[CALL TO ORDER]
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ME WELCOME EVERYONE TO OUR. TUESDAY, JULY THE 21ST, 2026 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING. AND AS ALWAYS, WE USUALLY OPEN IN A WORD OF PRAYER. SO IF Y'ALL WOULD BOW WITH ME NOW, MY GRACIOUS HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS NEW DAY THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US. LORD, WE WANT TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED ALL THE RAINS THAT YOU'VE SEEN AND REPLENISH THE EARTH. AND WE WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. WE LIFT UP OUR COUNTRY, OUR SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN, AS WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE CONFLICTS IN OTHER PARTS OF THIS WORLD. AND LORD, WE JUST WANT TO ASK YOUR BLESSINGS TO BE UPON THEM AND TO WATCH OVER THEM AND PROTECT THEM. AND LORD, WE JUST WELL REMEMBER THEIR FAMILIES TOO, AS THEY KNOW THEY GO THROUGH THE STRESSES OF OF THEIR LOVED ONES BEING OVERSEAS AND FIGHTING FOR OUR FREEDOMS. I ASK YOU TO BE WITH US DURING THIS TIME TODAY AS WE DELIBERATE BUSINESS THAT AFFECTS THE COUNTY AND OUR CITIZENS AND OUR EMPLOYEES, AND WE JUST GIVE US THE WISDOM TO MAKE THOSE RIGHT DECISIONS. AND THEN I ASK YOU TO BE WITH EACH OF US THROUGH THE REST OF THIS DAY, TO WATCH OVER AND GUIDE OUR STEPS AND OUR NAME. WE DO PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. ALRIGHT, SO AT THIS TIME, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE COUNTY MANAGER. CHAIRMAN,
[1. Discuss Superior Court Request for New Position (Emory Palmer)]
COMMISSIONERS. FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS DISCUSSED. THE SUPERIOR COURTS REQUEST FOR A NEW POSITION. I'LL INVITE JUDGE EMMA PALMER TO THE PODIUM. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE. AND LET ME FIRST JUST COMMENT A LITTLE BIT ON THE THE WORKING GROUP THAT CHAIRMAN CRUZ ASKED ME TO SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, THAT ERIC MOSLEY AND ACTUALLY DOCTOR MCCAIN HAS ALSO BEEN, YOU KNOW, EXERCISED SOME LEADERSHIP IN BRINGING TOGETHER EVERYONE THAT IS INVOLVED IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE CLERK, THE JUDGES, THE PROSECUTORS, THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE. AND WE'VE BEEN HAVING THESE MEETINGS MONTHLY. AND IT'S BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE, I THINK, TO HEAR FROM EVERYBODY, GET SOME IDEAS FROM DIFFERENT PEOPLE. WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON REDUCING THE JAIL POPULATION. BUT I THINK THE THE PURPOSE OF THE GROUP IS BROADER THAN THAT, TO JUST GENERALLY MAKE THE JUSTICE SYSTEM A LITTLE MORE EFFICIENT, GET PEOPLE THROUGH THE SYSTEM FASTER, SAVE A LITTLE MONEY FOR THE TAXPAYERS, AND IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY FOR FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY AS WELL. BUT SINCE WE'VE STARTED THAT AND SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, I THINK WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE OVER 100 PEOPLE OUT OF THE JAIL INTO THE STATE PRISON SYSTEM JUST BY FOCUSING ON SOME DIFFERENT THINGS, AND WE WANT TO KEEP MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION. AND THAT LEADS ME TO THE REASON I'M HERE, WHICH IS A REQUEST WE'RE REQUESTING THAT THE COUNTY FUND A PERSON TO WORK FOR THE JUDGES IN TROUP COUNTY, THEY WON'T BE WORKING IN ANY OF THE OTHER COUNTIES IN THE CIRCUIT TO ACT AS OUR CALENDAR CLERK. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE SUPERIOR COURT RULES AND THE LAW CONTEMPLATES IN THAT IT PUTS THE JUDGES IN CHARGE OF CREATING THE TRIAL CALENDAR FOR FELONY CASES, AND CONTEMPLATES A CALENDAR CLERK THAT'S BEEN IN THE LAW FOR A LONG TIME. OF COURSE, THE STATE HAS NEVER FUNDED THAT. AND THEY ALSO PUT IN THE LAW AND IN THE RULES THAT THE COURT CAN DELEGATE THAT JOB TO THE CLERK OF COURT. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE TRADITIONALLY DONE. AND IN THE OLD DAYS, IT WAS NO PROBLEM. YOU JUST WENT THROUGH THE CALENDAR IN COURT. IF LAWYERS IN A CERTAIN CASE SAID, WE CAN BE READY FOR TRIAL IN SEPTEMBER, JUDGE LOOKS AT THE CLERK AND SAYS, ALL RIGHT, PUT IT DOWN FOR SEPTEMBER. YOU SHOW UP IN SEPTEMBER AND TRY THE CASE.BECAUSE OF A LOT OF FACTORS THAT I'VE DISCUSSED WITH YOU IN OTHER WORK SESSIONS, THE DIFFICULTY, THE, THE, THE EMPLOYMENT ENVIRONMENT WITH LAWYERS, THE CASE LOADS THAT WE HAVE NOW THAT ARE MUCH GREATER THAN WHAT WE HAVE, THE WAY THAT CASES ARE PROSECUTED HAS CHANGED A LOT WITH THE ADVENT OF THE GANG ACT, THE RICO ACT, BRINGING CHARGES FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE PARTIES TO CRIMES. WE HAVE A LOT MORE MULTI DEFENDANT CASES, AND IN THOSE SITUATIONS, THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE CAN'T REPRESENT ALL THE PEOPLE. AND THE PUBLIC DEFENDER AUTHORITY IN ATLANTA HAS TO ASSIGN CONTRACT LAWYERS. AND THOSE LAWYERS ARE TYPICALLY NOT LOCAL LAWYERS. THEY'RE GOING TO BE LAWYERS FROM METRO ATLANTA, FROM MACON, FROM COLUMBUS, FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE. THEY HAVE CASES ALL OVER THE STATE. AND AND ONE OF THE BIG PROBLEMS WE HAVE IN MOVING SOME OF THESE BIG CASES IS COORDINATING WITH THE LAWYERS. AND THAT'S THE
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CLERKS CAN'T DO THAT. THERE'S JUST NO WAY THEY CAN DO IT AND DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO. THE METRO COUNTIES FOR YEARS FULTON, DEKALB, GWINNETT, COBB HAVE FUNDED A CALENDAR CLERK FOR EACH JUDGE. I. I'M NOT ASKING THAT. I THINK THAT'S UNREALISTIC AND UNNECESSARY FOR US. BUT IF WE CAN HAVE ONE PERSON WHO REPORTS TO US AND THEIR ONLY JOB IS TO COORDINATE WITH US AND THE LAWYERS AND THE DA'S OFFICE AND THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE. AND WHEN WE SAY WE'RE GOING TO TRY THE CASE ON A CERTAIN DAY, AND THEN WE GO WORRY ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE, THAT PERSON HAS NO OTHER JOB, BUT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S READY TO GET THAT CASE TRIED.WHEN WE SHOW UP IN LAGRANGE TO TRY A CASE, I THINK THAT POSITION WOULD PAY FOR ITSELF.
ALRIGHT. IN MOVING PEOPLE THROUGH THE SYSTEM FASTER, Y'ALL ARE PAYING. I MEAN, IN COWETA, I THINK IT'S $75 A DAY PER INMATE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I LOOKED ACTUALLY LAST WEEK, TALKED TO JEFF DURAN ABOUT $47 A DAY, ACTUALLY BETTER THAN COWETA, BUT IT'S STILL A LOT OF MONEY. JUST BASED ON THIS MONTH, THE FACT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO, TO RELEASE 100 INMATES TO TO GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, WE SAVED $141,000 SO THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN DO IF WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT NOW, AS I'VE TOLD ERIC, I'VE TOLD THE WORKING GROUP, AND I'LL TELL Y'ALL, THERE'S NO MAGIC BULLET FOR THIS, ALRIGHT? EVERY DAY PEOPLE ARE COMMITTING CRIMES AND THEY DON'T ASK OUR PERMISSION TO DO THAT. YOU KNOW, THEY JUST DO IT. AND SO THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S GOING TO BE PRESSURE ON THAT SIDE OF PEOPLE COMING INTO THE SYSTEM. AND WE'VE GOT TO KEEP CONSISTENT, DISCIPLINED PRESSURE ON THE OTHER SIDE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MOVING PEOPLE THROUGH THE SYSTEM. WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT THE LAST THIS YEAR, CERTAINLY, AND WE GOTTA KEEP THAT UP AND THIS WILL HELP US DO THAT, I THINK. SO IF ANY, ANY Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT ALL. I'D BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS THEM. JUDGE, WHAT IS THE JOB DESCRIPTION? I PROVIDED THAT TO ERIC. IT'S IT IS THAT THEY REPORT TO THE CHIEF JUDGE TO ME, AND THEIR JOB IS TO MANAGE THE CALENDAR, PUT THE CALENDAR TOGETHER WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE JUDGE, COORDINATE WITH THE ATTORNEYS, COORDINATE WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ABOUT GETTING INMATES TO THE COURTHOUSE, THE RIGHT INMATES TO THE COURTHOUSE ON TIME, COORDINATING WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE GET MOVED INTO THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS ONCE THEY'VE BEEN SENTENCED, AND ALSO, I DON'T WANT TO I MEAN, I COULD TALK ALL DAY ABOUT IT, BUT ONE RABBIT HOLE I'LL GO DOWN IS THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. ANOTHER THING THEY'LL BE ABLE TO DO IS COORDINATE THE THE DEFENDANTS AND SUPERIOR COURT THAT HAVE THAT ARE WAITING TO BE EVALUATED BY THE STATE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM. THAT'S ANOTHER BIG ISSUE THAT DELAYS A LOT OF THINGS, BECAUSE IF SOMEONE IS CHARGED WITH A CRIME, THEY'RE INDICTED AND THE COURT BELIEVES OR THE LAWYERS BELIEVE THAT THAT PERSON IS INCOMPETENT. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE THAT MIGHT MAKE THEM INCOMPETENT. THEY GO INTO THE STATE SYSTEM TO BE EVALUATED, AND THAT SYSTEM IS VERY UNDERSTAFFED AND BACKED UP. AND IF YOU DON'T STAY ON TOP OF THOSE, IT CAN DELAY A CASE FOR YEARS. THAT'S ANOTHER THING THEY'RE GOING TO DO. AND THEN ALSO THE POST-TRIAL, THE MOTIONS FOR NEW TRIAL, THEY'RE THEY'RE GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING THOSE ON TRACK TO MAKE SURE THOSE KEEP TO. SO THAT'S THE THAT'S THE JOB. AND THAT PERSON WILL BE HERE IN THE COURTHOUSE IN LAGRANGE. THEY'RE NOT. I'VE MADE IT CLEAR TO ERIC, WE'RE NOT GOING TO ASK THAT PERSON TO DO ANYTHING IN ANY OF THE OTHER COUNTIES. COWETA COUNTY HAS ALSO AGREED TO FUND A POSITION VERY MUCH LIKE THIS, AND WE DON'T NEED IT IN MERIWETHER COUNTY. WE DON'T WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH. THERE'S SO MANY FEWER CASES THERE. THE CLERK CAN HANDLE IT THERE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THIS THIS WOULD BE A PROCESS OF MOVING THINGS FORWARD AND MOVING, GETTING THE DIRECTION TO PUT EITHER MOVE THEM OUT OF THE JAIL AND MOVE THEM TO ANOTHER JAIL, WHATEVER. THAT'S THAT. I THINK ABOUT IT EVERY DAY, ALL DAY, BELIEVE ME. AND THIS WILL HELP US DO THAT. AND, AND THE OTHER THING IS WE HAVE DIFFERENT JUDGES HANDLING THE CASES IN TROUP COUNTY AT DIFFERENT TIMES. I MEAN, WE ALL EVERY YEAR WE SIT DOWN AND AGREE. JUDGE SACKERSON AND I ARE DOING THE CRIMINAL. AND THIS YEAR WE LIVE IN NEWNAN AND WE'RE IN NEWNAN MOST OF THE TIME WHEN WE'RE NOT HERE. AND SO HAVING SOMEBODY HERE IN THE BUILDING EVERY DAY WHEN WE
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CAN'T BE HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY, IT BE A BIG HELP TO JUST THE PHYSICAL PRESENCE OF SOMEBODY THAT WE CAN PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL AND SAY, GO DOWN THE HALL AND DO THIS. IT WOULD WOULD BE A BIG HELP. SO WE NEVER HAD THAT POSITION BEFORE. WE HAVE NEVER HAD THAT BEFORE.AND I AND COWETA HASN'T EITHER. THIS IS A I, LIKE I SAID, IT'S A ROUTINE THING IN THE BIG COUNTIES. YOU KNOW, THE COUNTIES THAT DO HAVE IT, AS. DOES THE SYSTEM WORK THERE? OH, YEAH. I MEAN, IT WORKED IN ATLANTA, EVEN THOUGH THEY. WELL, THEY ALSO HAVE 20 SOMETHING JUDGES THERE, BUT WE HAVE FOUR FOR THREE COUNTIES. BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY THEY DON'T. THEIR TRIAL CALENDARS ARE A FRACTION OF THE SIZE OF OURS BECAUSE EACH JUDGE IS ABLE TO MANAGE IT A LOT MORE EFFICIENTLY, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, PER JUDGE, JUST AS MANY OR MORE CASES THAN WE DOES INDIVIDUAL HAVE TO KNOW HOW THE COURT SYSTEM OPERATES AND WHERE THEY WILL. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE THAT HAS A BACKGROUND. I'VE GOT A FEW PEOPLE IN MIND, BUT I, I WOULD LIKE AND ERIC AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY. WE DO WANT TO ADVERTISE THE POSITION BECAUSE I'VE LEARNED OVER THE YEARS, IF YOU DO THAT, SOMETIMES YOU GET SOMEBODY THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THAT'S HIGHLY QUALIFIED. SO. ANY ANY OTHER QUESTIONS AT ALL? ALRIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GENTLEMEN. ERIC, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? YEAH. I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THE FUNDING FOR THIS, IF YOU REMEMBER FROM THE FY 27 BUDGET THAT WAS APPROVED, WE HAD $350,000 IN CONTINGENCY SO THAT MONEY WOULD BE APPROPRIATED TO THE SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES. AND SO THAT'S WHERE THE FUNDING WOULD COME FROM. AND AGAIN, THIS WOULD BE A COUNTY FUNDED POSITION MANAGED BY THE SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES. WHAT WOULD WHAT WOULD IT BE? WHAT WOULD THE TITLE BE? WELL, SO FOR THE ACTUAL SALARIES, ABOUT 42,000, BUT WITH BENEFITS, IT'S ACTUALLY ABOUT 71 TO. YEAH. SO. AND SO AGAIN, WE, WE CERTAINLY HAVE THOSE FUNDS AVAILABLE IN THE CONTINGENCY FUND FOR THINGS LIKE THIS WHEN THEY COME UP. SO NO. GENTLEMEN, I APPRECIATE YOU CONSIDER IT. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE. AND Y'ALL PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL ME ANYTIME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU.
[2. Discuss Juvenile Court Request to Accept Grant Award (Nicole Kostial) ]
APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP, WE'LL INVITE NICOLE CASTILLO TO DISCUSS THE JUVENILES COURT'S REQUEST TO ACCEPT A GRANT. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL HAS AWARDED TROUP COUNTY A TOTAL OF $422,662 AS PART OF THE FY 27 JUVENILE JUSTICE INCENTIVE GRANT. STEWART COUNTY JUVENILE COURT WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS TO ACCEPT THIS GRANT AWARD AND ALLOW JUVENILE COURT TO PROVIDE THE MULTISYSTEMIC THERAPY AND ALSO A SUMMER MENTORING PRO-SOCIAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM TO ADJUDICATED DELINQUENT YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES. AND THIS GRANT DOES NOT HAVE A MATCH. IS THIS A YEARLY GRANT? EVERY YEAR IT IS. WE. I'VE HAD IT FOR 12 YEARS. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. IF NOT, WE'LL TAKE THIS UP TONIGHT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NEXT,[3. Discuss Capital Improvement Expenditure (CIE) Annual Update 2026 (Austin Burgess)]
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO AUSTIN BURGESS TO DISCUSS THE ANNUAL UPDATE. GOOD MORNING. THIS EVENING, BE ASKING PERMISSION TO TRANSMIT THE RESOLUTION DRAFT FOR THE C TO THREE RIVERS COMMISSION AND DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. IF YOU REMEMBER, FROM LAST MEETING ON JULY 7TH, STARTED THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. AND TODAY IT ENDS. WE HAVE RECEIVED NO PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT IT. SO TODAY, TONIGHT, WE'RE JUST GOING TO ASK FOR PERMISSION TO TRANSMIT THE RESOLUTION TO GET IT APPROVED. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. IF NOT, WE'LL TAKE THIS[4. Discuss Request for Adoption of Troup County Disaster Recovery and Redevelopment Plan (Liz Brock)]
UP TONIGHT. THANK YOU. I'LL INVITE LIZ BROCK FROM EMA TO COME UP AND DISCUSS THE ADOPTION OF THE TROUP COUNTY DISASTER RECOVERY AND REDEVELOPMENT PLAN. GOOD MORNING GUYS. GOOD MORNING. TODAY I'M REQUESTING THE ADOPTION OF THE TROUP COUNTY DISASTER RECOVERY AND REDEVELOPMENT PLAN. THIS PLAN PROVIDES THE COUNTY WITH A COMPREHENSIVE FRAMEWORK FOR COORDINATING RECOVERY EFFORTS FOLLOWING A MAJOR DISASTER, WHETHER CAUSED BY SEVERE WEATHER, TORNADOES, FLOODING, OR OTHER EMERGENCIES, IT ESTABLISHES CLEAR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, IDENTIFIES RECOVERY PRIORITIES, OUTLINES AVAILABLE FUNDING RESOURCES, AND PROVIDES A COORDINATED APPROACH FOR WORKING WITH OUR MUNICIPALITIES, STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS, AND PRIVATE INDUSTRY AND VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS. THIS IS NOT A RESPONSE PLAN. IT IS A RECOVERY PLAN. WHILE OUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN GUIDES US THROUGH THE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO AN INCIDENT, THIS PLAN[00:15:03]
PREPARES US FOR THE WEEKS, MONTHS AND YEARS THAT FOLLOW BY ADDRESSING IT THROUGH HOUSING, INFRASTRUCTURE, ECONOMIC RECOVERY, DEBRIS MANAGEMENT, PUBLIC INFORMATION, AND LONG TERM REDEVELOPMENT. IT ALSO EMPHASIZES BUILDING BACK STRONGER AND MORE RESILIENT TO REDUCE THE IMPACTS OF FUTURE DISASTERS. THE PLAN WAS DEVELOPED THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS INVOLVING LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS AND ALIGNS WITH FEMA'S NATIONAL DISASTER RECOVERY FRAMEWORK AND GUIDANCE FROM THE GEORGIA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND HOMELAND SECURITY AGENCY. THIS WAS PART OF THE ASSISTANCE FROM FEMA FOR THE FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTER IN 2023. WITH THE TORNADOES. ADOPTION OF THIS PLAN DEMONSTRATES THE COUNTY'S COMMITMENT TO PREPAREDNESS AS US TO COORDINATE RECOVERY MORE EFFECTIVELY AND STRENGTHENS OUR ABILITY TO COMPETE FOR STATE AND FEDERAL RECOVERY ASSISTANCE WHEN A DISASTER OCCURS. ANY QUESTIONS? THIS IS THAT PLAN Y'ALL BEEN Y'ALL TOOK TO THE OTHER CITIES AND BEEN EXPLAINING IT OR. NO, SIR, THAT WAS THE HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN THAT YOU GUYS HAD ALREADY ADOPTED HERE. WE JUST HAD TO GET THE EACH MUNICIPALITY TO DO. WE ACTUALLY, AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR, HELD THREE DIFFERENT WORKSHOPS TO GO THROUGH WITH LIKE THE DIFFERENT VOTER GROUPS, AMERICAN RED CROSS, UNITED WAY. WE HAD DIFFERENT AGENCIES FROM ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES. WE HAD NINE ONE, ONE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, HOGANSVILLE PD, JUST GOING THROUGH BASICALLY A UNIFIED LIST OF WHO DO WE CONTACT IF WE NEED THIS? WHERE ARE WE GOING TO SET UP SHELTERS AT? WHO DO WE CONTACT IN THE EVENT THAT WE NEED THESE THINGS? GOTCHA. YOU ALSO MENTIONED THIS ALSO COVERS THE THE VEGETATIVE AS WELL, BECAUSE I KNOW IN THE LAST STORM WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT PLAN. AND SO WE REALLY NEEDED THAT. YES IT DOES. AND I AM ALSO WORKING ON A NEW DISASTER DEBRIS MANAGEMENT PLAN AS WELL, WHICH HOPEFULLY WILL HAVE READY BY SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER TO GO AHEAD AND PRESENT THAT AS WELL. I THINK TO YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER SCOTT, I THINK A LOT OF THE THE SLOWNESS OF THE HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN REALLY FELT A LOT ON THE SHUTDOWN OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. IT JUST REALLY STACKED A LOT OF THE PLANS OUT THERE. AND SO THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE LONGEST PLANS PROBABLY EVER WE EVER HAD TO DO. ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL TAKE THIS UP THIS[5. Discuss Request Approval to Move Forward with the Purchase of Real Property (APN#0540000070G) (Jay Anderson & Zac Steele) ]
EVENING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP, I'LL INVITE JAY ANDERSON TO DISCUSS THE NEXT TWO TOPICS. AND RODNEY. RODNEY. SO I'M SORRY I APOLOGIZE. RODNEY. GOOD MORNING CHAIRMAN.COMMISSIONER. MORNING, MORNING. THIS EVENING, WE'LL BE ASKING FOR PERMISSION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY, PARCEL NUMBER 054000 70 G. IT IS LOCATED ON THE CORNER OF WHITESVILLE ROAD AND BURKS CHAPEL ROAD. IT'S APPROXIMATELY 2.24 ACRES AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE IT UNDER CONTRACT, WHICH I BELIEVE YOU'RE AWARE OF. AND THAT, OF COURSE, GIVES US THE TIME TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE WHERE WE'VE DONE SOIL SAMPLES, SOIL TESTING, PRELIMINARY SITE PLANS, MAKE SURE IT FITS ON THE PROPERTY, MAKE SURE IT WORKS, AND, AND THAT WE HAVE DONE AND FEEL LIKE IT'S SUITABLE. IT'S A GOOD LOCATION FOR A FIRE STATION.
THIS IS IN, OF COURSE, IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY WHERE WE CAN IMPROVE OUR FIRE PROTECTION AND DOWN IN THE SOUTHERN AREA. AND SO WITH OUR DUE DILIGENCE DONE AND STAFF DECIDING THAT THIS IS A GOOD PARCEL FOR US, WE ASK PERMISSION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CLOSING AND PURCHASING IT, AT WHICH RIGHT NOW IS SET FOR AUGUST 3RD. THE CONTRACT IS FOR $50,000, AND LATE YESTERDAY I RECEIVED A PRELIMINARY CLOSING STATEMENT SETTLEMENT STATEMENT AND HAD ABOUT $1,500 IN CLOSING COSTS FOR US. AND SO MY PERMISSION OR MY REQUEST WOULD BE TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE ON THE PROPERTY FOR THE $50,000, PLUS UP TO $1,500 IN CLOSING COSTS, CLOSING FEES. ANY QUESTION ON THE PARCEL? RODNEY PROBABLY HAS THE ANSWERS FOR THE FIRE PROTECTION STUFF. YEAH. OH, GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD. I WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU SAID IT, YOU KNOW, IMPROVES OUR COVERAGE AND THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT COULD YOU ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT MORE CHIEF ON, ON LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING TO JUDGE PALMER HAD INCREASED PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING AT THAT. BUT THIS ALONG WITH LIKE EMS AND HOW IT ALL KIND OF. YEAH, RIGHT NOW WE'RE WORKING WITH AMR. WE GOT A PLAN IN PLACE. WE'RE ALLOWING THEM TO STAGE AT A COUPLE OF OUR STATIONS RIGHT NOW. ONE OF THEM IS, IS A HOGANSVILLE STATION 11, AND THE OTHER ONE IS AT STATION ONE, RIGHT ON HAMILTON ROAD. AND WITH THIS STATION MOVING OUT
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FURTHER, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE PART OF THE BIGGER PICTURE WHERE WE COULD ACTUALLY LET THEM GO THERE TOO, AND THAT WOULD INCREASE THE RESPONSE IN OUR AREA, ESPECIALLY THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS. AND I KNOW, I KNOW WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF LOOKING AT OTHER STATIONS, YOU KNOW, REMODELING AND THINGS, BUT THIS WOULD IT COVERS TO THE GRAY HILL AREA WITH SEVEN WOULDN'T COVER GRAY HILL, A GOOD PORTION OF ROSEMONT AND ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE COUNTY LINE AT 18 IN WHITES ROAD. OKAY. THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN LACKING FOR A WHILE NOW. RONNIE. THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO ADDRESS. THIS WILL COVER A FIVE MILE RADIUS.THAT'S CORRECT. RIGHT. IS THIS COVERING ANYBODY THAT'S IN AN ISO RATING OF TEN RIGHT NOW? ABSOLUTELY. IN FACT, WE'RE WORKING WITH A MISS THATCHER NOW. DENNIS SMITH WROTE I BELIEVE IT IS. HERS CURRENTLY IS A TEN AND HER NEIGHBORS AS A TEN. BUT BY BUILDING THIS ONE, WE'RE HOPING BY THE NEXT TIME HER INSURANCE COMES AROUND, WE CAN SLIDE HER INTO THIS AND IT'LL TAKE HER TO A FOUR WIDE. THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S WHAT. AND THAT'S THAT'S BECAUSE WE THAT'S WHERE I'M AT IS TO LOOK AFTER THESE PEOPLE IN THE, IN THE CORPORATE AREA THAT HAVE A TEN ISO RATING. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO PUSH FOR YEARS TO, TO TRY TO DO THAT. SO.
YES, SIR. IT'S, IT'S TOUGH IN SOME AREAS, JUST LIKE OUR STATION ONE, YOU KNOW, WE, YOU HAVE TO WEIGH THE PROS AND CONS. WE'RE RIGHT THERE AT THE INTERSTATE, BUT BY MOVING IT FIVE MILES, WE GET A LOT BETTER ISO COVERAGE, RIGHT? SO WE JUST PROS AND CONS TO IT, BUT THAT OUTWEIGHS IT. LOOK, LOOKING AT THIS SITE, WHERE WILL BE THE ENTRANCE TO THIS FIRE STATION? QUESTION. YEAH, OFF BURKS CHAPEL, CHAPEL ROAD. SO ARE YOU JUST GOING TO HAVE ONE ENTRANCE HAVE ENTRANCE AND EXIT I BELIEVE. OKAY. FIRST CHAPEL. IS BOTH OF THEM GOING TO BE OFF CHAPEL? YES, SIR. YES, SIR. WE COULD. YEAH, YEAH, WE TALKED TO GDOT AND DUE TO SITE DISTANCE ISSUES ALONG 219 THEY WOULD NOT ALLOW AN EXIT, ESPECIALLY A FIRE TRUCK ONTO THE STATE ROUTE.
AND SO WHEN WE HAD HARRIS GRAY CONDUCT OUR ORIGINAL SITE PLAN, THEY DEVELOPED THREE THREE ACTUAL SEPARATE SITE PLANS AND ONE HAD OR ACTUALLY TWO OF THEM HAD THEM COMING OFF OF BURKS CHAPEL, WHICH PROVIDES A SAFER ENTRANCE AND EXIT. OKAY, SO DIFFERENT STYLE STATION THAN LIKE STATION SIX, BUT THE DRIVE KIND OF DOING THAT. YEAH, I'M THINKING THE SAME WAY ON WHITFIELD ROAD, JUST LIKE STATION 14 IS BEING BUILT RIGHT NOW ON ROANOKE ROAD, WHERE, WHERE YOU COME IN ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE LOOP BEHIND IT, DRIVE IN THE BACK OF THE APPARATUS BAY. AND THEN WHEN YOU GO TO LEAVE, YOU JUST DRIVE STRAIGHT OUT AND OUT THE EXIT. IT'S ACTUALLY IT'LL BE THE SAME, ALMOST THE SAME EXACT SITE. PLAN A STATION 14 ON ROANOKE, EXCEPT WE WON'T HAVE THE BUS PARKING IN THE BACK, WHICH WE'RE DOING WITH THIS $50,000 COME OUT OF THE 50,000 WOULD COME FROM SPLOST FIVE. SO WE'RE STILL A LOT OF SPLOST FIVE. YES, SIR. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YOU HAVE A TIMELINE AS TO WHEN YOU MIGHT WANT TO PUT THIS ONE OUT FOR BID. THAT IS MY NEXT AGENDA ITEM. OKAY. I PAUSED TOO LONG. SO. ALL RIGHT, NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
[6. Discuss Request approval to move forward with the Design, Engineering, and RFP (Jay Anderson & Zach Steele) ]
ALSO TONIGHT WE WOULD BE ASKING APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE FINAL DESIGN SITE PLAN, LAYOUT SPECIFICATIONS AND PUTTING IT OUT TO BID FOR BUILDING THAT STATION AT CHAPEL AND WHITESVILLE, AND THEN TO COME BACK WITH YOU, OF COURSE, WITH THOSE BIDS, WITH THE TOTAL PROJECT COST, AND IT'S GOING TO BE THE SAME FOOTPRINT. YES, EXACT SAME STATION WE'RE BUILDING AT 14. JUST TO BACK UP. WE'RE THOUGH WE ARE, THOUGH WE ARE LEAVING STATION ONE TO BUILD THIS NEW STATION. STATION ONE WILL CONTINUE TO EXIST AFTER MAYBE RENAME IT. BUT BECAUSE AGAIN, THERE IS THAT WE FOUND THERE IS SOME COVERAGE GAP OFF OF BARTLEY ROAD. AND SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE TRUCKS THERE. WE'VE GOT MEN, OBVIOUSLY WOMEN UP IN THE HEADQUARTER STATION THAT CAN UTILIZE THOSE TRUCKS FOR BACKUP UNITS AS WELL. AND SO THAT WILL CONTINUE TO TO BE UTILIZED AS A FIRE STATION. AND WHEN WE PUT IT OUT TO BID, WE ARE OUR PLAN IS TO BID IT THE SAME WAY WE DID FOR ROANOKE ROAD, WHICH IS TO BID IT AS A TWO A AND A THREE BAY JUST TO GET THE PRICING. BUT OUR INTENT IS TO COME BACK WITH YOU TO ASK FOR THE THIRD BAY, JUST LIKE WE HAVE. YEAH. YES. BECAUSE THAT THIRD BAY IN THE FUTURE GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO EMS OUT OF IT, RIGHT? YES, SIR. THAT'S NUMEROUS THINGS. RIGHT NOW WE RUN ALS SQUADS, SO IT GIVES US A CHANCE TO PUT THAT THERE. A TANKER IF NEEDED, EXTRA ENGINE, WHATEVER WE NEED.SO JUST HAVING THAT EXTRA SPACE IS VERY VALUABLE. THERE'S BEEN A FEW THINGS THAT WE HAVE TWEAKED A LITTLE BIT OR CHANGED A LITTLE BIT AT STATION 14 ON ROANOKE ROAD BECAUSE OF ONCE
[00:25:03]
YOU GET DOING IT, YOU KNOW, AND THAT WE ARE GOING TO INCORPORATE ALL THOSE CHANGES INTO WHAT WE BID FOR THIS STATION, GO AHEAD. AND BASICALLY, IT WOULD BE EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE DONE AT ROANOKE ROAD. WE FOUND A FEW VALUE ENGINEERING THINGS THAT AS OF RIGHT NOW, KNOCK ON WOOD, WE'RE UNDER BUDGET OUT ROANOKE ROAD. AND SO WE'RE GOING AHEAD AND INCORPORATING THOSE THINGS IN FOR THIS BID. YOU JINX US NOW. YEAH. SO THAT'LL BE THE OTHER ITEM ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA IS JUST PERMISSION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PUTTING IT OUT TO BID AND, AND GETTING AN OVERALL PROJECT COST. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. YOU WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT REAL QUICK ABOUT THE FIRE STATION OVER AT MOUNTVILLE.WHAT'S GOING ON? YOU SENT SOME PICTURES YESTERDAY, ERIC. DID YOU? YEAH. OKAY. WE WERE OUT THERE TOGETHER. THE PROJECT THAT YOU APPROVED TO REDO STATION NINE OUT IN MOUNTVILLE.
THEY HAVE GOTTEN STARTED. LAST WEEK THEY DEMOED ALL THE INTERIOR FINISHES AND THEN THEY STARTED YESTERDAY TAKING OFF THE METAL SKIN. AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD FINISH THAT TODAY. SO AS OF THIS AFTERNOON, IF THINGS GO FINE TODAY, THAT WILL BE COMPLETELY DEMOED WHERE IT'LL BE THE SLAB AND THE RED IRON FRAME SITTING THERE. AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO PRESSURE WASH AND PRIME AND REPAINT THE RED IRON SKELETON. AND THEN THE PLAN IS NEXT WEEK THEY'LL BE BACK IN TO PUT THE NEW SKIN ON IT SO THAT IF EVERYTHING GOES FINE, WEATHER PERMITTING, BY NEXT WEEK WE'LL HAVE A NEW NEW SKIN, A NEW BUILDING STANDING THERE, AND THEN ALL WE'LL HAVE TO DO THEN IS TO DO THE INTERIOR BUILD OUT. BUT IT'S PROGRESSING, PROGRESSING WELL.
SO. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. TAKE A RIDE OUT THERE IF YOU WANT. YEAH, WELL, I GUESS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT AGAIN, RODNEY, MAYBE YOU CAN GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE BURN BUILDING BECAUSE WE'RE MAKING THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENTS MAKE SOME GREAT PROGRESS OUT THERE. THEY'VE DONE GREAT WORK. THEY'VE ACTUALLY CLEANED OUT BEHIND IT A LITTLE BIT. SO ALL THE BRUSHES BACK THERE, IT'S NOW CLEAR WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY PUT A LIKE A LEAN TO ONCE WE GET COMPLETED FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS TO REST UNDER WHEN WE'RE DOING TRAINING AND ALL, BUT JUST GOTTA PULL THE SLAB AND THEN THAT COMPANY WILL COME IN AND START, PUT EVERYTHING TOGETHER.
SO HOPEFULLY BY THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS OF SEPTEMBER, WE'LL BE GOOD TO GO. I LOVE THE TRAILERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN DROPPED OFF. THERE WERE THREE THERE YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS THERE THREE THREE THERE. NOW THERE'LL BE TWO TODAY, SO WE'LL BE FINISHED AFTER TODAY WITH THE CONNECTIONS. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WELL, IF I CAN
[7. Review of July 21, 2026 5:00 p.m. Board Meeting Agenda (Eric Mosley)]
QUICKLY GO OVER THIS AFTERNOON'S AGENDA, WE HAVE PASTOR BRANDON BROOKS FROM PROSPECT CHURCH. WE'LL BE PROVIDING THE INVOCATION UNDER SPECIAL BUSINESS. WE HAVE MISTER RALPH HOWARD TO ADDRESS THE BOARD. ITEM B IS THE CONSIDERATION OF THE RESOLUTION TO AFFIRM THE TROUP COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM'S 2026 MILLAGE RATE. ITEM C IS THE CONSIDERATION OF THE JUVENILE COURTS REQUEST TO ACCEPT THE GRANT. ITEM D IS THE SUPERIOR COURTS REQUEST FOR THE NEW POSITION. ITEM D IS DISCUSSED AND APPROVED. THE ADOPTION OF THE TROUP COUNTY DISASTER RECOVERY AND REDEVELOPMENT PLAN. ITEM F IS THE CONSIDERATION TO REQUEST APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY. ITEM G IS THE CONSIDERATION. REQUEST APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DESIGN ENGINEERING RFP FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE RELOCATION STATION ONE UNDER PUBLIC HEARING, THE VERY FIRST ITEM WILL BE STRUCK FROM THE AGENDA. THE. THE APPLICANT HAS ASKED THAT WE PULL THAT. ITEM B IS THE CONSIDERATION OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT EXPENDITURE ANNUAL UPDATE FOR 2026. I'LL MAKE ONE STATEMENT REAL QUICK. I MEANT TO SAY THIS WHEN J WAS UP HERE, I KNOW WE HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO ASK TONIGHT FOR THE 5000 PLUS UP TO $1,500 IN CLOSING COSTS AND SHOULD I, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND WE MOVE THAT UP TO $2,000 UP TO. BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW CLOSINGS GO SOMETIME AND SOMETIMES LITTLE THINGS GET ADDED IN AT THE END. AND I DON'T WOULDN'T WANT TO SLOW THE PROCESS DOWN OVER ANOTHER $100. SO I WOULD, I'D JUST MAKE THAT SUGGESTION J TO COVER ANYTHING THAT MIGHT NOT MAKE IT ON THE CLOSING STATEMENT. PRE CLOSING. ALL[EXECUTIVE SESSION ]
RIGHT. NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS A PERSONNEL MATTER. I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE COME OUT OF WORK SESSION GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS A PERSONNEL MATTER MOTION. ALL RIGHT I'LL TAKE ONE OF THOSE AS A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.[00:30:02]
NOW* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.