1 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:50,720 Well, >> good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. 2 00:08:49,279 --> 00:08:54,320 Welcome to the Make Bib County Board of Commission's pre-commission meeting. 3 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:58,399 Today is Tuesday, September the 1st, and the time is now approximately 4:30. Like 4 00:08:56,800 --> 00:09:01,920 to welcome everyone here today, and we'll start this meeting off with a call 5 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:06,720 to order followed by the approval of the minutes. Item 2, 2A is approval of the 6 00:09:04,560 --> 00:09:10,000 minutes from August the 4th, 2026 pre-commission meeting. Can I get a 7 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:13,920 motion to approve? Motion by Commissioner Stewart, second 8 00:09:11,519 --> 00:09:16,640 by Mayor Pro Tim W. We have a motion and second. All those in favor of the 9 00:09:14,959 --> 00:09:22,000 motion, please say I. >> Oppose. Nay. That motion carries and be 10 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:26,000 sent consent agenda tonight. Item 3A is a resolution to make Bib 11 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:30,160 County Commission to reappoint Lewis Frank Topkins to the McBib County 12 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:34,560 Transit Authority. Mr. Tomkins has served that authority well and they do 13 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:38,080 recommend that he continue to uh serve them in that capacity. So, at this time, 14 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:43,360 we entertain a motion to approve. Motion by Commissioner Howell, second by 15 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:47,519 Commissioner W. Mayor Pro. We have a motion and second. I hear you all, Mr. 16 00:09:45,839 --> 00:09:50,560 Bronson on there as well. So, got a motion and second. All those in favor of 17 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:55,200 the motion, please say I. >> Opposed? Nay. That motion carries 18 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:59,040 unanimous to be sent consent agenda. We're going to move on to items four, 19 00:09:56,880 --> 00:10:03,040 which we have several alcohol licenses A through E. Uh, each one of those has a 20 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:10,399 recommendation. So, we'll begin with item 4 A. This is GH Express located at 21 00:10:06,399 --> 00:10:14,560 2900 Riverside Drive, Mon Georgia. Legal does recommend approval of this 22 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:18,880 particular uh Texico station there. They meet all the legal and statutory 23 00:10:15,680 --> 00:10:23,079 requirements to get one. And um at this time, we enter intend a motion to 24 00:10:20,079 --> 00:10:23,079 approve. 25 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:27,720 » Sure. Go ahead. 26 00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:32,160 » I'm no longer involved with it. >> Okay. 27 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:34,640 » I'll make a motion to approve. >> All right. I would make a motion to 28 00:10:33,279 --> 00:10:38,959 approve by Commissioner How. Do we have a second? 29 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:43,920 Second. Uh, was that I hear some over here? Okay. Mayor Per got a motion and 30 00:10:41,519 --> 00:10:47,040 second. Any questions? You know questions? All those in favor 31 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:50,000 of the motion, please say I. >> Opposed? Nay. 32 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:55,519 » That motion carries and be sent consent agenda. Item B is a Shell Martell Food 33 00:10:52,959 --> 00:11:00,160 Mart located at 4338 Hartley Bridge Road. Uh, you can see a photograph of 34 00:10:57,920 --> 00:11:02,880 that on your screen. Uh same recommendation legal legal recommends 35 00:11:01,839 --> 00:11:08,160 approval. They met our legal and statutory requirements to get a license 36 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:11,279 and they have submitted a good faith uh standing good standing letter meaning 37 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:14,800 they paid all their taxes. So at this time we entertain a motion to approve. 38 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:18,320 Motion by commissioner how do we have a second? 39 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:22,959 » Second by mayor pro Tim win. Have a motion and second. All those in favor of 40 00:11:19,680 --> 00:11:27,279 the motion please say I oppose. Nay. That motion carries to be sent to 41 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:35,200 consent agenda. Item 4 C is a Marathon Prime located at 513 Harrison Road. You 42 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:38,320 see a copy of that there. Um that is uh legal does recommend approval of that 43 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:42,640 particular place. It's a renewal of an alcohol license or um been there for 44 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:46,000 quite a while that gas station right across from McDonald's there. So at this 45 00:11:44,399 --> 00:11:49,440 time uh legal recommends approval. They met all legal statutory requirements to 46 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:54,720 do so including a certificate of good standing. I got a motion to approve. 47 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:57,760 » Motion by Commissioner Bailey. Have a second. 48 00:11:56,320 --> 00:12:02,640 » Second by Commissioner How. We have a motion and second. All those in favor of 49 00:11:59,040 --> 00:12:07,760 the motion, please say I. Opposed? Nay. >> That motion carries will be sent consent 50 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:13,920 agenda. Item D is USA Grocery located at 2590 Rocky Creek Road. It's 2590 Rocky 51 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:17,440 Creek Road. Legal has recommended approval of this. They've researched all 52 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:20,880 the paperwork including the certificate good standing and they meet all the 53 00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:24,560 legal and statutory requirements to have an alcohol license. So, at this time, 54 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:28,240 we'd entertain a motion to approve. Motion by Commissioner Bay, will you 55 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:31,360 have a second? Second by Commissioner Howell. Commissioner Ko, you have a 56 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:35,600 question. >> Um, did they change ownerships because 57 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:38,079 they >> in the past they had a 58 00:12:37,279 --> 00:12:41,440 » That's correct. >> Call. So, same 59 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:44,720 » anytime it goes before us, they they change ownerships uh or there's a new 60 00:12:43,519 --> 00:12:50,160 tenant there in order for it to come before this this body. 61 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:54,240 » So, same company, different ownership. Um I don't know about you mean by same 62 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:57,040 company. It's different. Um you have a different tenant there. Sometimes you 63 00:12:55,839 --> 00:12:58,560 have the same owner. Yeah. Same building. 64 00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:00,240 » Same location. >> That's correct. 65 00:12:59,279 --> 00:13:05,600 » Different ownership. >> That's correct. 66 00:13:02,240 --> 00:13:09,360 » Okay. Any other questions? >> Got it. We have a motion and second. All 67 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:14,079 those in favor of motion, please say I. Oppose? Nay. That motion carries will be 68 00:13:11,839 --> 00:13:20,000 sent to consent agenda. Our final item is the gold bar located at 518 Cherry 69 00:13:17,519 --> 00:13:23,279 Street. Uh this is a restaurant bar location there. They do meet all the 70 00:13:21,839 --> 00:13:27,839 legal statutory requirements. This is new uh ownership there and they've um 71 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:33,360 the sheriff has approved them and uh legal does recommend approval. So this 72 00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:37,360 time we entertain a motion to approve. A motion by Commissioner Howell, second 73 00:13:35,279 --> 00:13:40,959 by Commissioner Bronson. Any other questions? Hear no questions. 74 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:46,800 All those in favor of the motion, please say I. Opposed? Nay. That motion carries 75 00:13:44,720 --> 00:13:52,560 and we sent the consent agenda. We have several agreements, contracts, and 76 00:13:48,560 --> 00:13:55,760 purchase orders. Uh 5 A through E. Item A is a resolution of making county 77 00:13:54,160 --> 00:14:00,399 commission authorizing mayor to ex execute a professional services 78 00:13:57,199 --> 00:14:05,279 agreement with local Q in amount of $55,000 for the provision of digital 79 00:14:02,639 --> 00:14:09,600 marketing services for air service at the middle Georgia regional airport 80 00:14:07,040 --> 00:14:13,279 payable from the airport fund airport middle Georgia regional professional 81 00:14:11,199 --> 00:14:16,320 services and other line items. This is for marketing at the airport. It comes 82 00:14:14,959 --> 00:14:20,160 directly out of their funds. It's not out of our general fund for us and we'll 83 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:25,040 be approving that uh with your motion. So at this time we entertain a motion to 84 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:28,800 approve. Got a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Hear no discussion. 85 00:14:27,519 --> 00:14:34,399 All those in favor of the motion please say I. Oppose. Nay. That motion carries 86 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:37,040 and be sent to consent agenda. Going to move on to a resolution making Bip 87 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:42,000 County Commission authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement with inspiring 88 00:14:39,199 --> 00:14:48,399 healthy lives LLC for the provision of counseling service inabout inabout 89 00:14:45,199 --> 00:14:51,600 amount of up to $37,688 to be paid from the family treatment 90 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:54,560 court grant funds. We have someone here going to speak on that. If you don't 91 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:57,199 mind come up to the microphone, I'll turn that on if you don't mind 92 00:14:55,680 --> 00:15:01,199 identifying yourself and just give us a little bit more information about this 93 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:03,760 um 37,688. And I understand this uh company has 94 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:06,320 been doing business with making Bib County for the last three years. If you 95 00:15:04,959 --> 00:15:08,800 can let us know how they've been doing, we'd appreciate it. 96 00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:12,720 » Well, good afternoon. My name is Tamara EPS. I am the coordinator of the making 97 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:17,279 judicial circuit family treatment court. Um yes, Inspiring Healthy Lives has been 98 00:15:15,199 --> 00:15:21,199 actually doing business with our court for the last three years. Prior to that, 99 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:25,839 they also have been doing uh business with defects for the past 10 years. They 100 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:30,480 handle a lot of the assessments for us. They handle the therapy. So every person 101 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:34,639 who comes into family treatment quarters are required to have therapy once a 102 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:38,639 week. She is who will be handling that in addition to some other services 103 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:43,040 including anger management, uh nurturing parenting and moral recognition therapy. 104 00:15:41,839 --> 00:15:47,120 » Thank you for that information. At this time we entertain a motion to approve. 105 00:15:45,199 --> 00:15:51,120 » Motion by Commissioner Cook, second by Commissioner Bronson. Any further 106 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:55,759 questions? Hear no questions. All those in favor of the motion, please say I. 107 00:15:53,279 --> 00:15:59,519 » Opposed? Nay. That motion carries unanimously. be sent to consent agenda. 108 00:15:57,839 --> 00:16:02,720 Item C is an ordinance of the Mon Bib County Commission to authorize a mayor 109 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:06,880 to enter into a memorandum understanding with Miami Dade Innovation Authority, 110 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:11,759 Inc. to participate in a catalyst challenge with a required local match of 111 00:16:08,959 --> 00:16:16,560 $50,000 for the pilot demonstration appropriating 50,000 from general fund 112 00:16:13,839 --> 00:16:20,480 fund balance to be required local match. U you can see the information containing 113 00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:25,199 your packet but just a little bit uh information additional to that. We have 114 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:29,680 a lot of um rightway in making Bip County and certainly like many of you I 115 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:32,880 get calls all the time about uh did we cut the grass? Did we remove the trees? 116 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:35,440 Do we have these types of problems or issues on there? Is that a state 117 00:16:34,079 --> 00:16:40,079 highway, a local highway, public highway? Uh so we we teamed up with our 118 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:46,000 our partners as part of the night foundation. Uh similar to what we did, I 119 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:49,360 I would assume with the um the paving the way program where we had all the 120 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:54,959 streets looked at and had the sidewalks recently looked at. uh this we're trying 121 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:59,519 to come up with a better way of of um uh fulfilling the services on rightaways. 122 00:16:57,680 --> 00:17:02,480 Uh everybody knows that they may cut their 123 00:17:01,040 --> 00:17:05,199 yard once a week. We can't afford to do that as a county with the you know 124 00:17:03,839 --> 00:17:10,559 current taxes that are being paid by our citizens once a week. But we do need to 125 00:17:07,919 --> 00:17:14,720 have a systemically systemic way of um figuring out uh where we've been, where 126 00:17:13,199 --> 00:17:20,319 we need to go, some type of schedule, whether there's a program to cut or 127 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:24,400 whether we we have a um need to uh do some other types of alternative 128 00:17:21,919 --> 00:17:27,839 treatments to those those lands usually. So, this is a way that we can have to 129 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:31,760 kind of look over all the areas in making Bib County uh and come up our 130 00:17:29,919 --> 00:17:35,919 public works and and our other programs, they do a good job with what they have 131 00:17:33,840 --> 00:17:39,919 to work with. But as you can imagine, uh, back in 2014 when the city and 132 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:44,240 county consolidated, you had a city and you had a county, each responsible for 133 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:49,200 cutting certain parts, rightways and parts of the town. But we really need a 134 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:53,840 a better way to map out, uh, how often a particular area gets cut, um, and who's 135 00:17:52,080 --> 00:17:58,080 supposed to be doing the cutting, how often it's going to be cut, uh, and who 136 00:17:55,919 --> 00:18:01,520 we go to in case there's an issue. That way, if we have a situation where it's 137 00:17:59,840 --> 00:18:04,640 not getting cut enough and we need to increase that amount of coverage and we 138 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:08,160 don't have sufficient staff to do that, it may be a place where we can use some 139 00:18:06,080 --> 00:18:10,720 contractual services for that. So, this is the reason that I asked for this to 140 00:18:09,520 --> 00:18:14,320 be done. and we've been working together with a foundation to try to target some 141 00:18:12,960 --> 00:18:18,000 issues that we're having in our community and this is one of those ways 142 00:18:15,919 --> 00:18:21,679 we're looking at charging that uh so they can come back with a particular 143 00:18:19,360 --> 00:18:27,120 program for us uh that place the entire map out the entire city uh and county 144 00:18:25,039 --> 00:18:30,880 and try to be more efficient on being able to handle the rideways. So, a lot 145 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:35,679 of information to say that. Uh Commissioner Kat, you have a question. 146 00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:38,880 » Can you explain what the catalyst challenge is? I know we just went 147 00:18:37,919 --> 00:18:42,720 through >> the catalyst challenges. They're putting 148 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:46,799 up $50,000 for challenges that local cities like oursel have uh and 149 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:49,440 identifying some issues that we have and this is one of the issues that I 150 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:52,480 identified on behalf of making Bib County that I thought we need to help 151 00:18:51,039 --> 00:18:57,280 with. So that's that's pretty much the challenge. They're doing this in several 152 00:18:54,160 --> 00:19:00,640 of their um night communities and uh across the United States. They're giving 153 00:18:59,120 --> 00:19:03,600 their funds and hoping that we're going to match that uh to come up with more 154 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:08,640 efficient ways to help local governments. So that's the challenge. 155 00:19:06,559 --> 00:19:13,440 So at this time I'd entertain a motion to approve. Motion by Commissioner Cook. 156 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:16,400 We have a second. Second by Commissioner Bailey. We have a motion and second. All 157 00:19:15,039 --> 00:19:21,840 those in favor of the motion, please say I. Oppose. Nay. That motion carries. And 158 00:19:19,840 --> 00:19:24,240 we sent the consent agenda. Item D is a resolution making Bib County 159 00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:28,720 Commissioner authorizing the mayor to enter into a lease agreement with Sander 160 00:19:26,480 --> 00:19:33,520 Curry for the lease of office space at 203 West White Road in Byron, Georgia 161 00:19:31,280 --> 00:19:37,919 for up to three years with an initial rental rate of $8,18,600 162 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:42,000 per year to be paid from the public defenders budget. Uh this is in their 163 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:46,559 budget. Uh as you looked at the contract or the paperwork attached to it, you'll 164 00:19:43,520 --> 00:19:50,400 see there's a $100 increase per month per year. Uh and there's a three-year 165 00:19:48,559 --> 00:19:54,480 contract. Uh this is a place that they operate since we're a 166 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:59,280 multi-jurisdictional circuit with minib county peace county and Crawford County. 167 00:19:57,039 --> 00:20:02,880 Uh public defender has an office there. So this is in their budget and they're 168 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:06,080 asking for continued use of that space. So at this time we entertain a motion to 169 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:10,000 approve. And do we have a second? Got a motion 170 00:20:08,640 --> 00:20:15,120 and second. All those in favor of the motion please say I oppose. Nay. That 171 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:19,520 motion carries unanimously be sent to consent agenda. Going to move on to item 172 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:22,960 E. This is a resolution of making county commission authorizing the mayor to 173 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:27,200 enter into an independent contract agreement with Play South LLC doing 174 00:20:25,679 --> 00:20:31,480 business as Play South playground creators in amount of 98,29520 175 00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:38,559 for the purchase and installation of a composite play structure at Lindmore 176 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:44,320 Estates to be paid from the community block development grant CDBG funds. Um, 177 00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:46,159 everybody familiar with that area? I'm not sure if there's a picture that came 178 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:49,520 up while we were talking, but everybody's familiar with Limmore 179 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:53,520 States. And this is uh basically CDBG plan of grant funds that'll be used to 180 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:59,440 purchase this playground. So, this time we entertain a motion to approve. 181 00:20:57,200 --> 00:21:04,039 » Got a motion. Got a second. Commissioner Bronson has a question. Yes, sir. 182 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:04,039 Commissioner Bronson. 183 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:09,400 questions 184 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:16,440 or any ideas 185 00:21:16,480 --> 00:21:19,640 for this 186 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:25,880 ramp and whatnot for those 187 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:30,320 play. >> Yeah, I don't think this is a legally 188 00:21:28,159 --> 00:21:33,919 inclusive program in in this sense that we've did. There are other programs uh 189 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:37,840 playgrounds that we've done in the community, but this is also CDBG funds 190 00:21:36,400 --> 00:21:41,280 making the determination they're limited in budget to that. As you recall that 191 00:21:39,840 --> 00:21:45,760 when we did the inclusive programs, they were more like 400 $600,000. This is 192 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:50,360 about a 92,000 composite playground structure. 193 00:21:47,200 --> 00:21:50,360 » Yes, sir. 194 00:21:56,880 --> 00:22:01,200 » Certainly, we'll be happy to talk with them, but they they control that. We're 195 00:21:59,360 --> 00:22:03,600 just passing through the funds. >> Yes, sir. Thank you, sir. 196 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:08,480 » Thank you. We do have a motion and second. All those in favor of the 197 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:12,240 motion, please say I. Oppose. Nay. That motion carries. We'll be sent to consent 198 00:22:09,919 --> 00:22:15,520 agenda. Going to move on to a few grants that we have. I believe we have three of 199 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:19,919 those tonight. The first is a resolution of the making county commission 200 00:22:16,720 --> 00:22:24,159 authorizing the acceptance of a BJA fiscical year 25 Edward Burn Memorial 201 00:22:22,320 --> 00:22:31,080 Justice Assistance Grant from the Department of Justice Office of Justice 202 00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:31,080 Programs in the amount of $170,541 203 00:22:32,159 --> 00:22:39,039 and that is to be used uh for the sheriff's department with no match to 204 00:22:36,159 --> 00:22:41,919 make big county. Um and it will be also coming from the technology equipment and 205 00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:45,440 for training purposes. When I reached out to sheriff to discuss this issue 206 00:22:43,280 --> 00:22:48,880 with him, he says for in criminal investigation and forensics, some 207 00:22:47,440 --> 00:22:52,960 equipment and training for firearms examination in particular in equipments 208 00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:57,039 for analyzing surfaces for explosive or drug residue. So, uh just in case 209 00:22:55,440 --> 00:23:00,320 someone thought you we're using it for flot cameras or something like that, 210 00:22:58,240 --> 00:23:03,280 that would be entirely incorrect. So, I want to make sure uh that we were 211 00:23:01,919 --> 00:23:07,200 dealing with this equipment for training for firearms and for drugs and the 212 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:10,960 sheriff certainly needs this $170,000 and ask for us to accept the grants. So, 213 00:23:09,360 --> 00:23:15,520 at this time, I'd uh entertain any questions. If there not any questions, 214 00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:19,760 I'll ask for a motion to approve. >> Got a motion to approve by everybody. 215 00:23:17,120 --> 00:23:22,880 You got a second. Second by everybody else. Uh so, we got a motion and second. 216 00:23:21,679 --> 00:23:26,559 All those in favor of the motion, please say I. 217 00:23:24,159 --> 00:23:30,159 » Opposed? Nay. That motion carries and be sent to consent agenda. Item B is an 218 00:23:29,039 --> 00:23:35,120 ordinance of the making Bib County Commission authorizing mayor to accept 219 00:23:31,840 --> 00:23:41,840 Federal Highway Administration 2024 safe streets and roads for all implementation 220 00:23:37,760 --> 00:23:45,679 grant funds an amount of 5,630,440 to fund the development of a multi-use 221 00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:52,000 trail and sidewalk loop around Grey Highway 222 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:56,480 appropriation up to 1,400 thou $47,610 from the 2018 splice fund roads other 223 00:23:54,640 --> 00:24:00,320 line item to be used as required local match funds. Uh Mr. This time I asked 224 00:23:58,640 --> 00:24:03,679 Mr. Weston Straoud to come forward. Uh you can identify yourself even though I 225 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:06,400 already did. Let the people at home know what your title is here and what you're 226 00:24:05,039 --> 00:24:10,559 doing and a little bit more about this grant uh application that we've had and 227 00:24:09,039 --> 00:24:13,679 been awarded. Just need to appropriate the funds. 228 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:18,080 » Okay. My name is Weston Straoud. I'm the traffic safety manager for making bib 229 00:24:15,600 --> 00:24:23,039 county. Uh this grant is for the East Min Loop. So essentially it adds three 230 00:24:20,559 --> 00:24:31,440 and a half or three miles of multi-use trail. Um it will go down Clinton Road. 231 00:24:27,120 --> 00:24:35,520 um down Boulevard. Um so it'll tie into North Highland Park as well as the 232 00:24:33,360 --> 00:24:41,840 Chameleia Gardens and then eventually terminate at the Okamoki Heritage Trail. 233 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:47,679 It will also add lighting every 90 ft um as well as sidewalks um along Grey 234 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:56,240 Highway from Sherling Drive all the way to uh the intersection of Clinton Wood 235 00:24:50,559 --> 00:25:01,520 Valley and O Clinton Road. Um, min has one of the highest um pedestrian 236 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:06,080 fatality rates uh in in the state um and roughly five times 237 00:25:04,480 --> 00:25:11,200 the national average. And on Grey Highway alone, there's been 15 238 00:25:07,679 --> 00:25:15,679 pedestrian fatalities since uh 2006. And so this has been a part of our high 239 00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:19,600 injury network um in a roadway that we know that we've needed to address. And 240 00:25:18,080 --> 00:25:25,279 through the work that we've done, the support of uh complete streets, um under 241 00:25:23,360 --> 00:25:30,080 this administration, we're able to actually be eligible to receive these 242 00:25:27,039 --> 00:25:33,919 funds. Um we received a planning grant as well, and so um we're able to 243 00:25:32,480 --> 00:25:41,520 actually receive this implementation grant. Um we've done some public 244 00:25:37,360 --> 00:25:47,200 outreach in 2024. We had a public survey where we had 84 um responses. All of 245 00:25:44,559 --> 00:25:54,799 them um and most of them uh asking for these types of interventions. Um 64 60% 246 00:25:51,120 --> 00:26:00,240 wanted crosswalks, 50% 56% wanted more lighting. Um and 43% wanted a center 247 00:25:57,600 --> 00:26:04,480 meeting uh which we currently have uh due to the uh the work that GOT has 248 00:26:02,559 --> 00:26:10,720 already done on a portion of Grey Highway. Um so the responses have been 249 00:26:07,919 --> 00:26:13,840 positive for this. Um, and I think it'll be something that'll be truly impactful 250 00:26:12,159 --> 00:26:16,880 for our county. >> Thank you, Mr. Strad. We do have at 251 00:26:15,120 --> 00:26:21,279 least three questions right now. Uh, so the first one will be Mayor Pro Tim Win. 252 00:26:19,440 --> 00:26:25,200 » Hello, Mr. Strad. Thank you very much for being here. I appreciate that. I 253 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:29,600 just had a small question. This sidewalk loop along Gray Highway, tell me where 254 00:26:28,240 --> 00:26:34,240 that is again. >> So, if you if you're going down Grey 255 00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:38,640 Highway, especially if you turn off of Sherling Drive onto Grey Highway, you'll 256 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:42,799 see where there are desired trails. And so those are essentially paths way 257 00:26:41,039 --> 00:26:46,559 pathways where people and pedestrians have been walking along and you can see 258 00:26:44,159 --> 00:26:51,200 that the grass is beat down. Um and currently there are no sidewalks in that 259 00:26:48,559 --> 00:26:56,000 area. And so for most people in East Mon that need to get to grow get groceries 260 00:26:54,000 --> 00:27:01,919 um there's no way that they can walk there. You have to have a car. Uh and so 261 00:26:58,960 --> 00:27:06,240 this would go along those pathways. And you know when we submit the grant we uh 262 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:10,400 we submit with the idea in mind. Now, this won't be able to fund two 263 00:27:07,679 --> 00:27:15,679 sidewalks. It'll be either on the right hand side going outbound or the uh 264 00:27:12,799 --> 00:27:19,120 left-hand side going outbound. Um, but you know, once we hire a consultant, 265 00:27:17,760 --> 00:27:22,720 they'll be able to give us a better understanding, do a survey to determine 266 00:27:21,120 --> 00:27:27,760 what's most feasible. >> But these are on Grey Highway either 267 00:27:25,679 --> 00:27:32,240 side of Grey Highway from where you come off on Shirling, you said to go down 268 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:35,520 there. So you see paths of people walking in the grass and stuff down 269 00:27:34,320 --> 00:27:39,919 there already quite often. >> Yeah. This this is a this is a roadway 270 00:27:37,919 --> 00:27:44,000 that needs sidewalks if we don't already have it. But um 271 00:27:41,679 --> 00:27:48,000 » does it go the other way? Does it go towards Walmart? 272 00:27:45,919 --> 00:27:50,640 » No. Uh yes, ma'am. It will go towards Walmart because that's 273 00:27:48,880 --> 00:27:54,080 » But are there sidewalks already there? >> There's there's not going towards 274 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:59,200 Walmart. Now, when you go in town, there are sidewalks along there, like where 275 00:27:56,320 --> 00:28:04,159 McAfee Tower, um along that side of Grey Highway, there are sidewalks, but they 276 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:05,360 terminate um once you get to Sherling Drive. 277 00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:06,559 » Okay. >> Yes, ma'am. 278 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:08,559 » Thank you. >> Yes, 279 00:28:07,120 --> 00:28:13,440 » Mr. Bailey. >> Yes. Um thank you, Mayor. I just want to 280 00:28:10,960 --> 00:28:18,399 recognize our engineers. Our engineers have been with us, some of them well 281 00:28:15,440 --> 00:28:24,640 over 25 years, and say what a tremendous job that you do for the city of Mon 282 00:28:21,440 --> 00:28:30,159 County. And um for the benefit of those that are in our listening area um that 283 00:28:28,240 --> 00:28:35,919 have cried out for these sidewalks for quite some time, this will also link 284 00:28:33,120 --> 00:28:40,159 some of the sidewalks as well. And these are some of those that we reviewed a 285 00:28:37,840 --> 00:28:45,520 couple of weeks ago where it had partial sidewalks, but it needed to be linked so 286 00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:48,799 that this could be a continuous biking and walking event. 287 00:28:47,360 --> 00:28:54,000 » Exactly. Exactly. >> Great. And I did have the opportunity to 288 00:28:50,960 --> 00:28:58,240 go on that ride as we went through many of the neighborhoods and determine, you 289 00:28:56,320 --> 00:29:03,919 know, what it would actually take to link those particular areas. So those of 290 00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:08,640 you that have been crying out for us to go out and take a look at those areas, 291 00:29:06,159 --> 00:29:12,880 it has been done and thank you so much Western Stride and also thank you to all 292 00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:15,120 of the other engineers that also helped to make this possible. Yes, 293 00:29:14,399 --> 00:29:16,799 » ma'am. Thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner Bailey, 294 00:29:16,080 --> 00:29:20,080 Commissioner Stewart. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I appreciate Mr. I 295 00:29:18,559 --> 00:29:23,440 just want to say thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you to you and uh thank 296 00:29:22,159 --> 00:29:29,200 you to the administration as well because uh that's an area that uh that 297 00:29:26,480 --> 00:29:33,039 really needs some help. Um, you know, if you if you think about our good friend 298 00:29:30,640 --> 00:29:37,919 LJ Malone, he lost his father in that very spot uh up near near Walmart. Um, 299 00:29:36,399 --> 00:29:41,520 that's a gentleman now who is an old man. He has one of these high boy 300 00:29:39,600 --> 00:29:44,799 walkers and you see him. He uses the crosswalk. He's coming from McAfee 301 00:29:42,960 --> 00:29:49,360 Towers, but he uses it every day to go to the convenience store, go to CVS. And 302 00:29:47,679 --> 00:29:53,760 uh, so if we can get those sidewalks going up to Walmart, uh, that'll be a 303 00:29:51,600 --> 00:29:57,520 great win for everybody. And I'll even say myself for the 11 years I took care 304 00:29:55,679 --> 00:30:01,760 of my mother, when a car would go down, I would walk from my home out in Bowen 305 00:29:59,760 --> 00:30:04,960 Golf Course all the way down to Walmart because it was quicker than to catch the 306 00:30:03,440 --> 00:30:09,039 two buses, the East Mon bus and the North Highland bus to get there. Uh so I 307 00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:12,240 I can't thank you enough for that. Appreciate 308 00:30:10,559 --> 00:30:14,240 » Thank you, Mr. Stewart. Mr. W, you have a followup. 309 00:30:12,799 --> 00:30:18,159 » Can I have a followup real quick? You said the sidewalk will not go to 310 00:30:15,760 --> 00:30:21,840 Walmart, right? Oh, it it will it'll in fact go to Walmart and then go past it 311 00:30:20,559 --> 00:30:26,000 » where it uh hooks up >> on that side where Walmart is. 312 00:30:23,760 --> 00:30:31,520 » Yes, ma'am. Okay, that's the intent. Um there is a steep drop off. So, 313 00:30:29,120 --> 00:30:35,440 » we'll have to uh we'll have to do a a a survey to determine the feasibility of 314 00:30:33,520 --> 00:30:40,480 that. Um there's some guard rail there as well. So, um you know, once we get 315 00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:44,880 that contracted out, that'll be a part of um the review process. And they some 316 00:30:43,440 --> 00:30:49,919 come to the intersection where Sherlington Sherling is and they cross 317 00:30:46,880 --> 00:30:52,080 they can cross over to McAfee Towers and walk down there. 318 00:30:50,880 --> 00:30:57,240 » Exactly. >> Okay. All right. 319 00:30:54,000 --> 00:30:57,240 » Thank you for 320 00:30:59,120 --> 00:31:03,120 » Bronson on the phone of course as beneficial to district two and district 321 00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:08,320 three. Right. >> So we appreciate that. Yes sir. 322 00:31:05,440 --> 00:31:12,320 » Commissioner Bronson. >> Hey thank you Director for all that you 323 00:31:10,720 --> 00:31:15,679 do man. you have been really really really leading the pack on this and I 324 00:31:13,840 --> 00:31:19,600 just want to say thank you to you and your team especially uh our crews that's 325 00:31:18,080 --> 00:31:25,760 working out there. Quick question for you in regards to I know you mentioned 326 00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:31,360 Hollings uh Nottingham that runs along the leftand side of Kroger. Has that 327 00:31:29,120 --> 00:31:36,240 been identified as a connecting route because of the river crossing that we 328 00:31:33,760 --> 00:31:41,039 have on the back end for Shirley Hills? So the uh 329 00:31:38,640 --> 00:31:46,480 » the intended route will cross over Nodtingham. Uh it'll go down Curry and 330 00:31:44,240 --> 00:31:52,399 uh and cross Nodingham. And so we'll improve that intersection, but at the 331 00:31:49,440 --> 00:31:59,519 current time it is it's not intended to follow the entirety of Nottingham, just 332 00:31:55,120 --> 00:32:02,960 the cross of of uh Curry and Noddingham. >> Okay, sounds good. that that that was 333 00:32:01,039 --> 00:32:07,120 one of the the primary areas that that was been brought up from the Shirley 334 00:32:04,559 --> 00:32:11,200 Hills area including uh citizens from East Mon during our first first go 335 00:32:09,039 --> 00:32:14,240 around with this. So uh I do want to say thank you for for identifying this piece 336 00:32:12,960 --> 00:32:17,279 of it man and whatever we can do to support your need uh let us know. But 337 00:32:16,399 --> 00:32:20,640 thank you again. >> Yes sir. Thank you. 338 00:32:19,519 --> 00:32:24,559 » Thank you. Uh if there's no more questions we'll call um we'll take a 339 00:32:22,960 --> 00:32:28,640 motion to approve. >> Got a motion. Can you get a second? 340 00:32:27,120 --> 00:32:33,519 » Got a motion second. All those in favor of the motion, please say I. 341 00:32:30,399 --> 00:32:36,519 » Oppose. Nay. That motion carries. Thank you. 342 00:32:41,200 --> 00:32:46,799 » Okay, we got a item C which is a resolution making Bib County Commission 343 00:32:44,960 --> 00:32:53,919 authorizing the acceptance of a Georgia relief grant relief grant from the 344 00:32:50,640 --> 00:32:58,320 Georgia Tree Council in amount of $13,50 with no local match required to plant 345 00:32:55,760 --> 00:33:02,159 trees, oak trees and specifically at Freedom Park. Uh we had some uh bad 346 00:33:00,799 --> 00:33:04,080 weather not too long ago and knocked some trees down over there and so 347 00:33:03,279 --> 00:33:08,159 luckily we're going to be able to replace those trees uh with with new oak 348 00:33:06,480 --> 00:33:11,919 trees there at no additional cost to make Bib County. So we need to accept 349 00:33:09,760 --> 00:33:15,519 those. Can I get a motion to approve? >> Motion to approve. Got a second. 350 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:19,840 » Got a motion second. All those in favor of the motion please say I 351 00:33:17,600 --> 00:33:23,120 » oppose. Nay. That motion carries unanimously to be sent to consent 352 00:33:21,200 --> 00:33:26,399 agenda. Uh commissioners I remind you this morning we will not be setting the 353 00:33:24,480 --> 00:33:31,440 miller rate tonight. We have got another hearing set and a vote that we set for 354 00:33:29,120 --> 00:33:35,679 uh next Wednesday, September the 9th at 9:00 and we'll take care of those. Item 355 00:33:34,159 --> 00:33:40,720 eight are dedications. The first dedication is going to be uh some Cotton 356 00:33:37,679 --> 00:33:43,679 Avenue and uh we have another one um item 8B. Commissioner Brunson, you want 357 00:33:42,480 --> 00:33:47,840 to do that while you're on the phone or you want to wait till you get back, sir? 358 00:33:47,039 --> 00:33:53,000 » Thank you, sir. >> You want to do item B when you get back 359 00:33:49,279 --> 00:33:53,000 or you want to do it tonight? 360 00:33:53,039 --> 00:33:59,840 » That's the way. Greater Little Rock Baptist Church. 361 00:33:58,080 --> 00:34:02,159 » Yeah, if we can if we can do that one tonight, that that'd be awesome. 362 00:34:01,039 --> 00:34:06,559 » Okay, we'll go ahead and do a >> They are waiting on they are waiting on 363 00:34:03,919 --> 00:34:09,520 on word from from us to get it approved. Um, but I think they should be there 364 00:34:08,159 --> 00:34:13,760 tonight. >> Okay. I'm not familiar with anybody here 365 00:34:12,079 --> 00:34:17,359 tonight on that particular, but we'll get to it in just a moment. Uh so the 366 00:34:15,599 --> 00:34:21,280 first item is a ordinance the making bib county commission to dedicate that 367 00:34:19,359 --> 00:34:25,280 portion of Cotton Avenue running between first street and Malberry Street lane 368 00:34:23,200 --> 00:34:29,440 and that portion of Mberry Street lane running between Cotton Avenue and Second 369 00:34:27,280 --> 00:34:32,960 Street in honor of Otis Reading in recognition of his achievements in music 370 00:34:31,440 --> 00:34:36,320 and significant contributions to the Minimum Bib County community. 371 00:34:34,560 --> 00:34:40,159 Appropriation of not amount not to receive $500 from the general fund 372 00:34:37,839 --> 00:34:43,440 balance in the facilities management department for the purchase of materials 373 00:34:41,679 --> 00:34:47,200 and signage and for all other lawful purposes. Uh you can see the dedication 374 00:34:45,599 --> 00:34:50,159 there on your screen and I'm not sure if anybody uh Commissioner Stewart you have 375 00:34:49,119 --> 00:34:52,960 a question or you want to make comments sir. 376 00:34:51,200 --> 00:34:57,760 » Okay. We add a sponsor. So at this time we entertain a motion to approve 377 00:34:55,280 --> 00:35:01,119 » and we'll take a second on that. Got a motion and second. All those in favor of 378 00:34:59,280 --> 00:35:05,760 the motion please say I >> oppose. Nay. That motion carries 379 00:35:03,839 --> 00:35:07,920 unanimously be sent to consent agenda. We're going to move on to item B that 380 00:35:07,040 --> 00:35:11,119 we're just talking to Commissioner Bronson about. This is an ordinance that 381 00:35:09,359 --> 00:35:17,040 he requested on making Bib County Commission to dedicate uh Emery Avenue 382 00:35:13,520 --> 00:35:20,000 in honor of Pastor H. Larry Een in recognition of his leadership and 383 00:35:18,480 --> 00:35:24,320 service to the greater Little Rock Baptist Church appropriation of amount 384 00:35:22,320 --> 00:35:28,240 not to exceed $500 from the general fund fund balance to facility management 385 00:35:26,400 --> 00:35:31,280 department of the purchase of materials and signage. I'll let Commissioner 386 00:35:29,920 --> 00:35:36,640 Bronson make that motion. Do we have a second? We have a motion and second. Uh 387 00:35:34,160 --> 00:35:40,079 anything further, Commissioner Bronson? >> No, sir. No, sir. Okay, we have a motion 388 00:35:38,480 --> 00:35:45,359 and a second. All those in favor of the motion, please say I. Opposed? Nay. That 389 00:35:43,599 --> 00:35:49,200 motion carries unanimously be sent to consent agenda. Uh ladies and gentlemen, 390 00:35:47,680 --> 00:35:52,400 that does conclude uh all the information that we have on this 391 00:35:50,800 --> 00:35:56,400 particular agenda. We did get here a little early tonight because we had 392 00:35:54,000 --> 00:36:00,079 initially in anticipated some discussion on the millage rate. Uh we do have a 393 00:35:58,400 --> 00:36:03,680 brief need to go into executive session tonight. So at this time we entertain a 394 00:36:01,920 --> 00:36:06,880 motion to go in executive session for purposes of consultation with county 395 00:36:05,040 --> 00:36:09,920 attorneys or other legal services to discuss pending or potential litigation, 396 00:36:08,640 --> 00:36:13,359 settlement claims, administrative proceedings, and all other judicial 397 00:36:11,119 --> 00:36:17,200 actions allowed by law. At this time we take a motion to go in executive 398 00:36:14,480 --> 00:36:20,880 session. And can I get a second? We got a motion and second. All those in favor 399 00:36:18,400 --> 00:36:24,720 of the motion, please say I. Opposed? Nay. Ladies and gentlemen, we'll be back 400 00:36:22,800 --> 00:36:30,160 after executive session. And uh we also have a uh we'll readjourn for sure by 6 401 00:36:27,680 --> 00:36:34,599 o'clock. And at 601 we have a uh a public hearing on Londors. Right. Thank 402 00:36:31,599 --> 00:36:34,599 you. 403 01:07:54,880 --> 01:07:59,680 We got a motion come out of his ex session. We have a motion. Give me a 404 01:07:58,000 --> 01:08:03,440 second. Got a motion, a second. All those in favor of the motion, please say 405 01:08:00,960 --> 01:08:06,480 I. Opposed? Nay. We're going to go back uh into our regular pre-commission 406 01:08:05,119 --> 01:08:11,200 meeting. Just one thing I want to add. We took up an item earlier concerning 407 01:08:08,720 --> 01:08:13,599 Lindmore estates and a playground. Uh, Commissioner Bronson had asked a 408 01:08:12,319 --> 01:08:17,839 question there. So, during the break, we were able to find out an answer as well. 409 01:08:15,440 --> 01:08:24,000 Uh, the playground there will have a slide that allows for uh, a person in a 410 01:08:21,120 --> 01:08:27,359 wheelchair to slide as well as a u a separate feature there that was 411 01:08:25,600 --> 01:08:30,640 contained in materials that allows for a swing while you're in a wheelchair. So, 412 01:08:28,799 --> 01:08:33,520 it it is an inclusive playground. It's not a totally inclusive like we had at a 413 01:08:32,319 --> 01:08:37,359 couple of the other places, but it is an inclusive uh, in that respect. So, 414 01:08:36,080 --> 01:08:42,400 there's no other items on the agenda tonight. We'll be back at 6:00 uh to 415 01:08:39,839 --> 01:08:46,920 reconvene and at 601 we'll have our uh next public hearing concerning the 416 01:08:43,920 --> 01:08:46,920 military 417 01:23:02,320 --> 01:23:09,040 If any if anyone's here to address the commission on the millage rate for the 418 01:23:07,440 --> 01:23:13,440 public hearing, we have a signup book up here in front where this gentleman is. 419 01:23:10,960 --> 01:23:16,560 Um if you can come and sign up and uh we'll give you time to address the 420 01:23:14,639 --> 01:23:21,159 commission. The public hearing is going to start at 601. Thanks. 421 01:29:33,840 --> 01:29:39,360 If anyone's here to address the commission on the millage rate, we have 422 01:29:36,719 --> 01:29:43,840 a signup book up front. The millage rate uh public hearing is the book with the 423 01:29:41,040 --> 01:29:47,760 green um cover sheet. If you're here to address the commission about anything 424 01:29:45,600 --> 01:29:51,440 else uh for the regular agenda, we have the book with the orange cover sheet. 425 01:29:49,760 --> 01:29:54,880 Um, so if you want to talk to the commission, come on and sign up and uh 426 01:29:53,520 --> 01:29:58,280 we'll start our public hearing in a few minutes. Thanks. 427 01:39:14,080 --> 01:39:19,119 Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome. Welcome to Make Bib County uh 428 01:39:17,199 --> 01:39:24,719 City Hall. Uh today is Tuesday, September the 1st, uh 2026, and the time 429 01:39:22,320 --> 01:39:28,000 is now 6:01. Uh we're having a public hearing tonight at 601. So, I want to 430 01:39:26,239 --> 01:39:31,840 make sure we're clear on the record. Uh this is our third public hearing 431 01:39:29,920 --> 01:39:36,400 regarding the millage rate and we'll have one more hearing uh our fourth will 432 01:39:33,679 --> 01:39:40,960 be on September the 9th uh prior to voting for uh on the military. So this 433 01:39:39,600 --> 01:39:44,159 time I'd like to welcome everyone here tonight. We do have one person that has 434 01:39:42,880 --> 01:39:48,320 signed up to speak and I will call on them in just a moment. I'll say a few 435 01:39:46,239 --> 01:39:52,000 words and make a brief presentation uh and then we'll have uh the gentleman 436 01:39:50,000 --> 01:39:57,199 come forth that like to speak on the public hearing. Uh as you recall from 437 01:39:54,880 --> 01:40:01,440 perhaps watching some of our other um public hearings we have uh making bib 438 01:39:59,360 --> 01:40:04,719 county is required by law to have public hearings if we're going to set the 439 01:40:03,119 --> 01:40:10,000 millage rate at the level that it was last year. Uh therefore making bib 440 01:40:07,280 --> 01:40:14,800 county has uh passed a budget a couple months ago uh which would call into 441 01:40:12,080 --> 01:40:19,360 effect the millage rate of 9.575 mills which is what we indicated then that is 442 01:40:16,880 --> 01:40:24,239 the same exact millage rate uh that we'll be proposing for a vote on 443 01:40:21,040 --> 01:40:28,960 September the 9th. Um, as a reminder, uh, the state of Georgia sets the rules 444 01:40:26,400 --> 01:40:35,119 and guidelines on how property taxes are, um, issued and how houses or homes 445 01:40:32,719 --> 01:40:39,119 are evaluated. Uh, and each department, each taxing authority has their own 446 01:40:36,800 --> 01:40:43,679 responsibilities. Making Bib County is a taxing authority and also the Bip County 447 01:40:42,080 --> 01:40:48,400 Public School System is a taxing authority. So, both of us each represent 448 01:40:45,760 --> 01:40:52,639 a one half taxing authority um, in making Bib County and we carry our own 449 01:40:50,239 --> 01:40:56,400 millage rate. Uh I understand that the school system earlier had voted or at 450 01:40:54,239 --> 01:41:00,719 least preliminary uh voted on their millage rate not to increase their taxes 451 01:40:58,480 --> 01:41:04,400 or their millage rate. Making Bib County is also not going to increase the 452 01:41:02,800 --> 01:41:10,080 millage rate and leave the millage rate the same. Uh the tax assessor is in 453 01:41:07,360 --> 01:41:14,480 charge with evaluating your home to see what the value of that home is and they 454 01:41:12,320 --> 01:41:18,400 are um they have to rely on what the state of Georgia issues them for 455 01:41:15,920 --> 01:41:22,400 regulations to determine how to value the property that you have. Like many of 456 01:41:20,719 --> 01:41:27,920 you, I own property in Mon Bip County and certainly uh I'm not totally pleased 457 01:41:25,280 --> 01:41:33,119 with the the process that the state of Georgia uses to evaluate um properties 458 01:41:30,719 --> 01:41:38,800 and how they determine what taxes are to be paid by individuals. Uh but I do know 459 01:41:36,560 --> 01:41:43,679 that we have to fund necessary services for our government. Uh and this is the 460 01:41:41,440 --> 01:41:47,280 process we have. So we must follow that legal process. The tax commissioner is 461 01:41:45,199 --> 01:41:51,520 in charge of mailing the bills out and collecting that tax. uh and you'll 462 01:41:49,280 --> 01:41:57,119 receive those after the mill rates are improved. Uh you will get those by mail 463 01:41:53,679 --> 01:42:04,320 to your homes uh for for payment. As mentioned earlier, I I'll mention it 464 01:41:58,960 --> 01:42:10,320 again today, is that Monip County has collected less property taxes in 2025, 465 01:42:08,159 --> 01:42:16,080 which is the last year before this year, uh, than we we previously collected in 466 01:42:12,239 --> 01:42:21,040 the previous years, uh, going back to 20 roughly 467 01:42:17,600 --> 01:42:24,719 um, 2020 21 when we passed the OLAS, which is the one penny additional sales 468 01:42:22,560 --> 01:42:28,960 tax, uh, we were somewhere over $90 million of total collections for 469 01:42:26,480 --> 01:42:33,600 property taxes in Bib County. Uh this millage rate assumes uh the total taxes 470 01:42:31,600 --> 01:42:41,119 collected for totally for making Bib County um only is $67 million. Of that 471 01:42:38,239 --> 01:42:47,440 $67 million, only $16 million comes from property owners that have a homestead 472 01:42:43,360 --> 01:42:55,520 exemption. Uh that represents only 7% uh 007% of our entire budget, which I 473 01:42:52,159 --> 01:42:58,880 think is important to uh to note. Uh recently someone asked uh what we plan 474 01:42:57,440 --> 01:43:04,080 to do with additional money that we collect and um there are no new spending 475 01:43:01,840 --> 01:43:08,639 priorities outside of public safety. Public safety last year received budgets 476 01:43:06,480 --> 01:43:11,679 uh for certain amounts and each of those budgets for the police and fire went 477 01:43:10,320 --> 01:43:16,159 substantially over their budgeted amount. Therefore, this money will be to 478 01:43:13,920 --> 01:43:20,960 maintain our public safety which our citizens have told us is one of their 479 01:43:18,000 --> 01:43:24,480 top priorities. It also represents 57% of our budget. So at this time we're 480 01:43:23,119 --> 01:43:29,280 going to start our presentation and I'll start with some historical background. 481 01:43:27,840 --> 01:43:34,159 On your screen you should be able to determine that in fiscal year 2021 482 01:43:32,560 --> 01:43:38,560 uh which I believe outside of uh commissioner mayor pro win was 483 01:43:36,480 --> 01:43:43,119 everyone's at least first year here or subsequent after that in 2021 the miller 484 01:43:41,600 --> 01:43:47,360 rate in making bib county which is the tax rate. The only thing this this board 485 01:43:45,520 --> 01:43:52,239 of commissioners and mayor do is set your tax rate based on the value of the 486 01:43:49,440 --> 01:43:57,119 property was 20.331. In 2022, that amount was reduced to 487 01:43:55,119 --> 01:44:04,000 19.901. In 2023, that rate was reduced to 17.9. 488 01:44:01,199 --> 01:44:11,760 2024 10.723. 2025 9.9. And in 2026, 9.575. 489 01:44:10,159 --> 01:44:17,199 As you can see in that last uh column there in 2027, the proposal is to keep 490 01:44:14,480 --> 01:44:20,719 that miller rate exactly the same. That would not result in a 9% tax increase 491 01:44:19,280 --> 01:44:25,600 across the homeowners in making Bib County because one half of our digest uh 492 01:44:22,800 --> 01:44:28,880 is commercial. In fact, if your home value last year was the same, then you 493 01:44:27,199 --> 01:44:32,400 you receive the same exact bill that you did this year. Uh if your home has 494 01:44:30,960 --> 01:44:35,600 decreased in value, your bill will go down. And if your your home has 495 01:44:34,159 --> 01:44:39,840 increased in value, then your bill may go up depending on your exemptions. Uh 496 01:44:37,840 --> 01:44:43,199 next slide, please. This tells you where the most of our 497 01:44:41,679 --> 01:44:47,520 money is being spent and we want to give that to you. But also note a couple of 498 01:44:44,960 --> 01:44:51,119 things. Uh 2021 you can see the total amount for our our public safety. These 499 01:44:49,760 --> 01:44:54,719 are the the departments we consider public safety in making Bib County. You 500 01:44:53,280 --> 01:45:01,679 can look at department by department if you like to. The total amount in 2021 501 01:44:57,280 --> 01:45:07,119 was $94 million approximately. In 2027, you see the total amount is $125 502 01:45:03,920 --> 01:45:12,159 million. uh plus that is a six-year change of $31 503 01:45:09,679 --> 01:45:16,400 million. So when you talk about increased uh payments and where the 504 01:45:14,000 --> 01:45:21,600 money goes, you can see an increase of $31 million being spent for public 505 01:45:19,119 --> 01:45:25,840 safety in these departments here uh without a tax increase and while keeping 506 01:45:24,159 --> 01:45:30,880 the millage rate roll back each and every year up until this year keeping it 507 01:45:28,000 --> 01:45:33,440 the same. Next slide. These are some other departments that we 508 01:45:32,239 --> 01:45:36,880 talked to you about during our budget time that we felt like was important uh 509 01:45:35,360 --> 01:45:42,560 that needed to highlight. One of those is information technology. Information 510 01:45:38,880 --> 01:45:50,080 technology or it uh has climbed from 5.2 uh 5.2 million per year uh up till last 511 01:45:46,080 --> 01:45:53,840 year fiscally 27 this year of 9.1. Quite honestly in today's environment we 512 01:45:51,840 --> 01:45:57,600 all realize uh how many people are out there can get your accounts and the 513 01:45:56,159 --> 01:46:01,520 security nature that we have to worry about including many government that 514 01:45:59,920 --> 01:46:05,840 have gotten cyber attacks including making Bip County have had other issues 515 01:46:03,280 --> 01:46:09,600 as well. Recreation is something that's always important to give something for 516 01:46:07,440 --> 01:46:14,719 our people to do uh especially our children our seniors and we've increased 517 01:46:12,000 --> 01:46:21,440 our our recreation spending from 2021 to 4.6 6 million to a high in 2027 this 518 01:46:18,480 --> 01:46:25,520 budget $8 million. Our beautifification efforts also because this is what people 519 01:46:23,360 --> 01:46:32,320 are telling us in Bacon and Biff County is $2.4 million back in 2021 520 01:46:28,960 --> 01:46:37,199 increased in 2026 to 4.6 million and we scaled back a little bit this year of 521 01:46:33,840 --> 01:46:42,239 about $391,000 but a net six-year change of $1.88 million. 522 01:46:40,639 --> 01:46:46,719 Next slide. This is our timeline for the proposed 523 01:46:44,239 --> 01:46:51,440 Milliey's timeline. Uh we had our first uh hearing on August 28th. On September 524 01:46:49,280 --> 01:46:54,960 the 1st, 2026 was this morning at 9:00. We had our second hearing. Uh today 525 01:46:53,360 --> 01:47:00,320 we're having a third hearing, September the 1st at 60:01. And then September the 526 01:46:57,840 --> 01:47:05,040 9th, 2026, which is next Wednesday at 9:00. We'll have our final hearing and 527 01:47:03,040 --> 01:47:11,040 then we set for a vote for September 9th, 2026 at 9:05. Uh if you signed up 528 01:47:09,280 --> 01:47:15,280 to speak tonight regarding an item that has millage rate on the agenda, there is 529 01:47:13,440 --> 01:47:19,440 no millage rate on the agenda tonight. So that is not an agenda item. Uh that's 530 01:47:17,679 --> 01:47:24,880 all the presentation that we have right now. We have one person uh that signed 531 01:47:21,600 --> 01:47:30,119 up to speak regarding the millage rate and I'll ask him count if you don't mind 532 01:47:26,560 --> 01:47:30,119 coming forward now. 533 01:47:32,880 --> 01:47:38,480 you're speaking to that microphone and and please state your name and identify 534 01:47:36,239 --> 01:47:42,880 yourself. >> Cavage, 535 01:47:40,719 --> 01:47:49,520 this is a bag of Clancy's wavy potato chips that I 536 01:47:46,800 --> 01:47:56,000 bought at Aldi's in Mon for approximately half the cost of a 537 01:47:51,679 --> 01:48:01,040 nationally advertised wavy potato chip. I had it for lunch when I was going 538 01:47:58,639 --> 01:48:06,400 through my business feeds and finance and tax feeds after I was at your 539 01:48:04,000 --> 01:48:11,840 hearing this morning and I noticed it's manufactured in Canada. 540 01:48:09,679 --> 01:48:16,480 I said this morning, I support your program because it's fiscally 541 01:48:13,760 --> 01:48:20,880 responsible and you're not increasing the burden on the citizens through the 542 01:48:19,119 --> 01:48:26,320 cost of government, which you're very careful to manage in a very conservative 543 01:48:23,920 --> 01:48:32,560 way, not wasting money like they do in Fort Lauderdale. 544 01:48:29,040 --> 01:48:37,920 The increase, no matter at what rate the federal government decides, 545 01:48:35,040 --> 01:48:47,440 will increase the cost of this potato chip from four to 20 times the increase 546 01:48:43,600 --> 01:48:54,080 of any possible effect of anybody on any of the increased collections of tax 547 01:48:50,000 --> 01:49:00,320 monies. I want people to understand that this government, the county government 548 01:48:56,800 --> 01:49:06,560 of making bib is not part of the problem of impoverishing and making things more 549 01:49:03,679 --> 01:49:11,600 expensive. You're trying to keep costs low. When you see what's gone on in the 550 01:49:09,280 --> 01:49:16,320 last six years, you can see a fiscally responsible government. People should 551 01:49:14,080 --> 01:49:22,080 understand that the mayor and the mayor prom and the commissioners are doing an 552 01:49:18,880 --> 01:49:27,119 excellent four-star job. And if anybody complains about the cost of living 553 01:49:24,560 --> 01:49:31,679 because of such things as doubling the cost of my potato chips, it's because of 554 01:49:29,760 --> 01:49:37,960 the federal government and not because of our county government and the elected 555 01:49:34,080 --> 01:49:37,960 officials here today. 556 01:49:40,960 --> 01:49:45,360 » Thank you, sir. We appreciate your comments. Uh that concludes our public 557 01:49:44,080 --> 01:49:49,600 hearing and we're going to begin with our board of commissioners meeting. I'll 558 01:49:47,199 --> 01:49:53,320 give our comm communications department time to set up for that. 559 01:50:03,119 --> 01:50:07,920 » Well, good evening again ladies and gentlemen. Again, this is uh our making 560 01:50:06,400 --> 01:50:11,520 BIP County Board of Commission's regular meeting. This is our schedule meeting 561 01:50:09,520 --> 01:50:15,520 for the month. Uh today is Tuesday, September the 1st, and the time is 562 01:50:12,960 --> 01:50:19,360 approximately uh 6:12. Like to welcome everyone here uh to the uh meeting 563 01:50:17,920 --> 01:50:23,119 tonight. We'll begin our meeting like we always do with a prayer. Our prayer 564 01:50:21,199 --> 01:50:26,400 tonight is by Miss Kathy Branzel, the National Day of Prayer Task Force. Thank 565 01:50:25,199 --> 01:50:30,080 you for being here tonight. Those of you that can and will, please stand up and 566 01:50:28,000 --> 01:50:34,000 bow your head while she leads us in the prayer and then we'll be followed by the 567 01:50:31,760 --> 01:50:37,760 pledge of allegiance. Thank you. 568 01:50:35,199 --> 01:50:41,760 » Thank you. Heavenly everlasting father, we come 569 01:50:39,920 --> 01:50:46,960 before you tonight with hearts filled with gratitude. We thank you for these 570 01:50:44,239 --> 01:50:52,960 extraordinary people before us who have poured their life out in service to you 571 01:50:49,119 --> 01:50:57,440 and service to make babe County to love their neighbor 572 01:50:54,960 --> 01:51:02,480 and to listen. Lord, I pray tonight that they would hear your voice whispered in 573 01:51:00,320 --> 01:51:06,960 their ear of your wisdom. I pray that their heads, their thoughts would be 574 01:51:04,320 --> 01:51:11,679 filled with your understanding. I pray their hearts would be filled with the 575 01:51:08,800 --> 01:51:15,840 knowledge of you and your word so that we could move together. We could move 576 01:51:13,600 --> 01:51:22,000 forward together in loving our neighbor where you've 577 01:51:18,560 --> 01:51:27,760 established us and called us to live. I thank you that uh they come as 578 01:51:24,480 --> 01:51:33,760 servants. I thank you that uh we are here to cheer them on in prayer and not 579 01:51:29,840 --> 01:51:37,760 to be their critics. And so I ask that your peace that surpasses all 580 01:51:36,000 --> 01:51:44,080 understanding would rest in this place and your power would compel us to go out 581 01:51:41,040 --> 01:51:48,320 loving one another and moving forward together. In the mighty name of Jesus we 582 01:51:46,880 --> 01:51:53,520 pray. Amen. >> Amen. 583 01:51:50,400 --> 01:52:01,840 I allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the republic for it 584 01:51:56,960 --> 01:52:08,199 stands one nation under God indivisible liberty and justice for all 585 01:52:04,880 --> 01:52:08,199 may be seated. 586 01:52:10,000 --> 01:52:15,840 At this time, I'll ask our mayor promis Valerie Wyn to step down to the podium 587 01:52:13,520 --> 01:52:19,920 for a presentation to Barbara Higgby, a cancer survivor, a proclamation 588 01:52:17,840 --> 01:52:25,119 recognizing September as ovarian cancer awareness month. And after she does that 589 01:52:22,560 --> 01:52:28,800 and presents that uh to Miss Higgby, we'll hear a few remarks from her as 590 01:52:26,880 --> 01:52:34,159 well. >> Hate to have my back to the audience, 591 01:52:30,560 --> 01:52:37,920 but we'll do that. Miss Higgby, >> I'll ask our comms director to come down 592 01:52:35,440 --> 01:52:41,040 there and turn that around for you at least sideways. 593 01:52:51,760 --> 01:52:56,840 You're good. I'm fine. 594 01:53:01,599 --> 01:53:09,040 » May begin. >> That was a wonderful prayer. Um I have a 595 01:53:06,320 --> 01:53:15,040 proclamation tonight from the office of mayor Monib County Georgia. Whereas on 596 01:53:12,320 --> 01:53:19,760 behalf of the citizens of Monib County, I am pleased to join atrium health 597 01:53:17,360 --> 01:53:26,880 navigent in celebrating the month of September 2026 as ovarian cancer 598 01:53:23,920 --> 01:53:32,159 awareness month in Mon Bib County. And whereas the aim of ovarian cancer 599 01:53:29,280 --> 01:53:38,239 awareness month is to inform Americans about the risk factors and symptoms of 600 01:53:35,119 --> 01:53:43,679 ovarian cancer. And whereas ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of 601 01:53:41,119 --> 01:53:49,520 cancer deaths of women in the United States and causes more deaths than any 602 01:53:46,400 --> 01:53:55,119 other gyneic cancer. And whereas in the United States, a woman's lifetime risk 603 01:53:52,560 --> 01:54:00,400 of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer is about 1 in 78. 604 01:53:58,080 --> 01:54:05,760 Whereas the American Cancer Society estimates 21,10 605 01:54:02,719 --> 01:54:13,280 cases of ovarian cancer will be newly diagnosed in 2022 and 12,450 606 01:54:10,560 --> 01:54:20,639 individuals will die from the disease nationwide, including an estimated 650 607 01:54:16,960 --> 01:54:26,719 new cases and 300 deaths in Georgia. And whereas the five-year survival rate for 608 01:54:23,280 --> 01:54:32,159 ovarian cancer is 50% and survival rates vary greatly 609 01:54:28,880 --> 01:54:37,440 depending on the stage of the diagnosis. And whereas there is currently no 610 01:54:35,199 --> 01:54:42,320 reliable screening test for the early detection of ovarian cancer. And I have 611 01:54:39,520 --> 01:54:48,400 to stop and say I did not know that. It's amazing. Making awareness of the 612 01:54:45,040 --> 01:54:54,880 signs and symptoms especially important. And whereas symptoms of ovarian cancer 613 01:54:51,360 --> 01:55:00,800 may include persistent bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or 614 01:54:58,400 --> 01:55:05,920 feeling full quickly and urinary symptoms. And whereas September is 615 01:55:03,440 --> 01:55:10,719 nationally recognized as ovarian cancer awareness month, providing an 616 01:55:08,000 --> 01:55:16,080 opportunity to increase education and awareness, honor survivors, remember 617 01:55:13,599 --> 01:55:21,599 those who have lost their lives to the disease, and support those currently 618 01:55:18,000 --> 01:55:26,239 facing an ovarian cancer diagnosis. And therefore, in the I'm doing this for 619 01:55:24,400 --> 01:55:33,040 Lester Miller. Lester and Miller do hereby proclaim September 2026 620 01:55:29,679 --> 01:55:38,400 as ovarian cancer awareness month in Mon Bib County. I urge all central Georgians 621 01:55:36,320 --> 01:55:43,679 to familiarize themselves with the warning signs, symptoms, and risk 622 01:55:40,960 --> 01:55:48,880 factors associated with ovarian cancer so that we might begin to reduce the 623 01:55:46,080 --> 01:55:54,000 devastating effects cancer imposes on our state. and witness thereof, I have 624 01:55:51,920 --> 01:55:58,400 here to set my hand and cause the seal of the consolidated government to be 625 01:55:56,159 --> 01:56:05,280 affixed this first day of September 2026. Lester M mayor Miller mayor and I 626 01:56:02,320 --> 01:56:09,719 wanted to present this to you and I know would you like to say a few words? 627 01:56:06,719 --> 01:56:09,719 » Yes. 628 01:56:10,159 --> 01:56:14,000 » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. >> You're welcome. 629 01:56:12,320 --> 01:56:20,719 » Members of the committee, I appreciate you. Um, I just want to add I've got 630 01:56:18,000 --> 01:56:28,719 cards, symptom cards. I was diagnosed in March of 2017. 631 01:56:24,880 --> 01:56:33,840 Um, and I was 59 years old. I was blindsided. Knew nothing 632 01:56:32,000 --> 01:56:39,520 about cancer. I just, you know, people go and get treated and then they're 633 01:56:36,159 --> 01:56:47,119 okay. Well, unfortunately, I've got the reoccurring 634 01:56:41,599 --> 01:56:52,320 kind and I in 2018 when it came back, I was given two years. 635 01:56:50,159 --> 01:57:00,880 I cried all the way home. I'm like, he doesn't know me. And then overall for 636 01:56:57,119 --> 01:57:06,800 stage 3C diagnosis, your average is five years. So, I'm here to tell you that it 637 01:57:03,520 --> 01:57:11,679 can be done. You can stand up here and fight. I've got two daughters and one 638 01:57:09,840 --> 01:57:21,040 granddaughter. I I really fight for them foremost. 639 01:57:16,800 --> 01:57:27,119 I know a 16-year-old that is a fiveyear survivor. 640 01:57:24,080 --> 01:57:34,080 » It's not just older women. It's all ages. And cancer, unfortunately, is just 641 01:57:31,360 --> 01:57:37,920 thriving. You know, we all have to do something about it. 642 01:57:36,080 --> 01:57:42,080 So, you know, I I meet people, I tell them, 643 01:57:40,239 --> 01:57:47,840 if a doctor looks at you like crazy in the head, don't be afraid to go 644 01:57:45,360 --> 01:57:55,840 somewhere else because we all got to know our bodies. Everybody's got a mom, 645 01:57:52,639 --> 01:58:03,040 a sister, a wife, a girlfriend, a daughter, and it can affect any age. 646 01:58:01,360 --> 01:58:08,880 Not just the patient, but the caregivers, you know, the ones that call 647 01:58:07,280 --> 01:58:11,599 and ask you, "Well, mom, how was this CAT scan?" 648 01:58:14,719 --> 01:58:24,639 my uh a dear friend, a little sister who lost her wings, 649 01:58:21,440 --> 01:58:31,440 you know her, she said cancer ain't for punks. 650 01:58:27,199 --> 01:58:39,840 » So, I just want to be here and let y'all know that I try to spread awareness and 651 01:58:35,440 --> 01:58:47,280 please take these cards and Yeah. No, a pepstor does not detect 652 01:58:43,760 --> 01:58:55,520 ovarian cancer or the other, you know, cervical endometrial, vaginal, vulvver. 653 01:58:51,520 --> 01:59:00,960 There's so much. I also have another group. It's called below the waist, you 654 01:58:58,239 --> 01:59:07,679 know. Um, there's a lot of things that you can do. September, we wear teal. We 655 01:59:04,639 --> 01:59:13,040 wear teal because like ovarian cancer, it's a hard 656 01:59:09,520 --> 01:59:16,880 diagnosis. Teal is a hard color. You look in a pack of crayons, there's not a 657 01:59:14,800 --> 01:59:21,440 teal color. You have to either make it or keep looking. It's a hard color to 658 01:59:19,280 --> 01:59:24,960 find sometimes. So that's why we wear teal. 659 01:59:23,199 --> 01:59:31,760 And you know, the butterfly is 660 01:59:29,520 --> 01:59:37,199 kind of our symbol, you know, how the ovaries are. 661 01:59:33,920 --> 01:59:41,520 And I just absolutely love butterfly releases. 662 01:59:39,119 --> 01:59:46,320 » Um I've already picked a grave site where once a year at the cemetery they 663 01:59:43,599 --> 01:59:53,119 do a butterfly release. So anyway, I'm 664 01:59:50,159 --> 01:59:58,080 just a girl from a a small town originally in Michigan. 665 01:59:55,520 --> 02:00:05,679 I lived in Georgia back in the late 80s for five years. I'm back here now. I 666 02:00:02,719 --> 02:00:12,679 knew I still had love in my life and I love anybody who can spread the 667 02:00:08,000 --> 02:00:12,679 news. Thank you for your time. 668 02:00:13,597 --> 02:00:15,617 [applause] 669 02:00:19,040 --> 02:00:25,800 » Yes. Thank you. >> She's gonna be here for any of these. 670 02:00:46,639 --> 02:00:50,880 Thank you for being here tonight, Barbara, and thank you for sharing your 671 02:00:48,880 --> 02:00:56,880 testimony. I know it's very heartfelt and I think everybody in this room uh 672 02:00:53,360 --> 02:00:59,840 can agree that we know someone uh that cancer has touched their lives. So, we 673 02:00:58,480 --> 02:01:03,119 appreciate what you do. Continue to advocate for that and thank you for 674 02:01:01,679 --> 02:01:09,199 being here tonight. Mayor Prom, thank you for presenting that uh to her as 675 02:01:05,280 --> 02:01:12,960 well. Uh we do have a few items um on the agenda that people want to talk 676 02:01:10,480 --> 02:01:16,480 about and a couple of those are now. So, Miss Kaylee Puit, Miss Puit, good to see 677 02:01:14,800 --> 02:01:18,880 you again. Where did she go? I see you there. She's been here waiting 678 02:01:17,520 --> 02:01:23,679 patiently. If you don't mind, you can go over there to the podium over there or 679 02:01:21,280 --> 02:01:27,520 be fine. And she wanted to speak in regarding the funding for the SS4A 680 02:01:26,000 --> 02:01:34,000 approval that we voted on at pre-commission uh tonight. Right. Oh, 681 02:01:32,320 --> 02:01:38,080 good evening, Mayor Miller and commissioners. Um, thank you for the 682 02:01:35,840 --> 02:01:42,719 opportunity to speak today. I'm Kaylee Puit. Uh many of you know me through my 683 02:01:40,239 --> 02:01:47,520 work with bikewalk min but I also serve on the pedestrian safety review board 684 02:01:44,719 --> 02:01:51,760 min bib county transit authority and the citizens advisory and complete street 685 02:01:49,440 --> 02:01:55,599 committees. Uh bikewalk makin's work has also expanded into advocating for the 686 02:01:53,840 --> 02:01:59,520 continued growth of the mmogi heritage trail. Um tonight I simply wanted to 687 02:01:57,840 --> 02:02:03,840 thank you for approving the local match for the safe streets and roads for all 688 02:02:01,520 --> 02:02:08,000 implementation grant and for recognizing the incredible opportunity this 689 02:02:05,520 --> 02:02:12,719 represents for East Mon. This grant brings more than 5.6 million in federal 690 02:02:10,400 --> 02:02:17,520 funding to make bib county. Combined with the local match, this represents a 691 02:02:14,800 --> 02:02:22,639 more than 7 million investment in safer infrastructure and connectivity for our 692 02:02:19,679 --> 02:02:26,880 community and it helps us fulfill our complete streets and vision zero 693 02:02:24,320 --> 02:02:30,159 obligations. While the local match will be spread over 5 years, the impact of 694 02:02:28,800 --> 02:02:34,159 these improvements will last for generations. This funding allows us to 695 02:02:32,560 --> 02:02:39,920 address one of our most dangerous roadways, Grey Highway. According to GOT 696 02:02:37,599 --> 02:02:44,880 crash data from the last 10 years, there were 27 pedestrian related crashes along 697 02:02:42,800 --> 02:02:49,679 this corridor, resulting in nine fatalities. And unfortunately, this is 698 02:02:47,760 --> 02:02:54,400 simply not a problem from the past. Pedestrian pedestrian crashes continue 699 02:02:52,000 --> 02:03:00,159 to occur along Grey Highway, including a pedestrian fatality earlier this summer. 700 02:02:57,679 --> 02:03:04,080 Thousands of East Min residents live within walking distance of Grey Highway. 701 02:03:01,920 --> 02:03:08,080 Yet much of the corridor lacks safe infrastructure for people biking and 702 02:03:05,920 --> 02:03:12,560 walking. For many residents, these options are not a recreation choice. 703 02:03:10,320 --> 02:03:16,560 It's how they access groceries, work, services, and everyday needs. But too 704 02:03:14,960 --> 02:03:19,679 often, they are forced to navigate a high conflict roadway with 705 02:03:18,080 --> 02:03:24,320 infrastructure without the infrastructure needed to keep them safe. 706 02:03:21,760 --> 02:03:28,320 This investment helps change that. This project will create approximately three 707 02:03:26,080 --> 02:03:32,159 miles of safer pedestrian and multimmoal infrastructure, including new sidewalks 708 02:03:30,320 --> 02:03:36,880 along Grey Highway from Sherling Drive to Woodlon Drive and improvements along 709 02:03:34,719 --> 02:03:40,480 Boulevard's ride ofway that will create a connection to the Altmogi Heritage 710 02:03:38,480 --> 02:03:43,840 Trail Riverwalk. Together, these improvements will strengthen safety and 711 02:03:42,159 --> 02:03:48,400 access throughout the area. Most importantly, they will create separation 712 02:03:45,920 --> 02:03:53,679 between people walking, biking, and a roadway carrying approximately 40,000 713 02:03:50,880 --> 02:03:56,639 vehicles per day. Safe crossings and connected infrastructure will give 714 02:03:55,119 --> 02:04:01,040 residents an alternative to walking along the shoulder of one of our busiest 715 02:03:58,400 --> 02:04:05,360 roadways. These improvements will save lives. And this the support for this 716 02:04:03,599 --> 02:04:08,880 work is clear. Approximately a hundred neighbors expressed support for safer 717 02:04:06,960 --> 02:04:12,639 infrastructure along Grey Highway and in the North Highlands neighborhood. The 718 02:04:10,960 --> 02:04:16,480 project also received support from senators OAF and Waro, demonstrating 719 02:04:14,880 --> 02:04:20,560 broad recognition for the importance of investing in this corridor. What makes 720 02:04:18,800 --> 02:04:24,159 this especially exciting is it goes beyond Grey Highway. The improvements 721 02:04:22,400 --> 02:04:27,920 along Boulevard will connect Grey Highway and the North Highlands 722 02:04:25,679 --> 02:04:32,080 neighborhood to the northern end of the Riverwalk. That connection is about more 723 02:04:30,320 --> 02:04:35,119 than addressing a dangerous roadway. It's an opportunity for us to build a 724 02:04:33,599 --> 02:04:38,639 more connected, multimodal transportation network, and give Monites 725 02:04:37,440 --> 02:04:42,880 another way to move between neighborhoods, access destinations, and 726 02:04:41,280 --> 02:04:46,400 connect to one of our community's greatest recreational assets without 727 02:04:44,880 --> 02:04:51,280 having to interact with high-speed traffic. for $7 million. This represents 728 02:04:49,119 --> 02:04:55,360 an incredible investment for our city. It's an investment in safety. It's an 729 02:04:53,280 --> 02:04:59,840 investment in access. And it's an investment in expanding and connecting 730 02:04:57,040 --> 02:05:04,320 our trail system. I know the local match represents a very significant commitment 731 02:05:01,920 --> 02:05:07,440 on our city's behalf. But spread over 5 years, I truly believe it's worth the 732 02:05:06,000 --> 02:05:12,000 investment for safe improvements, infrastructure, and opportunities that 733 02:05:09,679 --> 02:05:15,599 it will bring to East Mon and our trail system. Thank you for recognizing the 734 02:05:13,920 --> 02:05:18,639 value and for making this investment possible. and thank you for your 735 02:05:16,960 --> 02:05:23,679 leadership and for continuing to move these projects like this forward. 736 02:05:22,400 --> 02:05:29,000 » Thank you, >> Miss Brewer. We appreciate you being 737 02:05:25,119 --> 02:05:29,000 here tonight. Mr. Cam Otter, 738 02:05:29,920 --> 02:05:38,719 » Mr. Otter want to speak on similar items, items KM and uh N as well. 739 02:05:36,480 --> 02:05:42,880 » Thank you, Mr. Mayor, members of the commission. I I will proceed directly 740 02:05:40,880 --> 02:05:47,760 into those agenda items without repeating uh Miss Kaylee Puit's fine 741 02:05:45,119 --> 02:05:51,599 remarks which I admire and applaud in their entirety. Um I would just like 742 02:05:50,080 --> 02:05:55,440 just a personal moment just quite briefly to be back in this room again 743 02:05:53,280 --> 02:06:00,400 and given a chance to speak in memory of Mayor George Israel. I know that Mayor 744 02:05:57,840 --> 02:06:04,400 Israel from this city hall had an impact throughout the city and throughout the 745 02:06:01,920 --> 02:06:09,440 state of Georgia. I had the occasion to meet Mayor Israel when he was quite 746 02:06:06,480 --> 02:06:14,400 early in his term and I was graduating over at Georgia College. He was being 747 02:06:11,920 --> 02:06:19,920 honored and was on the platform with the school officers. It was hot. People were 748 02:06:17,119 --> 02:06:25,280 moving slow and I had an opportunity carrying my shiny new diploma to just 749 02:06:22,719 --> 02:06:31,760 lean in and ask if the city of Mon was hiring. His smiling, chuckling response 750 02:06:29,040 --> 02:06:36,719 to that was a very nice commendation of his good humor about government uh 751 02:06:34,320 --> 02:06:41,760 saluting the memory of Mayor George Israel. Thank you. Thank you for that 752 02:06:38,639 --> 02:06:47,840 moment. I'm here with a little context on uh following up on bikewalk mak's 753 02:06:44,880 --> 02:06:53,840 representative again, Miss Puit. The UG College of Public Health and Imra 754 02:06:50,480 --> 02:07:02,000 University are united in identifying the health value of green space uh running 755 02:06:58,079 --> 02:07:08,320 water and the opportunity taken as much as possible to move throughout the day. 756 02:07:04,719 --> 02:07:14,159 Uh making providing safe sidewalks, safe access to community services including 757 02:07:10,800 --> 02:07:20,239 health care, libraries, pickle ball, all the fine things about life. It involves 758 02:07:17,280 --> 02:07:25,440 do people have a safe way to get there? As well, I'm saluting the vision and the 759 02:07:22,800 --> 02:07:29,440 expansion of the Oak Mogi Heritage Trail. Saw the mayor and other city 760 02:07:27,920 --> 02:07:34,320 representatives, city county representatives down there last Thursday 761 02:07:31,520 --> 02:07:40,239 for a very dramatic expansion of the trail northward along the river. And the 762 02:07:36,960 --> 02:07:46,320 promise is more to come. Well done. Nicely done in that regard. 763 02:07:42,960 --> 02:07:52,719 I'll move in and that was item uh praising item M on the agenda. Moving to 764 02:07:49,599 --> 02:07:58,480 item N on the agenda. I was in contact with Mel Sparrow from the tree program 765 02:07:55,440 --> 02:08:04,480 today and this Georgia relief grant accepted by Mon Bib County from the 766 02:08:01,199 --> 02:08:11,040 Georgia Tree Council puts us a good step closer to having a tree canopy of 50% in 767 02:08:08,639 --> 02:08:16,800 Mon. What I hope will happen with this spark plug in place is to perhaps use 768 02:08:14,079 --> 02:08:21,920 the street scan software, we use it to survey the sidewalks, investigate the 769 02:08:19,760 --> 02:08:27,199 opportunities that Georgia Tech has available for counting the tree canopy. 770 02:08:25,199 --> 02:08:32,480 It's not an exact science, but we're getting a lot closer. The 50% goal comes 771 02:08:30,320 --> 02:08:36,560 from the city of Atlanta, and unfortunately, they've had some slippage 772 02:08:34,400 --> 02:08:43,199 in that regard. This is our opportunity for Mon to restore a major city to the 773 02:08:39,599 --> 02:08:48,880 50% tree canopy level. I'm I'm eager to serve with a shovel when the opportunity 774 02:08:45,280 --> 02:08:54,480 comes up. And finally, the acceptance of the community block development grant 775 02:08:51,280 --> 02:09:00,239 from 2020 for the play structure at Lynmore Estates Park. Item K on your 776 02:08:57,760 --> 02:09:05,760 agenda. Very much appreciate support for that. Do you see the span of all ages 777 02:09:03,280 --> 02:09:10,560 there? From the youngest to the oldest, we can all benefit from a physically 778 02:09:07,920 --> 02:09:18,960 active, wide openen green space community. So, commendation for item K, 779 02:09:14,560 --> 02:09:23,119 praise for item N, and salute for item M. What gives me confidence going 780 02:09:21,280 --> 02:09:27,679 forward? As one of our previous speakers spoke, and I'll close on this point, I 781 02:09:25,599 --> 02:09:32,719 took a close look at the sidewalk project that's coming on Jeffersonville 782 02:09:29,840 --> 02:09:39,360 Road, a very other very necessary project. And within the public record, I 783 02:09:36,560 --> 02:09:45,520 found a process of competitive bidding that contacted was it 130 companies, 784 02:09:43,280 --> 02:09:49,840 potential contractors, saying come to make them. I believe it was seven of 785 02:09:47,679 --> 02:09:56,000 them who offered responsive and responsible bids to a very detailed set 786 02:09:53,199 --> 02:10:02,400 of specifications about that project. Then to pave the way there was a Q&A 787 02:09:59,840 --> 02:10:07,119 with the Mon Bib County Procurement Department further refining those 788 02:10:05,119 --> 02:10:12,639 specifications to make sure the contractor knew what they were getting 789 02:10:08,880 --> 02:10:18,960 into. What's my point? Good stewardship of the money. a well necessary project 790 02:10:16,400 --> 02:10:23,840 with careful management of the fiscal side of the house. So I stand in praise, 791 02:10:22,239 --> 02:10:29,360 compliment and salute. Thank you for your attention to these uh ordinance and 792 02:10:26,719 --> 02:10:32,639 resolution items today. >> Thank you, Mr. Otter. Thank you for 793 02:10:30,480 --> 02:10:37,360 being here tonight. Uh we have a approval of the minutes for August the 794 02:10:34,880 --> 02:10:41,360 4th, 2026. Approval of the minutes. I got a motion to approve. Got a motion by 795 02:10:39,840 --> 02:10:44,400 Commissioner Cook. We have a second. Second by Commissioner Bailey. Have a 796 02:10:43,199 --> 02:10:49,119 motion and second. All those in favor of the motion, please say I. 797 02:10:46,239 --> 02:10:53,360 » Oppose. Nay. That motion carries. We do have a consent agenda. The consent 798 02:10:50,639 --> 02:10:58,400 agenda tonight uh it carries from A through Q with the exception of O. O was 799 02:10:55,520 --> 02:11:04,719 the item uh that was removed uh from the agenda tonight uh in way of next 800 02:11:01,360 --> 02:11:08,880 Wednesday's 9926 vote. So, we'll do the consent agenda only on those items. And 801 02:11:07,040 --> 02:11:13,520 then I'll have after that I'll allow Commissioner Brunson who is uh on the 802 02:11:10,800 --> 02:11:18,480 telephone tonight uh to speak about the last item item Q uh on the agenda as an 803 02:11:16,800 --> 02:11:22,000 item that he sponsored for dedication. So at this time I entertain a motion to 804 02:11:19,920 --> 02:11:27,360 approve the consent agenda items A through Q with the exception of O. Got a 805 02:11:25,040 --> 02:11:32,159 motion. Can I get a second? Got a motion and second. All those in favor of the 806 02:11:28,480 --> 02:11:35,599 motion, please say I. Opposed? Nay. That motion carries. I'll go ahead and let 807 02:11:33,760 --> 02:11:39,599 Mr. Bronson uh say a few words now regarding the dedication. This is the 808 02:11:37,040 --> 02:11:44,000 dedication uh that we voted on earlier for the greater Little Rock Baptist 809 02:11:41,119 --> 02:11:51,199 Church and spec specifically uh Emery Avenue in honor of Pastor H. Larry Een. 810 02:11:47,199 --> 02:11:55,920 Uh Commissioner Bronson. >> Hey T. We're doing a dedication uh for 811 02:11:53,920 --> 02:12:00,159 for Reverend E and and all the work that he has done for the community and and 812 02:11:57,679 --> 02:12:03,360 that church and so forth. Um I don't have really a lot to to say on that end 813 02:12:02,000 --> 02:12:07,360 being that I I don't believe any of the representatives are there from the 814 02:12:04,960 --> 02:12:10,719 family. Uh but they do send their appreciation to all the commissioners 815 02:12:08,960 --> 02:12:15,840 and the mayor uh for supporting this initiative uh to bring light to a a 816 02:12:13,440 --> 02:12:20,000 person that's done amazing things not just for the community but for all 817 02:12:17,920 --> 02:12:23,199 people of different races and so forth. Uh, and I think this is a great 818 02:12:21,119 --> 02:12:28,000 opportunity for us to continue that uh, their legacy. And uh, I just encourage 819 02:12:25,679 --> 02:12:31,760 everyone to take an opportunity to read throughout their bio uh, and just see 820 02:12:30,560 --> 02:12:35,520 some of the things that have done and and encourage other commissioners to 821 02:12:33,280 --> 02:12:38,800 continue to move forth with uh, acknowledging our leaders throughout the 822 02:12:36,960 --> 02:12:41,440 community. >> Thank you, Commissioner Bronson, for 823 02:12:39,920 --> 02:12:45,360 those remarks and thanks commissioners for uh, supporting that. Uh, we have two 824 02:12:44,159 --> 02:12:48,000 items on the public comments on non-aggenda item. one of those we 825 02:12:46,800 --> 02:12:50,960 mentioned earlier that got moved to the non-aggenda item because