Clayton County Board of Commissioners Work Session - July 8, 2025

The Clayton County Board of Commissioners convened for a work session on July 8, 2025, at 5:34 PM, adjourning at 6:39 PM. The session included updates from the Housing Authority, a youth council presentation requesting park transfer, a fiber broadband partnership proposal, and a pre-hospital blood administration initiative. No votes were taken; items are expected to return for formal action at future meetings.

Board of Housing Authority Update

• Presenter: Mendeley Jones, Housing Authority Board Chair, introduced the board members: Dr. Candice Jackson (Chair), Silver Myers Reeves (Vice Chair), Brenda Harrison, Robert Payne, and Rose Hall (absent).
• Key Initiatives:
  • Creating a path to homeownership and attracting new housing stock for first-time, move-up, and affluent buyers.
  • Providing one month’s rental, mortgage, or utility assistance for qualified residents (50% or below area median income).
  • Offering grants (up to $10,000) to repair older housing stock, focusing on seniors and veterans. The Housing Urgency Grant (HUG) program serves about 50–60 homeowners per year.
  • Committed to no tax abatements for at least three years, and support for mixed-use development.
• Partnership Requests: Asked county to consider donating property for development and funding for staff to expand assistance.
• Discussion: Commissioner Hambrick recalled past adversarial relations with the housing authority and expressed hope for renewed partnership. Jones stated no such issues in his tenure. Commissioners clarified the housing authority’s role as a financing entity, distinct from Section 8 housing. Questions also addressed senior housing (bond inducement for Harborside Riverdale) and connections with Jonesboro Housing Authority and CCSA.

City of Lovejoy Youth Council – Park Transfer Request

• Presenters: Lovejoy Councilwoman Rosanna Kirby, Junior Mayor Jasmine Garcia, and youth council member Joshua, with Mayor Flewellen supporting.
• Proposal: Request transfer of ownership of Landfill Park (located on Hastings Bridge Road at Talmadge Road, 7.6 acres) from Clayton County to the City of Lovejoy. The park currently has a playground and an overgrown walking trail.
• Youth Vision: Redevelop the park as a dedicated “third space” for teens (ages 12–18) with soccer goals, yard games (chess, checkers), and connection to an adjacent food truck park. The youth council would organize activities. Funding comes from a location-based grant with a one-year reporting requirement.
• County Response: Parks and Recreation Director Holland noted the trail is not a formal, maintained inventory. COO Stanford explained the park is a standalone playground, and transfer via deed or intergovernmental agreement (IGA) would place all maintenance and improvement costs on Lovejoy. Parks and Rec supports the transfer if terms are clear. The board will seek recommendation from Parks and Rec and legal staff before bringing to a vote.
• Discussion: Commissioner Hambrick asked about the trail condition, youth timeline (hopeful for progress by December), and noted the name “Landfill Park” might need changing. Youth confirmed they have researched other parks as models.

Digital Equity: Community Fiber (eCommunity Fiber)

• Presenters: Keith Quarrels, President/CFO, and Carlton Lockhart, Director of Market Sales, eCommunity Fiber, a broadband utility company.
• Background: eCommunity Fiber purchased a large fiber network serving Clayton County schools in 2023 and is expanding residential/business service. They have a partnership with Morrow for smart city projects.
• Proposal: Explore a public-private partnership (P3) to combine county ARPA funds (still available) with private investment to expand fiber broadband, targeting underserved areas, public housing, senior living, and smart city applications (e.g., traffic sensors, Wi-Fi). They suggest revenue sharing and coding new developments to require fiber.
• County Engagement: Previous discussions with County COO and digital equity department. The ask is for board permission to formalize partnership exploration.
• Discussion: Commissioner Hambrick asked about current direct work with the county (none) and profitability for the county. Presenters cited potential revenue share and improved resident access. The board agreed to continue discussions and circle back.

Enhancing Emergency Care: Pre-hospital Blood Administration

• Presenter: Chief Sweat, Clayton County Fire and Emergency Services.
• Program Overview: Seek approval to carry Type O whole blood on two supervisor vehicles (north and south ends) to administer in the field for trauma, hemorrhage, and postpartum hemorrhage cases. Training for paramedics will begin summer 2025, with expected go-live by second week of September 2025.
• Medical Need: In 2024, Clayton County had 259 major trauma calls (one every 33.8 hours). Postpartum hemorrhage is a leading cause of preventable maternal death in Georgia (30.2 per 100,000 live births, 89% potentially preventable).
• Partnership: Southern Regional Medical Center will provide blood at no cost for the first year. Equipment (coolers, warmers, monitors) is fully funded.
• Proposed Fee Adjustment: Add a $650 charge for blood administration to the existing ALS rate ($1,500), keeping BLS rate ($1,100) and other fees unchanged. Code 42-120 would be updated.
• Next Steps: Staff request board approval to accept Southern Regional agreement and fee schedule change, aiming for the August 4, 2025 BOC meeting.
• Discussion: Commissioner Hambrick asked for time to study the proposal. Chief Sweat confirmed no budgetary impact for the first year.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken. All items are expected to return for board action:
  • Housing Authority: Continued partnership, noting progress on assistance programs.
  • Lovejoy Park Transfer: Referred to Parks and Recreation and legal staff for recommendation; deed or IGA to come to board.
  • Community Fiber: Board to further explore P3 with eCommunity Fiber.
  • Pre-hospital Blood: Staff to prepare agreements and fee changes for formal approval at August 4 BOC meeting.

Note on Date: The source material (agenda and transcript) confirm the meeting occurred on July 8, 2025, at 5:34 PM, not February 12, 2026 as indicated in the instruction. This summary uses the correct date from the actual record.