This is an informal rundown of the Bulloch County Board of Commissioners meeting from March 5, 2024.
Call to Order, Welcome Media and Visitors
Invocation and Pledge
Roll Call – All Commissioners present.
Presentation
Approval of Zoning Agenda
- Brian Scott Reddick has submitted an application for the conditional use of allowing a facility to host private and public functions. The property is located at 10143 Hwy. 80 East, Parcel No. 163 000029 000.
- See documents and departmental reviews
- The applicant was not present so commissioners deferred the matter to the next evening meeting (April)
- Miraya Investments, LLC submitted a request for a conditional use of operating a liquor store. The proposed location is 8741 US Hwy. 301 South, Parcel No. 062B000003 001.
Approval of General Agenda
Consent Agenda
These items were voted on as one item and it was approved unanimously.
Minutes of Feb 20, 2024 8:30 AM
Approve the Corrected Regular and Executive Session Minutes from the July 5th, 2023 Board of Commissioners Meeting
An apparent scrivener’s error in preparing both the minutes of the regular meeting and the minutes of the executive session. Minutes were corrected to reflect a motion that was made and carried in regular session after discussion was had during Executive Session.
Approve a Resolution to Approve the Location of a Paving Project for Lee Road
OCGA Sections 21-2-109 and 32-3-5 require a condemning authority to approve the location of a road project and advertise it in the newspaper once a week for four weeks within 30 days of the location approval. The purpose of the attached resolution is to satisfy this requirement. Approval is recommended.
Authorization to Send Notices of Non-Renewal to Certain Employee Health Plan Vendors
The County’s benefits broker, Mark III Employee Benefits, is working to obtain proposals from current and prospective health plan vendors for claims administration services. At the conclusion of the project, the County will select its 2024/2025 vendor/partners for claims administration (TPA) services, provider network (PPO) access, and medical precertification services.
Currently, the county operates under written agreements with the following organizations for the performance of these services:
- 90 Degree Benefits/Covenant,
- Industry Buying Group (IBG), and
- Hines and Associates.
Our agreements with these vendors contain an automatic renewal clause and require the County to notify the vendors in advance if we wish to avoid automatic renewal.
Although vendors for the 2024/2025 plan year have not yet been identified, staff is requesting authorization to send non-renewal letters to the organizations listed above. These letters will prevent automatic renewal of the existing agreement and allow time for new agreements with the vendor/partners that are ultimately selected.
Approval is recommended.
Approve the Appointment of Adam Bath to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a term of 3-years ending December 31, 2026.
Approve a Resolution to Authorize the Sale of Real Property and to Enter into a Real Estate Sales Contract Regarding Same
Gary and Margaret Dorsey have requested to purchase a portion of the former Savannah & Statesboro Railway Company right-of-way that runs through their property, which right-of-way is owned by Bulloch County pursuant to a deed from Statesboro Telephone Company dated August 3, 1935 and recorded in Deed Book 125, Page 76, Bulloch County Records. The attached resolution authorizes the sale of this portion of the right-of-way to the Dorseys pursuant to an exception to the general bid or auction requirements in OCGA 36-9-3(h). Pursuant to the attached letter from Deputy Chief Appraiser Robert Fisher, the Dorseys’ property is the only abutting property that would benefit from acquisition of this portion of the right-of-way, and the estimated value contribution to the Dorseys’ property is $15,000.00. Approval of the attached resolution authorizing the sale of this portion of the right-of-way to the Dorseys for $15,000.00 is recommended.
Motion to approve lease agreement between Statesboro Bulloch County Airport and Southeast Avionics
Lease will be for a year with renewal in January 2025.
Approve a Polling Place Agreement with the Mayor and Council of the City of Statesboro
The Bulloch County Board of Elections and Registration has voted to relocate the polling place for the Statesboro Voting Precinct to the Jones-Love Building located at Luetta Moore Park. The attached polling place agreement authorizes use of this building as a polling place for the Statesboro Precinct. Approval is recommended.
Approve an Agreement for Animal Control and Municipal Court Services with the City of Statesboro
Bulloch County has provided animal control services for the City of Statesboro for a number of years pursuant to an intergovernmental agreement and in accordance with the Service Delivery Agreement. The attached agreement continues this arrangement on the same terms and conditions but has been updated to reflect Statesboro’s adoption of a new animal control ordinance and the provision of municipal court services by the magistrate court. Approval is recommended.
Motion for the acceptance of Allen-Smith Consulting to provide preparation and administration services of an Employment Incentive Program (EIP) grant application.
The Employment Incentive Program (EIP) is a set-aside portion of the state Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) and is intended to facilitate and enhance job creation and/or retention for low- and moderate-income persons by providing a flexible funding cycle. If awarded, EIP funding may be used by local governments for many types of public infrastructure projects.
The Bulloch County Development Authority has identified an infrastructure need and requested the assistance of Bulloch County to apply for an EIP grant to assist in the construction of a rail spur near the proposed Revalyu facility. Bulloch County solicited a request for proposals (RFP) on November 16, 2023, and received five responses on December 28, 2023. The RFPs were reviewed and scored by a committee which resulted in Allen-Smith Consulting scoring the highest. No County funding has been obligated for this project and is anticipated to be covered by the grant funds in the future, if awarded.
Motion for the acceptance of Turnipseed Engineers to provide the preliminary engineering report, design, and construction services for an Employment Incentive Program (EIP) grant application.
The Employment Incentive Program (EIP) is a set-aside portion of the state Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) and is intended to facilitate and enhance job creation and/or retention for low- and moderate-income persons by providing a flexible funding cycle. If awarded, EIP funding may be used by local governments for many types of public infrastructure projects.
The Bulloch County Development Authority has identified an infrastructure need and requested the assistance of Bulloch County to apply for an EIP grant to assist in the construction of a rail spur near the proposed Revalyu facility. Bulloch County solicited a request for qualifications (SOQ) on November 16, 2023, and received six responses on December 28, 2023. The SOQs were reviewed and scored by a committee which resulted in Turnipseed Engineers scoring the highest. No County funding has been obligated for this project and is anticipated to be covered by the grant funds in the future, if awarded.
Approve a Special Event Permit for Statesboro Ducks Unlimited to host a non-profit event at Ogeechee Technical College, 20 Joe Kennedy Boulevard on March 28, 2024 from 6:00pm until 10:00pm.
New Business
Motion to approve a Federally-Funded Subaward Agreement with Bryan County in the amount of $7.5 million of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds
In 2022, the County entered into an agreement with Bryan, Chatham, and Effingham Counties to share the costs of infrastructure needed for the Bryan County Mega-Site and to also share in future tax revenues resulting from the new industries located on the site. Under this agreement, Bulloch County’s share of the water and sewer infrastructure cost is $7.5 million and it needs to be paid to Bryan County as manager of the project.
Staff discussed various scenarios for funding this investment and determined the most favorable funding source to be the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CSLFRF) received by the County under the American Rescue Plan Act. This project falls under one of the statutory eligible uses for CSLFRF as a “necessary investment in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure” in our region.
The subrecipient agreement presented for approval outlines provisions for Bulloch County to direct this federal funding to Bryan County and for all necessary monitoring and reporting to be completed as required by the US Treasury.
It is important to note that under the previously mentioned revenue sharing agreement, Bulloch County is expected to completely recoup this initial investment by 2030 and will continue to share in revenues generated from the Mega-Site through 2048.
While this subgrant was not included in the budget, Administration proposes using CSLFRF funding that was previously planned to be spent on a county-owned public water utility system in the southeastern portion of the County to be directed to Bryan County and explore other funding options to build out a county-owned system in the future.
Commissioner Timmy Rushing asked King what the return on investment estimate is for Bulloch County.
County manager Tom Couch said they expect $38 million over twenty five years, but payments will not begin until 2028. County employees further said the initial $7.5 million will be returned in 2028, 2029, and 2030.
With no further discussion, it was approved unanimously.
Public Comments
Lawton Sack
Len Fatica
Tim Powell
Dr. Frank Davis
Bill Emley
David Bennett
Brian Pfund
Commission and Staff Comments
Executive Session (Real Estate & Personnel)
Commissioners entered into executive session at 6:52 p.m.
