[13:44] Good evening.
>> Good evening.
[13:46] » Good to see a house full sometime.
Welcome to the Liberty County Board of
[13:51] Commissioners first Tuesday meeting.
Yes, for your information, we also meet
[13:56] on third Thursday at 5:00. And of
course, all of our meetings are live
[13:59] stream and certainly invite the public
to either watch us live stream or to
[14:02] come sit in and just kind of get a view
of what's going on from this side.
[14:06] There's nothing better than being close
to it so you have a better understanding
[14:10] of how county works. I spoke with the
group on earlier it was Monday
[14:16] um leadership group and um in fact the
feedback from them was they they were
[14:21] not aware at all of our processes.
People think you can just jump and do
[14:25] things you can't do. They when it's in
government and they learn to the
[14:29] government doesn't move fast. It takes
time to get things done but it does
[14:32] move. It does move like a model T does
move. So good to have you all here. Mr.
[14:36] Wilson, has the media been profit
advertised?
[14:39] » Yes, sir.
>> All right. Uh Bishop Paige, will you
[14:42] please come? Mr. Kennel Page, man
[snorts] Christian Center,
[14:45] [clears throat] will you please come and
lead us on the invocation? We will stand
[14:47] please for the invocation and the
pledge.
[14:53] [snorts]
Let us pray. Most holy and righteous
[14:57] God, we come to you today. Thank you for
this day. We thank you for the county
[15:01] commissioners and all the assistants to
the board. We pray for the their
[15:06] families. We ask you for the wisdom and
guidance as they conduct this meeting.
[15:12] Give them a clear mind and sound
judgment on the community issues. We
[15:18] pray that the commissioners act as good
shepherds who protect and care for the
[15:23] residents with equality. We ask for
peaceful communities and support for
[15:28] their families of all our public
servants. We even God pray for our
[15:34] students as they begin this school year.
It's in Jesus name we do pray and give
[15:39] you praise. Amen.
>> Amen.
[15:42] Pledge algiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
[15:47] republic for which it stands. One nation
under God, indivisible with liberty and
[15:53] justice for all.
>> I held it down by myself. Don't worry.
[15:59] » Thank you, Mr. Paige. Good to have you,
sir. Thank you for being committed to
[16:03] doing that for us. And thank you for the
prayers to cover us and of course our
[16:07] school children who started back today.
I went to one of the J ones and it's
[16:15] it's interesting,
but we pray for them all. All right. Uh,
[16:20] commissioners,
let's see. I do know that Commissioner
[16:23] Gillard said he may be on the way. I
hadn't heard from Commissioner Wal.
[16:28] Sometime he calls him, I haven't heard
from him. Okay. We're still praying to
[16:31] for him for his recovery. Uh July 20 26
meeting minutes need to be approved by
[16:39] you commissioners.
>> I'll move Mr. Chair.
[16:41] » Second.
>> Motion second. We approve the minutes
[16:43] for Let me get the base right. July 7th.
>> That's right. We only had one meeting.
[16:49] That's Did y'all miss it? The one
meeting. We didn't have a meeting last
[16:53] night.
>> No, we did not. [laughter]
[16:56] » I missed y'all.
>> A motion and a second to approve the
[17:00] July 7th minute. Any further discussion?
There being none. All in favor, show of
[17:03] hands, please. All right, those minutes
are approved. Thank you, commissioners.
[17:07] A proclamation for Dr. Mary W. Murray.
She's in the house. Good to see you.
[17:14] Who's on? Normally, he reads it, but
somebody generally comes to give us a
[17:17] little little lead into it. Is that you?
Uh, Dr. White, are you the you the
[17:22] leading man?
[17:27] » Good afternoon, um, commissioners and
those that are present. We
[17:31] [clears throat] are here to honor um Dr.
Mary W. Mary uh for 44 years of active
[17:38] educational services to our students um
on Fort Stewart and beyond. Uh she has
[17:44] been a blessing not only to the student
body at Fort Stewart, but she's also
[17:48] been a blessing to this community
because one thing about it, those
[17:51] students that are over on Fort Stewart,
when they graduate out of middle school,
[17:55] they're coming over to our uh community,
either Bradwell or they're coming over
[18:00] to Liberty County High School. So, it is
an honor that she has just recently
[18:05] retired
>> from 44 years and we just wanted to
[18:09] honor her [applause] as we
[18:14] That that's a double four.
>> Yeah, double four as we prepare to
[18:18] really honor her in a celebration on
this coming Saturday um her retirement
[18:22] ceremony. So that's why we are here on
this afternoon to pro to have a
[18:27] proclamation from the board of
commissioners in order to be able to u
[18:31] present that to her on Saturday.
>> All right, stay right there. Mr. Mos,
[18:37] Dr. Murray, will you please come stand
next to Mr. White?
[18:43] and
[18:48] » come on.
[18:52] » Thank you. Appreciate that.
>> Come on.
[18:55] » These kind of things only happen once in
a lifetime sometimes.
[18:58] » Just a little bit.
>> All right.
[19:00] » Proclamation. A proclamation honor Dr.
Mary W. Murray for extraordinary
[19:04] contributions to education, leadership,
and youth empowerment. Whereas Dr. Mary
[19:10] W. Murray has devoted her professional
life to advancing education, developing
[19:14] future leaders, and empowering students
through teaching, mentorship,
[19:17] scholarship, and service. And whereas
Dr. Murray faithfully served as the
[19:21] official academic dean of the National
Collegiate Music Conference
[19:25] headquartered in Charlotte, North
Carolina, providing academic leadership
[19:29] and guidance to more than 1,000 high
school college students nationwide each
[19:33] year, inspiring academic excellence and
personal achievement. Whereas Dr. Murray
[19:38] has demonstrated exceptional leadership
in higher education, serving as a junk
[19:42] dean at Jacksonville Theological
Seminary from 1998 through 2008, where
[19:47] she authored and developed the course
effective communication, which continues
[19:51] to prepare students with the
communication skills essential for
[19:54] leadership and professional success. And
whereas Dr. Murray has further
[19:59] distinguished herself as a proctor for
Liberty University and adjunct professor
[20:04] for Union Institute University and an
accounting instructor at Savannah
[20:08] Technical College, sharing her knowledge
and expertise with students pursuing
[20:11] high higher education and career
advancement. And whereas Dr. Murray has
[20:16] further uh distinguished career
education spans more than four decades
[20:21] including 33 37 years as a teacher with
department of defense education activity
[20:26] schools four years in public school
system and three years as director of
[20:30] child development services in Mahan
Germany positively impacting thousands
[20:35] of students families and educators
around the world and whereas in
[20:40] recognition of her exceptional
leadership professionalism and
[20:43] unwavering commitment to academic
excellence Dr. Murray was honored as the
[20:47] 2013 2014 teacher of the year at Diamond
Elementary School, Fort Stewart, by the
[20:52] Department of Defense Schools. And now
therefore, be it proclaimed that the
[20:56] Liberty County Board of Commissioners
hereby recognize and honor Dr. Mary W.
[21:00] Murray for her extraordinary lifetime of
service to education, her unwavering
[21:05] commitment to youth development, her
leadership in higher education, and her
[21:08] tireless efforts to proclaim scholastic
opportunities and empower young women to
[21:13] achieve their academic dreams. Be it
further resolved that the Liberty County
[21:17] Board of Commissioners extend a
sincerest gratitude and appreciation to
[21:20] Dr. Mary W. Murray for her remarkable
contributions to the citizens of Liberty
[21:24] County, the state of Georgia and
communities throughout the nation and
[21:28] wish our continued health success and
many more years of impactful service and
[21:33] witness thereof. I here to have set my
hand and cause the seal of Liberty
[21:37] County, Georgia to be fixed this fourth
day of August in the year 2026. Donald
[21:42] L. Love Levit chairman. [applause]
[21:49] » We'll do a photo op, Dr. Murray. But
first, you greet us in your own way.
[21:55] » Y'all making me talk. It's all good. I
want to say thank you so much for your
[22:00] for the opportunity to serve Liberty
County. I do consider Liberty County,
[22:04] Fort Stewart, Liberty County. And I also
have taught in Liberty County as well.
[22:08] And this is my son, Larry. And uh it's
been a privilege and it's been an honor
[22:13] to serve and to educate children and
students that are now professionals in
[22:18] their own right. Some principles, some
uh doctors, some are lawyers, some are
[22:23] nurses, some are police officers. And if
one pulled me over, they like that you
[22:28] Dr. Murray. Yes, that's me. [laughter]
[22:31] But never mind. Y'all figure out how.
[laughter]
[22:34] But I want to say thank you so much for
this opportunity because it's my service
[22:38] after moving back here from Germany with
my husband and I serving in Mannheim,
[22:42] Germany for six years, still educating
and directing other people to do what is
[22:47] necessary to do to make sure that
they're getting the skills that they
[22:50] need. I want to say thank you to the
commissioners for this opportunity.
[22:53] Thank you.
>> Yes,
[22:58] » commissioners want to say thank you.
>> Thank you. I tell everyone, you know,
[23:02] not only did you all make Liberty County
your home, but you've been involved, you
[23:05] know, giving back. So, we appreciate
that. You all make Liberty County a
[23:08] better place. Now,
>> General, you got you got to come around.
[23:12] » Come around. Come around.
>> Yeah. Y'all come on up to the podium.
[23:37] Thank you so much.
>> How you doing, sir?
[23:44] » Dr. Your pleas right here.
>> Yes, sir. Thank you so much. I
[23:47] appreciate it. Congratulations.
>> Thank you. Appreciate it.
[23:51] » Hold on to that with me
and look at those
[23:58] Can we see everybody guys?
[24:05] » Everybody good?
>> Give her another hand.
[24:12] » Long life of
>> Thank you.
[24:13] » good health and prosperity.
>> Thank you so much.
[24:16] » Thank you.
[24:20] » 44 years.
>> Amen.
[24:24] You better look 44.
[24:32] » All right. Uh, we have an excite
exciting project happening in Liberty
[24:36] County in the in the Wall Thville area
that some of us are witnessing the
[24:43] progress of it. So, uh, the city of
Waltharville had a I would say in not
[24:48] inservice, but a briefing did. So, I
said, "Well, it's a county project.
[24:52] bring them to the camera so we can hear
about the progress on Independence
[24:56] Parkway. So, Mr. Tim McCauley and Roia
Der are coming to present on
[25:01] Independence Parkway phase one.
[25:06] » I can't follow that. [laughter]
How about 30 years?
[25:14] » Projects going great. uh on schedule,
way over budget like everything
[25:21] government nowadays. Uh
>> they'll anticipate completion now
[25:27] December
of 27 instead of October, end of
[25:32] October. So had a few changes just
um building through a swamp is an
[25:39] experience and job looks great. Um very
proud of it. uh
[25:46] Department of Transportation seems to be
they told me it's a poster project for
[25:51] erosion control and prevention and
construction progress. So, as project
[25:57] manager for Atlas, you know, I take that
as an honor. But as long as I keep my
[26:02] bosses happy, I'm doing good. So,
>> project's going great. Um
[26:08] I brought you a set of the um final
marking and signing plans. If it would
[26:16] be something any of your constituents
had any questions for y'all that maybe
[26:21] you could u have something
[26:32] » if you' be so kind to send this to that
gentleman electronically.
[26:36] » Ma'am,
>> you send send this to that gentleman
[26:38] electronically.
Email it to him so we'll have a a
[26:43] digital copy.
>> I sure can.
[26:45] » Digital copy. Okay.
>> Uh tell me about Griffin Road. I read
[26:49] that.
>> What can I Does anybody have any
[26:52] questions they'd like to know or can I
answer?
[26:54] » You had to close off Griffin Road. Tell
us about that.
[26:57] » What?
>> You had to close off Griffin Road.
[26:59] » Griffin Road. Okay. That's part of the
construction that was in the original
[27:03] plans where
>> culde-sacs on each side which is going
[27:07] to limit you know no through crossing
over the new roadway.
[27:12] » Um everybody will have to go down to
Carter Road to access
[27:16] » which is far out way but
>> we had to utilize Griffin to close
[27:21] Carter here month and a half ago.
We got Carter. Everything's done on it
[27:26] except final surfacing. Um, curbon
gutters in. Um, utilities have been a
[27:34] challenge, but I part of the business
and Trent Long has been a blessing to
[27:41] our project on what he contributes his
knowledge and his team coming out and
[27:46] helping and providing us information on
locations of
[27:51] plans of
where they think that everything's
[27:55] supposed to be. We've had some issues
with utilities, but um overcame them so
[28:00] far.
>> Bridge is uh we should pour our first
[28:05] deck
middle of August. Um so that's
[28:11] progressing nicely. Um
had a lot of changes and a lot of money
[28:16] spent on foundations
changes because building through a
[28:20] swamp. [clears throat]
[snorts]
[28:25] had no data, you know, for the
[28:35] great contractor, Reeves Construction.
[28:41] DOT's gave me a good team to do the
inspection work and
[28:46] one of my young guys lives here in
Liberty County. So,
[28:55] Mr. Long,
[28:58] when you say you ran into the uh issues
with the foundation,
[29:07] Trent told us it's going to be the
longest bridge in Liberty County that
[29:09] you're building.
>> So, my point is, is there something from
[29:14] this project that we can learn so we
don't have the same problem with phase
[29:17] two? It's going to even even more more
wetlands and
[29:23] The hard part was where they are now.
There was really no access. There was no
[29:27] way to get any kind of boring equipment
or any kind of equipment to test before
[29:32] they got clearing and before they
stand
[29:49] up. We may not have
[29:56] gallery have bridge quite this long
because this bridge is over
[30:02] swamp and bridge over railroad
[30:17] » the issue with utilities is just
[30:22] » location location location
>> location
[30:25] » you know a lot stuff that we put in we
put in 20 plus years ago or 30 plus
[30:30] years ago and you know the the records
are not there or the institutional
[30:36] knowledge of people not knowing where
things are or not knowing what sizes
[30:40] things are.
It's really difficult
[30:46] especially when you don't have record
drawings or anything to fall back on and
[30:50] the guys that installed it all
they were tired or gone on
[30:58] it's a challenge challenge
tren [clears throat]
[31:03] while you standing there u you probably
heard this before coming from me
[31:09] you working with them all 119 all the
way throughout, right?
[31:14] » Yes, sir.
>> And you know, have we not see any
[31:19] additional way of widening 119?
>> So, that'll be a different project.
[31:24] [clears throat]
>> Okay.
[31:25] » Okay.
>> What we've been doing is consistently
[31:27] requesting
>> we have
[31:30] » DOT
[31:33] actually we've been requesting
every [laughter]
[31:42] has some passing lanes on especially
crossed
[31:52] and you really can't get around anybody
if somebody
[32:00] » because actually they will get out there
and run past a school bus that's stopped
[32:05] and that's making it real dangerous.
Um, Chief Hagen told me they're going to
[32:10] install cameras on the school buses
>> so it will take your picture if you
[32:17] » Okay. So, December of 27.
>> Okay.
[32:23] » One other question for him. Chairman,
explain Tibet road to me. When you come
[32:27] off of Dun Levy, when you go into in
front of Bakerton Church, when you get
[32:32] up there, how is that going
>> coming off Dun Levy? Um, you'll still be
[32:38] able to go
across Tibbit in front of Bington Church
[32:42] and then continue.
>> So, there will be a stop sign there.
[32:48] » Yeah.
[32:52] There's a portion of 119 that's going to
be totally removed past the housing
[32:57] development.
[33:04] Everything coming up is going to come
down the new roadway to Tibet road and
[33:09] have to make a left or a right. Now to
get to Riceboro off of Dun Levy, you'll
[33:16] have to go through the fourway and then
make a left to
[33:23] I think some of those final marking.
[33:31] [clears throat]
[33:34] Let's see it all.
[33:37] Okay,
>> I take you up on that. Any other
[33:40] questions for these gentlemen? Uh that's
project is very special to us. It's our
[33:46] first bypass.
>> U and of course with the traffic that we
[33:49] have now going through our community. We
looking for anything to help to relieve
[33:53] that because that's just a part of it.
We got phase one is what you all doing.
[33:57] We got to work toward getting phase two
done so it's a complete uh bypass for
[34:03] some of the traffic going through here.
[34:08] » All right. All right.
>> Good time
[34:12] to come out.
[34:16] » Okay. All right. Okay. Thank you,
gentlemen.
[34:18] » All right.
>> Some of you, Mr. Murray.
[34:26] Good evening, board of commissioners.
Good evening, everyone. Larry Murray
[34:29] here, youth coordinator for uh Liberty
County. Um under the leadership of Mr.
[34:34] Joseph Mosley for seven years. I've been
doing this for eight years now under
[34:37] leadership of Mr. Jo Joseph Mosley for
seven years and Miss Lisha Hunter for
[34:42] year one. I mean, this her year, this
her first year, so we've been working
[34:44] well together. She's been pushing me as
well, too. So, to take this thing to
[34:47] another level. And so, um really quick,
I just want to thank y'all for
[34:51] acknowledging my mom giving her
proclamation. We I didn't realize that
[34:54] we were going to be in the same building
today. She We were at breakfast today
[34:57] talking about it, but I didn't realize
we were going to be here together. So,
[34:59] [laughter]
we walked up here today. So, I thought
[35:02] it was pretty cool. So, shout out to my
mom. 44 years of education.
[35:05] » Be on your best behavior.
>> Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. [laughter] Oh, yeah.
[35:08] I'm always on my best behavior. She had
no issues at me. She never had any
[35:11] issues at me.
>> But yeah, she's the reason why I'm even
[35:14] doing these these things today.
[clears throat] So, I um I thank her for
[35:17] the push and I just thank uh the
community for backing it up. All right.
[35:19] So, I'm here today to present some
certificates for our summer youth
[35:22] employment program uh from this year.
And we just want to thank everybody that
[35:26] participated uh this year and helping
out and taking an intern because that
[35:29] mean a lot. They were they were able to
grow. They enjoy themselves. Um and
[35:33] they're looking to come back next year.
All of them want to come back, but I
[35:35] know that means we got to try to figure
out some some way to, you know, um make
[35:38] it happen. All right. So, first we got
tax commissioners office right here. Um
[35:43] tax commissioners, y'all here today? We
want to present you with the
[35:45] certificate. Y'all come on. Y'all y'all
take the certificate.
[35:50] We have Alexis and voters registration.
They're here. They're here as well, too.
[35:54] » Thank y'all again. Thank y'all so much.
[35:59] » EMA
here.
[36:01] » Mr. Mr. Murray, let them all stand. Let
>> all we'll take a we'll come down after
[36:06] y'all everybody get to me. I'll just
make a There you go.
[36:10] » Look at the camera.
>> Uh assessor's office.
[36:16] » Assessor's not here.
it.
[36:21] » Oh yeah, he's ready. Look at him. Look
at him. [laughter]
[36:26] » Look at him. He ready today.
>> I was wondering why he had on that tie.
[36:32] [laughter]
[36:35] » I love it. Keep Liberty. Beautiful.
>> Oh, yeah.
[36:43] » Um, recreation department. I think I
about to say I saw him. Come on.
[36:48] » Finance department.
[37:03] » No.
>> You want to stand next to your sister?
[37:05] [laughter]
[37:10] » Chamber of Commerce.
>> Probably at some other meeting office.
[37:16] communications. Y'all, this just shows
that we have a lot of support here,
[37:19] y'all. They're not here, but it's okay.
DA office, district attorney,
[37:24] » diversity help. No, she's not here.
>> Highville housing authority.
[37:29] » No,
extensions office. Poor
[37:34] » child support services.
>> We had a lot of help this year. City of
[37:39] Clemson,
[37:42] » city of Midway, [clears throat]
[37:45] City of Walkville.
>> Yay.
[37:48] » In the house.
>> All right. Had to.
[37:51] » They all enjoy themselves.
>> They they winding down dying to turn
[37:55] that. [laughter]
[38:01] » Oh yeah. Oh yeah.
>> She said now she said that that's the
[38:05] best intern that she's ever had. So that
was that was amazing to hear. So
[38:10] » you put it [laughter]
all. All right. So that's all the That's
[38:14] all the recognitions for um our mentor
for for our summer employment program.
[38:19] So I guess we're going to take a
picture.
[38:20] » Let's come down commissioners and
join
[38:23] » this apicious group.
[39:09] Everybody pull one of these like to the
side. Hold
[39:27] [applause]
[39:35] the back for you. [laughter]
[39:45] » [laughter]
[39:53] » You want me to start off with you?
[40:02] » We thank all them for making an
investment in our young people.
[40:07] Look for the fruit thereof.
>> Barely.
[40:12] » You service update, Miss Hunter. And
>> yes, sir.
[40:15] » Yeah, there he is.
[40:18] » Commissioners, um we would like to do
our um annual youth services update for
[40:24] Liberty um County Youth Commission and
the summer um youth enrichment
[40:29] employment program. And I just want to
say as my first year um working with the
[40:34] program, I think it has been a huge
success. One thing that um we need to
[40:38] mention about the summer employment
program, we had more mentors than we had
[40:44] students this year.
>> Wow.
[40:45] » And so that is a win. Yeah.
>> And so we're excited about more
[40:49] participation. We had um we could not
even place the number of students that
[40:56] some of the mentors wanted. Some some
some asked for as many as four. And so
[41:00] we were able to do three for some, but
numerous. And and so if you were able to
[41:06] attend the um graduation, you saw that
they did real work. They put in real
[41:11] work this summer. [clears throat] And so
I just wanted to again thank everyone
[41:14] for their support. Thank everyone for
their participation. And we look forward
[41:18] to kicking off a brand new year. And I
turn the presentation over to Mr.
[41:22] Murray. and I just wanted to acknowledge
him for all the hard work that he has
[41:26] been putting in and um efforts made to
take the program to the next level.
[41:30] » Thank you, Mr. Murray. [applause]
[41:35] » All right, so I'm going to be brief um
summer employment program. We go ahead.
[41:41] » Okay, I got
[41:47] » All right, so our summer employment
program program overview. All right. So,
[41:52] our mission is to provide summer
employment opportunities for local youth
[41:54] ages 14 to 18. All right. So, our goals
include skill development, workforce
[41:59] experience, community engagement, and
the program runs annually each summer
[42:03] since 2016. All right. Partner with
multiple county departments. So, like
[42:08] again, we thank y'all. We appreciate
y'all for supporting us this year.
[42:12] All right. So, our 2024 season, so we
were able to come up with some data um
[42:16] that we can um present to you all from
2024 to 2026. All right. So, 24 we
[42:21] launched and expanded partnerships with
county departments and serve 23 uh
[42:25] students and participants across 12 work
sites. All right. So that's when that's
[42:29] when we started off I mean that's back
in 2024 we introduced structured
[42:32] workshops on workplace etiquette and
professional development. And in 2025 we
[42:37] grew enrollment 20 by 27 participants.
We added smart goals and envisioning
[42:41] workshops team building activities and
enhanced facilitator training. So we
[42:44] invited more facilitators to come and um
help us out when they come in on Mondays
[42:49] for their training. And we strengthen
community engagement through guest
[42:52] speakers. So we bring in guest speakers
such as 4 and different people of
[42:55] finance to come teach different things
like that to help them grow. And then
[43:00] jump into 2026. Uh this year right here
we we were able to serve 29 youth and we
[43:06] had new initiatives. So we included
leadership cohorts, project based
[43:09] learning and expanding partnerships with
local business and businesses and
[43:13] nonprofits. So, we were able to have
more support like Miss Hunter said, we
[43:16] were to have more um support this year
and well, we had more mentors than
[43:21] students this year. So, that that was
amazing. I thought that was pretty
[43:23] pretty cool. All right, so here here's
the data right here. Um we have
[43:29] applications have grown steadily. So,
everybody's hearing about it. And when
[43:33] we started off in 20 well, not when we
started off, but in 2024, uh we were at
[43:38] we grew by we grew by 23 applications.
So, we had 3 applications
[43:44] that by 23
um
[43:49] let me make sure I say that right. Yeah,
we had 35 in 2024 to 74. Yeah. So we
[43:53] grew to 74 applications
>> um in 2026. So from 2024 to 2026 we went
[43:59] from 35 to 74. There we go.
>> And and and that shows that everybody I
[44:05] mean youth need something to do. You
know they they they need training. They
[44:08] they wanted they actually in the
interview process they wanted to get a
[44:11] job. They get out the house, you know
what I mean? Some of them they said
[44:14] their parents made them, but I mean, but
they got something from it. They really
[44:18] did. I mean, they came in here and they
was excited about each thing that we
[44:21] have for them each day.
All right. So, interns by age. All
[44:25] right. So, age 15 is is the largest at
26%. And then while ages 14 and 17 are
[44:31] equal represented at 23% each, age 16
accounts for 20% and age 18 is the
[44:37] smallest group at 8%. All right? So,
that's reflecting diverse participation.
[44:42] all eligible ages. So like again like we
said from 14 to 17. So
[44:49] I believe yeah we went from 14 to 18. So
we even had we had 18 we had two 18 year
[44:54] olds that participated in the program as
well too. So they were able to come in.
[44:57] Matter of fact we had a guy that um he
participated for five years with us. So
[45:02] yeah. So he he wanted to come each year.
So um he even though he had other jobs
[45:06] he was still coming in here getting that
training from us as well too. So we
[45:09] still deem this as very important to
him.
[45:15] Now interns by gender. Now female
interns represent 65 program
[45:19] participants while males intern make up
35%. So this highlights strong female
[45:24] participation and that reflects the
program's inclusive outreach across
[45:28] Liberty County.
Right. So some key program insights. So
[45:34] we had a steady increase like like we
mentioned before. We had a steady
[45:37] increase in applicant interest from 2024
to 2026. We had a consistent hiring
[45:42] aligned with program capacity. Um
balanced age distribution ensures wide
[45:47] youth engagement, strong female
represent representation um um
[45:52] reflecting inclusive outreach and then
growing community support for youth
[45:56] development. So these are key program
insights right here for our summer
[46:00] employment program. And then now we're
going to jump into our Liberty County
[46:05] Youth Commission. All right. So, this is
our impact and growth report right here
[46:08] from 2024 to 2026.
[46:13] All right. So, with our Liberty County
Youth Commission in 2024, we had 12
[46:17] particip 12 participants. So, that was
eight, we had eight young ladies and
[46:21] four young men and that grew as you can
see by the [clears throat] chart right
[46:24] here. So, in 2025,
we had we went up by four participants.
[46:28] So, we had 16 participants, 14 young
ladies that grew. They they just started
[46:33] coming in, you know, the word started
getting out. We started doing a little
[46:35] bit more outreach and we have 14 young
ladies and two young men. And then in
[46:40] 2026, we grew a little bit more as you
guys can see right here. In 2025, we we
[46:45] grew by 33% and then in 2026 we had 17
participants, 15 young ladies and then
[46:50] two young men. So we're trying to get
the young men up in here. You know,
[46:53] we're trying to get them trying to get
them enrolled in here. And then so this
[46:56] shows that um participation grew by 41%
since 2024. All right. So that shows
[47:03] that we retention and growing engagement
reflecting a strong foundation and
[47:07] expanded impact across county.
All right, so our demographic break
[47:12] break down by grade level. So in 2024 we
had two ninth graders, four
[47:17] [clears throat] um 10th graders, uh
three three juniors and three seniors.
[47:21] So we had a total of 12
participants in in 2024. In 2025, we
[47:27] didn't have any nth graders, but we had
six 10th graders, five 11th graders, and
[47:32] five seniors. And so we had 16
participants and then in 2026 we didn't
[47:36] have any more nth graders again like I
said and then five five 10th graders and
[47:41] five five juniors and seven seniors. All
right. So this report right here shows
[47:46] that juniors and seniors represent 71%
of 2026 youth commission. So
[47:51] highlighting strong upper classman
participation in leadership. So we our
[47:54] upper classman they were taking charge
the whole way. You know they were
[47:57] excited about coming in and they were
coming in consistently. I mean I think
[48:00] it was because of food. So, so we have
food, we provided food from East here to
[48:05] the board of commissioners. Um, and I
believe that food piece right there,
[48:10] that's
>> feed.
[48:16] Yeah, they they need the food,
>> food and community.
[48:20] » So, the key takeaway right here, our
youth commission is engaging students
[48:23] across multiple grade levels with steady
growth in strong senior participation,
[48:26] driving leadership and impact.
All right, so community partnerships and
[48:32] local impact. So in 2024 through 2026,
we were able to organize blanket uh
[48:37] drives and jacket drives for community
members experiencing home homelessness
[48:41] and serve as active volunteers during
the annual walk for the homeless events
[48:44] in both 2024 2025 with another chance
another chance outreach ministries. Um
[48:50] the CEO is right here obviously Urban
White. So we were able to coordinate
[48:54] that with him and um do those drives for
the homeless. And then in 20 2024 2026,
[48:59] our youth commissioners were able to um
partner with the life side empowerment
[49:04] uh to uh serve as academic mentors,
assisting youth with homework and
[49:09] educational support.
And in 2024 to 2026, they volunteered on
[49:14] site to prepare serve prepare and serve
hot meals to local families for the mana
[49:18] house. So they've been very active and
this this is just a portion of our what
[49:22] they did, but they did a lot more than
this. All
[49:28] right. So, civic engagement is state
level advocacy. All right. So, we we
[49:32] take annual trips to the to the state
capital. Um in 2024 and in 2025, we were
[49:38] able to collaborate and join with the
city of High School Youth Commission and
[49:42] collaborate, you know, collaborating
networking with the Fton County Youth
[49:45] Commission, Youth Commission. Shout out
to uh Commissioner Fraser for setting
[49:49] that up for us. We were able to, you
know, get them engaged and, you know,
[49:52] get them networking with different
youth. So, I I think that's very
[49:56] important. All right. And in 2026, we
continue regional partnership with Joint
[50:00] Capital Vist alongside alongside Fton
County Youth Commission. All right. So,
[50:05] the youth, they look forward to the
state capital trip every year. We we we
[50:09] take the charter bus. We go up here.
Like I said again, I mean, we travel in
[50:12] luxury. They enjoy the experience. They
even talked about spending the night,
[50:15] but we like we get there. We get there.
All right. So, we're empowering you
[50:20] right here. Direct engagement with state
leaders and legislative processes.
[50:24] Thank you. All right. So, we want to
thank you for your support. Seriously,
[50:27] we want to thank you for your support.
Um, board of commissioners for allowing
[50:31] us to be able to have these programs
right here with our summer employment
[50:34] program and our Liberty County Youth
Commission. I believe we're going to
[50:36] grow it each year. I mean, you see that
the steady the steady increase every
[50:40] single year. So, thank y'all again.
[50:45] [applause]
I
[50:46] » I would like us, Miss Hunter, to to
investigate this this whole male versus
[50:52] female thing. Is it the same with the
city of Heinesville and Riceboro? Let's
[50:55] look at that.
>> Let's look at that.
[51:02] » All the populations had
>> and then secondly, I was thinking maybe
[51:09] could is there some opportunity for
synergy with Liberty County working with
[51:13] Riceboro working with Hinesville, the
three groups working
[51:16] » doing some kind of
>> Yes, sir. Yeah. Um just so you know we
[51:20] have discussed that with the two of them
and they're open to [clears throat] that
[51:23] in terms of us um we said the first
thing we do we have a meeting regroup
[51:26] and see what our opportunities are and
then um the other thing is even with um
[51:31] Chattam County um we have a um long
established youth commission right there
[51:35] in Chattam County and when you ask the
youth what they desire what they want
[51:38] they will tell you be prepared and so
that's one thing they said is that we
[51:42] would like to see what other youth
commissions are doing so they're looking
[51:45] for that engagement also And so the um
[clears throat] one thing about the trip
[51:51] to the capitol, it wasn't just a visit.
We want everyone to know that they
[51:55] toured the capitol, they engaged with
legislators, and they went over to Fton
[52:00] um youth commission and they had a
debate. They had to prepare and they
[52:05] experienced a debate on certain issues
that was set up with them. So it was
[52:09] work put into it. So um but u I would be
remiss not recognizing the entire team
[52:15] that helped all of this flow. And so we
Mr. Larry Murvy who is the youth
[52:19] services coordinator but then in terms
of the applications and helping with the
[52:24] calendar institutional knowledge we have
Miss Laura W she would please stand with
[52:28] HR.
[52:33] We have Miss Jessica who is on the team
and doing work. Stand up.
[52:39] And I want to say the backbone that
holds it all together. the students, the
[52:44] meals, the paperwork telling us what we
supposed to do and when we supposed to
[52:49] do it as Miss Monica Ratcliff
[52:54] [applause]
[52:56] commissioners, thank you for the support
because we talk about infrastructure and
[53:00] you know your people are your greatest
asset but when you rest in youth that is
[53:03] also development and your infrastructure
in the future. Thank you.
[53:07] » Thank you all.
[applause]
[53:12] I didn't know
A few of the kids were
[53:16] kept on by their um
respective agencies for employment at
[53:22] heard.
>> Also, you're a validictorian and
[53:26] » validatoran both. There we go.
>> You commission
[53:31] at Liberty both of shuts now.
[53:39] So the deadline is August 12th. Right
now we have a couple applications in but
[53:43] I do have the ones that participated in
the previous years. I had them engaged
[53:47] already. So they're already they had got
the applications in. I totally get in.
[53:51] So we already have about a hub of like
12 already that's ready to come in. And
[53:55] then I even got an email yesterday about
a parent want to get their child in. So
[53:59] I mean they're hearing about it. They
want to get in. They want to be a part.
[54:02] » Let's work on that young men thing. I'm
kind of concerned about that. Yeah. We
[54:05] need to get more at least 50/50. You
know
[54:09] » that's a goal. We'll go.
>> Mr. Chair, sir, I I don't know if y'all
[54:12] were taking questions or not, but
>> you ready, Mr. Murray? How you doing,
[54:17] sir?
>> Uh, first and foremost, I I guess Miss
[54:20] Hunter, you know, she she she said the
protocol, you know, uh not just you, but
[54:26] the entire team. I I appreciate y'all uh
taking on this this heavy task and and
[54:31] delicate task, which is our our our
youth. Uh yeah, man. Y'all have been
[54:37] doing an awesome job, you know, uh, and
this program has been growing ever since
[54:42] we have, you know, implemented. And I
guess that was just a small snippet of
[54:47] the, uh, statistics, you know, that was
just from 2024, but it just shows the
[54:52] the engagement between us as from the
county, and I appreciate my fellow
[54:57] commissioners supporting this. uh y'all
know how dear this is to my heart, but
[55:02] also with with the community once they
really found out about the program and
[55:07] and and the different uh parts, you
know, not just the youth commission, but
[55:12] the summer internship program. And like
you said, some of them have been able to
[55:15] stay on with the county from being
initiated in this particular program.
[55:21] So, it's not like they are, especially
now, definitely now, it's not like
[55:25] they're they're putting the youth in the
corner and just, you know, telling them
[55:29] to just do some busy work. They really
are being engaged. And just like you
[55:32] said, uh Justin, our our Yeah, he
graduated and still stayed on to be a
[55:39] part of this program this year, wi-i,
which is is phenomenal. Um but then also
[55:44] I I guess the question that I have uh
whenever you're looking at these numbers
[55:47] from the applicants versus hired and I
know the chairman asked that question as
[55:52] well about doing a more of a
collaboration you know to make sure that
[55:57] because at from 2024 whenever you know
we had 35 applicants and we hired 23. Uh
[56:06] but in 2025, if y'all noticed, the
increase in applicants was much greater.
[56:12] It was 62 applicants, but we were only
able to hire 27. And then of course this
[56:18] year we had even more. We had 74 and we
hired 29. So I guess the question I have
[56:24] uh for you all in the future, how how do
we how do we narrow that gap? Because of
[56:31] course, you know, we all have different
programs. Uh I I don't know how many I
[56:38] don't know the statistics with the city
of Riceboro about how many applicants
[56:42] they have with with how many they're
hiring and vice versa with the city of
[56:46] Hansville.
>> But I know I think the city of Riceboro
[56:49] this year they had what 30 if I'm not
mistaken. And Hansville had do you
[56:54] remember the numbers?
>> 47.
[56:56] » They had like 47. Right. So, I I guess I
guess what I'm getting at is if if we do
[57:02] more of a a collaboration to make sure
that some of these kids and we we don't
[57:07] know some of these kids might have
applied for here and also, you know, uh
[57:11] the city of Hansville. We don't we don't
know that. But the point is, you know,
[57:16] giving our youth the opportunity, you
know, because and I'm glad this this was
[57:21] done because, you know, a lot of times
we hear all the negative about our youth
[57:24] in this community, but just to know that
we do have have a lot who are stepping
[57:28] up and and and because of you all and in
the [clears throat] team with Liberty
[57:33] County. So, I appreciate that. But if we
can look at like what the chairman said,
[57:37] you know, what you commission, you know,
to try to balance the, you know, the
[57:42] diversity with that, but more
importantly to just make sure that that,
[57:46] you know, we're able to to hire more
kids, especially if we're saying that we
[57:50] have more mentors who were asking for
positions. So, I guess what what do
[57:55] y'all need from us? Money.
>> That's I mean, that's the only way we're
[57:58] going to be able to hire hire, right?
>> That's absolutely right. Because we do
[58:02] pay the internship. So I I guess if we
could look at in the future narrowing
[58:07] that gap, I guess the only way we could
do it is with financial support from
[58:11] from the county and the county
commissioners. So thank you all again
[58:14] for everything y'all do.
>> Thank you, M.
[58:20] » All right. Financial report. Speaking of
money.
[58:26] » Oh, Larry, I'll see you in the morning.
First day.
[58:30] » First Presbyterian.
>> Oh, okay. Let me start tomorrow.
[58:34] » Uh good evening, Mr. Chairman,
commissioners.
[58:36] » Good evening.
>> I'm here this evening to present the May
[58:40] 2026 financial statement.
Uh starting with the general fund
[58:45] through the end of May, we have
collected already 100% of our projected
[58:50] revenue
and we have spent approximately 86% of
[58:56] our total expenditures for the year.
We currently have 6.6 months in our
[59:04] unreserved fund balance compared to a
year ago we had right at six months. So
[59:11] it's a it's an increase from last year.
Turning over to the departmental report
[59:19] for budget to actual. Um we have a a few
that are still showing over over budget
[59:25] through May.
um elections has a small variance. Um
[59:32] however, this this was covered by um the
revenues received for our municipal
[59:38] elections. Um so it it pretty much is a
wash. Actually, it's a more revenue than
[59:44] it is a loss. Um Superior Court, we
always pay those um law, library, and
[59:50] other operating expenses in July um
upfront. So that's going to show over
[59:54] budget every single month until we get
through June. Um the road department, we
[1:00:00] mentioned previously uh for some
equipment repairs
[1:00:05] and recreation for um part-time and
seasonal employees.
[1:00:11] Turn the page to solid waste. Um through
the end of May we have approximately
[1:00:19] 1.1 million of revenues over
expenditures.
[1:00:23] We have collected 93% of our total
revenues for the year and spent right
[1:00:29] around 71% of our total expenditures.
Um there are currently no departments
[1:00:38] showing over budget for solid waste.
[1:00:45] I I just have one question about the
solid waste. Uh I I know we we reset the
[1:00:51] fees and we said it was going to be uh a
few years before we
[1:00:57] » it balances out. Correct.
>> Correct. Yes.
[1:00:59] » So, but this is not a year though, is
it?
[1:01:02] » I mean, we're uh it's we're collecting
more for sure, right?
[1:01:07] » The increasing the assessments and the
the rates that are charged by solid
[1:01:10] waste. Um We haven't fully recovered um
from our previous you know where the
[1:01:16] general fund had to support solid waste
>> right so
[1:01:19] » years ago
>> what what year are we invest years
[1:01:27] » we're anticipating
>> what year should we turn it around
[1:01:30] » right
>> I thought she was going to turn it
[1:01:33] around
>> I don't think fully in this uh rate
[1:01:36] study that we've done I don't think we
fully get back to zero it just steadily
[1:01:40] increases each year so we can pay the
general fund back.
[1:01:44] » Following up on that question, how do we
what's the word?
[1:01:49] » How do we compensate for that or how do
we
[1:01:54] » difficult
>> when it come when it comes to
[1:01:57] accounting? What do we do? because
you're right. It was years of
[1:02:01] » Yes. And and we were told then that we
probably
[1:02:05] » um I really think it's prevalent for a
lot of different counties um that have
[1:02:10] solid waste collection and
>> um are in a similar boat than we are.
[1:02:15] » Um if we feel that we can't pay back the
general fund then we might just have to
[1:02:20] do you know a transfer um just to get
rid of the debt if there's no way
[1:02:25] possible to repay it. Um even though the
solid waste fund intends to and fully
[1:02:30] intends to um if it's just not possible
then we might have to do a write off of
[1:02:35] some it all sir.
>> That's what we did years ago.
[1:02:38] » So you're looking for like a timeline or
when if that happens can can we look in
[1:02:43] the crystal ball and say it could
probably happen in year five year six
[1:02:48] anything like that?
>> Um I think we should start looking into
[1:02:52] writing a little bit off every year.
>> Okay. Okay. Um we we're sitting
[1:02:56] currently I think at 3.9 million that
they owe back to the general fund.
[1:03:00] » That's a lot.
>> Um when I first started almost four
[1:03:02] years ago, it was right at 3 million.
>> Yeah.
[1:03:05] » So it's not hugely more um but it's it's
not going down for sure.
[1:03:09] » And I mean another thing that we can't
predict is the repairs to his uh
[1:03:14] Clinton's equipment and things that go
down that are unanticipated. Um also
[1:03:19] increase expenses each year.
>> Do you Mr. Chairman, do you is that
[1:03:24] where you see the most expenses at is on
the equipment or is it the amount of
[1:03:30] trash that's being dumped at these
convenience centers?
[1:03:33] » Um,
the largest is salaries, but I think
[1:03:38] what is that vendor?
[1:03:47] Just like
>> Oh, what? You're paying to haul it out
[1:03:49] of
>> haul it out. We have a contract that
[1:03:51] hauls the trash from the transfer
station
[1:03:54] and that's that's a big expense on a big
expense.
[1:03:58] » When we did the
fee recalculation, did did we allowed
[1:04:03] for the increase he's talking about
also?
[1:04:07] » We did.
>> Were we on target or were we
[1:04:12] » is it more than what we budgeted for?
Well, we never when the solid waste
[1:04:17] assessment was done, I don't think there
was enough money ever figured into it
[1:04:20] » to pay the county back to
>> downtown
[1:04:24] figured enough in there so we could chip
away at it.
[1:04:26] » But you wanted to pay back that money.
>> Yeah.
[1:04:30] » It's going to hurt.
>> Yeah. [laughter]
[1:04:33] » On the assessment and what we would have
to charge people and
[1:04:36] » all that good stuff.
>> Okay. you know, county run for a long
[1:04:39] time without assessments and just trying
to fund it through general fund.
[1:04:44] » Okay.
>> That's how we got where we're at.
[1:04:47] » Okay.
>> Come out and everything. We try to make
[1:04:51] all that work. Trying to chip some of it
down, but
[1:04:55] while you're standing, sir, how's your
equipment?
[1:04:58] » Equipment's good. That's why I'm here
tonight to replace one. We We're trying
[1:05:01] to keep it up, keep everything replaced
and keep it going on the sanitation
[1:05:04] side. You
>> able to keep up with your the mowing?
[1:05:08] No, I'll be back next mid month
[laughter]
[1:05:14] of year.
>> Mr. Chairman,
[1:05:19] » Mr. Chairman.
>> Yes, sir.
[1:05:21] » Mr. Mosy.
>> Yes, sir.
[1:05:22] » Do you care to elaborate on the uh
status of the uh Limick
[1:05:31] » Limick uh landfill?
>> I can I do it on my report? I do have it
[1:05:35] in here.
>> Okay. All right,
[1:05:37] » Frank. I And I'm glad you kind of
mentioned that because because what I'm
[1:05:41] saying is and I know we did the new
assessment,
[1:05:44] » but prior to to us having a transfer
station, we had a landfill, which
[1:05:49] obviously we don't have that anymore.
So,
[1:05:52] » we still have we still
>> Exactly. It's just not active or
[1:05:57] whatever you want to say.
>> And they tell you you close it and
[1:06:00] you're after 30 years they release you.
They don't release you,
[1:06:03] » right? Yeah. Yeah. But uh I I I guess
I'm
[1:06:10] But you were saying a couple years ago
we were at three and now we're at 3.9.
[1:06:14] So So we're going opposite way.
>> I I know we looked at even with the fees
[1:06:18] with the uh
[1:06:22] the you know the big
>> the hauling bins.
[1:06:25] » Hauling bins. Yeah. The dumpsters.
>> Did we increase all that? The problem
[1:06:30] with the assessment there for a while is
we didn't increase it. There was no
[1:06:34] money
>> I remember
[1:06:36] » to say every year we're going to go up
to 3% or 4% or whatever the public
[1:06:41] charges us
>> that it was never stuck in there. Now
[1:06:44] the last time we've done it we made
every year it's an increase to try to
[1:06:50] keep up.
[1:06:54] » So you improve your assessment
>> you improve your processes.
[1:06:58] » Okay.
>> When we they first had the assessment it
[1:07:01] wasn't built in there.
>> Yeah. You know, we didn't change it, but
[1:07:05] for five, six years, whatever commission
decided to
[1:07:08] » hire Coberson to redo the study. So,
that put us five years back behind right
[1:07:14] back. So, I thank you. I thank your
comment about uh doing the graduate
[1:07:19] write off is in order.
Another organization I had to do that
[1:07:24] same kind of thing for that reason.
Otherwise, it's going to keep showing
[1:07:27] up,
>> right?
[1:07:28] » Yep. And I believe that really it goes
back to when Miss Mclofflin was here. It
[1:07:33] does.
>> We We had that.
[1:07:35] » It's always been here.
>> It's Yeah, it's always been there.
[1:07:39] » Good idea to try to pay back. But
>> Yep. Yep.
[1:07:42] » But in the meantime, let's just make
sure that our fees are where they need
[1:07:44] to be, you know, so that we don't get
behind when it comes to
[1:07:47] » when we done the last study, it was put
in there for yearly increases.
[1:07:51] » Okay. Okay. I remember that. Okay.
>> Right. Right. The only thing I was
[1:07:56] saying, Mr. here. You know, at the end
of the day, that's a enterprise fund.
[1:07:59] So, that's supposed to be separate and
being able to maintain
[1:08:03] » by itself. And if that's not being the
case, we
[1:08:07] » it's okay for us to re-evaluate and and
and see which way we need to go.
[1:08:14] » All right.
>> I guess that's enough trash talk.
[1:08:16] » Thank you, Mr. Wills.
>> All right.
[1:08:22] Um moving on to the sales tax reports
for sales tax 7. Uh in the month of May
[1:08:28] we collected 1.2 million.
Um we have spent 30.8 million in SPLAS
[1:08:36] expenditures.
Um of our total 42.8 million that we've
[1:08:41] collected.
the next report including
[1:08:46] » when is it time for the next loss
reporting to the public kind of report?
[1:08:51] How often is that required to be done
here? Just one time a year or
[1:08:55] » the one time a year by law state?
>> Oh yes sir.
[1:08:58] » Have we done it for 2026?
>> It's by December 31st.
[1:09:02] » Okay. Okay.
>> Let's just make sure we announce that
[1:09:04] when it done so the public can know they
can access that. Okay.
[1:09:07] » Yes sir. Once we get a little further in
the audit
[1:09:10] » and concrete
>> numbers. Thank you. Uh the next report
[1:09:15] is the T-spos report and this is just
being included for um project tracking
[1:09:22] purposes
and the report subsequent to that is our
[1:09:27] T-spos 2 report. Uh we received our
first um distribution from the state in
[1:09:35] the month of May. Uh it was just shy of
1.1 million and um we're off to a pretty
[1:09:41] good start.
Uh we will continue to collect this tax
[1:09:45] through March of 2032.
[1:09:51] The last page of your packet I've
included a summary of floss um that the
[1:09:57] county has collected and distributed
through um through May.
[1:10:03] And the county share of collection
through May is 2.8 million of the total
[1:10:08] 4.6 million collected.
And that concludes my presentation for
[1:10:14] May. Unless you have questions.
>> You may want to educate some off members
[1:10:18] of the audience about what floss is.
>> Floss is um a sales tax that was
[1:10:24] approved on the November 2025 referendum
um that is strictly to be used to apply
[1:10:31] directly to um the general funds
operating budget to in lie of property
[1:10:36] taxes. So, it has to 100% be applied um
to offset property taxes. So, the state
[1:10:44] originally um told us we had to collect
it for a year before we're able to use
[1:10:49] it and distribute it. Um but they
recently um have changed the law to
[1:10:55] allow allow us to colle to recognize
anything we've collected through June um
[1:11:00] into our current upcoming millage um and
digest calculations. So, it will it will
[1:11:07] we'll have five months of of help um
this digest and then next year we'll
[1:11:12] have the full 12 months.
>> Make sure everybody clear on that.
[1:11:19] » We look forward to that.
[1:11:23] » I think questions everyone in Liberty
County are looking forward to it.
[1:11:26] » Right. I I just have a quick question to
uh Mr. Long. I can't see. Okay.
[1:11:33] Oh. Uh, since we're talking about SWAT
projects,
[1:11:37] he's next on the agenda.
>> Yeah, I know. But okay.
[1:11:41] » Let him come on and do it all in.
>> There you go.
[1:11:42] » Thank you, M. Smith.
>> All right.
[1:11:48] » Yes, sir. Get want to get your question
in. There we go. Before you
[1:11:52] » uh
wonder start.
[1:11:56] » So, uh, sales tax is not on any one of
my agenda items. So you want to go ahead
[1:12:01] and answer that question kind of as a
tail end to hers. I'll be
[1:12:04] » okay.
>> Yeah.
[1:12:06] » So ask me the question again. I want to
make sure I understand.
[1:12:09] » Uh the uh live vote.
>> Yes sir. We have a contract executed
[1:12:14] with contractor. Um we had anticipated
that he was going to be here last month.
[1:12:18] » Uh when we were delayed in executing
contract with him, he took a couple of
[1:12:22] school projects
>> finishing those school projects up so
[1:12:26] the school could get started. And so I'm
hoping in the next couple weeks he
[1:12:29] should be there. Okay.
>> But we are constantly calling him and in
[1:12:33] contact with him to make sure he's
getting going.
[1:12:36] » All right. [clears throat] Uh
and I contract do we have a we have an
[1:12:43] end date, right, that he's [snorts]
supposed to
[1:12:45] » That's right. And I don't remember what
the starting date.
[1:12:49] » Okay.
>> I do have it written down, but I just
[1:12:53] don't have stored up here.
>> That's fine. I It was just on my mind
[1:12:56] when she started talking about
>> No, I'm glad you asked. So, um, I'll
[1:13:00] make sure that when I'm back up here on
the 20th, I we have all that done
[1:13:04] together.
[1:13:08] » Okay. So, I have two items on the agenda
tonight. The first one is deed to
[1:13:11] dedication of the roadways in Habsham
development. Um, which is roadway
[1:13:16] subdivision that built a couple years
ago. The warranty periods have expired.
[1:13:19] Uh, we've taken them over for
maintenance and accepted them. Uh, so
[1:13:23] the only thing that we haven't done is
accepted a deed to dedication. Um,
[1:13:28] packet. Everybody should have a copy of
the dedication which describes the
[1:13:31] roadways um that
gives us this
[1:13:38] make sure we have the roadways. We've
already accepted them as far as the
[1:13:42] final plaque goes and just need your
action to go ahead and accept the deed
[1:13:46] of dedication.
[1:13:49] Commissioner Blunt, this is in your
area. You want to take the lead on that,
[1:13:51] sir?
[1:13:55] » The writer work for H Plantation.
Make
[1:13:59] » a motion we move forward.
>> Motion to second we move forward as
[1:14:03] presented. I heard any further
discussion. All in favor, show hands,
[1:14:06] please.
>> I do.
[1:14:10] » All right, Mr. Law. Thank you very much.
The second item I have on the agenda is
[1:14:15] u applying for a grant for water
infrastructure.
[1:14:19] water infrastructure planning program.
I'm going to give you a little bit of
[1:14:23] background and make sure that everybody
understands what we're looking for and
[1:14:26] what we're trying to do. Um, you know,
for last several years, we have really
[1:14:31] looked hard as a county as to how we're
going to provide water and sewer to the
[1:14:36] county. Not just our service delivery
area that city that Liberty County has
[1:14:41] in county, but you know, the other
cities and municipalities within the
[1:14:45] county. We've had a planning group that
we've met for the last couple years
[1:14:48] trying to figure out how to do that. Um,
we've got some technical ideas of how to
[1:14:52] do it. Um, we have the technical
expertise around here to try to make it
[1:14:56] happen. But one thing we've
[clears throat] found is we don't know
[1:15:01] the model that it really needs to look
like. Are we bunch of individual uh
[1:15:08] water and sewer system going head first?
Are we a community pulling together
[1:15:14] within sort of
authority? I use that term lightly.
[1:15:21] Where do we fall? And you know, we we've
been unable to put our hands on that
[1:15:26] process. Um, and we've had several
meetings uh to discuss it. We've
[1:15:32] actually u gone out and got some
proposals from some kind
[1:15:37] they're engineering firms but they're
more uh planning firms that have
[1:15:42] knowledge in this business on how do you
get from a bunch of individuals
[1:15:49] water sewer systems to providing
uh water and sewer to our communities
[1:15:55] and to our
citizens in the area because you we're
[1:16:00] really strapped with water and sewer
availability. Um we're really strapped
[1:16:05] with the amount of water we can withdraw
out of the aquifer. Um we have a lot of
[1:16:10] permitting things that are fluid. So the
water and sewer planning commission
[1:16:16] planning the water and sewer technical
committee for the water council.
[1:16:23] Sorry I'm struggling to say the right
words. Um, what we recommended doing was
[1:16:29] hiring a consulting firm that can help
us walk through that process, meet with
[1:16:35] us and help us decide what's going to be
best for us because it's not going to be
[1:16:40] just Liberty County deciding. It's going
to be the city of Hinesville, city of
[1:16:44] Riceber, the city of Walterville, city
of Midway, city of Flemington, city of
[1:16:48] Gum Branch. We all need to kind of come
together on how we're going to handle
[1:16:52] water and sewer for our community. So,
We have the opportunity with a very
[1:16:57] wellqualified firm. Um
we also have a new program that JEA has
[1:17:04] put out. It's a um called the water
infrastructure planning program. It's a
[1:17:08] grant up to $250,000
with two or more communities in it. 150
[1:17:13] for one community. Uh in this case,
we're looking at multiple communities uh
[1:17:18] going after it. It is due at the end of
this month. Uh, and what we would like
[1:17:22] to do is apply for this grant and this
county would be the lead on it since
[1:17:29] we're kind of the seat, the county seat
and we have all the cities with
[1:17:33] underneath us. Um, there is a 10% match
and we're also applying for maybe some
[1:17:39] seed grants. Um, or we're looking at
other options to try to fill that gap
[1:17:44] with that 10% uh [laughter] that we have
to have, which is would be $250,000, not
[1:17:50] 200 250,000
total, $25,000 match.
[1:17:56] [clears throat] Justin, you have to
catch me if I say the wrong thing again.
[1:17:59] I apologize.
>> I'm I'm tracking.
[1:18:02] » So, um, we're looking at trying to get
funding for all of this. So, but the
[1:18:08] county needs to be the lead agency in
the application for the project. Um, so
[1:18:14] what I need is the county's permission
for us to move forward as the lead for
[1:18:18] this application to Jifa for the grant
funds 250,000.
[1:18:25] » Questions for Mr. Long.
>> Have one question. You may you may have
[1:18:30] mentioned it. Um,
this would be a countywide
[1:18:35] your technical group and whatever.
You're [clears throat] looking
[1:18:38] countywide, not just in a certain area.
>> Yes, ma'am. We're looking countywide.
[1:18:42] » Okay. That's what I
>> We're trying to make sure it's a
[1:18:44] holistic of how are we going to serve
our citizens.
[1:18:47] » Okay.
As um community leaders,
[1:18:54] the time has come in our county for us
to work as a collective body when it
[1:18:58] comes to water and sewer. We can no
longer continue to plan long term to be
[1:19:04] individual providers.
>> Long terms, it needs to be a a joint
[1:19:10] venture countywide. So, it's maybe maybe
a slow trip getting there, but if we
[1:19:15] never start, we'll get we'll never get
there. So, so
[1:19:20] um
the $25,000 match, I mean, I would think
[1:19:24] that we could we could all get together
and do that. I believe we could,
[1:19:28] » but you need permission to go ahead and
and apply for the grant with the
[1:19:32] county's lead agent.
>> Okay,
[1:19:34] » that's what we need.
>> Who's we have several of us cities and
[1:19:38] counties that are moving 90 miles an
hour down the wrong path trying to get
[1:19:42] something.
>> Yeah.
[1:19:45] » For the same good.
>> And you're right, that's something that
[1:19:49] that the experts do not. We may have
ideas, but that's not our pay grade. We
[1:19:54] have the technical ability to do the
work with engineers that are here, but
[1:19:58] we need somebody to kind of help us
>> pull it together.
[1:20:01] » Okay,
>> Mr. What's your pleasure?
[1:20:04] » Mr. Chair, again, I'm I'm in support of
it, but uh you know, we've had this
[1:20:08] conversation about like I said, you
know, we have the technical committee
[1:20:12] and I think Mr. ODM remember as well
>> when we used to meet with the the the
[1:20:18] water resource council
>> and and and I remember we suspended our
[1:20:23] meetings years ago because you know
other municipalities were kind of doing
[1:20:27] their own thing and again I don't is are
we back together? Y'all back y'all are
[1:20:34] I'm just not a part of it. It's fine. I
just want to make sure that y'all doing
[1:20:37] it.
>> No policy.
[1:20:39] » There's a policy and a technical
>> Yeah. Commissioner Frasier, they had to
[1:20:44] You're right. Committee had went defunct
and was
[1:20:48] » I reception.
>> Listen, that that's what
[1:20:51] » I'm I'm I'm used to not not being on
policies committed.
[1:20:56] » I'm on it.
>> Yes.
[1:20:58] » Okay.
>> And I would have to serve with the
[1:21:00] chairman of it, but I tell you what, I
can be term limited.
[1:21:03] » Well, originally whenever you you became
chair, that was one of the
[1:21:08] » hand it off. and you handed it off to me
and and I I held the torch until the the
[1:21:13] torch went out.
>> But
[1:21:16] I I guess y'all y'all lit the match back
up.
[1:21:20] » But but but either way, again, whenever
we we discussing water
[1:21:26] and I know you didn't want to use that
water authority, but you know, that's
[1:21:29] what most I know in the state of
Georgia, that's that's where a lot of
[1:21:33] people are going. And more importantly,
they it's more of a regional concept
[1:21:37] with that, too. So,
>> and there are more models out there
[1:21:40] other than just an authority
[clears throat] that you know we need
[1:21:43] help
>> to figure out what fits for us
[1:21:46] » because we need to find what fits for
us. We don't need to find what fits for
[1:21:49] everybody else fit for us.
>> And I'll say this and I um some of the
[1:21:54] smaller cities that have taken on a lot
of debt concerned about what happen if
[1:22:00] we all come together as one big do we
pay each other's bills or how does that
[1:22:04] part happen? So, we got a lot of
>> working to get through. I I remember
[1:22:08] that was
>> difficulties that was one of the
[1:22:09] » complexities
>> that was one of the issues.
[1:22:12] » Yeah.
>> With policy.
[1:22:14] » Remember this is this issue kind of woke
itself back up at the planning retreat
[1:22:18] last year.
>> Right.
[1:22:19] » Right.
>> Good. All commission chair take a
[1:22:24] request a motion.
Do we serve as the lead agent for the
[1:22:28] funding?
>> I'll make that motion. Chair.
[1:22:31] » Is there a second? Commissioner Blunts
make the second. Any further discussion?
[1:22:35] We look forward to it. All in favor,
share your hands, please. Uh, if should
[1:22:39] we get the grant? Any idea what the
timeline? I know it's probably too early
[1:22:42] to ask you that.
>> Yes, sir. They won't announce in for a
[1:22:45] couple months.
>> Okay. September.
[1:22:48] » No, it's it's August. Yes, it's it's due
at the end of this month, so
[1:22:55] » it probably won't be until
November, December.
[1:23:00] » You think we look good for
>> I think so. Yeah, when I look at the
[1:23:04] criteria and we're looking at multi
cities doing it getting together for it
[1:23:09] and we've gone through the quality of
based selection for
[1:23:17] » so and I think we'll be a step ahead by
having some of these task accomplished.
[1:23:23] Thank you for your leadership in that
sir.
[1:23:25] » Thank you
[1:23:30] holiday extravaganas presentation.
[1:23:35] Samantha Mr. Steven Rachel Smith I see
some young folks.
[1:23:41] » Y'all gang up on us tonight.
[1:23:46] » Hello.
>> Hey.
[1:23:58] We got support.
>> Good evening, ladies [clears throat] and
[1:24:00] gentlemen of the Liberty County Board of
Commissioners. My name is Samantha. I am
[1:24:05] [clears throat] here with the whole team
[laughter] that our committee um and
[1:24:11] then we also have here our director
Raymond Gross and Mr. Ricky Gillard. Um,
[1:24:17] so we are looking to host a holiday
extravaganza for not just Liberty
[1:24:22] County, but also the surrounding
counties around us. This will take place
[1:24:25] on December 12th from 5 to 9 in the
evening at the James Brown soccer
[1:24:31] fields. Um, we are just looking to do
something big for the community, include
[1:24:37] the kids, include sports, include the
chorus, just have a whole extravaganza
[1:24:44] as we're calling it. Um, the way that we
anticipate getting funds for this is
[1:24:49] that we're going to be selling booth
spots. Now, this is a change on the
[1:24:53] handout that you all have. We did lower
the price and we do have
[1:24:58] options. So, for $25 that will cover a
blue spot for nonprofits,
[1:25:06] $45 for profit and county and city
departments, they are free. We just ask
[1:25:11] that they either provide a holiday
activity or a holiday style um
[1:25:20] what
>> activity or a giveaway. Yes. Um we also
[1:25:26] are going to look to have sponsors. We
have four different tiers um between the
[1:25:30] prices of $250 up to $1,000. Um, our
sponsors, we have a list of them
[1:25:36] already, but we are looking at the big
companies here in Liberty County and the
[1:25:41] surrounding counties, small businesses,
but also anyone that's looking to give
[1:25:46] to the community in some way for our
holiday extravaganza. We will be
[1:25:50] reaching out to you all as well.
So, if you do see one of our smiling
[1:25:54] faces, please do give us the time. Um,
our activities that we look to have are
[1:26:00] pictures with Santa, the chorus or
chorus performances. We're going to
[1:26:05] reach out to two or three different
schools to see if they can provide our
[1:26:08] chorus to sing at least two or three
different songs with holiday themes. Um,
[1:26:13] we also are going to have a live DJ and
a snow party.
[1:26:19] We are going to have an outdoor movie.
And then our biggest one that we're
[1:26:22] going to have is our fireworks show. We
did meet with the fire marshall to get
[1:26:27] approval for this, which he said that
was okay, but we do still have to submit
[1:26:32] our plans for it. Um, we will have food
trucks and also a free beverage
[1:26:38] concession. Um, the food trucks, we're
only looking to have five spots and they
[1:26:42] will pay $80 um to be a part of our
extravaganza.
[1:26:48] » That is all that I have.
>> That's a lot.
[1:26:51] » That's a lot
>> question for this ambitious group.
[1:26:55] » [laughter]
>> Uh you you think the uh parking is going
[1:26:59] to be sufficient?
>> Yes, sir.
[1:27:01] » Have a good turn up.
>> Yes, sir. Although we will have to block
[1:27:05] some parking off. We can use some of our
grass space. Um there is a map that is
[1:27:12] attached on the back here that shows
where we will be roping off some area,
[1:27:17] but the rest of it is open for the
public to park in.
[1:27:21] » How about I'm just thinking out loud.
parking assistance. You think
[1:27:25] everybody's going to behave and park
where they need to park or you gonna
[1:27:28] have to have some parking marshals kind
of people out there?
[1:27:32] » We will have security and we are going
to reach out to the Heinesville Police
[1:27:35] Department to um assist us with that.
>> Mr. Giller, you want to add something?
[1:27:41] [laughter]
>> We will provide at LIT um and then we
[1:27:47] can transfer over to the event.
>> Okay.
[1:27:50] » All right. All right. How are you going
to market this?
[1:27:55] » So
>> marketing plan
[1:27:57] » besides for our beautiful committee
doing word of mouth marketing, we are
[1:28:01] going to push it hopefully through the
um through the newspaper as well so
[1:28:05] people can see it and on our social
media. Um we feel as if all of us do
[1:28:09] have some sort of presence on social
media to where we can get this out for
[1:28:13] free.
>> Are you plan to work with the chamber at
[1:28:17] all?
[1:28:20] » Yes. Yes, we do. Um, Miss Chantel was
just telling me we also are going to
[1:28:24] work with the radio stations to put this
out.
[1:28:26] » Okay. And the chamber has people go to
look at the chamber's calendar a lot of
[1:28:30] time for advance. So, make sure it's on.
>> Yes, sir.
[1:28:35] » What you need from us to bless it?
>> Yes.
[1:28:38] » Commissioners, any question before we
bless it?
[1:28:44] » Obviously, they appreciate y'all uh
being innovative.
[1:28:48] Look forward to December the 12th.
>> The 12th. Yes, sir.
[1:28:53] » Firework show will start at 8.
>> And it already seems like we Well, we
[1:28:58] haven't voted yet, but I'm assuming they
support it. But just uh for FYI, they
[1:29:03] did run it by the uh rec board as well
and it was uh a unanimous support. So,
[1:29:10] just let y'all know.
>> Good to hear that.
[1:29:14] » I'm not sure. We need to vote. Um,
is it just
[1:29:20] » I think it' be a good idea.
>> You think it would be a good idea?
[1:29:22] » She entertain a motion to approve the
presentation from the aircrd
[1:29:26] subcommittee of the committee on holiday
extravaganza.
[1:29:29] » Move, Mr. Chair.
>> Second.
[1:29:31] » First annual.
[clears throat and laughter]
[1:29:34] Any further discussion? All in favor,
show hands, please. All right. Thank you
[1:29:38] so much. We look forward to it.
>> Have a good evening.
[1:29:44] » When you come deep, man, you Yeah,
[clears throat]
[1:29:51] » keep powerful.
>> Looks good to you. All you guys being
[1:29:55] together looks good. Looks good.
>> We need to go to public hearing, Miss
[1:30:00] Marty. Chair a motion to go in public
hearing for reszoning.
[1:30:05] » So move second.
>> Phrase your move. All in favor, show
[1:30:10] your hand, please. All right. Okay. You
make proceed.
[1:30:14] » Good evening, commissioners. Chairman,
I'm here to present uh two petitions,
[1:30:20] one for resoning and one for conditional
use. They are number 2026-25
[1:30:25] LC and 2026,
excuse me,-26
[1:30:29] LC. The zoning request was submitted by
Zachary Gilstraat to reszone 5.29 acres
[1:30:36] from A1 and AR1 to C3, which is highway
commercial, for a contractor's yard for
[1:30:42] moving, transport, and hauling services.
A conditional use request has also been
[1:30:47] uh submitted for the contractor's yard.
The property is located on Leroy Coper
[1:30:53] Highway in unincorporated Liberty County
and it is in district 4.
[1:30:58] The public notification what was in the
paper and posted on the sign
[1:31:04] and the vicinity map. So, um, this is
not too far from the intersection with
[1:31:09] Coastal Highway and it's not too far
just north of Fleming Loop.
[1:31:16] A little closer.
This is the property here. A couple
[1:31:20] years ago, this parcel and the one next
to it were cleared
[1:31:26] the zoning map. So, this parcel right
here is also zone C3 and it is a fencing
[1:31:32] contractor's yard. Not too long ago, the
county reszoned this parcel here to
[1:31:37] industrial one for a concrete plant. And
so we are then looking to reszone this
[1:31:42] to the same as this one as C3. Currently
the front part of it is the AR1 and the
[1:31:48] back part is A1.
The future land use map does show the
[1:31:54] front. There's a mixeduse urban
corridor, I'm sorry, mixeduse rural
[1:31:58] corridor along both sides of Leroy
Kofheer Highway and then beyond that is
[1:32:03] agricultural forestry as a future land
use for this area.
[1:32:08] There are no wetlands on the property
nor are there any flood zone hazards.
[1:32:16] The track that we're talking about, the
5.29 acres is part of a subdivision
[1:32:20] along Leroy Kofer Highway. This is the
last one. Uh track A in subdivision.
[1:32:29] So the narrative submitted with the
resoning application is the proposed use
[1:32:33] for all 5.29 acres would be to store
commercial vehicles, containers, and
[1:32:38] equipment for moving, transport, and
hauling services. The equipment would
[1:32:42] look look like some of the following. So
you have a moving van here. You have
[1:32:46] another piece of equipment here. Quite
honestly, I'm not sure what that is. Um
[1:32:50] you have a storage container, some
excavation equipment. Um, all the
[1:32:54] vehicles on the property would be
operable and would have a dumpster on
[1:32:57] site for trash collection.
[1:33:08] Ran out of slides. Oh, there you go.
[1:33:38] Can he drive it or
>> I can work off of this. It's just not as
[1:33:43] large.
>> So, the concept plan, sorry, it won't
[1:33:46] fill the whole screen.
>> Um, so Leroy Kofheer is right here. They
[1:33:50] uh they will pretty much be using the
entire limits within some boundaries uh
[1:33:55] with buffers around the outside. There
is an existing culbert here that they'll
[1:33:59] be utilizing and then uh pulling in a
gravel road off of that. The front part
[1:34:03] will be where a dumpster will be kept
for the trash. And in this area will be
[1:34:07] parking for the other equipment
associated with the business.
[1:34:13] This is Kofheer looking up towards I'd
say it's about a mile from Coastal
[1:34:17] Highway looking north.
and closeup of the property that as it
[1:34:22] looked uh last month.
They have recently I notice I drive by
[1:34:27] there every day. They did have some
equipment in here doing a little bit of
[1:34:30] clearing, but that's how it looks today
from the other side of the road.
[1:34:35] So, going through the zoning analysis,
does this property have reasonable
[1:34:39] economic value as currently zoned? Yes,
it does. The the proposed use conforms
[1:34:44] to the Fort Stewart joint land use
study. Um, does a proposed use conform
[1:34:49] to the Liberty County comprehensive
plan? Yes, it does. The comprehensive
[1:34:53] plan identifies a future land use as
mixeduse rural quarter and egg forest
[1:34:58] forestry in which C3 is a compatible
zoning district.
[1:35:03] Will there be an adverse effect on the
value and usability of nearby
[1:35:07] properties? No, there will not. Is the
proposed use suitable in view of nearby
[1:35:11] uses? Yes, as I pointed out, there is
another contractor's yard very close by
[1:35:15] and then that future concrete plant um
just up the road. Will the zoning
[1:35:21] proposal create an undue burden on
transportation and on schools,
[1:35:25] utilities, or the provision of public
safety? This won't be a site really that
[1:35:30] um that customers come to. It'll just be
employees of the business and G dot will
[1:35:36] have to approve the entrance for the
site.
[1:35:41] Will this allow a short-term gain at the
expense of our local long-term goals?
[1:35:45] No, it will not. Would this cause a
domino effect? Yes, very likely. In
[1:35:50] fact, this is probably one of the
dominoes that has already been started
[1:35:53] by other resonings in the vicinity.
Are the unique historical sites which
[1:35:57] may be adverse impacted? There are none
noted.
[1:36:01] Is this parcel of a flood hazard area?
No, it is not. Is it spot zoning and
[1:36:06] unrelated to the existing pattern of
development? No, it is not. and there
[1:36:10] are no unique conditions which support
approval or denial.
[1:36:16] That takes us through our resoning
analysis. And now I'm going to move on
[1:36:19] to the conditional use criteria for the
contractor's yard. You shall not
[1:36:24] adversely affect the economic values or
physical appearance of the neighborhood
[1:36:28] or areas surrounding the site or lot in
question. No, it will not have an
[1:36:32] adverse effect. The use shall be
consistent with the comp plan and with
[1:36:37] the purpose intent of the land use
district. Yes, as is mentioned in the
[1:36:40] zoning reasonzoning analysis, the comp
plan identifies this property as
[1:36:44] mixeduse rural quarter and uh egg
forestry in which the zoning and is uh
[1:36:51] comp compatible zoning district and
misuse is allowed in that district.
[1:36:55] The establishment, maintenance or
operation of the use shall not be
[1:36:58] detrimental to or endanger the public
health, safety or general welfare. No,
[1:37:03] it will not be detrimental.
This will not create an undue burden on
[1:37:08] transportation, schools, utilities or
provisions of public safety. This was
[1:37:12] also addressed in the zoning analysis.
No, it would not create an undue burden.
[1:37:16] The design shall minimize adverse
physical and environmental effects on
[1:37:20] adjacent properties, including adverse
visual effects. Buffer zones were
[1:37:24] necessary to shield any adverse factors
shall be considered.
[1:37:29] This um this was one of the main ones
that was up for discussion when it was
[1:37:33] before the planning commission was the
adverse visual effects. And so to
[1:37:37] minimize these adverse effects, the
property shall have a 20-oot vegetative
[1:37:41] buffer and six foot high opaque fence
along property lines.
[1:37:46] Additional space for parking,
landscaping, and adequate measures for
[1:37:49] ingress and egress shall be considered
if necessary to protect adjacent
[1:37:52] structures or lots from any adverse
impact. No additional space is needed
[1:37:56] for those items.
This was before the planning commission
[1:38:01] last month. There are two separate
motions that are needed. The reasoning
[1:38:04] needs to be um action on the resoning
needs to be taken first because without
[1:38:08] the proper reasonzoning the conditional
use becomes moot. So um the planning
[1:38:13] commission did recommend approval of
resoning petition 2026-25-LC
[1:38:19] with standard and special conditions.
The special condition is a 20ft
[1:38:25] vegetative buffer and 6 foot high bench
shall be required along the side and
[1:38:30] rear property lines.
The planning commission also did
[1:38:35] recommend approval of the conditional
use 2026-26-LC
[1:38:40] with standard and special conditions.
And the special condition here is a 20ft
[1:38:46] vegetative buffer and six foot high
opaque fence shall be required along all
[1:38:50] property lines. Now, there's a slight
distinction between the special
[1:38:53] conditions on the resoning and the
conditional use. The feeling was the
[1:38:59] logic was that for a reasonzoning,
should this use go away or never happen,
[1:39:05] it still would be zoned C3 and C3 does
allow other uses that might want some
[1:39:10] visibility from Leroy Kofheer. So,
that's why the reszoning special
[1:39:14] condition is that that buffer and fence
have to be maintained only along the
[1:39:18] sides and rear. However, for the
conditional use, they felt this specific
[1:39:23] use should be screened from Leroy Cover
as well. So that's why the special
[1:39:27] condition would be applied only to this
conditional use and require that
[1:39:31] screening and buffer along all sides.
[1:39:37] » Explain that. Okay. [clears throat]
>> All right. One says along some of the
[1:39:43] property, other one says all around the
entire property.
[1:39:46] » Yes. The reasoning would be special
condition that anything that's on that
[1:39:49] property has to be at least re screened
on three sides.
[1:39:52] » Okay.
>> For this particular use, it would have
[1:39:55] to be screened on all sides.
>> With this particular use?
[1:39:57] » Yes. For this particular, it goes with
the conditional use, not with any use of
[1:40:01] the property. Just
>> they were to sell it off and everything.
[1:40:03] It go three sides.
>> Is the petitioner here?
[1:40:06] » Yes, sir.
>> Would that person please come and give
[1:40:09] us a two-minute overview of your
project, please, sir? Hello, sir.
[1:40:13] » My name's Zachary Gilstra. I'm the owner
of College Hunks, hauling junk and
[1:40:17] moving. Now, that truck you saw is
actually what we call a junk truck.
[1:40:20] Holds about 440 cubic feet of
residential trash. We're kind of the
[1:40:24] middleman in between what something like
Atlantic Waste won't pick up and what
[1:40:27] someone won't want to take to the actual
dump. A little background
[1:40:30] [clears throat] about myself. I was with
UPS for about 15 years, retired from
[1:40:34] there, and uh there was an owner for
College Hunks in Savannah that wasn't
[1:40:38] really taking care of the business. I
went ahead and purchased that a couple
[1:40:40] years ago. U we don't consider ourselves
just a moving company. Uh, honks
[1:40:44] actually stands for honest, uniform,
nice, knowledgeable service. Our core
[1:40:48] values include always branding, building
leaders, creating fun, safe, winning
[1:40:52] teams, and to listen, fulfill, and
delight our communities. Uh, we don't
[1:40:55] just talk that talk. Um, we're on the
board [clears throat] for safe shelter
[1:40:58] in Savannah. We use our assets for a
good. Uh, we're going to continue to
[1:41:02] operate our full operation in Chattam
County. Right. Right now, we can't
[1:41:05] afford to do much with this property
aside from turn into a contractor's yard
[1:41:09] and use it to stage some of our assets.
Um eventually we would seek to move into
[1:41:12] Liberty County. Our long-term plan is to
uh service the whole entire coastline.
[1:41:16] Um and eventually, you know, at a
separate date, probably put a metal
[1:41:20] structure on the building. Um but uh I'm
happy to answer any of questions.
[1:41:25] » What about um [clears throat]
storage of combustible
[1:41:31] material?
>> You know, we will not have anything
[1:41:33] combustible, anything has anything that
can contribute, especially when it would
[1:41:36] seep down into, you know, water systems
or, you know, soil and stuff like that.
[1:41:40] We're we're not permitted and don't plan
to to store or or or have anything
[1:41:44] hazmat on site.
>> What about tires?
[1:41:46] » Tires? No tires, sir.
>> So, in the event Okay. Tell me about
[1:41:51] your water supply out there.
>> Uh we don't have a plan for water supply
[1:41:54] right now. It's just going to be a
contractor's yard. It's probably going
[1:41:57] to be between, you know, five and 10
pieces of equipment. I wouldn't picture
[1:42:01] this as, you know, five acres of 100
vehicles parked out there. And don't
[1:42:04] picture this as an area we're going to
go abandon equipment where it's going to
[1:42:07] kind of get ugly. um you know to say the
least. Um eventually um I was very in
[1:42:12] particular when when Trent was speaking
kind of hearing about the you know plan
[1:42:15] for the uh county to eventually have a
joint you know water commission you know
[1:42:19] um kind of really lending an ear toward
toward that eventually we probably
[1:42:23] install um a sewer system there um
that's you know probably three to five
[1:42:27] years down the line but right now it's
just going to be to park assets um if we
[1:42:32] have to go um have a move team that's
going to go start from that point have
[1:42:35] an established move captain park his
personal vehicle there and take that
[1:42:38] vehicle south to Brunswick or somewhere
further down the coast instead of Hilton
[1:42:42] Head. That's going to be more of a drop
off point now that eventually would seek
[1:42:45] to probably, you know, build something
on there, make our permanent home in
[1:42:47] Liberty County.
>> And you going to stand by your word?
[1:42:51] » Yes, sir.
>> Okay.
[1:42:53] » So, you're going to have portlets?
>> I'm sorry.
[1:42:56] » You're going to have portlets out there
for the
[1:42:58] » Absolutely. Absolutely. Got have
somewhere to go to the bathroom, but
[1:43:00] right now we don't have we don't have
the money to put in put in, you know, a
[1:43:04] full sewer system, a water system. Um so
this time probably three to five years
[1:43:08] just just a contractor yard very basic
operation and then full plans would come
[1:43:12] later um you know once the business has
enough money to you know do
[1:43:15] » how did you identify Liberty County?
I'll bring you in.
[1:43:17] » Yeah, go ahead. How'd you identify
Liberty County?
[1:43:20] » Um I was at Angie's Diner uh with a a
pastor
[1:43:24] » and we were kind of sitting down and and
going back and forth between what's you
[1:43:27] know what what's going to help grow the
business, what's going to help build
[1:43:30] leaders and looking at really um the
best geographical point. Um we were um
[1:43:34] far away from 95 or too close to 95 is
going to be expensive for the uh company
[1:43:39] and uh Leroy Coffer Highway just proved
to be a nice pivotal point uh with a
[1:43:43] cost-effective solution. So um it really
is going to help us serve between the
[1:43:47] Florida Georgia line and Hilthead which
is our territory and it's a perfect
[1:43:50] middle ground to grow um into Liberty
County and also grow north and grow
[1:43:53] south. So geography,
>> where's your Savannah location?
[1:43:57] » Uh it is in Garden City. It is 810
Talmage Avenue. So right by Pooler. How
[1:44:02] long have you been there?
>> We've been in that warehouse now for two
[1:44:05] months and we've been in Pooler for
before that for a year and a half.
[1:44:10] » You expanded it rapidly.
>> We are. We are. I've every every dollar
[1:44:14] that we made, I've invested into new
trucks, new equipment. Um and it's it's
[1:44:17] been a great experience.
>> Wish luck.
[1:44:19] » What's your employment size? What's your
employment size?
[1:44:23] » Uh right now we're at 16 uh employees.
Um eventually when we we come here, when
[1:44:28] we expanded to coastal Georgia, we'd
probably seek to hire again. And this is
[1:44:31] early at least 10 to 15 people when we
move into the county.
[1:44:36] » So when you collect at this site in
Liberty County on 196
[1:44:42] and it gets piled up, where would you
take it then?
[1:44:45] » Uh and this we're not going to have any
kind of trash.
[1:44:49] » Okay. I just want to make sure
>> just the equipment.
[1:44:51] » Yeah. This is [clears throat] just just
for truck storage right now. Um we don't
[1:44:54] tend to keep just just to expand on on
that. Even in Garden City, we don't tend
[1:44:58] to keep lots of trash on on site. stuff
comes back. We back two trucks up. We
[1:45:02] separate metal. We separate plastics. We
separate usable furniture. Store that
[1:45:06] stuff for free for different people in
the community.
[1:45:10] » All right.
>> How many people have seen college
[1:45:12] hauling our trucks, green and orange
trucks? Anyone seen that?
[1:45:14] » I don't remember.
>> Probably haven't. I don't remember.
[1:45:18] » Yeah. But it was good to have you
indicate though bring you that because
[1:45:22] we look for people to come to be comm
community partners. So I kind of heard
[1:45:26] that from you. So we look forward to
that too.
[1:45:28] » Thank you. joining that chamber, all
those kind of things. Yeah. And you
[1:45:32] retired. You said you retired.
>> Uh retired from UPS. Also retired.
[1:45:36] Full-time police officer. Central.
[1:45:41] » Where's your driver license? What's your
ID? [laughter]
[1:45:45] » Christian Blood.
>> I got a couple of questions. Um if you
[1:45:50] were to look at your concept plan and
all it uh you got to show a gravel road
[1:45:55] coming in area for parking your dumpster
and stuff and all uh in this 5.29 acres.
[1:46:01] We just call it 5 acres. Um you're I
know that area very well. So uh when you
[1:46:08] put in this gravel road, you're going to
create water that's going to have to go
[1:46:11] somewhere. I don't see no design here
for any retention ponds or anything like
[1:46:16] that to control your water. And where do
you think your water's going to go?
[1:46:20] » Uh, that gravel road shouldn't be
shouldn't raise be raised too much. That
[1:46:23] property is already above all the other
properties around it. So, right now, I
[1:46:27] think water already trickles off that
property to my understanding.
[1:46:31] » Yeah. Well, it I mean, according to a
person that had some opposition against
[1:46:35] you, it uh they coming whoever cut the
timber off of it many years ago before
[1:46:38] you owned it. you know, uh, he's
complaining about water come on his
[1:46:42] property and there's some neighbors that
say a few things, but I mean, when you
[1:46:46] go in and like you just said, the place
is a little bit higher than existing
[1:46:49] properties. So, when you start putting
in gravel, that dirt's not going to soak
[1:46:54] up nothing. So, you're still going to
have water that's going to run
[1:46:57] somewhere.
>> Go ahead. I'm sorry.
[1:46:59] » It uh So, I mean, I don't It's going to
go to somebody's property. Uh, I know
[1:47:04] they gonna have a a vegetated buffer
around it. you're going to have a
[1:47:09] privacy fence or something around it.
[clears throat] Um, I'm just curious,
[1:47:13] maybe need to think about this in the
future. You got to do something with
[1:47:16] this water. You probably have to put in
a retention pond or something and
[1:47:19] probably car it at least until
everything is basically flat and all it
[1:47:24] I mean, you talk a little bit higher,
but it's basically flat. It uh that
[1:47:27] water's got to go somewhere. I'm going
to recommend it you need to take it out
[1:47:30] to state highway to the ditches where it
can get out of there and not put it on
[1:47:33] someone else.
>> That will probably come in the phase
[1:47:36] when we could attempt to, you know,
submit construction plans and stuff like
[1:47:39] that. There'll have to be a retention
pond. Right now, we're not seeking to
[1:47:42] raise that at all. The gravel road is is
something that so when we when we pull
[1:47:46] in there, vehicles don't don't get
stuck, right? Um, but we don't seek to
[1:47:50] raise we're not seeking to bring bring
dirt in and fill it up like if it was a
[1:47:54] marsh or was lower. So, we're really not
seeking to raise that property at all
[1:47:57] right now.
>> So, in that parking area, any of that
[1:48:00] going to be gravel or that's just going
to be dirt?
[1:48:01] » That's just going to be dirt right now.
Again, we're not going to put, you know,
[1:48:04] you know, 50 to 100 vehicles out there.
This is probably going to be between 10
[1:48:08] 10 to 20 vehicles.
>> You've been paying attention to that. Um
[1:48:13] how wet it gets at times and everything,
how soft that ground gets.
[1:48:17] » It's hard to see all the way in the
back. Um as someone alluded earlier,
[1:48:20] we've even had contractors come and uh
you know, bit out clearing that actual
[1:48:23] property. And some of them wanted to
drive in back just to see how, you know,
[1:48:27] how the property fluctuates. Um I've
been told from the previous owner that
[1:48:30] that property when it does flood is is
is above the rest. Um the plans that
[1:48:35] I've seen show that is is above rest and
it does not flood. But I can't say that
[1:48:39] with complete confidence that
>> let's change our words a little bit and
[1:48:44] instead of flood let's it's going to
pond water you know at uh at some given
[1:48:48] point. Um you're say [clears throat]
you're not going to haul in dirt, but I
[1:48:51] mean I know the area well enough that
it's if you don't do anything other than
[1:48:54] just go in and grub it and clear it and
kind of level it up. It uh there's going
[1:48:58] to be some pond and water in that area
right there.
[1:49:00] » Again, I can't I can't speak to
specifics on that right now because I
[1:49:03] just I haven't looked that far into it.
Right now, we're in the phase of just
[1:49:06] purchasing it, reszoning it. Um, I'm
happy to bring that back to the
[1:49:09] commission though after I do further
further research on that, sir.
[1:49:15] » Okay. Just wanted to bring them concerns
out. I'm on the zone analysis. I see
[1:49:19] where you're going to have to follow G
dot approval and all for the entrance
[1:49:22] and stuff. Um, whatever they recommend
with probably XL and DL lanes or the
[1:49:27] width of the driveway, whatever they
going to require. Um that little
[1:49:30] driveway that's there right now is
probably just a residential driveway.
[1:49:34] » Correct.
>> Yeah.
[1:49:35] » Um so we got everything laid out pretty
good. I'm still concerned about this
[1:49:39] water. I
>> Mr. Philumm
[1:49:43] come to the microphone please. Sir
had to
[1:49:47] » go through your agency with your chair
first.
[1:49:50] » That's going to be a charge. Chairman
[laughter]
[1:49:55] » you [snorts] here commissioner?
>> Uh commissioners. Thank you. Did that
[1:49:58] come up for discussion at your meeting?
>> Question on drainage.
[1:50:01] » Yes, sir.
>> That is an engineering question,
[1:50:04] » right?
>> We're in a zoning question.
[1:50:06] » Right.
>> You can't do your engineering till you
[1:50:08] do your zoning.
>> Understand?
[1:50:11] » So, I hear Commissioner Blunt's
concerns. That was concerns we had at
[1:50:15] the planning commission. and they're to
be addressed at the time when
[1:50:18] engineering when he goes and gets his G
dot approval. Then something simple as
[1:50:23] cutting a tail ditch across the property
to drain into the state right away would
[1:50:30] solve the issue until he begins
construction. And at that time when he
[1:50:36] puts buildings there he would have to
have a full set and meet the storm water
[1:50:39] requirements.
>> Sure.
[1:50:41] » That was uh that's the best I can tell
you commissioner. That's the best we
[1:50:45] need to hear.
>> All right.
[1:50:47] » Anything else, Commissioner Bluff?
>> I'm good. I'm good. It uh we here for
[1:50:51] the zone and I got it. [laughter]
>> What it does? So, it helps you going
[1:50:55] forward that you'll know
>> what might be required.
[1:50:59] » I may have overexplained our future
plans, but I don't mind doing that. You
[1:51:02] know, some people come up and they want
to just that that's our future plan as
[1:51:06] to grow in Liberty County. And at that
time, we when we go through, you know,
[1:51:09] building and development, we we will we
will seek those plans in the appropriate
[1:51:12] manner.
require two separate motions.
[1:51:15] » Two separate I'm sorry.
>> And and and just real real quick. First
[1:51:18] of all, I I appreciate your uh
transparency, but again, you know, uh
[1:51:23] just like Miss ODM said, I think we're
here for the zoning. I understand, you
[1:51:27] know, the farther out issues, but u
between Got and hopefully our inspection
[1:51:32] department, they they'll make sure that
that is all taken care of. my my
[1:51:37] question or my I guess not necessarily
concerned with this particular project
[1:51:43] but in the future uh you know we we've
talked you know from here and also from
[1:51:49] a from the countywide perspective of
about our our our gateway to our county.
[1:51:56] Uh, and only thing I'm saying is what
what type of identity are we looking for
[1:52:02] during Leroy Coff for Highway coming
into this community? I mean, are we
[1:52:07] looking for uh future economic
commercial type growth or are we going
[1:52:14] to continue to
uh have different projects like this
[1:52:19] going on Lero Coffer? Because I mean
that that's what she was just saying
[1:52:23] about the domino effect. You know, we we
we've started approving particular
[1:52:29] projects like and I'm entrepreneur. I
get it where get it where you fit in.
[1:52:34] But what I'm saying is our our future
when we're talking about our gateways
[1:52:38] coming into Liberty County, how do we
want them to look? and and I understand
[1:52:42] the buffers, but
again, I just look at Leroy Coffer, you
[1:52:50] know, being from here, I remember how
how it used to look and now, you know,
[1:52:56] there's still a lot of trees out there,
but also that's a blank c canvas that we
[1:53:01] as commission and also the planning
commission, we have a true opportunity
[1:53:06] to create something. And I think Mr. Uh,
Commissioner Gillard said this a long
[1:53:10] time ago. One day you're not going to be
able to tell the difference in the
[1:53:14] Liberty County line, the Bryan County
line, and Chattam County line. So, only
[1:53:18] thing I'm saying is, are we looking at
for now? Are we looking at, you know, 30
[1:53:22] or 40 years from now, which hopefully
I'm still here, but you know, and not
[1:53:29] just me, you know, our kids, what what
identity are we looking? And I just want
[1:53:35] my fellow commissioners to to think
about that whenever we doing all these
[1:53:40] resonings because [clears throat]
one thing about about resoning is you
[1:53:46] know you know we come up with these
comprehensive plans and and we say this
[1:53:50] is where we going with this particular
area but then you know we come for
[1:53:57] resone and I' I've been there. I've I've
had to get properties res.
[1:54:03] But also, I just want us to be aware and
and keep a few things in in perspective.
[1:54:09] You know, again, our identity. What are
we looking for? You know, I know the
[1:54:15] chairman have talked about our gateways
and gateways and gateways. And it's more
[1:54:19] than just a sign at the Liberty County
line. I mean, we could put a a a a $10
[1:54:26] million sign out there, make it look
like Vegas, but if if you soon as you
[1:54:30] walk in, it looks like old Vegas instead
of New Vegas is is a problem. So, I'm
[1:54:36] I'm just saying as as as a whole and we
just need to make sure that these
[1:54:41] particular properties is the highest
best use and also we need to be aware of
[1:54:47] of that question about the domino
effect. So, what do we decide?
[1:54:52] you know, dominoes lay down and they
keep going. Long as you got another
[1:54:56] domino there, it's gonna keep going.
>> That's the only thing
[1:55:01] » I think it's healthy that I bring up
kind of the future plans here. You know,
[1:55:03] we're we're a small business that's that
that's growing. We've already doubled in
[1:55:07] revenue um you know, the past couple
years. So, we're my particular project
[1:55:10] is going well. It might be a
contractor's yard for three to five
[1:55:13] years. I'd like you to think of the
long-term vision of once that's paved
[1:55:16] over, there's a building there, there's
maybe another space for a tenant to move
[1:55:19] in and grow their small business next to
mine. So that's that's the kind that's
[1:55:22] the kind of vision I want, you know, I
want the board to see
[1:55:25] » and I and I appreciate LCPC for the
buffer
[1:55:30] » requirements. Um you got I'm not sure
how much Phil you all talked about but
[1:55:35] you're on one of my major gateways, sir.
And we're just trying to ensure that our
[1:55:38] gateway is attractive people coming in
out of
[1:55:40] » county.
All right, that's all. All right, ch
[1:55:46] come out of a No one No one signed up to
Okay. to come out of public hearing.
[1:55:54] » Oh, okay.
>> All right. Motion to come out.
[1:55:58] » Move.
>> Second.
[1:55:59] » Second.
>> All in favor?
[1:56:00] » Motion to go back in regular session?
>> Move, Mr. Chair. Second.
[1:56:04] » Second. Monica, you got all that?
[laughter]
[1:56:09] » Okay. Hold on, sir. Sir, we hadn't voted
yet. Oh, he can sit down and watch the
[1:56:14] vote. [laughter]
[1:56:18] » Oh, yes, sir. If you could. Two two
separate condition um decisions,
[1:56:22] actions. The first one reszoning and the
second one conditional use, please.
[1:56:26] » Mr. Blunt, I yield.
>> I make a motion. We accept LCP's
[1:56:30] recommendation for approval for the
resoning position.
[1:56:34] » Stand.
>> Motion a second. Miss Monica, you got
[1:56:36] that. Any further discussion? I think we
had plenty. All in favor? Show of hands,
[1:56:39] please. opposition. All right. Approve.
Now the conditional use for the special
[1:56:48] conditions standard and special
conditions. Chair.
[1:56:52] » Yes sir.
>> I make a motion we approve the special
[1:56:55] conditions used for LCPC recommendation
and all.
[1:57:00] » Motion to second the same too. Miss
Monica. All right. Any further
[1:57:02] discussion? All in favor show hands
please. All right.
[1:57:07] Now, sir,
>> thank you. I look forward to seeing you
[1:57:11] in a few years for some more.
>> Yeah, we can't help but we
[1:57:13] [clears throat] can't help but watch
you. We go in and out that way.
[1:57:16] [laughter]
>> Thank you.
[1:57:17] » Thank you, sir.
All right.
[1:57:24] Resoning.
Where am I?
[1:57:31] Oh, I'm down there. Okay.
Knock the light out.
[1:57:36] Removal of condition use requests
2026 23 LC.
[1:57:48] » Oh,
>> I'm sorry. It was tabled last time and
[1:57:52] you need to remove [clears throat]
>> please.
[1:57:58] » I'll move, Mr. Chair.
>> Be second.
[1:58:02] Thank you.
Um
[1:58:05] uh I just need a little bit of a
refresher in a minute.
[1:58:08] » I'm going to give you that refresher on
this application.
[1:58:10] » Okay. Yes. Okay.
>> Yes, [snorts] sir. So, this was
[1:58:13] presented last month. You help
>> I'm sorry. So, so now that we're Okay.
[1:58:18] All in favor of the
>> Oh, I'm sorry.
[1:58:20] » Of coming out of
being tabled. Show of hands.
[1:58:25] » All right. All right. Now, all right.
>> The gun.
[1:58:27] » Quite all right.
>> Okay. So this was you held the public
[1:58:30] for this at your last meeting. In that
time we did uh meet with Commissioner
[1:58:36] Blunt and Commissioner Gillard with the
applicant. Um and the result of that
[1:58:40] meeting is that they have submitted
revised narrative and a concept plan
[1:58:44] that I would like to go over with you.
So just I'll refresh you on some of
[1:58:49] these slides. So this is a conditional
use 2026-23LC.
[1:58:53] It is for uh submitted by Christian
Edens and Lindseay Goff for an outdoor
[1:58:58] event center at 956 Freriedman Grove
Road in Plem.
[1:59:06] The property I think it's about a mile
or so from the Coastal Highway Limick
[1:59:11] intersection here. It's on the on the
north side of the road.
[1:59:16] Closeup view. As you may recall, they
were originally planning on having some
[1:59:21] parking in the field here and the
outdoor events would be happening over
[1:59:25] here. There is a house in the middle
here. Then like I said, they have res
[1:59:29] revised that narrative. It is zoned A1
and AR1.
[1:59:36] Then is residential low density.
So if I may, I'll read the revised
[1:59:41] narrative. The applicant is requesting
approval for a low impact outdoor event
[1:59:46] venue to be operated on an existing
privately owned parcel on 956 Freedman
[1:59:52] Road. It's approximately 20 acres zoned
AR and AR1. The property is intended to
[1:59:58] be used as a smallcale outdoor event
venue primarily for weddings, private
[2:00:02] gatherings, photo shoots, and other
special events. Most events will be
[2:00:06] intimate gatherings with a maximum guest
capacity of up to 40 guests and all
[2:00:11] events will place outdoors utilizing the
property's natural landscape. Um
[2:00:16] provision to this narrative in
particular I'd like to point out is that
[2:00:20] originally they had said 150 guests. So
they have narrowed [clears throat] the
[2:00:24] scope of [snorts] the size of the
gatherings that they will allow. The
[2:00:29] events will be scheduled by reservation
only and will occur on a limited basis
[2:00:33] rather than daily commercial operations.
We are proposing utilizing the existing
[2:00:39] asphalt driveway for access and one
handicap accessible parking spot. Up to
[2:00:45] 10 additional parking spaces would be
located in a centralized area on the
[2:00:49] property. Applicant is requesting a
variance or condition to allow the event
[2:00:53] parking to remain unpaid.
Proposed use is expected to generate
[2:00:58] only moderate event-based noise typical
of private outdoor gatherings. Events
[2:01:02] would be limited to designated hours
with music ending at a reasonable
[2:01:06] evening cutoff in compliance with local
ordinances. The intent is to provide a
[2:01:10] well-managed environment and minimize
disruption to neighboring properties.
[2:01:16] All vendors providing services on the
property must be properly licensed and
[2:01:19] insured. The venue will not sell or
serve alcohol. However, clients may
[2:01:23] bring their own alcohol for private
events.
[2:01:28] Portable restroom facilities will be
provided for events as needed based on
[2:01:32] the anticipated attendance and length of
[snorts] the event. All events will
[2:01:36] include proper waste management and
postevent cleanup. The client will be
[2:01:40] responsible for preser um prov reserving
sorry portable restrooms for an approved
[2:01:46] uh vendor ensuring there they are
delivered and moved in a timely manner.
[2:01:51] The rental contract will require
compliance with this policy.
[2:01:55] Property layout allows for clear
emergency vehicle access at all times.
[2:02:00] proposed use is designated to be a low
impact and compat and [clears throat]
[2:02:03] compatible with the surrounding rural
agricultural lowdensity residential
[2:02:07] [snorts] community. The property will
offer a beautiful and convenient venue
[2:02:11] for family celebrations, small
gatherings, weddings, photography
[2:02:16] sessions, and other special occasions.
Part [snorts] of our discussions, we
[2:02:21] talked about some possible special
conditions. Um, they've provided
[2:02:27] kind of how we
The conclusions we came to might be
[2:02:31] reasonable special conditions. Um, the
condition conditional use permit would
[2:02:35] be specific to the current property
owners, Lindsey Goff and Christian
[2:02:39] Edens, and will not automatically
transfer with a change in ownership.
[2:02:44] This would mean that someone else
couldn't decide they want a conditional
[2:02:47] use event as outdoor event as a
conditional use and then expand it
[2:02:52] beyond what they have provided in their
narrative and what their intent is. Um,
[2:02:57] and another special condition was
proposed parking plan will utilize the
[2:03:00] existing asphalt driveway for primary
access and the parking will be
[2:03:04] centralized on the property and kept
unpaid in order to minimize services,
[2:03:09] [snorts and clears throat]
reduce site disturbance and maintain
[2:03:12] compatibility with the surrounding and
residential uses.
[2:03:17] The revised concept plan, [snorts] as
you may recall, they were planning on
[2:03:21] having parking here. That's that field I
mentioned. And here's the house. So,
[2:03:24] they've revised it to have the parking
spaces up here. Uh, the UDO does require
[2:03:31] one space for every uh four guests. So,
that's 10 parking spaces if they have up
[2:03:36] to 40 guests. And then the vent would be
back here in this area in the Oak Grove.
[2:03:43] This driveway is the existing driveway,
asphalt driveway to the house. And these
[2:03:47] other accesses here are more like the
residential dirt culvers [snorts]
[2:03:51] on um that just allow I call field
access to the property.
[2:03:58] These
Oakrove this was a field they were going
[2:04:02] to use for parking but won't
[2:04:06] li
the house on the property would not be
[2:04:10] part of the event space and we went
through the conditional use. Um, we did
[2:04:17] not modify these slides for the revised
narrative because this is what we
[2:04:20] presented at the planning commission and
didn't feel it's appropriate to present
[2:04:23] something different to you in that
respect. Would you like me to go over
[2:04:27] these or should I just pass them by?
You've heard it all before.
[2:04:29] » I think you can pass this by.
>> Okay.
[2:04:33] Um, so this was before the planning
commission last month as you know where
[2:04:36] they did recommend disapproval based on
the narrative presented with their
[2:04:40] application which was the 150 people and
parking in the field. Um, so this was
[2:04:46] their original recommendation. It did
not go back before the planning
[2:04:50] commission. So you do not have an
updated recommendation from them at this
[2:04:53] point.
>> Commissioner Blunt.
[2:05:04] » Good evening.
>> Hello.
[2:05:06] » How you doing?
>> Um, I know you met with uh some of the
[2:05:10] planning staff at LCPC, myself and
Commissioner Gillard. Uh, went over
[2:05:15] this. Uh everything seems like it's in
order for you. One thing I wanted to say
[2:05:20] for people watching that might not quite
understand that were uh previously not
[2:05:27] for this. Um
I'm in favor of it after talking to you.
[2:05:32] Uh because if we did a lot of paving and
different things, we're going to start
[2:05:36] pushing water around. Uh you got a
beautiful piece of property. Um we
[2:05:41] looked at the conditional uses. I mean
against what you want to do and things.
[2:05:46] Um
everything seems in order to you that
[2:05:50] we've agreed on.
>> Okay. M you want to add anything?
[2:05:55] » No. Um good evening. We we did uh
Commissioner Blunt and I did meet and um
[2:06:01] you know our goal was to meet and hear
hear you out and you know hopefully to
[2:06:06] try to help you if if we could and um I
think Jeff was there, Marty and some of
[2:06:11] the other staff and you know we um think
you scaled down from the the previous um
[2:06:19] uh [clears throat] requests and um you
know I I do know um from the meeting
[2:06:27] that we had and the scale down version I
think we agree that it uh that it
[2:06:33] wouldn't create a issue. Now I do know
that u over time you know as people find
[2:06:38] out about it and if you get everything
up and running and hope it don't turn
[2:06:44] into Saturday night fever and hope it
don't um be a version of martyr where
[2:06:50] there will be issues and people are
complaining about parking and noise and
[2:06:54] this and that and the other. If it is,
we will you don't have to revisit it
[2:06:58] based on our ordinances and everything,
but um I think it was two weeks ago we
[2:07:03] met. Um and I don't know if um I know
the event is not approved. I mean, the
[2:07:08] site is not approved, but um I hadn't
heard nothing, you know, that happened
[2:07:13] out there since then. Never heard of
anything. So, I just felt like if you
[2:07:18] just continue to do what you're doing
and stick to the guidelines that we
[2:07:22] talked about at the planning um office a
couple of weeks ago, I think everything
[2:07:27] will be fine.
>> So, the people that come are going to
[2:07:32] have to sign a contract with you for for
their event.
[2:07:34] » Yeah, it would be like renting the
property. So, we'd have like a rental
[2:07:38] » and and it says that you will the
your ship portal will be taken care of
[2:07:43] by the renters. How you how you doing
water out there?
[2:07:49] » Wouldn't need any for for the restrooms
if they're bringing in portable ones.
[2:07:52] » Yeah, but you you could um like the
portlet,
[2:07:56] » they come with water.
>> Yeah, you get water with them.
[2:07:59] » Not you know, not regular running water,
but a container with
[2:08:04] » where they could dispense water.
>> Just make that note. As your popularity
[2:08:08] grows, you may need a water resource
well. Okay.
[2:08:12] » It grows over 40. probably have to come
back before us. Um,
[2:08:21] one thing I've seen that I like, um, in
the event that you ever change hands
[2:08:26] with it, uh, all this that we're doing
right now is nylon board looks like, you
[2:08:30] know, it's not transferable.
[2:08:34] » I think that was your recommendation. I
mean, you know,
[2:08:39] » happy to agree to that.
>> It's a beautiful place.
[2:08:43] » I got one question, J. So, if somebody
comes out there to use it, they will not
[2:08:47] have to get a permit
uh but get a okay from you.
[2:08:53] » Correct. Um if they're going to use any
vendor, they would need to use a license
[2:08:58] and insured u vendor. The vendors would
they would only be permitted vendors
[2:09:03] that would be allowed.
>> What was that now?
[2:09:05] » They would only be permitted licensed
insured vendors that would be allowed
[2:09:08] via the contract, the rental contract
they sign with us. So, it's not just
[2:09:12] like they can have anybody come in and
[2:09:16] Oh, some of our um we're going to move
on. Concern has been some other people
[2:09:20] like you have acquired spaces for events
and then they rent it out to people and
[2:09:25] it's not what they thought was going to
happen there. It's kind of gotten out of
[2:09:29] hand. So that's why we have some
concerns. Uh I don't see yours to be
[2:09:33] that kind of issue, but I'm just sharing
with you some of the sentiment that
[2:09:37] you're hearing up here from the
commissioners.
[2:09:40] » I guess Mr. chairman, if like let's say
if um everything is approved and um and
[2:09:45] this weekend she wanted to have a
wedding, I don't think that you would
[2:09:48] need a a permit. If um next week someone
wanted to take pictures out there, which
[2:09:56] is, you know, the beautiful um oak trees
and everything, I don't think you would
[2:10:00] need a permit. just um if it kind of got
out of hand, you know, and um we I don't
[2:10:06] think that we going to require you to
get permits for every time somebody, you
[2:10:12] know, wants to go out there and do
something. I mean, go out there, take
[2:10:15] pictures. I don't think you would need a
permit for that.
[2:10:17] » Would that business license?
>> Yeah.
[2:10:19] » Yeah. You have to get a business
license. But but the events that she had
[2:10:24] have there she wouldn't have to be
>> fall under her
[2:10:29] » be kind of be responsible as the
>> okay
[2:10:32] » as the owner.
>> All right. You ready to move forward?
[2:10:36] » Got one more concern that you touched on
a little bit with uh with the porter
[2:10:40] toilets and stuff. um you're going to be
left you you sign a contract with some
[2:10:45] someone when they want to do this
outdoor event and all and what I'm
[2:10:48] concerned about right there is uh
someone says well it's just a small
[2:10:52] event there only going to be 15 of us we
don't need that but um the way I read
[2:10:58] this they got to have it
>> yeah that would be in the contract if if
[2:11:02] there's a certain amount of people they
would be required to
[2:11:05] » Yeah. So I just want to make sure we got
to have all that in place. So um
[2:11:12] You ready? Motion. Yes, sir. Ready?
>> Yeah. All right. It uh I make a motion
[2:11:17] we accept this and all to move forward
with the the special condition that's in
[2:11:20] place as we talked about here.
>> So move, Mr. Chair.
[2:11:24] » Second. Motion to second that we approve
the recommendation. I knew where you
[2:11:28] » late.
>> I knew you headed. Any further
[2:11:30] discussion? All in favor? Show of hands,
please. Thank the committee for vetting
[2:11:33] that for us. We appreciate it.
>> Of course. We appreciate LCPC. Thank
[2:11:37] you, ma'am. Look forward to it. We
>> Good luck. Beautiful property. Beautiful
[2:11:40] property.
Uh Moou,
[2:11:46] Miss Lara
[2:11:56] again.
>> Hello.
[2:12:00] Uh Mr. Mosley asked me to come before
you tonight to talk a little bit more
[2:12:03] about compensation and pay studies as we
look ahead and hope to do a another paid
[2:12:11] study with Dr. Condre and associates.
Uh so I'm going to just
[2:12:18] go through a few slides very quickly.
[2:12:23] So compensation,
it's one of the largest investments we
[2:12:27] make as a county government. It's easily
90% of our budget is paying for people.
[2:12:34] Um it directly impacts recruitment,
retention, morale, and fiscal
[2:12:39] responsibility.
[2:12:44] You know, we're all competing for
talent. So, we're competing across the
[2:12:49] region, especially for things like
public safety workers in fire, 911, EMS,
[2:12:54] law enforcement,
and specialized positions like IT and
[2:12:59] finance.
And modern employees expect to be paid
[2:13:05] fairly and have a transparent uh pay
that reflects local market rates, cost
[2:13:11] of living, and their skills, and
experience level. And of course, we want
[2:13:16] to have public trust. So when we have a
clear, visible pay plan, then taxpayers
[2:13:22] can see how we are paying for salaries
and that helps our integrity as well.
[2:13:29] I brought some data with me too like Mr.
Murray. Um these are some snapshots from
[2:13:34] our uh Palosity platform showing you
some of the demographics of our current
[2:13:39] workforce. This is showing our full-time
people. Um the number in the center of
[2:13:45] the ring chart represents our current
headcount of active employees which we
[2:13:50] sit at 514 today
for fiscal year 27. Our authorized
[2:13:56] strength is 560.
So we've got about 46 vacancies. Mainly
[2:14:02] those are in public safety.
Uh we also have some in public works
[2:14:08] along with some administrative positions
like appraisers or deputy clerks.
[2:14:16] » You wanted 50/50. We got 5050.
>> I saw that
[2:14:20] » for gender. We're pretty equally split,
male and female in our workforce. And
[2:14:25] then I thought it was interesting to
look at the breakdown of the different
[2:14:29] generations um that we employ,
most of which are millennials. It looks
[2:14:35] like
[clears throat]
[2:14:39] other employers, Liberty County must
contend with staff turnover. So this
[2:14:44] slide shows you over the last 12 months,
we have had 127
[2:14:50] uh full-time separations.
um more than threequarters of those were
[2:14:56] resignations, so people voluntarily
leaving or retiring.
[2:15:01] This is similar to the 12-month period
prior to the [clears throat and snorts]
[2:15:05] past 12 months. Um and just keep in
mind, according to Sherm, which is the
[2:15:09] Society for HR Management, replacing an
employee typically costs 30 to 200% of
[2:15:15] their annual salary depending on the
role seniority and complexity. So, I
[2:15:21] think about some of our departments
where when we bring somebody in, it
[2:15:24] could take upwards of a year to get them
fully trained to serve the public,
[2:15:28] whether that's a firefighter or a field
appraiser.
[2:15:35] This slide shows, you know, the average
um length of service across the
[2:15:40] organization.
So, that is trending slightly downward,
[2:15:45] which I think is typical of what the
market is becoming. Um about 20% of our
[2:15:52] employees have been here at least 10
years which is great.
[2:15:57] Our average tenure right now is 6.8 down
from 7.1 a year ago. So that's how many
[2:16:04] years uh we've had this is in line with
the public sector but just something to
[2:16:09] keep an eye on as longtimers retire.
They take with them a lot of
[2:16:12] institutional knowledge and succession
is already succession planning is
[2:16:17] already a top priority for us.
[2:16:22] So why do we want to conduct a
compensation study? So Liberty County
[2:16:27] has always relied on formal compensation
studies to update its pay structure. And
[2:16:33] so there's many reasons for doing so
such as being competitive in the market,
[2:16:37] maintaining internal equity, which means
paying employees fairly and consistently
[2:16:43] for similar roles, responsibilities, and
experience levels. And very importantly,
[2:16:49] creating a defensible pay structure
[snorts]
[2:16:53] using methodology that can stand up in
court.
[2:16:59] So signs it's time for a pay study. When
you several of these indicators at once,
[2:17:04] it's likely time to reassess your pay
structure. So, some of these do apply to
[2:17:09] us right now. Um, our recruitment
challenges, um, our current pay study,
[2:17:15] the age of that, um, competitors raising
salaries or benefits. So, as soon as
[2:17:22] another sheriff's office, not to pick on
you, chief, uh, wants to offer a special
[2:17:27] benefit, it's got the sher sheriff
looking, oh, do we need to do that, too?
[2:17:31] because they have such a challenge
recruiting uh deputies.
[2:17:36] Significant organizational
[clears throat] growth. Of course, we
[2:17:39] know that is true.
So, this over the last 25 years is a is
[2:17:45] our timeline of the various pay studies
we have implemented starting in 2001.
[2:17:51] That was when I was first hired in the
EMA office [laughter]
[2:17:56] and I came in right after one was
conducted. as a matter of fact.
[2:18:03] [clears throat] Then we did one in 2006
or then so every four to five years
[2:18:09] we've done one except you can see that
gap that was the great recession and so
[2:18:14] we were not able to as a county fund any
pay studies during that time. Um and
[2:18:20] then we did one in 2019. We did some
mini studies when we took on uh fire and
[2:18:26] EMS and also when you asked us to look
at the living wage to ensure that every
[2:18:31] employee made at least $15 an hour.
And then the most recent works uh pay
[2:18:38] study was put into place July 2023
[clears throat] and it starts a year in
[2:18:43] advance of implementation when they do
the study
[2:18:49] and we use outside an outside firm.
We've used UG Carl Vincson Institute of
[2:18:57] Government um of which Dr. Condre is an
alumni
[2:19:01] and um as you can see all the reasons
here why it's so advantageous to use
[2:19:06] that from um providing impartial
evidence-based recommendations.
[2:19:11] Um we don't want people thinking that uh
you know if I made the decision that I'm
[2:19:16] biased, right? So we have
independent consultant doing that. They
[2:19:22] have the specialized knowledge to do
compensation studies. They've got labor
[2:19:28] market insights and advanced uh
methodology to develop these pay uh
[2:19:33] structures.
They're very efficient. They can
[2:19:37] accomplish these pay studies with their
team because of their years of
[2:19:42] experience in a very short uh time frame
and not
[2:19:47] while they don't disrupt our HR
flow.
[2:19:53] And then of course defensibility, which
I think is so important because we've
[2:19:58] got a legally sound plan that withstands
the scrutiny from employees to elected
[2:20:04] officials to auditors to taxpayers
[2:20:11] versus if we tried to do it ourselves.
Um there's some risks to doing so. Um a
[2:20:18] comprehensive study can take hundreds of
hours, which if I'm being honest, and
[2:20:23] Jessica's here in the audience, um we're
already managing a lot of things.
[2:20:29] Recruiting, onboarding, benefits,
employee relations, payroll
[2:20:34] coordination, [snorts]
compliance, performance management, all
[2:20:38] the things we're doing on a daily basis.
I don't know where we would find the
[2:20:41] time to do that.
or it would just take more than a year
[2:20:48] to do.
[snorts]
[2:20:50] Also, uh internal bias or perceived
favoritism. So, when you have people in
[2:20:56] house doing it, they may be perceived as
having favoritism towards some
[2:21:01] departments or roles where when an
external consultant can not have these
[2:21:07] pressures.
[2:21:11] Um I'm I have a lot of HR expertise, but
compensation studies is not one of them.
[2:21:17] So, I'm going going to admit that. Uh,
in an independent third party study
[2:21:22] often carries carries greater
credibility because like I said, they're
[2:21:26] more impartial.
[2:21:30] So, the project roadmap
um generally outlined here in eight
[2:21:36] steps. The first is planning, but
Condrian Associates are very familiar
[2:21:41] with us after working with us for so
many years that they're already familiar
[2:21:46] with [clears throat] our structure, our
current plan, our policies, our budget.
[2:21:50] Um, they would meet with leadership and
HR to look at our current goals and
[2:21:54] priorities.
Step two would be analyzing the job.
[2:22:01] What are our current job descriptions?
What's changed? They talk to department
[2:22:04] heads. Then they would collect data. So
they would collect salary data from a
[2:22:09] wide range of sources. Some that we
wouldn't have access to uh easily
[2:22:14] because that's their business.
Other local governments publish surveys,
[2:22:19] state associations,
databases, etc.
[2:22:24] We'd also want to do market
benchmarking.
[2:22:27] So how do we compare in this region
similar uh of other people with similar
[2:22:35] population
budget size the services so generally
[2:22:40] we'd look at other city and county
governments and then who are we
[2:22:44] competing with in the region like Fort
Stewart um
[2:22:50] um
people like that. We'd also look at
[2:22:55] certain internal jobs and compare them
with industry standards [snorts] such as
[2:23:01] public safety, public works,
administrative type positions, finance,
[2:23:08] IT. So they would uh those would be job
benchmarks.
[2:23:14] Step five, this is very key part of
their analysis is maintaining the
[2:23:20] internal equity of our plan pay plan.
because it makes sure that everybody is
[2:23:26] judged on the same criteria as far as
their jobs. They break it down into 10
[2:23:31] components and they use the factor
evaluation system. So that's a
[2:23:36] quantitative point factor
[clears throat] method used to grade and
[2:23:40] classify positions. It assigns numerical
points to 10 specific components and
[2:23:46] then those components are weighted. So
something like the knowledge required by
[2:23:51] the position would count more than the
physical demands
[2:23:57] and then the sum of all those points it
pinpoint where it should go on the pay
[2:24:01] plan. So it helps ensure everything is
rated fairly and consistently throughout
[2:24:07] all the departments.
And if you're interested, the 10
[2:24:11] components are the required knowledge
and skills, supervisory controls,
[2:24:18] guidelines, complexity, scope and effect
of their work, personal contacts,
[2:24:25] purpose of contacts, physical demands,
work environment, and supervisory
[2:24:33] responsibility. [clears throat]
[2:24:36] » You said contacts
contacts. Who do they come in contact
[2:24:41] with in the in the course of their day?
[2:24:46] » Step six is developing the actual pay
structure. So given all that previous
[2:24:50] work, they would come up with your
salary grades, pay ranges, min, max,
[2:24:54] etc. Then they would come back to you in
step seven with a cost analysis like
[2:25:00] here's here are several different
scenarios. If you remember with the last
[2:25:04] case study, they said, "Okay, do you
want to be at uh
[2:25:09] » market?"
>> At market.
[2:25:10] » Yeah. At market, slightly ahead of
market
[2:25:14] uh where do you want to be with that? Um
do you want to do it in phases? You
[2:25:18] know, they could come up with multiple
scenarios and costs for you as the board
[2:25:23] to decide.
>> Mr. Chair, Mr. Mosley, one of y'all are
[2:25:27] fellow commissioners. Uh do y'all
remember what we decided last time? I
[2:25:31] didn't we decide to be a little bit
aggressive
[2:25:36] » at market.
>> At market
[2:25:39] » aggressive
>> aggressive
[2:25:43] I tell you a duck could pull a truck.
>> Yeah. So and and that's I guess that's
[2:25:50] where I'm getting at because we did this
what three years ago, right?
[2:25:54] » 2023, right? 2022. So four years ago we
started the plan
[2:25:58] » and implemented it.
>> Right. Right.
[2:26:01] » Right. So, we're doing it now again. And
basically, in a nutshell, he's going to
[2:26:07] come back and tell us where we are with
with market. And I'm I'm not trying to
[2:26:11] cut you off. I just had had a few
questions and my list was getting a
[2:26:14] little long. Uh, another thing is
whenever you're talking about the uh the
[2:26:20] data collection portion, is he comparing
us and and I heard you you say to other
[2:26:26] government entities. Is it are you
comparing us with another community like
[2:26:32] ours?
Do you know
[2:26:35] » when
>> because what I'm saying is you can't
[2:26:37] compare us with Fulton County or
>> correct. And so at the kickoff of the
[2:26:42] plan, we would sit down with them with
leadership, Mr. Mosley, Miss Hunter,
[2:26:48] myself, Samantha, and we would outline
what are our goals and priorities. And
[2:26:54] we would also tell them who we want.
They would recommend who to use as
[2:27:00] comparison. And then we can also say,
well, we don't want them, but we
[2:27:04] definitely want them
>> in the mix when we're collecting the
[2:27:08] data.
>> Right. Well, I I I guess to to make sure
[2:27:11] that that the the the the data that's
being collected is the most efficient
[2:27:16] data, it has to be a mirror of of of me
personally, I mean, for 35,000, I think
[2:27:24] we should look at it from where we are
and and whenever we talk about workforce
[2:27:31] and future workforce, is this the same
identity that we're we're looking for?
[2:27:36] Because of course, you know, Mr. share.
Here in Liberty County, we're being
[2:27:40] strongly focusing right now on education
and literacy. So, what I'm saying is are
[2:27:46] we are are we looking to
expand the workforce to a that type of
[2:27:53] level? You picking up what I'm I'm
putting down? You understand?
[2:27:58] No, you lost
>> that type of
[2:27:59] » Okay, cool. Let me break it down. All
right. [clears throat]
[2:28:04] When are we looking at data collection?
Whenever we looking at workforce, we're
[2:28:09] looking at who we what workforce we have
now, but uh also in the future
[2:28:15] workforce, are we looking at a different
education level? Are we looking at a a
[2:28:20] younger level? What what what type of
workforce are we trying to attract? I
[2:28:25] think if if we implement that, that'll
make what we're doing a little bit more,
[2:28:31] you know, mainstream.
[2:28:34] follow me now. No, still okay. If if I'm
if I'm trying to The other day we were
[2:28:43] talking about uh healthc care in in
Georgia and how and and I know you serve
[2:28:49] on a lot of the health boards so you
understand and and Mr. Chair, you worked
[2:28:53] in the health field for a long time. The
issue we have in Georgia when we dealing
[2:28:57] with health care sometimes is the
providers because a doctor here makes a
[2:29:04] 100,000. I'm just throwing out a number
but then you go over the line and make
[2:29:08] 150. Where are you going to go? You're
going to go over the line. So what I'm
[2:29:13] saying is when are we looking at a data
collection? What are we comparing and
[2:29:18] what type of workforce are we looking at
for the future?
[2:29:24] So, it sounds to me like you're speaking
more on the recruiting end
[2:29:29] » on on both ends, right?
>> Okay.
[2:29:32] » Right.
>> Well, having a strong pay structure
[2:29:34] helps with recruiting.
>> It's more it's more than just it's just
[2:29:38] more it's more than just money,
especially now with with that that
[2:29:41] millennial. Trust me,
>> it's money. Yes, it it tracks, but also
[2:29:47] » work life balance,
[2:29:51] » right? But I'm I'm only speaking in that
small [clears throat] in that
[2:29:56] » okay
>> specific area of compensation which I
[2:29:59] agree is only one factor of recruitment
and retention. I agree with you there
[2:30:04] because
>> that's not what Dr. Condre is going to
[2:30:06] come in and do.
>> Okay.
[2:30:10] » That's something
>> Commissioner Gillard, you were right.
[2:30:14] Right.
[2:30:18] » No, I No, what what I'm saying is we
keep doing this, but we understand that
[2:30:22] we have to to keep increase and and I
feel like this board we've we've always
[2:30:28] every year with budget. What we make
sure is that that we take care of our
[2:30:32] our our workforce. We like I said, only
time we didn't was when I first got on
[2:30:39] and we was going through the struggles
and I I remember that vividly. We we but
[2:30:43] since we've had that opportunity we have
so un what I'm saying is whenever
[2:30:49] [clears throat] we looking at these pay
scale studies
[2:30:53] what what's the bigger picture I mean
with all the due respect you you you
[2:31:00] could put these numbers in and get on
chat GPT in 2026 and it it'll give you
[2:31:05] everything you need. So what I'm saying
is what I think the biggest part when
[2:31:10] are we looking at the pay structure what
are we looking at for the future growth
[2:31:15] and and you you pulled the data you know
but the different with the millennials
[2:31:20] and [clears throat] and the baby boomers
I think the baby boomers is seven almost
[2:31:24] 8% and again the difference without a
respect the baby boomers y'all stayed on
[2:31:30] jobs for 40 50 years millennials not
doing it so what I'm saying is and even
[2:31:35] when you showed the the difference in
how many people left the county,
[2:31:40] » right?
>> Some people don't leave just to leave. I
[2:31:42] promise you that. And I think you in HR,
you know that. Like the the people,
[2:31:48] this new generation is different. And I
and I think what I'm saying is I'm not
[2:31:53] saying that we don't need to pay for
this, but we need to make sure that what
[2:31:58] we're looking for. I mean, just looking
at from the from the money, right?
[2:32:04] » I mean, we can scale that. That's that's
scalable.
[2:32:06] » Well, let let me mention this to you is
one of the things Mr. Mosley and I have
[2:32:11] talked about uh bringing into this
project which we haven't before are
[2:32:16] specific career progression pathways
because nowadays I mean people want
[2:32:24] measured
grow uh targeted growth like here give
[2:32:30] me a way to get there and move up in the
organization instead of well I'm going
[2:32:34] to wait 20 years till my boss retires
and and I've you Um, and Miss Hunter
[2:32:42] agrees with this, too. I mean, there's
studies about that. Um, that's what
[2:32:47] keeps people at jobs. You give them a
pathway to move up and grow
[2:32:50] » by far,
>> right? And, you know, we don't have our
[2:32:53] pension anymore. We have the 401A,
which it's a great retirement plan, and
[2:33:00] it's portable, and it's got advantages
to that. And it's more with the modern
[2:33:05] way of people spending five to seven
years if you're lucky at your
[2:33:10] organization before moving on. That's
why I mentioned succession planning is
[2:33:14] important to us because we're losing,
you know, when somebody walks out after
[2:33:18] 30 years, have you captured what they
know. Um, so that is one of the things
[2:33:24] we're going to bring to Dr. Condre is
having the career ladders. when you come
[2:33:29] in, you know, you need to get this
certification and work this number of
[2:33:34] years and you're going to be a senior
clerk or a clerk two, three, four,
[2:33:39] whatever it is that we decide to do.
>> Right. Mr. Sure. That that's the only
[2:33:42] thing I was saying. I I I just you know
if we just getting strictly numbers for
[2:33:48] okay for your position or you know the
different departments then I mean
[2:33:52] » I see what you mean now and that that is
something that we're going to
[2:33:55] » right how detailed like you said
>> leverage in this study. Yes.
[2:33:58] » Absolutely. All right. Thank you
[2:34:04] » Laura. Whenever he looks at this, he I
assume that he does look at the um
[2:34:10] » job description and if you know
education,
[2:34:15] » you know, if it needs requires a degree
and that type of thing, he looks at at
[2:34:21] that. Also,
>> he does and he'll work with the
[2:34:24] department heads on that to uh determine
what level of education is needed for if
[2:34:29] it's an entry level position or
something more specialized
[2:34:32] » or do they need to get it within six
months or a year.
[2:34:37] » Works with the department heads on that.
And we did a lot of that work on job
[2:34:41] descriptions with the 2023
paper.
[2:34:44] » That's right.
>> And now we've gotten into much better
[2:34:47] practice as we post jobs. We're looking
at them for updates.
[2:34:52] So
>> Laura,
[2:34:55] » how many jobs description roughly off
the top of your head you think have
[2:34:59] changed since the last study?
>> How about 350?
[2:35:07] Um they continually get minor tweaks. Uh
the only ones I would see changing is if
[2:35:13] we with the career ladders we would have
to make some intermediate
[2:35:21] new job descriptions.
>> Okay. [clears throat]
[2:35:24] » Well, I just hope that we don't run into
the same problem that we did with the LA
[2:35:28] last one. Remember, with the uh
one of our departments,
[2:35:36] Mr. Moses probably he was he was just
coming in during that time.
[2:35:44] I don't want to go into detail, but
>> lack of a better word, appeals. Remember
[2:35:47] that?
>> Right. We did offer some appeals but um
[2:35:53] yes but we have to remind everybody that
we're looking at a large county and
[2:35:58] there is something called internal
equity. So what when you state your
[2:36:05] major duties and all of the thing those
components on the job description that's
[2:36:11] what they're measuring. All right.
Question. Since you said that, let's say
[2:36:14] you come in, he comes in and he selects
who he wants to sit down with
[2:36:22] » and that person puts down their job
description.
[2:36:27] Where does it go from there? But
straight back to him or does it come
[2:36:30] back to admin and then go to Dr. Condre?
>> Is the person sitting down with them the
[2:36:37] department head?
>> Is that the only person he sits down
[2:36:40] with? the department head
>> this last time. Yes.
[2:36:44] » Okay.
>> And
[2:36:47] » so let's say you let's say you are my
department head and
[2:36:52] » you put down something concerning me but
I don't know what you put down. How does
[2:36:58] that go?
>> Talking about like job description.
[2:37:02] » Yeah.
When we finalized all the job
[2:37:07] descriptions, we sent them to all the
departments to review.
[2:37:12] » Um,
>> and that's what you used your
[2:37:16] » that's information provided to the
>> right. We provided them to departments.
[2:37:19] They provided them to the employees and
then that's when we offered the 90-day
[2:37:24] appeal period and the employees got a
chance to see
[2:37:29] the finalized version of their job
description and the pay and then come
[2:37:33] and ask any questions. at Liberty
Region, we had to sign we had to sign
[2:37:36] ours to saying this is what we
>> do every now with Palocity, we're able
[2:37:42] to build um the job descriptions in to
um
[2:37:48] the system and associate them with each
employee. So, um I don't think the
[2:37:54] visibility is turned on there yet, but
we could do that or make it part of the
[2:37:59] um basically we take the job posting and
base it on the job description. So,
[2:38:04] they're when they apply for a job,
they're getting this all the
[2:38:07] information.
[2:38:11] » Go ahead.
>> I But I I I understand what what
[2:38:14] Commissioner Stevenson is saying about
that. That's why I again I I think this
[2:38:20] is needed. You know, I think us as a
county, you know, we've always tried to
[2:38:26] make sure and strive that our our the
foundation, which is you all are, you
[2:38:32] know, taken care of to our best our
ability. I just want to make sure that
[2:38:36] it's not just a regular old study that
don't come back and just say, "Okay,
[2:38:41] well, this is what we need." like
promise and commissioner thrift just
[2:38:45] said it as well like you know if say for
instance a baby boomer is retiring right
[2:38:55] and then a millennial comes with you
know whenever that job description first
[2:39:00] was initiated you might have only needed
a high school diploma but then a
[2:39:05] millennial comes in with
maybe three or four years worth of
[2:39:10] experience but with a bachelor's and
masters.
[2:39:14] Where do you start them at? Whenever
they have the education,
[2:39:20] which whoever gets the education, you
want to be compensated for your
[2:39:23] education. Where where do you go?
Because I I know for a fact we've we
[2:39:30] have some some positions right now where
somebody was replaced and they're making
[2:39:36] less than the other person, their
predecessor. And I think you you know
[2:39:40] that as well because you are in HR. So
what I'm saying is is is that something
[2:39:45] that we're going to consider as well.
>> We could ask Dr. Condre to come up with
[2:39:50] a uh system such as that where they get
extra steps for education experience,
[2:39:58] but that's going to come down to the
budget um and what they would project
[2:40:02] that would cost to implement.
>> And and and I and I agree 100%. But the
[2:40:08] reason why we're doing this, which you
said earlier, is retention. So if
[2:40:13] » and improvement
>> and and there you go. So what I'm saying
[2:40:17] is those are are questions that I know
that if you're 45 and younger and you
[2:40:25] those are things that that matters you
know because again
[2:40:31] 401ks and all you know that
either a transfer you start another one
[2:40:37] keep it going.
>> Mr. chair. Uh to answer Commissioner
[2:40:40] Stevens question, uh the department head
would have to sign off on that
[2:40:45] particular job description. Um you could
have ex you could have cases where there
[2:40:49] is some bias in that process. But what's
good about Dr. Condr, they've worked
[2:40:54] with enough job description over the
years. They can tell pretty much how job
[2:40:58] what the duties of a particular position
are. That's where their wisdom
[2:41:02] institutional knowledge come into place.
>> And one other question for you, Miss L.
[2:41:07] » [clears throat]
>> Is there any other company around in the
[2:41:12] area that could do this same study?
>> Uh UG has a group
[2:41:18] » so
>> so Dr. Condre pull out from UG
[2:41:27] » 20 years.
>> So he retired with the information
[2:41:32] of Liberty County
>> with his education. I guess
[2:41:36] » one one thing I wanted to say is uh I'm
hearing a lot about job descriptions and
[2:41:40] different things uh and doing this study
uh everything ain't isolated just to a
[2:41:47] job description. A lot of people are
doing way more than just their job
[2:41:50] description or they getting compensated
like they should.
[2:41:54] » Right.
>> You know,
[2:41:56] right?
>> Tell me what you found out about other
[2:42:00] companies that do this. Uh, one one of
the things I'm glad that question was
[2:42:04] asked. There are there are a bunch of
companies that do that. A lot of
[2:42:07] companies, you know, they're starting
prices in the 100 thousands. And it's
[2:42:11] ironic when we were doing this, um, it
was uh, a question came across the list
[2:42:16] serve and people were asking, okay, who
or somebody good that you recommend to
[2:42:21] to do a job description? UG and Condrin
Associates were the two that was
[2:42:26] consistent that um, the people were
responding to. Um, Staceboro, not
[2:42:31] Staceboro, but Bullet County just paid
Arch and Surus and I guarantee it was
[2:42:35] $100,000.
Uh, it's very lucrative to do these
[2:42:38] types of studies.
[2:42:42] » So, this this study would include
rewriting job descriptions.
[2:42:47] » Yes, sir.
>> If needed,
[2:42:54] » adding any new ones.
>> See, old Clinton sitting out there. I
[2:42:56] mean, I can't imagine his job
description to change it. I mean, he's
[2:42:59] he does everything.
>> It's not on there.
[2:43:04] » No, no.
>> Well, when you sat down with Dr. Condra,
[2:43:07] make sure you update [clears throat]
him.
[2:43:09] » Don't be.
>> No, I Mr. Chairman, I I got I got to run
[2:43:12] in a minute, but I I do want to say I
think we did talk about this done,
[2:43:15] Laura.
>> Well, I I just wanted to say this. We um
[2:43:20] it was one of those slides in there. U
back up, Laura.
[2:43:24] Right. right there where you had one,
two, three, four and one, two, three,
[2:43:28] four on both sides and you refer to the
the right side as
[2:43:33] » 567
as 5, six, seven.
[2:43:36] » That's so and my my my question was was
>> Nathan did something
[2:43:40] » was was the three on the right the same
as seven, but that's a joke. [snorts]
[2:43:46] » No, no, no. My my my question u when we
talked about this last month um and I
[2:43:53] think the question was we we've done
these studies before Dr. Conra or
[2:43:58] somebody has done them before and and I
guess and I'm just imagining this it may
[2:44:04] not be the case that once he get
finished he gives us a report you know
[2:44:10] » right
>> yes
[2:44:13] and um which is kind of like a recipe
and and then one of those slides say
[2:44:19] that we do them every three to five
years
[2:44:23] and if someone that and I was just
thinking if you if someone did a study
[2:44:28] three years ago
and then in 2019
[2:44:33] I mean what's the 26 2029
it's time to do another study you you
[2:44:39] you have that that recipe and you know
so you go back to that and you kind of
[2:44:45] do the same thing that that was just my
thought but then you you you had a list
[2:44:49] I mean a laundry list of reasons why
it need to be done by somebody else and
[2:44:56] reasons why why we can't do it. And um I
just thought that um you know we we've
[2:45:04] we've been through this process several
times probably and I've been here
[2:45:09] probably three or four times since I was
up here.
[2:45:12] And I guess um what we're saying is that
each time it's done is different. It's
[2:45:19] not the same report that you got from
him three years ago. is a he's going to
[2:45:24] give you a whole another report
from a salary study, a different report.
[2:45:32] The outline of the report would be the
same, but he's going through a whole new
[2:45:37] process of collecting the most current
salary data from all the different
[2:45:42] sources that we outline.
>> But I mean, that's what he gonna tell
[2:45:46] you. That's what he's doing. But, um,
how how does he do that? I mean, with
[2:45:49] magic?
>> No.
[2:45:52] They reach out to all those
organizations personally.
[2:45:56] » Same ones he reached out to three years
ago, wouldn't it?
[2:45:59] » Right. That's why he has all those
relationships with all these different
[2:46:03] uh communities. He does this. So,
>> but the country
[2:46:06] » I guess there's a big change in three
years. So, when he he does it today and
[2:46:11] in 2029 when he does it again, there's
something totally different. So, he's
[2:46:16] going to do that in three years.
>> It's the same methodology that he's
[2:46:20] used. is really updating the numbers and
we don't really delve into the all the
[2:46:27] background data that's not in his
report. It's basically a summary report
[2:46:32] with the different options and costs for
the board.
[2:46:35] I mean, you know, and I think we all
want the the best for our employees. I
[2:46:40] mean, you know, so if if if a study um
done by whoever, including us, could
[2:46:48] make things better for our employees,
then I think we're all for that. But I
[2:46:52] just didn't think that um having Dr. Con
or Steve here um to do a study that he's
[2:47:00] done time and time and time again to
tell us what
[2:47:05] we probably could be able to refer to or
that we should probably already know.
[2:47:10] But but maybe it is more to it than
that. I'll
[2:47:13] » if if if we get him. Um and if y'all
don't mind, I'll like to come in and see
[2:47:17] how he make the sausage.
>> I was going to say we we don't know how
[2:47:21] the sausage is made.
>> Well,
[2:47:22] » and then see what
>> that's that's his secret.
[2:47:25] » Yeah. Yeah. That's what [laughter] I'm
saying. He's not the only sausage maker,
[2:47:28] you know.
>> You know,
[2:47:29] » I mean, it's like the chicken, man. You
know how many spices, but
[2:47:32] » Yeah.
>> at that I thought you would say, Mr.
[2:47:37] Mostly uh the study done three years ago
from that data things could even have
[2:47:42] changed which states paid in 2023 they
could be paying something different now
[2:47:46] then we'll know okay we're getting out
of kilter because statesboro will county
[2:47:50] Wayne County now they're paying this
>> that that is correct sir that they
[2:47:53] they've been through studies and they've
they've up increased it to meet their
[2:47:57] market so everybody's has has done it
that's a good point
[2:48:01] » and one I was thinking of
>> but that sound
[2:48:04] » we're all trying to stay
>> slightly
[2:48:07] We're sure. We're sure.
>> And that's how the market keeps moving.
[2:48:10] » That is
>> all right.
[2:48:13] » Okay.
>> Okay. Any other questions?
[2:48:16] » Thank you.
>> So, wait a minute. So, behind this
[2:48:19] study, if you are still here at the next
go round, you should be able to do it
[2:48:24] yourself, right?
>> Oh, it's going to be different.
[2:48:28] » Going to be fine.
>> Yeah, it's going to be different.
[2:48:29] » Unless you want to send me to become an
expert. And and and what was the price
[2:48:35] three years ago for the state?
>> 32.
[2:48:37] » 32.
>> 32.
[2:48:38] » Even that's different.
>> Oh, yeah. So So yeah, [laughter]
[2:48:44] » the scale moves.
>> I'm in three years going to be 40.
[2:48:48] » Oh man.
>> All right. We've been here a long time.
[2:48:50] » I do have to go.
>> Hold. Chair a motion.
[2:48:54] » Mr. Chairman, I make a motion we approve
theou with Steve Condre and Associates.
[2:48:59] » Second with with all the details.
>> All in favor? with all the details.
[2:49:05] » Thank you, sir.
>> All right.
[2:49:10] » Mr. Wales.
>> He didn't hear you.
[2:49:15] » Mr. Wales.
>> I said, "Hey."
[2:49:17] » Hey, Gary.
>> She still in here.
[2:49:24] » Well, even sir,
>> we uh sent out some bids for replace one
[2:49:30] of our front load garbage trucks.
We got some prices back from two
[2:49:34] different vendors on what we got. The
low bid was Sam some equipment out of
[2:49:41] Statesboro
394950.
[2:49:47] » That was the low bid. And is it in the
is in the CIP a budgeted item and come
[2:49:52] in [laughter] under budget?
>> You check the other budget.
[2:49:57] » Uh Sam is SWAT. They brought out.
>> Yeah, I know. I know. I just I
[2:50:03] » We're familiar with that vendor
obviously.
[2:50:05] » We're familiar with that vendor
obviously.
[2:50:07] » Yes, we use them all the time. We
>> primary vendors.
[2:50:12] » Chair entertain a motion and commission.
>> So that second
[2:50:17] » I make a motion approve.
>> I second it.
[2:50:21] » Further discussion. All in favor of your
hands, please.
[2:50:24] » All right, sir.
>> Thank you. [laughter]
[2:50:26] » What's What's the turnaround time on the
U delivery? He's actually got it on the
[2:50:30] yard. He's got to send us the body
painted blue to match the rest of ours.
[2:50:33] » Yeah.
>> Ready to go.
[2:50:35] » And I'm assuming we have the money. I
guess it's too late.
[2:50:39] » He answered that.
>> I know.
[2:50:40] » Yeah.
>> I I can't hear it over over my stomach
[2:50:43] right now, you know. But
>> wait a minute now.
[2:50:47] » Thank y'all.
>> All right.
[2:50:49] » All right.
>> Mr. Mosley, your report.
[2:50:51] » Nope. We got No,
>> man. Man, we on the second page now.
[2:50:55] » Wait a minute. Oh god,
>> we took that. It's it's it's still
[2:50:59] people in the audience, so I'm
>> Yeah, I see that. Yeah. You know what?
[2:51:05] » Somebody didn't give me the second page.
>> Okay. Uh yeah.
[2:51:10] » Uh talk that
>> Chief Deputy uh Hagen.
[2:51:14] » Come on, Chief.
>> Mr. Chair, I was he about to go sleep,
[2:51:18] but I was [laughter] going to invite him
up. Here it goes. Right.
[2:51:20] » The we working night shift, chief.
[laughter]
[2:51:25] Anything? Good afternoon commission.
>> Okay,
[2:51:29] » visitors that are left.
>> I just want to clear one thing real
[2:51:35] quick
>> since it was mentioned and we are live
[2:51:39] here that the sheriff's department look
at giving pay raises. The ones that we
[2:51:44] do give, we do do it within. We find
creative ways within our budget. We have
[2:51:50] not come to the commission to ask for
monies to the sheriff do everything he
[2:51:56] can to work within his budget because
that's part of retention. We're the the
[2:52:01] market is constantly changing. But thank
you for allowing me to make that quick.
[2:52:05] » Absolutely.
>> Thank you, sir.
[2:52:06] » Clarification.
>> That's not just you. That's other
[2:52:10] departments, too.
>> But I'm here tonight to um come before
[2:52:16] you all to bring the um
26 2026 2027U
[2:52:24] between the school board and the county
commissioners for the SRO program. Um
[2:52:31] the the
contract hasn't didn't change much from
[2:52:37] last year's contract. Um we have um we
did up two
[2:52:44] SRO's we have two supervisors, a
lieutenant and a sergeant. Um and seven
[2:52:49] deputies in the schools. We have two in
each high school. And then the what we
[2:52:56] did was looked at the plan to
use dual resources like at the middle
[2:53:04] schools, have that officer cover the
elementary schools that are attached as
[2:53:08] well. Um, I'm the sheriff and I firmly
believed in combined resources and from
[2:53:15] that we were able to save the board from
the last budget approximately $900,000.
[2:53:24] And so they were able to cut that from
the SRO board as a result of us um
[2:53:30] shifting and cutting some of the
positions. Um, so
[2:53:34] » you said save 900,000.
>> Nice.
[2:53:40] So you just need approval
for this year
[2:53:44] » ma'am.
>> You just need approval for this year for
[2:53:46] the school board has already gone before
the board and it's been approved by
[2:53:52] them.
on our side.
[2:53:54] » And as you know, for those who don't
know,
[2:53:58] » only thing that costs the county um
commissioners or the county taxpayers is
[2:54:04] from the um you all basically pay out
the salaries to the officers and re
[2:54:10] fully reimbured by the school board.
>> Chief, does that
[2:54:16] that includes a benefit for them too,
right?
[2:54:18] » Okay. Okay. That's that's what I know.
>> No money by Okay. Yeah. And how many
[2:54:24] » what's your total overall bill out for
all of the SRO's? Was it
[2:54:29] » total cost?
>> No. Uh person per person.
[2:54:33] » Many
>> how many? How many?
[2:54:36] » Nine.
>> Nine. Now
[2:54:38] » nine with two supervisors, seven um
daily operation. your supervisors own
[2:54:44] the different schools but also maintain
all the um documentation
[2:54:51] full implementation. How many will it
be? when y'all got full implement.
[2:54:54] » What's your expectation to get
everybody?
[2:54:56] » Of course, we looked at 15. Okay, that's
right. Total and that's what was funded.
[2:55:02] And then instead of funding that full
15, we go with nine, we cut back to
[2:55:09] instead of having that money sitting out
there, that was able to go back to the
[2:55:13] board.
>> And and that's and that's the $900,000
[2:55:16] that you just stated that that save,
right? which is which is a win-win on
[2:55:20] both sides and and more importantly for
the taxpayers. But we appreciate you uh
[2:55:25] I I think we already made a motion in a
second already, but but [laughter] more
[2:55:29] but more well we really did. But but
more importantly uh you know just being
[2:55:34] out there today you know uh at the
schools just seeing the the safety that
[2:55:40] I felt you know uh even you know over at
Bradwell they had the metal detectors
[2:55:46] the deputies were out there and and
again for someone who has kids in the
[2:55:51] school system you know it it made me
feel safe where where I know uh when my
[2:55:57] kids walk out the door of course I pray
but hey that that's that's only that's
[2:56:01] only a little bit, you know, but but
just to make sure, you know, the Bible
[2:56:05] says, you know,
about works and
[2:56:11] » Yeah. You got you got to work it.
>> Sound a little Baptist over here.
[2:56:14] » Sound a little Baptist over here, huh?
>> Yeah. You said you wanted to go home,
[2:56:17] too.
>> Amen.
[2:56:18] » A motion. We had a motion. Who made the
motion?
[2:56:20] » Timmy made a motion.
>> I made a second.
[2:56:23] » All right. All in favor?
Thank you, J.
[2:56:28] And I want to thank the school board
publicly too.
[2:56:31] » Absolutely. We app we appreciate that we
have for them approving that because it
[2:56:36] helps to keep our kids safe. Thank you
so much. Thank you for hanging there
[2:56:40] with us
>> and love y'all. Y'all uniforms man.
[2:56:46] » Pretty spiffy.
[2:56:53] » You ready?
>> Oh. Oh. M chair and [laughter] members
[2:56:55] of the board. Uh this is a house
cleaning item. Uh as you know, it's very
[2:56:59] important for us to have uh people to
sign off on ordinances. Uh when things
[2:57:04] go uh when Steve goes to when um uh um
Mr. Morera goes to court, he has to have
[2:57:11] somebody sign off on the um on the
codes. And right now, Maria is the only
[2:57:16] one that's uh authorized. And what this
uh what we're requesting is to authorize
[2:57:21] the individual's name in it, but namely
me uh Miss Hunter and also Miss
[2:57:25] Radcliffe to to sign uh codes uh for
staff as they go to court.
[2:57:32] » Sounds good.
>> Okay. Need a motion on that?
[2:57:35] » Yes, sir.
>> Yeah, I'll make that motion.
[2:57:38] » Second.
>> Motion to second. Any further
[2:57:40] discussion? Good. All in favor?
[2:57:45] » Next item on the agenda, Mr. there uh is
a resolution. We're not going to read
[2:57:49] it. Uh but basically uh D uh EPD is uh
doing some uh reorganization um and but
[2:57:56] in our region uh Mr. Field ODM has been
on the uh um state uh water policy
[2:58:02] council for a long time and he would
like to be renominated uh by Liberty
[2:58:06] County to uh maintain on there. He's
done a great job and he's been outspoken
[2:58:11] and been a great advocate for Liberty
County and water resources in the area.
[2:58:14] Yes. Still over there.
>> He is.
[2:58:16] » I make that motion. Chairman
>> second.
[2:58:20] » Any further discussion?
>> All in favor? Mr. You're reappointed.
[2:58:26] » Mr. Everything water. I appreciate you,
sir.
[2:58:29] » Uh, next item, Mr. Chair, is a um item.
Uh basically it says that uh when
[2:58:36] elected officials and that's all elected
officials uh when they leave office they
[2:58:40] can elect to take their tablet phone and
phone number with them at any their
[2:58:44] office and when they take it with them
they'll be responsible they coordinate
[2:58:48] with our IT department and basically
they will be responsible for going to
[2:58:52] their whatever selection they want in
terms of service and they will re uh new
[2:58:57] the service through a new provider and
should they not they would simply turn
[2:59:01] it over to it. That's all this
particular policy is and it is a
[2:59:05] amendment to our information security
usage policy.
[2:59:09] » Yes sir. Mr. Chairman I make a motion
for approval.
[2:59:12] » Second
[2:59:15] further discussion.
>> Oh we already made second. Okay cool.
[2:59:22] » All right. Date funds committee.
>> Yes sir.
[2:59:27] » Okay.
And uh we had two Afric well we
[2:59:31] » uh
>> F
[2:59:33] » F
>> this one
[2:59:35] » contract with Minute Man security.
>> Mr. Chair, I'm going to ask my IT
[2:59:39] director and also
>> to
[2:59:42] » uh now I also asked the other gentleman,
Mr. Jesse, to accompany him and they can
[2:59:47] do a presentation.
[2:59:51] [laughter]
>> Good evening everybody. Uh this is why I
[2:59:55] wore the suit. um coming for you coming
for you tonight. Um this is kind of a
[3:00:01] unique project. Um try to think the best
way to to explain it. Um so we have 13
[3:00:06] county buildings that have physical
access security systems in them. Um with
[3:00:09] three different security access system
controllers. Um the the largest being
[3:00:15] our justice center courthouse and
courthouse annex. Um that system was put
[3:00:19] in when the justice center was built and
the system has reached the end of its
[3:00:23] life. I don't want to go into a whole
lot of details what what's going on but
[3:00:27] um we uh reached out to our uh longtime
security vendor Minute Man um who used
[3:00:33] to be adapt who has put in uh physical
security systems, camera systems and um
[3:00:38] for the county to um recommend
uh different systems that can come in
[3:00:45] and unify and connect all 13 buildings
to one system. We currently have three.
[3:00:50] Uh just to kind of explain, when we hire
a fireman, we have to put the fireman in
[3:00:53] two different systems. When we hire a
deputy, we have to put the deputy in
[3:00:56] three different systems to be able to
get into the buildings. Um put for y'all
[3:00:59] to get in this building, go into one
building. If you want to come into one
[3:01:02] system, if you want to come into my
building, we got to put you into another
[3:01:05] system. Uh so we asked Minute Man to to
uh come up with some companies that that
[3:01:10] could handle 13 buildings and all the
access control readers that we do have
[3:01:13] in those buildings and to recommend some
systems uh that would handle it. Um we
[3:01:19] we got a small committee together,
myself, administration, the sheriff's
[3:01:22] office, building maint um there's
somebody else in there, 911 and EMA uh
[3:01:29] to to evaluate the systems and um we
settled on the Genitech system
[3:01:35] um for the system that we need that
would meet our needs and it had the
[3:01:39] features that we liked. It was able to
unify and connect all the buildings
[3:01:43] together. Uh we will have to replace
some hardware in some buildings. Some of
[3:01:47] the newer buildings that we've just
completed. Uh they will be able to
[3:01:50] reflash the the little boxes that
control the doors to the new software
[3:01:54] that will work with this. So we won't
have to physically replace some some of
[3:01:57] the hardware, but most of the hardware
we will have to replace. Um
[3:02:03] and let's see here.
And we were able to do that for $71,000.
[3:02:11] Um, and we're asking the board to
approve that. So, as far as funding
[3:02:16] goes, um, $460,000 of this was uh um
earmarked in the capital improvement
[3:02:24] capital improvement budget. Trying to
make sure I say that right. Was
[3:02:26] earmarked in the capital improvement
budget, which was approved by the
[3:02:29] commission. Um, and Miss Richardson has
identified funds. Um I'm not really sure
[3:02:35] where, but she has identified funds that
are existing to pay for the additional
[3:02:39] $241,000 of the project. Uh so this
would be paid for, not we don't have to
[3:02:44] lease anything, but would be paid for
would would not require a budget
[3:02:47] adjustment.
>> Where did Samantha find the
[3:02:50] » bond money?
>> And and what money
[3:02:54] » bond money?
[3:02:58] » It's a very good system. We got our
Minute Man representative here who will
[3:03:02] be handling the installation,
maintenance, and all of that. And Miss
[3:03:05] Laura who's the financing and and put
the quote together, sales, and put the
[3:03:09] quote together. If you have any
questions, uh, this is a security
[3:03:12] matter, so we kind of might be a little
vague on a couple of things, but any
[3:03:16] questions,
>> where did you get your suit from?
[3:03:20] [laughter]
>> I mean, vague. I mean, seriously,
[3:03:22] without we really we really should be
openly discussing a lot of that
[3:03:27] questions. That's that's why right
>> that's why he's speaking vaguely sir.
[3:03:30] » Yeah. And that's why I just asked about
a suit that let's let's just
[3:03:33] » you trying to
>> right let's just keep it moving
[3:03:36] » would be help I'll answer any questions
offline that you that you may have if
[3:03:39] you want some specific
>> just out of curiosity ready to go home
[3:03:43] too health department would not be one
of the building. So so when they go over
[3:03:47] there how
>> you would need another card.
[3:03:49] » Okay. This handles um all three
courouses, uh three fire stations, three
[3:03:54] MS buildings, the gates of public works,
all the IT 911, EMA building.
[3:04:00] » Okay.
>> Just a center and yeah, the three
[3:04:02] courouses.
>> How long you think this will last?
[3:04:05] » Um
>> 10 15 years.
[3:04:08] » One of the reasons we went with this
system was for future growth and
[3:04:11] expandability. So as we add new
buildings, as we discern, you know,
[3:04:14] determined that we want this door to
have access control on it, this system
[3:04:17] can scale out and do that. we can add on
to it.
[3:04:20] » That was really the only question I
really had.
[3:04:22] » And that was the problem. The current
system, both all three systems that we
[3:04:25] currently have, we cannot do that.
They're they're old. They've reached
[3:04:27] their end of the life and and finding
the parts are is a problem. Um,
[3:04:32] » and how long would it take to implement
this?
[3:04:35] » There's clear on how you wanted to
schedule it.
[3:04:40] » Within three, six months, you could have
it all switched out.
[3:04:45] » We got the money. He's found the money.
[3:04:49] around the court systems and people
coming in. We'd have to work around the
[3:04:53] the evening hours for all of that to to
>> and then act,
[3:04:58] » right? And then everyone would get
another badge or whatever
[3:05:02] » or some most of them would.
>> I would suggest that new badges, but you
[3:05:07] can reuse some of the badges that you
have, but I would suggest
[3:05:12] » who in this area has the system.
>> Oh goodness. Glen County has it. I've
[3:05:17] talked with them. They had they said
don't go leave and look at anybody else.
[3:05:20] I've asked some other counties. I don't
remember. It's been so long, but there
[3:05:24] are county,
>> but Glen County is one of the
[3:05:28] » Do you know of any other?
>> So, yeah, they actually have this in
[3:05:33] Atlanta, Fton County. So, and I'll tell
you is with you guys being with all the
[3:05:38] stuff. This is a system that's built
more for um like a cyber secure. I don't
[3:05:43] know if you guys have heard what's going
on with like Newton County and what's
[3:05:46] going on with surrounding counties in
Georgia right now, but they're holding
[3:05:50] these counties And this system is built
around that to prevent this stuff from
[3:05:55] happening. So there is a lot of counties
in Atlanta that do use Genitech. Um we
[3:06:00] are now finding that more schools are
actually going to Genitech uh for that
[3:06:04] very reason.
>> Clint, who will actually uh
[3:06:09] monitor or manage the system?
>> So this system the way it's done now is
[3:06:16] managed by like different people. This
system will be integrated in with our
[3:06:19] network security. So when we create a
user, when we set up your email, uh
[3:06:23] it'll put you in a department and being
in that department will give you the
[3:06:26] access that you need. Um when that
person separates employment or is
[3:06:31] separated, it removes that access
instantly.
[3:06:34] » So there's [clears throat] no one
particular
[3:06:37] » again
>> person that you can say manage the whole
[3:06:40] entire system for the county.
>> Again, it would be it.
[3:06:45] » Oh, okay. Oh, okay. Okay.
>> But Mr. share again, you know, uh
[3:06:53] if if we can just keep keep the the
question limited, you know, whatever
[3:06:57] you're dealing with. I mean, on a
serious note, when whenever you're
[3:07:00] dealing with uh
>> let let me tell y'all about scammers,
[3:07:04] man, let
>> we going home now.
[3:07:07] » Yeah, I know. So, that's why I'm just
saying let's just listen. When whenever
[3:07:12] whenever they make a whole song now
about scammers,
[3:07:16] » Yeah. Y'all, I know y'all probably don't
listen to that station, but it is a
[3:07:19] whole song out there about how they spin
it. So, in other words, if we can just
[3:07:24] not ask too many questions about about
security on a serious note.
[3:07:28] » Thank you.
>> U and what I'm asking for tonight is for
[3:07:30] the board to approve you or the
chairman.
[3:07:33] » Authorized chairman.
>> Authorized chairman to sign a contract
[3:07:37] for the uh $71,000 purchase um
contingent upon the county attorney
[3:07:42] approving the contract. I got one
question that you said that that funding
[3:07:46] is available.
>> Yes, sir.
[3:07:48] » Okay, Mr. Chairman, I'm ready for a
motion. I'll make that motion. Chairman
[3:07:52] second motion and a second that we
approve the request presented. Any
[3:07:55] further discussion? Think we had plenty.
All in favor? Show of hands. All right.
[3:08:00] Thank you, Mr. Stanley.
>> Look forward to enhancement of our
[3:08:05] security system.
>> Didn't he didn't he say that's a minimum
[3:08:08] investment?
>> All right.
[3:08:13] My readings
item G.
[3:08:17] » Yes, Mr. Chairman.
The uh committee has met and reviewed
[3:08:23] the applications.
had one each for um
[3:08:34] the uh date fund
and uh applicant is the Liberty County
[3:08:40] Boys and Girls Club submitted
application and we um agreed to approve
[3:08:48] the amount requested was $5,000.
[3:08:52] » That would be my motion, Mr. Chairman.
>> Second, Mr. Motion second. We approve
[3:08:56] the allocation of the funds to Li County
Boys and Girl. I see Miss Ed.
[3:09:02] » Oh,
>> all in favor? Show of hands, please.
[3:09:04] » All right. Second.
>> Yes, sir. Also, the uh Liberty County
[3:09:08] Boys and Girls Club submitted
uh application for the opioid settlement
[3:09:14] fund for $20,000. These funds are
available and uh I would make a motion
[3:09:20] we approve the application for $20,000.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chair.
[3:09:23] » Mr. Chair, I got it.
[3:09:28] Since you're sitting out there, Miss
War, Miss Green,
[3:09:33] » um, got one question. I know a while
back you were connected with the Boys
[3:09:37] and Girls Club in Savannah, correct?
>> Yes, sir.
[3:09:40] » Are you still connected with them?
[3:09:45] » So, this funds will be used only for
Liberty County.
[3:09:50] » Absolutely.
Not
[3:09:58] to help us.
[3:10:03] » Okay. So, you
[3:10:13] » already have 54 kids
[3:10:22] had to come away.
[3:10:33] What a grateful. Thank you. And I will
spread the word.
[3:10:37] » All right.
>> No problem.
[3:10:40] » Okay. You want to make com
>> comment before we vote?
[3:10:44] » Uh, y'all got a motion? We need a vote.
>> Vote.
[3:10:49] » Oh. Um, uh, Commissioner Emma, you can
do I'll let you do so. Just just make
[3:10:54] the statement. [laughter]
>> And, uh, on what we're talking about
[3:10:58] here, I just like to make it known to
the to the taxpayers that, uh, without
[3:11:02] going into great detail, but this is not
actually tax money that's coming from
[3:11:06] the taxpayer and all. I just want to
make that clear. This is money that's
[3:11:09] been settled
>> from different court cases and different
[3:11:12] thing that goes back into the system.
as plain as I know how to explain.
[3:11:18] » You did a good job, sir.
>> Um, Mr. I just ask you that if I read
[3:11:23] item G without being here, I would
assume that all this is date funds. You
[3:11:27] need to make the notation that this the
20,000 is opiate.
[3:11:31] » Yes, sir. Okay.
>> Okay. Yes, sir.
[3:11:33] » Just for clarity.
>> Okay. All in favor?
[3:11:38] All right. Thank you, Miss for what you
do in the community.
[3:11:42] » A whole lot more to me, sir. and you and
your team.
[3:11:46] » Oh yeah. Uh C Councilman Kelly as well.
>> Yeah, but she know she works hard over
[3:11:52] there.
>> Okay. Go ahead,
[3:11:56] » sir.
>> Uh Mr. Chair, quickly, uh EMA Bob
[3:11:59] received a final check for $33,6496
[3:12:04] for the remaining Hurricane Helen
projects. Uh he's waiting to get some
[3:12:08] money from category Z. under finances.
Uh we are assembling the actors that you
[3:12:15] heard the other day. Uh talk about the
water reclamation facility, the
[3:12:19] financing of that
>> and also I noted I share with chairman
[3:12:23] is that we're eligible to receive
$130,000 from the tree act, right?
[3:12:28] » Uh that money is sitting there. I was
contacted by ACCG to apply for those
[3:12:33] funds and uh Samantha and I are going to
sit down and we're going to put together
[3:12:36] the application and we'll bring back a
resolution because that's one of the
[3:12:40] requirements at the uh next commission
meeting to get that completed and we
[3:12:44] will apply for those funds. Uh
Commissioner um Stevens was alluding to
[3:12:48] on landfield. We received a letter from
EPD uh from anc inspection that was done
[3:12:54] on March the 4th, 2026 and it highlights
several issues that need to be resolved.
[3:12:59] Larry Myers, who's our environment
engineer, has worked with uh Clinton
[3:13:02] Wales to address those issues and he's
going to submit a letter and we're going
[3:13:06] to send it to EPD to show to show how we
plan to mitigate other areas. Uh y'all
[3:13:12] just went over security for the annex.
Uh
[3:13:16] one of the things that came out and I
was talking to uh Mr. Payne was we got
[3:13:21] our um preliminary do sales tax ratio
and it looked good. Um I'm asking Keith
[3:13:27] to come to the uh work session and to
talk about in details, but they're
[3:13:32] within range and they were at 38%. He
said normally they like to see 36 to
[3:13:36] 42%. So we're in that good sweet spot,
but he's going to come [clears throat]
[3:13:39] and explain that in detail. Uh also in
your packet is a notification for the
[3:13:44] city of Riceboro. They want to do some
annexation and particularly uh it
[3:13:49] involves land owned by the Mount Zion
Missionary Baptist Church there and they
[3:13:52] want to build some houses there.
>> New Zion.
[3:13:54] » I'm about to say I'm sorry.
Man, listen. Mount Zion. Yeah. Yeah. We
[3:13:58] we not selling.
That's on EB Cooper Road. And one of the
[3:14:02] things they noted in the in in the
request was we had to protest that we
[3:14:07] had facilities in the area and we do not
have any count.
[3:14:10] » We don't have any.
>> And last thing I want to note, Mr. share
[3:14:14] is that we have a ribbon cutting for our
new MS station on September 3rd at 9:00
[3:14:19] a.m.
>> At the next meeting, will you bring us
[3:14:23] up to date on item one
or did you do it just now?
[3:14:29] » Uh, let me Okay, got I'll bring up the
>> Okay, good.
[3:14:35] » I know you and Commissioner
Thrift and Blunt are doing that. So,
[3:14:40] yes, sir. We'll we'll dig a little
deeper. We got another meeting.
[3:14:43] » Okay.
>> All right.
[3:14:44] » Oh, just real quick, I I appreciate the
support with uh for our our STEM uh day
[3:14:50] camp that we had.
>> Uh we had what 30 participants and uh
[3:14:55] we're looking at bringing it back uh in
the in the spring. Of course, you know,
[3:14:59] the commission that's that's part of our
whole youth
[3:15:04] uh initiative. And it was sold out in
what two days? No, but yeah, one day.
[3:15:12] And Mr. Mosie, just for the rest of the
board, we do have a some of us have a
[3:15:17] meeting scheduled on the
>> 10th. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Thank you,
[3:15:22] sir. Thank you, sir. Uh for our county
workshop. Um
[3:15:27] uh talk to Maria. She's got rooms and
what she want to do is make sure from
[3:15:32] you guys, all you guys planning to go
and if y'all are, we're going to
[3:15:36] complete your application so we can
submit and pay the registration fees.
[3:15:39] So, is everybody here going?
Commissioner Frasier,
[3:15:44] » hey, I responded.
>> Well, she's she's been out of pocket and
[3:15:48] we're trying to
>> My bad.
[3:15:49] » Yeah.
>> We're trying to make sure everything
[3:15:51] » Yeah. I I was I was actually talking
about the 10th that we meet on the
[3:15:56] project in Riceboro
>> and on August.
[3:15:59] » Oh, is that
>> I mean August.
[3:16:02] » Uh so we'll send the time out.
>> Okay. All right.
[3:16:09] So, what Commissioner Stevens is
alluding to, we're meeting with the uh
[3:16:13] PA pastors and concerned citizens around
a roundabout at uh SR119 in Bariton
[3:16:21] Ferry as we get ready to plan that
roundabout. So, we're going to be
[3:16:24] meeting [clears throat] with them out in
the field,
[3:16:26] » right?
>> Uh to look at it one more time. So,
[3:16:28] that's what he's alluding to.
>> Yeah. Okay.
[3:16:32] » All right. All right. Good. The agenda
that's just a carry over from last time
[3:16:38] executive session. We don't have
>> No, sir. We will talk about that later.
[3:16:41] But yes, sir.
>> We're good. We're good.
[3:16:43] » We're good.
>> Let's go home. Shar motion to journ.
[3:16:48] » All in favor?
[3:16:54] Patrick, we got our money.