You weren't
[6:37] born here. You can't tell us how to run
our museum. didn't give us enough time.
[6:40] But the truth is the success or failure
of the museum is on Old Courthouse, Inc.
[6:44] regardless of who's on the board.
They've had 90 days.
[6:49] No, that's not right. They've had over
180 days since the lease was terminated
[6:53] by this board in October. They've had
time to plan, to find a new home, to
[6:58] find temporary storage, to pack, to seek
funding, angel donors, and now they're
[7:03] down to 10 days. And that's a deliberate
choice by this museum board. They're not
[7:10] investing in an effort to save their
museum. They are willing to walk away
[7:14] from it and allow someone else to clean
up the mess and cry those crocodile
[7:17] tears about lost heritage. Let them.
This is a 27year-old business with a
[7:22] board that needs to stand on its own. It
needs to be responsible for the history
[7:26] they display and the history and the
action of the board they replaced with
[7:30] all its mistakes. They took on this
burden. They need to clean it up and not
[7:34] expect the taxpayer to do so. They need
consequences. They need to change.
[7:39] Succeed or fail, that's on them. And I
thank you.
[7:44] » Thank you so much, Miss Washington.
>> Thank you,
[7:46] » Madam Clerk. Do we have anyone else?
>> Yes, ma'am. Our next is Susan Buouie.
[7:58] » Good morning, Susan Buouie. 2935 Flowers
Drive here in Douglasville.
[8:03] » Good morning.
>> Good morning, board. Thank you again for
[8:05] letting me come back and speak.
>> I'm here again to express my serious
[8:09] concerns regarding the upcoming vote on
the lease for the nonprofit organization
[8:13] that has consistently demonstrated
non-compliance with tax regulations and
[8:17] a troubling history of
misrepresentation.
[8:20] As you approach this this decision, I
urge you to reflect on the potential
[8:24] legal liabilities and implications to
our community as well as the ethical
[8:29] considerations of your actions. First, I
pose a simple questions to the
[8:34] commissioners. Why are you willing to
vote on anou that you've never seen, a
[8:39] lease that hasn't been drafted? Do you
feel no obligation to all the members of
[8:43] our community or only to the 20some
individuals who are heavily invested in
[8:48] this endeavor? This is a critical moment
for governance and it appears that the
[8:52] lessons from past indictments have not
been heeded. Was that experience simply
[8:57] practice for the next controversy?
Do you need their votes that badly?
[9:02] Moreover, the community as a whole does
not support this project. The fact that
[9:06] the organization was unable to meet
their own GoFundMe goal in over five
[9:11] months is a clear indication that a lack
of commitment and support.
[9:16] They couldn't even do that when they
needed to. They couldn't reach their own
[9:19] goals. This failure should signal to
each commissioner that this is a failed
[9:24] experiment. It is time to move on and
invest in alternatives that have genuine
[9:28] community backing. Granting a lease to a
non-compliant organization not only
[9:33] undermines your fidiciary duty, but it
could also expose us to liability. If
[9:38] harm arises from the organization's
activities or mismanagement of leased
[9:42] property, you may face negligence claims
for failing to conduct proper due
[9:47] diligence. Your responsibility is to
protect the interest of all the
[9:51] constituents, not just a select few.
Additionally, you must consider the
[9:55] implications of statutory compliance. By
moving forward, you clear without a
[10:00] clear understanding of the lease
agreement, you risk breaching laws
[10:03] governing public property leases,
resulting in further legal challenges
[10:07] that could tarnish your reputation and
reflect poorly on your governance.
[10:12] Leasing to an organization with a record
of non-compliance also carries financial
[10:16] risks. The potential for lost tax
revenue and legal costs associated with
[10:20] defending such decisions constrain our
budget and resource allocations. It's
[10:25] imperative that you pri prioritize
accountability and transparency in your
[10:31] governance practices. The state is
watching. In conclusion, I urge this
[10:36] board to reconsider the decision to
support this lease. The concerns raised
[10:40] here along with the community's evident
lack of enthusiasm for the project
[10:45] underscores the need for careful and
critical examination of the
[10:49] implications. It is your duty to ensure
that public resources are utilized
[10:53] effectively and ethically. Please choose
to uphold your commitment to the
[10:57] community by rejecting this lease
proposal. And I thank you.
[11:01] » Thank you so much, Miss Buoie, for
coming in sharing your concerns. You
[11:06] anyone else?
>> Our next is Jeremy Germaine.
[11:17] » Good day, commissioners. if I can
approach y'all about something first
[11:20] before my time starts. It's a liability
issue. Uh I came into this courthouse
[11:25] yesterday uh with a sealed bottle of
water and I was told I couldn't bring it
[11:28] in. I have a medical condition and I was
forced to tell what that medical
[11:31] condition is. That's a violation of the
ADA uh compliance and you can be sued
[11:36] for that. So I would I would you all
have little bottles of water. Push that
[11:41] out there for everybody. We pay for
those waters. Okay. So, I should be able
[11:47] to bring my water in or no, my time
didn't start. Restart that. That's just
[11:51] based on that. So, let's We going to
restart. I'll wait.
[11:59] » Madam Commissioner, please allow her to
restart that clock.
[12:01] » Chairman, can we restart his time?
>> Yeah, because it was not Germaine to the
[12:06] agenda what he was discussing.
>> Thank you. I appreciate that.
[12:09] » Okay. I appreciate it, too.
>> Thank you.
[12:12] » Uh, good morning, commissioners and
neighbors. My name is Jeremy Jericho
[12:15] Germaine and I am a taxpaying citizen of
this county. I do not pay $200,000 in
[12:20] property tax, but I pay my fair share.
Operative word there is fair. Due to the
[12:25] parking situation yesterday, many voices
were silenced, including mine, and I
[12:29] refuse to be silenced today. I want to
be clear, the speech I came to give
[12:32] yesterday was not this. It was much more
temperate. But when I got up here and
[12:36] saw the parade of black people this
organization, the 5113C, put on the
[12:40] screen and shucked around acting as if
the community is getting something out
[12:44] of the deal, it changed everything. They
made it a black thing while saying over
[12:48] and over, "It's not about race." But
let's get to it. Have they ever actually
[12:52] helped any black businesses as a 513C?
Have they ever helped your failed
[12:56] businesses? When I mentioned working
with the High Noon Brunchery to create a
[13:00] a customer buyin from there to the
museum, they turned up their noses.
[13:04] Honor thy neighbor. I know plenty of
other 5013c's in this county helping
[13:08] people every single day. When is the
last time this museum, this 5013C has
[13:14] actually helped someone. Tell me when
they have helped someone. 27 years.
[13:20] Douglas County needs a museum, but
absolutely not. Do not be that 5013C
[13:25] currently running it. I am tired of
being smacked in the face by people who
[13:28] pretend to be inclusive. Now all of a
sudden they want to expand their Native
[13:31] American section. We asked for bylaws
for weeks, getting them only at the
[13:36] January meeting. You still are waiting
for things from them. You uh Joe Joe
[13:41] Hamilton, who's the CFO, proudly saying
he's the CFO, uh their their financial
[13:46] records are still in disarray. You have
people threatening to take their piano
[13:50] and if we don't keep them there. But I
say let the piano go.
[13:54] » Mr. Jeremy,
>> no personal attacks.
[13:57] » Where's the personal one?
>> You said Mr. H.
[13:59] » Is my uh time still going? No. No. Keep
reclaim my time. No, keep going. You
[14:02] reclaim me. Just don't no personal
attacks.
[14:05] » There's nothing personal. That was said
yesterday on the record.
[14:08] » Okay.
>> Myself and Amy McCoy put together an
[14:10] actually inclusive plan. They and they
disregarded it. While I was there
[14:14] helping the museum, we brought in a
financial literacy coach who could have
[14:17] helped the community, specifically the
black community. That is now gone. We
[14:21] brought in a we brought in a genealogy
expert that is now gone, too. Real
[14:26] resources were brought to this museum
and they simply refused to adapt. This
[14:29] smack in the face is not okay.
Whose history are y'all defending? Why
[14:34] do you only have one black person on the
museum board when this museum when this
[14:37] county is predominantly black? Their
idea of modern representation was
[14:42] printing out internet photos of Kanye
West and Little NasX. Meanwhile, no
[14:46] other exhibits ever changed. When I
brought up reaching out to Tyler Perry,
[14:49] they wanted to highlight a dress from
media as if that's all he is. There's a
[14:54] current young black Douglas inventor who
has created a way to take PLA plastic
[14:58] and turn it into diesel fuel who has
over 7 million followers that I brought
[15:02] to that museum to put his invention in
there. Nothing. This is an organization
[15:07] that literally said over their dead body
would they allow the factual book the
[15:12] ghost of Douglas County by author Tracy
Rooker Shaw to be allowed inside. But
[15:16] you say it's not about race.
>> Keep going. Keep going.
[15:20] » Oh, I still have more time.
>> 15. Okay, let's see where I want to go.
[15:26] Well, I I'll go here. I know how hard it
is to build an arts institution. Last
[15:31] month, I spent $5,000 of my own money to
renovate Vontoan Studios, my photography
[15:36] studio. I am not a pro product of
nepotism. My mother had to work every
[15:40] single day of her life. She didn't have
the luxury of creating art as a hobby.
[15:44] We had to create from the heart.
>> Thank you. No. No clapping. Okay. Thank
[15:50] No clapping. No clapping,
please. All right,
[15:55] » we have one more and it's I believe it's
Brenda Christian.
[16:16] » Good morning. My name is Brenda
Christian, 4723 Waverly Walk,
[16:21] Douglasville, Georgia.
I moved here in the 1990s.
[16:27] Um, to me, the building and the contents
are one and the same. Uh, the building
[16:32] is on the National Historic Register,
and I remember that it it would have
[16:37] become a parking lot if it had not been
saved by the citizens for the specific
[16:41] purpose of being the history museum.
Not many of us can say we know our
[16:47] history back to the beginning and this
is about history. So the museum is the
[16:53] history of the founding fathers moving
forward. Um present day stuff will
[16:59] become history and that should be
included.
[17:02] But um
so I recently saw a Villa Ricka brochure
[17:08] at the Rome, Georgia Welcome Center and
it uh had a section on Douglasville
[17:16] and what it listed was the Douglasville
County Museum the in Douglasville and
[17:22] then it had Sweetwater Creek State Park,
Lithia Springs. Those were the only two
[17:27] items that were listed. If you were to
take the art out of the High Art Museum
[17:32] and move it elsewhere, would it still
feel like the High Art Museum?
[17:37] Um, when I first moved here, everything
was downtown Douglasville. The old
[17:43] courthouse, the sheriff's department,
the police department, the coroner's
[17:46] department, everything was right there.
And the coroner's department was in the
[17:49] building uh that houses the museum. Now,
those have all been moved outwards, new
[17:56] buildings. um they're not all right
together again. But um yesterday it was
[18:02] mentioned that eight entities need to
move out of this courthouse and that you
[18:06] need the old m courthouse um building
for space and how is it going to house
[18:14] eight entities? It seems like somewhere
along the line we have to talk about a
[18:18] new building or a new space for
government offices. And I I don't it
[18:23] just doesn't sound like eight entities
are going to be able to move into that.
[18:27] Um as far as uh the cultural aspect, I I
thought that's what the cultural arts
[18:33] center was for. Um, as far as my taxes,
uh, my understanding was the hotel motel
[18:40] tax was to be used to fund cultural arts
and the museum. I don't st I live in
[18:47] Douglas County. I don't stay in a hotel
or a motel. My guests don't stay in a
[18:51] hotel or motel. So, therefore, I don't
feel like I've paid any hotel motel
[18:55] taxes that fund uh, these facilities
that bring in visitors from outside.
[19:02] Now, if somebody wants to see a Penny
Mckenry hydrangea, they have to go to
[19:06] Atlanta to the botanical garden and see
the hydrangeas there instead of the
[19:11] festival that we used to hold. Um,
I think this is still an ongoing topic
[19:17] because a lot of people weren't aware of
this happening until after the vote had
[19:24] been taken. So, I think it's good to
have discussion. I think it's good to
[19:28] have change. Thank you.
Thank you so much, madame clerk. We have
[19:34] anyone else?
>> No, ma'am. That was the last speaker.
[19:36] » All right. Thank you so much. We're
going to move right on uh to our next
[19:40] topic, which is the agenda adoption.
Commissioners, are there any changes
[19:44] that need to be made to the agenda?
[19:48] Being none, do we have a motion to
approve the agenda?
[19:51] » So move.
>> Second.
[19:53] » We have a motion in a second. Any
discussion? Board, we have a motion and
[19:57] a second. Please cast your electronic
votes.
[20:02] Motion carries 50.
>> Okay. Thank you so much, Madame Clerk.
[20:06] Um, board of commissioners, let's just
be mindful of our three minutes to make
[20:10] remarks and two minutes to make
rebuttals. So, I just ask that we stay
[20:14] within those u guidelines. Approval of
the minutes. Next on the agenda is the
[20:19] approval of the minutes. You have the
minutes of the special call combined
[20:23] work session and the commission meeting
of April 14th, 2026 and the executive
[20:28] session minutes of April 14th, 2026. Do
we have a motion to approve the minutes
[20:33] as presented?
>> So move.
[20:36] » Do we have a second?
>> Second.
[20:37] » We have a motion and a second. Any
discussion, board? We have a motion and
[20:41] a second. Please prepare to cast your
votes.
[20:47] » Motion carries. 5
[20:52] » board of commissioners. We have the
financial report of uh for the month of
[20:55] March 2026. Do we have a motion to
accept the financial report?
[21:02] » So moved.
>> Second.
[21:04] » We have a motion and a second. Any
discussion? Board. We have a motion and
[21:08] a second. All please prepare to cast
your electronic votes if there's no
[21:13] discussion.
[21:20] Motion carries 50.
>> Okay. Thank you so much. Clerk, would
[21:24] you please begin with our proclamations?
>> Yes, ma'am. Uh we have five
[21:28] proclamations this morning. So, we will
have each one come up and read their
[21:33] proclamation and then we'll do pictures
after the last proclamation has been
[21:36] read. Uh the first is proclaiming May as
ALS month in Douglas County. Sheila
[21:43] Watson.
[21:54] Good morning board. Um
>> good morning.
[21:57] » I will try to read this ALS
proclamation.
[22:01] Whereas amnotrophic
lateral scoliosis ALS commonly known as
[22:07] Lou Garry's disease is a progressive and
fatal neuro degenerative disease that
[22:13] causes the brain to lose its ability to
communicate with muscles gradually
[22:17] impairing a person's ability to walk,
talk, eat, and ultimately breathe. And
[22:23] whereas thousands of new ALS cases are
diagnosed each year and it is estimated
[22:29] that every 90 minutes someone is
diagnosed with ALS and someone else
[22:34] passes away from this disease. And
whereas the average life expectancy
[22:39] following an ALS diagnosis is 2 to 5
years. And whereas the causes of ALS
[22:46] remain unknown and there is currently no
cure. And whereas military veterans are
[22:51] at a higher risk of developing and dying
from ALS compared to those without a
[22:57] history of military service. And whereas
access to new therapies, durable medical
[23:03] equipment, and communication
technologies is critically important to
[23:08] individuals living with ALS. And whereas
clinical trials play a vital role in
[23:14] advancing treatment options, improving
quality of life and supporting the
[23:18] development of assist assistive
technologies for those affected. And
[23:24] whereas the ALS association is the
largest philanthropic found funer of ALS
[23:30] research worldwide having committed more
than 154 million to support over 550
[23:38] research projects across the United
States in 18 countries. And whereas the
[23:43] ALS association remains dedicated to
making ALS livable while pursuing a cure
[23:50] for everyone everywhere. And whereas ALS
awareness month provides an opportunity
[23:56] to raise public awareness, recognize the
profound impact of this disease on
[24:01] individuals and families, and support
ongoing efforts to find a cure. Now,
[24:06] therefore, be it proclaimed that the
Douglas County Board of Commissioners
[24:09] hereby designates May 2026 as amrophic
lateral scoliosis ALS awareness month in
[24:19] Douglas County. And be it further
proclaimed that the board encourages all
[24:23] residents to support ALS research,
advocate for increased funding and stand
[24:30] in solidarity with those affected by
this devastating disease.
[24:36] » Thank you so much, Miss Watson.
Certainly uh ALS is very important and
[24:41] it's just thank you for bringing the
awareness to the county and also the
[24:46] need for us to develop additional
research because I heard you said
[24:50] there's no cure right now. Um and
certainly that's something that we will
[24:55] I'm hoping that the research centers
will continue to do here in the United
[24:58] States to find out what we can do to
resolve uh this horrible disease. With
[25:03] that being said, board of commissioners,
you've heard the proclamation. Do we
[25:07] have a motion to approve?
>> So moved.
[25:09] » Do we have a second?
>> Second.
[25:12] » We have a motion and a second. Any
discussion, board?
[25:14] » Yes, madam chair.
>> Okay.
[25:16] » Vice chair, you have the floor.
>> Yeah. I just want to thank uh Miss
[25:19] Mindy. She's a constituent lives in my
district who has ALS and she was unable
[25:25] to be here with us this morning. Um but
I thank her for bringing this to my
[25:29] attention and my heart goes out to her.
Her email was very touching in regards
[25:33] to how it's affected her life. So I just
want to say to all those who have ALS um
[25:41] continued prayers that we find a cure.
>> So I I yield back Madam Chair.
[25:45] » Okay. Thank you. Any other discussion?
Okay. Please prepare to cast your votes.
[25:55] » Motion carries. 50.
>> Okay. Madame clerk. Thank you so much.
[26:01] And we will take a photograph
momentarily.
[26:04] U the next is proclaiming May 4th, 2026
as International Firefighters Day in
[26:09] Douglas County, Georgia. Chief Allen,
[26:14] » good morning, Madam Chair, board of
commissioners, vice chair, county
[26:19] administration. Uh before I begin, I
would like to um just recognize just a
[26:24] small percentage of our bravest that we
have here today. um that makes up that
[26:30] makes up of uh firefighters, paramedics,
EMTs, battalion chiefs, captains,
[26:35] lieutenants, and this is just a small
portion of of your Douglas County Fire
[26:41] and EMS department.
Uh also, just to uh just to make you
[26:46] aware, we are also graduating uh a bunch
of recruits uh this weekend. Uh class
[26:52] number 0925. So, uh just put that on
your calendar.
[26:58] So whereas firefighters and emergency
services personnel dedicate their lives
[27:05] to the protection of life and property,
risking their own safety to keep our
[27:11] community safe. And whereas these
professionals demonstrate unwavering
[27:16] commitment, often under hazardous
conditions, and provide crucial selfless
[27:22] service. And whereas it is appropriate
to recognize and honor the memory of
[27:29] those firefighters who have made the
ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty
[27:34] as well as those who have been injured
or disabled or have been retired from
[27:39] service. And whereas International
Firefighters Day observed annually on
[27:45] May 4th allows our community to show
appreciation for the dedication,
[27:51] courage, and professionalism of all
firefighter personnel and their families
[27:56] who support them. And whereas in 2026,
we encourage citizens to participate in
[28:03] the sound off by pausing for a moment of
silence to honor those
[28:10] th those lives of the fallen. Now,
therefore, we, the Douglas County Board
[28:16] of Commissioners, do hereby proclaim May
4th, 2026 as International Firefighters
[28:22] Day throughout Douglas County, Georgia.
and we encourage the citizens of Douglas
[28:27] County to express their heartfelt
gratitude to our firefighters and
[28:32] emergency services personnel. So
proclaim this fifth day of May uh May
[28:38] 2026, Dr. Ramona Jackson Jones, chairman
Henry Mitchell III, District 1, Whitney
[28:45] Kenner Jones, District 2, Martin Rexton,
District 3, and Mark Alcarez, District
[28:51] 4.
Thank you so much, Fire Chief Dr. Miles
[28:55] Allen. Thank you. Certainly, courage and
bravery is in the DNA of our
[29:02] firefighters. That's just a natural DNA.
Uh when others run from the the fire,
[29:07] they run into the fire. So, I would like
everyone in this room to stand and
[29:11] recognize our firefighters. If y'all
just come on up. Firefighters,
[29:14] firefighters, please come up.
[29:20] Our firefighters, would you please come
forward?
[29:27] » Come up front. Everybody, come on up
front. Uh, Madam Chair, if you don't
[29:31] mind. Um,
>> and I got to call a motion.
[29:34] » Yeah, if you don't mind. My folk are on
duty, so if we can go ahead and take
[29:37] their pictures now so we can rel.
>> Okay, sounds great.
[29:43] » Okay. While you just stand, I need to
[29:52] Wow.
[29:56] I got a little ahead of myself. I need
to call the motion and then we're going
[29:59] to I'm going to celebrate you. Okay. And
the board of commissioners. Board of
[30:03] commissioners, you've heard the
proclamation. Do we have a motion to
[30:05] approve?
>> So moved.
[30:07] » Second.
>> We have a motion in a second. Any
[30:09] discussion? Board.
>> Yes, ma'am.
[30:11] » Okay. Public safety chairman, you have
the floor. I just want to say to not
[30:16] just those that are standing in front of
us, but to all those who serve our
[30:20] county day in and day out, put their
lives on the line. Thank you for all you
[30:24] do, and our county is much better
because you serve it. I yield back,
[30:30] Madam Chair.
>> Okay.
[30:36] » Any other discussion? Board, we have a
motion in a second. Please prepare to
[30:40] cast your votes.
[30:46] Motion carries. 5.
>> We have a 50 unanimous vote in the
[30:49] motion carries to celebrate this amazing
day as a proclamation May 4th, 2026 as
[30:54] International Firefighter Day in Douglas
County, Georgia. And we will come down
[30:58] and take some photographs to allow you
all to continue to serve and protect us.
[31:02] Thank you for every single thing you do,
firefighters.
[33:39] Please.
>> Okay. The next um pro proclamation is
[33:43] proclaiming a countywide commitment to
summer reading for students, parents,
[33:47] and families and the Douglas County
community in partnership with the
[33:51] Douglas County School System. Dr. Trent
North, superintendent of Douglas County
[33:55] School System.
Good morning, madame commissioner and
[34:00] members of the board. I am Kaasha Davis,
assistant superintendent of teaching and
[34:04] learning and share regrets on behalf of
Dr. Trent North who could not be with us
[34:08] today. Okay. Thank you.
>> So, our proclamation is a commitment to
[34:12] summer reading for students, parents,
families, and the Douglas County
[34:16] community. Whereas reading is a
foundational skill that promotes
[34:21] academic achievement, personal
development, and lifelong learning.
[34:25] Whereas maintaining and strengthening
literacy skills over the summer months
[34:30] helps prevent learning loss, commonly
known as the summer slide, and ensure
[34:35] students are prepared for success in the
new school year. Whereas fostering a
[34:39] culture of reading requires a shared
commitment from students, parents,
[34:44] educators, families, and the broader
community. Now therefore, be it resolved
[34:50] that the Douglas County reaffirms its
commitment to promoting summer reading
[34:55] for all students by ensuring access to
high quality books, digital resources,
[35:01] and engaging literacy programs. Be it
further resolved that the school system
[35:06] will collaborate with parents, families,
and community organizations, including
[35:10] libraries, faith-based groups, and local
businesses to inspire and support
[35:16] reading opportunities for every student.
Be it further resolved that the school
[35:20] system encourages students to set
personal reading goals, explore a
[35:24] variety of genres and authors, and
engage in conversations that deepen
[35:28] comprehension and foster a love of
reading. Be it further resolved that as
[35:33] part of this initiative, the Douglas
County community, students, educators,
[35:38] families, and community partners are
challenged to collectively read three
[35:43] million minutes throughout the summer to
promote engagement, consistency, and a
[35:48] shared commitment to literacy. Be it
finally resolved that Douglas County
[35:53] celebrates and recognizes that united
effort of students, families, educators,
[35:58] and community partners in building a
brighter future through the power of
[36:03] literacy. May it be proclaimed and
adopted today, May 5th, 2026, by the
[36:08] Douglas County Commission. Thank you.
>> Thank you so much.
[36:17] Thank you so much for presenting this
proclamation. Reading is essential and
[36:22] foundational uh for us for all of us to
thrive and become engaged and
[36:27] consistently uh do the things that needs
to be done to communicate number one
[36:33] collaborate in everything to make us
successful in life. Reading is food for
[36:38] the soul and you how many minutes you
said we got to read?
[36:42] » Three million minutes.
>> All right. I'm I'm going to jump on
[36:44] board with the students and see what
happens. But thank you. That that's
[36:48] that's significant, but it really
enhances those classrooms. My daughter's
[36:52] an English teacher and she is big on
reading books and she believes and so
[36:56] thank you for being here today.
>> Yes, ma'am. Thank you.
[36:58] » All right. Board of Commissioners,
you've heard the proclamation. Do we
[37:01] have a motion to approve?
>> Second.
[37:03] » We have a motion in a second. Any
discussion?
[37:06] » Yes, ma'am.
>> Okay. Commissioner Barton Rexton, you
[37:09] have the floor.
>> All right. Um, good morning and thank
[37:11] you, Dr. Davis for bringing this
proclamation to us. Um, being a parent
[37:15] of two sons that have gone through the
Douglas County school system, I know how
[37:20] important it is to read.
>> And reading is truly fundamental. And
[37:25] even as a lifetime learner, just having
the ability to read, reading at a level
[37:29] for comprehension is critical. And it's
going to prepare our workforce for years
[37:34] to come and decades to come. So, I am
fully engaged and embracing with this.
[37:40] let me know when there's another
opportunity to come and read to students
[37:43] because I really enjoy going to
elementary schools and doing that.
[37:46] » Thank you.
>> So again, thank you for this
[37:48] proclamation and madam chair, I yield
the floor back to you.
[37:50] » Okay. Thank you so much, Commissioner
Raxton. Any other remarks?
[37:55] » Okay. All right. We have a motion and a
second on the floor and we've had
[37:59] discussion. Please prepare to cast your
votes.
[38:06] » Motion carries. 5. We have a 50
unanimous vote and the motion carries.
[38:11] So, congratulations and thank you for
emphasizing the importance of reading.
[38:16] We're gonna take your photograph. We
would like to take a photograph with
[38:19] you, Dr. Davis. We would like to take a
photograph. Are you leaving?
[38:24] » Oh, okay. Good. Okay. We're going to
move on, madam clerk.
[38:27] » The next proclamation proclaiming the
month of May 2026 as older Americans
[38:33] Month in Douglas County. Dr. Consuela
Gilchrist.
[38:42] The seniors are in the house today.
[38:48] » Good morning, Madame Chair, Mr. Vice
Chair, Board of Commissions, County
[38:52] Administration. Um, today, as you know,
is Older Americans Month. The month of
[38:58] May is Older Americans Month. And I
proudly stand before you this morning to
[39:02] read the proclamation. But before I
begin reading of the proclamation, I
[39:08] would like to take a moment to honor the
incredible older adults who are present
[39:13] with us today. Will you please stand?
[39:24] » Wow.
[39:28] Your lives reflect a legacy of strength,
wisdom, and resilience.
[39:35] You have helped shape our communities,
guided generations, and laid the
[39:41] foundation upon which we continue to
build. Your contributions, both seen and
[39:48] unseen, are deeply valued and
appreciated.
[39:53] As we recognize Older Americans Month,
we do so not only in acknowledgment, but
[40:00] in gratitude.
We honor your stories, your sacrifices,
[40:05] and your enduring impact you continue to
make each and every day. So today, we
[40:12] honor you, we salute you, and we love
you. So, thank you.
[40:24] Also, I would like to ask our senior
services staff and our parks and recck
[40:30] staff to please join me.
Hello.
[40:38] All right. So, I personally would like
to extend a heartfelt appreciation to
[40:44] our dedicated staff for their commitment
and unwavering support. Your work
[40:51] ensures that older adults are not only
served, but valued and uplifted each and
[40:59] every day. I'm trying not to cry, but I
wanted y'all to come this way, but y'all
[41:03] going that way. Okay.
So, I would like to say thank you to
[41:10] each and every one of you for what you
do. You don't complain. You show up
[41:16] every day ready to work. And we know
some days we all have a plan, but it
[41:24] don't always work out that way. But you
all pivot without um complaint. And you
[41:30] serve with heart. And our motto is we
have heart. And thank you guys so much
[41:35] for being present, being accounted for,
and showing up each and every day with
[41:40] heart. Thank you.
[41:50] Now, on to the proclamation.
Whereas Douglas County is home to a
[41:58] vibrant and growing population of older
adults who enrich our community through
[42:05] their wisdom, experience, and continued
contributions. And whereas older
[42:11] Americans Month provides an opportunity
to recognize the vital role of older
[42:17] adults in our county and to reaffirm
their commitment, our commitment to
[42:23] supporting their independence,
well-being, and quality of life. And
[42:29] whereas the 2026 theme, champion your
health, encourages older adults and
[42:38] communities alike to focus on promoting
physical, mental, and social well-being
[42:46] through active lifestyles, access to
services, and meaningful engagement.
[42:52] And whereas Douglas County Senior
Services has demonstrated an unwavering
[42:59] commitment to the health and welfare of
older residents by serving over 50,000
[43:06] meals each year, helping ensure proper
nutrition and connection. And whereas
[43:13] Douglas County Senior Services has
enhanced quality of life by providing
[43:19] over $75,000
in material aid funding that serves as a
[43:25] vital lifeline for older adults in our
community by helping to meet fundamental
[43:32] needs such as food insecurity, housing
support, transportation,
[43:38] medical supplies, and other essential
services that foster stability, hope,
[43:45] and self-respect.
And whereas the safety, dignity, and
[43:51] health of older adults and at risk older
adults are of the utmost importance to
[43:57] our community. staff and programs have
successfully obtained SAGE credentials
[44:05] to demonstrate a distinguished
commitment to excellence in serving,
[44:11] protecting, and advocating for
vulnerable populations in Douglas
[44:16] County. And whereas staff have worked
diligently
[44:21] to earn certification as certified at
risk crime tactic specialists to
[44:28] demonstrate our obligation to recognize,
prevent and respond to crimes,
[44:35] exploitation, abuse, neglect, and fraud
targeting older adults. And whereas
[44:44] Douglas County seniors continue to
thrive creatively and socially with
[44:50] members earning first place in creative
expression during the first ever
[44:56] statewide line dance showcase.
Yes.
[45:04] Sponsored by the Georgia Association of
Senior Centers. And whereas these
[45:10] accomplishments highlight the necessity
of community partnerships, programs, and
[45:16] intergenerational interactions that
empower older adults to lead active and
[45:22] fulfilling lives through volunteerism,
educational opportunities, and
[45:28] meaningful work. Now therefore, the
Douglas County Board of Commissioners do
[45:34] hereby proclaim the month of May 2026 as
Older Americans Month in Douglas County,
[45:42] Georgia, and urge all residents to
recognize the contributions of older
[45:47] adults, support programs that enhance
their welfare, and join in efforts to
[45:53] champion the health and vitality of our
senior community.
[45:59] So signed, sealed, and proclaimed this
sixth day of May 2026 by Dr. Ramona
[46:08] Jackson Jones, chairman Henry Mitchell
the third, District 1, Whitney Kenner
[46:13] Jones, District 2, Martin Rexen,
District 3, Mark Aarez, District 4, and
[46:20] vice chair. Thank you. Thank you.
[46:34] Wow, I love the pompoms.
Just just a minute of point of privilege
[46:40] board to allow me just to have a few
bragging rights on our seniors. I will
[46:45] say that Douglas County has the most
active, energetic, resilient, and young
[46:51] at heart seniors in the United States.
So give yourself a hand.
[47:01] With that being said, thank you so much
Dr. Gilchrist for reading this wonderful
[47:06] welldeserved proclamation. And at this
time I would like to call uh a motion
[47:11] board of commissioners. Do we have a
motion to approve this proclamation?
[47:15] » Second.
>> We have a motion and a second. Any
[47:17] discussion board? We have a
>> Yes, madam chair.
[47:21] » Vice chair. You have the floor then. I
just want you to know you've warm my
[47:24] heart already this morning
>> because we deal with a lot and so just
[47:28] to have you can feel the love in the
room and the excitement and the unity
[47:33] coming from you and that is a true
blessing. I don't think there's been a
[47:37] time that I've not walked into the Woody
Fight Center or the Lithia Springs
[47:41] Senior Center and not felt the love and
hear the laughter
[47:46] » the laughter of all of you. how you just
when you get together, as you can tell,
[47:51] God bless you guys sometimes.
[47:59] » But we're excited to have the new senior
center about to be open here on Fairburn
[48:04] Road
>> and
[48:09] then in the works is the senior center
for district 4. So, it is coming. Yes.
[48:14] » But that being said, thank you for being
here this morning. I yield back, Madam
[48:19] Chair.
>> Okay. Thank you so much, uh, Vice Chair.
[48:21] Commissioner Martin Rexton, you have the
floor.
[48:24] » All right. And good morning. Um, it is
great to be here. It is great to
[48:29] recognize this incredible audience and
the population that you make up as well
[48:35] as the staff and the team. Um, Dr. Gil
Crest, great job under your leadership
[48:40] and toutelage. You can just see the love
Thank you.
[48:44] » that the community has for you in the
programs that you and your team are
[48:48] implementing. So, congratulations. Job
well done. And I certainly enjoyed the
[48:55] opportunity of serving as kind of the
leader with when we had our senior day
[49:00] here at the county courthouse last year
where we invited our senior sister to
[49:03] come and learn more about what we do as
an operation, as a governance. So, I
[49:08] love that and would love to help
spearhead that again if that becomes
[49:12] available. Um, but as a proud baby
boomer,
[49:17] you know, it is good to stay active, to
be active. Um, I went out and actually
[49:21] tried to play kickball the other day.
I'm still limping, but um, but job well
[49:26] done and it is great to be here and to
just recognize the great work that each
[49:31] and every one of you have done. Kudos
and Madam Chair, I yield the floor back
[49:34] to you.
>> Okay. Thank you so much, uh,
[49:36] Commissioner Raxton. Any other
>> Yeah. Okay.
[49:39] » Commissioner Mitchell, you have the
floor.
[49:41] » Thank you, Madam Chair. So to the staff,
and I mean I must say to the staff and
[49:46] and Dr. Gil Crest, your leadership with
our seniors, you can feel the love and
[49:51] you'll you notice the love all the time
when it comes to the seniors. I need to
[49:56] work on the line dance side of it. But I
I just want to say, you know,
[50:00] congratulations uh to all of our seniors
for the job well done and to our staff
[50:06] and you Dr. Hillrest with all the up and
cominging senior citizen centers being
[50:10] built and and how great it is. And I
think this board, you know, sends a true
[50:15] message that we are concerned and we
want to make sure our seniors are well
[50:20] taken care of. And I think we send a
bold message to our seniors that we love
[50:25] you, we care about you, and we stand on
your shoulders for the future and look
[50:30] forward to the future. So, thank you for
allowing us uh to stand here and sit
[50:34] here and vote and pass this proclamation
on how great and well you guys are doing
[50:40] as a staff and how you guys are doing as
seniors. So, thank you again and job
[50:44] well done. Thank you again. I yel back.
[50:50] » All right. Thank you so much,
Commissioner Mitchell. As a senior, I
[50:55] just have to get this out before we go
any further. Uh certainly I'm a senior
[50:59] myself and missed my senior prom in high
school. But guess what? They said good
[51:03] things come to those who wait. So I had
a chance to go to the senior prom a year
[51:08] about a year ago. So we had a great
time, didn't we?
[51:12] » All right. We have a motion and a second
on the floor. All in, please cast your
[51:17] votes, please.
[51:24] » Motion carries. 50. We have a 50
unanimous vote and the motion carries.
[51:28] So, let's give ourselves a hand, senior.
[51:35] » Thank you. And we'll come down
momentarily to take photographs.
[51:40] » Madame clerk, you have the floor.
>> Okay.
[51:44] The next uh proclamation is proclaiming
the life and legacy of Mr. John Willis
[51:50] Stewart. Kristen Moses is going to read
that this morning.
[51:55] Okay,
[51:59] Dr. Davis.
[52:08] » Good morning, Madam Chair and board.
Thank you again for allowing us to for
[52:13] this proclamation. Mr. John W. Stewart.
Some of you may not know who he is, but
[52:19] all of us are familiar with Steuart
Middle School. And he's the gentleman
[52:23] that the school was named after. He
passed away last week at 102 years old.
[52:30] And what a blessing.
[52:35] And I was I was looking for the seniors
and as Pogo say, I finally found the
[52:40] seniors and us is it.
[52:45] We have a couple parts of a proclamation
and we thank you again for honoring Mr.
[52:49] Stewart. Uh the first one is from the
city of Douglasville which for time sake
[52:54] I won't read it but we'll be presenting
them to Miss Hazel Burton is going to
[52:59] receive them but we have a lot of other
people here. Some of Mr. Stewart's
[53:02] teachers several of his students and all
that that are here. And then we have one
[53:07] from the board of education. Dr. North
is not here but Dr. Kayasha Davis will
[53:12] present that one. then we'll get the one
from the county and then hopefully we
[53:15] can get some pictures and celebrations
together again. Thank you, Dr. Davis.
[53:23] » Hello again.
>> Hello, Dr. Davis. You have the floor.
[53:26] » Whereas the Douglas County school system
mourns the passing of John W. Stewart, a
[53:31] devoted educator and administrator whose
legacy continues to shape the Douglas
[53:36] County community. And whereas Stuart
made significant contributions to the
[53:42] Douglas County SU school system for over
31 years, including a tenure as
[53:48] assistant superintendent before retiring
in 1981.
[53:52] And whereas throughout his career,
Stuart cultivated a great environment
[53:57] for teaching and learning as a teacher
and basketball coach at Hutchinson High
[54:02] School, and later as principal of RL
Cousins School, Douglas County Junior
[54:08] High School, Douglas County Middle
School, and John W. Stewart Middle
[54:12] School. And whereas Stuart's tireless
advocacy for the best interests of
[54:17] students and his commitment to providing
a high quality education inspires
[54:22] colleagues, administrators, and future
educators. And whereas in honor of
[54:27] Stuart's extraordinary legacy, the
Douglas County School System proudly
[54:32] bears his name at John W. Stewart Middle
School, a lasting tribute to his
[54:37] lifetime of service. Now therefore, the
Douglas County Board of Education
[54:42] expresses its deep condolences and
profound gratitude for the life and the
[54:46] legacy of John W. Stewart proclaimed
this first day of May, 2026.
[54:52] » Thank you so much, Dr. Davis.
[55:03] » Good morning, Madam Chair, vice chair.
>> Good morning,
[55:06] » Board of Commissioners, and county
administration. It is my absolute
[55:09] pleasure to read the proclamation in
honor of the life and legacy of Mr. John
[55:14] Willis Stewart.
Whereas Mr. John Willis Stewart, born
[55:18] June 25th, 1924, and who passed on April
19th, 2026, lived a remarkable life of
[55:27] 101 years defined by faith, integrity,
and dedicated service. And whereas Mr.
[55:34] Steuart honorably served his country in
the United States Army during World War
[55:39] II, later pursuing higher education at
Tuskegee Institute in New York
[55:44] University, preparing for a lifetime of
leadership and impact. And whereas he
[55:50] devoted more than three decades of
service to the Douglas County School
[55:54] System as a teacher, coach, assistant
principal, and founding principal of RL
[56:00] Cousins High School, shaping generations
of students through wisdom, discipline,
[56:05] and compassion. And whereas his legacy
of educational excellence was
[56:10] permanently honored when the former RL
Cousins High School was renamed John W.
[56:16] Stewart Middle School, ensuring his
influence continues to inspire future
[56:20] generations. And whereas Mr. Stewart was
a committed civic leader who served on
[56:26] numerous boards and supported efforts
advancing civil rights, education, and
[56:31] opportunity throughout Douglas County
and the state of Georgia. And whereas
[56:37] alongside his late wife of 72 years,
Juanita Elizabeth Ellison Stewart, he
[56:43] built a life rooted in love, service,
and generosity that uplifted family,
[56:48] friends, students, and the broader
community. Now, therefore, be it
[56:54] proclaimed that the Douglas County Board
of Commissioners does hereby honor and
[56:59] celebrate the life, legacy, and enduring
contributions of Mr. John Willis Stewart
[57:05] and expresses its deepest appreciation
for the profound and lasting impact he
[57:10] leaves on Douglas County. Be it further
proclaimed that this board extends its
[57:15] heartfelt condolences to his family and
all who were touched by his
[57:20] extraordinary life of service. Thank
you. I yield the floor, Madam Chair. All
[57:25] right. Thank you so much.
[57:31] Thank you so much. Christian certainly
uh our deepest condolences are extended
[57:37] to the family um but certainly want to
celebrate the remarkable um
[57:43] accomplishments and uh attributes that
uh Mr. John Willis Stewart had on
[57:49] Douglas County and starting certainly
with uh Steuart Middle School and all
[57:54] the accomplishments and how he I say he
was double talented. He was a principal
[57:59] and a coach. That speaks volumes about
who he was as a person. So again, this
[58:04] is an honor from the board of
commissioners to extend this pro
[58:07] proclamation and I will call a motion.
Board of Commissioners, you've heard the
[58:11] proclamation. Do we have a motion to
approve?
[58:14] » So moved. Second.
>> We have a motion and a second. Any
[58:17] discussion, board?
>> Yes, Madam Chair.
[58:19] » Commissioner Mitchell, you have the
floor.
[58:21] » And I'll be brief. I I I just You must
say though that a man of this statue, a
[58:26] man of this his legacy will continue to
live on. Um with just the naming of the
[58:33] school which was RL Cousin to John W.
Stewart Middle School is just an amazing
[58:41] uh public servant that he he showed upon
us and even serving as at one time the
[58:46] superintendent. But I had the honor of
uh having conversations with him and
[58:51] having to be a part of his life. Now, it
it was the latter part of his life, but
[58:57] it was nice to have that kind of
conversation, to be in a meeting, to
[59:01] hear the the wherewithal that he carried
and he brought when he came into the
[59:06] room, you knew there was somebody of
importance in the room. So, I just want
[59:10] to say to his family, my condolences,
but we're here celebrating his legacy,
[59:16] celebrating all the things that he's
done and celebrating for for many of you
[59:21] and us that have actually was a part of
his legacy and actually went to school
[59:26] and saw and had conversations with him
because I know there's many in this room
[59:30] could probably say, "I attest to have
that one moment with him." So, I'm just
[59:34] touched and glad to be honored to
present this proclamation on his behalf
[59:40] to his family and to wherever that this
proclamation will lie. So, again, thank
[59:44] you and thank you for allowing us to uh
do some great honors in his name. So,
[59:49] thank you again, Madam Chair, and I
yield back.
[59:51] » Okay. Thank you so much, Commissioner
Mitchell. With that being said, we have
[59:54] a Okay, I'm sorry, Vice Chair, you have
the floor.
[59:57] » No, just to be brief, but you will know
this if you went to uh John W. Stewart
[1:00:03] Middle School to honor him. Once an
eagle, always an eagle.
[1:00:11] » And I yel back, Madam Chair.
>> Okay. Any other remarks, board?
[1:00:17] Okay. Please prepare to cast your
electronic votes.
[1:00:25] » Motion carries. 50.
>> We have a 50 unanimous vote and motion
[1:00:29] carries to honor Mr. John Willis School.
We're going to come down and take
[1:00:36] photographs and we will start with our
let's see we will start with the reading
[1:00:42] for uh Dr. Davis, if you could for the
commitment to summer reading for our
[1:00:46] students and then we'll follow
accordingly.
[1:19:35] They had a great time.
[1:19:42] All right, board of commissioners, we
shall resume our meeting. And certainly,
[1:19:47] it was an honor and a distinct uh
pleasure to award the proclamations this
[1:19:54] welldeserved proclamations this morning.
We had five. We're going to move on to
[1:19:59] our next item. Um, Madame Clerk, would
you begin our agenda items?
[1:20:04] » Yes, ma'am. We'll start with our
business items. new business. And it is
[1:20:09] uh number nine, approval of an
intergovernmental agreement with the
[1:20:13] city of Douglasville to construct a
public multi-use trail that will connect
[1:20:17] the Selman Drive Library to the
Douglasville Town Green and authorize
[1:20:22] the chairman to sign all related
documents pending final legal review.
[1:20:27] » Okay.
Commissioners, do we have a motion?
[1:20:32] Madam Chair, I make a motion to approve
um the intergovernment agreement with
[1:20:36] the city of Douglasville to construct a
public multi-use trail that will connect
[1:20:40] the Selman Drive Library to the Douglas
count Douglasville Town Green and
[1:20:44] authorize the chairman to sign all
related documents pending final legal
[1:20:47] review.
>> Okay, second.
[1:20:49] » Okay, we have a motion and a second. Any
discussion, board?
[1:20:53] » I I'll just only add Yes, Madam Chair.
Okay,
[1:20:55] » I'll just only add I had a discussion
with the uh city manager about this
[1:21:00] sliver of land that we're going to be
it's going to be donated to us by the
[1:21:05] way. It is going to be donated to us to
complete the trails. So, it'll be the
[1:21:11] trail will be from Selman to Town Green,
but it'll be owned by the uh Douglas
[1:21:16] count owned by Douglas County. And uh
the city is still continuing want to use
[1:21:21] I think $1.7 million toward the
construction 1.5 1.5 million that's
[1:21:28] going to be part of the trail. So only
thing we're doing is the um
[1:21:32] what are we doing Dr. Gres come on up
and help me with this. So
[1:21:37] but I just want to just make note of
that while she's coming to the
[1:21:39] forefront. uh that I had some
conversation with these guys to make
[1:21:42] sure that this is um not any liability
or anything of that caliber, but it'll
[1:21:48] be pending legal review because we need
the the deed and everything else that
[1:21:52] needs to be transferred and all that
good stuff though. So, Dr.
[1:21:56] » Yes. Good morning again. Good morning.
The city good morning. the city um have
[1:22:00] they've pledged $1.5 million for the
construction of the um trail between the
[1:22:06] town green, the Selman library and the
health department. That's correct.
[1:22:11] » The county will be responsible for
construction, construction documents and
[1:22:15] surveying which is $150,000
and then also maintenance at the end of
[1:22:20] the construction process. And I did have
conversation with legal just to kind of
[1:22:25] make them aware of the conversation. So
I think we're okay long as the legal
[1:22:31] side of it is completed and long as
she's happy on that end.
[1:22:35] » There was a question at yesterday's work
session. Good morning. Um regarding
[1:22:41] liability and whose responsibility will
it be once the trail is constructed. And
[1:22:46] so um one of the things that um Dr.
Gilchrist and Mr. Worthington did and
[1:22:52] now um as we hear Commissioner Mitchell
has checked with Douglas Town um
[1:22:57] Douglasville to see what that looks
like. And so it's my understanding that
[1:23:02] we will be deed the portion of the trail
that we don't own. It is actually not
[1:23:07] owned by the city of Douglasville but
some developer. That's correct. uh who
[1:23:11] is going to be deeding it to the county
and we will then be responsible for any
[1:23:18] liability maintenance and all of those
things thereafter. So it will be our
[1:23:24] trail.
>> Uh we are awaiting the um quick claim
[1:23:28] deed on the portion that we do not own.
Um and so hopefully that answers the
[1:23:34] question from yesterday.
>> Thank you. Outside of that, I appreciate
[1:23:39] it and I yield back, Madam Chair. Okay,
please. Any other discussion? Please
[1:23:44] prepare to cast your votes.
[1:23:52] » Motion carries. 50.
>> We have a 50 unanimous vote in the
[1:23:55] motion carries. Madame clerk.
>> Okay. Recommendation of no objection to
[1:24:00] the annexation and reszoning petition
for 3154 Brightar Road, parcel 0131
[1:24:07] 0250077
[1:24:10] for 67 town homes on 9.3 acres
commission district 4 and authorize the
[1:24:16] chairman to sign all related documents
pending final legal review.
[1:24:23] » Okay. any Allison,
you have the floor.
[1:24:28] » Thank you again. Good morning, Madam
Chair. Uh, just briefly, I will not uh
[1:24:31] reiterate what I had said yesterday, but
I wanted to follow up and let you know
[1:24:34] that um I do have uh Bruce Mercer here
with Douglas County Department of
[1:24:38] Transportation if there are any specific
questions about uh our DOT. I did also
[1:24:43] uh confer with Attorney Wiggins and uh I
believe I don't want to speak for her,
[1:24:47] but I believe that we are in agreement
that traffic alone um and transportation
[1:24:50] concerns uh may not rise to the standard
of being able to file a formal objection
[1:24:55] um for the uh for the annexation request
under statute. Um, but nonetheless, I
[1:25:00] wanted to make sure that we could
properly address the concerns about
[1:25:02] traffic if you wanted to continue that
discussion today. Uh, and then further
[1:25:06] understand if it is the will of the
board to nonetheless move forward um,
[1:25:09] with raising a formal objection or if
simply a letter outlining concerns uh,
[1:25:13] would be sufficient for this
application.
[1:25:16] » Okay.
>> Have any questions board?
[1:25:20] » Yes, madam chair.
>> Okay.
[1:25:22] » I'm looking for Bruce.
[1:25:28] Thank you.
[1:25:39] » Hey, good morning. Good morning.
>> Good morning.
[1:25:42] So, as I spoke yesterday, it seems to
be, and I've I've been getting this
[1:25:47] consistently through a lot of my
constituents who live on John West Road
[1:25:52] and on Briar with the new warehouses
that are being built over there that
[1:25:56] that the city has approved and also one
that I know that's coming behind the
[1:26:00] residents on John West Road. And there's
a lot of concerns about the traffic a
[1:26:05] whole lot. And especially you get around
that five o'clock time frame or six,
[1:26:10] it's both either in going toward
Veterans Moral Highway or going back
[1:26:14] towards Douglas Boulevard. That traffic
consistently just backs up. Um I have
[1:26:19] real concerns over adding more town
homes on that side from, you know, going
[1:26:24] down towards Veral Highway. Have you
seen a rise or has your department seen
[1:26:30] a rise or had any complaints in regards
to traffic in that area?
[1:26:34] Um I think we're aware of the saturation
that happens along Brightar Road. Um a
[1:26:41] lot of that is being caused by the city
because they've um they've had
[1:26:45] construction of some very very large
industrial uh area um development there.
[1:26:52] I will say that we've been working with
the city closely um and a new traffic
[1:26:57] signal is to be installed at the
intersection of Brightar Road and
[1:27:01] Brightar Connector. It's no cost to the
county. It's going to be funded by uh
[1:27:07] the city through their developers that
has created some of these problems. That
[1:27:12] will help some of the saturation. That
will help uh basically more in uh
[1:27:16] creating more gaps when that signal
starts um allowing multiple directions
[1:27:22] to travel. It creates a little bit more
gaps. But yes, we're we're aware that
[1:27:27] Brightar Road carries about 10,000 cars
a day. seems to be increasing about a
[1:27:32] thousand uh cars a year uh is what the
our records show.
[1:27:38] » Okay. And then also to note that is even
though that light's going to be put
[1:27:44] there at that connector, it's still the
bottlenecks are at Douglas Boulevard and
[1:27:48] Vegetable Highway. And I've been getting
complaints. Matter of fact, one about
[1:27:52] two weeks ago which I sent them to the
city was a lady was complaining about at
[1:27:56] her business that cars are driving over
getting off on Bryar and driving through
[1:28:01] the parking lots of the business to go
up there to the gas station to try to
[1:28:04] make a left. Well, now the gas station
owner is also saying, "Well, it's
[1:28:09] blocking people from trying to, you
know, it's it's unsafe in front of his
[1:28:12] business because people are driving
through the parking lot and it's backing
[1:28:15] up in his parking lot and customers
can't get in." So, I I appreciate that.
[1:28:19] That was just an input. um that I was I
needed to hear. Um but Madam Chair, I I
[1:28:25] would still like to make a motion to
deny the annexation
[1:28:30] uh for this 67 town homes in the 9.3
acres.
[1:28:37] » Can I jump in?
>> Madam County attorney, you have a floor.
[1:28:42] » So I believe the um board of
commissioners um based on your agenda
[1:28:47] item um is
whether or not we're going to object.
[1:28:54] And so,
>> is that what you're wanting to do is to
[1:28:57] object to the annexation and resoning?
>> So, if you could just restate your
[1:29:02] motion.
>> Okay. Madam Chair, I would like to make
[1:29:04] a motion to object to the annexation
>> of the 9.3 acres for C7 town homes at
[1:29:10] 3154 Brightar Road.
>> Annexation and resoning.
[1:29:14] » And annexation and reszoning.
>> Okay.
[1:29:19] Second.
>> Okay, we have a motion and a second. Any
[1:29:22] discussion board?
Okay, seeing no discussion, please
[1:29:28] prepare to cast your votes.
[1:29:32] No other.
[1:29:53] » Motion carries 50 to deny.
>> To
[1:29:58] » to object
>> to object.
[1:30:00] » Yeah. It's just that on the agenda it
reads in the reverse
[1:30:04] » and so we just need to be sure that
everyone here is unanimously for
[1:30:08] objecting although the agenda says no
objection.
[1:30:12] » Yes.
>> Okay. Um so with that uh we'll prepare a
[1:30:15] letter of objection. Um please
understand that um while we don't think
[1:30:21] transportation is a basis for objection
um we will see where it goes with the
[1:30:25] DCA and we we'll report back.
>> Okay. Thank you.
[1:30:30] Okay. Thank you, Madam Clerk. You have
the floor.
[1:30:34] » Okay. The next item is consideration of
the proposed 2026 merit handbook
[1:30:41] revisions as recommended by the
personnel review board, which includes
[1:30:45] updates to section 13.42
salary reviews and authorize the
[1:30:50] chairman to sign all related documents
pending final legal review. Danielle.
[1:30:55] » Good morning, Madame Chair, Mr. vice
chair, commissioners and administration.
[1:31:01] So the legal uh guidance that we
received yesterday during the work se
[1:31:05] section session was to
uh parse out each item for the board to
[1:31:15] vote on them individually or um make any
modifications as um desired. And if
[1:31:21] there is a modification or an amendment
rather, that would serve as a new
[1:31:27] motion.
>> So, I'm happy to answer any questions
[1:31:31] that you all may have in that regard.
>> Okay. Any questions for our managing
[1:31:35] director Nichols?
>> Okay.
[1:31:39] Thank you, Madame Clerk, if you could
restate.
[1:31:43] » Okay.
>> The the one that she just did.
[1:31:46] » Yeah. And then we'll
>> Okay. Consideration of the proposed 2026
[1:31:50] merit handbook revision as recommended
by the personnel review board which
[1:31:54] includes an update to the following
section section 13-
[1:32:00] 100
wh I'm on the wrong one chairman sorry
[1:32:04] consideration of the proposed 2026 merit
handbook revisions as recommended by the
[1:32:09] personnel review board which includes
updates to section 13.42 42 salary
[1:32:14] reviews and authorize the chairman to
sign all related documents pending final
[1:32:18] legal review.
>> Okay. Do we have a motion board?
[1:32:22] » Madam chair, based on the discussion
from yesterday, um I have a motion um to
[1:32:27] deny um the um personnel review board
update section um 13.42
[1:32:36] uh salary reviews. Second. Okay,
>> we have a motion and a second. Any
[1:32:40] discussion, board?
We have a motion and a second. Please
[1:32:45] prepare to cast your vote.
[1:32:56] » Same thing. It's reversed here.
[1:33:19] It's not allowing us to change.
>> Okay. I will take a hand vote.
[1:33:23] » Yes.
>> Okay. Yes. Okay. Go to commissioners. If
[1:33:26] you could restate your motion
>> to deny the modifications
[1:33:31] um as presented by the personnel review
board to section 13.42. 42 for salary
[1:33:36] reviews.
>> Okay.
[1:33:38] » And my second still standing.
>> Okay. Commissioner Mitchell has a
[1:33:41] second. Any discussion board?
All in favor of denial, please indicate
[1:33:46] by raising right hand.
[1:33:50] We have a 50 unanimous vote with no
opposition and the motion carries to
[1:33:54] deny.
[1:33:58] Madame Clerk,
>> the next item would be consideration of
[1:34:01] the proposed 2026 merit handbook
revision as recommended by the personnel
[1:34:07] review board, which includes an update
to the following section 13-1003A,
[1:34:13] types of disciplinary action, and
authorize the chairman to sign all
[1:34:17] related documents pending final legal
review.
[1:34:20] » Okay. Do we have a motion board?
[1:34:27] Madam Chair, I'd like to make a motion
that we deny the revision to the
[1:34:32] personnel review or excuse me, married
handbook section 13- 103A.
[1:34:40] » Okay. Do we have a second?
>> Second.
[1:34:43] » We have a motion and a second. Any
discussion board? We have a motion in a
[1:34:48] second. Ju just for discussion if if
you'll just kind of reiterate what was
[1:34:54] state and if we could madam chair
throughout each one of these that you'll
[1:34:57] get up and restate what not the
discussion but kind of what is all which
[1:35:02] one we're voting on and why. Okay.
>> Absolutely. So um in reference
[1:35:07] » and I and I yield back. I'm sorry.
>> I'm sorry.
[1:35:09] » You have the
>> Okay. So section
[1:35:15] 13-3A
[1:35:24] » it was the cap on the 90 days
>> is types of disciplinary action
[1:35:29] suspension. What was proposed is
imposing a 90-day cap
[1:35:36] to suspensions
[1:35:40] and and what was discussed was um the
implications of imposing that 90-day cap
[1:35:47] um any limitations associated with it.
And what we also and what the board also
[1:35:53] asked questions about is um the
difference between a suspension that's
[1:35:59] related to specifically um a a
particular act verse or action versus
[1:36:08] suspension
related to an investig investigatory
[1:36:13] process.
Okay.
[1:36:18] » All right.
Please prepare to cast your votes.
[1:36:35] » 50 to deny.
>> Okay, we have a 50 unanimous vote in the
[1:36:39] motion carries to deny. Madame clerk,
okay,
[1:36:43] » you have the floor. Consideration of the
proposed 2026 merit handbook revision as
[1:36:49] recommended by the personnel review
board which includes an update to the
[1:36:53] following section.
Section 13-1003A
[1:36:59] types of disciplinary action and
authorize the chairman to sign all
[1:37:03] related documents pending final legal
review.
[1:37:07] » I think you just made them.
>> I'm just having there's just too many of
[1:37:11] these. Consideration of the proposed
2026 merit handbook revision as
[1:37:16] recommended by personnel review board
which includes an update to the
[1:37:20] following section 13-1345
retirement benefits proposed new section
[1:37:27] and authorize the chairman to sign all
related documents pending final legal
[1:37:31] review.
>> Okay. Do we have a motion board? Madam
[1:37:35] Chair, based on the discussion from
yesterday, um I make a motion to deny um
[1:37:40] the modification of section 13-134
um section five um which addresses
[1:37:47] retirement benefits as a proposed new
section um and authorize um finance and
[1:37:53] human resources to conduct actuarial
studies.
[1:37:57] » Okay,
>> second.
[1:37:58] » Okay, we have a motion and a second. Any
discussion? And uh certainly if you you
[1:38:04] want to weigh in you can do you.
>> Yes. So the discussion yesterday
[1:38:08] managing
>> um surrounded the financial implications
[1:38:13] associated with such change and details
around um ensuring that the department's
[1:38:19] budget could support I'm sorry I'm on
the wrong one. um regarding the amount
[1:38:24] that it would cost the county to invest
into the retirement plan if the um rules
[1:38:31] of retirement were changed.
>> Okay.
[1:38:34] » And that's all done through ACCG.
>> Correct. ACCG would be responsible for
[1:38:39] conducting the actuarial study.
>> Okay.
[1:38:44] All right. Any other discussion board?
Please prepare to cast your votes.
[1:39:18] Motion passed by vote or deny.
>> Okay,
[1:39:24] » Madam Clerk, I have the next item.
>> Okay. Uh number 14, consideration of the
[1:39:29] proposed 2026 merit handbook review
revisions as recommended by the
[1:39:34] personnel review board, which includes
an update to the following section
[1:39:38] 13-102
emergency relief from duty and authorize
[1:39:42] the chairman to sign all related
documents pending final legal review.
[1:39:46] » Okay. Thank you. Do we have a motion
board?
[1:39:48] » Yes, madam chair. Based on discussion
from yesterday, I make a motion to um
[1:39:53] approve um the modifications to section
13102 with a modification um of the 24
[1:40:00] hours being changed to 5 days.
>> Okay.
[1:40:03] » Second.
>> We have a motion and a second on the
[1:40:06] floor. Any further discussion?
I think
[1:40:09] » this this particular uh
proposed change, the board discussed um
[1:40:18] whether it made sense for or if 24 hours
was sufficient time to evaluate the the
[1:40:26] need to place an employee on emergency
uh relief or relieve them from emergency
[1:40:33] to relieve them on emergency basis for
duty. And the board discussed increasing
[1:40:39] that time frame from 24 hours to five
days.
[1:40:44] » Okay.
Any other discussion? Board, please
[1:40:48] prepare to cast your votes.
[1:40:55] » Motion carries. 50.
>> Okay, we have a 50 unanimous vote uh to
[1:41:00] approve
tab number 14.
[1:41:05] Number 15, approval of the proposed 2026
merit handbook revisions as recommended
[1:41:10] by the personnel review board, which
includes an update to the following
[1:41:14] section. Section 13-9B,
personnel review board.
[1:41:21] » Okay. Do we have a motion?
>> Yes, Madame Chair. Uh based on the
[1:41:27] discussion from yesterday, I would make
a excuse me a motion to approve the PRB
[1:41:34] board's recommendation to modify the
word um majority to plurality and then
[1:41:40] for the Douglas County Board of
Commissioners to send back to the PRB
[1:41:46] the recommended modification um to that
section in how PRB board members are
[1:41:50] elected with the recommendation being
one member elected by the board of
[1:41:55] commissioners, one member elected by the
um a plurality of the constitutional
[1:42:01] officers and one by a plurality of
employees.
[1:42:05] » Second.
>> Okay, we have a motion and a second on
[1:42:09] the floor. Any further elaboration?
Managing managing director.
[1:42:14] » Yes. So, as an additional overlay to the
motion, uh what the board discussed
[1:42:20] yesterday
is um the need to change the wording
[1:42:25] majority to plurality so that we don't
have runoffs um based on the the nature
[1:42:31] of the the voting process. In addition
to that, the motion um or the guidance
[1:42:37] that we received from the county
attorney is to bifurcate and introduce a
[1:42:44] new proposal during the next quarterly
meeting before the PRB to define or to
[1:42:51] um modify how voting currently occurs in
terms of the three positions for the B
[1:42:56] the personnel review board.
>> Okay. Any further discussion board
[1:43:03] please? If Madam Chair, so I'll add is
that the plurality language will be
[1:43:10] changed upon this vote if it's approved,
but the language about the selection of
[1:43:17] members of the PRB will go back to the
PRB because it's beyond the scope of
[1:43:22] what they sent you. And so their
quarterly meeting, I believe, is on May
[1:43:26] 12th. And so we will take that language
back to them so that they can review.
[1:43:33] Okay. All right. If there's no further
discussion, please prepare to cast your
[1:43:38] votes.
[1:43:44] » Motion carries. 50.
>> We have a 50 unanimous vote in the
[1:43:48] motion carries. Thank you.
>> Thank you,
[1:43:52] » Madam Clerk. You have the next one.
>> Okay. Number 16, approval of a new
[1:43:56] two-year lease with Old Courthouse, Inc.
and authorize the chairman to sign all
[1:44:00] related documents pending final legal
review.
[1:44:02] » Okay. Do we have a motion?
[1:44:07] » Do we have a motion?
>> Madam Chair, I make a motion um to deny
[1:44:16] um the approval of a new two-year lease
with Old Courthouse, Inc. and auth Well,
[1:44:20] I guess to deny.
>> Okay.
[1:44:23] » Second.
>> We have a motion and a second. Any
[1:44:26] discussion board? We have a motion and a
second. All in favor of denial, please
[1:44:31] indicate. But do I need to do we need to
do a hand vote on this one? Okay.
[1:44:41] » Madam Chair, I think that you can do the
vote because she'll put it in as denial.
[1:44:46] So you can do the electronic.
>> Okay.
[1:44:52] » Chair, you have the floor.
this going back after what was brought
[1:44:58] to the board of commissioners yesterday
in regards to
[1:45:02] some issues with compliance with the old
courthouse inc.
[1:45:10] Um that is one of the things that we had
quite a long discussion about yesterday.
[1:45:17] um
to understand this. I'm going to say
[1:45:21] this is is as I said yesterday,
this does not mean that
[1:45:27] I do I I've been for the courthouse
since day one, but I believe that we
[1:45:35] need to put old courthouse ink.
It there's just there's some issues with
[1:45:42] what was brought to our attention
yesterday about old courthouse ink.
[1:45:47] We need if we're going to go going
forward with our museum, we need a
[1:45:53] new board a new board, which they are a
portion of a new board, but we need a
[1:45:58] whole new board. We need to establish my
this is just my thoughts. We need to
[1:46:03] establish another
company to run to be the 5013C old
[1:46:10] courthouse, Inc. There were some some
things that was brought to our attention
[1:46:14] yesterday that was concerning and um
factual and if we decided to go further
[1:46:24] with Old Courthouse Inc.,
the board of commissioners could be held
[1:46:29] liable to some of these issues. And so
that is my recommendation. That's how I
[1:46:36] I feel. I I want the museum. I've never
said I don't want the museum. I want the
[1:46:41] museum, but we need to do a we need to
do a change and we need to become or
[1:46:47] have this new 5013C set up. And there
needs to be a dialogue with this entire
[1:46:53] board in regards to what we're looking
at going forward. And
[1:46:59] we're willing to have that dialogue and
to assist to help guide us in the right
[1:47:04] direction because we don't want the
museum just to be okay. I want the
[1:47:07] museum to be great. Everybody loves it.
We love it. We're here. We're here. I
[1:47:13] I'm not going to say I I I want the
museum and my fellow commissioners know
[1:47:18] I want it to stay there, but we've got
to make some modifications to how it is.
[1:47:24] And so I'm just that's just my opinion,
but I wanted to publicly say it because
[1:47:30] I've been for it from day one. But some
of those things were brought to our
[1:47:34] attention. We have we we have a fugitary
duty to
[1:47:40] do right. And so um with that I yield
back madam chair.
[1:47:44] » Okay. Any other discussion?
[1:47:49] » All right. Those um madam madam county
attorney I have a question. Those items
[1:47:55] that were brought for consider uh that
was just stated by the vice chair. Is
[1:48:00] there any opportunity or room for that
those to be considered conditions
[1:48:06] if this goes you know I'm just asking
>> certainly so the motion on the floor is
[1:48:11] to deny the list
>> I know I know
[1:48:13] » um so it certainly couldn't be
conditions to that motion because
[1:48:18] you would need there would need to be a
new motion
[1:48:21] » to
[1:48:24] do something right whether it's some
type of conversation some type of um
[1:48:32] commitment from the new organization
um to do certain things, whatever it is,
[1:48:39] or if the majority desires to go forward
with the lease, right? Understanding the
[1:48:44] um pitfalls that were discussed on
yesterday. Um but the conditions that
[1:48:50] were just stated, if that's what we're
calling them, they certainly would not
[1:48:54] ride with the current motion. Yeah.
would not ride with this one. But
[1:48:58] they're not they're not illegal. Is that
I'm asking that those if that were if
[1:49:04] they were conditions, are they illegal?
>> And we are talking about name changing.
[1:49:11] Is that illegal? Certainly not.
>> That's not an illegal act for them to
[1:49:15] create a new entity.
>> Okay. Just want to make sure because you
[1:49:18] got to guide us in here.
>> All right. We have a motion on the floor
[1:49:22] to deny. We have the second. So please
any other discussion board please
[1:49:27] prepare your uh cast your votes to deny.
That's what you
[1:49:43] » chairman we have.
>> You got to say
[1:49:49] I'm
>> sorry.
[1:49:54] We have a two
yes, two no, and one abstain.
[1:50:01] So then the vote doesn't pass.
>> Okay. Need to call another motion.
[1:50:06] Okay.
[1:50:13] » All right. So it did not pass. So what
we're going to do,
[1:50:16] » Madam County attorney, I do have a point
of clarification.
[1:50:19] » Yes, ma'am. If you dis if you
participate in the discussion, you
[1:50:23] participate in the exchange of
information on the agenda item,
[1:50:29] does not the resolution that we
previously passed preclude a
[1:50:34] commissioner from abstaining?
>> Please refer me to what resolution
[1:50:38] you're speaking of?
>> We passed a resolution last year. I
[1:50:43] don't remember what the resolution
number is and the clerk can look it up
[1:50:46] but um that if you if you are going to
abstain that you needed to state what
[1:50:51] the basis of your abstension was declare
whatever your conflict was and then
[1:50:57] state that then recuse yourself from
participating
[1:51:01] at all in the agenda item.
>> So you do have a code section on a
[1:51:06] » we did a resolution because the code
section was silent as to that issue. So,
[1:51:11] we would need to pull that resolution so
we can make sure procedure is followed.
[1:51:15] I will bring your attention to section
7-9.
[1:51:19] All members of the county board of
commissioners attending a board of
[1:51:22] commissioners meeting shall vote on each
matter placed before it. A member may
[1:51:27] abstain from voting only in the instance
of a conflict of interest.
[1:51:31] um an official or appointed official who
has an interest that such official or
[1:51:36] appointed official has reason to believe
may be affected by such officials or
[1:51:41] appointed officials officials acts or
actions or by the official acts or
[1:51:45] actions of the county shall and so this
gets us there disclose that interest and
[1:51:51] shall abstain from participating in such
official acts or actions affected
[1:51:55] thereby that interest shall be disclosed
by such official or appointed official
[1:52:00] pri prior to there being any official
act or actions. And so for whatever
[1:52:05] member have um has abstained from this
vote, they will certainly need to
[1:52:09] disclose. And so that vote, Madam Chair,
will not count.
[1:52:12] » Okay.
[1:52:18] Who
>> abain?
[1:52:19] » I did.
>> Okay.
[1:52:21] » Okay.
My reason for abstaining was
[1:52:25] » well before you before you disclose I
think we need to be sure what motion
[1:52:29] because that motion is dead because
there was not a disclosure prior to the
[1:52:35] vote. So you need to know what you're
voting on before you abstain because we
[1:52:40] we will not be able to go back and use
the votes that just happened for the
[1:52:45] purpose of the motion that was on the
floor. I would recommend that the motion
[1:52:49] be redone with a second and in the
discussion before the vote you can
[1:52:54] disclose your reason for abstension.
>> So I need to go first.
[1:52:59] » Do you So that means that Killer Jones
need to restate.
[1:53:03] » Okay.
>> U Madam Chair, I make a motion to deny
[1:53:07] um approval of a new lease of a new
two-year lease with Old Courthouse Inc.
[1:53:13] » Chair, I second.
>> Okay. We have a motion and a and a
[1:53:15] second on the floor. Any discussion
board?
[1:53:19] Have a motion and a second. Please
prepare to cast.
[1:53:22] » Is this where you going to make your
>> your disclosure, sir?
[1:53:27] » Yes. So my reason for abstaining is um
you know I'm I'm friends with some of
[1:53:36] the board members, the old board members
and uh quite close friends and so I
[1:53:42] don't feel that it would be fair for me
in regards to what was brought to our
[1:53:48] attention yesterday for me to go forward
and either vote to terminate their lease
[1:53:53] or to vote to uh keep their lease. So
for that fact and we're talking about
[1:53:59] old courthouse inc
anything what becomes of new board
[1:54:03] members talking about old courthouse
inc. And so for that reason that's my
[1:54:07] reason for abstaining.
I do want to read into the record the
[1:54:13] basis of an interest. You already heard
section 7-17-9
[1:54:18] that requires an abstension to only be
in those instances where there's a
[1:54:23] conflict of interest. An interest is
described as any director I'm sorry any
[1:54:29] director or in any direct this is
there's a typo here any direct or
[1:54:35] indirect material benefit held by or
acrewing to an official or appointed
[1:54:40] official as a result of a contract or
transaction which is or may be the
[1:54:45] subject of an official action or action
or with the county unless otherwise
[1:54:50] provided. The term interest does not
include any remote interest. For the
[1:54:55] purpose of this chapter, an official or
appointed official shall be deemed to
[1:54:58] have an interest in transactions
involving any one of the following. It's
[1:55:03] the person or such person's immediate
family. Any person with whom a
[1:55:06] contractual relationship either written
or applied or implied exists whereby
[1:55:12] such person may receive any payment or
other benefit including an agreement for
[1:55:16] employment. Any business in which such
person is a director, official employee,
[1:55:22] prospective employee or substantial
greater than 10% shareholder.
[1:55:33] All right, you're very clear and
explicit. So that means sounds like
[1:55:38] everyone sounds like everyone on this
particular board right now at this
[1:55:43] moment needs to cast a vote.
>> That is correct.
[1:55:46] » Okay. Thank you.
All right, we have a motion and a second
[1:55:50] on the floor to deny. Please cancel your
votes. Can I do it again?
[1:55:55] » Okay, every Okay, we have a motion and a
second on the floor. We've had
[1:56:01] discussion, we have a motion and a
second. All in favor of denial, please
[1:56:06] raise your right hand.
All oppose of denial, please raise your
[1:56:11] right hand.
We have a 3-2 vote and the motion
[1:56:16] carries for not you know for for denial
not to deny. Am I saying that correct?
[1:56:21] » So the motion was for denial.
>> Yeah. Right.
[1:56:23] » And three people voted in favor of
denial.
[1:56:26] » No.
>> Two voted
[1:56:30] » in favor.
>> In favor of denial. Motion
[1:56:32] » the motion failed.
>> Thank you.
[1:56:34] » Okay. Thank you.
>> I'm all
[1:56:35] » I'm sorry. I was reading the resolution.
Okay. And I didn't catch the vote.
[1:56:38] » Okay. All right.
With that being stated, I do we have a
[1:56:44] motion. Do we have a motion board?
Let me certainly be clear. Certainly, I
[1:56:51] did not authorize I need please. I did
not authorize this item to go on the
[1:56:56] agenda as the chairman who I have full
authority to put it on here. But it's my
[1:57:00] understanding that two commissioners
brought this forth. And I'm going to
[1:57:04] have the courage of Ketta Scott King,
the heart of Harriet Tubman, the soul of
[1:57:09] Sjourer Truth, and the fierceness of
Fanny Liu Hmer this morning to go
[1:57:14] forward. The question is, do we have a
motion to approve? And if we I'll call
[1:57:20] the motion. The motion is okay.
[1:57:28] » I would like to make a motion to extend
the museum lease for two years through
[1:57:33] May 31st, 2028 with conditions.
If approved, this new a new application
[1:57:41] has to be submitted for a new 501c3
under a new name by December 31st, 2026.
[1:57:51] If approved, the newly formed 501c3 will
provide the BOC reports and proof of
[1:57:58] filings of tax returns and record of
audit reviews and of the review results
[1:58:06] uh during the first BC meeting work
session in June 2027.
[1:58:12] Do we have that on the record? Cler uh
madam attorney, I want to make sure that
[1:58:17] I just didn't break the law. Tell me.
Well, so
[1:58:21] if you want the organization to create a
new, you wouldn't extend the current
[1:58:26] lease because the current lease is with
the old organization, right?
[1:58:30] » So
>> it that wouldn't make sense.
[1:58:33] » Okay.
>> Right. Um,
[1:58:36] and then the
a new lease would need to then be
[1:58:42] extended to who to whoever the new
organization is with whatever terms and
[1:58:47] conditions that you're going to put on
there. In addition, as I mentioned to
[1:58:51] you guys yesterday, you need to
establish that the old courthouse is
[1:58:54] surplus property and that the museum is
for a public benefit so you can get
[1:58:59] around the competitive bidding issue.
Thirdly, you will also need to um um
[1:59:05] make the lease a into the fiscal year or
calendar year for the purposes of
[1:59:10] Douglas County. That's the same, not a
blanket two-year lease because you
[1:59:14] cannot bind subsequent commissioners.
And so if that is the will of this board
[1:59:20] is to issue a lease to something because
the entity doesn't exist, the new entity
[1:59:26] doesn't exist,
then it would seem that the motion to
[1:59:30] extend the current lease would not be
appropriate.
[1:59:37] » Okay. Can you guide me in here?
>> Right.
[1:59:39] » I don't What's the goal? What's What's
the end goal here? Is it the end goal to
[1:59:45] give a new entity a lease?
It appears that we don't have a new
[1:59:51] entity right now.
[1:59:57] » It is.
>> You might want to ask.
[1:59:59] » Could I just allow them to come up and
help me?
[2:00:01] » Certainly.
>> Okay.
[2:00:04] » Attorney.
[2:00:07] » No, it does not.
[2:00:11] » Thank you, Madam Chair. That's why I was
I was I apologize for trying to
[2:00:15] interrupt my point of order.
>> Let me also be clear, Madam Chair. I I'm
[2:00:19] sorry. This is not a presentation,
right?
[2:00:22] » If you guys have a question, please ask
a question, but this is not an
[2:00:25] opportunity for them to present
>> like yesterday.
[2:00:30] » All right. Well, we can Mr. John
present.
[2:00:35] » No, no. any what you you have a copy of.
We've kind of done what you what you're
[2:00:41] suggesting and we I thought it was going
to be part of I thought it was going to
[2:00:45] get changed before we were ask we
weren't asking you to vote on the old
[2:00:48] courthouse and that was what we were
that's what Mr. John we was up all last
[2:00:53] night and I heard Miss Kenner and all
the heard everybody loud and clear and
[2:00:58] we that's no longer existent and Mr.
John's here want to tell you that about
[2:01:03] what our organization is sawing and
that's what you have a copy of.
[2:01:06] » Madam Chair, if there's a question by
the board of commissioners that you guys
[2:01:09] need answered to make an informed vote,
let's ask the question and they need to
[2:01:13] answer the question.
>> What is the new organization? Can you
[2:01:16] tell me that and then we're going to
What is Is there a new organization?
[2:01:20] » Thank you, Madam Chairman.
>> Okay, you
[2:01:22] » um I created uh a new
>> Can you speak into the microphone,
[2:01:27] please? Um, I created a new entity
called DC Museum, Inc., which will be a
[2:01:32] 501c3
uh organization. It's a nonprofit
[2:01:37] Georgia Association. It was filed early
this morning. Uh, we will be filing for
[2:01:42] a 501c3
approval with the IRS, which will meet
[2:01:46] all the requirements for our charitable
organization. Um, and it is it was filed
[2:01:52] this morning. It should be approved
within probably two weeks. And once
[2:01:56] that's approved, we file for the IRS
exemption.
[2:02:01] And we have three three board members
now, four officers. It's a membership
[2:02:07] organization. So that you will come in
and you will apply for a membership to
[2:02:11] be a member of the new uh DC Museum,
Inc. and has bylaws set up to run the
[2:02:18] organization.
>> Thank you. Any questions? Okay, you
[2:02:23] answer. Thank you.
>> I read the stuff they said. Okay. Any
[2:02:27] other? Commissioner Kenner Jones, you
have the floor.
[2:02:30] » So, I just want to make sure that I'm
following correctly. You have filed for
[2:02:34] your articles of incorporation, but you
have not been approved as a 501c3 by the
[2:02:39] state of Georgia or registered with the
IRS. You're waiting for those approvals.
[2:02:43] » Okay.
The state filing has been made.
[2:02:48] » Uh, uh, the state of Georgia takes about
10 days to two weeks to actually approve
[2:02:54] it. But once it's it's approved, it
relates back to the day of filing which
[2:02:58] was this morning early. Now the 501c3 I
cannot file until I have the formal
[2:03:03] approval by the state of Georgia. So
that's that delay.
[2:03:07] » So then madame county attorney at this
point because there's not an approval.
[2:03:12] There is not actually a new entity or a
new certified and approved nonprofit
[2:03:18] with the state of Georgia for us to sign
a lease with. Is that correct?
[2:03:22] » That is correct. The entity has not been
formed. There has been filings but it
[2:03:26] hasn't been formed.
>> Correct. And then am I also correct
[2:03:30] under OCGA 36101
for us as a board of commissioners to
[2:03:37] approve any contract and just to make
sure that I'm not incorrect. A lease is
[2:03:42] a contract. Is that correct?
>> That is correct. And we cannot issue a
[2:03:47] contract that has not been reduced to
writing with all of the provisions,
[2:03:53] terms and conditions
um laid out in accordance with the law
[2:03:58] and then posted I believe it's a seven
days to the um public so that it can be
[2:04:05] made a part of the record and then we
can vote on that. Otherwise, we are not
[2:04:09] in compliance with the statute. Is that
correct?
[2:04:11] » I don't know yet. I'm going to read the
statute
[2:04:17] » and I apologize in advance. I may have
the days the number of days wrong, but
[2:04:21] I'm positive it has to be in writing
[2:04:35] 3610.
>> I think it's 36101.
[2:04:41] That's for public works contract. Sorry.
[2:04:47] » I do not think that applies.
[2:05:00] Now 366013
does apply.
[2:05:04] What is that?
>> Could you read it?
[2:05:06] » Yes, sir.
>> Please.
[2:05:15] Each county or municipality in this
state shall be authorized to enter into
[2:05:19] multi-year lease purchase or lease
purchase contracts of all kinds for the
[2:05:23] acquisition of goods, materials, real
and personal property, services, and
[2:05:26] supplies provided that any such contract
shall contain
[2:05:31] provisions for the following. One, the
contract shall terminate absolutely and
[2:05:37] without further obligation on the part
of the county at the close of the
[2:05:41] calendar or fiscal year in which it was
executed and at the close of each
[2:05:46] succeeding calendar or fiscal year for
which it may be renewed as provided in
[2:05:49] this code section, which is why I said
two years is not okay. Number two, the
[2:05:54] contract may provide for automatic
renewal unless positive action is taken
[2:05:58] by the county to terminate such contract
and the nature of such action shall be
[2:06:02] determined by the county and specified
in the contract. Number three, the
[2:06:07] contract shall state the total
obligation of the county for the
[2:06:11] calendar or fiscal year of execution and
shall further state the total obligation
[2:06:15] which will be incurred in each calendar
or fiscal year renewal term if renewed.
[2:06:20] And for the contract shall provide that
the title to any supplies, materials,
[2:06:25] equipment, or other personal property
shall remain in the vendor until fully
[2:06:29] paid by the county or m municipality. Uh
that doesn't apply because this would be
[2:06:35] a lease. Um then B is in addition to the
provisions enumerated in section A, any
[2:06:41] contract authorized by the code section
may. So the first four that I read are
[2:06:46] shalls. It's not negotiable. The
following ones are made. A provision
[2:06:52] which requires that the contract will
terminate immediately and absolutely at
[2:06:55] such time as appropriated and otherwise
unobligated funds are no longer
[2:07:00] available to satisfy the obligations of
the county under the contract or any
[2:07:05] other provision reasonably necessary to
protect the interests of the county.
[2:07:11] Um,
[2:07:15] okay. I just want to make sure there's
nothing else in here that is applicable.
[2:07:26] I will add that there is additional case
law um that wouldn't be in the code
[2:07:29] section um that will require as I stated
the public interest benefit that will
[2:07:35] require the surplus properties um
language that I just mentioned.
[2:07:42] And I do apologize also, madam um county
attorney. Um but from an open an open
[2:07:49] meetings act perspective, that's where I
was getting the the notice. What is the
[2:07:53] notice requirement to the public of a
contract that the board of commissioners
[2:07:57] is considering?
>> So I'm I don't see that in this in the
[2:08:02] contract requirements. Where are you
reading that from?
[2:08:04] » No, no, I'm asking in the open meetings
act, not in the contract.
[2:08:07] » Oh, no. The Open Meetings Act does not
require there to be I'll go to Title 50,
[2:08:12] but it does not require there to be any
public advertising.
[2:08:18] Um, I will say though, regardless of
what
[2:08:23] in the absence of that language, I don't
think that
[2:08:28] um there's sufficient
information at this time to issue a
[2:08:37] lease, a contract um to the individuals
um because we need some terms, some the
[2:08:44] conditions that Madame Chair read um to
reduce it to writing. Um, I'm going to
[2:08:50] the Open Meetings Act
and that's in 50-14-1.
[2:09:25] Bear with us.
[2:09:36] I do not see that to be a requirement
under um the open meetings act.
[2:09:52] Now, if you're talking about advertising
the agenda, is that what you're trying
[2:09:58] to get at?
[2:10:04] » I'm sorry, madam county attorney. What
was the last question? If you were
[2:10:08] talking about notice to the public of
the agenda item.
[2:10:12] » Yes.
>> Okay. So that is the agenda items have
[2:10:16] to be available to the public as soon as
they're available.
[2:10:20] » Um
that's D1.
[2:10:26] Such information I'm sorry. Every agency
subject to this chapter shall prescribe
[2:10:31] the time, place, and dates of regular
meetings. Such information shall be
[2:10:35] available to the general public and a
notice containing such information shall
[2:10:39] be posted at least one week in advance
and maintained in in a conspicuous place
[2:10:45] available to the public at the regular
meeting of any agency or committee.
[2:10:50] Meetings shall be held in according with
the regular schedule but nothing in this
[2:10:54] subsection shall preclude an agency from
cancelling or postponing any regular
[2:10:59] scheduled meeting. Um, so that's where
you getting you're getting the week
[2:11:04] from.
>> Gotcha.
[2:11:17] Prior to any meeting, I'm sorry, this is
E1.
[2:11:22] The agency shall make available an
agenda of all matters expected to come
[2:11:26] before the agency or committee at such
meeting. The agenda shall be available
[2:11:30] on request and shall be posted at the
meeting site as far in advance of the
[2:11:35] meeting as reasonably possible, but
shall not be required to be available
[2:11:39] more than two weeks prior to the meeting
and so be posted at a minimum at some
[2:11:43] time during the two-eek period
immediately prior to the meeting.
[2:11:46] Failure to include on the agenda an item
which becomes necessary to address
[2:11:51] during the course of the meeting shall
not preclude considering and acting upon
[2:11:55] such item. And that's for regular
meetings, not special called.
[2:12:02] » Okay.
So, can you
[2:12:07] » put it in languish terms? I'm sitting
here.
[2:12:11] um to answer uh Commissioner Ker Jones's
question was that the
[2:12:17] ability for you guys to consider a new
item um regarding a lease um is not
[2:12:24] precluded from being discussed.
>> I guess let me let me rec clarify my
[2:12:30] question.
is a pres as a is an agenda item listed
[2:12:36] as a presentation for update sufficient
notice to the public that we are going
[2:12:43] to be discussing a potential 2-year
lease to Old Courthouse Inc. and then
[2:12:49] that discussion shift to the provision
of a lease with an entity that does not
[2:12:55] exist
>> um alone. No, but there was much
[2:13:01] discussion um about it on yesterday. Um
and the agenda item on today
[2:13:09] um I think gives enough notice to the
public that there is going to be a
[2:13:13] discussion about a lease regarding the
museum. It obviously doesn't say DC
[2:13:18] Museum
um which is the the new name. Um but I
[2:13:24] think there has been enough discussion
around this item um to put the public on
[2:13:29] notice that there is going to be a
discussion about leasing the old
[2:13:33] courthouse
[2:13:38] » and has a a lease been drafted?
>> It has not.
[2:13:45] not by me. They they drafted something.
Um I wouldn't regard it as a lease. It
[2:13:51] is purely purely a draft. It's
incomplete. Um and it would not pass my
[2:13:59] cleared test.
[2:14:05] » Okay.
Being that nothing has been drafted,
[2:14:10] certainly I know it would take your
intervention. Is there an opportunity
[2:14:14] for a motion to be called to and I'm
just
[2:14:17] » Yes, ma'am.
>> I need you to guide me in here for for
[2:14:21] um extension on the deadline that's
already in place to allow the things
[2:14:26] that we just talked about to go forward.
I don't I don't
[2:14:29] » And are you speaking of the deadline for
um them to
[2:14:33] » the current lease?
>> For the current lease.
[2:14:35] » Yeah. I don't know how
>> so I would need the clerk to pull up
[2:14:38] what that motion was the last time this
has been addressed. I don't
[2:14:44] » I believe the motion passed.
>> I got an idea
[2:14:47] » to terminate
the lease with a
[2:14:53] date of something. So, we'll find out
what that something is.
[2:14:58] » Vice Chair, you have the floor.
>> Madam County Attorney, can I ask a
[2:15:02] question?
Would it be possible to go ahead and
[2:15:08] approve to terminate the old courthouse,
Inc. lease?
[2:15:12] » It's already been done.
>> Yep. But to not evict
[2:15:18] from the premises so they don't have to
remove all those items for one month to
[2:15:24] reconsider
DC Museum, Inc.
[2:15:30] to come back to us and consider a lease
from DC Museum, Inc.
[2:15:38] upon they got to meet all the criterias.
They got to come in compliance.
[2:15:44] All right. So, let me restate to make
sure I understand. You're wanting to
[2:15:48] make a motion to extend the
eviction date, right, of
[2:15:54] » Yes. the current tenants,
Old Courthouse, Inc.
[2:16:01] for an additional 30 days while the
board considers a new lease with DC
[2:16:08] Museum, Inc. Is that what you're asking?
>> Yes, ma'am.
[2:16:11] » Okay. One second.
[2:16:22] Vice Chair, I
>> I yield back, Madam Chair.
[2:16:25] » Okay. And I know you yield back, but uh
you said 30 days. Is that enough time
[2:16:30] for you know, I'm just being fair to all
at the table?
[2:16:34] » I've never opened up a 5013C.
>> I could not tell you.
[2:16:39] » May I address that issue?
>> May, sir.
[2:16:41] » May I ask you that question? How long
would it take DC Museum, Inc. to come
[2:16:45] into compliance with everything a 5013C
needs.
[2:16:50] » Oh, 501. Yeah.
>> Okay. The state filing will be back
[2:16:56] within two weeks. The 501c3 application
with the IRS is will be 60 to 90 days
[2:17:04] minimum. Uh it's an online filing. Uh
it's pretty summary. I track down the
[2:17:11] IRS code exactly so they really don't
have a whole lot to argue about. It's
[2:17:15] just timing with the IRS and I can't
guarantee a timeline, but they say 60 to
[2:17:20] 90 days and we can ask for exped have it
expedited, but all that does is just
[2:17:26] kind of kick it up maybe a week or two.
We're at the mercy of the IRS.
[2:17:32] » Yes.
[2:17:37] » They do they don't
[2:17:53] Madam County attorney, are you
researching something?
[2:17:56] » Yes.
>> Okay. I'm not. Okay.
[2:17:59] » Okay.
[2:18:34] January.
[2:18:50] » Sir, what is your name again? I just
want to make sure we have your name for
[2:18:53] the record.
>> It's Philip John's.
[2:18:55] » Philip Johns
>> with the one, please.
[2:18:58] » Do you have Jessica? You all have his
name. Mr. Philip Johns. Okay. What was
[2:19:02] your name?
>> Phil Phillip John's.
[2:19:11] » Just give us a minute.
[2:20:08] So on February 3rd
[2:20:16] » of this year, the BOC passed a
resolution to um terminate the lease and
[2:20:22] Um, this was resolution
it
[2:20:27] » I don't know if it matters
26069.
[2:20:30] That resolution rescended resolution
25-380
[2:20:35] where you guys had approved for there to
be a vacate December 31st, 2025, but you
[2:20:42] came back in January uh because that
notice was never provided. You came back
[2:20:46] in January to issue a new lease to Old
Courthouse, Inc.
[2:20:52] um and refer the matter to the community
service committee who um
[2:20:58] provided a recommendation back to this
BOC that they should be given um notice
[2:21:04] to vacate effective
>> May 15th.
[2:21:08] » May 15th. Thank you.
>> Um and that passed. Um and so at this
[2:21:15] current time, the statue of things is
that Old Courthouse, Inc. has to vacate
[2:21:20] on May 15, 2026 by 5:00 p.m. and any
time thereafter, the county shall have
[2:21:28] the authority to take full possession of
the property, including authority to
[2:21:33] remove or retain any and all tangibles
left within the property as a result of
[2:21:38] their occupancy. Um, so that's the
current status of things and because of
[2:21:43] the time that it took us to research
this, I do not remember the question.
[2:21:52] After reading that,
can we vote or have a motion placed on
[2:21:57] here not to renew the contract with Old
Courthouse, Inc.,
[2:22:02] however,
to not evict or to move the eviction
[2:22:07] date
to give them time to come for DC Museum,
[2:22:12] Inc.
to come in compliance as a nonprofit.
[2:22:20] respectfully, you can make whatever
motion you deem fit. I think you were
[2:22:24] trying to find out if that can be done
um as a legal matter and there's nothing
[2:22:30] illegal about that.
To achieve that though, you will be
[2:22:34] resending
again for the second time your
[2:22:39] resolution. Now this time it's 26-069
[2:22:46] which gave a termination date effect of
May 15th. So you would be resending that
[2:22:53] resolution
and then doing something a new which it
[2:22:59] sounds like a motion to extend the
deadline for vacating.
[2:23:05] » Yes.
[2:23:14] I can resend my motion that I had on the
floor. The one that I had earlier was
[2:23:19] » it was a long I know it's been a while
but those two those two conditions which
[2:23:23] you said was not uh applicable or was
not something that could be done. So I
[2:23:29] resend my motion.
>> Okay.
[2:23:31] » Do we have a motion? Another motion.
>> So madam chair just point a question for
[2:23:35] the county attorney. So what I'm hearing
is there opportunity for two separate
[2:23:39] motions. One with the motion or what we
have on the agenda related to item
[2:23:45] number 16 and then a subsequent motion
to potentially do some other action.
[2:23:52] » So item 16 is done,
>> right? There was a motion to deny
[2:23:58] issuing a two-year lease to Old
Courthouse, Inc. That's done. Um there
[2:24:04] was a vote on that already and so now
the discussion has evolved into
[2:24:10] right now I'm hearing a motion to extend
the date of termination of the old
[2:24:19] courthouse inc lease.
>> That's what I'm hearing now.
[2:24:24] » Okay.
>> Which is now just one action, one
[2:24:27] motion,
not two.
[2:24:31] » Okay. I'm sorry, Miss Can you restate
the first part because I know we took a
[2:24:35] motion and that motion it was to deny
two absent abstain.
[2:24:45] » So the motion that uh Commissioner Ker
Jones made the motion to deny issuing a
[2:24:50] lease,
>> that motion failed.
[2:24:53] » Mhm.
>> Because it was a two three vote.
[2:24:57] » No.
>> No, but we did it.
[2:25:04] Okay.
>> Okay. I'm sorry. I can hear.
[2:25:06] » It's fine.
>> We did that motion, Commissioner Kenner
[2:25:11] Jones's motion twice.
>> The first one was void.
[2:25:16] » Mhm.
>> The second one, everybody voted and the
[2:25:19] vote on the motion to deny issuing a
lease to Old Courthouse, Inc. failed.
[2:25:26] » Two, three. Mhm.
>> Two people voted in favor of denial.
[2:25:30] Three people voted
against denial.
[2:25:35] » That doesn't mean they voted in favor of
giving them one. They just voted against
[2:25:39] denying
>> issuing the lease. Does that make sense?
[2:25:42] » It does.
>> Okay. Then there was another motion made
[2:25:45] by Madame Chair,
>> but I weighed in before a second was
[2:25:49] even given that that motion wasn't going
to work.
[2:25:51] » Okay.
>> Right.
[2:25:53] » Now, Vice Chair Alvarez is talking about
a motion. and I don't think he's made
[2:25:57] it, but he's just trying to figure out
>> if his motion will work.
[2:26:03] » Right.
>> So, that's where we are.
[2:26:05] » So, there's no motion on the floor at
this time.
[2:26:07] » Okay.
>> Okay.
[2:26:08] » Do we have a motion? Board of
Commissioners.
[2:26:10] » Thank you.
>> Thank you,
[2:26:11] » Madam Chair.
Correct me if I'm say state this wrong
[2:26:15] because we've been talking about quite a
bit.
[2:26:18] I would like to make a motion
to not approve
[2:26:25] the the lease with Old Courthouse, Inc.,
but to extend
[2:26:32] the vacate date
to
[2:26:37] August.
>> Let me stop you. You want to make a
[2:26:39] motion to resend
resolution 26-069.
[2:26:46] » Correct. Remember that was the
resolution that told him to be out May
[2:26:48] 15th. You don't want to do that anymore
is what it sounds like.
[2:26:52] » Correct.
>> Now go from there.
[2:26:54] » Give me that resolution one more time.
>> 069.
[2:26:59] » Okay. Let me try this again.
>> Madam Chair, I'd like to make a motion
[2:27:04] to not renew the lease with Old
Courthouse, Inc.
[2:27:09] » Sorry. Sorry. to resend
>> to rescend
[2:27:14] 26-0 resolution 2609
>> 26-069
[2:27:21] and extend the vacate date
for 90 days.
[2:27:38] » Okay.
and
[2:27:41] to
consider
[2:27:46] a new lease
went with DC Museum, Inc.
[2:27:54] once they come into compliance
with all state laws
[2:28:01] and everything
for a lease with the new m with the old
[2:28:07] museum. I mean, I'm sorry, the old
courthouse.
[2:28:09] » Let me recommend
that you put a period after a motion to
[2:28:15] resend 26-069
[2:28:19] and extend the vacate date by 90 days.
>> Okay. Um, let me do this motion act
[2:28:26] number three.
I think we like
[2:28:29] » Madam Chair, I would like to make a
motion to rescend 26-069
[2:28:35] and extend
the
[2:28:40] uh the to extend a vacate date for 90
days
[2:28:44] » from May 15th.
>> From May 15th.
[2:28:51] » Do we have a second?
>> Do we have a second?
[2:28:53] » I'll second it.
>> Okay, we have a motion and a second. So,
[2:28:57] any discussion? Y.
[2:29:01] » So,
one thing that I is a more of a comment
[2:29:04] than a question. Would you be arguing to
extend the lease for any other nonprofit
[2:29:13] that had committed the egregious gross
negligence that has been demonstrated by
[2:29:19] Old Courthouse Museum?
And and I say that in the context of you
[2:29:25] have been the leading commissioner
championing complaints about the
[2:29:31] unethical behavior about the financial
irregularities and issues with the
[2:29:36] coroner's office. You also were one of
the leading commissioners who was
[2:29:41] championing and advocating for us not to
increase or give additional funding to
[2:29:46] the community services board for the
exact same negligent reasons. So, what
[2:29:51] makes the old courthouse museum so
different that they get that level of
[2:29:56] special treatment?
>> My reason
[2:30:00] is one,
the museum to me is part of our county.
[2:30:05] Two, I have stated over and over again,
I do not want to extend a lease for Old
[2:30:11] Core House, Inc. And the reasons the re
the reasons being is what we discussed
[2:30:16] yesterday and that we all had in-depth
conversations about yesterday.
[2:30:21] But my demand would be it would have to
be a brand new board completely. They
[2:30:28] cannot be the old board members. This DC
museum must be a brand new board and
[2:30:34] must adhere to suggestions or what the
what the board of commissioners and the
[2:30:40] county desires.
So what I hear you saying in that
[2:30:44] response is that it is more important to
protect a person a personal friendships
[2:30:50] and nonprofits than it was to provide
mental health services to the Douglas
[2:30:56] County community. people a a provider
that sees 70 plus thousand people a year
[2:31:03] as opposed to based on the studies and
the records that was provided to us have
[2:31:08] only seen 100,000 people walk through
their doors since 1998. So that takes
[2:31:13] priority. We're doing all of this
political gerrymandering up here to try
[2:31:18] to figure out how to collude with what
we already are aware of has been done
[2:31:24] woefully and properly. We were informed
yesterday that if there are legal
[2:31:29] implications, fixing it going forward
does not retroactively
[2:31:34] take away our liability. So why would we
continue to try to do this? But I'm
[2:31:39] probably not going to get an answer for
that. My second question is for
[2:31:42] Commissioner Mitchell. But what what
make may I just
[2:31:48] » the reasons why I did not continue to
push or to cut funding for the mental
[2:31:53] health. It was what you and I worked on.
>> We did cut funding for mental health. It
[2:31:57] went for several hundred,000. And I
supported you because I have
[2:32:02] demonstrated over and over whether it is
popular or not that transparency,
[2:32:07] integrity, and accuracy matter. And I'm
not going to have one standard for the
[2:32:12] community services board and not have
the same standard for the museum. I do
[2:32:16] not disagree that we made the right
decision in reducing the funding because
[2:32:21] and we reduced it until they get into
compliance and we've not readressed it
[2:32:26] since because they've not brought
anything back before us to demonstrate
[2:32:30] that they have got in compliance. Just
like Old Courthouse, Inc. is out of
[2:32:34] compliance and has been out of
compliance. They have not demonstrated
[2:32:37] that they have been good stewards of the
facility that was provided to them or
[2:32:41] the funding that was provided to them.
So again, I don't understand why we're
[2:32:45] doing all of this round and around. If
they want to go and get it right, they
[2:32:50] can go and get it right. But that does
not mean that we acquies and give them
[2:32:53] additional time. We did not provide that
to anybody else.
[2:32:57] » Well,
I agree with you on that that but with
[2:33:01] the CSB, they never came back and tried
to make it right. They tried to come
[2:33:05] back multiple times. None of us
>> we have not seen them nor have they
[2:33:09] contacted us. I mean I know madam chair
sits on the board but they have not
[2:33:12] contacted us since. So I'm just saying
give an opportunity for a brand new
[2:33:19] group which we all talked about. It
would have to be someone that we could
[2:33:23] work with. It would have to be someone
who would hear and listen to our
[2:33:27] suggestions and the community's
suggestions to make the museum not just
[2:33:31] good but make it great. But we're
extending a lease to an organization
[2:33:36] that we are hoping is is proactively
going to do something different, but
[2:33:41] they do not have different, better, or
appropriate before us now.
[2:33:47] » But I have a question for Commissioner
Mitchell because we've discussed how did
[2:33:51] this get here. I I personally would like
to know why the conversation was
[2:33:56] continued because it's not just that O
Courthouse, Inc. came back. They were
[2:34:01] requested by you multiple times to come
back on the agenda and you said
[2:34:06] » that you were going to go with the
recommendation of the community services
[2:34:09] committee. Okay.
>> And their recommendation was no. So why
[2:34:13] are we back here now?
>> And you're absolutely correct in that
[2:34:17] statement. And that I did. However, I
also, let me remind you, suggested that
[2:34:24] they had came with a new idea, a new
board, a new entity that I suggested to
[2:34:30] us to take a look at.
>> And the committee
[2:34:33] » Well, you going to let me finish or you
and said they disagreed
[2:34:37] » and No, we didn't deny that request. It
was just a conversation. We did not deny
[2:34:41] that request.
>> Commissioner Mitchell, you asked in that
[2:34:44] committee meeting.
>> No, not in the committee meeting. No,
[2:34:48] that's not when that when I brought when
I was found when I was s when it was
[2:34:53] suggested to me about a potential new
organization, a new entity, a new board,
[2:34:59] a new all this, I suggested to this
board
[2:35:03] that they might be coming back with a
new makeup of what this could be. And I
[2:35:09] said, I suggest that we take a look at
this. Now, we we do this all the time.
[2:35:14] How many times from planning and zoning
and any other thing that someone bring
[2:35:18] before us that may get denied but they
still have the opportunity to come back.
[2:35:23] I didn't say have an opportunity to come
back so we can pass or fit. No, it's
[2:35:27] they should have the opportunity to come
back. That's what I suggested.
[2:35:30] » You send it back to the community
services committee.
[2:35:34] » Listen, I that was their choice and I
just only made the recommendation that
[2:35:38] » you didn't make a recommendation. I did
make a recommendation and I'll tell you
[2:35:43] when
>> board let's let's not go back and forth
[2:35:45] here.
>> Well, and I'm not going to go back and
[2:35:46] forth. I'm only saying I I know
everybody on sitting on this board note
[2:35:51] when I made that suggestion in one of
our meetings and I make it plain and
[2:35:57] clear it was an executive session when I
made that that that suggestion to all of
[2:36:03] us.
Did I not? And in that same executive
[2:36:07] session, there was not a quorum of
people who agreed that it should come
[2:36:11] back on the agenda.
>> I didn't say, but that's irrelevant at
[2:36:14] » I only said, No, it's not irrelevant. I
only said I made the statement. Now,
[2:36:18] whether or not everybody agreed is a
whole different conversation now, I'm
[2:36:21] going to leave it there, Madam Chair.
I'm not
[2:36:24] » I'll leave it there.
>> Okay. Thank Well, I would just like to
[2:36:26] say for the record that this board is
participating in the promotion of
[2:36:33] illegal activities. If you extend their
lease, you are acquiescing to gross
[2:36:39] negligence and mismanagement
and may the odds be ever in your favor.
[2:36:44] I hope that we're not under indictments
again.
[2:36:48] » Uh, no clapping.
>> All right. Any other discussion? Okay.
[2:36:52] Commissioner
Braxton, you have the floor.
[2:36:56] » All right. Thank you. Guess this may be
a question for county attorney. So, if
[2:37:01] this motion passes
up until the point in time when all the
[2:37:06] documentation is approved for DC Museum,
Inc., will the current facility still be
[2:37:14] allowed to operate under the guise of
Old Courthouse, Inc.?
[2:37:19] So, let's be clear that the motion um
based on my recommendation was only to
[2:37:24] resend
resolution 26-069
[2:37:29] and extend the vacate date for 90 days.
>> Thank you.
[2:37:34] » The reason why I said that is because
the second part of his motion, consider
[2:37:40] a new lease and all of that, if it
happens, it happens. Y'all bring it
[2:37:45] back. If it doesn't, it does not put the
onus on this body to do anything until
[2:37:51] those things happen. So, the only thing
that this motion does is gives them a
[2:37:58] longer period of time to remain in the
old courthouse and continue to operate
[2:38:04] as they have been. It gives them an
additional 90 days. That's what the
[2:38:08] motion does for old courthouse for
things to remain status quo for an
[2:38:13] additional 90 days. Now, what they do,
they being this new entity, what they do
[2:38:19] within those 90 days, if they get
the confirmations from the state, from
[2:38:25] the IRS, and get all of their ducks in a
row and bring it back to this body for
[2:38:31] you guys to consider issuing a new lease
to them,
[2:38:36] I don't think that's something you can
control. That's on them if they want to
[2:38:40] continue down that road, right? Um, so
that's why I asked for the period after
[2:38:46] rescending. If that's not what Vice
Chair Alcarez wants, he is free to amend
[2:38:51] his motion.
>> All right. So, so thank you for that
[2:38:54] clarification. And I think what I'm
hearing, and correct me if I'm wrong, is
[2:38:58] things will stay status quo for the next
90 days and stay and remain in effect
[2:39:04] the way they are now
>> if the motion passes.
[2:39:07] And so with that being said, the museum
will continue to be open and run under
[2:39:14] the opice of Old Courthouse Inc.
>> status quo.
[2:39:18] » Okay.
>> No.
[2:39:20] » Okay.
>> You you can't issue a lease to DC. They
[2:39:24] don't exist yet.
>> There's no exist. Right. And I just want
[2:39:26] to, you know, just get that
clarification that there is no changes.
[2:39:30] Nothing changes for the next 90 days. At
least the next 90 days if this motion
[2:39:35] passes. The other option is during the
90 days there can be a new action by
[2:39:40] this body
to receive the information from DC
[2:39:45] museum and a new lease can be issued at
that time. Right. If that's what this
[2:39:51] body so chooses.
>> Okay. Okay. Thank you for that
[2:39:55] clarification. Um looks like commission
vice chair. Do you have a a point to add
[2:39:59] on this or
>> I do.
[2:40:01] » All right. Madam Chair, I'll yield the
floor back to you.
[2:40:03] » Okay. Thank you so much, Commissioner
Braxton.
[2:40:06] » I I thought I was being clear to not
approve the lease. So, not operating as
[2:40:12] is for 90 days. It's just to extend a
vacate date. That's all I wanted. So,
[2:40:19] not operating as is, no old courthouse,
Inc., it will have to be closed for 90
[2:40:24] days.
>> So, that's a different conversation.
[2:40:27] » That That's what I That was my
>> intention. That's where I was going with
[2:40:31] this because no I there was issues that
I've already stated that was brought to
[2:40:35] our attention about Oak Courthouse Inc.
So no that has to be done and we have to
[2:40:40] the only
>> So you want them to close the museum is
[2:40:42] what you're saying
>> it's going to have to be
[2:40:44] » okay. So then the
the vacate date
[2:40:50] is one thing
>> but you still want the lease terminated.
[2:40:56] » Correct.
>> Okay. So that changes your motion. Yes.
[2:40:59] » Well, that's the point I was trying to
get to because we're going to have
[2:41:03] anything going forward is going to have
to be with a new nonprofit.
[2:41:08] » Understood.
>> There was things that was brought to our
[2:41:09] attention yesterday that we cannot deny
>> and so that was just my whole point was
[2:41:16] that no business as usual, but until
they confirm that they can bring
[2:41:19] presentations back to us, but it's just
to extend their vacate date.
[2:41:25] So I think it needs to be clear then
that your motion is to continue with the
[2:41:32] termination.
>> Correct.
[2:41:34] » It's just that they do not h and the
museum shall be closed effective May
[2:41:39] 15th at 5:00.
But that the county will not take
[2:41:44] possession of the property.
>> Correct.
[2:41:48] » For at least 90 days.
>> Correct.
[2:41:52] That's a change in in what then what we
discussed or what I understood you
[2:41:57] wanted to do.
>> Okay. Then I would like to amend my
[2:42:00] motion
>> here again.
[2:42:03] » That's fine.
>> To terminate the lease with O
[2:42:06] Courthouse, Inc.
>> Okay. So that's where I get confused
[2:42:08] because the the lease has already been
terminated.
[2:42:11] » Terminated. Okay. So it's already
terminated.
[2:42:13] » It's already terminated.
>> Okay.
[2:42:17] So then if it's already terminated, then
we're just extending the
[2:42:21] We're just extending the vacate date. Am
I not?
[2:42:23] » And I think you need to include
museum closed, not open to the public,
[2:42:29] » and that the county will not take
possession for at least 90 days.
[2:42:33] » Okay. Then my amendment is for the
courthouse to be closed
[2:42:41] » and not open to the public.
>> Not open to the public. Not under old
[2:42:46] courthouse, Inc. We just
>> Right. Right. Right. Yeah. What was
[2:42:50] but to extend the vacate date for 90
days.
[2:43:08] » Madam Chair, I think you can ask for a
second on the amendment.
[2:43:11] » Okay. Or this let's call it a substitute
motion because it will take precedent
[2:43:15] over the main motion. So it's a
substitute motion, not an amendment.
[2:43:19] Okay.
>> Do we have a second?
[2:43:22] » I'll second that.
>> Okay.
[2:43:27] Any discussion board?
Okay.
[2:43:33] All right. We've been talking so long.
>> I think you need to do a hand raise.
[2:43:38] » Do I need to do a hand? All in favor of
>> the substitute motion
[2:43:43] » of the substitute motion. Please by
raising your right hand. All oppose.
[2:43:49] We have a 32 vote in the motion carries
for that piece for this motion that's
[2:43:54] been made.
[2:44:02] » So,
Madam County attorney, that's it. I
[2:44:06] believe you had a second motion. Are you
Are you finished, Vice Chair? Are we
[2:44:09] good?
>> I'm done.
[2:44:10] » Okay. I think I'm done.
>> That's it. Okay,
[2:44:13] » that's it.
>> Okay. If I may add, thank you all. We're
[2:44:17] finished with this motion and we're
going to move on. But just to hear some
[2:44:20] dialogue about
um I didn't go, you know, with CSB
[2:44:26] because uh I'm I'm disappointed. I can
say this about uh cutting funding for
[2:44:31] the behavioral health services in our
county. I'm going to make it very clear.
[2:44:36] I don't work for politics. I work for
the people of Douglas County, all of
[2:44:40] them. So everything that comes before my
desk means something. Whether it's a
[2:44:45] museum, whether it's behavioral health,
whether it's food stamps, whatever we
[2:44:50] need to do to take care of our citizens,
that's what I expect to do. CSB hadn't
[2:44:54] been back before you all because we have
worked on our billing and gotten things
[2:44:59] in order and uh we may come back, but
I'm just disappointed to hear how we
[2:45:04] decided not to fund them. So with that
being said, we're going to move on. Um,
[2:45:09] madame clerk, let me move on before I
get on my horse. Please.
[2:45:13] » Uh, next thing is the consent agenda.
Chairman, we'll need a motion on
[2:45:17] » Okay. Board of Commissioners, do we have
a motion? You review the consent agenda.
[2:45:20] We had discussions on yesterday. Do we
have a motion to approve the consent
[2:45:24] agenda?
>> So, move second.
[2:45:26] » We have a motion in a second. Any
discussion? Oh, no discussion. We
[2:45:30] discussed. Just please cast your votes.
[2:45:39] Motion carries. 5.
>> We have a 50 unanimous vote and the
[2:45:42] motion carries. Okay.
Where's communications? Would you please
[2:45:49] provide our um
updates today for us?
[2:45:54] » Yes, ma'am.
>> Thank you so much.
[2:45:56] » Good afternoon again to Madame Chair,
board of commissioners, and county
[2:45:59] administration. I am here to read
today's announcements.
[2:46:05] Okay, you have the floor. Join chairman
Dr. Ramona Jackson Jones on Tuesday, May
[2:46:11] 19th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at
New Mountain Baptist Church for a senior
[2:46:17] symposium. The event will include
information and resources regarding
[2:46:22] senior safety, Medicare, legal services,
and more. A light lunch will be served.
[2:46:28] And for additional details and
registration information, please contact
[2:46:32] Dionpin at dpen at douglas countyga
ga.gov
[2:46:37] or call 770-920-7269.
[2:46:43] The public is invited to join District 1
Commissioner Henry Mitchell III for his
[2:46:48] next coffee and conversation on
Saturday, June 6th, 2026 at the Woody
[2:46:53] Fight Senior Center. Share your ideas,
connect with fellow citizens, and learn
[2:46:58] more about public safety, community
engagement, and other important topics.
[2:47:04] Join Commissioner Mitchell in
partnership with Streets 94.5,
[2:47:08] Grateful Hands, and Fit for the Future
for Hoops for Inclusion, a star-studded
[2:47:13] celebrity basketball game fundraiser
dedicated to disability awareness and
[2:47:17] inclusive programs. The game will be
held on Saturday, June 6th at Steuart
[2:47:23] Middle School in the Love Joy Gymnasium
at 3 p.m. with a pre-party beginning at
[2:47:28] 100 p.m.
Commissioner Mitchell is also working to
[2:47:31] raise awareness about prostate cancer in
commemoration of National Prostate
[2:47:36] Cancer Awareness Month, an observance
dedicated to increasing public knowledge
[2:47:41] of the most common non-skin cancer in
American men and the second leading
[2:47:46] cause of cancer related death among men.
He'll share important information and
[2:47:50] updates each week leading up to the
national observance in September.
[2:47:56] Join District 3 Commissioner Martin
Rexton, State Senator Danzella James,
[2:48:01] and Fulton County Commissioner Marvin
Arrington Jr. in partnership with the
[2:48:05] HOA Alliance for the Douglas County HOA
boot camp on Saturday, May 9th from
[2:48:11] 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at First
Baptist Church. The two-hour session
[2:48:15] will offer information, resources, and
insight into HOA management and
[2:48:20] participation. The event is free and
open to the public. The Mirror Lake
[2:48:26] community cookout hosted by Vice Chair
and District 4 Commissioner Mark Alcarez
[2:48:30] and Douglas County Sheriff 10 pounds has
been rescheduled. The new date and time
[2:48:35] are Saturday, May 30th from 10:00 a.m.
to 2:00 p.m. at Lifegate Church in
[2:48:40] Villa. The event is free and open to the
public and promises to be a day filled
[2:48:46] with fun and fellowship.
Douglas County presents Homewardbound,
[2:48:51] an art exhibit honoring the legacy of
artist Donald Wayne Holman. Come explore
[2:48:56] Holman's beautiful collection of artwork
along with amazing pieces by featured
[2:49:01] artist Susan Een Burns and PQ. Join us
this Friday, May 8th, for a special
[2:49:07] exhibit, showing and reception from 6:00
to 8:00 p.m. in the third floor
[2:49:11] courthouse art gallery. Together, let's
reflect, honor, and enjoy this
[2:49:16] meaningful celebration. The event is
free and open to the public. Mark your
[2:49:21] calendars for Saturday, May 30th from
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for the Great
[2:49:26] Shredding event presented by Keep
Douglas County Beautiful in the Douglas
[2:49:30] County Courthouse. Bring your unwanted
documents free from staples and paper
[2:49:34] clips and come shred with us. Exciting
news to share. Douglas County has
[2:49:40] officially been licensed to host two
community watch parties in connection
[2:49:44] with the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The
celebrations are scheduled for Saturday,
[2:49:50] June 27th and Sunday, July 19th at
Boundary Waters Park. The events will
[2:49:55] feature food trucks, vendors, games,
family activities, and massive screens
[2:50:00] to capture every moment of the action.
Tickets will be available on a first
[2:50:05] come, first- serve basis beginning June
1 for the June 27th watch party and July
[2:50:11] 1 for the July 19th watch party.
Admission is free, but tickets must be
[2:50:16] secured via an online platform. For
ticket info and everything you need to
[2:50:21] know before you go, visit
watchtheubdouglas.com.
[2:50:26] Finally, we'd like to recognize several
recent commissioner achievements.
[2:50:31] Congratulations to District 1
Commissioner Henry Mitchell III on his
[2:50:34] recent certification from the
Association County Commissioners of
[2:50:38] Georgia, also known as ACCG Lifelong
Learning Academy. Commissioner Mitchell
[2:50:43] completed the academyy's specialty track
in public safety. Congratulations to
[2:50:48] District 3 Commissioner Martin Raxton on
his election to a two-year term as vice
[2:50:53] president of the Georgia Association of
Black County Officials during the
[2:50:57] Association County Commissioners of
Georgia's recent annual conference.
[2:51:03] Congratulations to Vice Chair and
District 4 Commissioner Mark Alcarez on
[2:51:08] his recent certification from the
Association County Commissioners of
[2:51:11] Georgia Lifelong Learning Academy.
Commissioner Mitchell, excuse me,
[2:51:15] Commissioner Alcarez completed the
academy specialty track in leadership
[2:51:19] development in quality of life social
issues.
[2:51:26] Vice Chair Alcarez was recently honored
with the healing the community award
[2:51:30] presented by the Nickel Center in
recognition of his outstanding work to
[2:51:33] expand mental health programs and
strengthen public safety initiatives in
[2:51:37] our community. We applaud each of these
commissioners on their notable
[2:51:41] achievements and appreciate their
service to the city citizens of Douglas
[2:51:45] County. And madam chair, I yield the
floor back to you.
[2:51:48] » Thank you so much, Christian. Let's give
the commissioners another hand for all
[2:51:52] their hard work.
[2:51:58] All right. Do we have any other items to
come before the board? If not, do we
[2:52:06] madam, we don't need a count. Okay, we
don't need executive session. If there's
[2:52:09] nothing else to come before this body,
do we have a motion to recess, go into
[2:52:13] recess until 6 p.m. tonight for the
joint PNZ and BC meeting? Do we have a
[2:52:18] motion?
>> So move.
[2:52:19] » Second.
>> We have a motion and a second. Any
[2:52:22] discussion, please? If none, please cast
your votes.
[2:52:28] » Motion carries. 5. Okay, we are now in
recess and board of commissioners, I'll
[2:52:35] we will return at 6 pm for our PNZ
meeting. Thank you.