[0:00] To order.
[0:01] And
[0:03] leading us in our pledge allegiance this evening will be Commissioner Robinson and
[0:07] Reverend John Brown from the First United Methodist Church in Warner Robins will
[0:10] share our invocation with us. If you are willing and able, if you'll please stand.
[0:17] All right. Join me in the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the
[0:20] flag of the United States of America, and to the
[0:24] Republic for which it stands, one nation, under
[0:28] God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for
[0:32] all.
[0:34] Pastor, if you want to come to the lectern right there.
[0:39] Sure.
[0:42] Can I
[0:43] say a few words and then do the invocation? Is that all right?
[0:45] Sure. We'll probably sit if that's the way it's going to go.
[0:47] Yes, please.
[0:48] All right. Have a seat.
[0:48] Please do.
[0:51] Leave it to a pastor to be
[0:54] late-
[0:56] ... and hold you up.
[0:58] I think my congregation is used to
[1:01] us not getting out exactly on
[1:05] time.
[1:06] But that's okay. My name is Reverend John Brown.
[1:09] I serve as the senior pastor at First United Methodist Church of Warner Robins
[1:14] on North Davis. First has been a part of this community
[1:18] for 85 years this year, and it's an honor to
[1:22] be here tonight. I want to share a short
[1:25] word
[1:27] from an unlikely place.
[1:30] In the 6th century before Jesus, the people of
[1:34] Israel had been carried to Babylon, and they were
[1:37] strangers in a foreign city. And they were waiting to go home, and
[1:41] God sent them a letter through the prophet of Jeremiah.
[1:45] And you'd expect it to say, "Hold out, keep your distance.
[1:50] Don't get too comfortable."
[1:52] Instead, it said something surprising.
[1:54] It said, "Seek the welfare of the city,"
[1:58] or seek the welfare of the county,
[2:01] "where I have sent you,
[2:03] and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare, you will
[2:07] find your welfare."
[2:11] That Hebrew word welfare is shalom.
[2:14] Maybe you've heard that word before.
[2:17] A lot of times we translate it peace.
[2:20] But it means more than the absence of conflict.
[2:24] Shalom is about wholeness.
[2:27] It's when things are the way that they're supposed to be, when people have what
[2:30] they need, when relationships are right,
[2:35] when communities flourish.
[2:37] And that's what God told the exiles to seek for their city.
[2:42] Not just to survive, not just to tolerate it.
[2:45] Instead, it means to actively work for its wellbeing.
[2:50] And God made it personal.
[2:53] In its welfare, you will find welfare.
[2:56] Our fates are tied together. And that's not just a spiritual idea, it's a
[3:00] practical one. When our neighbors thrive, we thrive.
[3:03] When parts of the city or community are left
[3:07] behind,
[3:08] all of us will eventually feel it.
[3:11] We don't get to opt out
[3:14] of each other. And so, that's the word for us tonight.
[3:16] The people sitting around in this
[3:20] room, the people that you represent,
[3:24] we share one thing in common, this community, and its
[3:28] roads, and its schools, and its neighborhoods, and its safety,
[3:32] and its opportunity, and its struggles.
[3:36] And that's what we've shown up to tend to tonight.
[3:40] And that kind of work might be unglamorous, it might be meeting heavy.
[3:44] It might be hard
[3:47] to get the work right of governing,
[3:49] but it's actually close to the heart of what God cares about.
[3:53] And at First, we take that seriously.
[3:55] It's part of why we run a soup kitchen on Monday and Friday.
[3:58] It's why we have a food pantry on Tuesday and Thursday.
[4:01] It's why we have two transitional houses and NA
[4:04] meetings on our campus because it serves our
[4:08] neighbors
[4:10] facing food insecurity and their basic needs.
[4:12] And we do this not to fill a quota, we do it because this is our
[4:16] city. This is our community.
[4:20] And what happens here
[4:22] matters to God, and it matters to us.
[4:25] So, I want to thank you for the work that you do, commissioners, and I want
[4:29] to, of course, invite you, if you don't have a church home, to come
[4:32] visit with us on Sunday at 11.
[4:36] But thank you for being partners in the welfare of this community.
[4:40] So, let's pray.
[4:44] God, we thank you
[4:46] for this
[4:48] city,
[4:49] this Houston County, for the people who live and who work here,
[4:54] for the people who raise their children here and lay their parents to
[4:58] rest here.
[5:00] Lord, we know Houston County isn't perfect, no place is, but it is
[5:04] ours. And so tonight, we ask for you to bless the work
[5:08] done in this room. That you would give our leaders wisdom
[5:13] that goes beyond just data and deadlines.
[5:17] Lord, give them courage to make hard calls and the humility to listen
[5:20] well.
[5:22] And Lord, when disagreement comes,
[5:25] let it sharpen rather than divide.
[5:28] Let the welfare of this community, the city's most vulnerable
[5:32] neighbors,
[5:34] may they never get lost in the middle of procedure.
[5:38] So, we pray for everyone they represent tonight, the people who made it to this
[5:42] meeting and those who couldn't.
[5:45] Let their needs be present with us in this room,
[5:48] even when they themselves are not.
[5:51] And remind us all, in whatever role that we hold,
[5:55] that we are stewards of something that belongs to everybody,
[5:59] and may we hold and tend it carefully.
[6:01] In Jesus name, we pray
[6:03] Amen.
[6:04] Amen. Pastor, if you'll hold your position there real
[6:08] quick, I'm going to ask the
[6:10] commissioners to say a word of appreciation for you being here this evening, and
[6:13] then we're going to come around and get a picture with you.
[6:15] Okay. Sounds great.
[6:16] All right. Commissioner Byrd?
[6:17] Yes, sir. Reverend Brown, thank you so much for being here with us.
[6:20] Thank you for your message, and thank you for your work and the work of
[6:24] your members in this community.
[6:27] I have to offer a little point of personal privilege here.
[6:29] So my grandparents came to Houston County in 1941-
[6:33] Okay
[6:33] ... and quickly aligned with First Methodist-
[6:35] Wow
[6:36] ... and were members of the church their entire life.
[6:37] I don't know if they were founding members or very early members, but it was very
[6:41] close to the time.
[6:42] If they were in '41, they would've been founders.
[6:43] They were close. Yeah.
[6:44] Yeah.
[6:45] So that's kind of interesting.
[6:46] That's great.
[6:46] But thanks for being here. Thanks for all you do.
[6:48] Thank you.
[6:48] Yep.
[6:49] Commissioner Talon?
[6:50] Yes, sir. Thank you for being here.
[6:51] Thank you for your kind words of encouragement,
[6:54] the recognition, and importance of unity. So, thank you for that.
[6:57] So when we all work together,
[6:59] when we win, it's a victory for all.
[7:01] So-
[7:01] That's right
[7:01] ... we work together. So thank you.
[7:03] Thank you. Commissioner Robinson?
[7:05] Yes. Thank you for being here, and it's a big recognition
[7:09] for 85 years. Thank you for all that your
[7:13] church does, and
[7:15] all of those who come and help with your soup kitchen and your
[7:19] food pantry and all that you do for the community.
[7:21] But it's a great blessing to have you here, and we thank you for being here this
[7:25] evening.
[7:25] Thank you.
[7:26] Yeah. Thank you very much for being here.
[7:28] The passage from Jeremiah you shared is a really good
[7:32] reminder of whether we are in exile or whether we're in our
[7:36] hometown, we need to be seeking the welfare where God has placed us.
[7:40] So, we're going to come around and grab a picture with you.
[7:42] Sure.
[7:52] Governor
[8:16] Barbre, appreciate you being here.
[8:38] God bless you. All right.
[8:41] Good to hear you.
[8:48] We have a couple of other
[8:51] acknowledgments which are not on the agenda, but we want to make at the
[8:57] start of the meeting this evening.
[9:00] First of all, is
[9:03] today at 4:00, we got to celebrate
[9:07] employees who have served Houston County for a number of years.
[9:12] And then for those who have served Houston County
[9:16] for the longest amount of time, 25, 30, 35, or even more
[9:20] years, we always invite them to the commission
[9:24] meeting in the evenings and
[9:29] recognize them for their long and dedicated service.
[9:33] This evening, we have Mr. George Felder, and George
[9:37] works in our Public Buildings
[9:41] department.
[9:42] He's held a lot of different roles over the years
[9:46] but currently, he supervises the crew that
[9:50] is
[9:51] keeping our buildings clean, and he does a
[9:55] tremendous job.
[9:58] I always ask their supervisors to write sort of a
[10:01] word about what they've meant to the county over the years,
[10:05] and
[10:07] George's supervisor, Michael, said, "He's always willing to step
[10:11] up and do whatever it takes to get the job done." And I
[10:15] cannot think of
[10:16] a better thing to say about an employee. Mr.
[10:20] George, we sure appreciate your years of service.
[10:23] We appreciate the amount of time that
[10:27] you've not just served your fellow employees by everything that you've done,
[10:31] but through that, you've served the citizens of Houston County.
[10:34] So if you'll come up and let us give you a round of applause, and we're going to
[10:37] come around and present you a small token of appreciation for your many
[10:41] years of service as well.
[10:57] This bag is light.
[10:59] That's a good sign because it means it's not a coffee mug.
[11:02] It's probably a decent bag. Come over here. Over here with George.
[11:07] Right there.
[11:08] That's for you.
[11:09] Thanks.
[11:24] Do you have some family here this evening?
[11:25] Yes. My wife, my son, and grandson.
[11:29] All right. Well, thank y'all for being here.
[11:32] Oh! That would've been a long ride home.
[11:35] A wife, son, and daughter, and grandson.
[11:37] Would y'all like to come up as well and get a picture?
[11:40] Come on.
[11:40] We'd love that.
[11:41] Yeah. Yeah.
[12:13] All
[12:19] right.
[12:22] Thank you.
[12:22] Thank you.
[12:22] We appreciate the service.
[12:26] Thank
[12:27] you.
[12:43] All right.
[12:46] One final acknowledgment before we get into the business of
[12:50] tonight's meeting, and that is, if you can't tell, we
[12:54] are celebrating a birthday this evening.
[12:58] I want to wish Mr. Tom Hall, the county attorney, a happy birthday.
[13:03] We have all been assigned one of these.
[13:06] And,
[13:09] Ms. Marsha, where are you at? I know you're a
[13:13] Baptist and not a Methodist, but if you'll keep it as brief as the Methodist, I
[13:17] will allow you to come up and say a few words about your husband if you would like.
[13:22] Are you foregoing that opportunity or am I pressing you into service?
[13:26] You're pressing me into service.
[13:27] All right. Wonderful. Come on up.
[13:34] This was our youngest daughter's
[13:36] idea to acknowledge-
[13:38] Embarrass him?
[13:38] ... his birthday and embarrass him tonight. And of course, she's at the beach.
[13:43] So they've left it to me. But I just want to tell you happy birthday.
[13:47] I'm proud to be your wife.
[13:49] Our oldest daughter, Hannah, and grandson, Liam, are here also
[13:53] to let you know that we think you're mighty special.
[13:56] Love you.
[14:04] Commissioner Talton is asking if we should sing. We should.
[14:07] I-
[14:08] We should ... I was offered that opportunity and if someone, if you would like
[14:12] to lead the singing- No, you go ahead. Okay, there we go.
[14:14] I think we have our answer then. Solo. Mr.
[14:17] Hall, I will- Let's hear it in the room ...
[14:19] I'm sure the other commissioners will say a word of appreciation for you in their
[14:23] comments later this evening, but I will just say, we sure
[14:27] do appreciate you, appreciate the work you do for the citizens of Houston
[14:31] County. More than that, I appreciate your friendship and the
[14:35] character you have and the man you are.
[14:37] So we're very blessed by your service. All right.
[14:41] Moving on to the business of the evening this
[14:45] evening. The first item of business is approval of minutes from the
[14:49] July 7th, 2026 meeting.
[14:52] Those minutes have been distributed previously and you've all been given a chance
[14:56] to review them. Unless there are additions or corrections, I will
[15:00] take a motion for approval. So moved.
[15:03] We have a motion from Commissioner Talton to approve the minutes.
[15:06] Do I hear a second?
[15:07] I'll second.
[15:08] Second from Commissioner Byrd. Any discussion?
[15:12] All those in favor, if you'll raise your right hand.
[15:15] Motion carries 3-0.
[15:19] Item number one is a public hearing on an
[15:23] alcohol license. I'm going to ask Director of
[15:26] Administration, Robbie Dunbar, to give the second public
[15:30] reading for the alcohol license. We will then open a public
[15:34] hearing and ask for any public comments related to the alcohol license,
[15:38] and then we will proceed on action on this item. Mr. Dunbar?
[15:42] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is the second reading for an occupational
[15:46] tax application to include the retail sale of beer
[15:50] and wine for off-use premises
[15:55] at 295 Old Highway 96, Suite B,
[15:59] Bonaire, Georgia.
[16:01] The name of the business is 96 Market Incorporated
[16:06] and is owned by Mr. Keir Patel.
[16:09] Plans are for three full-time employees.
[16:13] The first reading for this application was held at the July 7th
[16:17] meeting.
[16:18] The applicant has approval from the following:
[16:22] Houston County Sheriff's Office,
[16:24] Houston County Building Inspection,
[16:26] Houston County Fire Department,
[16:29] Houston County Commissioner's Office.
[16:32] Mr. Chairman, this constitutes the second and final reading of this
[16:36] occupational tax application.
[16:38] Thank you, Mr. Dunbar. At this time, we will open up a public hearing
[16:42] on the alcohol license
[16:46] for this location. I will simply point out for
[16:50] information purposes,
[16:52] this is not a liquor store, this is a convenience store
[16:56] selling just beer and wine, not liquor.
[17:00] The recent ordinance changes we made to our liquor store ordinance
[17:03] expanding
[17:05] their
[17:07] closeness to other such
[17:12] places to at least five miles does not apply in
[17:16] this instance because it is not a package store or a liquor
[17:19] store. Anyone would like to offer public comment on this item?
[17:25] All right. Seeing none, we will close the public hearing and I will
[17:29] turn to Commissioner Robinson.
[17:31] All right. As we have
[17:35] been given the second reading for this new alcohol license
[17:40] for the owner of 96 Market Inc.
[17:43] off of Old Highway 96, I will make a motion
[17:48] that we approve the alcohol license for the retail sale
[17:52] of beer and wine for use off premises at
[17:55] 295 Old Highway 96, Suite B, Bonaire, Georgia
[17:59] 31005.
[18:02] We have a motion to approve from Commissioner Robinson. Do I hear a second?
[18:05] I'll second.
[18:06] Second from Commissioner Byrd. Any discussion on the motion?
[18:10] All those in favor, if you'll raise your right hand.
[18:13] Motion carries 3-0.
[18:17] Item number two is an annexation in the city of Perry.
[18:20] Commissioner Robinson, if you'll introduce this item, and then we'll call for
[18:24] public comment.
[18:26] Okay. This is a request from the city of Perry
[18:29] to annex eight parcels on Highway 127.
[18:34] All right. So,
[18:36] it is our custom to ask for public
[18:39] comments on annexations as we consider those
[18:43] as
[18:45] the commission.
[18:46] If anyone is here and would like to offer public comments
[18:50] regarding this annexation off of Highway
[18:54] 127, there are eight parcels under
[18:57] consideration.
[19:00] Is anyone here would like to offer public comment on those?
[19:05] All right. Seeing none, we will continue on.
[19:08] Commissioner Robinson, if you'll turn to disposition of this item.
[19:12] Okay.
[19:14] I'm going to make the motion that we concur with the city of Perry's
[19:18] request to annex 20.01 acres on
[19:21] Highway 127, known as tax parcels
[19:25] 000560,
[19:28] 030000,
[19:31] 000560, 060000,
[19:35] 000560,
[19:38] 056000,
[19:42] 000560, 055000,
[19:45] 000560,
[19:49] 04054000,
[19:53] 000560,
[19:56] 53000, and
[19:59] 000560,
[20:02] 031000,
[20:04] and 000560,
[20:07] 32A000, with
[20:11] a zoning change from county RAG and
[20:15] county C2 to Perry C2.
[20:18] We have a motion to concur from Commissioner Robinson. Do I hear a second?
[20:23] Second.
[20:24] Second from Commissioner Towten.
[20:26] Want to congratulate Commissioner Robinson on successfully reading all those
[20:30] parcel numbers.
[20:32] I should have just gone with the 000560 and
[20:36] then-
[20:36] At all. Yeah
[20:37] ... yeah, the rest-
[20:38] Et cetera
[20:39] Okay.
[20:39] Yes.
[20:39] Yeah.
[20:40] All right. We have a motion from Commissioner Robinson and a
[20:44] second from Commissioner Towten to concur with the annexation in the city of
[20:48] Perry of eight parcels. Any more discussion on the motion?
[20:53] All those in favor, if you'll raise your right hand.
[20:56] Motion carries 3-0.
[21:00] Item number three is an annexation in the city of Warner Robins,
[21:04] located on South Amanda Place.
[21:10] I don't really think there's any more description that is needed, so we will open
[21:13] up the floor for public comments
[21:16] for this annexation
[21:18] into the city of Warner Robins located at South Amanda Place.
[21:21] If you'll please come to the lectern if you would like to make comments.
[21:27] Good evening.
[21:34] Do I have to state my name or anything?
[21:36] Sure, state your name would be great.
[21:38] Okay. Kimberly Pritchett.
[21:40] First of all, I want to say y'all did a great job getting the light there, because
[21:43] that solves
[21:44] most of our problems.
[21:46] But we do have a concern, just a small one, on the small
[21:50] parcel. There's two parcels, I think they're wanting to annex,
[21:53] 100 and 104. 104 is like half an
[21:57] acre. And just to give y'all an idea, it's in the very, very
[22:01] back of the property. It butts up against 106, which is a house that
[22:05] also has special needs adults in it.
[22:08] Anyway, that area floods all the time.
[22:12] And
[22:15] as Mr. Hall will agree,
[22:18] nothing is worth anything unless it's in writing.
[22:20] The people who are trying to develop it has told us that he doesn't plan
[22:24] on utilizing that triangle, but he wants to have it rezoned.
[22:28] I'm like, "Well, if you're not going to utilize it, why rezone it?" He said, "Well,
[22:31] we're going to try to make it a buffer."
[22:33] I said, "We'd like it to stay R-1 as a buffer."
[22:38] With what we've been told he wants to do, he wants to put a restaurant there,
[22:43] shopping center, stuff like that there.
[22:45] So, it's going to be a lot more noise than what we already have with the
[22:49] hotel.
[22:50] So, we were kind of wanting a bigger buffer because of that.
[22:53] It's not the same vibe as a hotel that's a lot more quiet.
[22:59] Right now, I think they have like a 15-foot buffer.
[23:04] I don't know what would be the equivalent of it, but that property of the
[23:08] triangle butts up right next to 106.
[23:11] They could put dumpsters back there, trash things,
[23:15] which could also draw,
[23:17] unfortunately, the homeless back there.
[23:20] So, that's the other reason they were needing a larger buffer.
[23:22] The second thing we wanted to ask for is a buffer along South Amanda,
[23:26] because we don't want to have to see the back of all that as we go up our road.
[23:30] It is still a county road. I think they did stipulate that you
[23:33] couldn't access Amanda from there.
[23:36] They want the inner parcel access to go straight to the light, which is what we all
[23:39] wanted, and that's why we put that light there.
[23:43] But a buffer would be great there as well.
[23:48] That was primarily it. We just would really like for that one little bitty piece of
[23:51] parcel to remain R-1 instead of changing it to C2.
[23:55] The reason why is keep him accountable.
[23:57] If he decides that he's going to change his mind
[24:00] and utilize it, he would have to come back, ask for the rezoning,
[24:04] then we'd be made aware, and we could see what's going on.
[24:08] Just holding him accountable.
[24:11] All right. Thank you, Ms. Pritchett.
[24:12] Mm-hmm.
[24:13] Anyone else like to offer public comment on this annexation?
[24:22] This is my favorite thing to do. I'm Rhonda Moore.
[24:26] One of the concerns when this subdivision was originally
[24:30] developed 50 years ago, we've lived there 50 years.
[24:33] I'm sure Warren Carter and
[24:36] Charles and all of them never anticipated old
[24:40] PV Road would be Houston Lake Road and be a four-lane highway.
[24:44] Unfortunately, we all have our homes back there, and we're just trying to be
[24:48] protected.
[24:50] Like Kimberly said, the county
[24:54] already has an ordinance that they cannot use a
[24:58] subdivision street for access, which is great,
[25:02] but putting a restaurant and maybe
[25:06] strip stores or whatever is going to create a back
[25:10] where people go out and take their trash and all that.
[25:13] And to eliminate us who have traveled down
[25:17] that road 50 years from having to look at that, if the
[25:20] county could recommend increasing the size of the
[25:24] buffer for a permanent evergreen or
[25:28] whatever they would recommend. Because I don't know what the
[25:31] city's recommendation is for that.
[25:34] I don't know what their height is or whatever.
[25:39] What they have put up behind the hotel is a small white
[25:42] fence that I could jump over it probably, maybe,
[25:47] to go around the retention pond.
[25:52] I've already fenced off my property, so that doesn't affect me.
[25:55] What will affect me is people in the hotel looking out of the rooms
[25:59] into my backyard, which I don't love that, but I knew I couldn't stop progress.
[26:03] Anyway, we're asking
[26:05] to be protected for the people that are in that subdivision and have been
[26:09] for years. I don't think they gain anything by taking
[26:13] 104 South Amanda.
[26:16] And in fact, somebody's already used it. They're cutting through it.
[26:19] We know it's not the Carter sisters.
[26:22] They're all too old to be doing that. But I don't know if it's Mr.
[26:25] Patel who's buying it, but they've already cleared a lot of it, and I don't know
[26:29] where they got permission. But that's what we're asking for, to be protected for
[26:33] our subdivision.
[26:35] Can I ask you a question?
[26:36] Sure.
[26:38] Looking at the parcel map, it looks to me like a lot of the
[26:43] lots, certainly on Chantilly,
[26:46] went ahead and purchased
[26:49] a-
[26:50] A buffer. We did
[26:51] ... a buffer.
[26:51] We did.
[26:51] And in some cases, they're half an acre or-
[26:55] Right
[26:55] ... more of buffer from
[26:58] the
[26:59] property that protects their home.
[27:01] And that's all old trees, but when they all lose their leaves, I can
[27:06] see the hotel. You're never going to hide that.
[27:08] It's ginormous and looks into my backyard.
[27:13] But I put up my own privacy fence. Nobody's going to come in.
[27:16] I'm just saying,
[27:19] if he takes that commercial,
[27:22] the 104, it's only a half acre, and most of that
[27:26] frontage is on South Amanda. I don't understand what he could really even do
[27:30] with it.
[27:30] Yeah, and-
[27:31] It doesn't line up with the big tract.
[27:34] He doesn't need it to make it a square or
[27:37] rectangle.
[27:38] I understand. My concern about leaving it R1 zone is
[27:42] it's not a suitable residential lot.
[27:45] I know. Nobody
[27:46] wants it. The county doesn't want it, the city doesn't want it.
[27:47] And so-
[27:48] I get all that
[27:48] ... and so if we don't allow him to rezone it,
[27:52] he can't combine it with the plat that he has.
[27:56] But what is he... So-
[27:57] I don't know because I have not seen a development plan-
[28:01] Me either
[28:01] ... because that's not part-
[28:03] And I don't want to
[28:03] ... that's not part of the annexation process.
[28:05] Right.
[28:05] But I imagine if it's a wet spot already, he may plan on using
[28:09] it for storm drainage, which it'll have a fence around it-
[28:12] Mm-hmm
[28:12] ... and all sorts of things like that.
[28:14] But just-
[28:14] So I'll
[28:16] let you come up as well. I'm just-
[28:19] But what I guess-
[28:19] I'm just saying if you take a 0.6 acre
[28:23] parcel and you don't allow him to annex it in and we
[28:27] know it's never going to have a house on it-
[28:29] Right
[28:30] ... we're essentially condemning that property and
[28:33] saying,
[28:35] we could be accused of seriously damaging the value of that property at that point.
[28:39] But the value is $7,500. In the scheme of things, paying
[28:43] over a million, that seems a little not relevant to
[28:46] me, but...
[28:49] Thank you, ma'am. Would you like to come up?
[28:55] Yeah. Do this on my seat.
[28:58] My name is Lynn Johnson, and I do live in Chantilly, and I live
[29:02] right down the street from Rhonda.
[29:03] And directly behind my house is a
[29:06] gargantuan retention pond that is
[29:10] multiple feet deep, and I'm talking deeper than my swimming
[29:14] pool deep. And if he uses that land
[29:18] to have a retention pond there, so now we have two
[29:21] retention ponds in our neighborhood.
[29:24] And I've lived there a really long time, and I don't really
[29:28] want him encroaching on our neighborhood.
[29:30] It's an old neighborhood, and
[29:33] we just need for him not to be so far in, to move it
[29:36] over. There's really no reason. That lot's really small, and they're
[29:40] already using it to go up and down into that other area.
[29:44] That's what it's got to be because it's not been like that till just recently.
[29:48] So we're just asking to help us maintain our
[29:51] neighborhood in the manner that we think that's good for Houston County.
[29:55] Because we would like for other people who, when
[29:58] old people, me, die, and you want new people
[30:02] to move into that neighborhood and keep it vital.
[30:05] And by allowing him to do all that, you're
[30:08] taking that neighborhood and causing it to die.
[30:12] That's just what I think.
[30:14] Thank you very much.
[30:15] Is there legal questions?
[30:17] Sure, if you want to come right back up here.
[30:21] If they encroach on South
[30:25] Amanda, who enforces that?
[30:27] The county does because it remains a county road.
[30:30] So if we saw that, we would call the county?
[30:32] If you saw access to a commercial property coming off of South Amanda, you
[30:36] would call the county.
[30:37] Okay.
[30:37] Yes, ma'am.
[30:38] Okay.
[30:40] Is that right, Mr. Hall?
[30:41] That is correct.
[30:41] Since I was asked the legal question. Anyone else like to offer public comment?
[30:49] I think the three ladies covered most everything.
[30:54] The only additional-
[30:55] Would you tell us your name please?
[30:56] I'm sorry. Chris Pritchett,
[30:58] and I live in
[31:00] Carter Woods.
[31:02] The 104 is my biggest issue with the
[31:06] annexation rezoning because it butts right up to a
[31:09] residence.
[31:11] If I'm the owner of 106
[31:14] and everything around me has been zoned commercial, the first thing I'm
[31:18] going to do is offer this
[31:21] buyer my piece of property,
[31:23] because I can get a lot more money with it
[31:26] if I get it zoned commercial.
[31:28] And with that, it's going to be more encroachment, potentially, into the
[31:32] neighborhood.
[31:34] So your concern is that 106 would then be zoned
[31:38] commercial as well?
[31:40] If I was the owner, and
[31:44] for what they're paying for commercial property right now versus residential, I
[31:47] know the owner, he bought that house several years ago,
[31:51] and they've got a special needs child.
[31:54] They moved here from Atlanta
[31:57] and it's been a few years since I've talked to him.
[32:00] I know that
[32:02] he could get four times what he paid for that property.
[32:06] All right.
[32:06] So to me,
[32:08] it would be a no-brainer for me to try and then
[32:11] get that zoned commercial.
[32:13] All right. Thank you, Mr. Pritchett. All right. Any other public comments?
[32:17] Thank you all. We will close public comments. Yes, Commissioner Byrd.
[32:21] I've got a question in reading the documents from the Warner Robins
[32:25] Planning Commission meeting, it looks like on July 14th.
[32:29] It specifically states, "Existing natural buffers should be enhanced wherever
[32:33] necessary so as to provide year-round opaque screening." Was there any
[32:37] discussion around that, that might elaborate on what that
[32:41] might be?
[32:42] That would be my question.
[32:46] And you're going to have to pull up the-
[32:47] I was there.
[32:48] What was it, Ms. Pritchett?
[32:50] They said they wanted the buffer to align with what's there, which is why I had
[32:54] said that it's not an equal buffer.
[32:56] Because I could tell by, compared to Fresh Mart Buy across the avenue, it
[33:00] would not need the same kind of buffer. It would need a bigger buffer.
[33:03] That's why I said that, because they had said line it up with what's
[33:06] there.
[33:07] I believe he meant to line it up with the existing privacy fence that they put
[33:11] up that's about six to eight foot tall.
[33:13] Yeah.
[33:15] Well, I think Mr. Byrd, as you've called out this language, it says, "The
[33:19] existing natural buffer-
[33:21] Mm-hmm. That's clear
[33:22] ... should be enhanced wherever necessary so as to
[33:25] provide year-round opaque
[33:28] screening from the residential district adjacent to the
[33:32] site." I think that is pretty strong language
[33:36] there,
[33:38] that a buffer should be
[33:41] enhanced and should provide screening from the neighboring
[33:45] residential.
[33:47] Also, there are stipulations that they put in here,
[33:53] address seeing
[33:57] lighting plans
[33:59] so that lighting does not create an adverse condition on adjoining residential
[34:03] properties.
[34:06] Any other comments from commissioners?
[34:10] I guess the only question I have, maybe for Mr.
[34:12] Hall,
[34:14] 106, and I don't know if you have the answer to this, but 106 would be more in the
[34:17] interior of the actual neighborhood.
[34:19] I can't imagine that being sold as commercial property, especially
[34:23] with the access being on the
[34:27] neighborhood road, right?
[34:30] That's correct.
[34:30] You're going to have to have access
[34:33] from Houston Lake, and that can't happen.
[34:34] Right.
[34:36] Unless it's attached to the other property, but that's
[34:41] remote.
[34:43] Between 106 and 108, the next house over, there's already a buffer
[34:47] there,
[34:49] so they could easily...
[34:52] My personal opinion is they could easily encroach upon that property, have it zoned
[34:56] commercial,
[34:58] and that would still leave probably the best natural
[35:01] buffer we have that's going through the neighborhood is in 106 and 108.
[35:05] I see.
[35:07] And who owns that? Al McArthur Estate.
[35:11] The state still owns that?
[35:14] 106?
[35:15] No, the- 108. That's the buffer. So her estate
[35:19] still owns that. Are there covenants for the neighborhood?
[35:23] Might be more than expired. Okay.
[35:27] All right. Commissioner Robinson.
[35:30] Okay.
[35:36] Well, it is just a tiny piece of property.
[35:39] Okay,
[35:41] for this request from the City of Warner Robins to annex this property,
[35:45] I'm going to make a motion to concur with the
[35:49] City of Warner Robins request for annexation
[35:52] for both of these parcels, because I don't think that
[35:57] leaving that one out is,
[36:00] in a sense, condemning it. It's not an
[36:03] actual R1 lot, so it would go from County
[36:07] R1 to City R2.
[36:09] It's going to have the following stipulation, which is, "No access to South
[36:13] Amanda Place. Access only at the traffic light on Houston Lake Road."
[36:17] But in addition to that, and I think it makes sense and gets back to the point
[36:21] of, if he says that, does he mean it?
[36:26] To, again, make the stipulation of the existing natural buffer
[36:31] Should be enhanced, which means the existing natural buffer should not be
[36:35] destroyed.
[36:36] So if there's natural buffer existing there along the property
[36:40] lines,
[36:42] it should not be destroyed. And if it's not, it should be
[36:45] enhanced. Where, to me, when they say opaque
[36:49] screening year-round, it means there's going to be evergreen
[36:53] trees there, not just hard oaks where the leaves
[36:56] fall off. It actually calls in here, which will be
[37:00] part of the stipulation in my motion, that it will provide
[37:04] year-round screening from the residential district adjacent
[37:08] to the site. And with that little piece of parcel there that he
[37:12] has,
[37:14] hopefully,
[37:16] with these conditions, the stipulations on the buffer, that it will
[37:20] make him do what he said he was going to do, which is
[37:23] basically leave it as a buffer from the residential area.
[37:28] But could you extend
[37:31] it? Ma'am. I'm sorry. Thank you.
[37:34] All right. So we have a motion from Commissioner Robinson to
[37:38] concur.
[37:41] Okay. Let's see.
[37:46] Yeah. This is basically, it would be the
[37:51] existing natural buffer to not be destroyed and would be
[37:54] enhanced to provide year-round
[37:58] screening. Which means it would be opaque screening, not just
[38:02] hardwoods, but actually evergreen trees to shield the residential
[38:06] district from the site. And that's it,
[38:10] that whole back of that... That lot,
[38:14] basically, that we're talking about is 104
[38:18] Amanda Place.
[38:20] All right. So we have a motion to concur with
[38:22] stipulations from Commissioner Robinson.
[38:25] The stipulations are no access to South Amanda Place, and the
[38:29] natural buffer be enhanced
[38:32] to accommodate opaque screening year-round from the
[38:36] adjoining
[38:38] residential properties.
[38:41] That matches the recommendation from the Warner Robins Planning
[38:45] Commission meeting at 7 on July 14th.
[38:49] Do I have a second to that motion?
[38:51] I'll second the motion.
[38:52] Second from Commissioner Byrd. Any discussion on the motion?
[38:58] I
[38:59] know exactly what they're talking about, and I think that this is
[39:05] the only way that we can actually do it with this motion being for
[39:09] 100 and 104. But with that,
[39:11] like they said, small lot there, hopefully
[39:16] this will help reach their goals of
[39:19] making sure that they have a decent buffer in between
[39:23] 106
[39:25] and 104. And then, like they said, there's
[39:28] hopefully continuing for that estate, that
[39:32] 108 is a significant buffer for the rest of the neighborhood
[39:36] from the commercial development.
[39:38] Okay.
[39:39] Mr. Chairman, I clearly understand we're talking about the east property line on
[39:43] the smaller lot, but do we need to specify that
[39:47] in any further manner, or you think we're good?
[39:49] Commissioner Byrd, I would say,
[39:55] the
[39:56] recommendation from the planning council does not seem to call out that
[40:00] particular property line.
[40:05] It says from the residential district
[40:08] adjacent to the site.
[40:12] I
[40:13] think
[40:14] my interpretation of Commissioner Robinson's motion is that it
[40:18] matches that recommendation.
[40:20] Perfect.
[40:22] Is that an okay answer?
[40:23] Yes.
[40:23] Okay.
[40:24] All right.
[40:27] Good discussion. Thank you all for your feedback.
[40:29] We have a motion from Commissioner Robinson and a second from Commissioner Byrd.
[40:32] All those in favor, if you'll raise your right hand.
[40:35] Motion carries 3-0.
[40:39] Item number four is a grant approval, Accountability Court.
[40:43] Commissioner Talton?
[40:44] Yes, sir. This request is for approval of a grant for the Accountability Court to
[40:48] assist in addressing offenders arrested for drug charges or mental health
[40:52] issues. My motion to approve grant number
[40:54] AWACFP
[40:56] 27071 for
[40:59] $311,095, with
[41:03] required matching funds of
[41:06] $54,899, to
[41:10] be provided from the Drug Abuse and Treatment Education fund, totaling
[41:14] $365,994.
[41:17] The grant period is from July 1st, 2026 to June
[41:21] 30th, 2027.
[41:23] We have a motion from Commissioner Talton to approve. Do I hear a second?
[41:26] I'll second it.
[41:27] Second from Commissioner Robinson.
[41:30] All those in favor, if you'll raise your right hand.
[41:33] Motion carries 3-0.
[41:36] Item number five is a bid approval on Elberta Road
[41:40] widening phase three. Commissioner Talton?
[41:43] This request is for approval of a bid for the Elberta Road widening phase three
[41:47] project. Bids were received, and after evaluation, the engineering department
[41:50] recommended the lowest bidder. My motion to approve the bid from C.W.
[41:54] Matthews Contracting Company of Marietta, Georgia, in the amount of
[41:57] $2,801,454.70
[42:02] for the Elberta Road widening
[42:04] phase three project. The City of Centerville is responsible for the water main and
[42:08] sewer relocations or adjustments totaling
[42:11] $345,777.50, bringing the
[42:14] county's portion to
[42:16] $2,455,677.00
[42:22] And 20 cent. This is a 2018 SPLOST project and will be
[42:26] completed in 17 months.
[42:28] We have a motion to approve from Commissioner Tout. Do I hear a second?
[42:31] I'll second.
[42:32] Second from Commissioner Byrd. Any discussion on the motion?
[42:35] Mr. Chairman, just commend the bidding process.
[42:38] Six reputable bidders, a
[42:40] $439,000 difference between the first and
[42:44] second bid. That's 16% on the job, 31% between
[42:48] the first and the last bid,
[42:50] to the benefit of the citizens of Houston County.
[42:53] Thank you, Commissioner Byrd. I can always count on you for that bidding math, and
[42:57] I appreciate it.
[42:58] I'm a mathlete.
[42:59] We have a motion from Commissioner Tout and a second from Commissioner Byrd.
[43:03] All those in favor, if you'll raise your right hand.
[43:06] Motion carries three zero.
[43:10] Item number six is a personnel request in the Roads and Bridges Department.
[43:14] Commissioner Tout?
[43:15] This request is to fill a vacant heavy equipment operator position in the Road and
[43:19] Bridges Department. It is my motion to approve the hiring of Timothy Rogers
[43:23] to fill the vacant heavy equipment operator position in the Roads and Bridges
[43:26] Department at a Grade 13, Step E, effective July 22nd,
[43:30] 2026. Personnel has reviewed his qualifications and
[43:33] confirmed he meets the criteria for the Step E
[43:36] placement.
[43:37] We have a motion to approve from Commissioner Tout. Do I hear a second?
[43:41] I'll second.
[43:42] Second from Commissioner Robinson. Any discussion on the motion?
[43:48] All those in favor, if you'll raise your right hand.
[43:51] Motion carries unanimously. Three zero, rather. I'm sorry.
[43:55] Motion carries three zero.
[43:58] Item number seven is a bid approval for the Dunbar Law Enforcement
[44:02] Training Center. Commissioner Tout.
[44:04] Yes, sir. This request is for approval of a bid on a vehicle for the use by the
[44:07] sheriff's office. It's my motion to approve the bid from Jess Miss Ford of
[44:11] Byron, Georgia, in the amount of $48,363.12
[44:15] for a Ford F-154 drive truck. This truck
[44:19] will replace a 2019 Dodge Ram with high mileage and needed maintenance at the
[44:23] Ed Dunbar Law Enforcement Training Center.
[44:25] This purchase will be reimbursed by the drug fund.
[44:29] We have a motion to approve. Do I hear a second?
[44:31] I'll second.
[44:32] Second from Commissioner Byrd.
[44:35] Any discussion on the motion?
[44:38] I want to thank the sheriff for the use of the drug fund money
[44:42] to purchase this vehicle.
[44:45] Appreciate his cooperation there.
[44:49] We have a motion from Commissioner Tout and a second from Commissioner Byrd.
[44:52] All those in favor, if you'll raise your right hand.
[44:54] Motion carries three zero.
[44:58] Item number eight is bad debt write-off in the
[45:01] utility system. Commissioner Byrd.
[45:03] Yes, sir. This request is for the write-off of bad debt in the water
[45:07] fund and solid waste fund for fiscal year
[45:10] 2026. I'd like to offer a motion to approve
[45:14] the write-off of
[45:14] $27,615.64
[45:18] of bad debt in the water fund and
[45:21] $16,242.52 of bad
[45:24] debt in the solid waste fund,
[45:26] $15,173.33 for
[45:30] collections, and $1,069.19
[45:34] for disposal. These amounts are well less than
[45:38] 1% of all revenues collected in these departments, and efforts will be made to
[45:42] continue to collect this bad debt.
[45:44] We have a motion to approve from Commissioner Byrd the bad debt write-off.
[45:48] Do I hear a second?
[45:49] I'll second it.
[45:50] Second from Commissioner Robinson. Any discussion on the motion?
[45:56] This is a necessary step in closing out the fiscal year.
[46:01] As is stated in the motion, we do continued efforts to
[46:06] collect this debt.
[46:09] Last year, we collected about 5% of the debt that we wrote off
[46:14] after the fiscal year was closed.
[46:17] This is less bad debt than we had last year as well.
[46:21] So we're trending in the right direction.
[46:25] We have a motion from Commissioner Byrd and a second from Commissioner Robinson.
[46:29] All those in favor, if you'll raise your right hand.
[46:31] Motion carries three zero.
[46:36] Item number nine is a work detail agreement for the Georgia Department of
[46:40] Corrections. Commissioner Byrd.
[46:41] Yes, sir. This request is to approve the fiscal year '27 work
[46:45] detail agreement with the Georgia Department of Corrections.
[46:49] I'd like to offer a motion to approve signing a work detail agreement
[46:53] with the Georgia Department of Corrections for five work details at a
[46:57] cost not to exceed
[46:59] $284,811.45.
[47:04] This agreement will be funded as follows: two crews from solid waste
[47:07] collections, two crews from the water department, and one crew from
[47:11] solid waste disposal.
[47:14] We have a motion to approve from Commissioner Byrd. Do I have a second?
[47:17] Second.
[47:18] Second from Commissioner Tout. Any discussion on the motion?
[47:24] All those in favor, if you'll raise your right hand.
[47:27] Motion carries three zero.
[47:30] Item number 10 is approval of the bids. Commissioner Byrd.
[47:34] Yes, sir. I would like to offer a motion to approve the payment of the bills
[47:38] totaling
[47:39] $3,079,496.
[47:44] We have a motion from Commissioner Byrd to approve the payment of the bills.
[47:48] Do I hear a second?
[47:49] I'll second it.
[47:50] Second from Commissioner Robinson. Any discussion on the motion?
[47:56] All those in favor, if you'll raise your right hand.
[47:59] Motion carries three zero.
[48:04] This time, we will open up the lectern for general public
[48:07] comments. I appreciate all those who offered comments on specific
[48:11] items.
[48:13] This time, we'll open up the lectern for general public comments.
[48:17] If you'll do me a favor, if you'll keep your comments limited to about
[48:21] five minutes. Keep them directed towards members of this board, not members of the
[48:25] audience or staff.
[48:27] Keep them generally respectful and
[48:31] polite,
[48:32] and free of foul language.
[48:35] And
[48:38] at this time, the lectern is open for public comments
[48:43] Yes, sir, Mr. Andrews
[48:54] Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, commissioners.
[48:57] I just want to say a few words to expand upon the
[49:00] presentation that was given to Mr. Felder this evening.
[49:05] I've known George his whole career, because I worked here
[49:09] longer than he has.
[49:11] But I want to just say this. George is too
[49:14] humble to say anything,
[49:17] and I don't want to
[49:21] humiliate him by saying this, but
[49:25] George's service goes way beyond his years of service.
[49:28] You can see the effects of his service
[49:32] throughout the county. For those who are not familiar with the
[49:36] work that he's done, you can see the fruits of his labor.
[49:40] The corridor from Houston Lake Road to 127,
[49:44] there's a median there, and in that median, there are crape
[49:48] myrtles, and George gets out there yearly and
[49:52] prunes those crape myrtles. I wouldn't do it
[49:55] because he's only got this much room to work upon and there's
[49:59] speeding motorists coming through there all the time.
[50:02] But he diligently gets out there and do that.
[50:05] If you ride around at some of the other public buildings and you take
[50:09] notice of the nice landscaping, sodded yards,
[50:13] shrubs, trees, that's the work of Mr. Felder right there.
[50:17] That's his work. His work shows because he's a
[50:21] dedicated employee, and I want his family to know that,
[50:25] because some evenings, I work evenings
[50:29] a couple times during the month, he'll be up in this
[50:32] building beyond the call of 5:00,
[50:36] buffing and having his crews clean and polish these floors.
[50:40] So polished you can almost see your reflection in them.
[50:45] That's going beyond. And lastly, I just want to also compliment him
[50:48] on, he's a retired military veteran.
[50:52] So he's served his country, his home county of Houston
[50:55] County, and his family. So I just want to just expand upon
[50:59] that in the presence of his family and say how proud
[51:03] I feel to know him as a friend and for the work
[51:07] that he's done for the citizens of Houston County.
[51:09] Thank you, Mr. Andrews.
[51:10] Thank you.
[51:10] I appreciate that very much and concur with all those
[51:13] comments.
[51:19] Any other public comments this evening? Yes, sir.
[51:22] Anybody behind?
[51:23] I don't know.
[51:26] Oh. There's a lady waiting. She can go first. Okay.
[51:29] Hang on.
[51:34] Mr. Schwandler, Kathleen. Three topics, three minutes.
[51:39] I'm against the current build-out quite evident all across the city of Warner
[51:43] Robins in our county.
[51:46] Forests are being cleared for more strip malls, vape stores, storage
[51:50] centers, and gas stations.
[51:52] While we appear to be a fast-growing county, and I understand the economic
[51:56] benefits of such growth, we need to manage it better, my opinion.
[52:01] On the surface, it looks like every permit sought is being granted
[52:06] more and more and more. There's a
[52:09] forest missing at
[52:12] Russell and South Houston because a grocery store is going in there,
[52:15] and
[52:17] it just goes on and on, the strip malls and the gas stations.
[52:21] We're losing our trees, we're losing our shade,
[52:25] and we're increasing local temperatures by laying down
[52:29] more and more concrete, more pavement.
[52:32] To make things worse, we really don't have control over our roads.
[52:36] The state does, and we know what kind of delays and traffic
[52:40] safety issues that has caused and is causing.
[52:44] Second topic, don't get me started on Flock cameras.
[52:47] Third topic, I will come out right now against data center
[52:51] development anywhere in this county.
[52:54] Closest one is in Roberta. There's one being planned over east of
[52:58] Cochran someplace.
[53:00] And I will also reserve further comments on this issue until it appears on
[53:04] your agenda,
[53:05] but expect an argument. Plight, but expect an argument.
[53:10] For data centers, any public meetings have to occur in the early
[53:13] evening hours,
[53:15] which automatically makes it better.
[53:18] I believe the law says 6:00.
[53:22] It automatically makes it better than our local school board who insist on 1:00 PM
[53:26] meetings
[53:27] while legal guardian's at work,
[53:30] thus lowering resistance to whatever it is they want to do.
[53:34] And having said all that, I still like living here.
[53:36] It's still a nice county and I appreciate your time. Thank you.
[53:39] Thank you, Mr. Schwandler. Always good to hear from you.
[53:43] Any other public comment this evening?
[53:46] All right. That being the case, we will turn to commissioner comments, and
[53:51] I will turn first to Commissioner Towten.
[53:55] All right. Thank you everyone for coming. I'm going to start off with Mr.
[53:59] Hall. I
[54:02] look to you as a man of faith, number one, which is most important.
[54:06] And you've always provided me sound advice, information I
[54:10] always know I could take to the bank.
[54:12] And
[54:13] we've had some pretty contentious situations over my tenure, and I've
[54:17] always never doubted what you said for being the truth and what
[54:21] is true and what is just. So thank you for being that guy that I can
[54:25] lean on.
[54:26] Again, Mr. Felder, thank you for what you do, whether it's seen or
[54:30] unseen.
[54:32] It's a true honor to serve alongside of employees like you.
[54:35] This county's definitely a better place because of employees like you, and I hope
[54:39] you just influence the younger generation the importance of hard work and
[54:43] loyalty. So hope you've made an impact there, and just thank you everyone for
[54:46] coming, all those that came up to the lectern to express their concerns about
[54:49] various topics. Thank you all for coming.
[54:52] We definitely take those into consideration.
[54:55] And that's all I have.
[54:57] Thank you, Commissioner Towten. Commissioner Byrd?
[54:59] Yes, sir.
[55:02] I like the way we started this meeting, leaning heavy
[55:06] into,
[55:07] I think, the pillars of a healthy community,
[55:10] faith, family, and service to others.
[55:13] And appreciate Reverend Brown's message to
[55:16] community.
[55:18] I appreciate the family on display with Mr. Hall and Mr.
[55:22] Felder, and to both of you gentlemen, sincere and dedicated service to the
[55:26] citizens of this county. The service that we
[55:30] recognized just prior to this meeting,
[55:33] 18 employees with a combined 340
[55:36] years of service in this county government, is truly
[55:40] remarkable.
[55:41] It's why
[55:43] we provide service to the citizens of this county at a high level.
[55:47] Those individuals have
[55:51] invested their professional lives into this county government,
[55:55] and it will continue after them because of the culture that they
[55:59] have built, and I'm truly, truly thankful for that.
[56:03] Got one other personal recognition here. Would like to congratulate Ms.
[56:06] Kelly Moore on being named Superior Court Judge
[56:10] of Houston County, succeeding Judge Luke Meyer, and appreciate
[56:15] Judge Moore's willingness to serve, and wish her all the best in that regard.
[56:19] Thank you, sir.
[56:20] Thank you, Commissioner Byrd. Commissioner Robinson.
[56:23] Yes. He said it very well. I can't...
[56:29] What he said, because basically I'm repeating it again.
[56:33] But Mr. Hall, how long have you been working as a
[56:37] county attorney? How long have you been the actual county
[56:41] attorney and how long have you been working for the county attorney as the county
[56:44] attorney when we came?
[56:46] Full-time, it's been since 2014,
[56:51] but I started as Assistant County Attorney in 1993.
[56:55] Okay.
[56:55] So, about 33 years.
[56:57] That's what I was thinking, because I know, yes, you've been here the whole time
[57:00] I've been here, and I know that you've been doing a great
[57:04] job for the county, and I also appreciate your advice and
[57:08] know that we can count on you to do the good work. And Mr.
[57:12] Felder and your family, y'all, thank you for staying.
[57:15] We appreciate you being here, but thank you for coming to receive your 30 years of
[57:19] service. We appreciate dedicated employees like you, and
[57:22] it's just our hope that
[57:26] we will continue to be good to you and you can
[57:29] continue to do your great job for us, and we thank
[57:33] you for being a dedicated employee for all these years.
[57:37] But again, thank everybody for coming to make their comments.
[57:41] It was a good meeting and understanding, and I
[57:45] just am glad to be here this evening, so thank you.
[57:49] Thank you, Commissioner Robinson.
[57:50] I think you were trying to hint there that you were 16 years old
[57:54] when Mr. Hall started as the county attorney? All right.
[57:59] Thank you all for being here this evening.
[58:02] Thank you for the good work that the commission accomplished this evening.
[58:05] Thank you for the public participation and the comments that help
[58:09] inform our decisions. Want to update folks on
[58:13] just a couple of things. Number one, we are in active
[58:16] development of the well on Highway
[58:20] 127, both a well and a new water treatment facility there.
[58:24] We're at about 90% plans on the water treatment facility.
[58:28] We had our 24-hour pump test
[58:34] two weeks ago, and
[58:36] we have not gotten back all of the test results on water quality, but
[58:40] I can tell you,
[58:42] as Mr. Jones said, or Mr. Dunbar, I cannot remember which, the
[58:46] well is generous, which means that it's producing a lot of water.
[58:51] It will be up to what we plan in terms of
[58:55] water. We anticipate somewhere in the neighborhood of two and
[58:59] a half million gallons a day out of that individual well.
[59:03] Also want to thank the neighbors for understanding, as
[59:07] there's a lot of water that
[59:10] must enter the
[59:12] stormwater system
[59:14] in and around that surrounding area during that time, and
[59:18] sometimes that can result in some water in ditches.
[59:21] And so I appreciate the understanding and patience.
[59:24] We did a good job, Mr. Deitch and his crew, as well as our
[59:28] contractor, communicating with neighbors and giving them a heads-up that that was
[59:31] going to happen, and they were understanding and patient with us.
[59:35] So I appreciate that understanding and patience.
[59:38] We got the tax digest back. Mr. Dunbar, was that late last
[59:42] week or early this week? Late last week.
[59:45] And initial numbers indicate that we will be
[59:49] targeting a full millage rate rollback for the citizens of Houston
[59:53] County.
[59:55] That, combined with the floating homestead tax exemption,
[1:00:00] will
[1:00:02] continue to try and keep property taxes
[1:00:06] under control as much as we can. Our millage
[1:00:10] rate will continue to decrease here in Houston County, and
[1:00:14] we're excited about that. And we look forward to next
[1:00:17] year when the floating local option sales tax
[1:00:21] recently passed
[1:00:23] by voters will have a far larger rollback
[1:00:27] for most people's tax bills in Houston County as well.
[1:00:31] Thank you for the good work this evening. Board, Mr.
[1:00:34] Hall, again, happy birthday. We will not sing to
[1:00:38] you,
[1:00:39] although if Commissioner Touton would like to after we adjourn, he is welcome
[1:00:43] to. All right. With that, I will take a motion for adjournment.
[1:00:47] So moved.
[1:00:48] Second.
[1:00:48] We have a motion from Commissioner Touton, and we have a second from Commissioner
[1:00:52] Byrd. All those in favor, if you'll raise your right hand.
[1:00:56] We're adjourned. Thank you.