Sep 01, 2026 Board of Commissioners Work Session

[CALL TO ORDER]

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ME WELCOME EVERYONE TO OUR. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2026 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION. WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING YOUR TIME TO BE HERE WITH US THIS MORNING. BEFORE WE OPEN THIS MORNING MEETING, IF Y'ALL WOULD PLEASE BOW WITH ME FOR A WORD OF PRAYER. OUR GRACIOUS HEAVENLY FATHER, WE WE FIRST THANK YOU FOR THIS NEW DAY THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US. AND LORD, WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THE TIME THAT WE CAN GATHER HERE AS CITIZENS AND LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, TO LOOK AND DISCUSS ITEMS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO US IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE MANY BLESSINGS THAT YOU BESTOW UPON OUR COMMUNITY, LORD. WE HAVE MANY THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR, AND LORD, I JUST WANT TO ASK FOR YOUR BLESSING UPON ALL OUR EMPLOYEES, THOSE PEOPLE THAT GO OUT EVERY DAY AND DEDICATE THEIR LIVES TO SERVING THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY. LORD, I ALSO PRAY FOR OUR COUNTRY. AS ALWAYS, WE KNOW THERE ARE CONFLICTS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THIS WORLD, AND WE KNOW THERE ARE MEN AND WOMEN WHO THEY'RE SERVING OUR COUNTRY TO PROTECT US. AND LORD, WE KNOW THOSE PEOPLE HAVE LOVED ONES AND FAMILIES BACK HOME THAT ARE WORRIED EVERY DAY ABOUT THEIR THEIR PROTECTION. AND SO WE JUST ASK YOU TO PUT YOUR HANDS OVER THEM AND ASK YOU TO BE WITH US NOW DURING THIS TIME OF BUSINESS AND GO WITH US THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THIS DAY. IN THY NAME WE DO PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. ALRIGHT, SO

[1. 2026 3rd Quarter Employee Service Awards (Chardonnay Scott)]

THROUGH THE YEARS, YOUR TALENTS AND EFFORTS HAVE HELPED TRUETT COUNTY AND ITS CITIZENS.

TOGETHER, WE TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE. WE APPLAUD THE DETERMINATION AND EFFORT YOU HAVE DEMONSTRATED DURING YOUR TENURE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ALL THE GREAT THINGS WE KNOW YOU ALL WILL ACCOMPLISH IN THE UPCOMING YEARS. ON BEHALF OF THE TROUP COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND TROUP COUNTY HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE ACCOMPLISHED EXCELLENCE OVER THE YEARS OF SERVING THE CITIZENS OF TROUP COUNTY. AT THIS TIME, I WILL BEGIN BY PRESENTING THE AWARDS FOR FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME UP TO THE FRONT TO RECEIVE YOUR AWARD AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOUR GROUP. STARTING WITH FIVE YEARS. MICHAEL DURAN, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT WITH THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.

NEXT I HAVE AARON HACKLEY, CORONER WITH THE CORONER OFFICE. MOVING ALONG, WE HAVE LINDSAY OLSON, CASE MANAGER WITH THE COURT SERVICES. AGAIN. ONE. TWO. THREE.

AT THIS TIME, I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE ANTONIO JAMISON, DETENTION OFFICER WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND TIMOTHY PRIMAVERA, DEPUTY SHERIFF WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AS THEY WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND. NOW I WILL BEGIN PRESENTING THE AWARDS FOR TEN YEARS OF SERVICE.

I FIRST HAVE LEWIS BRYANT, JUNIOR TRAINING CAPTAIN, SLASH SAFETY OFFICER WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. DEVON HARDY, RECREATIONAL CENTER MANAGER WITH PARKS AND RECREATION.

STACY AMANDA VEAL, SENIOR DEPUTY CLERK WITH PROBATE COURT.

AT THIS TIME, I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE DEBORAH GOOGLE, OFFICE MANAGER WITH ROSELAND

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NEXT WE HAVE REBECCA LINDSAY, PROGRAM COORDINATOR WITH THE COURT SERVICES. MOVING ALONG, WE HAVE LASAGNA. SUE, BILLING TECHNICIAN WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. IT IS WITH TREMENDOUS PRIDE AND RESPECT THAT LASAGNA LASAGNA IS RECOGNIZED FOR HER DEDICATION AND SERVICE, OUTSTANDING CHARACTER, AND CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO TROUP COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. SONIA'S CAREER IS A TESTAMENT TO WHAT WE CAN. WHAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH HARD WORK, INTEGRITY, PRESERVING AND GETTING GENUINE AND GENUINE DESIRE TO SERVE OTHERS. SHE BEGAN HER CAREER AS A DETENTION OFFICER, LEARNING HER RESPONSIBILITIES AND CHALLENGES OF THE JAIL DIVISION FROM THE GROUND UP. SINCE THAT TIME, SHE HAS SERVED IN MANY DIFFERENT PASSAGES, CONTINUALLY DEMONSTRATING HER ABILITY TO ADAPT, LEAD AND EXCEL IN WHATEVER SHE WHATEVER SHE HAS BEEN NEEDED, HER ABILITIES EVENTUALLY TOOK HER BEYOND THE WALLS OF THE JAIL. SHE WAS ENTRUSTED TO SERVE THE SHERIFF'S SECRETARY AT THE GOVERNMENT CENTER, A POSITION SHE HELD FOR FOUR YEARS. SERVING IN SUCH A ROLE REQUIRES PROFESSIONALISM, DISCRETE DEPENDABILITY AND TRUST. SHE DEMONSTRATED EACH OF THOSE QUALITIES WHILE REPRESENTING THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITH PROFESSIONALISM AND DIGNITY. TODAY, LASAGNA CONTINUES TO SERVE AS THE BUILDING TECHNICIAN WHERE HER KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE ATTENTION ON DETAIL AND UNDERSTANDING OF JAIL OPERATIONS MAKES HER INVALUABLE PART OF THE ORGANIZATION. WHAT MAKES LASAGNA AS ACCESSIBLE, HOWEVER, IS NOT SIMPLE. THE POSITION SHE IS HELD IN. IT IS IN THE PERSON SHE HAS REMAINED THROUGHOUT HER CAREER. SHE IS HONEST, DILIGENT, TRUSTWORTHY, CARING AND OUR RESIDENTS FASCIST. SHE TREATS PEOPLE WITH RESPECT, CARRIES HERSELF WITH A HIGH LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM THAT LEARNS THE CONFIDENCE OF THOSE AROUND HER. SHE POSSESSES

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YOUR CHARACTER MATTERS AND YOUR DIFFERENCE THAT YOU HAVE MADE THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER. THE TROUP COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE WILL ALWAYS BE WORTHY OF YOUR RECOGNITION. THANK YOU.

NEXT, WE HAVE BRIAN SHIREY, FACILITY SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE COORDINATOR WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

BRIAN YEARS OF DEDICATION, SERVICE AND TROUP COUNTY REFLECTS A REMARKABLE COMMITMENT TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND TO THE CITIZENS HE SERVES. HIS CAREER HAS BEEN DEFINED NOT ONLY BY HIS SERVICE AS A DEPUTY SHERIFF, BUT ALSO BY THE TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITIES HE CARRIES AS A FACILITY SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE COORDINATOR FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. HE BRINGS INVALUABLE COMBINATION OF PROFESSIONALISM, INTEGRITY AND AN UNWAVERING WORK ETHIC. EVERYTHING HE UNDERTAKES. HIS EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE JAIL MAINTENANCE, BUILDING SYSTEM, REPAIRS AND FACILITY OPERATIONS HAS MADE HIM AN INDISPENSABLE RESOURCE TO THE ORGANIZATION. MAJOR MAINTENANCE PROJECTS ARISE. BRIAN DOES MORE THAN SIMPLY SUPERVISE. HE LEADS FROM THE FRONT, APPLYING HIS OWN SKILLS, EXPERIENCE, AND HANDS ON EXPERIENCE TO ACCOMPLISH THE WORK THAT WHAT OTHERS WOULD REQUIRE COSTLY OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS. HIS LEADERSHIP DURING THESE PROJECTS INSPIRES CONFIDENCE, BECAUSE THOSE WORKING BESIDE HIM KNOW THAT HE UNDERSTANDS THE JOB, ACCEPTS THE RESPONSIBILITY AND WILL NEVER ASK OTHERS TO DO SOMETHING HE IS UNWILLING TO DO HIMSELF. BRIAN'S KNOWLEDGE OF THE UNIQUE DEMANDS OF MAINTAINING A SECURE FACILITY JAIL FACILITY IS THE PRODUCT OF YEARS OF EXPERIENCE THAT CANNOT SIMPLY BE TAUGHT OR EASILY REPLACED. HIS PROFESSIONALISM, SPIRIT STRAIGHTFORWARD UNDER LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION, EMBODY WHAT PUBLIC SERVICE SHOULD REPRESENT. BRIAN IS NOT MERELY SPENT YEARS WORKING FOR TROUP COUNTY, BUT INVESTED THOSE YEARS IN MAKING THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE STRONGER, SAFER, MORE EFFICIENT AND MORE RESPONSIBILITY WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS LEAVING A LEGACY OF SERVICE WHO REACHES FAR BEYOND ANY OTHER JOB TITLE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. LASTLY, FOR 25 YEARS OF SERVICE, WE HAVE DEXTER WELLS, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICES WITH THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. ALL RIGHT. WELL, DEXTER WROTE HIS OWN BIO. HE'S HE'S HE'S QUITE HUMBLE. I TRIED TO URGE HIM TO SHARE A LITTLE MORE, BUT HE'S NOT SHARING. SO.

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VERY GOOD. ONE. TWO. THREE. I WANT TO. DEXTER, WHAT'S THAT DATE? I DO JUST WANT TO CIRCLE BACK AROUND TO ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEEN INFORMED THEY ARE HERE AND PRESENT, AND THAT WOULD BE REBECCA LINDSAY, PROGRAM COORDINATOR WITH COURT SERVICES.

IT'S YOUR TURN, REBECCA BEGAN HER CAREER WITH TROUP COUNTY IN 2001 AT THE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTE, WHERE SHE SERVED AS COUNSELOR. DURING HER TIME THERE, SHE WAS PROMOTED TO DEPUTY WARDEN OF CARE AND TREATMENT, TAKING ON GREATER RESPONSIBILITIES IN OVERSEEING THE CARE AND TREATMENT OF INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE PROGRAM. IN THIS ROLE, REBECCA WAS THE FIRST EVER APPOINTED FEMALE DEPUTY WARDEN AT TROUP COUNTY CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTE. LATER, SHE TRANSFERRED TO COURT SERVICES, WHERE SHE WORKED WITH THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE AND BECOME INVOLVED IN MEDIATIONS MEDIATION SERVICES. THESE EXPERIENCES ALLOWED HER TO EXPAND HER PROFESSIONAL SKILLS WHILE SERVING THE COMMUNITY IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT CAPACITIES. REBECCA HAS A SON AND A DAUGHTER AND ONE GRANDSON, AND SPENDS HER TIME WITH HER FAMILY, FRIENDS AND HER MANY ANIMALS THAT SHE CARES DEEPLY FOR. REBECCA HAS A TRUE CIVIL SERVANT'S HEART, AND ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND TROUP COUNTY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK HER FOR HER 25 YEARS OF SERVICE.

NOW I WILL BEGIN PRESENTING FOR 30 YEARS OF SERVICE AND WE HAVE TIMOTHY CAREY WHALEY, ATHLETIC SUPERINTENDENT WITH THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT. IN 1990 AND 1988. TIMOTHY CAREY WHALEY GRADUATED FROM HANLEY HIGH SCHOOL IN ROANOKE, ALABAMA.

UPON COMPLETION OF HIGH SCHOOL, HE ENROLLED IN SOUTHERN UNION JUNIOR COLLEGE AND STARTED WORKING FOR THE CITY OF ROANOKE RECREATION DEPARTMENT. IN THE FALL OF 1990, HE TRANSFERRED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA, WHERE HE PROCEEDED TO EARN A DEGREE IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION.

AFTER COLLEGE, HE TOOK A JOB WITH PIKE ELECTRICAL, BUT HIS PASSION FOR RECREATION KEPT HIM INVOLVED WITH THE ROANOKE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AS HE CONTINUED WORKING EVENINGS COORDINATING THEIR PROGRAMS. IN SEPTEMBER 1996, JIM HERBERT HIRED TIMOTHY AS AN ATHLETIC COORDINATOR. IN 2011, HE WAS PROMOTED TO THE ROLE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF ATHLETICS, WHERE HE HAS THRIVED AT BOTH COORDINATING PROGRAMS AND TRAINING AND SUPPORTING OTHER RECREATION PROFESSIONALS. CAREY IS MARRIED TO MANDY WHALEY, AND TOGETHER THEY HAVE TWO SONS, JACKSON AND JORDAN. THEY HAVE PROVIDED A SOLID FOUNDATION OF SUPPORT AND HAVE PLAYED AN INTEGRAL PART IN HIS SUCCESS, WHICH IN TURN HAS HELPED ALL OF TROUP COUNTY. I'M PROUD TO BE HERE TODAY FOR CAREY WHALEY'S 30 YEARS OF SERVICE. THANK YOU.

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AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF TROUP COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND THE TROUP COUNTY HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE ACCOMPLISHED EXCELLENCE OVER THE YEARS AND SERVING THE CITIZENS OF TROUP COUNTY. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU. I ALWAYS LIKE TO ADD UP THE NUMBER OF YEARS OF SERVICE, AND THAT IS ALMOST A QUARTER OF A CENTURY. IF DEXTER MADE HIS EXTRA FIVE YEARS, Y'ALL WOULD HAVE BEEN EXACTLY AT A QUARTER OF A CENTURY OF SERVICE. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY, VERY MUCH FOR WHAT Y'ALL MEAN TO OUR COUNTY, TO OUR CITIZENS. WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND Y'ALL CELEBRATE TODAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THIS IS USUALLY A TIME THAT WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN EXIT. I'M NOT SURE EVERYBODY WANTS TO STAY FOR THE REST OF THE MEETING. SO. LEAVE. NO USE IN FIGHTING AND GET UP AND GO TELL THEM TO GET OUT. THAT IS BASICALLY STAFF. THERE IS A STAFF. ALL RIGHT. WHILE THEY'RE SNEAKING OUT, I WILL CALL UP DAN SMITH, THE CHIEF APPRAISER

[2. Discuss Rural Land Study - Small & Large Tract Reviews (Dan E Smith)]

GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. SECOND VISIT. JUST AS OUR SECOND READING OF THE THE STUDY.

THAT'S BEFORE YOU. PERMISSION FOR THE COMMISSIONER TO SIGN THIS CONTRACT THAT THE PROPERTY APPRAISAL OFFICE AND THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS HAVE ALREADY AGREED TO AND SIGNED THE CONTRACT, BUT THIS IS THE PROCESS. I WAS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE TWO WEEKS AGO, SO IT'S EXTENDED IT OUT A MONTH FROM THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE. BUT HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS SINCE LAST TIME WE DISCUSSED THIS? I'VE ANSWERED ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE BEFORE ME THAT WAS SENT BY THE TAXPAYERS THAT Y'ALL HAD TALKED TO. I'VE ANSWERED THOSE INDIVIDUALS, TALKED TO THEM PERSONALLY, AND EVERYBODY SEEMS TO BE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S GOING ON. JUST TAKE IT EASY ON THOSE SMALL TRACTS. DO OUR BEST. SIR. LAST TIME WE HAD DISCUSSED IT WAS GOING TO BE ALL TRACKS IN TROUP COUNTY. BUT WHY DON'T WE KEEP CALLING IT RURAL TRACK STUDY? THAT'S HOW THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE ACTUALLY CLASSIFIES TRACTS OF LAND THAT ARE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE SUBDIVISION OR LOT FRONT FOOT METHOD. THEY ARE RULE, AND THAT'S JUST HOW THE CLASSIFICATION CALLS THEM BY STATE STATUTE. SO STATE IS NOT GOING TO BE ON SUBDIVISION TRACKS. NO, IT IS NOT. THIS IS EVERYTHING THAT'S UNDEVELOPED, TYPICALLY UNDEVELOPED LAND. IT COULD BE A HOMESTEAD PROPERTY THAT HAS UNDER 25 ACRES, BUT A LOT OF THESE LANDS ARE VACANT. LOT OF THESE LANDS ARE COVERED BY CONSERVATION ALREADY. THEY WILL NOT RECOGNIZE A TAXABLE INCREASE FOR THOSE TRACKS. BUT IT IS ALL TRACKS THAT ARE CONSIDERED RULE BY THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE. SO DEFINITION OF RULE IS ACREAGE OVER ITS ACREAGE, OVER THE ANY LOT VALUE THAT'S NOT INSIDE OF A SUBDIVISION. OKAY. BUT AS FAR AS THE NUMBER OF ACRES, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, IF IT'S A TEN ACRE TRACT WITH A HOUSE ON IT, NOT IN A SUBDIVISION, STILL CONSIDER RURAL LAND IS HOW THE LAND IS VALUED. WHY DON'T WE PUT WHY DON'T WE PINPOINTING JUST ON THAT GROUP, IT'S ALL RURAL LAND. ANYTHING THAT'S CLASSIFIED BY OUR RURAL LAND, SMALL TRACK AND LARGE TRACK VALUATIONS. WE'RE JUST DOING THE SMALL TRACTS IN 27 AND THE LARGE TRACTS IN 28. SO WHEN THE COMPANY COMES IN, THEY'LL BE SPENDING ABOUT 18 MONTHS WITH US. OVERALL, THE TOTAL. BUT FOR EVALUATION PURPOSES FOR DIGESTION OF 2027, THE SMALL TRACTS WILL BE ASSESSED FIRST. 2028 WILL BE THE LARGE TRACTS.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE DID LIKE ALL PROPERTIES, RESIDENTIAL, SUBDIVISION, THOSE TYPE THINGS. THE LAST RURAL LAND STUDY WAS BACK IN 22. WE DID IT IN TAX YEAR 21. IT DID NOT HAVE TO COME BEFORE THE COMMISSIONERS BECAUSE IT WAS UNDER Y'ALL'S BUDGET REQUIREMENT AT THAT TIME, FELL UNDER THE 25000. AND THEN BASED ON INFLATION, THIS 3000, WHICH

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THIS IS THEIR FOURTH TRIP COMING INTO TROUP COUNTY TO DO THIS FOR US. THEY'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH IT. AS I SAID BEFORE, HE WAS A FORMER ACCOUNTS AUDITING DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE AND ALSO IS A REGISTERED FORESTER. SO HE HE KNOWS WHAT HE DOES. HE MAKES A SITE VISIT TO EVERY ONE OF THESE PIECES OF PROPERTY TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE ASSESSED PROPERLY. I DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT IT MIGHT BE WORTH MAKING A COMMENT. A FEW COMMENTS ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO YOU, YOUR OFFICE. WE AS A COUNTY, ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE STATE OF GEORGIA FOR THOSE VALUES THAT WE PUT ON PROPERTY. AND I KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF CHATTER OUT ON FACEBOOK, PARTICULARLY IF A LOT OF COUNTIES OUT OF SOUTH GEORGIA THAT EVIDENTLY FOR MANY YEARS DID NOT DO PROPER ASSESSMENTS ON THEIR PROPERTY. AND FROM WHAT I'M READING, THEY'RE GETTING VERY LARGE INCREASES DOWN IN THAT AREA. AND THAT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE QUESTIONING WHY. BUT IT MIGHT BE IF YOU COULD MAKE JUST A FEW COMMENTS ABOUT THE REQUIREMENT THAT YOU'RE, AGAIN, YOU OR AND OUR COUNTY HAS TO THE STATE OF GEORGIA ON MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE VALUES WITHIN CERTAIN RANGES. WE HAVE A. Y'ALL WERE SHARED A FEW WEEKS BACK. THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AUDITS ACCOUNTS, ANNUAL REPORT, APPRAISAL. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO CALL IT? WHERE WE ARE JUDGED EVERY YEAR WE ARE AUDITED ON EVERY SALE THAT WE ACTUALLY PUT INTO OUR SYSTEM. AND THEN THEY LOOK AT EVERY SALE. THEY COME INTO OUR COUNTY, THEY DO THEIR OWN APPRAISALS. THEY COME AROUND AND GO TO COMMERCIAL VACANT LANDS, AND THEY DO THEIR OWN ASSESSMENTS. AND BASED ON THAT, WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE HAD A 39 RATIO THIS YEAR. SO WE ARE VERY WELL BLESSED TO HAVE A STAFF THAT IS ACTUALLY KEEPING UP WITH THOSE CODES, BECAUSE IF WE EVER FELL BELOW THAT 36, THAT'S WHEN YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE ME COME HERE, BECAUSE THE AUDITING DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO SEND IN A LETTER STATING THAT WE HAVE FAILED. AND SO WE DO OUR BEST TO STAY WITHIN THOSE STATE GUIDELINES. AND EVERY SALE THAT WE DO, WE HAD 1500 PLUS SALES LAST YEAR AT FAIR MARKET, AND WE HAD ANOTHER PROBABLY 1000 THAT WERE NON FAIR MARKET. THOSE ESTATE SALES, QUITCLAIM DEEDS, TRANSFERS, FORECLOSURES THAT ARE NOT TRACKED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AUDITS, BUT THEY DO COME IN ANNUALLY. THEY'VE ALREADY GOT OUR SALES FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THIS YEAR. WE'RE WORKING ON 27 RATIOS. SO IT IS A PROCESS THAT THEY DO.

WE ANSWER TO THEM WHO Y'ALL ARE COPIED ON. AND THEN WE ALSO WAS GRACIOUS. ERIC FORWARDED Y'ALL A COPY OF THE RESULTS THAT CAME OUT. FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THAT PROPER RATIO RESULTS IN A. IT'S YOU'D BE UNDER. IF YOU DON'T MAINTAIN IT, YOU FALL IN WITH THE STATE CALLS A CONSENT ORDER.

AND ONCE YOU'RE IN THE CONSENT ORDER, THE COUNTY IS FINED $5 PER PARCEL FOR THREE YEARS UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT YOU DO BRING IT UNDER COMPLIANCE. THAT'S WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE JUMPS. THAT'S WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THIS. AND WE WE NEVER WANT THAT. SOUTH GEORGIA MOST OF THE COUNTIES DIDN'T HAVE SALES FOR YEARS. THE TRACKS DIDN'T SALE. NOW THAT THINGS ARE SPREADING OUT, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE DEVELOPERS GROWING IN AND PUTTING MONEY INTO LAND AND PAYING TWO AND THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT. SO THOSE COUNTIES FOR THE FIRST TIME HAVE HAD TO DO THOSE REEVALUATIONS. THEY'VE HAD TO RAISE THOSE VALUES UP TO BRING THEM IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE GEORGIA STATE. THERE ARE SEVERAL COUNTIES NOW THAT ARE UNDER CONSENT ORDER IN GEORGIA RIGHT NOW, AND THEY ARE ACTUALLY PAYING THOSE PENALTIES.

HOW MANY PARCELS DO WE HAVE? 34,000 TAXABLE, ROUGHLY TOTAL, WITH EVERYTHING A LITTLE OVER 35 TIMES $5 TIMES $5. AND YOU SAID SOME OF THESE HAD ARE HOMESTEAD ON SOME OF THE

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EVERYTHING ELSE GETS AN EXEMPTION ON THAT. 2027 WILL BE A DIFFERENT YEAR. EVERY CITY SCHOOL BOARD COUNTY IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA FALLS UNDER 581. SO YOUR 26 VALUATION WILL.

IF YOU HAVE HOMESTEAD AS OF THIS YEAR, YOU WILL FALL UNDER A BASE THAT WILL BE YOUR BASE.

SO IF THE VALUES RISE UP ANOTHER $50,000 IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS, HOWEVER, THOSE THAT HAVE HOMESTEAD WILL GET AN EXEMPTION FOR THAT $50,000. SO THEIR TAXES, THIS 581 WAS SET UP TO WHERE WE HAVE JUST A SLOW GROWTH BASED ON CPI, AND THAT'S SET BY THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE COMMISSIONER EVERY YEAR. THIS YEAR IS 2.71% THAT HE ADDED NEXT YEAR. WE DON'T KNOW. IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, NOBODY'S TRYING TO GUESS WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE, BUT THE HOMESTEADED PROPERTIES WILL GET THAT 581 FREEZE, IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT A FREEZE, WHERE THEIR VALUE BASE STAYS BASED ON THEIR 26 ASSESSMENT. AND THEN WE TRACK THAT IN OUR OFFICE TO MAKE SURE ANYTHING GROWS ABOVE THAT. YOU GET AN EXEMPTION FOR THAT. DO YOU HAVE MORE INDIVIDUALS COME IN FOR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION? YES, SIR. WE HAD JUST IN THE APPEAL PERIOD, 278. THAT WAS OUTSIDE. THAT WAS A NEW BASED ON 581 THAT ALLOWED THE CITIZENS TO ACQUIRE HOMESTEAD DURING THE APPEAL PERIOD. 2027 AT HOMESTEAD STARTS JANUARY 1ST THROUGH THE END OF THE APPEAL PERIOD AND DOES NOT TAKE A BREAK AFTER APRIL 1ST. IT'S AMAZING HOW MANY PEOPLE DIDN'T EVEN PICK UP ON HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION UNTIL THIS TIME WHEN THE GOVERNOR WAS GIVEN A $500, CORRECT. IT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE. AND AND IN THE PAST, IF YOU WERE WORKING INDIVIDUAL, YOU GET $59 A YEAR SAVINGS. IT WAS NOT WORTH A LOT OF PEOPLE'S TIME TO COME BY AS THE INFLATION GOES UP, AS YOU START INCREASING, AS THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS ARE PLAYING INTO A PART OF THIS, YOU GET TO SEE THAT. AND NOW WE'RE HAVING INDIVIDUALS THAT SAY, IT'S TIME TO LOOK AT THIS, YOU KNOW, AS THEY GET OLDER, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE STARTING TO LOOK AT WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE AND WHAT IT WILL SAVE. AND THIS YEAR, BEING A $500 EXEMPTION, UP TO $500 BASED ON WHAT YOUR TAX BILL IS THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS PUT OUT THERE. SO AGAIN, THIS IS MY SECOND READING, JUST TO MAKE SURE THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS. I'LL BE BACK TONIGHT AT FIVE FOR APPROVAL. AND I'VE GOT THE ORIGINAL CONTRACTS FOR THE COMMISSIONER TO SIGN. THIS WAS INCLUDED IN THE FY 27 BUDGET. THE FUNDS WOULD COME FROM THEIR PILOT PROCESSING FEES. AND SO THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY'S COMING FROM. ALL RIGHT.

[3. Discuss Shuford Softball Complex - Parking Lot Expansion Project - Request Approval of the Project Budget (Jay Anderson & Lance Dennis)]

CHAIRMAN. MORNING, MR. DEVIN. COMING UP ON ME, NEW BLOOD. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW. DO YOU WANT TO READ THIS? BACK IN THE SPRING, IF YOU REMEMBER, THIS BOARD APPROVED A BUDGET AND PERMISSION FOR STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH EXPANDING THE HARRIS BASEBALL COMPLEX. AND SO AS SOON AS THE SPRING REC SEASON ENDED, WE WENT AHEAD AND DID THAT. SO OVER THE SUMMER, AS SOON AS THE REC SEASON ENDED AND IT WAS SLOWER DURING THE SUMMER, WE DID ACCOMPLISH THAT PROJECT. WE FINISHED EXPANDING 129 SPOTS AT HARRIS, AND AT THAT TIME IN THE SPRING, IF YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU APPROVED THE HARRIS EXPANSION, THE COMMENTS WERE MADE. WHAT ABOUT SHUFORD? ARE WE GOING TO NEED TO DO THIS AT THE SHUFORD SOFTBALL COMPLEX? AND AND IN THE MEETING, WE SAID, YES, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO DO THAT AND WE'LL WORK ON THAT BUDGET. WE'LL WORK ON GETTING THOSE DUCKS IN A ROW WHILE WE'RE DOING HARRIS. AND SO. SO THAT'S WHAT LEADS US TO TODAY.

THE HARRIS PARKING LOT EXPANSION IS DONE. LOOKS REALLY NICE. MCKINSEY PUT A NICE SOCIAL MEDIA POST OUT THAT IT WAS DONE. AND ACTUALLY WE DID GET A COMMENT OR TWO OF WHAT ABOUT SHUFORD? AND MCKENZIE COMMENTED BACK. WE'RE WE'RE WORKING ON IT. WE'RE JUST ABOUT THERE. AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE ARE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY. WE DO NEED TO DO THE SAME THING AT SHUFORD SOFTBALL COMPLEX. WE NEED TO EXPAND THE PARKING LOT DURING OUR BUSY REC SEASONS AND TRAVEL BALL SEASONS. IT IS PACKED THERE. AND SO WE HAVE DESIGNED A PLAN THAT JAMES HAS UP HERE THAT ADDS 59 MORE PARKING SPOTS TO THE SHUFORD SOFTBALL COMPLEX. AND SO WE'RE ASKING PERMISSION TO APPROVE THE BUDGET, $82,253.08, AND PERMISSION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS THAT WE CAN DO DURING THE FALL WHEN IT'S A LITTLE BIT SLOWER THERE AND GET THIS DONE

[00:35:02]

AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO RHODES AND ENGINEERING, WHO DID 90% OF THAT WORK AT HARRIS. AND THEY WILL ALSO DO 90% OF THIS, THAT WE DID IT IN HOUSE WITH OUR OWN CREWS, RHODES AND ENGINEERING, AND WE'LL DO IT AGAIN HERE AT SHUFORD. AND JAMES. GUYS DID A GREAT JOB OVER AT HARRIS, AND I'M SURE THEY'LL DO JUST AS GOOD HERE AT SHUFORD. IT WAS A GOOD PROJECT, WORTH IT. SO ANY QUESTIONS? JUST MAKE ONE COMMENT. I I'VE HAD A FEW PEOPLE MAKE COMMENTS ABOUT THE ENTRANCE THERE TO SHUFORD IS KIND OF TIGHT, PARTICULARLY IN TODAY'S WORLD WITH LARGER VEHICLES AND ALL. SO WHILE YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THIS, JAMES J. DEVIN, Y'ALL LOOK AT MAYBE IS THERE A WAY TO. I'M GOING TO USE THE WORD SOFTEN, BUT PROBABLY ROUND OUT A LITTLE BIT BETTER JUST ON ONE SIDE OF THAT, THAT ENTRANCE THERE, I NOTICED YOU'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF A CURVE ON OR SOMETHING. WHAT'S THAT IN THE BLACK THERE? IS THAT A THE LITTLE SIDEWALK LOOKING THING OF. YEAH, THAT'S THE ONLY COMMENT I'VE HEARD IT. IT'S A LITTLE BIT TIGHT WHEN YOU START RUNNING TWO VEHICLES THROUGH THAT LITTLE NARROW ENTRANCE.

YEAH. THAT AREA RIGHT THERE, THAT RIGHT THERE. IF YOU SOMEHOW SOFTEN THAT A LITTLE BIT, THAT'S A LITTLE TOUGH FOR GETTING ADDITIONAL PARKING AT SHUFORD BECAUSE WHERE THE PARKING LOT IS, IF YOU GET FURTHER DOWN WHERE THE PARKING LOT REALLY OPENS UP, IT FALLS, FALLS OFF REALLY STEEP INTO A WETLAND AREA. AND REALLY IT'S THE STORMWATER DRAINAGE FOR THE WHOLE COMPLEX DRAINS INTO THERE. SO THIS IS REALLY THESE 59 SPOTS IS LITERALLY THE ONLY PLACE YOU CAN REALLY GET IT. OTHERWISE IT'S IN A DEEP SLOPE AND A WETLANDS AND A REALLY WATER RETENTION AREA. SO BUT THIS WILL REALLY HELP GETTING THESE 59 SPOTS. THERE'S JUST 59 SPOTS. THE PRICE INCLUDES 59 SPOTS. AND THEN REDOING THE REST OF THE PARKING LOT. KNOW THAT THIS PARKING LOT IS IN MUCH BETTER SHAPE THAN HARRIS'S, AND SO WE ARE NOT GOING TO OVERLAY THE WHOLE THING LIKE WE DID AT HARRIS. GOOD QUESTION. YEAH, THIS ONE'S ACTUALLY. I LOOKED BACK AT THE NUMBERS THAT OUR BUDGET FOR HARRIS WAS $1,600, A PARKING SPOT, ROUGHLY 1600 AND CHANGE. AND THIS IS LIKE 1400 A PARKING SPOT. SO IT IS CHEAPER PER PARKING SPOT.

AND THAT'S PROBABLY THE MAIN REASON IS WE'RE NOT GOING TO OVERLAY THE WHOLE THING, BUT THIS PARKING LOT IS IN MUCH BETTER SHAPE. JAMES. JAMES THERE ACTUALLY WAS A RESURFACING OF THIS PARKING LOT WITHIN THE LAST FEW YEARS. I THINK IT'S MAYBE 3 OR 4 YEARS AGO. AND THE STRIPING IS STILL GOOD IN THERE. JAMES, JAMES AND THEN LOOKED AT IT. SO IT'S REALLY JUST ADDING THESE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I WAS KIND OF THINKING ABOUT THIS OTHER DAY.

HOW OLD ARE THOSE TWO COMPLEXES? 25 PLUS YEARS. HARRIS WAS 2000 AND 2001. IT WAS APPROVED. IT WAS, IT WAS IT WAS APPROVED. 91101 THAT WAS THE FIRST ONE THAT WAS SHUFORD WAS ALREADY THERE. SHUFORD WAS ALREADY THERE. SO THIS ONE'S 25 AND THE OTHER ONE'S A LITTLE OLDER THAN 25. YEAH, PROBABLY ABOUT 30. I CAN'T REMEMBER HOW LONG, BUT TIME SLIPS AWAY. BUT I KNOW HARRIS WITH HARRIS WAS AT. THANK YOU SIR. THE OTHER JOB LOOKS REALLY GOOD AND I KNOW IT'S GREATLY APPRECIATED FROM FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING OUT. IT'S NICE IN THERE. YEAH. THANK

[4. Consideration of September 1, 2026 5:00 p.m. Board Meeting Agenda (Eric Mosley)]

WE'LL BE ASKING FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE RURAL LAND STUDY REQUESTED BY THE PROPERTY APPRAISAL. THE FINAL ITEM UNDER SPECIAL BUSINESS IS THE SHEAFFER COMPLEX PARKING LOT EXPANSION REQUEST. UNDER PUBLIC HEARING. WE HAVE A FEW. I HAVE A FEW ITEMS. WE'VE GOT THE CONSIDERATION. REZONING AT 22, SORRY, 2226 ROANOKE ROAD FOR THE SIMS PROPERTY. ITEM TWO IS A REZONING AT 3097 WEST POINT ROAD FOR THE ALLEN FAMILY. UNDER THE HOME OCCUPATION, WE HAVE ONE AT 565 CIVIL ROAD FOR MR. SWAN, AND THEN WE HAVE SOME TEXT AMENDMENTS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION FOR APPENDIX B, C AND D, AND AUSTIN WILL BE WILL BE DISCUSSING THOSE THIS EVENING. THAT'S ALL I GOT. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY. ALL.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.