The Ware County Board of Commissioners (“the Board”) met for a work session, three public hearings, and the regular monthly meeting at the County Administration Building at 305 Oak Street.
Present were Chairman Elmer Thrift, Commissioners Jon Tindall, Leonard Burse, and Barry Cox. Not present was Commissioner Timothy Lucas. Also present was County Manager James Shubert and County Clerk Melinda Brooks.
The following agenda items were discussed/voted on.
• Resolution 2025 – 13: TREES Act: The board passed a resolution to provide temporary tax relief for eligible standing timber located in the designated disaster area in Ware County.
Citizens will be required to submit a properly completed application to be considered for the refund provided by the TREES Act.
This resolution designates the Tax Commissioner as the point of contact and to accept these certification forms and supporting documents.
• SPLOST Purchase Request: Recreation Department: Commissioners approved a request from the Recreation Department to purchase two 72-inch Toro mowers in the amount of $33,527.82; one Toro Sand Pro 3040 field groomer in the amount of $34,395.94; and one scoreboard for the football field in the amount of $13,115.00.
The board also approved payment for the repairing of the lights on multiple fields in the amount of $25,779.88. The total cost of the equipment and repairs is $106,818.64.
The funds will come from the 2014 SPLOST and the 2022 SPLOST funds.
• Request to seek bids for Public Works equipment: The board approved a request to seek bids for equipment for public works.
The equipment will include two 80-horsepower open cab tractors with 6foot to 7-foot rotary mowers; two Kenworth 480 with l6-foot box bodies or equivalent; a 50,0000-lb. excavator with thumb; an 8-foot tiller for a 100horsepower tractor; lease or purchase two motor graders.
• Amend Ware County’s Procurement Policy to comply with state law: The request is to amend Ware County’s Procurement Policy to comply with HB 137.
HB 137 increases the dollar value for the bidding requirements of public works construction projects from $100,000 to $250,000. Also, the bill increases the dollar value for the bidding requirements for road construction or maintenance projects delivered through a private contractor from $200,000 to $250,000.
• Bid Award: Street Paving – 2023 Local Funds Phase 1 – Coastal Engineering: Commissioners approved the low and best bid received for paving various short streets within Ware County to Thrift Brothers, LLC.
The streets included are California Avenue, Alabama Avenue, Columbia Avenue, New Hampshire Avenue, Illinois Avenue, Missouri Avenue, Utah Avenue, Wyoming Avenue, Tori Circle, Taylor Street, Ben Hill Avenue, Quail Street, Dove Street, Robin Street, Greenbriar Road, Adams Street, Eva Street, Glosson Street and Glenn Circle.
The bid opening was held Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at 2 p.m. Bids were received from Thrift Brothers, LLC in the amount of $1,351,112.15; East Coast Asphalt, LLC in the amount of $1,482,946.52; and The Scruggs Company in the amount of $1,627,508.12.
The funding amount for the 2025 LMIG is $1,119,535.22. The vote was 3-0 with Chairman Thrift abstaining.
• Resolution 2025 – 14; Relocate Roscoe Mixon Road: The board approved a resolution to relocate Roscoe Mixon Road from its current location of approximately 20 feet from the Waresboro Baptist Church Building to the southern property line.
The landowners have provided warranty deeds transferring ownership of the property where the road will be relocated. Once, the road is relocated, an application will be filed to close and abandon the original road location and then the property will be deeded by quit claim deed to Waresboro Baptist Church.
• Contract with CRSA Probation Services: Commissioners approved a contract between Ware County, Ware County State Court and CRSA Probation Services for adult supervision.
This is a one-year contract beginning July 1, 2025 and shall expire June 30, 2026. There is an option to renew for one additional year.
• Surplus miscellaneous items: The board declared several items which are no longer in use for surplus.
These items consist of different office furniture items (desks, chairs, filing cabinets, map drawers), 14 pews, two carts, a storage building, old air conditioner units, and a number of pallets of bricks.
• 2023 CDBG – Phase 2 Dusty Lane (TA #2) & Katie Lane (TA #3): Commissioners approved adding Dusty Lane and Katie Lane as Phase 2 of the 2023 CDBG.
The county has $267,144.12 in unobligated funds from the 2023 CDBG (paving Bennett Place subdivision roads). The estimated cost to pave the two roads is $293,341.00.
The additional contribution from the county would be $26,196.88.
• Rezoning of lots 1-3 of Wacona Heights Phase 1 from R-90 to R-50 Residential: The board approved a request to rezone lots 1-3 of Wacona Heights Phase 1 from R-90 to R-50 residential for the purpose of building a 16-unit 2-story residential structure.
The Waycross-Ware County Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve this request during their June 12, 2025 meeting.
• Closure/abandonment of alley in block 134 of Emerson Park subdivision: Commissioners approved a request from Cynthia Bennett for the closure/abandonment of an alley located in block 134 of Emerson Park subdivision (platted October 8, 1913).
The Ware County Parks and Recreation Department was recognized with a Proclamation for Parks and Recreation Month at a recent meeting of the Ware County Commission. Pictured are (back, l-r) Adam Brooks, Cole Gibson, Martin Cheatman, Chynna Bennett, Parks and Recreation Director Lance Adamson, Diandra John, Wilton McCall, Shekeila English, County Manager James Shubert, (front, l-r) Commissioner Barry Cox, Chairman Elmer Thrift, Commissioner Leonard Burse and Commissioner Jon Tindall. Not present is Commissioner Timothy Lucas.
The centerline of the proposed closure/abandonment is described as commencing in Block 134 of Emerson Park subdivision at a point near the southeastern intersection of the right of way of Utah Ave. and New York Ave., run southeastwardly along the western right of way of Utah Ave. a distance of 125 feet to the centerline of the alleyway, then southwestwardly parallel to New York Ave., a distance of 500 feet more or less, to a point on the eastern right of way of Colorado Avenue.
• Text amendments regarding commissary kitchens: The board approved an amendment to the Ware County Zoning Resolution text in Sections 302.9A, 302.19.A (Definitions), 707.2, 708.2, 708.A.2, & 708.B.2 (A, A1, A-2, & A-3 Zoning Districts) to permit commissary kitchens in all agriculture zoning districts and to permit the use of commissary kitchens as a permitted use in Agriculture Zoned Districts.
It would also allow direct purchase from the kitchen for consumption offsite, for example, bulk catering orders or prepared meals, in a graband-go manner.
A commissary kitchen is a commercial kitchen space where food preparation and/or storage can take place, separate from a food service establishment or mobile food unit more commonly referred to as “food trucks.”
