[CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:08] GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. LET ME WELCOME EVERYONE TO OUR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY THE 3RD, 2026 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION. I'M GOING TO KIND OF PICK ON SOMEBODY THIS MORNING JEFF DURAN. DO YOU MIND MAKING YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT? JEFF IS ASSOCIATE HERE WITH THE COUNTY, BUT HE'S ALSO A PASTOR. AND I GOT A FACEBOOK POST. YOU HAD A NEW MEMBER AND YOUR PICTURE WAS UP THERE AT THE CHURCH THE OTHER DAY. SO WE NORMALLY START OFF WITH A WORD OF PRAYER, AND SO I'M GOING TO ASK HIM IF HE DOESN'T MIND. OPEN US IN PRAYER. HE HONORED OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. WE THANK YOU, LORD, FOR WAKING US UP THIS MORNING. GOD, WE WE THANK YOU, LORD, FOR THE PRIVILEGE AND OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE. THE BREATH IN OUR LUNGS. GOD, WE THANK YOU LORD, JUST FOR EVERY ALL THE BLESSINGS OF LIFE. GOD THAT WE'RE SO UNDESERVING OF GOD. LORD, WE'RE THANKFUL FOR A LITTLE BIT WARMER WEATHER THIS MORNING GOD. AND WE JUST THANKFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. LORD, I PRAY THAT YOUR BLESSINGS NOW WOULD BE UPON THIS MEETING. GOD, I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD BE HONORED HERE TODAY. GOD, I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO GIVE ALL OF OUR COUNTY LEADERS, LORD, THE THE WISDOM AND THE KNOWLEDGE, LORD, TO CARRY OUT THE BUSINESS THAT WOULD BE IN YOUR SIDE. GOD, WE LOVE YOU AND THANK YOU. AND ALL GOD'S PEOPLE SAID AMEN, AMEN. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU JEFF. APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY HERE AT THE COUNTY AND OUTSIDE IN THE COMMUNITY. SO AT THIS TIME, I NORMALLY TURN IT OVER TO THE COUNTY MANAGER FOR HIM TO GO THROUGH THE ITEMS. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN. COMMISSIONERS. CERTAINLY EXCITED TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE SHOW UP FOR OUR FY 25 AUDIT. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR [1. The Richard English, Jr. Strongest Link Award of Excellence for January 2026 (Chardonnay Scott)] BEING HERE. FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE RICHARD INGLIS JUNIOR STRONGEST LINK AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR JANUARY 2026. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. GOOD MORNING. AND CITIZENS OF TROUP COUNTY. THE RICHARD INGLIS JUNIOR STRONGEST LINK AWARD OF EXCELLENCE IS GIVING MONTHLY TO A DESERVING EMPLOYEE WHO HAS DEMONSTRATED EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE, PRODUCTIVITY, LOYALTY, PROFESSIONAL PRIDE AND OTHER NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES THAT ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES LINKED TOGETHER TO FORM A CHAIN THAT PROVIDES THE CITIZEN OF TROUP COUNTY WITH EXCELLENT SERVICE. NO ONE BETTER EXEMPLIFIED THAT SPIRIT OF DEDICATION AND EXCELLENCE THAN MR. ENGLISH, WHO WAS A TRUE LEADER AND WHO DEMONSTRATED OUTSTANDING DEDICATION AND SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS. TODAY, WE HONOR HIS MEMORY AND LEGACY AS WE RECOGNIZE THE RECIPIENT FOR JANUARY 2026. I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY READING A PORTION OF THE NOMINATION FORM THAT WAS SUBMITTED ON BEHALF OF THE RECIPIENT. HE WORKS DILIGENTLY DAY AND NIGHT, TO PROTECT THE GOVERNMENT CENTER WHILE ENSURING WONDERFUL WORKING RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND OTHER AGENCIES. THROUGHOUT HIS WORK ETHIC, ATTITUDE, AND IMPECCABLE CHARACTER MAKE HIM A WONDERFUL CANDIDATE FOR THIS AWARD. IT IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE TO YOU THE RICHARD INGLIS JUNIOR AWARD OF EXCELLENCE RECIPIENT FOR JANUARY 2026, CAPTAIN, SHERIFF WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. RANDY MOBLEY. Y'ALL KEEP IT A SECRET FROM YOU, DIDN'T HE? THAT'S A GOOD. RANDY. AT THIS TIME, DO YOU HAVE ANY FAMILY OR FRIENDS THAT YOU. I'D HAVE SOMEBODY BACK THERE. LOADED QUESTION. YES, SIR. NO. ONE. TWO. THREE. RANDY, WE TRULY APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION AND LOYALTY THAT YOU HAVE PUT INTO TROUP COUNTY. YOU HAVE PROVEN THAT YOU ARE THE STRONGEST. LINK. CONGRATULATIONS. AND AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY A HUGE THANK YOU TO CREATIVE COLLINS AND LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE AS THESE COMPANIES GRACIOUSLY DONATED ITEMS FOR THE RECIPIENTS GIFT BAG. THANK YOU [2. Discuss LaGrange Optimist Club Proposal (Jeff Lukken & Wade Hall)] COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP, WE'LL INVITE JEFF LUCAS AND WADE HALL TO PROVIDE A PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD. IN REFERENCE TO PROJECT PLAN THEY HAVE PROPOSED. JEFF, [00:05:09] I KNOW YOU WILL. YOU'RE GOING TO INTRODUCE YOUR VERY SPECIAL GUEST TODAY, RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY. LAST TIME I WAS HERE, IT WAS ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO. I WAS COMING FROM THE CITY BEGGING FOR MONEY FROM YOU GUYS TO KEEP US AFLOAT. AND. FIRST, LET ME INTRODUCE A SPECIAL GROUP, WILL THE PUBLIC POLICY AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION CLASS OF MINE PLEASE STAND UP? ARE. THEY'RE HERE TO GRADE YOU COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU. IT'S AN HONOR BEING HERE WITH YOU TODAY. WADE HALL IS OUR CHAIRMAN FOR ADVISORY GROUP FOR HOPEFULLY BRINGING A BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND OUR SPECIAL GUEST IS FRED MAGLIONE. HE'S FROM COLUMBUS. FRED IS THE CEO OF THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF THE CHATTAHOOCHEE VALLEY VALLEY. HOW MANY CLUBS DO YOU HAVE IN COLUMBUS? SIX CLUBS. SIX CLUBS. FRED HAS BEEN WORKING WITH US OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS TO BRING A BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB BACK TO LAGRANGE. WE LOST OURS ABOUT 6 OR 8 YEARS AGO, AND EVERY TIME I RUN INTO ANYONE IN THE SOUTH THAT TALKS ABOUT THIS COUNTY NOT HAVING A BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, THEY'RE VERY SURPRISED. NUMBER ONE, BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF OUR COUNTY AND HOW PROGRESSIVE WE ARE, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF THE NEEDS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. SO IT'S AN HONOR TO BE TALKING TO YOU ALL HERE, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. I'M GOING TO OPEN THIS UP FOR QUESTIONS IN JUST A MINUTE. BUT IF I CAN JUST GIVE YOU A BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF WHAT WE'VE DONE, THIS IS REALLY A REQUEST FOR A CONTINUATION. YOUR COUNTY MANAGER AND YOUR COUNTY CHAIRMAN INSISTED THAT I MEET WITH YOU ALL TO MAKE SURE WE GET SUGGESTIONS, INPUT AND YOUR SUPPORT WITH THIS PROJECT. THE CONTINUATION IS THE OPTIMIST CLUB. BACK IN 2024, DECIDED THIS CLUB NEEDED TO PUSH HARD FOR A NEW BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB. ABOUT THE SAME TIME, THE SERVANT SCHOLARS OF LAGRANGE COLLEGE WANTED TO CREATE AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM, AND WE FOUND OUT THAT THE OPTIMISTS WERE ALREADY WORKING ON THIS, AND WE ASKED THEM, COULD WE BUILD A PROTOTYPE THAT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO MERGE INTO YOUR EVENTUAL BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB HERE IN THE COUNTY? AND THEY AGREED TO THAT. SO THE SERVANT SCHOLARS, FROM FEBRUARY TO APRIL OF LAST YEAR, THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF THE COUNTY, WERE ABLE TO USE THE OLD WHITESVILLE ROAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THE SCHOLARS BROUGHT SNACKS, THEY BROUGHT VOLUNTEERS, THEY MENTORED, THEY EDUCATED, THEY DID AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, THEY EXERCISED WITH THE KIDS. AND WE WERE REALLY PLEASED WITH THE RESULTS. JUST IN THE THREE MONTH PERIOD, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM ALLOWED BUSSES TO COME BY AND DROP OFF KIDS TO THE SCHOOL, AND IN JUST THAT SHORT PERIOD, WE WERE ABLE TO BRING 22 YOUNG CHILDREN IN NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM TO TAKE CARE OF THEM. SO OUR REQUEST TODAY IS TO THE COUNTY TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW US TO USE THE OLD WHITESVILLE ROAD FACILITIES. WE HAVE A LEASE PREPARED, BUT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE CAME TO Y'ALL FOR FINISHING TOUCHES. IN ANY KIND OF SUGGESTIONS, YOU MIGHT HAVE THE THERE'S NO SILVER BULLET FOR BEING ABLE TO HELP THE YOUTH OF OUR COUNTY, BUT A BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB BRINGS SO MUCH TO THE TABLE AS FAR AS BENEFITS, IT'S A SAFE HAVEN FOR SUPERVISION OF CHILDREN IN THE AFTER SCHOOL TIME THAT THEY CAN OFTENTIMES RUN INTO THE WORST CHALLENGES. IT'S THE TIME THAT THEY BEGIN TO BECOME PART OF GANGS. IT'S A TIME WHEN EARLY TEENAGE PREGNANCY HAPPENS. AND SO THIS SUPERVISION, THIS SAFE HAVEN, IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT FOR THESE YOUNG PEOPLE. ACADEMIC SUPPORT IS CRITICAL NOW MORE THAN EVER. THE MENTORING, THE TUTORING, THE HELPING THEM WITH HOMEWORK BRINGS THEM TO A POINT THAT WE HOPE WILL IMPROVE THEIR GRADES AND THEIR GRADUATION RATES, MENTORSHIP AND SOCIAL SKILLS. NOW MORE THAN EVEN, SAY, TEN YEARS AGO, WITH YOUNG PEOPLE SPENDING SO MUCH TIME ON THE INTERNET AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND GAMING IN THEIR ROOMS, THEY'RE MISSING THOSE SKILLS OF INTERACTING AND SOCIALIZING AND UNDERSTANDING THE CONNECTIONS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE CAN BRING TOGETHER. HEALTHY LIFESTYLES AGAIN, MORE TODAY THAN EVER, OBESITY RATES AND UNHEALTHY LIFESTYLE OF THE STUDENTS BRING REAL CHALLENGES TO ALL OF US IN THE COUNTY. SO A GREAT BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB BRINGS PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES, SPORTS COMPETITION, COOPERATION AMONG ALL OF THEM. IT BRINGS SO MUCH TO THE TABLE THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED TODAY. LIFE SKILLS, LEADERSHIP, CHARACTER BUILDING PRINCIPLES. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALL KIND OF FALLEN BEHIND ON, AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE PRINCIPAL EFFORTS THAT WE USE IN A BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB TO BRING OUR CHILDREN BACK TO THE OLD FASHIONED PRINCIPLES THAT WE USED TO TEACH IN SCHOOL. THESE STRUCTURED AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS BRING SO MUCH TO THE TABLE AS A SAFE HAVEN FOR OUR CHILDREN. THE HARD WORK OF THE [00:10:01] ADVISORY BOARD, ORIGINALLY STARTED BY THE OPTIMIST CLUB, CREATED A WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF THE CHATTAHOOCHEE VALLEY, CREATING CONSIDERABLE PLEDGES ALREADY FOR FUNDING A BUDGETING PLAN, DONOR LISTS AND A STRATEGIC PLAN TO MAKE THIS CLUB SUCCESSFUL. THIS VISION STARTS WITH THIS BUILDING. THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB BOARD OF DIRECTORS CAME ALL THE WAY UP FROM COLUMBUS TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. THEY LOVE THE SITE. IT'S VERY CLOSE TO OUR CUSTOMERS THAT WE WORK WITH, AND THE TWO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THAT WE HOPE WILL BRING BUSSES BACK IN AGAIN, AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE BROUGHT THIS MESSAGE TO THE COMMISSIONERS TODAY TO SEE IF YOU HAD ANY QUESTIONS AND IF YOU WOULD SUPPORT THE IDEA OF US CONTINUING TO USE THIS BUILDING, AND THE DAYS AND THE TIMES WHEN IT'S NOT IN USE FOR OTHER THINGS THAT THE COUNTY MIGHT SEE FIT. AND AGAIN, I WANT TO INTRODUCE WADE HALL AND FRED, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, OR DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SAY ABOUT ABOUT YOUR EFFORTS? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT WE'VE GOT QUITE A FEW OF OUR ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS HERE, AND IF THEY WOULD JUST STAND SO THEY RECOGNIZE THAT WE, SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE PART OF THIS ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND AND THEN WE HAVE SOME OF OUR OPTIMIST CLUB MEMBERS HERE WHO ARE THE ONES THAT PUT THE SPARK IN THIS, THAT GOT IT STARTED. AND SO IF ANY OF YOU'RE AN OPTIMIST CLUB MEMBER, IF YOU'D STAND AS WELL. SO. I'D LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME. IT'S A BIG NEED FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THERE'S NOTHING MORE THAT WE CAN DO FOR OUR KIDS THAN TO HAVE SOME SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR THEM WHEN THEY GET OUT OF SCHOOL, AND SO WE HOPE YOU'LL CONSIDER BEING A PARTNER WITH US AND HELPING US MAKE THIS HAPPEN. JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE MORE BACKGROUND ON THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB ITSELF, YOU KNOW, THE ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED IN 1937, SO WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. THIS YEAR WE'LL WORK WITH ABOUT 1600 STUDENTS ACROSS 700 DIFFERENT FAMILIES AT SIX DIFFERENT SITES. YOU KNOW, JEFF TALKED ABOUT IT PROBABLY BETTER THAN I CAN, BUT WE FOCUS ON FOUR PRIORITY OUTCOMES. WE WANT OUR WHAT WE CALL OUR CLUB MEMBERS TO ACHIEVE. AND THAT'S AROUND ACADEMIC SUCCESS, HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, LEADERSHIP AND CHARACTER AND LIFE AND WORKFORCE READINESS. AND SO OUR PLAN IS TO EXPAND THAT PROGRAMING THAT IS PROVEN. YOU KNOW, EVERY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT THAT GRADUATES, WHOSE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB MEMBER HAS A PLAN FOR THEIR FUTURE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, WHETHER THAT'S ENROLLING IN POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION, ENLISTING IN THE MILITARY OR ENTERING THE WORKFORCE, 90% OF OUR TEENS ARE AVOIDING RISKY BEHAVIOR LIKE SMOKING AND DRINKING AND PREMARITAL SEX AND DRUGS. AND WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON ACADEMIC OUTCOMES, WHICH WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO HERE. OUR I SHOULD ALSO SAY WE'RE PART OF THE LARGER BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF AMERICA MOVEMENT. SO QUITE A BIT OF RESOURCES BEHIND US. AND WE'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE SUPPORT. AND WE'VE WE'VE SEEN FROM THE COUNTY AND THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS HERE. SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED. THE INITIAL PLANS ARE TO START ASSUMING THERE'S MULTIPLE PIECES THAT STILL NEED TO GET RESOLVED, BUT POTENTIALLY START THIS SUMMER OR BY THE NEXT COMING SCHOOL YEAR. SO MOVE INTO POTENTIALLY THIS BUILDING IN THE SUMMER, GET ORGANIZED AND OPEN FOR MEMBERS. WE'D START WITH PROBABLY ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS, PROBABLY 6 TO 12 YEARS OLD FOR THE FIRST YEAR TO GET OUR FEET UNDER US A LITTLE BIT. THEN WE'D GROW FROM THERE. JEFF, I SAID, HOW MANY ROOMS ARE YOU? IS THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB THINKING ABOUT USING WORKING WITH ERIC RIGHT NOW? BUT THREE OUT OF FOUR OF THE ROOMS WILL BE VERY HELPFUL TO US. THE GYMNASIUM ADDS AGAIN THAT PHYSICAL HEALTH ASPECT TO IT, THE OUTSIDE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE IMPROVED IS INCREDIBLE. IT JUST IS A PERFECT, PERFECT HOME FOR THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB. AND SO LIKE DAYS OF OPERATION, LIKE WHAT, WHAT ALL HOW MANY DAYS AND HOURS OF THE DAY AND THEN HOW MANY DO YOU, I GUESS IS IT WITH THE FACILITY THERE, IS THERE A CERTAIN NUMBER THAT YOU CAN WORK WITH OR HOW DOES THAT GO. SO WE'VE GOT WE HAVE FLEXIBILITY THERE. BUT THE IDEAL SCENARIO WOULD BE EVERY DAY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AFTER SCHOOL ENDS TILL ROUGHLY TILL POTENTIALLY 6 OR 7 P.M. SO YOU KNOW, THE OUT OF SCHOOL TIME WE THINK IS CRITICAL. AND YOU KNOW, WE KNOW A LOT OF WORKING PARENTS CAN'T TAKE OFF WORK AT 3:00 WHEN SCHOOL GETS OUT. SO MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. BUT YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME FLEXIBILITY THERE IF WE NEED TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AND WE CAN WORK WITH OTHER OTHER PARTNERS. THE IDEAL, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW WE'RE THINKING ABOUT STARTING WITH 40 BETWEEN 40 AND 60 STUDENTS. AND, YOU KNOW, 2 OR 3 CLASSROOMS CAN EASILY [00:15:01] ACCOMMODATE 40 TO 60. THEY'RE REAL LARGE SPACES OVER THERE. 100, 120. WE'LL HAVE TO PROBABLY EXPAND AND THINK ABOUT ADDITIONAL FACILITIES OR SITES. BUT WE'RE WE'RE NOT THERE YET. IN THE SPRING, THE SCHOLARS WORKED FROM 230 WHEN THE BUSSES WERE DROPPED AT YOUNG PEOPLE OFF TO FIVE, AND THEN THE PARENTS WOULD PICK UP THE STUDENTS 5 TO 530. THEY WANTED TO GET OUT OF THE BUILDING TO ACCOMMODATE THE BASKETBALL THAT GOES ON IN THE IN THE BUILDING DURING THE FALL. JUST TO SHOW YOU A TINY BIT OF DEMAND. WHEN I WAS VOLUNTEERING FOR THE OLD BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB HERE IN TOWN, I THINK IT WAS AN OLD SCHOOL AT THE CITY HAD DONATED. THERE WAS A WAITING LIST AFTER THE BUILDING WAS FILLED TO MAXIMUM. MAXIMUM LEVEL ALLOWED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS STILL 109 CHILDREN THAT WERE ON A WAITING LIST WANTING TO BE PART OF THIS PROGRAM, AND THAT WAS BACK WHEN IT WAS ON CANNON STREET. BUT THAT'S THE WAY THEY DID IT THERE. THEY HAD THE COLLEGE STUDENTS COME OVER AND PARTICIPATE IN THAT, DIDN'T THEY? SURE. WELL, THIS WILL BE FINE. I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE A WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH PARK AND REC DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE FOR THE SCHEDULING AND AND FOR THE TYPE OF ROOMS THAT ARE BE NEEDED IN, IN THE WEISER ROAD. AND BECAUSE WE'RE REALLY UNCERTAIN ON HOW MUCH ACTIVITY, WE KNOW THE ACTIVITY IS GOING TO BE THERE, WE JUST DON'T KNOW THE TIMING OF ACTIVITY. WE'VE WORKED WELL WITH LANCE AND ERIC TO ACCOMMODATE, BECAUSE WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU ALL HAVE DONE TO HELP US LAST YEAR AND GOING FORWARD. RIGHT. RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WELL, IF NOT, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR COMING THIS MORNING. WHAT Y'ALL ARE TRYING TO DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND ALL YOUR GUESTS THAT GOT UP EARLY. JEFF, JEFF TOLD ME SOME OF THOSE CLASS STARTS AT 6 A.M. WHICH IS BETTER THAN SOME OF US, I WOULD SAY. BUT THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND WE'LL TAKE THIS MATTER UP TONIGHT. I NEVER DID START AT 6 A.M. IN COLLEGE, SO WILL INVITE YOU TO COME TALK TO US. OH, YEAH. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. [3. Discuss Approval of FFY26 VOCA Allocation (Sandra Taylor)] THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP, WE'LL INVITE MR. SANDER TAYLOR, DISCUSS THE APPROVAL OF THE FY 26 VOCA ALLOCATION. YES. GOOD MORNING, VALERIE, FOR LINING ME UP BEHIND JEFF LUKEN AND IN FRONT OF A WHOLE CLASS HERE TO GREET US ON OUR PRESENTATIONS. I WANT TO SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT OUR VICTIMS ADVOCATE PROGRAM IS. GENERALLY, I'M NOT SURE THAT EVERYONE IS FAMILIAR WITH IT. I TAKE FOR GRANTED SOMETIMES WHAT PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF OUR PROSECUTION AND OUR OFFICE IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. IT AFFECTS THE HOME, IT AFFECTS THE FAMILY, IT AFFECTS CHILDREN AND GENERATIONS. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT CHILDREN SUBJECTED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BEFORE THE AGE OF TWO HAVE ACTUAL DNA CHANGES IN THEIR BRAIN, FROM THE CHEMICALS RELEASED AS A RESULT OF THE STRESS OF BEING IN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION. SO IT IS SOMETHING WE TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY. IT AND ALL OF OUR VICTIM CRIMES. WE ARE VERY BLESSED THAT THE MAKE SURE I GET IT RIGHT, THE, THE, THE FEDERAL MONEY THAT COMES TO US IS A PART OF THE FEDERAL VICTIMS OF CRIMES ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM. IT'S BEEN UNDER SOME ATTACK NATIONALLY AND THE FUNDING HAS COME DOWN NATIONALLY ON IT. BUT THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS COUNCIL OF GEORGIA AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATE COMMITTEE HAVE WORKED VERY HARD TO KEEP THE FUNDING FOR SMALLER COUNTIES LIKE US TO ASSIST US IN MAINTAINING A VICTIM ADVOCATE. A DAY IN THE LIFE OF MY VICTIM ADVOCATE WHO IS HERE TODAY. IF YOU COULD STAND UP. NIKKI BRITTON HAS BEEN WITH US. SHE WORKED WITH ME WHEN I WAS IN PRIVATE PRACTICE, AND THEN AFTER I'D BEEN SOLICITOR FOR A WHILE, POSITION OPEN UP AND SHE APPLIED AND CAME BACK TO WORK FOR ME THERE. NIKKI IS VERY INTERESTED IN HELPING THE VICTIMS THAT COME INTO OUR OFFICE OF DOMESTIC RELATIONS AND FAMILY CRIMES. IT'S SO HARD. IT'S SO HARD WHEN MAYBE THE SUPPORT FOR THE FAMILY, THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE FAMILY IS THE ONE WHO'S PERPETRATED THE CRIME. AND HERE WE ARE PROSECUTING, AND THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE PROSECUTING. THE VICTIMS FEEL LIKE THEY'RE PROSECUTING. IN FACT, IT'S OUR OFFICE. AND THAT'S ONE THING THAT VICKY THAT NIKKI TRIES TO EDUCATE THEM TO IS THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THEM. THEY'RE FACT REPORTERS. JUST LIKE SOMEBODY THAT WITNESSED A WRECK, YOU KNOW? WHAT? DID YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENED? IT'S IT'S OUR JOB TO PROSECUTE. BUT TAKING THAT LOAD OFF OF THEM IS HUGE AND TAKES A LOT OF TIME. AND NIKKI TRIES TO MEET. AS SOON AS THE CASE COMES INTO OUR OFFICE, WE START IMMEDIATELY TRYING TO CONTACT THAT VICTIM. OFTEN THEY'RE TRANSIENT BECAUSE THERE IS A TPO PUT IN PLACE A TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE ORDER, SO THE FAMILY SEPARATED TO TO STOP ANY FUTURE VIOLENCE FROM HAPPENING. WHEN IT AS SOON AS THE CRIMES COMMITTED. AND SO THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH [00:20:03] A TERRIBLE TIME IN THEIR LIVES EMOTIONALLY, BUT ALSO FINANCIALLY AND OTHERWISE. THERE ARE STATE STATE PROGRAMS THAT FUND AND ASSIST VICTIMS OF CRIME. NIKKI'S JOB IS TO STAY VERY AWARE OF ALL OF THOSE PROGRAMS, AND TO CONNECT THE DOTS WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING THROUGH CRIME. SO IT'S A VERY VITAL, VITAL PART OF MY OFFICE. IT'S HONESTLY ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I CAME OVER WHEN I CAME OVER WHEN MARQUETTE WAS SOLICITOR TO WORK FROM PRIVATE PRACTICE WAS MY MY HEART FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CHILDREN THAT ARE IN THE HOMES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. SO FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE GRANT RENEWED THIS YEAR. EVERY YEAR IT'S LIKE WE DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO GET THE MONEY. AND I'M THINKING, OH DEAR LORD, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO IF WE LOSE THIS FUNDING? BUT THE GRATEFULLY WE'VE GOT IT AGAIN, IT'S $60,516 OF FUNDS. IT HAS MATCHING FUNDS, BUT THEY'VE BEEN WAIVED SINCE 2020. THE COUNTY'S NOT HAD TO CONTRIBUTE ANYTHING TOWARDS THAT. SO IT HAS TO BE SIGNED BY THE COMMISSION AND BY THE COUNTY MANAGER AND AND BY MY OFFICE THAT WE WILL COMPLY WITH THE FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING REQUIREMENTS, WHICH, WHICH WE'VE DONE WE'VE PASSED EVERY AUDIT WE'VE HAD WITH WITH BLAZING COLORS. SO IT'S BEEN GREAT. NIKKI'S DOES A GREAT JOB OF KEEPING THE STATISTICS AND DETAILS THAT THEY WANT TOGETHER FOR US. AND SO WE'RE ASKING TODAY THAT YOU SIGN AND CONSENT TO US RECEIVING THAT GRANT AGAIN. BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, PARTICULARLY ABOUT VICTIM. TODAY'S TODAY'S COMMISSION PRESENTATION HAS TO DO WITH VICTIMS ASSISTANCE. SO IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT I'M HAPPY TO TO HELP COMMISSIONER MCCAMY DEALS WITH WITH SOME OF OUR VICTIMS ON A REGULAR BASIS. WE ARE ABLE TO OFFER COUNSELING. THAT'S PART OF WHAT THE STATE IS, ONE OF THE ADD ONS. IF YOU'RE EVER IN COURT AND YOU SEE THEY HAVE A FINE, THAT'S $500 AND ADD ONS MAY ON SUSPENDED LICENSE BECAUSE WE DO SO MANY OF THEM FINES $500. THE ADD ONS MAKE IT 782. THOSE ARE DIVIDED AMONGST DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT ONE OF THEM IN IN VIOLENT CRIMES IS THAT MONEY GOES BACK INTO THE VICTIMS ASSISTANCE FUND, AND WE CAN PROVIDE UP TO $3,000 IN COUNSELING FOR VICTIMS OF OF ASSIST OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THAT WANT TO RECEIVE COUNSELING. SO ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I JUST HAVE A THANK YOU FOR WHAT Y'ALL DO UP THERE. THANK YOU I APPRECIATE IT. AND I'D LIKE TO INVITE ANYBODY THAT EVER WANTS TO COME IN AND AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON. IF YOU'RE IN THE COURTHOUSE, HAVE A MINUTE BEFORE ANOTHER MEETING OR SOMETHING. STOP BY. I'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR STAFF AND SEE KIND OF HOW WE MANAGE. WE WE HANDLE AROUND 1800 CASES A YEAR, AND NOW WE'RE OPERATING WITH TWO LAWYERS AND, YOU KNOW, AND SUPPORT STAFF. BUT IT'S IT'S A IT'S A HEAVY CASELOAD AND IT'S DOABLE BECAUSE OF THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE AND THE LEVEL OF EXPERTISE THAT THEY OFFER AND THE DEDICATION THAT PEOPLE LIKE NIKKI, NIKKI, I HAVE TO MAKE HER CLOCK OUT A LOT OF DAYS BECAUSE SHE WORKS. SHE WORKS LATER BECAUSE WHEN VICTIMS GET HOME AND ARE OFF WORK AND SHE CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH THEM, SHE TRIES TO TO REACH THEM THEN. SO WE HAVE A SUPER DEDICATED STAFF AND THAT HELPS US GET IT DONE. SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER JONES, I APPRECIATE THAT. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IF NOT THEN WE'LL TAKE THIS MATTER UP TONIGHT THEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HAVE A MEETING WITH THE GOVERNOR THIS AFTERNOON ON A. ARE YOU ASKING PERMISSION TO BRING HIM TO TONIGHT'S MEETING? HE WANTS TO. I BET I HAVE ERIC'S MESSAGE FOR HIM, AND I'M GOING TO DELIVER IT DIRECTLY. OKAY. AND SO I HOPE I'LL BE BACK. IF NOT, DENISE WILL BE HERE. IF THERE ARE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS. DENISE IS. I FAILED TO MENTION WHAT A GREAT THING HAVING THE GRANT THE A PERSON WITH THE COUNTY TO HELP US WITH THIS GRANT DETAILS THAT WE COULDN'T GET IT DONE. COULDN'T GET ALL THIS REPORTING GATHERED AND THE INFORMATION GATHERED WITHOUT DENISE'S HELP. AND SHE IS ALWAYS ON TOP OF IT AND EVERY DETAIL COVERED AND HAS BEEN EXCELLENT FOR US TO WORK WITH SINCE SHE TOOK THIS POSITION. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR [4. Discuss Elections Office Relocation (Andrew Harper / Jay Anderson)] THAT POSITION. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. OUR NEXT ITEM IS JAY AND ANDY. THEY'RE GOING TO COME UP AND DISCUSS THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS OFFICE RELOCATION. CHAIRMAN COMMISSIONERS GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. ANDY AND I ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT, AS ERIC SAID, RELOCATING THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT OUT TO WHITESVILLE ROAD USED TO BE THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AND AS WE'RE FINISHING UP ALL THE WORK THERE TO THEN POTENTIALLY MOVE ELECTIONS OUT TO THAT FACILITY, I THINK AS YOU'RE WELL AWARE, CURRENTLY HERE IN THE GOVERNMENT CENTER, THEIR OFFICE IS ON THE END OF THE FIRST FLOOR. THEY OCCUPY ALSO OCCUPY [00:25:03] A SPARE, EMPTY COURTROOM ON THE END OF THE FIRST FLOOR THAT THEY USE FOR EARLY VOTING. AND THEY ALSO OCCUPY SPARE, EMPTY COURTROOM ON THE SECOND FLOOR, WHICH IS WHERE ALL THEIR ELECTIONS EQUIPMENT, WHEN IT'S NOT BEING USED, IS LOCKED UP AND STORED. SO THEY HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT LOCATIONS HERE IN THIS BUILDING. AND THIS PROJECT WOULD BE TO RELOCATE ALL OF THAT OUT TO WHITESVILLE ROAD. WHEN WE TOOK OVER THE WHITESVILLE ROAD PROPERTY FROM THE SCHOOL SYSTEM 3 OR 4 YEARS AGO, PART OF THE AGREEMENT WAS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WAS ABLE TO STAY IN WHAT WAS THE OLD BAND BUILDING FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL, THAT THEY COULD STAY IN THERE FOR UP TO TEN YEARS UNTIL THEY FOUND AN APPROPRIATE PLACE OUT IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT THEY COULD RELOCATE. WELL, THEY WERE ABLE TO DO THAT THIS FALL WHEN SCHOOL STARTED AND THEN FINISHED DURING THE FALL, MOVING THE REST OF THEIR STUFF OUT OF THAT BUILDING. SO RIGHT AROUND CHRISTMAS TIME, THEY FINISHED GETTING OUT OF THAT EXCEPTIONAL ED BUILDING, WHICH WAS THE OLD BAND BUILDING. AND SO NOW WE HAVE FULL, FULL CONTROL OVER THAT BUILDING. AND AS WE'RE FINISHING UP ALL THE SOCCER FIELDS AND THE PARKING LOTS AND EVERYTHING, IT'S A GOOD TIME TO UTILIZE THAT BUILDING, WHICH IS A REALLY, REALLY GOOD SHAPE. IT'S 80 BY 86,400 SQUARE FOOT. BIG BUILDING IN GOOD CONDITION, GOOD ROOF, GOOD HEATING AND AIR, ALL THE BRAND NEW PARKING LOTS THAT WE HAVE THERE. IT'S FULLY ADA HANDICAPPED COMPLIANT, SO IT'S A REALLY NICE FACILITY TO BE ABLE TO TO MOVE THEM OUT AND HAVE EVERYTHING ALL IN ONE SPOT. IT WOULD ALSO BE UTILIZED, I THINK, FOR EARLY VOTING. WELL, THE FRONT, ONE OF THE ROOMS IN THE FRONT CLASSROOMS, WE WOULD DO EARLY VOTING THERE FOR ELECTION AND THAT WOULD BE SECURED. AND WHERE WE HAVE THAT SECURED DURING THE EARLY VOTING TIMES AND HAVE A SEPARATE LOCK AND THE WE WOULDN'T HAVE ANOTHER ACCESS TO THE KEYS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. SO WE WOULD HAVE THAT SECURED WHEN THE EQUIPMENT'S IN THERE. SO THAT WOULD BE EVERYTHING. AND THEN ALL OF OUR OTHER EQUIPMENT WOULD BE IN THAT ONE LOCATION FOR ALL OF OUR STUFF THERE. AND FREE UP THESE THREE SPACES HERE AT THE GOVERNMENT CENTER. AND I THINK IT WOULD ALSO BE USED AS A PRECINCT AS WELL. YES, WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT. THE BOARD IS LOOKING AT THAT, AND OUR BOARD IS HERE FOR THE FOR THE FIVE MEMBERS ARE HERE. SO WHAT WE'RE PRESENTING THIS MORNING AND THEN HOPEFULLY GET APPROVAL OF TONIGHT WOULD BE TO APPROVE THE BUDGET TO RELOCATE THEM OUT THERE. AND ACTUALLY WHAT JAMES HAS IS A LAYOUT OF THE FACILITY AND HOW IT WOULD BE SLIGHTLY REDESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE TO THE EQUIPMENT AND THE CUSTOMERS AND THE STAFF, ALL ALL IN ONE BUILDING. SO WHAT, JAMES, CAN YOU GO TO THE FRONT, THAT RED WALL RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE THERE, THAT'S A SECURITY WALL FROM BETWEEN THE STAFF AND THE PUBLIC THAT WAY IT'S GOT A GLASS WALL THERE BEHIND THE GLASS WALL AND SECURITY. SO THEY'RE THEY'RE SECURE BEHIND THERE AS WELL. AND THAT'LL BE ACCESS CONTROLLED TO WHERE IF, UNLESS WE LET YOU BACK THERE YOU'RE NOT. GET BACK THERE. SO BOTH DOORS HAVE THE ACCESS CONTROLS THAT THAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO PUT IN PLACE. WE'RE PROPOSING TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO HAVE WHERE THESE CAMERAS ARE ALL THE WAY AROUND, OUTSIDE AND EVERYTHING'S VISIBLE. SO THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE, IF YOU CAN SHOW THAT, JAMES, I THINK IT'S THE NEXT THERE YOU GO RIGHT THERE. THE BUDGET WE WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER WITH ANDY STAFF, LARRY NORMAN IN OUR FACILITIES, VARIOUS SUBCONTRACTORS GETTING BIDS AND QUOTES ON ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED WE NEED IN THIS BUILDING. THIS BUDGET THAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU IS TO DO THE CONSTRUCTION OR RENOVATIONS, AS WELL AS TO MOVE THE EQUIPMENT, GET EVERYTHING SET UP, COMPUTERS, TVS, WI-FI, SECURITY CAMERAS, CHANGE ALL THE LOCKS ON THE BUILDING TO BRAND NEW LOCK SETS, BRAND NEW LOCK OUTS. SO IT'LL BE SECURE AND IT'LL BE ITS OWN KEY SET TO WHERE THE ONLY ONLY ANDY AND HIS STAFF HAVE THE KEYS. SO TO DO ALL THE WORK AND MOVE THE THE DESK, MOVE THE COMPUTERS, MOVE EVERYTHING OUT THERE WHERE HE'S 100% READY TO SET UP THE BUDGET THAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU IS 104,000 AND $500. SHOULD BE RIGHT AROUND $100,000. AND THE THE BOTTOM LINE UP IS YOU CAN SEE I PUT A $5,000 CONTINGENCY JUST IN CASE WE'VE MISSED SOMETHING OR WE RUN INTO SOMETHING. SO WE SHOULD BE RIGHT AROUND 100,000. WE'RE ASKING FOR 104,500 TO TO DO THIS COMPLETE MOVE. AND AS I SAID, IT INCLUDES ALL NEW AND MORE SECURITY CAMERAS, ALL NEW LOCKOUT ACCESS CONTROLS WHERE YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE BADGE TO SWIPE TO GET IN AND OUT. BUILDING THE THE CUSTOMER AREA THAT HE WAS IDENTIFYING ON, THE LAYOUT TO WHERE THE CUSTOMERS CAN COME IN, AND A GLASS WALL TO BUILD ALL THAT OUT. SO WE CAN DO ALL THAT FOR 104,500 AND HAVE ANDY COMPLETELY SET UP, READY TO ROLL THERE. THEY WOULD BE DONE BY MAY. YES. WHAT IS IT? MAY WHAT? MAY 1919. YES WE WILL. WE'LL BE OPERATIONAL BEFORE [00:30:04] THEN BECAUSE WE'LL BASICALLY DO DUAL SPACES. I'LL GO OUT THERE AND WORK REMOTELY TO GET DOWN THERE. WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO BE OUT THERE IN TIME TO DO EARLY VOTING? YES. OKAY. WELL, WE'LL BE TRANSFERRING EARLY VOTING THERE FOR THE MAY ELECTION. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. HOW MANY HOW MANY WEEKS IS EARLY VOTING? THREE WEEKS. OKAY. TWO SATURDAYS. RIGHT. TWO SATURDAYS REQUIRED. THAT'S BOTH. THAT'S BOTH IN THE PRIMARY AND THE GENERAL ELECTION. NOW CHANGE THAT TO EVERY ELECTION AS A MATTER OF SOME MUNICIPAL OR CITY, I MEAN COUNTY COUNTYWIDE OR LOCAL RACE OR WHATEVER IS THREE WEEKS UNLESS IT'S A RUNOFF AND THEN IT'S A AND THEN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IS WHAT THE WHAT THE CODE SAYS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WITH AFTER TESTING ALL THE EQUIPMENT. EVERYTHING. OKAY. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE THE I GUESS THE ADVERTISING REQUIREMENTS. YOU KNOW, IF IF THE BOARD MAKES A DECISION TONIGHT, THEN WHAT REQUIREMENTS ARE ARE SET FORTH? WE HAVE TO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ADVERTISING AND GET ALL THAT DONE AND ALL THE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS AND NOTIFYING THE STATE, CHANGING ALL THE STATE STATE SYSTEM WHERE VOTERS ARE NOTIFIED AND PUBLIC ACCESS. AND THEN I'LL WORK WITH SOCIAL MEDIA TO MAKE SURE THAT PUBLIC THAT PUBLICIZE THAT AS WELL. WE TALKED ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT THIS MORNING, BUT THE SIGNAGE TO DIRECT INDIVIDUALS TO THIS LOCATION, THIRD LINE ITEM FROM THE BOTTOM SIGNAGE WE HAVE MONEY INTO TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE SOME KIND OF SIGNAGE OUT AT THE ROAD, MAIN ROAD, AND THEN ON THE BUILDING, AND THEN AS YOU'RE ENTERING THE FACILITY AS WELL. SO THE MAIN ENTRANCE BE ON FOURTH DRIVE, OKAY. FOR THE OUR STAFF WOULD BE OKAY, BUT YOU'D BE ABLE TO COME OFF OF WHITESVILLE ROAD OR FORT DRIVE BECAUSE ALL, ALL OF IT IS ALL INTERCONNECTED AND HANDICAPPED COMPLIANT CONNECTED TO. BUT BUT WE WOULD WE WOULD GIVE EVERYBODY THE ADDRESS OFF FORT DRIVE FOR OUR ADDRESS, WHICH EARLY VOTING IS GOING TO BE IN THE OLD SECTION. BUT YOU CAN ENTER FROM THE BACK. YOU CAN ENTER EITHER WAY, OKAY. ON THAT FRONT OR BACK. THAT'S WHY IT'S SO VERSATILE. IT'S ACCOMMODATING. AND IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN OVER THERE, WE'VE GOT TONS OF PARKING NOW, WHICH IS REALLY WONDERFUL, WHICH WAS ALWAYS KIND OF IF YOU NEED TO GO LOOK AT IT, WE CAN GO. HAS THE ELECTRICITY BEEN UPGRADED IN THE OLD PART? CUZ I KNOW YOU NEED A LOT OF ELECTRICITY. YES, SIR. OKAY, THAT'S A, THAT'S IN SOME OF THIS PRICING AS WELL. OKAY. RELOCATE SOME ELECTRICAL. ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANDY? I'LL JUST MAKE A COMMENT. I WOULD THINK THAT THIS WOULD BE SO MUCH MORE ACCESSIBLE ON THOSE DAYS THAT WE HAVE HEAVY COURT VOLUME, COURT DAYS DOWN HERE AT THE GOVERNMENT CENTER AND SEE SOMEBODY IN THE BACK RAISED THEIR HANDS TO FROM A SECURITY AND ACCESS POINT. I MEAN, A LOT MORE PARKING, EASIER, EASIER PARKING. AND THE HOLES WON'T BE JAMMED UP QUITE AS MUCH WITH PEOPLE STANDING OUTSIDE. SO I THINK IT YOU HAVE TO TAKE A LITTLE GETTING USED TO, BUT IT WOULD SEEM LIKE IT WOULD BE A VERY GOOD OPTION TO MOVE IT AS FAR AS WE WOULD STILL PUT A SIGN HERE FOR THE NEXT ELECTION, FOR MAY AND NOVEMBER TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW. SO WE WOULD PUT A SIGN OUT HERE ON THE SIDE TO LET THEM KNOW WHERE IT'S AT, JUST IN CASE THEY COME HERE. YOU KNOW, MISTAKENLY DURING EARLY VOTING, WE WOULD PUT THE SIGN HERE FOR BOTH ELECTION NOTIFY VOTERS AS WELL AS PROBABLY LEAVE IT UP FOR TEN YEARS. NO, NO, NO YOU CAN NO, I PROMISE YOU, IT WON'T BE UP PAST THEN. RIGHT OVER THERE. THAT WAS ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS. THAT WAS ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS I HAD GOT FOR A LONG TIME WAS THE DISTANCE FROM PARKING COMING INTO THE BUILDING ALL THE WAY BACK DOWN TO EARTH. EVERY TIME, EVERY ELECTION, WE GET COMPLAINTS. I'VE GOTTA WALK THIS LONG HALL. I'M DISABLED. I CAN'T CAN'T MAKE IT SHORTER. I GOTTA WAIT IN LINE WITH SECURITY. YOU KNOW, WE GET ALL KIND OF COMPLAINTS. YES. THANK YOU. I KNOW YOU SAID YOU HAD ALL THE THE BIDS ALREADY COMPLETED, RIGHT? AS FAR AS. SO EVERYBODY WHO PRETTY MUCH A LITTLE BIT THEY KNOW THE DEADLINE KIND OF WHERE WE ARE. YES. THEY KNOW THE URGENCY OF IT. I ALMOST SAID THAT EARLIER THAT IF IT'S APPROVED TONIGHT, I CALL EVERYBODY FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND THEY KNOW THAT WE'RE IN. EVERYONE SAYS THAT THEY'RE FINE WITH THE TIMELINE. BUT ANDY, YOU'RE GOOD WITH THE SECURITY OUT THERE WITH ALL THE EQUIPMENT. WE'LL HAVE TO. WE'LL HAVE TO ASK FOR SECURITY AND EVERYTHING. AND IF SOMEONE DOESN'T FEEL SAFE, I'LL MAKE THEM. ALL THEY GOTTA DO IS CALL FOR AN ESCORT, AND THEN LAGRANGE OR SHERIFF WILL BE SENDING SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER. AND FOR THE ACTIVITIES WE'VE ALREADY HAD OUT THERE, BASKETBALL AND VARIOUS THINGS, AS WELL AS FINISHING THE SOCCER FIELDS AND SO FORTH. THE WE'VE BEEN ADDING CAMERAS OUT THERE FOR THE LAST MONTH JUST FOR SOCCER AND THE CURRENT ACTIVITIES. SO WE ALREADY NOT INCLUDING THIS WORK, BUT WE'VE ALREADY GOT MANY MORE SECURITY CAMERAS THAN WE DID JUST TWO MONTHS AGO. ALL RIGHT. [00:35:07] ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WE ALL HAVE TO VOTE ON IT. THE ELECTION BOARD, WE WILL. OUR BOARD WILL VOTE ON FRIDAY THE 13TH. OKAY. IF IT'S APPROVED TONIGHT. WELL, THAT'S BECAUSE I'VE GOT TO ADD AND ALL THAT STUFF LEGAL REQUIREMENTS TO MEET. SO WE'LL OUR PLAN IS TO DO IT 13TH IF IT'S VOTED ON TONIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. IF NOT WE HAVE DISCUSSED IN THE PAST RECOGNIZING THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS. AND I KNOW WE PROBABLY GOT A FEW PEOPLE THAT AREN'T HERE TODAY, BUT THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT BOARD TO THE CITIZENS OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE APPRECIATE VERY MUCH WHAT Y'ALL DO. I'M GOING TO ASK Y'ALL TO STAND UP JUST A MOMENT, IF YOU DON'T MIND. SO WE CAN JUST SEE. ON APPROVALS, OKAY. GETTING IT IN THE OFF SEASON. BUT WE APPRECIATE VERY MUCH WHAT Y'ALL DO. MOST PEOPLE THINK ELECTIONS ARE VERY SIMPLE PROCESS AND IT'S NOT. AND AND WE THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR WHAT Y'ALL DO TO PROVIDE FOR GOOD ELECTIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU ALL. RIGHT. NOW THAT NOW FOR THE GRAND FINALE. [5. Discuss FY25 Audit (Sonya Conroy)] YES, SONYA. OKAY. AND, YOU KNOW, GOVERNMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A INDEPENDENT AUDIT OF THEIR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ANNUALLY MOLDED. AND JENKINS FOR FOUR YEARS NOW HAS PROVIDED OUR AUDITS. WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM. THEY'RE BOTH THEY'RE VERY PROFESSIONAL, KNOWLEDGEABLE AND HELPFUL. TODAY, MEREDITH LIPSON, OUR PARTNER, IS HERE TO PRESENT THE FY 25 AUDIT SUMMARY. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. EVERYBODY'S EXCITED AND WAITING FOR THIS ONE. YES. SO AGAIN MY NAME IS MEREDITH LIPSON. I'M A PARTNER WITH MAULDIN AND JENKINS. WE ARE A FIRM THAT DOES A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF GOVERNMENTAL AUDITING ALL ACROSS THE STATE ALL ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST. AND WE FEEL THAT WE'RE REALLY ABLE TO BRING A LOT OF OUR EXPERTISE TO OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT CLIENTS. YOU'VE BEEN PROVIDED TWO DOCUMENTS. THERE'S A THICK DOCUMENT. THAT'S YOUR ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT. THAT'S YOUR YOUR AUDIT, YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THE OTHER DOCUMENT IS A LITTLE SMALLER. IT LOOKS LIKE THIS. THIS IS WHAT WE PUT TOGETHER KIND OF AS OUR PRESENTATION TO YOU ALL, THE SUMMARY OF THE AUDIT PROCESS AND SOME INFORMATION THAT WE AS AUDITORS ARE REQUIRED TO COMMUNICATE TO YOU ALL UNDER THE STANDARDS THAT GUIDE US THAT THICK DOCUMENT. I KNOW YOU ALL JUST RECEIVED IT, THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, SO I'M GLAD TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE ABOUT IT. BUT I KNOW YOU REALLY HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK THROUGH IT. SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS JUST TO KIND OF GO THROUGH THIS SUMMARY THAT WE'VE PROVIDED. AND AGAIN, THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF INFORMATION IN HERE. AND I'M NOT GOING TO GO PAGE BY PAGE. IT'S WAY TOO MUCH. BUT HIT THE HIGHLIGHTS AND JUST TALK ABOUT THE AUDIT THAT SOME OF THE THINGS I THINK ARE MOST IMPORTANT THAT YOU ALL WANT TO HEAR. BUT AGAIN, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO STOP ME AND ASK ANY QUESTIONS. SO IF YOU LOOK ON PAGE TWO AND THREE IN THIS SMALLER DOCUMENT, THE AUDITOR'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, THIS IS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT OUR FIRM TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE DEFINITELY ARE VERY ACTIVE IN THE GOVERNMENTAL AUDITING WORLD, BUT WE ALSO PROVIDE THE TRADITIONAL SERVICES THAT OTHER CPA FIRMS PROVIDE. ON PAGE FOUR, WE TALK ABOUT THE AUDIT REPORT. YOU'LL SEE IN THE BIG THICK DOCUMENT. OUR AUDIT REPORT IS TOWARDS THE FRONT. SO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MANAGEMENT. OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS THE AUDITOR IS TO PROVIDE AN OPINION ON THOSE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS BASED ON OUR AUDIT PROCEDURES. WE DID ISSUE AN UNMODIFIED OPINION. THAT'S A CLEAN OPINION. THE THE ONE YOU WANT TO GET. AGAIN, AS I SAID, MANAGEMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PROVIDE THAT OPINION. WE ALSO INCLUDED IN THAT OPINION, WE DISCUSSED CERTAIN REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION THAT HAS TO BE INCLUDED WITHIN THE FINANCIAL REPORT. WE GIVE AN IN RELATION TO OPINION ON THAT. BUT THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, AGAIN, WE DID ISSUE AN UNMODIFIED CLEAN OPINION. PAGE FIVE. WE TALK ABOUT THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT. AS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT YOU ALL ARE REQUIRED EACH YEAR, AS SONIA MENTIONED, TO PROVIDE AN ANNUAL AUDIT TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF AUDITS. YOU ALL PROVIDE MUCH MORE THAN THAT. YOU ALL KIND OF GO A STEP BEYOND AND AND PREPARE WHAT'S KNOWN AS AN ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT. IT'S THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, ALONG WITH A LOT OF STATISTICAL DATA. IT'S GOT INTRODUCTORY DATA INCLUDED IN THERE ALONG WITH THE MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS. SO YOU ALL REALLY [00:40:06] PROVIDE, WELL, MORE A LOT MORE THAN WHAT THE STATE REQUIRES. AND EACH YEAR YOU ALL SUBMIT YOUR COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION AS PART OF THEIR CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM. AND FOR QUITE A NUMBER OF YEARS, YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AWARDED THAT CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING, AND WE CERTAINLY EXPECT YOU ALL TO RECEIVE IT AGAIN FOR YOUR JUNE 30TH, 2025 AUDIT. SO JUST KNOW YOU ALL YOUR STAFF, GO ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT'S REQUIRED FOR THIS FINANCIAL REPORT. AND PAGE FIVE KIND OF GIVES YOU A LITTLE OUTLINE THERE OF WHAT ALL IS INCLUDED. AS I MENTIONED, YOU'VE GOT THAT. YOU KNOW, THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF COURSE IS THE FINANCIAL SECTION. BUT YOU'VE ALSO GOT INTRODUCTORY INFORMATION AS WELL AS SOME STATISTICAL DATA. AND THEN ON PAGE SIX, AS I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN ABOUT, YOU ALL DO RECEIVE THE GFOA CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING. ON PAGE SEVEN OF THE DOCUMENT, WE ARE PROVIDING KIND OF AN OVERVIEW OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. SO GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL REPORTING IS A DIFFERENT ANIMAL. IT'S NOT JUST ALL ONE COLUMN OF NUMBERS. YOU ALL OPERATE WITHIN WITH FUNDS. BUT THERE IS A SUMMARY I GUESS YOU COULD SAY STATEMENT OF NET POSITION AND STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET POSITION THAT PULLS EVERYTHING TOGETHER. SO AS A WHOLE, THE COUNTY'S STATEMENT OF NET POSITION REPORTED APPROXIMATELY 262.9 MILLION IN ASSETS, APPROXIMATELY 52.9 MILLION IN LIABILITIES, LEAVING APPROXIMATELY 210 MILLION IN NET POSITION, WHICH IS BASICALLY YOUR EQUITY. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR YOUR ASSETS AND YOUR LIABILITIES. THIS INFORMATION IS ON THE BOTTOM OF PAGE SEVEN OF THE THE AUDITOR DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS. OF COURSE, THAT NET POSITION DOESN'T ALWAYS MEAN LIQUID MONEY. READY TO SPEND. A LARGE PART OF THAT IS YOUR INVESTMENT IN CAPITAL ASSETS. YOU ALL HAVE APPROXIMATELY $154 MILLION IN CAPITAL ASSETS. THAT'S YOUR LAND, BUILDINGS, IMPROVEMENTS, ALL THAT, AND THAT IS NET OF ANY DEBT ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. THERE'S ALSO APPROXIMATELY 39.5 MILLION IN NET POSITION THAT IS RESTRICTED FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS. FOR INSTANCE, SPECIAL PURPOSE SALES TAX MONEY THAT'S RESTRICTED FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS. YOU CAN'T USE THAT FOR SALARIES OR ANYTHING ELSE. AND THERE'S A NUMBER OF YOUR OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS THAT HAVE REVENUES THAT ARE RESTRICTED FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES. SO THERE IS RESTRICTED NET POSITION. YOUR UNRESTRICTED NET POSITION IS APPROXIMATELY 16.5 MILLION AT JUNE 30TH, 2025. AND YOU ALL THAT'S A GOOD STRONG NET POSITION. JUNE 30TH, 2025 KIND OF CARRIES YOU OVER INTO THE NEXT YEAR, GIVES YOU ROOM FOR ANY, YOU KNOW, PLANS THAT YOU MAY HAVE, EXPANSION PLANS, YOU KNOW, GROWTH PLANS. SO GOOD SOLID NET POSITION AT JUNE 30TH, 2025. AS I MENTIONED, ALL OF THE GOVERNMENT OPERATES WITH FUNDS AND THE MOST IMPORTANT FUND, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY THE ONE THAT EVERYONE'S ALWAYS MOST INTERESTED IN IS YOUR GENERAL FUND. THAT'S KIND OF THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE COUNTY'S OPERATIONS. IT ACCOUNTS FOR, YOU KNOW, ALL YOUR TAXES AND FINES AND FORFEITURES AND, YOU KNOW, SOME OF YOUR GRANTS AND LICENSES AND SO FORTH. AND THEN, OF COURSE, ALL THE EXPENDITURES ARE YOUR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS. AS YOU CAN SEE ON PAGE EIGHT, THERE'S A WE'VE GOT A PIE CHART THAT KIND OF DEPICTS THE, THE VARIOUS REVENUE SOURCES, AS WITH ALL COUNTY GOVERNMENTS, PROPERTY TAXES OF COURSE, ARE THE LARGEST SOURCE OF YOUR REVENUES. 38.56 MILLION IN REVENUES IN FISCAL YEAR 2025. AND THAT'S FOLLOWED BY YOUR SALES TAXES, SOME OF YOUR OTHER TAXES AND SO FORTH. BUT VERY TYPICAL, VERY TYPICAL, I GUESS, SCENARIO OF OF GOVERNMENTAL REVENUES IS YOU ALL ARE VERY TYPICAL OF MOST COUNTY GOVERNMENTS IN THE SOURCES OF REVENUES THAT YOU RECEIVE. ON PAGE NINE. AGAIN, WE HAVE ANOTHER PIE CHART HERE THAT SHOWS THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES BY FUNCTION. AS WITH ALL OF OUR GOVERNMENTAL CLIENTS, PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE LARGEST OF THE FUNCTIONAL EXPENDITURES, WITH 28.6 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 2025. AND THAT'S FOLLOWED BY YOUR PUBLIC WORKS, GENERAL GOVERNMENT AND JUDICIAL. AGAIN, VERY, VERY TYPICAL LAYOUT AS FAR AS THE TYPES AND AMOUNTS OF OF REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES. ON PAGE TEN, YOU CAN SEE A IT'S A FIVE YEAR HISTORY OF REVENUES COMPARED TO YOUR EXPENDITURES. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, FOR EACH YEAR, YOUR REVENUES HAVE EXCEEDED YOUR [00:45:04] EXPENDITURES IN THE GENERAL FUND. THAT'S ALWAYS A GOOD, GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE. WE DON'T ALWAYS SEE THAT. BUT YOU'VE ALL BEEN FORTUNATE. YOU ALL CERTAINLY WATCHED YOUR BUDGET YOU AMENDED AS NECESSARY. AND THAT SHOWS WHAT THE, YOU KNOW, FIVE YEAR HISTORY OF YOUR REVENUES EXCEEDING YOUR EXPENDITURES. PAGE 11 IS ALSO A FIVE YEAR HISTORY OF YOUR NET CHANGE IN FUND BALANCE. THE UP AND DOWN THERE, YOU KIND OF LOOK AT IT AND YOU WONDER, OH MY GOSH, WHAT'S HAPPENED? THIS IS ALL POSITIVE. THESE ARE ALL POSITIVE. ALL INCREASES IN YOUR FUND BALANCE. IT'S JUST A VARIANCE IN HOW MUCH IT INCREASED EACH YEAR. FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025, YOUR GENERAL FUND FUND BALANCE INCREASED JUST UNDER $6 MILLION. SO AGAIN GOOD STRONG YOU KNOW PROVIDES FOR A GOOD STRONG FUND BALANCE. AND THAT'S BASICALLY DUE TO YOU ALL REALLY WATCHING YOUR EXPENDITURES AND MONITORING THEM. YOU KNOW, AS AS THEY COME UP. ON PAGE 12 IS A HISTORICAL TABLE, FIVE YEAR TABLE OF FUND BALANCE COMPARED TO YOUR EXPENDITURES. THE WIDER THE GAP BETWEEN THE EXPENDITURES AND YOUR FUND BALANCE, THE LESS LEVERAGE THAT THE COUNTY HAS GOING INTO EACH NEW FISCAL YEAR. AGAIN, AS I'VE MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES ALREADY, YOU ALL HAVE A GOOD STRONG FUND BALANCE AT JUNE 30TH, 2025, YOUR FUND BALANCE WAS AVAILABLE TO COVER APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MONTHS WORTH OF EXPENDITURES. YOU KNOW, YOU ALL COLLECT THE MAJORITY OF YOUR REVENUES, THE TAXES IN THE FALL. SO IT'S YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU AT LEAST HAVE 3 OR 4 MONTHS OF EXPENDITURES IN YOUR FUND BALANCE AT ANY JUNE 30TH YEAR END. YOU ALL ACTUALLY HAVE EIGHT MONTHS. SO AS YOU ALL, YOU KNOW, HAVE I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE PLANS, GROWTH PLANS, THINGS GOING ON, YOU KNOW, PROJECTS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN. SO IT'S GOOD THAT YOU ALL HAVE THAT STRONG FUND BALANCE GOING IN TO FISCAL YEAR 26. THE NEXT FEW PAGES AND TALK ABOUT THE THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, THE FACT THAT YOU ALL HAVE ALL THESE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FUNDS, YOU HAVE GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS, YOU HAVE BUSINESS TYPE FUNDS THAT OPERATE MORE LIKE A BUSINESS. THOSE ARE THE THE AIRPORT, THE CONVENTION CENTER AND YOUR WASTE MANAGEMENT FUND. AND OF COURSE, YOU ALSO HAVE YOUR FIDUCIARY FUNDS OR YOUR CUSTODIAL FUNDS. THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE MAINTAINED BY YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, THE COURTS, THE SHERIFF, THE TAX COMMISSIONER. THEN ALSO INCLUDED WITHIN THAT THICK FINANCIAL REPORT ARE FOOTNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. AND WE GIVE JUST AN OUTLINE HERE ON PAGES 13. THROUGH 15 OF THE VARIOUS FOOTNOTES THAT ARE INCLUDED. JUST A REAL ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY OF WHAT'S WHAT THAT FOOTNOTE IS ALL ABOUT. BUT THEY'RE REALLY AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE FINANCIAL REPORT, BECAUSE THEY KIND OF EXPLAIN ALL OF THE BALANCES THAT YOU SEE IN YOUR ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND YOUR NET POSITION FUND BALANCE CATEGORIES. SO THE NOTES ARE A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. ALSO INCLUDED, AS WE MENTIONED ON PAGE 16, THERE'S TWO OTHER REPORTS THAT ARE IN THE THE COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT. THERE'S WHAT WE REFER TO AS A YELLOW BOOK REPORT. IT'S A REPORT IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS. IT'S A REPORT ON OUR TESTS OF INTERNAL CONTROLS AND COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS. AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A SINGLE AUDIT REPORT. THE COUNTY, LIKE A LOT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, SPENDS AN EXCESS OF $750,000 EACH YEAR IN FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING. YOU ALL DO RECEIVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT GRANT FUNDING WHEN YOU RECEIVE AN EXCESS OF THAT $750,000 AMOUNT, YOU'RE REQUIRED TO UNDERGO WHAT'S KNOWN AS A SINGLE AUDIT. THE PROGRAMS THE FEDERAL PROGRAMS TESTED ARE BASED ON RISK ASSESSMENT. IT'S USUALLY THE LARGER PROGRAMS THAT GET TESTED EACH YEAR. FOR FISCAL YEAR 25, WE AGAIN TESTED THE FUNDING RECEIVED THROUGH THE THE ARPA FUNDING, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDING. THIS SHOULD BE THE LAST YEAR, I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL BE TESTING THAT ONE, BECAUSE THOSE FUNDS ARE FINALLY, SEEMS LIKE MOST GOVERNMENTS ARE FINALLY GETTING ALL THOSE DEPLETED. BUT AGAIN, THE THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE TESTED VARY AGAIN ON RISK BASED ASSESSMENT. BUT WE DID TEST THAT PROGRAM, DID A LOT OF COMPLIANCE TESTING. NO ISSUES NOTED IN THAT. BUT JUST SO YOU KNOW, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS YOU'RE REQUIRED TO TO HAVE AS A SINGLE AUDIT. AND THAT THRESHOLD OF $750,000 IS GOING TO INCREASE IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE TO 1 MILLION. YOU ALL STILL ARE GOING TO END UP UNDERGOING A SINGLE AUDIT, BUT THERE ARE SOME LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT WILL NO LONGER BE REQUIRED BECAUSE THEY DON'T RECEIVE AS MUCH FUNDING, BUT SHOULDN'T AFFECT YOU ALL THE [00:50:07] NEXT FEW PAGES. AND AGAIN, I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THESE WORD FOR WORD, BUT THESE ARE ITEMS THAT WE, AS AUDITORS ARE REQUIRED TO COMMUNICATE TO YOU ALL UNDER THE STANDARDS THAT GUIDE US. AND SO RATHER THAN ME STANDING UP HERE AND, YOU KNOW, READING THEM, WE'VE JUST DECIDED TO INCLUDE THEM IN THE IN THIS DOCUMENT. BUT THERE'S JUST CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE, LIKE I SAID, ARE REQUIRED TO COMMUNICATE TO YOU RELATED TO ACCOUNTING POLICIES THAT YOU ALL USE. THE FACT THAT THEY'RE ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND MANAGEMENT JUDGMENTS THAT ARE INHERENT IN ANY AUDIT. WE DO LOOK AT THOSE ESTIMATES AND JUDGMENTS. WE DO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE IN LINE, THAT THEY'RE IN ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S. THERE ARE CERTAIN DISCLOSURES THAT ARE REQUIRED TO BE INCLUDED IN YOUR REPORT, AND THOSE HAVE BEEN INCLUDED. WE'RE ACTUALLY REQUIRED TO COMMUNICATE TO YOU ALL THAT. WE HAD NO DISAGREEMENTS WITH MANAGEMENT, NO DIFFICULTIES, YOU KNOW, AS PART OF OUR AUDIT PROCESS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, YOUR YOUR FINANCE TEAM MANAGEMENT, ALL OF YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS ARE SO HELPFUL. IT'S THAT'S AND I CAN'T ALWAYS SAY THAT WHEN I GO TO CLIENTS, SOMETIMES WE'RE LOOKED AT AS THE ENEMY FOR SOME REASON. BUT BUT YOUR FINANCE TEAM SONIA AND HER HER GROUP, I MEAN THEY ARE PHENOMENAL. YOU ARE VERY FORTUNATE. THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE ASK FOR THAT WE DON'T GET, LIKE, RIGHT AWAY. SO YOU SHOULD BE VERY, YOU KNOW, KNOW YOU'RE VERY FORTUNATE FOR THAT. ON PAGE 19 WE DO TALK ABOUT WE DID HAVE SOME AUDIT ADJUSTMENTS. THOSE HAVE ALL BEEN PROVIDED TO TO THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. AND IF YOU WANT A COPY OF THOSE I CAN CERTAINLY GET THAT FOR YOU. I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT A COPY TODAY, BUT I DID NOT. BUT THERE JUST WERE TYPICAL AUDIT ADJUSTMENTS. SOME THINGS THAT COME IN AFTER THE END OF THE YEAR AND CLOSE OUT PROCESS, WE HAD NO MISSTATEMENTS, NO ERRORS THAT WE NOTED THAT DUE TO MATERIALITY, WE DID NOT DID NOT PROPOSE. INCORRECT. AND THEN ALSO WE ARE WE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE MAINTAIN OUR INDEPENDENCE RELATIVE TO THE COUNTY. AND WE ARE INDEPENDENT WITH THE COUNTY AND ANY OF THE RELATED ORGANIZATIONS AND COMPONENTS. THE REST OF THE DOCUMENT REALLY, WE'VE GOT SOME WE'VE GOT SOME FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAME OUT OF THE AUDIT. THERE'S A GOOD BIT OF INFORMATION ON THE THE NEW GASBY PRONOUNCEMENTS THAT ARE OUT THERE. GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD IS CONSTANTLY WANTING TO, YOU KNOW, RELOOK AT SOME OF THEIR STANDARDS AND ADD NEW STANDARDS AND ADD NEW DISCLOSURES. AND SO WE DO LIKE TO KEEP YOU ALL ABREAST OF OF THAT. THERE'S NOTHING REALLY COMING OUT IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS THAT IT'S GOING TO BE MINE WITH MONUMENTAL CHANGES. BUT WE DID WANT TO INCLUDE THOSE JUST SO THAT YOU'RE AWARE. AND WE WE CERTAINLY ALWAYS WORK WITH WITH SONIA AND HER GROUP ON MAKING SURE THOSE ARE IMPLEMENTED APPROPRIATELY. AND TOWARDS THE END OF THE DOCUMENT, WE DO PROVIDE YOU ALL SOME INFORMATION ABOUT SOME OF OUR SPECIALIZED PRACTICES WITHIN OUR FIRM. IF EVER YOU NEED ANY KIND OF ASSISTANCE WITH ANY IT TYPE TECHNOLOGY. WE DO A LOT OF WORK IN OUR GOVERNMENT ADVISORY GROUP, DOES A LOT OF WORK, DIFFERENT SPECIAL PROJECTS FOR GOVERNMENT. SO IF THERE'S EVER ANYTHING THAT COMES UP, JUST KNOW WE'VE GOT A TEAM. I'M NOT INVOLVED IN THOSE. CERTAINLY NOT IT. BUT YOU KNOW, WE'VE WE'VE GOT A TEAM THAT MOST PROBABLY HELP YOU ALL. BUT AGAIN I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME AND MEET AND SPEAK WITH YOU ALL, AND I'LL BE GLAD TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. OR, YOU KNOW, IF YOU THINK OF SOMETHING AFTER THE MEETING, JUST, YOU KNOW, SONIA KNOWS HOW TO REACH ME. I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO TALK WITH YOU, BUT JUST THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY. AND. GOT ANY QUESTIONS? I'LL BE GLAD TO ADDRESS THEM ON PAGE TEN. IS THAT THE BEST GRAPH AS FAR AS LOOKING, I GUESS REVENUE TO EXPENDITURE FOR GENERAL FUNDS IS THAT IS THAT GRAPH INDICATE THE DIFFERENCE OF KIND OF THE REVENUE THAT WAS LEFT OR NOT SPENT IN 25? IS THAT THE WAY TO LOOK AT THAT? YES. SO THE THAT GRAPH SHOWS ABOUT, I GUESS, WHAT 60 MILLION IN EXPENDITURES, 65 MILLION IN REVENUES. AND ON PAGE 11 YOU CAN SEE THE THE INCREASE IN YOUR FUND BALANCE. THAT CHART ON PAGE 11 WAS JUST AT $6 MILLION. YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE? ANY QUESTIONS. TAKES A LITTLE WHILE TO PROCESS ALL OF THIS. WELL AND YEAH WE YOU KNOW I DO. AND PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO REACH OUT IF YOU'VE GOT ADDITIONAL [00:55:03] QUESTIONS OR WANT TO DISCUSS SOMETHING. I MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE. I NOTICE THAT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU COMMENTED PARTICULARLY HAD TO DO WITH RECONCILIATION OF BANK ACCOUNTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, AND, AND I KNOW IN TODAY'S WORLD, A LOT OF THE SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS ARE PERPETRATED WHEN WE DON'T RECONCILE BANK ACCOUNTS QUICKLY IN THIS ELECTRONIC WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE RIGHT NOW. I ASSUME THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE AS A COUNTY, NEED TO LOOK AT OUR PROCESSES AND COME UP WITH DIFFERENT POLICIES OR PROCEDURES OF HOW TO HANDLE THOSE. SO THAT'S NOT YOUR JOB TO RECOMMEND THOSE TO US. WELL, NO, I MEAN, AS FAR AS LIKE, YOU KNOW, RECONCILIATION OF BANK ACCOUNTS, FOR THE MOST PART, THE COUNTY OVERALL DOES A VERY GOOD JOB. THERE'S, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE THERE'S A FEW PLACES THAT CONTROLS CAN BE STRENGTHENED, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHOEVER'S PREPARING THE BANK RECONCILIATION, THAT THERE'S SOMEBODY ELSE THAT'S REVIEWING IT, YOU KNOW, JUST LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT. AND WE CERTAINLY CAN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS, THEY COME OUT BECAUSE OF THE SMALL NUMBER THAT YOU OF INDIVIDUALS THAT YOU HAVE IN, IN FINANCE. I MEAN, IT'S JUST TYPICAL ACROSS GOVERNMENT IN ORDER TO ADEQUATELY SEGREGATE DUTIES, LIKE IN A PERFECT WORLD, YOU WOULD YOU'D HAVE TO HIRE, YOU KNOW, 3 OR 4 MORE STAFF. WELL, THE COST BENEFIT IS JUST NOT THERE. AND SO WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE STILL HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THERE COULD BE SOME SEGREGATION OF DUTIES ISSUES, BUT THERE ARE COMPENSATING CONTROLS. I KNOW SONIA DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB OF TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE SEPARATED AS BEST THEY CAN BE. SO I IT'S NOT A IT'S THERE'S CERTAINLY NOT AN OVERALL ISSUE WITH THAT. IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, JUST BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A PERFECT WORLD. SO, YOU KNOW, AND BUT YOU ALL ARE NOT GOING TO HIRE 3 OR 4 MORE INDIVIDUALS JUST TO SEGREGATE DUTIES. SO. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. SO. ALL RIGHT. IF NOT, WE WILL APPROVE THE AUDIT TONIGHT. OR DO WE HAVE TO DO IT. WE DON'T REALLY HAVE TO APPROVE. WE JUST ACKNOWLEDGE OKAY. IT WAS FILED WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF AUDITS BY THEIR DECEMBER 31ST DEADLINE AND WITH GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION. SO IS WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU AGAIN. I GUESS I'LL SEE YOU IN ABOUT 12 MONTHS THEN. RIGHT. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. IF WE CAN [6. Consideration of February 3, 2026 5:00 p.m. Board Meeting] QUICKLY GO OVER THIS AFTERNOON'S AGENDA AT 5:00, WE'VE GOT INVOCATION FROM REVEREND ANDREW GORDON FROM SAINT MARK'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. UNDER SPECIAL BUSINESS, WE HAVE TWO ITEMS. ONE IS THE CONSIDERATION OF THE FY 26 VOCA ALLOCATION THAT MISS TAYLOR BROUGHT THIS MORNING. AND THEN THE OTHER ITEM IS THE ELECTIONS OFFICE RELOCATION PROJECT UNDER PUBLIC HEARING. WE HAVE ONE ITEM FOR BARTLEY EXXON LLC. IT'S A BEER AND WINE APPLICATION. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THIS CONCLUDES OUR MEETING. I APPRECIATE VERY MUCH ALL OF YOU BEING HERE TODAY. OUR GUESTS FROM THE COLLEGE, JEFF'S CLASS FROM THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS. WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. AND I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. WE ADJOURN. Y'ALL BEEN DOING IT. SO ANYBODY WANT TO MAKE ONE? DO I HAVE A MOTION? WE ADJOURN. ALL RIGHT. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAV * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.