Ware County’s Board of Commissioners convened for its regular meeting Monday covering a wide range of appointments, contracts, and zoning matters affecting local residents.
Commissioners Leonard Burse, Barry Cox, and Jon Tindall, along with Chairman Elmer Thrift made three appointments to two boards. Commissioner Timothy Lucas was not present.
Darrell Roberson was appointed to a three-year term on the Board of Assessors during the December 8 meeting.
Carlos Nelson was named to Post 1 and Ramona Thrift to Post 5 of the Recreation Board for five-year terms.
The board approved Carter Electric as the electrical contractor for the EMA storage building which is under construction.
Commissioners awarded the 2023 Local Funds Phase 2 bid to The Scruggs Company in the amount of $657,638.57. Chairman Thrift chair recused himself from the vote.
The board ratified County Manager James Shubert’s contract. Commissioners noted appreciation for the agreement and the work he has performed since being hired last year.
The commissioners authorized two work orders with Passero Associates, LLC., the first for $7,500 and the second for $137,516.
Work Order 25-15 is for a tree obstruction study and removal project (Phase 1). GDOT has identified several trees which are in violation of the glide pattern approaching Runway 1/19.
These obstructions must be removed for the airport to remain eligible for state and federal funding. This work order is an agreement for Passero Associates to facilitate the removal of the trees.
This project is part of the Capital Improvement Plan for the Waycross-Ware County Airport. Funds will come from the Airport Fund.
Work Order 25-12 is for design work to rehabilitate Runway 1/19. GDOT has determined this runway needs to be rehabbed.
This agreement with Passero Associates is to design the project. The project is part of the Capital Improvement Plan for the Waycross–Ware County Airport.
Ware County will pay .5 percent of the $137,516 amount.
Road and Alley Closures
• Approved the closing of Center Street in the South Deenwood subdivision.
This will allow the landowner to obtain the right-of-way and use it as a closed access private driveway.
• Approved the closing of Block 218 alley in Emerson Park subdivision.
Cynthia Bennett requested to close/abandon this alley platted October 8, 1913. The alley closing is located at a point 125 feet southeast of the intersection of New Jersey Avenue and New Mexico Avenue, running southwestwardly parallel to New Jersey Avenue about 500 feet to Nevada Avenue.
The alley has not been actively maintained by the county in the last 20 years.
Zoning and Ordinances
• Rezoning approved: 355 E. Blackshear Avenue from R-50MH (Residential) to C-1 (Neighborhood Commercial).
Property owner wishes to rezone building adjacent to church for the purpose of using it as a recording studio for television, audio and film purposes.
• Rezoning denied: Northern portion of Parcel 036H03 002 from RS (Residential Single-Family) to A-1 (Agriculture-Forestry).
The property owner wished to allow a family member to place a manufactured home on the rear of their property.
After local residents expressed their opposition, the commission voted 3-1 to deny the request. Voting in the affirmative was Cox. Voting to deny was Thrift, Burse, and Tindall.
• Rezoning approved: Portions of Parcels 051C05 012, 051C05 013,and 051C05 014 from Residential to C3 (General Commercial).
The purpose of this request was to match the parcel zoning with the surrounding parcel.
• Text amendments adopted: Updates to the Ware County Zoning Resolution (Article III, Subsection 302.67; Article VII, Subsections 707.5 and 706.3) to designate utility-scale energy storage facilities as a conditional use in A-Agriculture-Forestry District and in GI- General Industrial District.
Currently utility use is found available for nearly all zoning types. As a result, these could be located near residential areas. Due to noise issues which can be caused by the cooling systems (like what can happen with cryptocurrency systems) for these facilities, concerns were raised regarding adverse impact on residences.
• Solar farm ordinance adopted: Amendment to Chapter 78 of the Ware County Code of Ordinances establishing regulations for solar farms to remove the 10,000 foot setback requirement between solar facilities in Ware County.
Other Actions
• Passed Resolution 2025-25 approving a Language Access Plan (LAP) for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) compliance in accordance with the requirements of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other required federal and state regulations.
• Commissioners heard comments from citizens regarding the perimeter road referendum State Representative James Burchett reported should be on the May 19, 2026 ballot to gauge the will of the voters in Ware Count, as well as Pierce County and Brantley County.
Commissioner gave a lengthy reply and explanation about the process.
Speakers
• Ferrell Malone requested the commission adopt a resolution concerning use of excessive force by the Sheriff’s Office at an incident at the recent Okefenokee Fair.
The investigation of the incident has been referred to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Commissioner Burse suggested no action be taken until the results from the investigation are received.
• Danny Bartlett, Chair of the Exchange Club of Waycross’ Freedom Shrine Project, presented a proposal to install the National Exchange Club’s Freedom Shrine in the Administration Building.
Commissioners were unanimously amenable to the project and suggested it be installed in a heavy traffic area of the building.
The meeting concluded with commissioners offering remarks. Commissioner Cox had two questions for the County Manager.
The first was from residents on Sandhill Farm Drive requesting weight limit signs be installed for through truck traffic. The second was asking for a 2.5% raise for county employees.
Shubert responded he will look into the weight limit signs and stating “it should be no problem” to the first concern. The couty manager said raises had already been considered in the proposed budget being presented in January.
Commissioner Tindall highlighted the Destination Church food bank initiative which is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
