Brantley County Commissioners approved a series of items during Thursday night’s meeting.
The Commissioners approved the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) for the Georgia Forestry Commission. This MOU is specifically between Brantley County and the Georgia Forestry Commission in the December 5 meeting.
Commissioners approved internet service and servers at the Transfer Station.
“Since I’ve been here,” said County Manager Joey Cason during the work session, “we have had computer issues and issues with getting all of the power working out there at the transfer station. Brantley Telephone has ran the fiber to the transfer station now. For us to be able to have access to the internet, this will cover that installation and provide them with internet.
“You are voting on a new server and all the stuff that goes along with us to have safe cyber, secure, safe internet access at the transfer station.”
It will be paid for out of the computer equipment for the Transfer Station’s Capital Outlay budget.
Commissioner Randy Davison said that checking on getting power was a necessity.
“All we have are solar panels and a generator,” Davison said.
All the commissioners agreed the solar panels were a good idea, but they are no longer working.
County Manager Joey Cason has said he will look into the situation.
Commissioners approved the 2025 Indigent Defense Agreement increase. This agreement will provide funds for public defenders.
The increase of nearly $2,500 is from $80,532.63 to $82,948.61 The Commissioners approved the 2025 Group Medical Insurance. It will be moved from the current PCHS (Private Healthcare Systems) to Sigma U.S. Benefits.
According to Cason in the work session, there will be a seven percent increase for employees and a 10% increase to the county.
“We are a self-insured government,” said Cason. “We are not a fully insured government that governs an insurance company. If we were our insurance costs would go up significantly.
“Last year we had the total amount of $588,275 paid out by the insurance company for five major claims. They (PCHS) said they were not covering that again. So with that in mind, we need a vote to approve us moving from PCHS to Sigma U.S. Benefits.”
Cason added the new network will include visits to doctors or the hospital in Waycross and Savannah in addition to Brunswick.
Cason also said he will be reaching out to insurance companies earlier next year to get quotes.
Other additional amendments that were approved include the following:
• Paying ACCG (Accounting) $296,601 for Worker’s Compensation Coverage. The payment would start in 2025 and it will be an annual coverage through the General Fund.
• Paying the annual Christmas bonus for fulltime staff in the amount of $13,600 which will be paid out of the General Fund salaries.
• Amending the annual list of county holidays to include one half-day on the Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving.
The next Commissioners Work Session will be Tuesday, January 7 at 6 p.m. The next regular meeting will be Thursday, January 9 at 6 p.m.
Commissioners will vote on several amendments to the county budget during the regular meeting.
The commission went into executive session for 36 minutes during the work session for real estate, a legal matter and personnel. Information was received, but no action was taken.
