The Ware County Commission discussed/voted on the following agenda items during a Monday, October 27 called meeting at the County Administration Building.
Present were Chairman Elmer Thrift, Commissioners Leonard Burse, Barry Cox and Timothy Lucas. Commissioner Jon Tindall was on the telephone.
Also present was County Manager James Shubert, County Clerk Melinda Brooks, Assistant County Clerk Melissa Bennett, and Assistant County Attorney Jennifer Herzog.
Each measure passed with unanimous support.
• Rezoning for Manufactured Housing: Commissioners gave the green light to a rezoning request for 840 McKinley Road (Parcel 055D02 014), changing its designation from R-75 Residential to R-75MH Residential.
The move allows for the placement of single-wide manufactured homes on the property, expanding affordable housing options in the area.
The Waycross-Ware County Planning Commission had previously endorsed the change with a unanimous vote at its September 11 meeting.
• Bid awarded: In a continued effort to improve rural infrastructure, the Commission awarded the bid for the 2023 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Dirt Road Drainage and Paving Project to Thrift Brothers, LLC.
The winning bid of $270,217.87 will fund improvements to Dusty Lane and Katie Lane. This follows earlier work completed by Thrift Brothers on Wren Avenue, Cardinal Drive, Mockingbird Lane, Sparrow Drive, and Bluebird Circle.
The total revised construction budget for the current phase stands at $276,922.92, supported by both state and local funding.
• Airport Capital Improvement Plan: To maintain eligibility for federal and state aviation funding, the Commission also approved the five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for the Waycross-Ware County Airport.
The CIP outlines upcoming priorities such as runway and taxiway upgrades, lighting and signage improvements, land acquisition, and terminal enhancements.
Funding for these projects is expected to follow the standard formula: 90 percent from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), 5% from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), and 5% local contribution.
