(The Pierce County Board of Commissioners discussed and/or voted on the following during their regular meeting Tuesday, February 10. The meeting was delayed a week due to a scheduling conflict. )
Waycross bypass: The proposed Waycross bypass remained a topic of interest. Blake Edwards told commissioners he could not attend a meeting during the day due to work requirements, noting the board voted to rescind its support of the proposed bypass at a called meeting during the day. He asked commissioners if they had any other comments on the bypass proposal. “We rescinded our support and as far as I’m concerned, we are done with it,” said Chairman Neal Bennett. No other commissioners commented on the issue. John Wilson was also on the agenda to speak on the bypass, but he was not present. Commissioners struck the item from the agenda.
Road grader trade in: Commissioners approved trading in a 2019 road grader for a 2025 road grader. The cost of the new road grader will be $324,969. Trade in is an estimated $76,000, which would leave the county to pay approximately $248,969.
New wireless tower: Commissioners approved a conditional use request for installation of a wireless communication tower on Knox Rd, Blackshear. A public hearing was held prior to the meeting. No public comment was received on the permit.
County manager report: Interim County Manager Thomas Sauls told commissioners county revenues for 2025 were $20,562,042.47 and expenditures were $19,858,153.53. Sauls announced work is completed on the Whitney Lakes culvert repair and paving is soon to get underway in the Chapel Road area. He noted work is also underway on River Road. Sauls also reviewed reports from various county departments during his remarks to commissioners.
Pledge leader First District Commissioner Troy Mattox, a veteran of the Vietnam War, was the pledge leader for February. Fourth District Commissioner David Lowman offered the invocation.
Next meeting: The next regular commission meeting will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, at the Southeast Georgia Regional Agriculture Center in Blackshear.
