[CALL TO ORDER] [*Portions of this meeting are without video/audio* ] [00:00:05] YOU AGREE? GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. LET ME WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO OUR TUESDAY, AUGUST THE 5TH, 2025 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION. APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEARING WITH US JUST A MINUTE WHILE WE GOT THE COMPUTERS UP AND RUNNING. BUT THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR BEING HERE. AND IF Y'ALL DON'T MIND, I'LL OPEN THIS WITH A WORD OF PRAYER THIS MORNING. OUR GRACIOUS HEAVENLY FATHER, WE FIRST THANK YOU FOR THIS NEW DAY. LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE RAINS THAT YOU'VE REPLENISHED THE EARTH. AND WHILE WE SEE THE BENEFIT OF THOSE LORD, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY PARTS OF OUR COUNTRY THAT ARE SUFFERING THROUGH SOME REALLY BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LOSS OF LIFE, AND SOME IN OUR KIND OF IMMEDIATE AREA. AND SO, LORD, WE JUST ASK YOU TO BE WITH THOSE COMMUNITIES AS THEY SUFFER THROUGH THAT AND WATCH OVER AND GUIDE THOSE INDIVIDUALS. LORD, AS TO ALWAYS PRAYER FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR DEDICATION, THEIR HARD WORK, AND SERVING THE CITIZENS OF OUR COMMUNITY. LORD, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR TODAY AS COMMISSIONERS, IS TO TALK ABOUT ISSUES THAT FACE OUR COMMUNITY. AND WE ARE VERY THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT WILL GO OUT EACH AND EVERY DAY AND HELP THE CITIZENS OF OUR COMMUNITY. I ASK YOU TO BE WITH US DURING THIS TIME. NOW, GIVE US THE SERMON ON THOSE MATTERS THAT WE DISCUSSED TODAY, AND THAT YOU BE WITH US THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THIS DAY. AND THY NAME WE DO PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. ALRIGHT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO COUNTY MANAGER JERRY. [1. The Richard English, Jr. Strongest Link Award of Excellence for July 2025 (Chardonnay Scott)] COMMISSIONERS, FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE STRONGEST LINK AWARD, AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO. AWARD OF EXCELLENCE IS G MONTHLY TO A DESERVINGO HAS. A PRIDE AND OTHER NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES THAT ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES LINK TOGETHER TO FORM A CHAIN THAT PROVIDES THE CITIZENS OF TROUP COUNTY WITH EXCELLENT SERVICE. NO O EXEMPLIFIES THAT SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE AND DEDICATION THAN. AND DEDICATION AND SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS. TODAY, WE HONOR HIS MEMORY AND LEGACY AS WE RECOGNIZE THE RECIPIENT OF JULY 2025. I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY READING A PORTION OF THE NOMINATION FORM THAT WAS SUBMITTED ON BEHALF OF THE RECIPIENT. HE HAS MORE THAN 20 YEARS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE, AND WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE HIM WORKING WITH US IN OUR DIVISION. HE IS ONE OF THE HIDDEN JEWELS AT THE GOVERNMENT CENTER, WHOSE EXPERIENCE PROVES ON A DAILY BASIS TO BE A VALUABLE ASSET TO HIS ORGANIZATION, PEERS AND SUPERVISORS ALIKE. HE CONTINUES TO HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARD HIS WORK RESPONSIBILITIES, COWORKERS, AND THE CITIZENS. HE SERVES AS A ROLE MODEL FOR OTHERS. HE IS PRODUCTIVE AND COMMITTED TO PRODUCING QUALITY WORK, WHICH IS AN ASSET TO THE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE. IT IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE TO YOU THE RICHARD ENGLISH JUNIOR STRONGEST LINK AWARD OF EXCELLENCE RECIPIENT. JULY 2025. DEPUTY SHERIFF WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT GARY WOOD. I'M SURE YOU WILL GIVE A SPEECH, RIGHT? YEAH. IF I HAVE MORE THAN TEN MINUTES NOTICE, I'M NOT. WE'LL GET YOU. PENN. WE HEARD THAT THEY KEPT A SECRET FROM YOU. OH. VERY GOOD, OKAY. THANK. GARY, DO YOU HAVE ANY FRIENDS OR FAMILY HERE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH? OKAY. OH. HE IS MY BROTHER. RANDY KIRK. WHOLE TEAM UP HERE? YEAH. YOU GUYS. ONE. TWO. THREE. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. THERE YOU GO. WE TRULY APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HARD WORK [00:05:08] AND DEDICATION AND LOYALTY YOU HAVE PUT IOUNTY. YOU HAVE PROVEN YOU ARE THE TH. [2. Affirm Troup County Board of Education 2025 Millage] THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY, MARK JANEIRO, FOR A BRIEF. SO I'M HARKING BACK TO LESS THAN TEN MINUTES TO PREPARE TO TALK. I WOULD HAVE NEVER IN FIVE MINUTES PREPARED TO TALK. BUT THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR IN THE MILLAGE AND LEVY PROCESS. AND THERE'LL BE A RESOLUTION TONIGHT UNDER. THEY SET MILLAGEY SEND IT OVER. THAT IS A MINISTERIAL ACT ON THE PART OF THE BOARD. SO THAT BECOMES PART OF THE LEVY THAT WILL ULTIMATELY BE APPROVED BY RESOLUTION AFTER THE BOARD SETS ITS MILLAGE RATE. THIS BOARD HAS NO DISCRETION WITH REGARD TO THE AMOUNT OF THE LEVY, HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SETTING OF THAT LEVY. IT JUST AFFIRMS THE MILLAGE RATE, WHICH THEN BECOMES PART OF THE LEVY AFTER THE COUNTY DOES ITS. WHAT? WHAT IS THE MILLAGE RATE? 17 POINT 17.35. ALL RIGHT. ANY ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES, SIR. I CONFIRMED LAST EVENING WITH DOCTOR HAZEL [Items 3 & 4] THAT SCOTT BURKHALTER, THE CFO, THIS EVENING. ALL RIGHT. NEXT. AISHA DAVIS FROM JUVENILE COURT WOULD COME O DELINQUENCY PREVENTION. GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN AND COMMISSIONERS. GOOD MORNING. I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY ASKING FOR PERMISSION TO RENEW THESE GRANTS. THE DELINQUENCY PREVENTION ONE GRANT PROGRAM PROVIDES FUNDING FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF STRENGTHENING FAMILIES PROGRAM TO YOUTH WHO ARE FIRST TIME OFFENDERS DIVERTED FROM THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM OR CHARGED WITH A STATUS OFFENSE AS AN IDENTIFIED AS AT RISK. WE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING THIS GRANT SINCE MARCH OF 2021 AND PROVIDING TWO STRENGTHENING FAMILIES GROUPS A YEAR. WE HAVE SERVED OVER 70 YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES. APPLICANTS CAN APPLY FOR UP TO 42,000. FUNDING FOR THIS AWARD ENDS SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026. THE DELINQUENCY PREVENTION TWO GRANT PROGRAM PROVIDES FUNDING FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EVIDENCE BASED PROGRAMS AND PREVENTION STRATEGIES TO YOUTH WHO ARE FIRST TIME OFFENDERS DIVERTED FROM THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM OR CHARGED WITH THE STATUS OFFENSE AND IDENTIFIED AS AT RISK. FUNDS FOR THIS AWARD CAN BE USED FOR COMPENSATION FOR THE FACILITATORS, TRAINING COSTS, SUPPLIES, AND INCENTIVES. THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT IS TO ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC CRIMINOGENIC NEED FOR THESE YOUTH, WITH THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF REDUCING THE RISK OF FURTHER INVOLVEMENT WITH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. APPLICANTS CAN FOR THIS AWARD ENDS SEPTEMBERNG 30TH, 2026. JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE PREVENTION GRANT RUNS 42,0 TO 50,000 WITH NO MATCH. YES. YES, SIR. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. WE'LL TAKE THIS UP NOW O [5. Discuss Troup County Justice & Mental Health Collaborative(Lindsay Mobley)] THANK YOU. ITEM FIVE. AGENDA ON THE 19TH. IT IS A GROUP THAT HAD BEEN WORKING ON A PROJECT TOGETHER. AND WE'LL BE PREPARED TO PRESENT SOMETHING FORWARD ON THE 19TH AGENDA. SO I DO APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. NEXT UP IS A REQUEST FROM CHIEF STEELE ON EVERYBODY ON BEHALF OF PARKS RECREATION. CHIEF, ARE YOU IN THE ROOM? SECOND DAY ON THE JOB. AND I MEAN, COME ON, MAN. GOOD [00:10:05] MORNING COMMISSIONERS. GOOD MORNING. THIS MORNING, WE'RE COMING IN FRONT OF YOU TO REQUEST PERMISSION TO APPLY FOR THE HEART OF WEST GEORGIA GRANT FOR AED. THIS AED WILL BE PURCHASED FOR THE USE AT THE NEW PICKLEBALL COMPLEX. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF OLDER RESERVE UNITS THAT WE'RE GETTING READY TO SURPLUS IN THE FUTURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO USE IN THE MEANTIME, BUT THIS GRANT WILL BE FOR $1,000 FROM THE HEART OF WEST GEORGIA. AND THESE ARE ADS THAT WE'VE PURCHASED BEFORE THAT ARE CURRENTLY USED IN PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE. THE TOTAL PURCHASE WOULD BE $2,299. THIS WOULD COVER ONE AED AND TWO SETS OF PADS THAT WOULD BE PLACED AT THE PICKLEBALL COMPLEX. AND OBVIOUSLY IT WOULD REQUIRE A MATCH THERE OF SOME SORT THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED WITH THE COUNTY MANAGER AND PARKS AND REC. SO LET ME ASK THIS. RECENTLY WE HAD A MEETING WITH JANE BOWERS FROM THE HEARTLAND. WE TALKED ABOUT ALL OF OUR FACILITIES, MAYBE IN SOME CASES TO UPGRADE, DID WE? THEM AHAT THEY MIGHT BES. THE GF AS WE DIDLIST. THEY WERE THEY WERE NOT EVEN ANTICIPATING US TO BE AT THAT LEVEL WHEN SHE CAME TO THAT MEETING. SO SHE WAS PLEASED THAT WE WERE AT THAT LEVEL. AND WE HAVE NOT NOT HAD ANY CORRESPONDENCE BACK FROM THEM SINCE THAT DATE THROUGH THE USE OF OUR COVID FUNDS, ARPA FUNDS, OVER THE COURSE OF THE TEN YEAR, WE REPLACED A MAJORITY OF OUR, OUR OUR FLEET OF CASH OF DEFIBRILLATORS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE A GREAT MAINTENANCE PROGRAM AS WELL. I BELIEVE STUART SMITH IS WHO MAINTAINS THE ONES INSIDE THIS BUILDING. AND THEN SCOTT HESTER MAINTAINS ALL THE ONES THAT ARE OUTSIDE THIS BUILDING AT OTHER FACILITIES. AND SO WE'VE GOT A GREAT PROGRAM AND WE'VE GOT FAIRLY NEW UP TO DATE PADS AS WELL AS ALL OF OUR UNITS. AND SO AS WE BUILD NEW FACILITIES, WE ARE CERTAINLY TRYING OUR BEST TO ADD CABINETS WITH AEDS, FIRST AID KITS TO CONTINUE TO BE IN COMPLIANCE. AND AGAIN, I THINK TO LANCE'S POINT, WE'RE WE'RE WAY AHEAD OF A LOT OF COMMUNITIES WITH ACCESS TO THOSE MATERIALS. IT WAS A HUGE BENEFIT FOR US WHEN WE MADE THAT MASSIVE PURCHASE AT ONE TIME BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE 20 TO 30 FACILITIES AND THEY WERE ALL PURCHASED AT DIFFERENT TIMES. THEY ALL HAD DIFFERENT KIND OF BATTERIES, THEY ALL DIFFERENT TYPE AEDS. AND IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP UP WITH WHEN ONE NEEDS SERVICE OR, OR TO FIND A BATTERY FOR THE ONE THAT WAS PURCHASED WAY BEFORE AND THAT BATTERY WAS DISCONTINUED. SO NOW WE'RE ALL KIND OF IN LINE TOGETHER, AND IT'S MUCH EASIER FOR SCOTT AND STUART TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, KEEP UP WITH THE RECORDS ON WHAT BRAND IS THAT NEW STRIKER OKAY. IT'S THE LIFE PACK IS THE WE BUY FROM STRYKERS LIFE PACK AID. AND JUST TO KIND OF PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE TO EACH SET OF PADS COST $122. SO EVERY TIME WE UTILIZE THEM OR GET INTO AN EVENT WHERE WE THINK WE'RE DEALING WITH A CARDIAC ARREST, THAT'S $122 PER AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THEY EXPIRE. THEY HAVE A LIFESPAN, MOST OF THEM PROBABLY THREE YEARS. SO ONE THING WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE ONE OVERALL REPLACEMENT AT THE SAME TIME WITH THE PURCHASE. OBVIOUSLY, DURING WITH SOME OF THE ARPA FUNDING, WHEN WE DID A MASS PURCHASE, MOST OF THOSE PADS ARE GOING TO HAVE THE SAME DATE COMPARED TO THAT. BUT AS WE BUY THESE, WE'RE NOT HAVING TO COME IN AT $122 FOR 100 SETS OF PADS, EITHER ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE BOARD. AND WE HAD A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. ACTUALLY, OUR WE UTILIZED THE PADS MAYBE ABOUT A MONTH AGO. MISS KERSEY AND LIFEGUARDS DID A SAVE AT THE POOL. AND AGAIN, IT WASN'T A DROWNING, BUT THE CHILD LEFT THE POOL AND HAD SOME SORT OF A SEIZURE OUTSIDE AND STOPPED BREATHING. AND SO THEY WERE ABLE TO UTILIZE PADS TO, TO AND DEMONSTRATE THE USE. AND SO CERTAINLY GO HAVE THEM. SO THE LIFE OF THESE THINGS WOULD. BE GET TEN, 15 YEARS OUT OF THE ACTUAL UNIT BECAUSE I WAS THINKING, YOU KNOW, THIS THAT PROGRAM STARTED WITH DOCTOR THACKER, AND HE WAS THE ONE THAT INSISTED THAT WE HAVE THOSE AT THE PARK AND DID THEY HAVE THEM, IF NOT CERTAIN FACILITIES, BUT JUST WE'RE USING THE SAME UNITS IN. THAT WAY. WE'VE GONE TO ONE UNIFORM AED THAT WAY WHEN THE COUNTY BUYS PARTS, IF IT WAS MAYBE SOMETHING RAMONA WENT AND ORDERED WHAT [00:15:01] PADS SHE HAS DOWNSTAIRS, THE SAME THINGS THEY CAN USE AT THE GOVERNMENT CENTER OR PARKS AND REC OR EVEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. SO THAT'S ONE THING WE'RE TRYING TO STANDARDIZE TO. THIS IS THE AGE OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, SHERIFF'S OFFICE, GOVERNMENT CENTER, PARKS AND REC ARE ALL THE IDENTICAL PRODUCT, AND I BELIEVE WE'RE ABOUT THERE. I DON'T THINK THAT WE HAVE ANY OTHER REMAINING OLDER PHILLIPS MODELS OR SOME OF THE OLDER YELLOW ONES. I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH THEY WERE, BUT THE ZALES BUT THOSE BEING PLACED. ALL RIGHT. NO OTHER QUESTIONS. THANK [6. Discuss Approval of New Public Safety Director Position (Eric Mosley)] YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHT. SO OUR NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS DISCUSSION FOR APPROVAL OF A NEW PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR POSITION. COMMISSIONER SCOTT AND I HAVE WORKED ON THIS TOGETHER FOR ABOUT SIX SEVEN MONTHS NOW. COMMISSIONER, YOU WANT TO TAKE THE LEAD? WELL, YEAH, WE HAD A DISCUSSION A WHILE. UNDER MY WO, BUT IT'S BASICALLY BROKE DOWN THAT EACH ENTITY IS, IS KIND OF INDEPENDENT IN THE WAY IT, IT FUNCTIONS AND THINGS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. BUT SOMETIME THAT OVER THE I GUESS THE TRAINING TOGETHER, THINGS LIKE THAT COULD BE DONE A LITTLE BETTER. SO WITH THE PUBLIC DIRECTOR POSITION, IT KIND OF GIVES. THE COUNTY. AND SO THE THOUGHT BEHIND THAT IS IT'S JUST LIKE, I GUESS GOING BACK TO NINE OVER 11, THAT'S WHEN THE UNIFIED COMMAND OR THE NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CAME INTO PLAY. THAT'S WHAT IT WORKED UPON, IS GETTING THAT COMMUNICATION TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND AND HAVE THE AGENCIES TRAIN TOGETHER MORE AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO WHEN THE COUNTY MANAGER MYSELF STARTED TALKING ABOUT IT, WE WERE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THE EMA POSITION BECAUSE THAT IS TYPICALLY WHAT'S, I GUESS, THE WHEN DISASTER HITS IN THE COUNTY, THAT IS THE ONE THAT TAKES THE LEAD ROLE IN THAT. SO THE PUBLIC SAFETY, WE WERE LOOKING TO ROLL THAT INTO THAT POSITION. AND THEN AT THE SAME TIME, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SAID RIGHT HERE ELIMINATES DUPLICATION AND IMPROVES EFFICIENCY. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, OVERLAPPING RESPONSIBILITIES ACROSS PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS OFTEN LEAD TO DUPLICATION AND TRAINING, PLANNING AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION. A PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR CAN STANDARDIZE OPERATIONS AND REDUCE REDUNDANCY, FREEING UP BOTH TIME AND TAXPAYERS. AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT AT THAT AT THAT POINT AND AT THE TIME, THINGS STRUCTURE AROUND THE COUNTY HAD CHANGED JUST A LITTLE BIT IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS AND JUST FELT IT WAS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY. YEAH. AND JUST SO EVERYONE'S AWARE, WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANYNCREASE IN THE BUDGET AGAIN, WITH, WITH THE. IN THE IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, WE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN HIRE THIS POSITION AND NOT DIRECTLY AFFECT THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AT ALL. DIRECTOR POSITION. WE CURRENTLY ARE HAVING A SAVINGS BECAUSE OF THE FIRE CHIEF'S ABSENCE RIGHT NOW AS WELL AS WE'VE WE'VE CREATED TWO ADDITIONAL POSITIONS WITHIN THE BUDGET, ONE, WHICH WAS A CAPTAIN AND A ANOTHER DEPUTY POSITION, OUR DEPUTY CHIEF POSITION. SO WE FEEL VERY CONFIDENT IN OUR FINANCIAL STANDINGS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THIS NEW POSITION WITHOUT AFFECTING THE BUDGET. ANY QUESTIONS? I DID FIND ALL THENERS A COPY OF THE JOB DESCRIPTION AS WELL AS. THE AND SO HAVE ANYIRECTOR POSITION. QUESTIONS BETWEEN NOW AND TONIGHT OR. OKAY. NEXT UP, I'LL INVITE GLENN DOWNS TO DISCUSS SURPLUS VEHICLES. HEY GOOD [7. Discuss Surplus Vehicles (Glenn Downs)] MORNING EVERYONE. GOOD MORNIN I PUT ON GOV DEALS OR ASKING PERMISSION TO PUT ON GOV DEALS FOR SELL THEIR SURPLUS VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT 17 TOTAL. THIS IS IN FRONT OF YOU. WE'LL PUT THEM ON FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS GIVE OR TAKE. AND THEN IT GOES OUT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH DEALS OR NOT, BUT IT'S IT GOES OUT WORLDWIDE. SO I'LL PRESENT THESE TO YOU FOR APPROVAL TO PUT ON GOOD DEALS. [00:20:17] NOW WE HAVE A MOTOR GRADER THAT IS IN THE CAP PROGRAM. OKAY. AND THIS WAS JUST AN OLD ONEE HAD OR. THIS HAD FOR SOME TIME. THIS IS THE ONE THAT WE HAVE TO BASICALLY REPLACE AT PROGRAMS. IT'S BEEN AROUNDVEY TO BE SURPLUSED. ON. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. [8. Discuss Declaration of Surplus Property on Reed Road and Eichelburger Street (Eric Mosley)] ITEM NINE IS DISCUSSION FOR DECLARATION OF SURPLUS PROPERTY. SINCE THE OLD RAILROAD FIRE STATION. AND THE SECOND IS THE OLD EICHELBERGER FIRE STATION, WHICH IS INSIDE A ISLAND WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS, KIND OF BACK BEHIND THE GM DEALERSHIP. BOTH PROPERTIES. AND THE NEED TO DECLARE THESE SURPLUS. I DON'T KNOW, RAMONA. OR DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE AT ALL? I GUESS MAYBE, MAYBE MORE, THE PROCESS OF HOW WE HANDLE THIS, I MEAN, AGAIN, I KNOW MARK IS ALSO SOMEWHAT FAMILIAR WITH THIS AS WELL. WHY THESE WOULD GO UP FOR BID? WE WOULD LIKE A MINIMUM BIDHEN. ANN RECEIVE THE BIDS IN AND HAVE A BID OPENING FOR IT. MISS RAMONA, HOW DID HOW DID THE COUNTY COME ABOUT THESE TWO PIECES OF HOW WERE THEY OBTAINED? THAT'S RIGHT. IT LOO.S DONATED TO THE COUNTY. I BELIEVE THERE WAS NOT ANY STIPULATIONS AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, BEING CONVERTED TO A DIFFERENT USE IN THE RECORDS THAT WE COULD LOCATE. AND THE ONE ON READ, I MEAN, I'M SORRY, EICHELBERGER. THAT ONE CAME FROM, BUT IT WAS BACK IN THE 80S, CAME FROM THE FOSTER FAMILY, I BELIEVE, BACK IN THE 70S WHEN I UNDERSTAND. OKAY. SO STATION FOR THE CONVENIENCE STORE STATION RIGHT THERE LOCATED RIGHT THERE. I THINK THE LAND WAS COME FROM THE FOSTER COUNTY BUILT THING. WE DID? YEAH, WITH INMATE LABOR. YES, SIR. AND NOW THAT. SO THERE REALLY WEREN'T SERVICEABLE. THEY'VE BEEN USEDOSTLY FOR STORAGE AND IT' THE COUNTY IS A COUNTY TRYING TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THESE FAMILIES TO SEE IF THEY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN OBTAINING THEM BACK. WE HAVE NOT REACHED OUTEM. I HAVE HAD A CONVERSATION THIS ACTUALLY, AS OF THIS MORNING, I GOT A MESSAGE FROM. FAMILY. SHE REACHED OUT TO ME THIS MORNING TO ASK ABOUT POSSIBLY PURCHASING THE PROPERTY FROM US. WELL, YOU KNOW, IF THAT WAS SOMETHING, SIR. FOR ME. OH, I'M SORRY, I APOLOGIZE. SORRY. THANK YOU. YES. YES. AND I THINK IT WOULD BE UPSTANDING IF THE COUNTY. IT WAS DONATED. NOW I KNOW THE COUNTY. THEY BUILT A BUILDING ON THAT YOU COULD HAVE COME IN WITH THAT PART OF IT. BUT SINCE THIS, THIS PROPERTY WAS DONATED TO THE COUNTY, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WOULD WORTHWHILE TO GO ASK THEM OR GET IN TOUCH WITH THEM. YES. AND TO HAVE THAT. OKAY. AND. NO, I GAVE THEM. TODAY WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HEARD FROM THE FAMILY IN MY SEVEN YEAR TENURE. I'M GLAD. I'M GLAD. COMMISSIONER, THEY GOT IN TOUCH WITH YOU THEN I'VE HAD A CONVERSATION. OKAY. ABOUT 3 OR 4 YEARS AGO AND KIND OF EXPLAINED AT THAT TIME WE WERE [00:25:03] STILL USING THE PROPERTY FOR STORAGE, AND WE DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO DISPOSE OF IT, BUT THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, SOME YEARS BACK, I GUESS NOW WE'RE AT THE POINT PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE PROPERTY, IS THAT WHERE A LOT OF THE STORAGE AND MOST OF OUR STORAGE, LONG TERM STORAGE HAS BEEN IS NOW THAT YOU HAVE THE BASEMENT OF WHITESBORO SCHOOL, WE'VE BEEN UTILIZING THAT FOR LONG TERM STORAGE AND STORAGE FOR OUR DEPARTMENTS. WE HAD FENCED OFF IN THERE, AND DEPARTMENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE AREAS REALLY, HONESTLY STARTED INITIALLY WITH THE RAILROAD STATION. I GOT RECEIVED A CALL FROM A ADJACENT PROPERTY INTERESTED PERSON ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AND SO SORT OF CONSIDERING IT AT THAT POINT AND THEN SENDING EICHELBERGER, WE RECEIVED A CALL FROM ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER, INTERESTED PERSON AS WELL. AND SO IT FELT LIKE IT WAS THE RIGHT TIME TO BRING FORWARD, WELL, SAY THIS IS THE FIRST STEP OF THE PROCESS IS TO DECLARE THE PROPERTY SURPLUS. THAT'S WHAT YOU WOULD DO TONIGHT, SAYING IT'S NO LONGER NEEDED FOR PUBLIC USE. THE DISPOSAL METHOD. THERE ARE ONLY CERTAIN WAYS THAT PROPERTY CAN BE DIRECTLY SOLD BY THE COUNTY THROUGH A PRIVATE SALE, WITHOUT THE NEED FOR GOING THROUGH SOME SORT OF BIDDING PROCESS, AND THAT A LOT OF IT DEPENDS ON HOW THE PROPERTY WAS ACQUIRED, THE NATURE OF THE PROPERTY, AND ALL THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE LOOKED AT FIRST. AS FAR AS THE LEGALITY OF JUST DOING A DIRECT TRANSFER TO THE FAMILY, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY DONATED IT OR NOT. HE ALSO INDICATED IN THE TEXT MESSAGE THAT HE HAD PURCHASED. YEAH, HE'S NOT ASKING FOR YOU. ANYTHING HE'S HE WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE IT BACK. RIGHT? THIS JUST WOULD GO TO THE PROCESS OF THE SALE. IN OTHER WORDS, DEPENDING ON HOW THE PROPERTY WAS ACQUIRED AND WHAT THE NATURE OF THE PROPERTY, IT WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH SOME PUBLIC BIDDING PROCESS POTENTIALLY OFFERED TO THEM. DEPENDS ON THE IF THE FIRST STEP WOULD BE TO DECLARE IT SURPLUS, THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK SPECIFICALLY AT THE PROPERTY, HOW IT WAS ACQUIRED, WHETHER IT WAS A ROAD REMNANT, THE SIZE OF THE PROPERTY, BOUNDARIES OF THE PROPERTY, THE SHAPE OF THE PROPERTY TO DETERMINE THE PROPER WAY THAT IT COULD BE DISPOSED OF. RAMONA, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? WE DID. WE ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO PROPERTY APPRAISAL AND THEY HELPED US WITH PROVIDING APPROXIMATE VALUE OF BOTH PROPERTIES. AND SO WE DO HAVE A WHAT YOU SAID IS OUR MINIMUM BID FOR BOTH PROPERTIES. CAN YOU SHARE THAT AS WELL? LET'S SEE I HAVE REED ROAD AT 102,000 AND I DON'T HAVE THE. 68,000 I BELIEVE 68,000. SO 68. AGAIN PROVIDED US AS PART OF THE APPRAISAL PROCESS FOR PROPERTY APPRAISAL. AND SO WE WOULD TYPICALLY FOR THE SURPLUS PROPERTY AGAIN CREATE A MINIMUM BID. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THE HIGHEST WOULD OBTAIN THE PROPERTY. WE ARE SELLING THE PROPERTIES AS IS. AND SO THERE ARE SOME MATERIALS INSIDE. AND AGAIN WE KNOW AT LEAST EICHELBERGER SPECIFICALLY IT IF IT WERE TO CONTINUE TO BE A BUILDING, WE CERTAINLY BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO NEED A ROOF. IF IT'S TORN DOWN, THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE SOME ABATEMENT PROCESSES AS WELL. AND SO THAT'LL BE ANOTHER PROPERTY. THOSE BUILDINGS, AGAIN ARE NO LONGER USABLE BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. OUR TRUCKS ARE JUST WAY TOO BIG TO FIT INSIDE THOSE OLD BAYS ANY LONGER. AND SO WE BELIEVE IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COUNTY TO AT THIS POINT, SURPLUS BOTH PROPERTIES. YOU SAID THAT THAT IF SO, WE HAVE TO DECLARE SURPLUSST. AND THEN SAY. WAS. THAT BEFORE THE BOARD FOR A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF PROPERTY BY THE. TITLE SEARCH, FIRST TITLE SEARCH? THIS IS A PROPERTY. THAT WE HAVE A WRITTEN MOU WITH THE CITY. WE DO AFTER OUR CONVERSATION. I GUESS IT WAS FRIDAY BEFORE LAST. I DID REACHED OUT TO THE FIRE CHIEF AND ZACH, AND WE DO HAVE A WRITTEN AUTOMATIC AID AGREEMENT FOR THAT AREA AND. IT IS, IT IS IT'S WELL, IT'S AGAIN, I MEAN IT'S TYPICALLY THERE TEN, TEN YEAR AGREEMENTS AS PART OF OUR [00:30:06] SERVICE DELIVERY STRAT WELL. SO IT'S I AND AGAIN TYPICALLY WHAT HAPPENS. UNITS WE WOULD PROVIDE BACKUP FROM ONE OF OUR STATIONS AS WELL. AND SO I THINK THERE'S ADEQUATE FIRE COVERAGE FOR THAT AREA. AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS KEPT THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY WAS JUST IN CASE. RIGHT. YOU'D HAVE TO BRING THAT OR THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO, BECAUSE IT'S ALSO ACROSS FROM, WELL, IN THE CITY OF STREET. SO ACROSS THE STREET IS IN AN UNINCORPORATED AREA TOO. SO YEAH, I THINK YOU FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THE ARRANGEMENT. I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH CITY MANAGER. THEY HAVE AGAIN AFFIRMED THAT THE AGREEMENT STILL STANDS AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICE IN THAT CORRIDOR. AND SAME THING WITH WEST POINT WITH THE RAILROAD, CORRECT? YES, SIR. YES, SIR. RAILROAD IS IN THE COUNTY SOLELY, AND SO WE CERTAINLY PROVIDE IT. BUT AGAIN, WE IT IS CLOSE ENOUGH WHERE THERE IS AUTOMATIC AID AGREEMENT WITH THEM FOR THE SITUATIONS. YES, SIR. SO YOU'VE HAD NO FEEDBACK FROM THE RAILROAD PROPERTY EITHER FROM THEILY? NO, SIR, I DIDN'T I DON'T KNOW THEM AT ALL, I MEAN. PRESCRIPTIONS REVERSIONARY CLAUSES WITHIN THE. AND THERE IS, THERE ARE. PROPERTIES ARE DEEMED SURPLUS. THEN THERE A FORMALIZED SEARCH ON ME. MAKE SURE IT'S ALL CLEAR AND THEN MOVE FORWARD WITH WITH THE PROCESS. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL DISCUSS THIS AGAIN TONIGHT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. NEXT UP IS. [9. Discuss Whitesville Road Sports Netting (Eric Mosley)] [10. Discuss Whitesville Road Soccer Complex Expansion Project - Soccer Sports Netting (Jay Anderson & Lance Dennis)] I GUESS, JAY, YOU HANDLE THIS. THE NETTINGOR THE WHITESVILLE ROAD SPORTSPLEX. LAST JULY, WE WERE IN FRONT OF YO ON YOUR SEAT, WHICH IS WHAT WE HAD SHOWN LAST TIME, THAT DOWN AT THE BOTTOM WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THAT WE STILL HAD THE SPORTS NETTING SYSTEM AND THE LANDSCAPING LEFT. AND SO WE ARE BACK IN FRONT OF YOU. AS WE DISCUSSED LAST TIME, WE DID GET QUOTES AND BIDS AND PROPOSALS IN FOR THE SPORTS NETTING, WHICH ALSO IN FRONT OF YOU, THERE'S A DIAGRAM THAT SHOWS WHERE THAT NETTING IS, WHICH IS BASICALLY HELPS MITIGATE THE SOCCER BALL FROM BEING KICKED INTO THE PARKING LOT, HITTING CARS, OR A KID CHASING IT INTO THE PARKING LOT, OR MORE. SO FOR WHITESVILLE ROAD, STATE ROUTE 219, TO PROTECT THE BALL FROM GOING INTO THE WHITESVILLE ROAD AND SOME KID RUNNING OUT THERE AFTER IT. SO I BELIEVE IT'S LIKE 1032 FOOT OF SPORTS NETTING IN THOSE PARTICULAR AREAS THAT ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW ON YOUR MAP. AND WE GOT THREE PROPOSALS IN FOR THAT. THEY WERE ALL FOR EITHER 15 TO 20 FOOT TALL. KIND OF DIFFERENT COMPANIES HAD THEIR OWN OPINION ON WHAT THEY FELT WAS APPROPRIATE OR BEST, AND WE KIND OF LET THEM MAKE THEIR PROPOSALS. AND THE THREE PROPOSALS WE GOT IN HILDEBRANDT ATHLETIC INSTALLERS WAS 124,800 SPORTS FIELDS, WHICH IS ACTUALLY THE COMPANY DOING THE TURF SYSTEM. THEIR PRICE WAS. 152,869 TO 162,000. THE TWO DIFFERENT PRICES WAS ONE WAS 15 FOOT TALL, ONE WAS 20 FOOT TALL, AND THEN WEST GEORGIA CUSTOM FENCE HERE IN TOWN. THEY PUT THEIR BID IN FOR $74,685. THEY ALL KIND OF HAD THEIR OWN WAY OF ACCOMPLISHING, SO TO SPEAK, OF HOW YOU KEEP THE BALL FROM ENTERING OR LEAVING. AND ANOTHER THING THAT WAS BROUGHT UP TOO, WAS IF WE JUST HAD NETTING HANGING, WHICH YOU COULD, THAT OUR KIDS GOING TO CLIMB THE NETTING, TRYING TO GRAB THAT NETTING AND CLIMB IT AND PULL ON IT, AND WHAT DAMAGE THAT WOULD CAUSE OR DOWN AT THE BOTTOM WHERE IT'S ALONG THE GRASS. IF WE'RE MOWING WEED EATING, BECAUSE IT'LL BE KIND OF RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF WHERE THE ASTROTURF AND THE GRASS MEET THAT, YOU KNOW, WOULD IT CAUSE HOLES IN IT. AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS BROUGHT UP, WHICH IS WHAT WEST GEORGIA CUSTOM FENCE QUOTED IS THE BOTTOM WILL ACTUALLY BE BLACK CHAIN LINK FENCE. THE BOTTOM SIX FEET. AND THEN ABOVE THAT WILL BE 12 MORE FOOT OF THEN JUST NETTING. AND SO THEREFORE THE BOTTOM IS MORE RIGID, KIND OF STURDIER, MORE RESILIENT FOR LAST AND LONGER. AND THEN THE HIGHER PART IS JUST NETTING LIKE YOU'D HAVE IN A BACKSTOP OF A OF [00:35:02] A BALL FIELD OR SOMETHING. SO THAT IS KIND OF THE WAY THAT WEST GEORGIA CUSTOM FENCE QUOTED IT, KIND OF PROVIDING A FENCE AT THE BOTTOM AND NETTING UP TOP, AND WE FELT LIKE THAT WAS THE BEST SYSTEM AND IT WAS MUCH CHEAPER THAN THE OTHER ONES. SO ALL FEAR. NO, SIR. IT'S JUST ON THE HIGHLIGHTED YELLOW PARTS RIGHT THERE. IF YOU START AT THE FAR LEFT, THAT ONE KEEPS IT FROM GOING IN THAT PARKING LOT. THEN THE NEXT ONE OVER KEEPS IT FROM GOING IN THE FIELD NEXT TO IT, AND THEN THE ONES AT THE BOTTOM OBVIOUSLY KEEP IT FROM GOING INTO THAT PARKING LOT, AND THEN THE ONES ON THE FAR RIGHT KEEP IT FROM GOING INTO WHITESVILLE ROAD. CORRECT. AND THEN IT'S THE NETTING ABOVE IT. THE TOTAL HEIGHT I THINK, FOR THEIRS WAS 18FT. BECAUSE I THINK THEY TOLD ME IT WAS GOING TO BE 24 FOOT POLES THAT WOULD GO SIX FOOT INTO THE GROUND. SO SIX FOOT INTO THE GROUND WOULD LEAVE THEM 18 ABOVE GROUND. AND SO THAT'LL GIVE US A TOTAL HEIGHT OF 18, WHICH IS KIND OF RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT 15 TO 20FT. AND WE'RE HOPING THAT ONE FAR END, IT'S ON ELEVATION WITH THE ROCK WALL ON THE END, THAT UPLAND, THAT ELEVATION WILL KEEP THE BALL INSIDE THE PLAYING AREA THAT IT WON'T GO UP FORT DRIVE. SO IT'S ELEVATED THAT I DON'T THINK THAT'LL BE AN ISSUE. IF YOU'VE DRIVEN BY. THAT'S QUITE A BIT HIGHER OVER THERE ON FORT DRIVE. SO THAT THAT'S THE AREAS THAT WE HAD ON THE PLAN TO ADDRESS, AND THAT IS THE AREAS THAT WE SENT THEM TO BE QUOTED. AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S ACTUALLY 1320 LINEAR FOOT OF FENCING FOR THOSE YELLOW AREAS, 1320 LINEAR FOOT. IT'S NOT YELLOW, BUT THE CORNER WILL BE CONNECTED ON IT WHERE IT MAKES A 90 DEGREE TURN. I THINK WE HAD THAT NOT CONNECTED JUST TO BE ALLOW YOU TO GET IN AND OUT THERE A LITTLE BIT LIKE I MEAN RIGHT. IT PROBABLY I MEAN, IF IT REALLY SEEMED TO BE A BIG NECESSITY, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD REALLY COST HARDLY ANYTHING TO CONNECT IT THERE. BUT THAT'S NOT THE WAY WE HAD IT LAID OUT. OR I GUESS THE ENGINEER AT THE TIME HAD IT LAID OUT. IS HE IN BETWEEN THE FIELDS RIGHT THERE AT THE BOTTOM? YOU NEED ACCESS FOR PLAYERS AND EQUIPMENT TO GET IN THERE. AND SO YOU DO NEED SOME ACCESS AREAS FOR. YEAH, I KNOW THAT RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT THE CORNER RIGHT NEXT TO THE ROAD NEXT TO THE HIGHWAY THAT WE COULD CONNECT, THAT THAT'S YOU CAN ALWAYS ADD A GATE TO AN ENTRY GATE THERE THAT THE GATE WOULD PROVIDE THE, THE BARRIER, BUT YOU COULD ALWAYS OPEN IT UP IF YOU NEEDED TO. THAT'S CORRECT. WE TALKED ABOUT IT IN JULY. SO THE ONLY OTHER PIECE MISSING WHICH IS WAS ON THE BOTTOM OF THAT SHEET WAS, WAS LANDSCAPING IS THE ONLY OTHER. THEY ACTUALLY WERE SUPPOSED TO START YESTERDAY INSTALLING ALL THE DRAINAGE IN THE SPORTSTER STUFF. BUT OF COURSE THEY'RE NOT OUT THERE. THEY PROBABLY WON'T BE OUT THERE ALL WEEK. BUT THEY ARE. THEY ARE. THEY WERE THERE ACTUALLY LAST WEEK WITH THEIR WITH THEIR GPS LASERS, JUST TRIPLE CHECKING THE, THE, THE SLOPES ON THE FIELD AND THE CROWN ON IT SO IT DRAINS OFF. AND THEY SO THEY WERE THERE ALL LAST WEEK KIND OF GETTING STARTED SETTING GRADES, SHOOTING GRADES, SHOOTING ELEVATIONS. EVERYTHING LOOKED GOOD. THE GRADER DID TWEAK A FEW LITTLE THINGS FOR THEM, WHICH THEY WERE MORE THAN HAPPY TO. AND THEN EVERYTHING WAS LINED UP TO START YESTERDAY, BUT WEATHER PERMITTING. PLUS THE PLUS IF WEST GEORGIA FENCE GETS IT OR WHOEVER IT IS THAT THEY THEY NEED TO COURT, GO AHEAD AND START COORDINATING WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE EXACTLY WHAT IS THE BEST PLACE AND COORDINATE GETTING THE POSTS IN WITH THE ARTIFICIAL TURF VERSUS THE NATURAL GRASS. AND KIND OF THEY'RE GOING TO NEED TO WORK TOGETHER AND GET IN THERE KIND OF SOON TO MAKE SURE THEY COORDINATE PROPERLY. AND THE LIGHTING IS DONE. BY THE WAY, CITY LAGRANGE SET THE TRANSFORMER LAST WEEK FOR THE FIELD LIGHTING, AND THE LIGHTING COMPANY CAME BACK THE NEXT DAY AND TIED IT ALL IN. AND HOW DID IT UP? AND SO NOW THAT ALL THEY HAVE LEFT IS TO DOUBLE CHECK THE ACTUAL THE LIGHTING LAYOUTS AND STUFF. SO THEY'RE ON THE FINAL DOUBLE CHECKING THE CANDLES AND SO FORTH. BUT THE LIGHTING IS DONE AND PRETTY MUCH ALL THE GRADING IS DONE. NOW. ALL THEY REALLY HAVE LEFT TO DO IS THE FRONT PARKING LOT THAT YOU SEE COMING OFF A WHITESVILLE ROAD. SO IT'S MOVING ALONG WELL. AND THE TURF ESTIMATES ARE RIGHT NOW, AROUND THE END OF NOVEMBER, IS WHEN THEY'RE ANTICIPATING HAVING THAT PORTION COMPLETED AND DONE. YEAH, RIGHT AROUND THANKSGIVING WE SHOULD BE COMPLETE. COMPLETE. SO THERE'S A FEW SPOTS YOU HAD TO KIND OF DIG OUT AND DO EVERYTHING WERE THAT GOOD. AS FAR AS THE YES, THE [00:40:05] PACKING AND STUFF ON IT, YES. THERE WAS TWO SPOTS ON THE FIELDS. THOSE REALLY ARE HOLDING UP GOOD. NOW, THERE WAS THE DECEL LANE COMING OFF OF WHITESVILLE ROAD. THAT WAS BAD. ONE SPOT DOWN BY THE GYM BY WHERE THE SEWER LINE IS, THAT WE JUST KIND OF HAD TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO MESS UP WITH THE SEWER LINE. AND THEN. THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN IT. THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT, THAT FRONT PARKING LOT, LIKE I SAID. SO THERE'S JUST ONE THE VERY YOU KNOW, WHERE THOSE LOWER FIELDS ARE DOWN THAT ARE THE LOW FIELDS DOWN BY THE CREEK, THE LOWEST PART OF THAT PARKING LOT. THEY STILL HAVE TO FINISH GRADING OUT. SO THERE'S ONLY ONE LITTLE SPOT LEFT TO POTENTIALLY HIT ANYTHING ELSE. BUT WE'RE WE'RE 95% DONE WITH THE GRADING AND HAVE MITIGATED ANYTHING THAT WE RAN INTO. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. HAVE A QUESTION. PROBABLY NEED TO TALK ABOUT WHERE THE MONEY IS COMING FROM FOR THESE. AND AGAIN I WOULD IMAGINE THIS PERHAPS COM N CALCULATIONS THAT. AND SO IS THAT CORRECT? THAT A TRIPLE TECHNIQUE THERE. BUT THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID MOSTLY. SO I THINK WE'RE WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE FINANCIALLY FOR THE PROJECT. SO WON'T BE TOO MANY. MANY WON'T BE TOO MANY MORE MONTHS AND IT'LL BE PAID BACK. SO THIS FUNDING WOULD BE THE SAME METHOD? THAT'S CORRECT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ON YOUR PAPER AGENDA. MAYBE A LITTLE MESS UP THERE, BUT TEN AND 11. AND ABOUT A MONTH AGO ABOUT VERTICAL MOWING. AND YOU GUYS APPROVED FUNDING FOR THAT. AFTER SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY AS WELL AS ACOG, WE FELT THE NEED TO COME BACK TO YOU WITH SOME CLARIFICATION FOR THE FUNDING TO HAVE YOU, AGAIN, REVOTE ON THIS TONIGHT. I'M NOT SURE WHO JAMES, MARK, KEVIN OR SONYA WHO WANTS TO HANDLE THIS. I GUESS THE IDEA OF PUTTING OUT A LARGE CONTRACT TO CATCH UP ON MOWING WAS. WORK SESSION ON THE BUDGET, AND IT WAS AN IDEA TO FUND THAT FROM SPLOST. AND WHEN YOU DISCUSSED ITGAIN AT THE JULY 1ST WORK SESSION AND. IT WAS MENTIONED THAT THE BUDGET WOULD BE LOST, AND WHAT WE'VE WHAT WE'VE LOOKED AT SINCE THAT MEETING, IS THAT REALLY A MORE APPROPRIATE PLACE TO FUND THAT TYPE OF EXPENSE WOULD BE FROM SPECIFICALLY THE GENERAL FUND OPERATING BUDGET FUND AND 52 DASH 2205 ROAD THREE REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE. AND SO WE THOUGHT TO JUST, I GUESS, AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TOTALLY TRANSPARENT ABOUT THAT, THAT WE WOULD JUST PUT IT BACK ON THE AGENDA THIS EVENING FOR YOU TO VOTE TO FUND THAT PROJECT FROM THE CORRECT BUDGET LINE, SO TO SPEAK. AND THE IDEA IS THAT IT WOULD BE BUDGET NEUTRAL REQUEST, BECAUSE THE FUNDS FOR THAT WOULD BE WITHIN A BUDGET AMENDMENT TRANSFERRING FROM RESERVE. SO IT WOULD NOT AFFECT THE OVERALL BUDGET. SO THAT WOULD BE ON YOUR AGENDA THIS EVENING TO JUST SORT OF CORRECT OR CHANGE THE FUNDING FOR THAT PROJECT FROM SPLOST TO GENERAL OPERATING FUND. JAMES, WHAT WAS THE REASON WHY YOU WOULDN'T USE SPLOST? WELL, THE TYPE OF WORK IS REALLY, REALLY FALLS MORE INTO A MAINTENANCE CATEGORY THAN IT DOES A CAPITAL. EXPENDITURE, A SAFETY ISSUE. IT IS OKAY. IT IS, BUT IT'S BUT IT'S MORE OF A MAINTENANCE. TRIMMING LIMBS IS JUST MUCH MORE OF A MAINTENANCE PROJECT THAN IT IS A CAPITAL PROJECT. THERE'S NOT THERE'S NOT A I THINK THE ORIGINAL JUSTIFICATION, WHILE WE WHILE WE THOUGHT WE COULD DO THIS IS THAT I MEAN IS [00:45:06] MAINTENANC MAINTENANCE, RPMS ARE MAINTENANCE. BUT. THAT WAS ALLOWED. BUT VERTICAL MOWING AND MOWING IS NOT UNDER UNDER THAT PURCHASE AGREEMENT. SO. THE. THE USE OF SPLOST FUNDS IS GENERALLY LIMITED TO CAPITAL EXPENDITURES. THE DISTINCTION IS THAT THAT ALLOW SOMETHING LIKE STRIPING TO ARGUABLY BE USED AND PAID FOR IS BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY PART OF THE ROAD, PART OF THAT CAPITAL EXPENDITURE. ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS ARE ARE NEVER REALLY CONSIDERED TO BE THINGS THAT YOU FUND WITH SPLOST. THAT'S GENERAL UPKEEP. THAT'S NOT A CAPITAL EXPENDITURE OF THE COUNTY. AND THAT'S WHEN THE VOTERS VOTE ON SPLOST. THEY VOTE FOR SPECIFIC CAPITAL PROJECTS OR USES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH CAPITAL PROJECTS. THERE ARE SOME EXCEPTIONS FOR ROADS, BUT IT'S NOT, WHICH GETS YOU INTO THE STRIPING KIND OF CATEGORY. BUT WHEN YOU GET OUTSIDE OF STRIPING AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE MOWING OR WHICH I GUESS IS THE MOST ANALOGOUS THING TO TREE TRIMMING, THAT'S A THAT IS A MAINTENANCE OBLIGATION. THAT'S NOT A CAPITAL EXPENDITURE. EVENTUALLY THIS IS ALL GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO THE TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR TO, YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU COULD PROBABLY SPEAK TO THAT PROCESS BETTER THAN I CAN, BUT THEY WOULD DETERMINE ULTIMATELY WHAT'S A CAPITAL EXPENDITURE OR NOT. AND GENERALLY THEY WOULD NOT CONSIDER A MAINTENANCE OR OPERATIONS THING TO BE A CAPITAL EXPENDITURE. AND THE REASON BEING THAT THE AGENCY. AND THAT IS THE MAINTENANCE THAT'S DONE TO THE ROADS THAT IS ALLOWABLE IS GOING TO GO. ACTUALLY. THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY. THIS IS WHAT DOES NOT LOST AS FAR AS MAINTENANCE GOES. AND I DO WANT TO CLARIFY, IT WILL BE BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO PROPOSE TO TAKE THE MONEY FROM THE RESERVES AND PUT IT INTO THE GENERAL FUND. IT WILL BE A BUDGET AMENDMENT. I'M SORRY, AND I'LL HAVE THAT PREPARED TONIGHT. CAN YOU REMIND ME THE AMOUNT OF THAT CONTRACT? WOULD CHOOSE THE ROADS? THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S A A $1,300 UNIT PRICE PER ROAD MILE. EQUATES TO APPROXIMATELY 384 MILES. AND THAT'S THAT'S VERY LARGE MAJORITY OF THOSE ROADS THAT WE MAINTAIN. SO IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT WE WOULD USE THE ENTIRE BUDGET. WE WOULD DO ALL THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO GET COMPLETELY CAUGHT UP WITH THAT CONTRACT. WHERE DO WE STAND ON THE DELIVERY OF OUR NEW SIDEARM? OVER. WE'RE EXPECTING THAT WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH. OUR INTENTION IS TO HAVE ONE AS A ROTATION AND ONE THAT WE USE FOR QUIC RESPONSE WHEN WE GET WHEN WE HAVE ISSUES THAT POP. LET ME I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT. I THOUGHT BOTH MACHINES WOULD BE USED. ONE'S GOING TO BE WAITING TO GET DISPATCHED IF WE GET A CALL FOR A BAD SPOT, OR ARE WE GOING TO USE TWO OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME? BOTH OF THOSE MACHINES TO STAY RUNNING ALL THE TIME? THAT BUT THAT THE MINUTE THE.I IT'S. WE ORDERED A LIKE A BUSH HOG TYPE. TWO MORE BECAUSE WE WERE PLANNING TO KEEP THE EXISTING OTOMAX RUNNING AND. AND RUN THAT ONE ON ON ONE OF TF WAY. AND WE CAN ONLY CUT BACK A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE EDGE OF THE ROAD WHEN WE CUT, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT THEM ENOUGH. WITH THE RIGHT OF WAY TO CUT WAY BACK TO LAST US FIVE YEARS. THERE ARE OTHER ROADS THAT DO HAVE VERY WIDE RIGHT OF WAY, AND WHICH CUT THOSE ONCE EVERY THREE YEARS, 4 OR 5. EVEN SOME PLACES. SO THE IDEA IS THAT ONE OF THE [00:50:09] MACHINES. AND THE OTHER MACHINE, TO GET ALL OF THE NARROW DRIVEWAYS AND HAS TO BE OBTAINE, MAYBE ONCE. THE. FUNDED BY A SMALLER SIDE OUT OF THE ROAD DEPARTMENT'S PART OF THE SPLOSH. THEN WE FOUND OUT THE PROJECT COULD NOT BE PAID FOR BY SPLOOSH. YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WE'LL HAVE. THIS IS NOT REALLY. YOU KNOW THAT THAT SONYA. YEAH. THERE'S JUST. I THINK WE'RE IN THE FINAL REVIEW OF THE CONTRACT. MARK HAS IT RIGHT NOW, AND I THINK HE AND MARK ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IT. BUT WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE NEARING THE END OF THE CONTRACT PROCESS. AND SO JAMES NICE CONVERSATIONS AS EARLY AS LAST WEEK ABOUT THE TIMING OF WHEN TRIPLE A WILL BE COMING ON BOARD. AND WE BELIEVE EARLY, LATE SUMMER, EARLY FALL IS KIND OF THE PROPOSED SCHEDULE. AND WE BELIEVE IT COULD TAKE TO DO THE AMOUNT OF WORK. AND IF WE HAD TO EXPEND THE FULL $500,000, TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK INVOLVED. THE CONTRACT HAS BEEN REVIEWED AND IT IS JUST NOW BEING, I THINK, MAYBE ONE TYPO TO BE FIXED AND PUT IN FINAL FORM, RIGHT, FOR EXECUTION. SO WE SHOULD BE DONE. THEN YOU SHOULD CALL UP BY NEXT SPRING. YES, YES. YEAH. I MEAN THE TIMING ACTUALLY WORKS OUT WELL IS OBVIOUSLY THINGS STOP GROWING AND YOU CAN REALLY CUT IT BACK HARD BEFORE THE LEAF OUT AGAIN HAPPENS. SO CERTAINLY THE TIMING MAY MAY ACTUALLY BE PERFECT FOR US. ALL RIGHT OKAY. OTHER QUESTIONS AND. I THINK WELL SO WE'VE GOT TWO ITEMS LEFT. ONE OF THEM OBVIOUSLY IS I'M JUST GOING [11. Consideration of August 5, 2025 Business Meeting Agenda] TO QUICKLY GO OVER THIS EVENING'S AGENDA. AND THEN I'LL TURN IT OVER TO SONYA. SHE'S GOT SOME BACK UP IN THE ROOM AS WELL I BELIEVE. BUT JUST JUST FOR, FOR TONIGHT. WE'VE GOT TWO CITIZENS COMING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD. ONE IS DOUG ROBERTS. HE IS OFF OF A GREAT HILL SCHOOL ROAD. AND THEN RANDY MOORE OFF OF STURBRIDGE. THEY'RE COMING TONIGHT TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON TWO VERY SEPARATE SUBJECTS UNDER SPECIAL BUSINESS. WE HAVE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION. DEVIN WILL BE HERE FROM PARKS RECREATION TO PROMOTE OUR GIRLS IN YOUTH SOFTBALL STATE CHAMPIONS. THEY'LL BE HERE THIS EVENING. WE'LL BE AFFIRMING THE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION IS 2025 MILLAGE RATE. WE'LL HAVE THE TWO ITEMS FROM JUVENILE COURTS FOR THE RENEWAL OF THE DELINQUENCY PREVENTION GRANT. ONE AND TWO, THE REQUEST TO APPLY FOR THE HEART OF WEST GEORGIA GRANT CONSIDERATION, APPROVAL OF A NEW PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR POSITION. CONSIDERATION OF THE SURPLUS VEHICLES. CONSIDERATION OF THE DECLARATION OF SURPLUS PROPERTY ON REED ROAD AND EICHELBERGER STREETS. THE SPORTS DAY AND I THINK I THINK JAY WILL BE REMOVED. THAT'S THAT'S A TYPO. AND THEN THE FOR JAMES. AND THEN WE HAVE UNDER PUBLIC HEARING THE I'M SORRY I'M SORRY. THEN WE HAVE THE CONSIDERATION THE VOTING AND THEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. WE HAVE THREE ITEMS. ONE IS A AGRITOURISM FOR STEVE PULLIAM, WHICH IS A U-PICK FARMS OFF OF 3002 YOUNG'S MILL ROAD. AND THEN THE SECOND READING OF THE COMP PLAN AND THEN THE 2025 MILLAGE RATE HEARING, WHICH WILL BE THE FINAL HEARING AND WILL THEN BE VOTE ELIGIBLE. WE MAY AND MARK MAY CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG HERE, BUT IF WE END UP FINISHING THE AGENDA EARLY, WE MAY HAVE TO PAUSE AND THEN COME BACK IN THE MEETING BECAUSE OUR ACCORDING TO STATE LAW, THE FINAL MILLAGE RATE HEARING HAS TO HAPPEN AT 6 P.M, 6 P.M. OR AFTER ACCORDING TO STATE LAW. AND SO AND THAT'S HOW IT'S ADVERTISED. SO WE MAY HAVE TO TAKE A BRIEF RECESS IF THAT'S THE CASE. ALL RIGHT. I WILL TURN [Public Hearing] [00:55:03] IT OVER TO SONIA FOR THE SECONDE MILLAGE RATE. DO WE NEED TO GO TO PUBLIC HE GUESS. 25 MILLAGE RATE. SO MOVE. MR. CHAIRMAN, DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. MOTION IS CARRIED. ALRIGHT, TOM. GOOD MORNING. SO I THINK THAT TODAY, THIS MORNING IS THE SECOND OF THE THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS. THAT THE 20, 25 MILLION WE HAVE THE FIRST ONE ON JULY THE 15TH AND WE'LL HAVE THE FINAL ONE TONIGHT. WE ADVERTISED FOR THESE MEETINGS ON JULY THE 5TH AND ON JULY THE 26TH, AND WE POSTED OUR MEMBERS OF THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE, AS WELL AS OUR FIVE YEAR HISTORY. NO CHANGE TO THE CURRENT MILLAGE RATE. THIS WOULD BE THE THIRD YEAR OF THIS VILLAGE AT 9.93 TOTAL. VILLAGE. THE VILLAGE HAS INCREASED THE TOTAL BUDGET HAS INCREASED THE CENTRAL PORTION THAT WOULD INDICATE AN INCREASE, A TAX INCREASE THE. CALCULATED THAT TAX RATE IS ABOUT 8.23. PROPERTY OWNERS WHO RECEIVE A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AND HAD HAD AN INCREASE IN THE ASSESSED VALUE OF THEIR REAL PROPERTY FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR, WILL NOT HAVE AN INCREASE IN THE COUNTY IN ANOTHER PORTION OF THE TAX DISTRICT. COUNTY IS ACCEPTING INFLATIONARY INCREASES THIS YEAR. HOWEVER, THE DIFFERENCE IN THE BILL WILL BE A RESULT OF THE $150 REBATE THAT WAS GIVEN FOR. THE THIRD YEAR OF THIS MILLAGE. FOR FY 25 TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUE FOR THE RESIDENTIAL. YOU CAN FEEL THAT THE CHARGE IS. 81% OF THE TOTAL. FAMILY. OTHER THINGS ARE 11%, WHICH IS AGRICULTURAL UTILITY MOTOR VEHICLE AND SOME OTHER TYPES OF TAXES. THE PROPERTY APPRAISAL OFFICE AND THE TAX COMMISSIONER ARE GRACIOUSLY HERE TO HELP US FIELD ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. I THINK IT MIGHT BE VERY TO START OUR TRY TO EXPLAIN. WHY. I THINK YOU'D BE VERY HAPPY TO EXPLAIN THAT WITH YOUR SHAME. I'M JUST KIDDING. I'M JUST KIDDING. BECAUSE HIS COMMENTS WAS THIS WAS ONE HE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HIMSELF UNTIL A LITTLE WORD. IT MIGHT BE WORTHY TO EXPLAINL QUICK. WHATN, WHAT THE COUNTY DID. WHAT? DANA. SHANE. DAN. OKAY. ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT. WELL, WE COULD AT LEAST TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE OF WHAT PEOPLE ARE SEEING ON THEIR TAX BILLS VERSUS, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, SOMETIMES IT'S PERCEPTION VERSUS REALITY. AND SO IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO EXPLAIN THAT, YOU KNOW DURING THE PREVIOUS YEAR THE LEGISLATORS PASSED HB WAS CONFIRMED BY THE VOTERS THIS PAST NOVEMBER TO GO INTO EFFECT. HAS A HOMESTEAD APPLICATION FOR THE COUNTY RECEIVES THAT IF THE TAXING JURISDICTION IN ALL THE CITIES WITHIN TROUP COUNTY. CREATE THAT FLOAT, THE SCHOOL BOARD OPTED OUT OF THAT, SO MEANS ANY INCREASE THEY GET 100% OF THE INCREASE OF THE GROWTH WHERE THOSE ON THE COUNTY SIDE OR ANY OF THE CITIES RECEIVE AN EXEMPTION ON THAT GROWTH. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE FOR TROUP COUNTY, OF COURSE, THE COMMISSIONERS LAST YEAR GAVE A CREDIT ON ALL HOMESTEADED PROPERTIES $150. THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY DIFFERENCE THIS YEAR AS FAR AS ANY VALUATIONS, UNFORTUNATELY. ALSO FOR HB 92 THIS YEAR IT AMENDED HB 581, WHICH CREATED OUR NEW ASSESSMENT NOTICES. TROUP COUNTY WE ENDED UP HAVING TWO SEPARATE NOTICES MAILED OUT. THE STATE ACTUALLY APPROVED THREE. SO ON OUR PARTICULAR ONE HERE, THEY DID AWAY WITH THE TAX ASSESSMENT, BUT THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS WENT IN AND WE MADE SURE THAT OUR WEBSITE HAS THAT DETAILED FOR THE TAXPAYERS AND EVERYONE THAT WE ARE COMMUNICATING WITH, WE'RE SENDING THEM TO THE WEBSITE. OR IF THEY COME TO OUR OFFICE, WE'RE PRINTING OFF THEIR TAX ESTIMATES SO THAT THEY'LL HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT THE POTENTIAL TAX WOULD BE. BUT TAXPAYERS CAN GO TO THE PUBLIC NET WEBSITE FOR TROUP COUNTY, ACTUALLY SEARCH THEIR PROPERTY BY NAME, ADDRESS, [01:00:01] PARCEL NUMBER, AND AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF YOUR PAGE, IT HAS THE ESTIMATE THAT IS SET BASED ON THE MILLAGE RATE THAT WE HAVE IN OUR SYSTEM NOW. SO IT'S THERE. IT'S JUST A LITTLE HARDER TO GET TO TAXPAYERS A LITTLE CONCERNED HOW TO CONVERSATION EARLIER ABOUT THAT AND HOW TO GET TO THAT. AND WE'RE WILLING TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. SO KIND OF BREAK IT DOWN IN LAYMAN'S TERMS SOMEWHAT. WE GOT OUR TAX ASSESSMENTS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO NOW, AND A LOT OF PEOPL DID SEE A LARGEASE IN THE VALUE OF THEIR HOUSE. AND SO I WANT TO JUST. IF I SEE A VALUE OF $80,000 INCREASE, FOR EXAMPLE, PERSONAL RESIDENCE, THEN WHEN IT COMES. CAMP OR LIMITED THE AMOUNT BECAUSE WE OPTED IN, THAT HAS BEEN LIMITED TO IS IT 1% 0.1 RIGHT. FOR THIS YEAR? THE APPEAR CONFUSING TO SOME, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT 1.00 THAT IS A FLAT A FLAT, IT STARTS OFF WITH 1.03 FOR NEXT YEAR, 1.025, WHATEVER THE INCREASE IS. BUT FOR THE COUNTY, IT'S 100% EXEMPTION FOR THE CITY OF HOGANSVILLE CITY OF WEST POINT IN TROUP COUNTY, IT'S 100% EXEMPTION FOR ANY GROWTH ABOVE THE 2024 ASSESSMENT. SO AGAIN, IN LAYMAN TERMS, IF MY HOUSE WENT UP $80,000 IN VALUE ASSESSED VALUE, THEN FROM THE COUNTY PORTION, THE ONLY TAX INCREASE I SHOULD SEE WOULD BE THE $150 THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE LAST YEAR AS A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. THAT'S NOT ON THERE AT THIS TIME. AND SO I WOULD MY PERSONAL THAT $80,000 IS NOT GOING TO NECESSARILY AFFECT ME ON MY COUNTY BILL. THAT IS CORRECT SIR. PORTION OF MY TAXES. LET ME SAY THAT'S CORRECT. PORTION OF MY TAX BILL AT THE SCHOOL SCHOOL BOARD SIDE OF YOUR TAXES, RIGHT? YEAH. THAT'S CORRECT. THAT IS CORRECT. BE VERY SPECIFIC. IT'S GREAT DETERMINATION. YET ON THE PERCENTAGE OF THE SCHOOL BOARD INCREASE. I'VE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM THEM, SIR. I KNOW I'VE SEEN DIFFERENT ONES AND THEY'RE DIFFERENT. THEY ALL OVER THE PLACE. IT'S JUST A LOT OF DETERMINATION BASED ON THOSE INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY VALUES. CLASS OF THE HOUSE, SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE HOUSE LOCATION, LAND VALUE. I MEAN, THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF GOOD, GOOD NEWS IS THEY'LL BE HERE TONIGHT. YOU CAN ASK THAT QUESTION. AND GOING FORWARD TO THE NEXT YEAR, AS LONG AS YOU STAY YOUR HOUSE, NO CHANGES, THINGS LIKE THAT, IT WILL FOR YEARS TO COME. STILL, THE ASSESSMENT WILL STAY FLAT. NO, SIR. THAT'S CORRECT. THE ASSESSMENT GOES BY MARKET. BUT THE EXEMPTION FOR THE COUNTY WILL BE 100% OF ALL GROWTH ABOVE THE 2024 ASSESSED VALUE. AS LONG AS YOU DO NOT RENOVATE. ADD AN ADDITION, ADD AN ACCESSORY, BUILDING IN-GROUND POOL. THOSE TYPE THINGS WILL GO TOWARDS THE GROWTH FOR THAT ONE YEAR. THEN IT'LL STAY FLAT. BUT IF YOU MAINTAIN YOUR HOUSE, NO ADDITIONS, NO RENOVATIONS, YOU'LL GET 100% EXEMPTION FOR THE GROWTH ABOVE THE BASE. AND THE ONLY DIFFERENCE THEN WOULD BE AT THE END ON THE TAX ON THE BILL ITSELF, LIKE CPI. THAT'S CORRECT. IS IT ALSO, THE ONE THING I FAILED TO MENTION IS THE LEGISLATORS. ALSO, THIS YEAR, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, HAS ALLOWED OUR OFFICE TO TAKE HOMESTEAD APPLICATION DURING THE ASSESSMENT PERIOD. SO FOR THE 45 DAY PERIOD ENDING NEXT FRIDAY, AUGUST 15TH, YOU CAN ACTUALLY APPLY FOR HOMESTEAD. IF YOU OWNED YOUR PROPERTY PRIOR TO JANUARY THE 1ST, 2024, YOU CAN ACTUALLY GET YOUR HOMESTEAD AND GET THE BASE IF YOU BOUGHT IT DURING 2024, YOU CAN COME IN HOMESTEAD AND YOUR BASE WILL BE ADJUSTED BASED ON THE 25. THATHR HAPPENED, AND WE HAVE TAKEN IN A VERY GOOD NUMBER OF HOMESTEAD. FIND THAT BY GOING TO Q PUBLIC TO WRITE IF THEY KNOW HOW TO EX THEIR PROCESS OFFICE IS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE QUESTIONS. AUGUST THE 15TH, MIDNIGHT FOR ELECTRONIC APPEALS MAILED HAS TO BE POSTED BEFORE THE END OF BUSINESS AT THE POST OFFICE ON THE 15TH. FOLLOWED BY MIDNIGHT THAT NIGHT. YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT. ANY. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN VERY MUCH. ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE I GO TO THE PUBLIC PORTION? I'LL INDIVIDUALS TO COME AND SPEAK [01:05:06] AND ADDRE SAID OF THE 2025 MILLAGE RATE. AND WE'VE GOT THE EXPERTS IN THE ROOM AND WE CAN ADDRESS YOUR QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS. SO IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP, PLEASE JUST YOU WILL IDENTIFY YOURSELF BY GIVING YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS. DAN'S NOT GOING TO MOVE FIRST SO COME ON I CAN'T. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS RAY KAMINSKY, 306 COVE ROAD, LAGRANGE. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. I'M JUST TRYING TO GET SOME. FIRST OF ALL, I'M NEW HERE. I'VE BEEN HERE FOUR YEARS, AND THE FOUR YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE, MY TAXES HAVE ALMOST DOUBLED. AND I UNDERSTAND YOU GUYS HAVE A DIFFICULT, YOU KNOW, AND SO ON . MY CONCERN IS. IN THE OVER $72,000 OF INCREASED ASSESSMENT. OKAY.OW MY QUESTION, I GUESS, IS DOES THE SCHOOL DISTRICT USE THAT AS. TO ME AT LEAST? I MEAN, COMING FROM PENNSYLVANIA, WE GOT ASSESSED EVERY TEN YEARS. I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW YOU ASSESS MY HOUSE. I HAVEN'T MADE IMPROVEMENTS. I THINK HE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IMPROVEMENTS. I HAVEN'T ADDED ANYTHING. YOU KNOW, I PAINTED THE OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE AND, YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF THING, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE SUSTAINABLE TO ME THAT IF ANOTHER $72,000 IN TWO YEARS IS GOING TO PUT MY HOUSE WAY OVER WHAT IT'S ACTUALLY WORTH. SO I GUESS I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION. YOU KNOW HOW $72,500 OF MARKET VALUE IN TWO YEARS IS JUST SEEMS? I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE TO RAISE TAXES. I'M NOT I'M NOT AGAINST THAT. BUT, YOU KNOW, ALMOST DOUBLE MY TAXES IN FOUR YEARS. I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU CAN GIVE ME SOME UNDERSTANDING OF THAT OR THAT'S WHAT I GUESS THE ASSESSMENT IS WHAT I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT MOVING FORWARD, YOU KNOW, IS IT GOING TO KEEP GOING? I MEAN, MY ASSESSMENT, MY FAIR MARKET VALUE WENT UP $52,600 THIS YEAR. YOU KNOW, I'M LIKE, WOW, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND IT'S GOING TO GO UP MAYBE 1012, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER. BUT THAT SEEMS LIKE AN AWFUL LOT. SO. WELL THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME WILL. WILL YOU. WELL LET TO SPEAK TO YOU KNOW I. I MEAN, THAT'S THE WAY OUR TAXATION. WE HAVE CERTAINLY SEEN. PROPERTY IN THIS AREA HAVE GONE UP TREMENDOUSLY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. WE HAVE THE COUNTY WE HAVE A TAX ASSESSOR'S OFFICE. AND THAT'S THAT GENTLEMAN THAT IS SITTING RIGHT BEHIND YOU. AND THEY WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SIT. I KNOW THEY WOULD. I'M NOT PUTTING THEM ON THE SPOT. THEY WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU AND LOOK AT YOUR INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY. AND SO THE VALUE IS DETERMINED BY THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE. AND THEY HAVE THEIR STEPS THAT THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW. AND WE HAVE SEEN THE INCREASES IN PROPERTY VALUES HERE IN TOWN. SO FROM THE COMMISSIONER'S STANDPOINT WE SET THE MILLAGE RATE OKAY. AND THAT IS THE RATE AT WHICH WE TAX THAT PROPERTY. WE DID AS WE JUST SAID WE DID TAKE STEPS BY OPTING IN INTO A NEW PROGRAM THAT WAS OFFERED TO US BY OUR LEGISLATORS, THE STATE GOVERNMENT, AND THAT IS WE CHOSE TO FREEZE THE WELL, YOU KNOW, DON'T USE THE WORD FREE. WE SAID THAT THE PROPERTY FROM THE COUNTY, FROM THE COUNTY PORTION OF YOUR TAX BILL, THAT IT WOULD NOT GO UP MORE THAN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX NUMBER, WHICH DAN JUST POINTED OUT TO A POINT ONE SOMETHING. SO WE ON THE COUNTY SIDE AGREED TO THAT WE WOULDN'T INCREASE OUR TAX OR THE ASSESSMENT VALUE ANY MORE THAN THAT NUMBER. THE SCHOOL SYSTEM OPTED OUT. AND THERE'S THERE WAS SOME DIFFERENCES IN THE LAW THAT WAS PASSED BY THE STATE FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. THEY WEREN'T QUITE THE SAME AS THE RULES OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT, BUT WE TOOK OUR STEPS TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT HOMESTEADED PROPERTIES DID NOT GO UP MORE THAN A CERTAIN AMOUNT. AND AS WE UNDERSTAND RIGHT NOW, THAT IS A KIND OF FOREVER SITUATION. IT HAS CREATED SOME ISSUES AROUND THE STATE. AND AS ALWAYS, I THINK THE LEGISLATORS ARE GOING TO PROBABLY REVISIT THAT. BUT AT THIS TIME, THE COUNTY HAS SAID [01:10:04] THAT WE WILL LIVE WITH THAT NUMBER FOREVER UNTIL IT'S CHANGED OR SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE, POSSIBLY. BUT I THINK THAT YOU AND I'M IN THE SAME BOAT. MINE WENT UP TREMENDOUSLY THIS YEAR. YOU KNOW, I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FILE AN APPEAL WITH THE TAX ASSESSORS BOARD, AND I CAN GO IN AND APPEAL THE ASSESSMENT THAT THEY PUT ON THEIR THE TAX BILLS HAVE NOT GONE OUT YET BECAUSE UNTIL THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE COUNTY SETS THAT MILLAGE RATE, WE HAVE NOT THE TAX BILL HAS NOT OFFICIALLY BEEN SET. BUT I WOULD, I WOULD I KNOW I KNOW YOUR PAIN. LIKE I SAID, I'M I'M SEEING IT TOO. BUT I THINK THAT THE FIRST STEP WOULD BE TO GO AND FILE AN APPEAL WITH THE TAX ASSESSORS BOARD, OR TALK TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND TRY TO DETERMINE HOW WAS YOUR VALUE ESTABLISHED. OKAY, OKAY. YOU MAKE ONE COMMENT ON THIS FEATURE. DANA, DO YOU DO YOU MIND? I KNOW THIS A LITTLE HARD, BUT IF YOU WILL COME TO THE MICROPHONE. I THE GENTLEMAN JUST EXPRESSED HIS CONCERN FUTURE INCREASES AND JUST WANTED TO SPEAK. OUTSIDE OF OUR OFFICE. THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE COMES IN AND ENSURES AND LOOKS AT VALUES VERSUS SALES TO MAKE SURE THAT. SELLING FOR OR WE'RE STAYING IN THAT THAT HAPPY RANGE OF IN THE MIDDLE OF 36 AND 44% OF THAT SALES PRICE. SO THERE'S A LOT OF OVERSIGHT ON OUR END TO ENSURE THAT PROPERTY VALUES ARE STAYING WITHIN THAT RANGE, NOT JUST WITHIN THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS OR ANYWHERE ELSE. THERE IS OTHER OVERSIGHT FOR OUR OFFICE. CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT? HE ASKED THAT ONE QUESTION. WHY ASSESSED EVERY YEAR JUST WHAT THE LAW REQUIRES THAT WE ASSESS ALL TAXABLE PROPERTY EVERY YEAR, EVERY YEAR, AND WHETHER IT INCREASES OR DECREASES, WE'RE TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH WHATEVER THAT IS. DANA, I'M GOING TO GO BACK A FEW YEARS. THE COUNTY USED TO DO A THIRD, A THIRD, A THIRD. IT TAXED UNTIL THAT CAME AROUND TO YOUR PROPERTY. AND IF YOU'LL REMEMBER, THAT CAUSED A LOT. A LOT OF PROPERTY OWNERS WHO DIDN'T SEE INCREASERN THEY GOT JUST THREE YEARS. PEOPLE GOT A HUGE JUMP IN ONE YEAR. AND SO WE WERE ASKED NOT TO DO THAT ANYMORE. WE WERE ASKED WHO WAS WHO WAS ASKED NOT TO DO IT ANYMORE. JUST TRYING TO GET IT IN PLACE. YEAH. BECAUSE TO ME, THEY WANTED THEY WANTED TO BE SURE THAT THAT ALL PROPERTIES WERE LOOKED AT EVERY YEAR AND, AND THAT THAT'S LAW, YOU KNOW. AND AT THE TIME WE DIDN'T HAVE A FULL STAFF. WE WERE LIMITED TO HOW MANY PROPERTIES WE COULD LOOK AT EACH YEAR. AND WE'RE DOING THE BEST THAT WE CAN TO STEADILY INCREASE OUR STAFF AS THE COUNTY GROWS. BUT WE'RE THE REASON I'M ASKING IS BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PROPERTY OWNERS THAT ARE ASKING THAT QUESTION, THAT I USED TO GE EVERY THIRD YEAR. RIGHT. AND. AND PROBABLY CLOSE TO TEN YEARS NOW. WE'VE TRIED TO THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. LAW REQUIRES THAT WE APPRAISE ALL PROPERTY EVERY YEAR. AND THAT COMES FROM STATE, YES, STATE LAW. BUT I MEAN, BUT EVEN IF YOU APPRAISE IT EVERY YEAR, THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S GOING TO BE AN INCREASE. THAT'S RIGHT. BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU DON'T SAY UNTIL YOU COME AROUND THAT THIRD YEAR. SO YOU COULD BE HITTING IT THEN. NOW HOW IT'S COLLECTED IS A DIFFERENT STORY. YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO BY LAW IS THE PROPERTY. YEAH. VALUE AND COLLECTION ARE TWO DIFFERENT. THAT'S RIGHT. YEAH. I WAS JUST ASKING I'VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE ASK ME HERE LATELY AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, THERE THERE IS OVERSIGHT THERE, THERE IS MONITORING OF OUR OFFICE TO BE SURE, WE'RE VALUING PROPERTIES OVER W THEY'RE SELLING FOR. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. YOU KNOW, THEY DO HAVE A FEATURE ON THAT WHERE YOU CAN GO IN THERE AND LOOK AT OTHER PROPERTIES THAT HAVE SOLD. I BELIEVE IT'S BY NEIGHBORHOOD AND BY AREA. IS THAT THE TWO OPTIONS? THERE'S AREA IN BY NEIGHBORHOOD. AND YOU CAN GO YOU CAN GO IN THERE AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO. I'M GOING TO [01:15:04] CLICK ON THOSE TWO FEATURES. AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO FIND OTHER PROPERTIES THAT HAVE SOLD RECENTLY THAT I COULD COMPARE TO MY HOUSE. AND IT GIVES YOU A SQUARE FOOTAGE NUMBER. IT GIVES YOU A SALES PRICE. YOU KNOW, YOU CAN ALSO BREAK DOWN IF YOU HAVE A SWIMMING POOL OR IF YOU HAVE A STORAGE BARN OR WHATEVER. YOU CAN GO IN THERE AND SEE THE VALUES FOR THOSE AMENITIES THAT YOUR PROPERTY MIGHT HAVE THAT THE OTHER ONE DIDN'T, OR VICE VERSA. AND THAT'S GOING TO TRY. I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO HELP ME DETERMINE IF THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF MY HOME IS COMPARABLE TO WHAT THEY PUT ON MY TAX BILL AS TO WHAT THOSE OTHERS SOLD FOR. NOW, THE ONE THING THAT'S ALWAYS GOING BACK TO THE BANKING DAYS AND APPRAISALS, YOU KNOW, NEW CONSTRUCTION DOESN'T COUNT UNLESS THERE'S A SLAVE, RIGHT? I MEAN, IF SOME IF IT'S COSTING $250 A SQUARE FOOT TO BUILD A HOUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, WHICH THAT'S PROBABLY KIND OF CLOSE TO WHAT A LOT OF NUMBERS ARE THESE DAYS. HOW DOES THAT NUMBER, THE COST OF NEW CONSTRUCTION, JUST NOT A SALE? FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S NOT A BONA FIDE SALE. HOW DOES THAT RELATE TO THE PERSON THAT TO THE VALUE OF MY HOUSE THAT'S BEEN THERE 25 YEARS? DAN KIND OF MENTIONED EARLIER THAT EVERYBODY'S INCREASE IS BASED ON DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTICS OF THEIR PROPERTY, ITS AGE, CONDITION, QUALITY OF CONSTRUCTION. SO ALL OF THAT'S APPLIED THERE. THERE'S A BASE PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT THAT THAT'S CREATED. AND THEN AFTER THAT IS FOUND, THEN EACH PROPERTY AS FAR AS THE HEATED SQUARE FOOT AREA IS VALUED BASED ON HOW IT'S GRADED. AND ALL THOSE I JUST MENTIONED. BUT THEN AGAIN, YOU GOT TO LOOK AT WHAT YOU HAVE TO ADD THE LAND BACK IN. YOU HAVE TO ADD IF THERE'S ANY ACCESSORIES AND ALL THAT. THAT'S WHY EVERYTHING IS SO DIFFERENT. EVERYBODY'S PROPERTY IS SO DIFFERENT. BUT THERE AGAIN, AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, AND I THINK I MENTIONED THIS BEFORE, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE KNOWS THEIR OWN PROPERTY BEST AND THEY KNOW THE INTERIOR. THEY KNOW THINGS THAT THAT LOOKING FROM THE OUTSIDE THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE CAN'T SEE. SO IF YOU KNOW, THERE'S A, YOU KNOW, A CONCERN ABOUT THAT VALUE, WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU, YOU KNOW, AND BECAUSE WE WANT IT TO BE AS, AS CORRECT AS WE CAN POSSIBLY GET IT. SO SAY IN A CUSTOM HOME SINCE IT'S NOT SOLD, DOESN'T AFFECT IT. BUT SPEC HOME SALES DO. WELL. THE ORIGINAL GENERATION OF THE BASE VALUE, THOSE THOSE NEW HOME SALES ARE INCLUDED IN THERE. YOU YOU HAVE TO INCLUDE THAT TO GET THAT BASE VALUE. BUT THEN YOU ALSO HAVE TO WHEN YOU'RE VALUING EACH INDIVIDUAL HOME, YOU HAVE TO USE THE SPECIFICS REGARDING THAT HOME. OKAY. THANK YOU SIR I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK I. PATRICK, I HAD A BIT OF A GENERAL QUESTION. I ALERTED THE PERCENTAGE BREAKDOWN ON DANIEL PRICE, 305 COVE ROAD OF CORPORATE TAX BURDEN OF THE COUNTY VERSUS RESIDENTIAL WAS ABOUT 38% VERSUS 51. WITH THE SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN CORPORATE PRESENCE. AND I MEAN THAT BOTH IN OUR TRADITIONAL SENSE OF CORPORATE AND CORPORATE OWNERSHIP OF MULTIPLE APARTMENT COMPLEXES, DO WE EXPECT THAT 51% TO GROW AS A PROPORTION OF THE TOTAL TAX LOAD IN THE COUNTY VERSUS THE RESIDENTIAL TAX LOAD? WELL, I WOULD SAY TO YOU THAT, YES, YOU WOULD. I MEAN, I THINK OUR COMMUNITY THE ANSWER IS YES. I ATTENDED THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD MEETING ESTIMATE. THERE'S ALWAYS A LIST OF PROSPECTS, PROSPECTIVE INDUSTRIES OR BUSINESSES THAT ARE COMING TO THE BRINK. NOW, THOSE ARE YOUR BIG PLANT TYPE INDUSTRIES, NOT A MOM AND POP STORE. WHATEVER. I THINK WE ARE FORTUNATE. WE I THINK WE WOULD ALL SAY IN THIS ROOM THAT WE ARE KIND OF RECOGNIZED AS AN INDUSTRIAL COMMUNITY. WE HAVE A LOT OF FACTORIES. YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE YOU'RE PART OF THAT, THAT WE HAVE A LARGE PRESENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND WE WE'VE ACCEPTED A GOOD BIT OF THAT INTO OUR COMMUNITY. AND IF WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO A GOOD JOB ATTRACTING THE RIGHT INDUSTRIES TO TROUP COUNTY. AND THERE IS A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE RIGHT INDUSTRIES ACCORDING TO THEIR PAY, AND THEY TRY TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST LOWER PAYING COMPANIES COMING HERE. I THINK IF WE CONTINUE TO DO A GOOD JOB, WE CAN GET THE RIGHT INDUSTRY IN HERE, THEN HOPEFULLY THAT WILL CONTINUE TO GROW. THAT NUMBER WILL GROW. I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO US ON THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE, BECAUSE WE'RE WE ALL KNOW [01:20:04] THAT THE PRICE OF MATERIALS IS CONTINUING TO JUST GROW. WE HAVE PRETTY MUCH A SCARCITY OF HOMES IS WHAT MOST OF THE BUILDERS WILL TELL YOU. SO THAT KIND OF DRIVES THE PRICE UP ON RESIDENTIAL TARIFFS. COULD CERTAINLY HAVE A SO ANY COUNTY APPLICATIONS NOW FOR ME. SUBDIVISION DEVELOPMENTS AT ALL IS THAT I MEAN JUST JUST THIS YEAR I TALKED DANA WITH HOME SALES THIS YEAR IN OUR COUNTY ALONE. SO CERTAINLY SEEING GROWTH HAPPENING. AND SOME LIKE IT SOME DON'T. BU WE'A LOT OF. APARTMENT COMPLEXES THAT ARE CERTAINLY EMERGING BECAUSE G A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO EITHER CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY A HOUSE OR. YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL USED TO THE, YOU KNOW, THE THREE BEDROOM, TWO BATH RANCH THAT WE ALL GREW UP IN. AND SO CERTAINLY, I THINK THAT'S WE'RE SEEING THAT RISE IN OUR COMMUNITY. BUT I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT. SOME COMMUNITIES HAVE LIKE GEORGIA POWER AND THEY GET A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY OFF GEORGIA POWER TAXES OR WHATEVER. WE KNOW THAT ALL THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT DATA CENTERS, AND THEY RAISE A LOT OF TAX MONEY ON OTHER PEOPLE. YOU KNOW, FOR US, I THINK, AGAIN, IT LOOKS LIKE IN MY KIND OF 40 YEARS LIVING IN TROUP COUNTY THAT WE'VE GOT A VERY DIVERSE, PRETTY MUCH A DIVERSE INDUSTRIAL COMMUNITY OUT THERE. WE KNOW WE HAVE A HUGE PRESENCE IN THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. BUT IF YOU CAN LOOK AT THAT BAR GRAPH, THEY'RE PAYING A GOOD BIT OF TAXES HERE IN OUR, OUR COMMUNITY. SO WE MUST CONTINUE TO DO A GOOD JOB OF BRINGING THE RIGHT INDUSTRY AND TO HELP OFFSET THE TAXES FOR THE HOMEOWNERS. OKAY, STILL A TON OF REVENUE OPPORTUNITY UP AND DOWN. PEGASUS. NOW, I'M I'M BE GLAD TO SEE THAT CONTINUE TO DEVELOP. THANKS, GUYS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SIR. I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN IT. WELL I THERE WAS ANY QUESTIONS. I MEAN, I'LL BE GLAD TO EXPLAIN. I THINK A LOT OF, A LOT OF THIS PROBLEM IS KNOW, MR. KAMINSKI, I LOOKED UP THE PROPERTY AND. AND SAID IT WAS ONLY BATTED $180,000, AND THEN THEY GIVE $500,000 FOR IT. YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT. THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE TALKING THAT INFLATIONARY AND ST LOOKING AT. WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM, YOU KNOW, AND I'VE HAD A LOT OF CALLS ABOUT THAT. WHEN SOMEBODY GOES AND BUYS A HOUSE AND THERE'S LIKE SHANE, YOU KNOW, I JUST I JUST BOUGHT THIS HOUSE AND THE TAXES HAD TRIPLED. AND I LOOK AT THE VALUATION OF IT, YOU KNOW, AND, AND SAY THOSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN THERE FOR 30 YEARS AND THE HOUSE IS VALUED 175,000. THEY GO IN AND PAY $600,000 FOR IT. AND I'M JUST, YOU KNOW, AND THAT AFFECTS THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING ON THAT STREET OR THAT ROAD. IT DOES. RIGHT? IT DOES. AND, YOU KNOW, AND, YOU KNOW, JUST JUST LOOKING HEADS UP, IT'S STILL NOT EVEN UP TO THE VALUE OF WHAT HE PAID FOR IT, YOU KNOW, AND OBVIOUSLY THE ASSESSMENT VALUES DON'T HAPPEN BUT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ME. BUT I THINK THAT'S A LOT OF PROBLEM WE GET INTO. AND THAT'S WHY WHEN SOMEONE COMES INTO MY OFFICE, THE FIRST THING I LOOK AT IS PER SQUARE FOOT. SO HIS HOUSE IS VALUED. THE COUNTY HAS IT VALUED $136 PER SQUARE FOOT. FIRST TIME I TALKED WITH SOMEONE AND THEY WANT TO TALK TO ME. INSTEAD OF JUST SHOOING THEM OUT OF MY OFFICE, I BRING THEM IN AND SAY, LOOK, WELL, LET'S LOOK AT YOUR VALUES. YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THEM MAYBE $85 A SQUARE FOOT AND MAYBE THIS IS, YOU KNOW, $136 A SQUARE FOOT. AND I THINK THAT'S THINGS YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE IN THOSE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE ON A FAST TRACK TO GET EVERYTHING DONE. THAT PACKAGE IS PART OF. I DID SEND A COPY TO ERIC A FEW MINUTES AGO. WE WERE WORKING ON THAT LEGISLATION TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THAT SCHOOL BOARD IS JUST PART OF THE PROCESS THAT WE HAVE TO TURN IN FOR THE DIGEST THAT YOU ALL HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, APPROVE IT. WHEN I PULLED UP, I HAD RENEE SEND ME THE NUMBERS WHILE WE WERE SITTING HERE, BECAUSE I KNOW Y'ALL HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE PRELIMINARY FOR THE SCHOOL IS 10.82%. IT WENT UP INCREASE. YESTERDAY. WE WERE AT OUR BOARD MEETING. ANDE SHARING THAT HIS LAND PRICES AT LEAST THEY'RE. $8,000 AN ACRE IS WHAT VALUES IN THE INDUSTRIAL PARK, [01:25:03] WHICH IS AGAIN, I MEAN A HUGE INCREASE FROM WHAT IT WAS JUST A FEW YEARS AGO. BUT CERTAINLY THOSE ARE AFFECTING. PRICES AS A WHOLE. AND SEEING THAT ESPECIALLY SOME. THERE'S A HIGH DESIRE FOR IT. AND AGAIN, I, I THINK, I DON'T KNOW, THIS YEAR IS GOING TO CHANGE MUCH AT ALL. I THINK WE'RE SEEING GROWTH CONTINUING HOME. HOME BUILDS THAT HOUSTON HOMES THEY THEY OPENED AN OFFICE IN DOWNTOWN BRYAN STONE. THEY'RE CONTINUING TO BUILD AND BUILD AND BUILD AND BUILD BECAUSE THERE'S STILL STILL A DESIRE TO LIVE HERE IN TRIGG COUNTY. AND WE DO HAVE A LOT OF VERY LARGE TRACTS THAT ARE STILL AVAILABLE. SO IT IS A IT'S A BATTLE THAT WE, WE HAVE TO TAKE ON DAY IN AND DAY OUT OF, OF SMART GROWTH AND GROWING SMARTLY. IS CERTAINLY A PART, PART OF THE PART OF THE PUZZLE THAT WE ALL TRY TO PUT TOGETHER DAILY. YEAH. I MEAN, I, YOU KNOW, I'VE ALWAYS SAID IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, IF YOU BOUGHT OR SOLD A PIECE OF PROPERTY, PART OF THAT PROBLEM, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT THAT IT'S GROWN. A PEOPLE THAT LIVED IN OUR OUR LIVES, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALWAYS. THAT I TALKED TO WENT UP AND HADN'T DONE ANYTHING THERE. THANK YOU SIR. RIGHT. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME AND ADDRESS THE MILLAGE RATE? ALRIGHT. HEARING NONE. LET ME. THANK YOU. FOR. THANK YOU. I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THOSE PEOPLE ON THE ROAD BEHIND YOU. THEY CAN BE YOUR FRIENDS, THEY CAN HELP YOU. THEY TRY TO UNDERSTAND IT. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF EDUCATION. AND UNDERSTANDING. ALL RIGHT. THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS. AND I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION THAT WE COME OUT OF PUBLIC HEARING, GO BACK INTO WORK SESSION AND ADJOURN. SO MOVED. ALRIGHT. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? AND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? HANDS * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.