(The Pierce County Board of Commissioners discussed and/or voted on the following during their regular meeting Tuesday, March 3.)
Road improvement projects: Commissioners approved a resolution to authorize Pierce County to contract with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) for road improvements on Hacklebarney, Old River, Tyre Bridge, Sunset and Trudie Roads. (See previous coverage.)
Mack Dump trucks: Commissioners approved purchasing two 2027 Mack dump trucks from Worldwide Equipment of Albany for $223,275.62 each. Total cost is $446,571.24. The trucks will arrive later this month. Commissioners also approved trading in two 2025 Mack dump trucks. Yoder and Frey of Newnan bid $412,000 and will pick up the trucks in Blackshear. The other bid received on the dump trucks was from JM Wood Auction Company of Montgomery, AL, who bid $430,000 minus 7% commission of $30,100 with a net to the county of $399,900. (The trucks would have to be driven to Alabama.) With the trade in, the net cost to the county would be $34,571.24. Chairman Neal Bennett told The Times after the meeting the purchase of the new dump trucks and backhoe are part of an effort by commissioners to update and upgrade the county’s equipment fleet. (See next item.)
Backhoe loader: Commissioners approved trading in a CAT 420 backhoe loader for a new CAT 440 backhoe loader from Yancey Equipment in Waycross. The leased CAT 420 backhoe loader lease expires August 10. By ordering now, the county should have the new one by the expiration date. Estimated cost of the new backhoe is $185,608 and with a trade in of $55,435, the county would pay $130,173 for the new machine.
Tiny homes and RV parks: Commissioners approved amendments to its ordinances governing recreational vehicle parks and tiny homes and tiny home developments. The items have been approved by the planning commission and recommended to the county commission. No citizens commented on the proposed changes to the ordinances at a public hearing prior to the meeting.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) items: Commissioners approved resolution to submit its CDBG grant application for 2026 for drainage and road improvements in the Red Oak Loop area in the Farr’s Community. In a routine item, the commission also approved a resolution affirming no commissioners had a potential conflict of interest with the project.
Public comment: Stephanie Bell gave an update on seniors from the Agency on Aging Advisor Council meeting and Youth Legacy Leadership Project information and progress. Bell gave details on an upcoming food distribution featuring meals that are healthy and diabetic friendly. Bell also reported on the recent senior prom. She also highlighted a youth project underway to provide little lending libraries in the community.
County manager report: Interim County Manager Thomas Sauls gave a detailed report from various county departments. Among the highlights, Sauls reported county firefighters have passed basic training and will now begin hazmat and certification training. He also reported on a recent $12,000 donation from the Woodmen of the World that will be used to purchase fire equipment and he also reported the fire department had received a grant from Ag South to purchase rescue equipment in the event someone is trapped in a grain bin. Sauls thanked James Jacobs for his service as county extension agent and issued a welcome to new agent John Bennett. Sauls announced the Tiger Field project will have to be rebid and commissioners approved delaying the May regular meeting by a week to accommodate the bid process. He also said the county will re-advertise for bids on a house it owns and has surplused near the proposed County Farm Road Recreation Project. One bid was received on the home during an earlier attempt to obtain bids, but the bidder withdrew the offer. Sauls also reported he had received feedback on the recent story highlighting the theft of road signs, including tips about missing signs.
Pledge leader: Pastor Zach Cox, newly ordained pastor at Smyrna Fellowship Church, led the invocation. (See previous coverage.)
Pledge leader: U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant Joseph Gagin led the pledge of allegiance. (See previous coverage.)
Next meeting: The next regular commission meeting will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 7, at the Southeast Georgia Regional Agriculture Center in Blackshear.
