The Brantley County Board of Commissioners discussed/ voted on the following agenda items during the Tuesday, February 3 work session and the Thursday, February 5 regular monthly meeting.
• Approval of February agenda: Commissioners approved the agenda for the regular February meeting.
• Public Participation: Brantley County residents spoke for or against the amendment to the Land Use Ordinance to allow a data center in Brantley County under “light industrial.” See related story.
• Board appointment: Commissioners approved Hal Herndon for board appointment to 7Rivers RC&D.
• Special Event Permit – Satilla Riverkeeper: A special event permit was granted to the Satilla Riverkeeper for the annual Satilla River event.
• Salary Approval – Probate Judge: The salary for newly appointed Associate Probate Judge Allie Brooks was approved for $42,146.52.
• Resolution for Project Agreement – Satilla Recreational Trail Project: Commissioners approved a project agreement with Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to create a walking trail around the Recreation Complex and larger pond.
• Fiscal Agent Designation and Acceptance Agreement – Family Connection: Commissioners approved the annual agreement for acting as the Fiscal Agent for Family Connection in Brantley County.
• Lease Agreement Renewal with Action Pact: A motion carried to renew a lease agreement with Action Pact, which hosts the Head Start Program in Brantley County.
• Resolution for Project Agreement – Little Buffalo Creek Bridge Replacement: The board passed a project agreement with Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank (GTIB) for the Little Buffalo Creek Bridge replacement. This will be in the form of a grant and a possible loan.
• Parking lot striping: Commissioners approved a bid from PS Striping for $18,600 to restripe the parking lots around the Brantley County Courthouse, DFCS, Head Start, Senior Center, Health Department and the Brantley County Commissioners Office.
• Resurfacing Knox Road: Scruggs Company made a bid of $1,090,949.86 to resurface Knox Road. They were the lowest bidder of three.
Commissioners accepted Scruggs Company onto the project, which will be paid for by the Local Maintenance & Improvement Grant (LMIG) and SPLOST (Special Local Option Sales Tax).
• Purchasing radio towers – Monroe Communications: The purchase of three radio towers from Monroe Communications was approved.
The towers will be located in Waynesville, Hoboken, and Winokur. The total cost will be $130,000, of which $40,000 will come from the jail fund, $10,000 from the Special Fire District and $28,000 from the 2025 SPLOST. The remaining amount will be paid out of the fund balance.
• Purchasing and replacing ambulance engine: A motion carried to approve the purchase of an EMS ambulance engine from Robbie Roberson Ford for $19,310.70. It will be paid for out of EMS collection account.
• Purchasing skid steer: The purchase of a second JCB skid steer with a mulching head and additional six-foot extension was approved for the Brantley County Road Department.
The $450,150 cost will be paid for by SPLOST dollars.
• Postponement of Proposed Amendment to Land Use Ordinance to Add “Data Centers” as Special Exception under Light Industrial Zoning: Commissioners deferred the vote to add “Data Centers” as a special exception under Light Industrial Zoning.
This decision comes as a result of persistent community pushback. See related story.
• GTIB airport hangars: The GTIB (Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank) application to begin building T-Hangars once the slab and taxiway are built was approved.
• Board appointment – County Attorney: Patrick Brooks was hired as the new Brantley County Attorney replacing Steven Blackerby, who was appointed to the Superior Court of the Brunswick Judicial Circuit by Governor Brian Kemp.
• Service Contract – Coastal Greenery: A motion carried to approve a service contract with Coastal Greenery for design and landscaping around the new County Annex Building.
• County Manager Report: County Manager Joey Cason reported cleanup around the Satilla Plantation has begun.
Cason said Tax Commissioner Pat Tompkins officially moved into the new Annex Building January 30. Three departments are now located in the Annex Building — Tax Commissioner and Tax Assessor offices, 911 and the Planning & Building Department.
After all equipment has been transitioned into the new building, Brantley County will become one of the few rural communities capable of Next Generation 911.
After three decades of dedicated service, Buddy Johns will retire at the end of this month.
