Clayton County Board of Commissioners Regular Business Meeting - September 3, 2024
Clayton County Board of Commissioners Regular Business Meeting - September 3, 2024
The Clayton County Board of Commissioners held its regular business meeting on September 3, 2024, at 6:00 PM. The meeting included adoption of the agenda with three emergency items, presentations and proclamations, public comments, approval of the consent agenda, board appointments, executive session, and approval of two settlement agreements. All actions were approved unanimously.
Presentations & Proclamations
- Veteran of the Month: Retired Sergeant Leslie R. Cotton Williams was honored for her service in the U.S. Air Force and community involvement.
- National Preparedness Month (September 2024): Recognized by proclamation presented by Commissioner Gail B. Hambrick, highlighting flood awareness events and the Atlanta Praise and Preparedness Summit on September 12, 2024.
- National Senior Center Month (September 2024): Proclamation recognizing the county's senior centers and intergenerational centers.
- National Kinship Care Month (September 2024): Proclamation honoring kinship caregivers and their contributions.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Teresa Talley (Hampton, GA): Expressed frustration over unchecked truck parking on public and private property, alleging code enforcement and county leaders have not resolved the issue. Requested a meeting with Chairman Turner.
- Orlando Gooden (District 3, Clayton County): Responded to a cease-and-desist letter from PsychoWorks regarding his public comments about trash services. He stated his comments were justified and considered the letter a violation of his First Amendment rights.
- David Hammer (District 3): Urged the Transportation and Development Department to extend green light times on north and southbound roads during the NASCAR playoff weekend (September 7-8) to accommodate 70,000–90,000 visitors. Also called for improved county appearance (grass cutting, building maintenance, trash removal) to attract investment.
- Larry Jackson (District 3, Riverdale): Criticized the condition of Kroger stores in the county (water leaks, empty refrigerators) and advocated for more parks and recreation facilities for youth.
- Carol Yancey (Rex, GA): Submitted an open records request for attorney fees paid in personal lawsuits against commissioners; expressed dissatisfaction with the $100 fee and lack of response from the county attorney. Also called for salary cuts for directors and chiefs (excluding first responders) to balance the budget.
- Sylvia Denise Wright (Alzheimer’s Services Center): Announced two events for World Alzheimer’s Awareness Month (documentary screening on September 13 and walk on September 21) and the planned reopening of the center’s personal care home in October pending inspections.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of the August 20, 2024 meeting minutes.
- Contract amendments and awards (elevator maintenance, portable toilet rental, asphaltic concrete, plumbing supplies, fire station construction, ERP system, and two fire station builds).
- Budget amendments (FY25 ARPA and other adjustments).
- Monthly report of settlements (March–July 2024).
- Resolutions: Master Solar Energy Procurement Agreement, Library Amnesty Week, Comprehensive Annual Performance and Evaluation Report submission to HUD, Senior Services consulting agreement with National Council on Aging, Vet-Connect Symposium MOU with City of Riverdale, NTIA Digital Equity grant application, GDOT resurfacing project agreement, two Water Authority easement resolutions, and three special facility use requests (Alzheimer’s 5K, Links Inc. 5K, Alzheimer’s Awareness Night).
- Three emergency items added to the consent agenda: Resolution 2024-216 and 2024-217 (parking agreements with North Center Productions for September 6–12) and Resolution 2024-218 (removal of Dr. Richard Wright from the Board of Health).
All items were approved unanimously.
Discussion Items
- Board Appointment – Animal Control: Dr. Eddie Gordon was appointed to fill the vacancy left by Milo Chapman (term expires March 12, 2026). Approved unanimously.
- Board Appointment – Board of Zoning Appeals: The item was held (no recommendation made).
- Board Appointment – Board of Health: Dr. Damont Davis Jr. was appointed to replace Dr. Richard Wright (term expires December 31, 2025). Approved unanimously (Commissioner Anderson recused).
- Board Appointment – Zoning Advisory Group (Full Board): Item 29 was held until the next meeting.
- Board Appointment – Zoning Advisory Group (Chairman’s Appointment): Herman Turner was reappointed (term expires September 2, 2027). Approved unanimously.
- Board Appointment – Zoning Advisory Group (District 3): Held until a new District 3 commissioner is elected in November 2024; the incumbent, Dante Long, will continue to serve.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously (including three emergency items).
- Board Appointments: Four appointments made (Animal Control, Board of Health, ZAG Chairman’s appointee); two held (Board of Zoning Appeals and ZAG District 3).
- Executive Session: Held for litigation only.
- Settlement Approvals: Two settlements approved unanimously:
- William Bohannon vs. Sheriff Allen: $12,500 for injuries sustained during incarceration (January 13–20, 2022).
- NAN that Wynn vs. Jackson Moore (and county): $23,750 for an automobile accident on November 21, 2023.
- Budget Amendment Authority: Authorized for the settlements.
- Meeting Adjourned at approximately 7:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Right, yeah, I thought she was out, right? I don't have any email to try to keep it there easily. So yeah, if you have something cool but not, then I'll wait for T. I just wanted you to know if she was like called for some reason it's not going to be. All right, welcome to this evening's work, uh not work session, but regular uh business meeting. We will have our invocation by Pastor Gary Anderson and New Macedonia Church in Riverdale that will be followed by our veteran of the month, uh retired Sergeant Leslie R. Cotton Williams. If you would please stand with me. There you go. How are you doing, Pastor? Let us all bow heads. Father in heaven, we do come this evening to say thank you and thank you for another gracious time that you allowed us as your people to come together. We pray, Father, for our commissioners, we pray for our chairman, we pray for Father for those who are here today, and we pray for each person under sound of my voice. We pray for your blessing upon them. Bless this meeting with your wisdom and your knowledge, protect us and watch over us even as we're here today. God, we give you praise and glory in Jesus' name, Christ's name. Amen. Amen. Amen. Sorge. Of the United States of America and to the Republicans, one nation, indivisible with liberty and good evening, everyone. Welcome to our September 3rd regular business meeting. The first order of business is the adoption of the agenda. Do any board members have any amendments during this time? Yes, madam clerk. There's two emergency items that need to be added to this agenda. I will have staff attorney uh Mr. Reed to clarify. Good evening. Um Mr. Chair, Mr. Vice Chair and Board members. It's actually uh three items. Two of them are requests for emergency edition. First is resolution 2024 216, which is a resolution authorizing Clayton County to enter into a parking holding agreement with North Center Productions Incorporated, providing for the terms and conditions under which Clayton County property will be used for the purpose of parking and catering. Um there's actually uh two uh resolution 2024 216 and 2024 217, both the same uh title. They're relating to two um parking agreements, one for the uh spivey splash water park and the other at 120 Smith Street. The reason why they're being brought as emergency items today is uh they are wishing to use those properties between September 6th through September 12th. And so by the time it comes back to this board, it have already been done. We could have waited till next week, but since we already can decide on that, you know, now we can get it approved if that's what the board's desire. And then the other issue is resolution 2024 218. Uh, this is a resolution authorizing the board of commissioners to order the removal of Dr. Richard Wright from the Clayton County Board of Health. This is an item on your agenda for today. It was discussed at the agenda meeting, it just was not included in your uh agenda. All right, I'm gonna make the motion to add all three of those items to the consent agenda as emergency items uh based on the explanation that staff attorney read provided us. Is there a second? Second. Any questions? Those in favor, aye.
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