OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Clayton County Board of Commissioners Regular Business Meeting - February 12, 2026

Board of Commissioners — Thursday, February 12, 2026
BodyClayton County, Georgia
SessionBoard of Commissioners
DateThursday, February 12, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:24:30

Transcript — Verbatim
0:27

Welcome to this evening's regular business meeting.

0:32

We do have a new commissioner sitting up here with us.

0:36

Please welcome Commissioner Kashe Allen.

0:44

Commissioner Allen, is there anything you would like to say right quick?

0:47

Yes, yes.

0:48

Uh thank you, Chairman Turner, for the warm welcome.

0:50

Hello, everyone.

0:51

My name is Tashey Allen, and it is truly an honor to be here today representing the great residents of District 3.

0:59

I am committed to being responsive, transparency, and delivering results for the citizens here in Clayton County.

1:06

My hope is to have the younger generation step up, get inspired, and one day run for office as well.

1:14

Thank you guys.

1:15

And for those of you has that have made it possible for me to be here today.

1:18

Thank you for the opportunity to serve.

1:20

All right.

1:29

All right, we're gonna have our invocation.

1:30

My Reverend Jerry T.

1:32

Anderson of the New Macedonian Baptist Church in Riverdale.

1:36

That will be followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:38

If you would please stand with me.

1:46

Let us bow ahead.

2:03

We thank you, God for the leadership of Clayton County.

2:05

We ask God that you will bless them tremendously and give them favor in everything that they do.

2:10

We thank you, Father, for this opportunity.

2:12

Bless this meeting tonight.

2:13

Bless those participants and those who come to hear the news come from coming from our commissioners.

2:20

We thank you now, Father, for this opportunity.

2:23

Bless us and protect us as we do this in your name.

2:26

That is the name of Jesus.

2:28

Amen.

2:30

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

2:38

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice law.

3:05

Do any board members have any amendments?

3:08

Yes, madam clerk.

3:09

I have a couple here.

3:11

First is uh to remove item nine from the agenda.

3:18

A FLAC voluntary benefits.

3:20

They are there's still some conversations that need to be had.

3:24

Is there a second to remove it from the agenda?

3:26

Second.

3:27

Any questions?

3:28

Those in favor, aye.

3:30

Aye.

3:30

Aye.

3:31

Oppose.

3:31

It is unanimous.

3:33

Also, I'd like to remove from the agenda item 32.

3:38

Resolution 2024-271 resolution to sever the positions of the clerk of the Superior Court and the Clerk of Magistrate Court.

3:47

Is there a second?

3:49

Second.

3:50

Any questions?

3:51

Those in favor, aye.

3:53

Aye.

3:53

Opposed.

3:54

It's unanimous.

3:55

And my last one, Madam Clerk, is a request for a budget amendment to increase the expenses of ORPA funds from Central Services.

4:08

Correct me if I'm I'm uh wrong here.

4:11

It's going from ORS to Central.

4:12

ORS to Office of Resiliency and Sustainability to Central Services and the amount of $10,000.

4:21

And the reason it's an emergency item to be added and to the consent agenda is to give them more time to be able to expand those funds.

4:30

Is there a second to my motion?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning And Land Use████████████████████████████████████████████44%
Procedural█████████████13%
Public Hearing██████████10%
Transportation Safety██████6%
Water And Wastewater Management█████5%
Public Safety████4%
Public Engagement███3%
Economic Development███3%
Technology and Innovation██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Clayton County Board of Commissioners Regular Business Meeting - February 12, 2026

The Clayton County Board of Commissioners held a regular business meeting on February 12, 2026, at 6:00 PM. The meeting included proclamations, public comments, a consent agenda, discussion and votes on multiple zoning items, board appointments, and approvals of leases, purchases, and settlements following an executive session. The agenda was amended to remove two items and add an emergency budget amendment.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved unanimously after amendments: removal of AFLAC voluntary benefits (item 9) for further conversations; removal of Resolution 2024-271 (severance of Superior Court and Magistrate Court clerk positions); addition of an emergency budget amendment transferring $10,000 from the Office of Resiliency and Sustainability (ORS) to Central Services to allow more time for fund expansion. Correction noted on item 12 (License Refund): total amount is $160, not $85 as listed.
  • Consent agenda included approvals of minutes, procurement reports, vehicle purchases, insurance brokerage services, helicopter repair, ammunition contract, ambulance purchase, various refunds, multiple budget amendments (ARPA and SPLOST related), and resolutions for library MOU with Atlanta Regional Commission, scholarship grant acceptance, renaming of Animal Control Adoption Center to James Townsend Adoption Center, sale of firearms, MS4 permit reapplication, renaming of Winn Dixie Drive to Wayfield Foods Way, street lighting for SR 85 widening project, and submission of local amendments to the Georgia Plumbing Code.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Hugh Bevins (Clayton County resident) expressed frustration with Animal Control response times, stating a call about a roaming dog in distress on October 15, 2025, was never returned despite follow-ups.
  • Emmanuel Glover (Clayton County, representing Hart Shocker Tribal Ministries) described being evicted after taking in tenants and feeling unsupported; his family was displaced, and children were sleeping in cars.
  • DeWayne Jones (retired Georgia Power, resident) opposed a data center proposed near Ellenwood, citing concerns about water consumption (100,000–300,000 gallons/day for cooling) and potential impact on wells and a community lake fed by springs.
  • David Hamrick (District 3) congratulated new Commissioner Kashe Allen, announced his continued work with NRA-ILA on gun safety, and his community outreach efforts.
  • Timothy Vondale Jefferson (District 3) congratulated Commissioner Allen, called for a countywide beautification summit with all seven cities to unify code enforcement, and stressed the need for collaboration to address litter and blight.
  • Mickey Garber (unincorporated Rex) recommended the board subscribe to a regional periodical ("Atlanta Business Chronicle") for better connection to growth and development in the area.

Discussion Items

  • Proclamations: Two proclamations were presented: one celebrating the 100th birthday of Mrs. Ethel Mae Fort (October 24, 2024) and one recognizing November 20, 2024, as GIS Day in Clayton County.
  • MARTA Presentation: A representative presented a paint-by-numbers painting created by community members as a token of gratitude.
  • Resolution 2024-267 (MS4 Permit Reapplication): Kevin Ozby (Clayton County Water Authority Stormwater Director) explained the five-year reapplication process for the county's stormwater management plan, required by EPD. The county and each city must submit separate plans. Approved unanimously.
  • Resolution 2024-270 (Plumbing Code Amendments for Water Efficiency): Presented as an enhancement to the existing code to improve indoor water use. Approved unanimously.
  • Resolution 2024-269 (Street Lighting for SR 85 Widening): Discussion included questions about lighting on I-75 and Battle Creek/Mt Zion Road. Staff noted GDOT will pay capital costs; county will cover maintenance and energy. Commissioner Davis requested a follow-up on I-75 lighting and an exploration of whether lighting could be added to the Battle Creek project. Approved unanimously.
  • Zoning Items:
    • Items 36 & 37 (FLUM and REZ for 6857 Mt Zion Blvd): Tabled to January 21, 2026, at applicant's request.
    • Item 38 (CUP for Hotel at Clark Howell Hwy): Applicant George Harper (Paramount Engineering) and Mohik Desai presented a 5-story, 100-room Country Inn & Suites. Conditions included a 40% class A materials facade, screening of rooftop equipment, prohibition of burglar bars, and a new condition requiring a variance application to BZA if denied. Public comment in favor (Mickey Garber emphasized security and suggested a bar). Approved unanimously.
    • Item 39 (CUP for Convenience Store at 6720 Mt Zion): Applicant Amy Laws requested 24-hour operation for a 4,100 sq ft store with four fuel pumps. Staff recommended hours 7 AM–10 PM. Commissioner Reeves tabled to December 17, 2025, for further discussion on hours.
    • Item 40 (CUP for Heavy Equipment Rental at Old Dunn Ct): Applicant Josh Mahoney (attorney) proposed a facility for trailer spotter tractors and trailer repair. Staff recommended paving the trailer storage area and using acceptable colors from Highway 42 overlay. Zoning Advisory Group recommended denial, but staff later recommended approval with conditions. Applicant accepted conditions. Public comments: Mickey Garber in favor; DeWayne Jones opposed, concerned about truck traffic on small roads. Approved unanimously.
    • Item 41 (Modification of CUP for Personal Care Home at 1180 Mundys Mill): Susanna Tar requested expansion from 9 to 23 residents, with an attached addition and paved parking. She highlighted the home's decade of service to vulnerable seniors. Commissioner Allen, who had visited, praised the work. Approved unanimously.
    • Items 42 & 43 (Map Amendments for Overlay Districts): County-initiated boundary adjustments to align maps with recent changes. Approved unanimously.
    • Item 44 (CUP for Tractor/Truck Parking at 6030 Hwy 85): Applicant Stephen Jones requested removal of condition requiring paving of existing gravel lot, citing cost and environmental benefits (containment of spills). Staff recommended paving but applicant argued the lot has been gravel since 1980s. Commissioner Hambrick moved to approve without paving condition, retaining other conditions (office on parent parcel, landscaping along Myers Road, site access review). Approved unanimously.
    • Item 45 (CUP for Outdoor Storage Pods at same property): Similar to item 44, approved with conditions including office on parent tract and site access review. Approved unanimously.
  • Final Plat Acceptances:
    • Item 46 (Auburn Ridge Phase 2: 58 townhomes): Approved unanimously.
    • Item 47 (Sonata Townhomes: 40 units on Rex Road): Approved unanimously.
    • Item 48 (Thomas Estates: 60 single-family lots on Thomas Road): Tabled to December 17, 2025, at new Commissioner Allen's request for more information.
  • Executive Session: Held for litigation, real estate, and personnel. Reconvened afterward.
  • Post-Executive Session Items:
    • Resolution 2024-271 (lease for Police Department): Approved unanimously.
    • Purchase of two properties (4179 Gilbert Road for $283,919.29 and 276 Blaylock Street for $124,916): Approved unanimously.
    • Global settlement for opioid litigation (Publix) totaling $3,845,410 for claims in Georgia, Alabama, and Florida: Approved unanimously.
    • Settlement between Willie Robinson and Sheriff Levon Allen for $50,000 regarding a Civil Service Board appeal: Approved with one abstention.

Key Outcomes

  • Approvals: All consent agenda items, proclamations, and the MARTA gift were unanimously approved. Three resolutions (MS4 permit, plumbing code amendments, street lighting) were passed unanimously.
  • Zoning Decisions:
    • Hotel CUP (item 38) and personal care home modification (item 41) approved unanimously with conditions.
    • Heavy equipment rental CUP (item 40) approved unanimously with conditions (paved trailer storage, acceptable colors).
    • Tractor/truck parking CUP (item 44) approved unanimously without paving requirement.
    • Outdoor storage CUP (item 45) approved unanimously with conditions.
    • Two map amendments (items 42 & 43) approved unanimously.
    • Two final plats (items 46 & 47) approved; item 48 tabled.
  • Tabled Items: Convenience store CUP (item 39) tabled to December 17, 2025; FLUM and rezoning (items 36 & 37) tabled to January 21, 2026; Thomas Estates final plat (item 48) tabled to December 17, 2025.
  • Board Appointments: Diane Hannah reappointed to Veterans Advisory Board (unanimous); Library Board appointment held to December 3, 2025; Pat Poolar reappointed to Elections & Registration Board (unanimous).
  • Post-Executive Session: Lease, property purchases, opioid settlement, and Robinson/Sheriff settlement all approved. One abstention on the last settlement.
  • Next Steps: Staff to follow up with GDOT on I-75 lighting and explore cost for lighting on Battle Creek/Mt Zion Road. Convenience store hours discussion to continue at December zoning meeting.

Meeting Transcript

Welcome to this evening's regular business meeting. We do have a new commissioner sitting up here with us. Please welcome Commissioner Kashe Allen. Commissioner Allen, is there anything you would like to say right quick? Yes, yes. Uh thank you, Chairman Turner, for the warm welcome. Hello, everyone. My name is Tashey Allen, and it is truly an honor to be here today representing the great residents of District 3. I am committed to being responsive, transparency, and delivering results for the citizens here in Clayton County. My hope is to have the younger generation step up, get inspired, and one day run for office as well. Thank you guys. And for those of you has that have made it possible for me to be here today. Thank you for the opportunity to serve. All right. All right, we're gonna have our invocation. My Reverend Jerry T. Anderson of the New Macedonian Baptist Church in Riverdale. That will be followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. If you would please stand with me. Let us bow ahead. We thank you, God for the leadership of Clayton County. We ask God that you will bless them tremendously and give them favor in everything that they do. We thank you, Father, for this opportunity. Bless this meeting tonight. Bless those participants and those who come to hear the news come from coming from our commissioners. We thank you now, Father, for this opportunity. Bless us and protect us as we do this in your name. That is the name of Jesus. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice law. Do any board members have any amendments? Yes, madam clerk. I have a couple here. First is uh to remove item nine from the agenda. A FLAC voluntary benefits. They are there's still some conversations that need to be had. Is there a second to remove it from the agenda? Second. Any questions? Those in favor, aye. Aye. Aye. Oppose. It is unanimous. Also, I'd like to remove from the agenda item 32. Resolution 2024-271 resolution to sever the positions of the clerk of the Superior Court and the Clerk of Magistrate Court. Is there a second? Second. Any questions?

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