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 / 2:53:19

Transcript — Verbatim
0:58

Good evening, everyone.

1:01

All right, the Clayton County Board of Commissioners regular business meeting is now called to order.

1:07

The date is March 18th, 2025, and the time is 6 o'clock PM.

1:13

Will you please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance?

1:16

And do we have anybody?

1:17

No invocation tonight.

1:18

It will be a moment of silence.

1:19

Moment, okay.

1:22

Will you please stand for a moment of silence and then we'll move to the Pledge of Allegiance?

1:40

Thank you.

1:42

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.

2:07

Board members, please uh say if you're present tonight, district one here, district two present, district three, and district four.

2:18

Present.

2:18

And Chairwoman Anderson, I am present.

2:21

All right.

2:23

Next.

2:26

Courtney.

2:27

Uh yes, ma'am.

2:31

Next, we have the adoption of the agenda.

2:36

Are there any board members who have any amendments during this time?

2:40

Yes.

2:41

Item number six and item number thirteen.

2:46

I would like those removed to the uh regular agenda, please.

2:51

Clear.

2:56

Uh yes, I'd like to move item 13, resolution 2025 42.

3:02

Item, you said you okay.

3:06

So um, Commissioner Allen, you said six and thirteen.

3:11

Yes, so you she's already said thirteen, so we've already got that one move.

3:15

What's your other one?

3:16

I'm sorry, Commissioner Reeves.

3:18

Um, items 16 and 17, resolution 2025-49, and resolution 2025-50.

3:26

Well, all right, so we have items number six, thirteen, sixteen.

3:31

Please cut off all cell phones at this time, please.

3:41

So we have items six, thirteen, sixteen, and seventeen.

3:44

Is that correct?

3:45

Yes, ma'am, that's correct.

3:47

Uh all right.

3:48

At this time, I need a motion to adopt the agenda.

3:52

So move.

3:53

All right, can I get a second?

3:55

Second.

3:55

All right.

3:57

Any discussion at this time?

3:59

All in favor say aye.

4:01

Aye.

4:01

All opposed.

4:02

Any abstention?

4:03

The ayes have it, and the motion passes.

4:06

Thank you.

4:07

Next, um, on the agenda, we have our proclamations.

4:10

The first one is the Clayton Cat Clayton County Celera, excuse me, celebrates first responder health and wellness week, given by Chairwoman Dr.

4:18

Alika Anderson Henry.

4:20

The second one is a proclamation for Clayton County recognizes women's history month, given by Dr.

4:27

Chairwoman Dr.

4:27

Alika Anderson Henry.

4:29

And number three is the announcement.

4:31

Um we will talk uh well, we'll come back up from there, and then we will listen to our tax commissioner, which is Miss Danielle Smith about the homestead exemptions.

4:41

Um, before we go down, we'll just go on and let the first proclamation start playing, and then we will come down for pictures.

4:46

Thank you.

4:51

Clayton County Board of Commissioners honors and celebrates first respond wellness week.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Budget Equity Analysis████████████████████████24%
Public Safety█████████9%
Community Engagement█████████9%
Correctional Services█████████9%
Public Comment████████8%
Procedural███████7%
Water And Wastewater Management██████6%
Zoning And Land Use██████6%
Public Engagement████4%
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, approval of a consent agenda with modifications, discussion and votes on several resolutions, a sheriff's office budget presentation, appointments to the MARTA Citizens Advisory Board, zoning hearings, and approval of litigation settlements.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the March 4, 2025 board minutes (note: date discrepancy in source; minutes referenced from previous meeting).
  • Accepted monthly procurement report.
  • Terminated contract RFP #23-14 for insurance brokerage consulting services.
  • Approved contract amendment RFP #24-158 for medical examiner's office design/build.
  • Awarded ITB #24-219 for Cisco IT products and services.
  • Awarded ITB #25-01 fireworks annual contract (moved to regular agenda and approved).
  • Approved cash bond refunds and multiple budget amendments (2-24, 2-25, 4-17, 4-18, 4-19).
  • Approved Resolution 2025-42 (Clayton County Water Authority master bond resolution) with a 4-1 vote (Commissioner Reeves dissenting).
  • Approved Resolution 2025-46 (Juvenile Justice Incentive Grant).
  • Approved Resolution 2025-48 (Parks & Recreation summer incentive program).
  • Approved Resolution 2025-49 (Intergovernmental Agreement with City of Forest Park special election).
  • Approved Resolution 2025-50 (Intergovernmental Agreement with Clayton County Board of Education special election).
  • Approved Resolutions 2025-54, 2025-55, 2025-56 (special event authorizations).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Bishop Donald Battle urged commissioners to work together and resolve differences, praising the county's potential.
  • Keith Parker shared the "stone soup" parable to emphasize collaboration.
  • Ms. Ray highlighted the need for unity and learning, noting crime reduction of 22% and urging support for collaborative leadership.
  • Addie Whitaker (District 1) expressed community concerns about flooding and water infrastructure, calling for transparency and accountability.
  • Henry Anderson presented evaluation criteria for commissioner performance, continuing from prior meetings.
  • Timothy Vondale Jefferson advocated for municipalities paying for jail usage and for seeking state surplus funds to relieve citizen burden.
  • Tanya Jean Funny invited commissioners to the Women's History Month celebration on March 25, 2025.
  • Orlando Gooden criticized the chair for not attending the sheriff's town hall, accused her of being "petty and vindictive," and supported Commissioner Allen's right to be in budget meetings; called for an ethics officer.
  • Teresa Talley thanked code enforcement for sign removal but noted ongoing violations by DRB Homes.
  • Priscilla Starworth complained about Atlanta Gas Light Company charges, seeking assistance.
  • Joseph Verdon expressed support for Chairwoman Anderson-Henry, praising her transparency and leadership.

Discussion Items

  • Resolution 2025-51 (Ethics Attorney): Chairwoman Anderson-Henry introduced the resolution to engage an ethics attorney, citing concerns about Commissioner Allen's involvement in budget matters and jail emails. The motion failed for lack of a second.
  • Resolution 2025-52 (Budget Policy): Commissioner Allen's resolution to rescind the chair's authority to set initial budgetary policy and designate a budget officer passed 3-2. Chairwoman Anderson-Henry argued it was retaliatory after she exposed alleged overtime fraud at the sheriff's office.
  • Resolution 2025-53 (General Fund Fund Balance Policy): After debate, the board amended the word "shall" to "should" and approved the policy. The policy aims for a fund balance of 4–6 months of operating expenditures (approximately $104 million). Current balance is about $79 million. Commissioners discussed the need for a timeline but did not add one.
  • Sheriff's Office Budget Amendment (2-28): Sheriff Levon Allen requested $14,676,303 to cover salaries, benefits, overtime, and operating expenses for the remainder of FY2025. He noted the jail holds ~1,875 inmates with only 123 correctional officers, leading to overtime and lawsuits. He stated his FY2026 budget need would be $80 million (up from $57 million), equivalent to a 2-mill tax increase. The board did not vote and instead discussed scheduling a special called meeting to further review the request.
  • Zoning Hearings:
    • Item 35 (self-storage CUP) was withdrawn by the applicant.
    • Item 36 (rezoning for single-family homes on Connie Circle) was tabled to April 15, 2025, for further discussion.
    • Item 37 (digital billboard conversion) was approved without conditions.
  • MARTA CAB Appointments: Alfred Dixon (District 4), Keith Parker (District 2), Ronnie Marshall Jr. (District 1 vacant seat), Ramona Bevins (District 3), and Tanika Boykin (District 4) were appointed. Several appointments were held until the next meeting.

Key Outcomes

  • Resolution 2025-52 (budget policy) passed 3-2, transferring initial budgetary authority from the chair to the budget officer.
  • Resolution 2025-53 (fund balance policy) passed after amending "shall" to "should."
  • The sheriff's $14.6 million budget amendment was not voted on; the board will schedule a special meeting.
  • Four litigation settlements involving the sheriff's office were approved (total $830,000): Akina Mike ($250,000 auto accident), Carolyn Orr ($500,000 auto accident), Jabari Ferguson ($60,000 civil service), and Shanita Henderson ($20,000 civil service). One abstention recorded due to conflict of interest concerns.
  • The meeting adjourned after executive session on litigation, real estate, and personnel.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. All right, the Clayton County Board of Commissioners regular business meeting is now called to order. The date is March 18th, 2025, and the time is 6 o'clock PM. Will you please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance? And do we have anybody? No invocation tonight. It will be a moment of silence. Moment, okay. Will you please stand for a moment of silence and then we'll move to the Pledge of Allegiance? Thank you. 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. Board members, please uh say if you're present tonight, district one here, district two present, district three, and district four. Present. And Chairwoman Anderson, I am present. All right. Next. Courtney. Uh yes, ma'am. Next, we have the adoption of the agenda. Are there any board members who have any amendments during this time? Yes. Item number six and item number thirteen. I would like those removed to the uh regular agenda, please. Clear. Uh yes, I'd like to move item 13, resolution 2025 42. Item, you said you okay. So um, Commissioner Allen, you said six and thirteen. Yes, so you she's already said thirteen, so we've already got that one move. What's your other one? I'm sorry, Commissioner Reeves. Um, items 16 and 17, resolution 2025-49, and resolution 2025-50. Well, all right, so we have items number six, thirteen, sixteen. Please cut off all cell phones at this time, please. So we have items six, thirteen, sixteen, and seventeen. Is that correct? Yes, ma'am, that's correct. Uh all right. At this time, I need a motion to adopt the agenda. So move. All right, can I get a second? Second. All right. Any discussion at this time? All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed. Any abstention? The ayes have it, and the motion passes. Thank you. Next, um, on the agenda, we have our proclamations.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com