The Ware County Commission held a work session, public hearing, and regular monthly meeting Monday, October 14 and a special called meeting Thursday, October 17 at the County Administration Building. Commissioners present were Chairman Elmer Thrift, Leonard Burse, Sammy Hendricks, Timothy Lucas, and Jerry Pope. Commissioner Pope didn’t attend the called called meeting. Following is the business considered at the sessions:
• Tax Commissioner presentation: Roger Collins presented the FY2025 updated tax digest and millage rate information for discussion and questions and discussed the ramifications of HB 311 which relates to, “general provisions regarding ad valorem taxation of property, so as to provide optional tax relief to certain properties located in nationally declared federal disaster areas.”
• Installation of a Narcan vending machine in courthouse: After hearing a presentation by Stephonie Goddard, Coordinator of the Waycross Judicial Circuit Accountability Court for Unison Behavioral Health and Allena Thomas, Unison Trust Outreach Coordinator, the board approved installation.
The vending machine will have Naloxone HCl Nasal Spray in it . Prescription and nonprescription (over the counter) naloxone nasal spray is used along with emergency medical treatment to reverse the lifethreatening effects of a known or suspected opiate (narcotic) overdose in adults and children.
Naloxone nasal spray is in a class of medications called opiate antagonists. It works by blocking the effects of opiates to relieve dangerous symptoms caused by high levels of opiates in the blood.
• Resolution 202422: GDOT Agreement for Thigpen Road, P.I. 0020592: The board approved an agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) for Ware County to be reimbursed for a Transportation Investment Act (TIA) project (Thigpen Road) which the county has chosen to begin work early when the funds become available in the next cycle.
• Resolution 202423: GDOT Agreement for Gibbs Lane, P.I. 0020588: The board approved an agreement with GDOT for Ware County to be reimbursed for a TIA project (Gibbs Lane) which the county has chosen to begin work early when the funds become available in the next cycle.
• Resolution 202424: FY2023 CDBG Dirt Road Drainage & Paving: The board awarded a bid to Thrift Brothers, LLC for the FY2023 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Dirt Road Paving and Drainage (CDBG No. 23P-Y-l48-1-6357) in the amount of $618,734.
The roads include Wren Avenue, Cardinal Drive, Mockingbird Lane, Sparrow Drive, and Bluebird Circle.
Based on the bid of $618,734.88, Ware County’s local match amount will be $296,992.
Chairman Thrift recused himself from presiding over this item and voting on it.
• Resolution 202525: Airport Timber Sale: The board awarded a bid to Smurfit WestRock of Fernandina Beach, Fla., to harvest 73 acres of timber at the Waycross-Ware County Airport. The bid offered was $21.50 per ton for a total bid of $116,100.
Smurfit was the only bidder for the timber.
• Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for road improvement project management services: The board rejected an Independent Contractor MOU with Gene Thomas for Project Management Services which would have included Thomas providing expertise “for all things pertaining to road improvement project management services. Ware County Government/County Manager’s Office shall request inspection services in advance or other arrangements that are agreed upon between both parties.” Compensation would have been $45 per hour.
Voting in favor were Burse and Pope. Voting against were Thrift, Lucas and Hendricks.
• Recreation Department Advisory Board bylaws revision: The board approved proposed bylaws by the County Attorney for the creation of a Recreation Advisory Board with one clarification on “immediate family members to the second degree” of a county commissioner cannot serve on the advisory board.
• Rezone Parcel No. 054A06 013 from C-1 Neighborhood Commercial to C-2 Highway Commercial District: A public hearing was held to rezone a parcel at 2228 Screven Avenue from C-1 to C-2. Thomas Drawdy made the request as he proposes opening an equipment rental and retail business at the location.
The board approved the rezoning request.
The Ware County Commission approved Thomas Drawdy's request to rezone a parcel at 2228 Screven Avenue to open an equipment rental and retail business at the location. Photo by DANNY BARTLETT
