Clayton County Board of Commissioners Regular Business Meeting – March 17, 2026
Clayton County Board of Commissioners Regular Business Meeting – March 17, 2026
The Clayton County Board of Commissioners held a regular business meeting on March 17, 2026 at 6:00 PM. The meeting included proclamations, public comments, approval of the consent agenda, board appointments, resolutions, and multiple public hearings on zoning and conditional use permits. The board also entered executive session to discuss litigation and personnel matters, approving three settlements and making a conditional offer for the Chief Financial Officer position.
Proclamations & Presentations
- Recognized March 2026 as "March for Meals Month" in Clayton County.
- Recognized March 2026 as "Procurement Month" in Clayton County.
- Senator Kenya Wicks presented a proclamation honoring Commissioner Gail Hambrick with the 2026 Yellow Rose Nikki T. Randall Servant Leadership Award.
Public Comments
- Marcus Hill (District 4) criticized the county's handling of property taxes, youth advocacy, water authority issues, sheriff's office conduct, and jail conditions.
- Tracy Wade (Jonesboro) advocated for her disabled son incarcerated in the Clayton County jail, alleging inadequate medical care, isolation, and lack of communication from the public defender's office.
- Dr. Henry Anderson (District 3) praised the county's departmental performance review presentations.
- Cornell Madison (District 4) alleged wasteful spending on sheriff's office portraits and called for leadership changes at the jail.
- Thomas Pugh (District 4) recommended the county reclaim the GEO jail and increase investigator positions in the solicitor's office.
- Teresa Talley (District 3) complained about illegal campaign sign postings by Commissioner Davis in her district.
- Esther Hardy (former correctional officer) alleged mistreatment of autistic inmates and lack of leadership at the jail.
- China McLean (District 2) announced an event to support crime victims, noting 7,713 annual victims in Clayton County.
- David Hamry urged fiscal responsibility during the upcoming budget process.
- Olga Rodriguez (Jonesboro) spoke about her son's death due to gun violence and called for stricter bond decisions.
- Keith Parker was absent.
Consent Calendar
Approved unanimously. Items included: approval of March 3, 2026 minutes; monthly purchasing report; insurance brokerage services; change orders for Fire Station #1 ($22,768.20), Fire Station #9 ($737.68), Fire Station #15 ($49,264.08); award for District 2 Pocket Park ($1,458,500); ratification of insurance extension ($88,285); renewals of public entity liability insurance ($1,180,322), excess liability insurance ($466,650), and aircraft insurance ($146,928); budget amendments 2-37 ($13,800), 2-38 ($650,000), 2-39 ($420,000); remission order ($3,755); resolutions for library grant ($500 additional), MOU with Georgia Cyber Academy, procurement code amendment, Juvenile Justice Incentive Grant (up to $750,000), HR internship grant ($3,259.50), Child Support grant (up to $621,254), and Stepping Up Initiative.
Discussion Items
Board Appointments
- Animal Control Board: Appointed Robert Halls (term to March 12, 2029). Approved unanimously.
- Board of Appeals: Held indefinitely (Commissioner Reaves).
- Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities: Appointed Natasha Daniels (term expires Jan 19, 2027). Approved unanimously.
- License Review Board: Held indefinitely (Commissioner Reaves).
Resolution 2026-43 – Abandonment of Dunn Road Right-of-Way Public hearing held. The resolution authorized abandonment of approximately 1.862 acres of Dunn Road right-of-way adjacent to a data center development. After hearing from the applicant (TA Digital Group) and public comments, the board voted unanimously to approve.
Resolution 2026-58 – Compensation for Part-Time Employees During Inclement Weather Authorized wages for regularly-scheduled part-time employees when the county closes due to inclement weather, retroactive to January 1, 2026. Approved unanimously.
Resolution 2026-64 – Film Location Agreement with Doreecoh Productions Authorized use of Gerald Matthews Complex and South Clayton Recreation Center for filming March 16-18, 2026, with fees totaling $7,800. Approved unanimously.
Zoning Public Hearings
Decision Only – Items 31 & 32: Cell Tower at 586 Northbridge Rd Conditional Use Permit and variance requests by Prime Tower Development, LLC. Planning staff recommended denial; Zoning Advisory Group (ZAG) recommended approval. Commissioner Allen made motions to deny both, citing opposition from residents. Board voted unanimously to deny both.
Items 33 & 34: 7327 Cullen Dr Extension – FLUM Amendment and Rezoning Applicant requested a table to April 21, 2026. Board approved.
Items 35 & 36: 8955/8995 Highway 54 – Withdrawal Applicant withdrew FLUM amendment and rezoning requests. Board accepted withdrawals.
Item 37: 780 North Ave – Beauty Lounge CUP Lai's Beauty Lounge requested a CUP for full-service beauty and wellness. Planning staff and ZAG recommended denial due to overconcentration of salons. Applicant argued a specialty niche for hair loss. Commissioner Davis moved to deny; board voted to deny.
Item 38: 6551 Highway 42 – Tire Repair CUP JVT Tires requested a CUP. Planning staff and ZAG recommended denial. Applicant's representative argued initial approval was rescinded. Commissioner Reaves was disconnected; board tabled to April 21, 2026.
Item 39: 1000 Southern Rd – Warehouse CUP Ware Malcomb requested a CUP for a 93,600 SF warehouse. Staff and ZAG recommended approval with conditions. After hearing opposition regarding lack of tenant, Commissioner Davis moved to table to April 21, 2026. Board approved.
Item 40: 5155 Pelican Dr – Heavy Equipment CUP Hardie Real Estate Group requested a CUP for Ditch Witch relocation. Staff and ZAG recommended approval with conditions. After public comments, Commissioner Hambrick moved to approve with conditions. Board approved.
Item 41: 5237 J.G. Glover Ct – Truck Fleet CUP Idealease of Atlanta requested a CUP. Commissioner Reaves not present; board tabled to April 21, 2026.
Executive Session and Settlements
Board entered executive session for personnel and litigation. After reconvening, approved three settlements:
- Terrell Custis vs. Clayton County: $93,000 (claims stemming from a June 2022 arrest and incarceration).
- Dominique Gardner vs. Lloyd Hess: $50,000 (auto accident).
- Darrell Harris employment matter: $76,250. All approved unanimously.
Personnel Items
- Chief Financial Officer: Board voted (4-1, one nay) to extend a conditional offer to Mr. Terry Jackson.
- Assistant Clerk of Commission: Approved a $5,000 pay increase (total cost $6,585).
- Assistant to COO: Approved hiring Serena Garcia at an advanced step (total cost $14,851).
Key Outcomes
- All consent agenda items approved.
- Board appointments for Animal Control and Behavioral Health approved; two others held.
- Resolutions 2026-43, 2026-58, and 2026-64 approved.
- Denied cell tower CUP and variance at 586 Northbridge Rd.
- Tabled multiple zoning items to April 21, 2026 (items 33-34, 38, 39, 41).
- Approved CUP for Ditch Witch facility with conditions.
- Denied CUP for beauty lounge.
- Approved three lawsuit settlements totaling $219,250.
- Conditional offer to Terry Jackson for CFO.
- Approved pay raise for Assistant Clerk and hire of Assistant to COO.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. All right. Welcome and to everyone to the Clayton County regular business meeting. The date is March 17, 2026, and the time is 6 o'clock PM. Next, we'll do roll call. District 1 will be joining us remotely. District 1. District 3. District 2 and District 4. All right. Next, we will move to our invocation and pledge of allegiance to our flag. Our invocation tonight will be done by Reverend Michael Clinscale with the Rock Church with the Rock Church of Atlanta and Forest Park. He will come up and do our invocation, and thereafter, we will stand for our Pledge of Allegiance to the to our flag. Would you please stand? Thank you. God bless you. Amen, boy. God bless you. Father, we just thank you that truly this is a day you have made. A day that we will continue to rejoice and be glad in it. Lord, we thank you for this great county, Clayton County. Lord, we thank you for this great board, Lord, and all the commissioners and our chairwoman, Lord God, continue to bless Lord and give Lord God your wisdom and understanding on Lord how to govern Lord this night, this meeting, in the name of Jesus. You say what two or three together in your name, there you are in the midst. We thank you for being here. Lord, now continue to bless this county, continue to bless all the workers. Lord God, bless all the cities. Lord, we thank you. Lord God, first responders, bless them all, Lord God, and we give you all the glory and honor. We ask for your spirit of unity being with us on this night that you may continue to commend your blessing upon this county. And it's in Jesus' name I pray, all who agree say amen. Amen. Amen. Praise God. All right. 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. All right. Next on our agenda will be the adoption of the agenda. Board members, are there any items that you would like to move to the regular agenda? All right. Seeing none at this time, can I get a motion to adopt the agenda? So move. All right. Can I get a second? Second. All right. Any discussion at this time? Are you ready for the vote? All in favor say aye.
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