Clayton County Board of Commissioners Regular Business Meeting – February 3, 2026

The Clayton County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. The meeting opened with roll call, an invocation by Pastor Terrence Curtis, and the Pledge of Allegiance. Prior to the agenda vote, the board removed Resolution 2026-31 and Resolution 2026-34 from the consent agenda. The board then adopted the amended agenda, heard public comment, approved the consent agenda, took up the regular agenda, entered executive session, approved personnel actions, and adjourned at 8:05 p.m.

Presentations & Proclamations

• Retired U.S. Air Force veteran Baldon Clarence Barkley was named Veteran of the Month and received a Quilt of Valor. Barkley, who served 23 years and will turn 97 on February 5, 2026, addressed the board.
• The board honored Director Jeff Metarko of the Transportation and Development Department on his retirement after 28 years of service with Clayton County. Metarko thanked the board and staff.
• District Attorney Tasha Mosley presented the November-term Grand Jury’s recommendation to increase jury per diem from $25 per day to $50 per day, the statutory cap. County Clerk staff said the increase would cost about an additional $200,000 annually on top of the current $440,000 jury fees. Mosley noted that other metro Atlanta counties pay $30–$50 and urged the board to adopt the recommendation; no vote was taken at this meeting.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the January 20, 2026 Regular Business Board Meeting minutes.
• Approved contract amendments and change orders for: ITB #20-95 (Battle Creek Road/Mt. Zion Blvd. widening with C.W. Matthews); ITB #24-26 (Rivers Edge Greenway Phase 3/4 with Pride Constructing); ITB #24-76 (Fire Station #1 and Emergency Services HQ with Hogan Construction Group); ITB #25-12 (Lakeview Events Center Amphitheater, including an emergency change order with Brad Construction Company II); and ITB #25-15 (Archives and Records Building renovations with McWright LLC).
• Approved awards and purchases including: ITB #25-146 athletic uniforms to Rock Team Sports; ITB #25-159 left-turn construction on Mt. Zion Road to CMC, Inc. for $1,970,070 funded by 2009 SPLOST; CP #25-191 copiers/printers lease and managed print services with Sharp Electronics through Sourcewell; SP #25-195 concrete construction services with L&D Hampton, LLC; and CP #26-15 heavy equipment with Caterpillar/Yancey Brothers Co.
• Approved Budget Amendment 2-26; two bail bond remission orders (State v. Charity Gilliam, $3,755; State v. Gregory Eugene Avery, $10,755); and multiple resolutions (2026-22 through 2026-30, 2026-32, 2026-33, 2026-35, and 2026-36) covering Georgia Power lighting/maintenance and utility agreements, VOCA grant acceptance, landfill Title V certification, GTIB grant application, Fire Station #13 lease with Jonesboro, opioid antagonist policy, co-responder MOU, forfeited vehicles, and March 17, 2026 special election polling places. Resolution 2026-31 was removed entirely; Resolution 2026-34 was removed for further review.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Dr. Henry Anderson praised Commissioner Alana Reeves’ November 8, 2025 town hall and provided updates on upcoming District 1 community meetings.
• Judge Shalonda Jones Parker urged the board to preserve the legislative coupling of state court judge salaries to Superior Court judge salaries, citing judicial independence and workload parity.
• Gerald Rose, President of the New Order of National Human Rights Organization, demanded a sheriff’s audit and the sheriff’s resignation or firing, reporting that he had contacted federal and state officials.
• Cornell Madison alleged he obtained bank records showing a $29,625 check for tailored dress suits, saying it was one example of misused funds; he called for the sheriff’s removal.
• Michelle Eichner described the jail as in a 'state of emergency,' criticized spending, and said a forensic audit was voted down on January 6, 2026; she announced a Change.org petition.
• Tashanika Beeman, a Clayton County resident and member of the New Order, said a jail walkthrough showed inmates 'in danger' and demanded an audit.
• Solicitor General Charles Brooks, speaking after the removal of Resolution 2026-31, opposed the salary-decoupling idea, noting the board previously directed him to seek legislative coupling.
• Donnie Skidmore supported transparency but objected to non-residents being given public comment time ahead of county residents, and suggested prioritizing Clayton County citizens.
• Mickey Garber asked about the status of $559,000 given to 'Roman United' and complained that the state-mandated Ethics Board still had not been seated.
• China McLean urged the county to treat gun violence as an emergency, cited recent shootings of children including her own son, and called for awareness and accountability.
• Olga Rodriguez asked how residents could see measurable results from concerns raised over the last four meetings.
• David Hamric congratulated Jeff Metarko, promoted the NRA’s Eddie Eagle gun safety program, and urged judges to hold offenders and parents accountable.
• Because the 30-minute public comment period expired, Tracy Wade and any remaining speakers were told they could speak at the next Tuesday business meeting.

Discussion Items

• Magistrate Court Budget Amendment 2-27: The chief judge requested $255,304 to fund part-time employees and independent contractors through FY2026. He presented a comparison showing Magistrate Court has a $1.8 million budget and 10 full-time positions while handling 116,960 cases in 2025 (at one point read as 11,960), more than the other courts. He said 13 of his independent contractor contracts had been suspended, leaving only three with one more pay period of funding. Commissioner Allen questioned the numbers; Commissioner Davis asked how to remain solvent. Interim CFO Jackson said the funds would come from insurance premium tax revenues, which are running above budget, not from fund balance. The board approved the amendment despite audible nays.
• Board appointments: The board considered and acted on appointments to the Clayton County Water Authority, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, and the Zoning Advisory Group.

Key Outcomes

• Removed Resolution 2026-31 (legislative salary decoupling) from the agenda entirely, and removed Resolution 2026-34 (forfeited vehicle) for further review by the Clayton County Police Department.
• Approved the consent agenda as amended.
• Approved Budget Amendment 2-27 for the Magistrate Court in the amount of approximately $255,304.
• Reappointed John M. Chafin to the Clayton County Water Authority for a five-year term.
• Appointed Donnie Skidmore to the Clayton County Water Authority.
• Appointed Dr. Henry Anderson to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities board; one commissioner abstained, stating he is the appointee’s sibling.
• Reappointed Audrey Bryant Lewis to the Zoning Advisory Group for a term expiring August 2, 2028.
• Approved three personnel actions following executive session: hire Simone Leonard as assistant to the chief operating officer (salary $57,306; annual impact $14,851); appoint Keith Rowland as interim director of Transportation and Development effective February 14, 2026 (salary $151,013; annual impact $18,477); and hire Tiffany Bulware as staff attorney (salary $116,337; annual impact $35,982; effective January 3, 2026).
• Adjourned at 8:05 p.m.