The Ware County Board of Commissioners met Monday, August 11 for its regular work session and meeting including two public hearings at the County Administration Building.
Present were Chairman Elmer Thrift, Commissioners Leonard Burse, Barry Cox, Timothy Lucas and Jon Tindall. Also present was County Manager James Shubert, County Clerk Melinda Brooks, and Assistant County Attorney Jennifer Herzog.
• Guest speakers: There were three presentations during the guest speaker portion of the agenda.
Ricky Wade of Beaver Reapers, a professional service provider based in Broxton specializing in wildlife removal and management. Beaver Reapers offers efficient and humane solutions for dealing with beaver-related issues in the local area.
Barbara Siedman and Shaneika Jones of Community Gardens presented a plan for a project to raise food on a five-acre plot and to teach children how to grow, harvest and cook “the old-fashioned way, not from a box.”
They were asking for help to secure funding through grants.
Daniel Summers, Asst. District Traffic Engineer for the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), presented a recommendation to put in a Restricted Crossing U-Turn (RCUT), also known as a JTurn at the intersection of SR520 and SR122.
After much discussion, the Board decided to study the recommendation in more detail and get back to GDOT later.
For more information about an RCUT, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =mjbcUo3Qp00
• Thrift Brothers, LLC contract for short street paving: Commissioners approved a contract with Thrift Brothers, LLC to pave 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 July 2, 2025. Thrift Brothers, LLC was the lowest and best bid in the amount of $1,351,112.15.
The funding amount for the 2025 LMIG (Local Maintenance & Improvement Grant) is $1,119,535.22. Ware County will have a responsibility of $231,576.93.
• Title Research, Appraisal and Purchase of right-of-way for Wadley Road realignment: The board approved a request to authorize the county attorney to complete title investigations into properties to be purchased for the paving and realignment of Wadley Road.
Commissioners authorized the County Manager Shubert to hire a certified appraiser to obtain appraisals of such properties, and to purchase such properties at the appraised price.
• Road List for 2026 LMIG ($552,815.76 surplus): The commission approved the 2026 LMIG allocation of $1,273,448.87 with a 10 percent match.
The Board has allocated a portion of the 2026 LMIG to the Community Development Block Grant CDBG) 2025 project. The unallocated funds remaining in the 2026 LMIG will be used on other roads.
The amount of funds available from the 2026 LMIG is $552,815.76. Roads on this list include Tara Road, East Waring, Needham Road, Grove Avenue, Bland Road and North River Road.
• IT, Fire Rescue and EMS surplus request: Commissioners approved the request from the IT Department, Fire Rescue and EMS to surplus equipment no longer in use and ready to be declared surplus.
Items include monitors, computers, scanners, a large-format printer and a copier. Some items have been earmarked to be donated to fire departments in other countries.
• Resolution 2025–17: Authorizing Participation in ACCG-IRMA Supplemental Medical, Accident, and Disability Fund - First Responder PTSD Program: The Board approved Resolution 2025–17. House Bill 451 (Ashely Wilson Act) mandates counties, cities and state agencies provide supplemental coverage for its first responders.
The program helps bridge financial gaps first responders encounter following a diagnosis of PTSD (Posttraumatic stress disorder). It helps with the extra expense items such as deductibles, co-pays, out of network treatments and to offset loss of income.
• Regional Comprehensive Plan update: Marcus McConico of the Southern Regional Planning Commission informed the commission the five-year plan is due to be updated by June 30, 2026.
McConico said there must be two public hearings before the end of the fiscal year. He also said he already started doing work on the plan.
• Lacie Street road closure: Commissioners approved the request from the WareCountyPlanningCommission to close Lacie Street. Dustin Minchew, interim Planning Director, said Dale Poole has requested to close/abandon Lacie Street, an unopened road located in Block 93 of the original South Deenwood subdivision, platted July 17, 1914, and drawn and named as Lacie Street in a later plat from September 15, 1948.
The 50x500-foot rightof way runs parallel to Carswell Avenue. This right of way is located 400 feet west of the northwest right-of-way of South Augusta Avenue and Carswell Avenue and then 250 feet north of the northwest right-of-way of Carswell Avenue and an unopened road named, on the 1948 plat, as Center Street.
• Unnamed road closure: The commission approved the request from the Ware County Planning Commission to close an unnamed road in the Sand Hill Subdivision.
Minchew said Kody Dukes requested to close/abandon the road in the Sand Hill Subdivision to obtain the right of way to add to existing property which surrounds this right-of-way.
