The Brantley County Commissioners voted on a series of considerations and resolutions during their first meeting of 2025.
The commissioners approved the appointment of Steven Blackerby as new county attorney at the Thursday, January 9 session. Blackerby is based out of Brown Raddick in Brunswick.
The commissioners approved the appointment of Hal Herndon as Vice Chairman for 2025.
The commissioners approved a resolution to designate Prime South Bank as the depository for county funds.
There was an approval for an authorization for the Establishment of Depository Accounts by Brantley County’s Constitutional Officers.
Another authorization was passed for Constitutional Officers and Elected Officials to use County Federal ID Number and to accept checks, money orders, cash, and/or cashier’s checks, electronic transactions and credit/debit card payments in their official duties.
The commissioners approved a consideration of Fiscal Agent Designation and Acceptance Agreement for Family Connection.
The commissioners approved to adopt a statewide document dealing with body art regulations for the Health Department.
“The health department has asked us to adopt the regulations the state has put in place for body art and body piercings,” County Manager Joey Cason explained during the Tuesday, January 7 work session. “It’s a 44page document. They’re (local officials) are asking us to adopt what they already have in place so we don’t have to create a new ordinance to go along with that.
“It was created by the Department of Public Health in Atlanta. It’s a statewide thing. Each county commission has to adopt it.”
The commissioners approved the bid of The Scruggs Company of Waycross for the LMIG (Local Maintenance & Improvement Grant) 2025 Riverside Road resurfacing work in the amount of $1,120,245.85.
“Scruggs did the first half of the road and did a very good job,” said Cason. “The engineer also recommends Scruggs.”
Two other bids were received from East Coast Asphalt of Douglas ($1,081,455.80) and Seaboard Construction of Brunswick ($1,815,595.97).
An approval was passed for the consideration of a resolution for the TIA Project on Britt Still Road culvert phase. Approval has been received by the Army Corps of Engineers to put culverts in where they need to be.
“This is the TSPLOST (Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) II project for Britt Still Road’s culvert phase,” Cason said in Tuesday’s meeting. “We have signed document by the attorney, and you need to pass a resolution saying we can move forward with that.”
The commissioners approved a consideration of a resolution for authorizing participation in the ACCG First Responder PTSD program.
“This has been adopted by the state,” Cason informed commissioners at the work session. “We’re just moving forward with what they’ve approved. We are mandated to do this.”
The commissioners approved the consideration of a surplus of a 2013 E350 ambulance.
“That piece of equipment is one that we feel like we may be able to get some money for,” explained the county manager Tuesday night. “You (commissioners) have helped Chuck (Wilson, EMS director) get his fleet in good shape. Basically, this will offset some of the cost of the last piece of equipment that we bought.”
The commissioners approved the consideration of a video recorder system from Sheriff Len Davis for the Sheriff’s Office and jail. It will be paid for by Jail SPLOST in the amount of $38,392.
“All of the cameras in the jail need to be updated and replaced,” Cason told commissioners of the request.
Commissioners also discussed a tower lease agreement and considered two quotes for power to the transfer station during Tuesday’s work session. They were not on the agenda Thursday.
Cason informed the commissioners the tower located behind the Brantley County Sheriff’s Office is owned by South Georgia Tower, who wants to sell it.
“They (owners) would like to know if you would like to relinquish your rights of first refusal,” said Cason. “They had a buyer who would not accept the contract as long as you had first right of the refusal. They’re (South Georgia Tower) asking you to consider making an amendment to the current deal so they can try to find a buyer and not have to come back to you to consider.”
No action was taken. The county manager told commissioners he had bids of $28,800 and $37,800 for power being run to the transfer station.
“One bid ($37,800) takes the power basically from Smyrna Church Road all the way to the transfer station,” said Cason. “The other bid ($28,800) takes it from the last house on Gilman Road to the transfer station. There’s a $9,000 difference.”
No action was taken.
The next work session is 6 p.m. Tuesday, February 4. The next regular meeting is 6 p.m. Thursday, February 6
