This is an informal rundown of what happened at the Bulloch County Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, November 19, 2024.
Call to Order, Welcome Media and Visitors
Invocation & Pledge – Commissioner Ray Mosley
Roll Call – All commissioners present
Presentation
Approval of General Agenda
CONSENT AGENDA
Approved unanimously as a single agenda item.
NEW BUSINESS
Motorola Tower Repair from Hurricane Helene Request to approve and ratify the repair bill for climbing, repair and alignment of the 4 radio towers and antennas.
During hurricane Helene, high winds caused tower damage. The 4 communications towers needed to be climbed to realign the microwaves and repair or replace antennas on the towers. The climb was done immediately after the hurricane passed, to being us back to optimal operating of the radio system.
$60,459.64 Paid for out of the Radio Tower Fund. Also being included in an insurance claim, so the hope is for reimbursement.
Approved unanimously.
Resolution Authorizing Participation in the ACCG – Interlocal Risk Management Agency Supplemental Medical, Accident, and Disability Fund: First Responder PTSD Program
During the 2024 session, the Georgia legislature approved House Bill 451, known as the Ashley Wilson Act, requiring all public entities in Georgia to offer a supplemental benefit program for first responders who are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of line of duty exposure to traumatic events. The Ashley Wilson Act becomes effective on January 1, 2025.
Employees eligible for coverage under the Act are defined in the statute, and include, but are not limited to:
- Communications Officers
- Emergency Medical Professionals
- Firefighters (both paid and volunteer)
- Jail Officers
- Peace Officers
- Correctional Officers
- Emergency Medical Technicians
- Probation Officers
Benefits available under the Act include two types of coverage, each of which can be accessed once per lifetime:
- A $3000 lump-sum benefit paid following diagnosis of occupational PTSD; and
- A long-term disability benefit of 60% of monthly pay (maximum $5000 per month) for up to 36 months (following a 90 day period of disability).
The Association of County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) has partnered with MetLife insurance company to offer the required coverage to its members. The cost for participation is based on the number of eligible employees.
Bulloch County has received a price quotation, based on our current employee census data, of $53,370.00. This price includes both of the required benefits – lump sum and long-term disability – and complies with the requirements of the Ashley Wilson Act.
Staff recommends that the County accept this proposal and apply for participation in the ACCG First Responder PTSD Program. Approval of the attached resolution and application will authorize participation and comply with the statutory obligations of the Ashley Wilson Act.
Approved unanimously
Approve an Extension for Emergency Purchasing Provisions for the Public Works and Public Safety Rapid Response Plan
On December 10, 2024, the Emergency Purchasing (120 days) approved by the Bulloch County Board of Commissioners will expire.
Over the last couple of months while recovering from Tropical Storm Debby, Bulloch County has seen Hurricane Helene and another major flooding event (11/ 6-7 /2024) causing additional damage to our road infrastructure.
Staff are requesting approval for the Public Works and Public Safety Rapid Response Plan to be extended an additional 120 days to continue to restore roads damaged during all three of these weather events. County staff are still operating with the original appropriated funding up to five million dollars of which 75% is to be funded from TSPLOST to support the plan. This extension of an additional 120-day period of the emergency purchasing provisions of the County’s financial policies will continue to help expedite the Rapid Response Plan.
This is not additional funding, just additional time to utilize previously-approved funds.
- Still have 12 roads closed in the county, down from 40.
- 16 unanswered complaints, down from 48.
After a brief discussion, county commissioners unanimously approved a 180 day extension (6 months).
Motion to approve a change order in the amount of $115,720.00 with McLendon Enterprises, Inc. for additional work to repair downstream scour of channel as part of the Brannen Pond Road project, funded by TSPLOST, with partial reimbursement from FEMA and GEMA.
During construction of the box culvert under Brannen Pond Road, additional underwater scour at the outlet end of the culvert that was not present during the initial design survey has been discovered. The additional scour is likely caused by flooding during Tropical Storm Debby. The scour hole, which is located just beyond the end of the concrete apron at the outlet end of the new box culvert, will need to be filled in with rip rap to avoid stability problems for the concrete apron and wing walls. The hole is approximately six feet deep and covers an area of approximately 70 feet by 20 feet. The total estimated cost of this work is $93,170.00, however actual payment will be based on actual quantities of rip rap installed. Staff estimates that this cost estimate represents the maximum possible cost for this work.
In addition to the underwater scour hole, Tropical Storm Debby and other storm events created some additional scour of the roadway as well. The additional roadway scour will result in an increase in quantities of graded aggregate base and asphalt. The total cost of this additional work is projected to be $27,850.00, however actual payment will be based on actual quantities installed. Staff estimates that this cost estimate represents the maximum possible cost for this work.
During the course of the project, there has also been an underrun of some line items in the contract. These underruns result in a deduction of $5,300 from the estimated cost of the work.
The additional work minus the deduct items results in a net increase of $115,720.00 to the total contract amount. The original contract amount was $547,801.00. The new contract amount would be $663,521.00 with this change order. The approved engineering design cost with Kimley Horne for the project is $158,000. The estimated total of design and construction costs for the project is $821,521.00. The approved reimbursement from FEMA for the project is $469,264.22, and the GEMA reimbursement is $62,568.56, for a total reimbursement of $531,832.78 from FEMA and GEMA. This leaves an estimated total of $289,688.22 to be funded using TSPLOST funds.
The County Engineer recommends approval of the change order.
Approved unanimously.
Approve a Resolution Authorizing the Sale of an Abandoned Portion of Highway 46
On or about September 20, 1994 the Georgia Department of Transportation deeded to Bulloch County the portion of Highway 46 from its intersection with Highway 67 to its intersection with Highway 119. On or about October 10, 2011 GDOT realigned the intersection of Highway 67 and Highway 46, effectively resulting in the abandonment of a portion of the county-owned section of Highway 46. Raymond Waters owns the property on both sides of the abandoned roadway and has requested to purchase the abandoned roadway from the County. OCGA 32-7-4 authorizes the disposal of abandoned roadway property to the abutting landowner and authorizes a county to negotiate the sale of the property if the value is $75,000.00 or less. Based on the fair market value of the property, it has been determined that $8,160.00 is a reasonable sales price, and Mr. Waters has agreed to purchase the property for that amount. Approval of the presented resolution will authorize the sale of the abandoned roadway to Mr. Waters for $8,160.00.
Approved unanimously.
Approve a Resolution Approving and Authorizing an Intergovernmental Agreement Between Bulloch County and Municipalities Concerning a County One Percent Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax
Approval of the attached resolution will approve and authorize execution of the intergovernmental agreement (“IGA”) that has been negotiated between the County and the municipalities of Statesboro, Brooklet, Portal, and Register concerning the one percent special purpose local option sales tax (“SPLOST”) referendum planned for March 18, 2025 which, if it passes, will be a continuation of the current 1% SPLOST that is set to expire on September 30, 2025. The IGA anticipates SPLOST collections of $138,000,000 over the 6-year term of the SPLOST and lists the County and municipal projects and their estimated costs. Two projects that are being allocated proceeds off the top are the addition to the jail in the amount of $51,000,000 and purchase of space in a solid waste regional landfill in the amount of $9,600,000. Those two projects will receive monthly distributions over the 6-year period to equal those amounts. The smaller municipalities will then receive their share of the remaining proceeds based on population, and then the County and Statesboro will receive their share of the remaining proceeds based on population. The IGA also acknowledges that the County intends to issue revenue bonds in the principal amount of $60,000,000 through the Bulloch County Public Facilities Authority in order to finance the addition to the jail, and that the $51,000,000 allocated to the jail project will be used to pay these bonds and that any proceeds collected in excess of the $138,000,000 will be used exclusively to pay the debt until it is paid in full. The IGA further provides that if the SPLOST proceeds are insufficient to pay the debt in full, any remaining debt will be included as a priority project in the IGA for the next SPLOST. It is anticipated that all the municipalities will approve and execute the IGA before the end of November. The resolution of the Board of Commissioners requesting the call of the SPLOST referendum will be on the agenda for the December 3rd meeting, and the resolution of the Board of Elections and Registration issuing the call will be on the agenda for the December 9th meeting. The call will then be published in the Statesboro Herald on December 14th.
Approved unanimously.
Authorize Application for a Drinking Water Permit
Bulloch County needs to apply for a drinking water permit with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division in order to meet its contractual obligation to sell water to Bryan County.
Review and Discussion of Well Mitigation Program
The draft of the well mitigation program presented and discussed.
No action taken Tuesday.
Public Comments
Commission and Staff Comments
Adjourn
11:45am.
Watch the full meeting below
