This is an informal rundown of what happened at the Bulloch County Commission Meeting on August 12, 2024. It is a regular meeting postponed due to Tropical Storm Debby.
Call to Order, Welcome Media and Visitors
Invocation and Pledge
Roll Call – All Commissioners present with the exception of Commissioner Curt Deal who attended by phone.
Approval of General Agenda
Consent Agenda
Commissioners opted to vote on all 13 items as a single line item. The items were approved unanimously.
- Minutes of Jul 16, 2024 8:30 AM Meeting
- FY 25 Video Scope Purchase
- At the end of last fiscal year, the county was advised that the current video laryngoscope it was utilizing would no longer be supported. The company was moving to a different video monitor and new blade system that would require the purchase of new units with accessories. The county took the opportunity to demo 4 different video laryngoscope systems. After conducting an evaluation of all systems staff feels the UE SCOPE system best will serve county needs. Staff is requesting approval of this sole source purchase.
- Motion to approve the purchase of Key fire hose from NAFECO
- The Bulloch County Fire Department was budgeted $20,000.00 to purchase new fire hose. This purchase will help the Department equip engines with new modern fire hose that will increase water flow while operating at lower pressures. This will reduce the stress and workload of firefighters and aid in better fire suppression. This hose has become the standard for BCFD so to maintain standardized equipment across the fleet of apparatus.
- Motion to approve the purchase of First Due reporting software
- First Due software has become the operating software for Bulloch County Fire, this software is used for; incident reporting, staff scheduling, pre-incident planning, inspections as well as many other departmental functions. The annual subscription is up for renewal. In addition to the renewal, we would like to add a Command module, Permitting, and Community Connect for a total of $33,887.50.
- The addition of these modules would allow the Bulloch County Fire Department to manage emergency incident safer than ever before and allow us to connect with the citizens of Bulloch County through an online community outreach module. The community connect module allows residents and businesses to input critical occupant and property information in that is available to unites as they respond to the emergencies
- Motion to Approve the Purchase of a 2025 Dodge Durango
- The Bulloch County Public Safety Department requests to purchase a 2025 Dodge Durango in the amount of $48,808.00 to replace a current vehicle. The Public Safety Director seeks approval to replace the Public Safety command vehicle. On June 28th at approximately 3:00 a.m. the command vehicle was leaving the scene of an officer involved shooting on Highway 301 North when it struck a deer. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company mainly due to airbag deployment and high mileage (208,000 miles). The vehicle was budgeted to be replaced in the 2025-2026 Budget and this request will negate the future request.
- Motion to Approve a Service Agreement Contract between the Bulloch County Correctional Institution and Diversified Correctional Services, LLC
- The Georgia Department of Corrections requires all facilities that house state inmates to be in compliance with The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). PREA standards are established by the Federal Government and require all facilities to be audited every 3 years. The BCCI is due for and audit in 2025. The BCCI is responsible for locating the Auditor and paying for the audit. The proposed audit date is April of 2025. Robert Lanier, BS, MA DBA Diversified Correctional Services, LLC has been selected to perform the audit.
- Motion to Approve the Appointment of Keely Fennell to the TAD Advisory Committee
- The TAD Advisory Committee consists of six (6) members with three (3) members appointed by the Mayor and City Council and three (3) members appointed by the Board of Commissioners. Members will serve until their successors are appointed. The TAD Advisory Committee’s purpose is to review and approve or disapprove all applications and proposed projects for TAD funding and/or TAD financing.
- With the resignation of County appointed committee member Bill Herring, the Board of Commissioners has selected Keely Fennell to replace him on the committee with a term beginning upon Board approval.
- Motion to Approve the Purchase of Motorola APX 6000 Portable Radios from Motorola Solutions.
- Bulloch County Fire was budgeted $100,000 to purchase portable radios, this will replace older radios that are no longer supported by Motorola. The purchase of these radios will help to ensure Firefighters have the necessary means to communicate on the fire ground.
- Motion to approve the purchase of two 2025 Ford Explorers from Allan Vigil Ford-Lincoln Government Sales in the amount of $45,693.00 each for a total of $91,386.00.
- Bulloch County EMS Department was approved for the purchase of two support vehicles in the FY25 SPLOST Budget. The vehicles are being requested to be purchased from Allan Vigil Ford-Lincoln Government Sales through the State of Georgia state vehicle contracts.
- Approval is recommended.
- Motion to approve the purchase of one 2025 Ford Explorer from Allan Vigil Ford-Lincoln Government Sales in the amount of $42,283.00.
- Bulloch County Probation Department was approved for the purchase of a vehicle in the FY25 SPLOST Budget. The vehicle is being requested to be purchased from Allan Vigil Ford-Lincoln Government Sales through the State of Georgia state vehicle contracts.
- Approval is recommended.
- Motion to approve the purchase of one 2024 Ford F150 from Allan Vigil Ford-Lincoln Government Sales in the amount of $47,435.00.
- Bulloch County Special Projects Manager in Bulloch County Administration was approved for the purchase of a vehicle in the FY25 SPLOST Budget. This vehicle will be a replacement vehicle for a 2008 Ford F150 that is beginning to require extensive repairs. The vehicle is being requested to be purchased from Allan Vigil Ford-Lincoln Government Sales through the State of Georgia state vehicle contracts. Ford Manufacturing has not yet closed the purchasing window for 2024 Ford trucks. We can still purchase a new 2024 F150, with the MY24 pricing. Approval is recommended.
- Motion to approve the purchase of one 2024 Ford F250 from Allan Vigil Ford-Lincoln Government Sales in the amount of $50,948.00.
- Bulloch County Recreation Parks & Grounds Department was approved for the purchase of a vehicle in the FY25 SPLOST Budget. The vehicle is being requested to be purchased from Allan Vigil Ford-Lincoln Government Sales through the State of Georgia state vehicle contracts. Ford Manufacturing has not yet closed the purchasing window for 2024 Ford trucks. We can still purchase a new 2024 F250, with the MY24 pricing. Approval is recommended.
- To grant a 2024 alcoholic beverage license for package retail beer, wine distilled spirits sales to Nikki Green and April Cooper for Pour Decisions Beer, Wine & Liquor, LLC. located at 8741 US Hwy. 301 South, Unit D Statesboro, Georgia.
New Business
Motion to approve a bid and enter into a contract with Reeves Construction Company for County Road Resurfacing in the amount of $6,035,585.00, to be funded by LMIG and TSPLOST.
This contract includes the resurfacing of approximately 28 miles of county paved roads. Sealed bids were received on July 25, 2024, as detailed in the attached memo from Faye Bragg, Purchasing Manager. The low bidder, Reeves Construction, met all requirements of the County’s bid specifications and has successfully completed previous Bulloch County resurfacing projects.
The County Engineer’s cost estimate for the project (base bid plus two add alternates) was $6,722,724.50. Because the low bid is below the estimated amount, the county engineer recommends including the two add alternates, for a total contract amount of $6,035,585.00 with Reeves Construction. Project would be funded utilizing $1,792,651.04 in LMIG funding, $2,220,281.32 in Supplemental LMIG funding, and $2,022,652.64 in TSPLOST funding. County Engineer recommends approval.
Approved unanimously.
Motion to approve a change order in the amount of $42,600 with Sikes Brothers, Inc. for the relocation of a sewer force main on US Hwy 301 North, as part of the Public Works Entrance Road project, funded by TSPLOST.
This change order is due to a conflict between an 8-inch sanitary sewer force main and the new roadway going from US Hwy 301 North into the new Bulloch County Public Works facility. The sanitary sewer force main was identified on the project plans and is located on the western side of US 301. However, when the embankment on the north side of the US Hwy 301/Veterans Parkway was removed, the elevation of the sewer main was determined to be higher than anticipated, due to the change in grade from US 301 to the County property. The current elevation of the sewer main is too high for adequate cover and protection from the new proposed road into the County Public Works facility. This change order includes relocating 160 linear feet of the sewer main to an elevation approximately 4 feet below it’s existing elevation, to allow for construction of the new road. Ductile Iron pipe is required for the relocated section of sewer pipe by the City of Statesboro, due to it being under the proposed roadway which is anticipated to be used by heavy equipment.
County Engineering staff also requested an independent quote for the work from a utility contractor not currently involved in the project, for cost comparison. The other quote came in at $55,056.00. The County Engineer recommends approval of this change order in the amount of $42,600 with Sikes Brothers, Inc.
Approved unanimously.
Motion to approve a bid and enter into a contract with McLendon Enterprises, Inc. for the construction of the Brannen Pond Road Drainage Project in the amount of $547,801.00, to be funded by TSPLOST with reimbursement of 85% of cost from FEMA and GEMA.
This contract includes demolition and removal of damaged pavement, base, and drainage pipe, construction of a concrete box culvert, earthwork, road construction, and guardrail installation on Brannen Pond Road, just west of Cleary Road. Sealed bids were received on August 1, 2024, seven were received, and two were rejected for not meeting county specs.
The lowest responsive bidder, McLendon Enterprises, Inc., met all requirements of the County’s bid specifications and has successfully completed previous Bulloch County resurfacing projects.
One bidder submitted a lower bid than McLendon Enterprises, however the bidder is not currently a GDOT prequalified contractor, which was a requirement of the bid package. The bid was considered to be non-responsive.
The Engineer’s cost estimate for the project was $682,000. The County Engineer recommended approval.
NOTE: Deal shared with commissioners that the road did suffer additional damage during the flooding from Tropical Storm Debby. The improvements planned in this part of the project is expected to help prevent additional damage in the event of severe flooding once again.
Commissioner Timmy Rushing asked if McLendon had looked at the project after Debby to evaluate if it will result in a cost increase and a change order. Deal said he was unsure, that an increase was expected for the additional work, but he was unsure of how much – only that it wouldn’t ‘change the project drastically.’ Rushing asked if other commissioners thought they should postpone the project until McLendon evaluates the project. Deal said they wanted to move as quickly as possible because of the supply chain issues as a result of Debby and the influx of requests. Rushing pressed for evaluation in one week at the next morning meeting and asked what county manager Tom Couch thought. Couch said they could defer the project for one week and it would likely ‘be fine.’
Deal said the timeline is three to four weeks to begin work once commissioners approve the project. Couch said if there is a cost change, FEMA will also reimburse at that rate and Rushing said he just wanted to make sure everyone was comfortable.
Commissioners ultimately voted to approve the measure unanimously.
Motion to approve a bid and enter into a contract with Sikes Brothers, Inc. for the construction of Two Chop Road and a section of Banks Creek Church Road in the amount of $3,395,644.92, to be funded by TSPLOST.
This contract includes clearing and grubbing, grading and earthwork, drainage improvements, subgrade construction, base, and paving of Two Chop Road, from US Hwy 25 to Rocky Ford Road, a distance of 3.05 miles, as well as a segment of Banks Creek Church Road, approximately 0.5 miles long. Sealed bids were received on August 1, 2024. The low bidder, Sikes Brothers, Inc., met all requirements of the County’s bid specifications.
The Engineer’s cost estimate for the project was $4,633,365. The low bid is below the estimated amount, and the bidder met all requirements of the County’s bid specifications.
The county engineer recommended approval. Commissioners voted unanimously to approve.
Public Comments
Len Fatica – Spoke to thank emergency responders in the aftermath of ‘Tropical Cyclone Debby,’ thanking public works and first responders.
Billy Anderson – Spoke on the 430 acres development slated to yield 794 housing units on Burkhalter Road and the flooding that occurs because of Little Lotts Creek near Golf Club Road.
David Reid - Spoke to commissioners on mobile homes as well as code issues with dryer vents.
Lisha Nevil -Asked commissioners to consider another moratorium on approving more houses, especially in light of the impacts of Debby to allow the county time to 'catch up.'
Commission and Staff Comments
Randy Tillman, Director of Public Safety, addressed commissioners on the impacts of Tropical Storm Debby and how the county is recovering. He also thanked everyone for their united efforts in the immediate aftermath.
Director of Emergency Management Corey Kemp reported:
- 6 compromised dams
- 11 swift water rescues rescuing 80+ citizens (from homes & cars)
- 144 EMS response calls
- 166 fire response calls
- 2,231 calls were fielded by 911
- 159 homes evaluated for damage to date
- 50+ homes will declared 'substantially damaged homes'
County Engineer Brad Deal said 3 paved roads had drainage pipes washed away like on Nevils Denmark Road.
Asst Public Works Director said daily cleanouts have been happening at collection centers around the county. He encouraged citizens to bring their trash and waste to centers if trash pickup has ceased at their homes.
Dink NeSmith, director of public works, said:
78 trees down in height of storm from wind and rain (less than $100k as impact was minimal)
- 574 paved roads on county roster
- 91 road closures at peak
- only 8 still remain closed
- 4 paved road failures - contract response will facilitate repair as county road department cannot handle in house
- 524 dirt roads on roster
- 172 have been made passable at this time
- 21 are still closed
- some remote, low traffic roads may still be closed. County plans to evaluate those Tuesday-Friday
- 1000 tons of #4 rock (100 left as of Sunday 8/11)
- 300 tons of GAB
- Status is still 'triaging' roads and access
Executive Session (Personnel)
Adjourn
