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

Note on date discrepancy: The meeting agenda and transcript indicate the meeting occurred on October 15, 2024, but the provided date for this summary is February 12, 2026.

The board convened for a regular business meeting covering proclamations, public comments, approval of the consent agenda, discussion of several items moved from the consent agenda, board appointments, and multiple zoning decisions. Key actions included approval of a resolution to dissolve a SNAP education contract and transition to a new program, removal of a community improvement tax ordinance and an automated transit network resolution from the agenda, and several zoning case decisions including a data center approval with conditions.

Consent Calendar

• Consent agenda approved unanimously; included approval of October 1, 2024 board minutes, monthly procurement report, awards for flooring services, CompStak subscription, fire department vehicle purchase, insurance brokerage consulting, contract amendment for new bid system, cash bond refunds, remission order, budget amendments, medical renewal, parks restructure, and multiple resolutions (SNAP education program, library hygiene kit MOU, police biometric devices, transportation grant, senior services grant, juvenile court CASA subgrant, landfill holiday hours, community improvement tax program, and automated transit network study amendment). Items 15, 22, and 23 were moved to the regular agenda prior to consent approval.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Donna Mullins (Ellenwood resident) urged the board to remember they were elected by the people and to prioritize citizens over greedy corporations, especially in zoning decisions.
• Mickey Garber (unincorporated Rex) requested a public service announcement reminding Halloween participants to properly dispose of candy wrappers.
• Timothy Vondale Jefferson (unincorporated Clayton County) expressed disappointment that code enforcement has not responded to his complaints about illegal signage (roofing, house washing, junk car signs) in the community. He asked for a summit with municipalities and code enforcement directors. A commissioner responded that they had just drafted an email about sign removal.

Discussion Items

• Resolution 2024-245 (Item 15): Authorized dissolution of the SNAP education contract with UGA Extension and establishment of the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program. Staff explained the state cut SNAP ed funding, so the county transitioned to a similar program funded by UGA, reallocating funds and retaining the program administrator. Approved unanimously.
• Ordinance 2024-253 (Item 22): Proposed a community improvement tax program. Commissioner Hambrick expressed concern about giving tax breaks (millage rate reduction factor of 0.2) to non-owner-occupied blighted properties, calling it a loophole for investment properties. She moved to rescind her earlier motion to approve, and the board voted unanimously to rescind. A subsequent motion to remove the item from the agenda until the next meeting passed unanimously.
• Resolution 2024-255 (Item 23): First amendment to a memorandum of agreement for an automated transit network investigation and implementation study. Extensive discussion revealed the pilot would run only between the arena, convention center, and sky train station in College Park, with no direct benefit to Clayton County citizens. Funding would come from MARTA system dollars (including a portion of Clayton County's one-cent sales tax). Commissioner Hambrick and others questioned the benefit and lack of detail. The initial motion to approve was rescinded, and a motion to remove from the agenda passed 3-1 (Commissioner Turner voted nay, preferring to set a date for future consideration).
• Resolution 2024-254 (Item 25): Authorized a hearing to determine whether a member of the Development Authority of Clayton County should be removed. Passed unanimously.
• Board Appointments: – Zoning Advisory Group: Sydney Bourget Holmes appointed (unanimous). – MARTA Citizen Advisory Board: Walter Reeves appointed (District 4, unanimous). – MARTA CAB: Taniqua Boykins appointed (District 1, unanimous). – Library Board of Trustees: Brenda Gutierrez reappointed (unanimous). – Veterans Advisory Board: Diane Hannah's term expired; appointment deferred to November meeting; Hannah expressed desire for reappointment. – Board of Zoning Appeals: Denise Ziggler appointed (unanimous).
• Zoning Hearings: – BOC-2312-0377 (Conditional Use Permit for used tire and auto repair shop, 5150 Highway 85, Forest Park): Denied unanimously based on staff recommendation. – BOC-2405-0424 (Conditional Use Permit for truck service center, 360 Lees Mill Rd, Forest Park): Applicant requested withdrawal; board accepted withdrawal (unanimous), allowing resubmission within six months. – BOC-2406-0431 (Conditional Use Permit for special event center, 3056 Anvil Block Rd, Unit 111, Ellenwood): Approved with conditions (shared parking agreement and void upon new ownership) unanimously. – BOC-2407-0434 (Site plan modifications for apartment complex, 4276 Williamson Rd, Ellenwood): Applicant withdrew; board accepted withdrawal (unanimous). – BOC-2408-0439 (Site plan, height increase, and modifications for data center, 4350 E Tanners Church Rd, Ellenwood): Approved with conditions including revised noise decibel limits (nighttime 55 dB, daytime 60 dB), closed loop water system, and height increase to 76 feet. The vote was 3-1 (one nay). – BOC-2408-0442 (Conditional Use Permit for cold storage warehouse, 3200 Southpark Blvd, Ellenwood): Approved with a condition to provide a 50-foot buffer with additional landscaping and a 6-foot opaque fence (instead of an undisturbed 40-foot buffer) unanimously. – BOC-2408-0443 (FLUM) and BOC-2408-0444 (REZ) (Future land use map amendment and rezoning for apartment complex, 6857 Mt Zion Blvd, Morrow): Tabled to the November meeting per applicant's request (unanimous).
• Executive Session: Motion to enter executive session for litigation, personnel, and real estate (unanimous).
• Settlements: After reconvening, the board approved six settlements: $60,000 for a traffic incident lawsuit (Sano De La Rosa/Diana Chavez related), $335,000 for a related traffic incident, $120,000 for an employment matter (Terrence Gibson), $40,000 for a jail parking lot incident (Eureka Goodman), $128,000 for an automobile collision (Felicia Stewart), and $14 million for ongoing opioid litigation against Target (portion to be distributed). All approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda approved unanimously.
• Resolution 2024-245 (SNAP education transition) approved unanimously.
• Ordinance 2024-253 (Community Improvement Tax) removed from agenda.
• Resolution 2024-255 (Automated transit network study) removed from agenda (3-1).
• Resolution 2024-254 (Development Authority hearing) approved unanimously.
• All board appointments made unanimously (except Veterans Advisory deferred).
• Zoning case BOC-2312-0377 denied; BOC-2405-0424 withdrawal accepted; BOC-2406-0431 approved; BOC-2407-0434 withdrawal accepted; BOC-2408-0439 approved (3-1); BOC-2408-0442 approved; BOC-2408-0443/0444 tabled.
• Settlements totaling $60,000, $335,000, $120,000, $40,000, $128,000, and $14 million approved.
• Meeting adjourned after settlements.