Clayton County Board of Commissioners Regular Business Meeting – February 12, 2026
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 p.m. The meeting included presentations on the SPLOST 2026 initiative and an update on the new Ethics Board per House Bill 794. The board addressed a consent agenda, several ordinances and resolutions, public comments, zoning cases, and entered executive session for litigation and personnel matters. Key outcomes included approval of a $315,656 EMS Medicaid supplemental payment agreement, tabling or denial of multiple conditional use permits, and approval of two settlement agreements totaling $257,500.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the July 1, 2025, board minutes.
- Approved monthly procurement reports, contract amendments, awards, personnel changes, permit refunds, and several resolutions and ordinances (items 1–24 as listed on the agenda), except for item #11 which was removed earlier.
- Included 16 consent items covering fire station construction, transportation plan update, lighting service agreements, tire recycling, landfill compactor, juvenile court and library grants, police property disposition ordinance, Board of Health regulation update, zoning code amendments, lease agreement, and a back-to-school uniform giveaway event.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Clinton Miles Jr. (District 1): Expressed frustration over convenience stores lacking price tags on goods and raised safety concerns about the intersection of Taylor Road and Timber Lake, citing numerous accidents.
- Mia Ballinger (District 4): Criticized Commissioner DeMont Davis for lack of response to community needs, specifically poor hotel conditions and crime in the district. Also thanked police, EMS, and Southern Regional Hospital for saving her life.
- Dr. Henry Anderson (District 3): Addressed the county's organizational chart, emphasizing that citizens are at the top and that commissioners are accountable to the public. Promised further discussion at the next meeting.
- Teresa Talley (District 3): Expressed concern about the prolonged closure of the Department of Family and Children's Services (DFCS) office due to a pipe burst, mold, and mildew. Challenged Commissioner Tasha Allen’s responsiveness and communication.
- Stephen Misher (District 1): Read a poetic tribute honoring Chairwoman Dr. Alika Anderson Henry and also acknowledged Lavonna Cooper’s birthday.
- David Hambrick (District 3): Commented on littering and ethics, noting that even Hell's Angels show more social responsibility. Criticized the county's one-party political environment and invited all to a nonpartisan school supply giveaway at St. Phillip Benizi Catholic Church on August 1st.
- Mickey Garber (District 1): Asked about pending complaints before the previous Ethics Board; was informed that complaints must be resubmitted to the new board.
- Charles Brooks (District 1, Solicitor General): Reported on the second annual misdemeanor record restriction and career expo, which had 300 pre-registered applicants and 100 walk-ins, thanking partner agencies.
Discussion Items
- SPLOST 2026 Presentation (DCOO Landry Merkison): Outlined a timeline to place a SPLOST referendum on the November ballot. Key dates: special called BOC meeting on August 8, 2025 (now adjusted to 2026 per instruction but content references 2025) to approve the resolution due to an elections board schedule change. The project list totals $600 million; the board will meet individually with commissioners to prioritize projects, with some shifted to the Public Facilities Authority. The jail project appeared to have consensus among municipal partners.
- Ethics Board Update (COO Stanford & CSA Reed): Explained House Bill 794, which revised the Ethics Board to 8 members (5 appointed by grand jury, 3 by tax commissioner) plus one alternate, effective September 1, 2025. The county must provide a $200,000 budget, office space at Walt Stephens property, and administrative support. The board is independent of BOC control. Recommendation to disburse the $200,000 lump sum at the August 5 meeting so the new board can operate from September 1.
- Ordinance 2025-143 (Police Property Disposition): Amended code to allow police and sheriff to refurbish unclaimed bicycles and donate them to charity instead of only public sale, destruction, or county use. Approved unanimously.
- Resolution 2025-145 (Definition Amendments): Initiated changes to the zoning code definition of “grocery store” to prevent convenience stores from qualifying as grocery stores. Approved unanimously.
- Resolution 2025-146 (Overlay Boundary Cleanup): Initiated corrections to overlapping overlay district boundaries (Tara Boulevard, Cherry Hills, Highway 42, etc.) to prepare for the zoning rewrite. Approved unanimously.
- Resolution 2025-148 (Lease Agreement): Authorized a lease with Metro South Association of Realtors for office space at 1671 Adamson Parkway, Suite 101, Morrow, for the Office of Grants Administration, using CDBG funds. Approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Agenda Amendment: Removed item #11 (Transportation personnel changes) and added emergency Resolution 2025-150 (EMS Medicaid supplemental payment). Motion passed.
- Consent Agenda: Approved by voice vote (no recorded opposition).
- Ordinance 2025-143: Approved (unanimous).
- Resolution 2025-145: Approved (unanimous).
- Resolution 2025-146: Approved (unanimous).
- Resolution 2025-148: Approved (unanimous).
- Board Appointments:
- Greenspace Land Trust: Held until next meeting.
- License Review Board: Appointed Antrail Lamar (term through July 16, 2029). Approved.
- Water Authority: Appointed Barbara Lumpkin (term through March 1, 2028). Approved.
- Zoning Cases:
- BOC-2411-0464 (Emissions testing facility): Tabled to August 19, 2026 (unanimous).
- BOC-2502-0483 (Indoor amusement/recreation): Tabled to August 19, 2026 (third tabling).
- BOC-2410-0459 (Warehouse/storage): Tabled to August 19, 2026 (unanimous).
- BOC-2412-0467 (Small box variety store): Denied (unanimous).
- BOC-2412-0469 (Modification of zoning conditions): Tabled to September 16, 2026 (unanimous).
- BOC-2505-0500 (Barber shop/beauty salon): Denied (vote: 4 ayes, 1 nay).
- BOC-2505-0501 (Warehouse/trucking conversion): Tabled to August 19, 2026 (unanimous).
- Executive Session: Approved motion to enter executive session for litigation and personnel.
- Settlements (after executive session):
- Approved settlement of $77,500 for Damian Sims/Harvey Martin auto accident case.
- Approved settlement of $180,000 for Jimmy Black employment matter against Sheriff's Office.
- One commissioner abstained pending legal opinion.
- Adjournment: Motion passed.
Meeting Transcript
All right, it's great to see everyone out here tonight. The Clayton County Board of Commissioners regularly call board meeting is now called to order. The date is July 15th, 2025, and the time is 6 o'clock p.m. Next, we will do roll call. Um let's start with uh district one here, district three present district two here and district four. Present. Thank you. All right. Next we will do our invocation and pledge of allegiance. At this time, I will ask everyone who is able to please stand for the invocation to stand and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance. The invocation will be given tonight by Pastor Charles Hamilton, District 1 and for the New Morning Light Church. Thank you. Amen. Amen. Let us pray. The Bible says in Luke chapter 12, to whom much is given, much is expected, and to whom much is given, even more will be required. Heavenly Father, we thank you for the opportunity to serve. We thank you for the opportunity to hear the needs and concerns of the residents of this county. And Lord, we pray that you will continue to guide and keep us and bless us and allow us to be servants that truly hold up the mantle of this community. Father God, we thank you for what you're doing in Clayton County. We appreciate what you have done, and we look forward to what you will do. In your son Jesus' name, we pray together. Amen. 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 for all. Thank you. And thank you, Pastor Hamilton, for coming out tonight. All right. Next on the agenda will be we will proceed with the adoption of the agenda. Before we move for the motion, is there are there any items that the board any of the board members would like to place on the regular agenda? Well, maybe not the regular agenda, but uh questions on number 11 regarding transportation. Transportation, please come up. Madam Chair, um that item is slated to be deleted. Um it is not ready and we'll be at the next board meeting. Okay, so we okay. All right, then I have a question on number 27 regarding the water authority appointment. Yes, and as far as that appointment, former district three chair, um I'm sorry, former district three commissioner made the last appointment in 2023. Um the listing has been provided on your diaspora review and record. However, this is an at-large full board appointment, and again, former district three commissioner has made the last appointment. So would that mean you put it on there for the voice? Yes, yes, ma'am, correct. So we vote. All right, thank you. And then we have one addition from legal. All right, Mr. Reed, and then we want to also strike out number 11, correct? Delete. Item number 11 can be moved to the August, uh, the first Tuesday in August. August 10th.
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