OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Clayton County BOC Regular Business Meeting - July 7, 2026

Board of Commissioners — Tuesday, July 7, 2026
BodyClayton County, Georgia
SessionBoard of Commissioners
DateTuesday, July 7, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:56:47

Transcript — Verbatim
0:14

Good evening, everyone.

0:16

Good evening.

0:16

All right.

0:17

The Clayton County Board of Commissioners regular business meeting is now called to order.

0:22

The date is June, July 7th, 2026, and the time is 6 o'clock p.m.

0:28

At this time I will do roll call.

0:30

District 1.

0:32

District 3.

0:33

Present.

0:34

District 2.

0:35

Present.

0:35

And District 4.

0:36

Present.

0:37

Thank you.

0:38

All right.

0:38

Next, we will move on until I to our invocation and pledge of allegiance to our flag.

0:44

Our invocation tonight will be given by Pastor Davita Parnell of the First Baptist Church in Morro, Georgia, in his first Baptist Church Morrow.

0:53

She will come forward to deliver the invocation, and thereafter we will all we will stand for the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

1:01

Will you please stand for the invocation and the flag and the pledge?

1:04

Thank you.

1:06

Let's pray.

1:15

God, in the quiet of these moments.

1:29

And we come into your presence and we leave in your presence.

1:34

And so tonight we ask that everything that we do and all that we say and that the attitude that we engage in conversation and the intent of our hearts be pleasing to you.

1:49

God, we come from busy places.

1:52

We've got things on our shoulders and in our minds and our hearts that are hard to put down sometimes.

1:58

And so as we come tonight, we ask that as we do this business that you remind us of why we do it.

2:12

And we do it because we want to seek what is best for all.

2:18

God may we approach this work from common ground, from a place of listening and learning and true curiosity.

2:26

And God may we see this time of engaging and of accountability as one done in your presence, recognizing your presence in one another.

2:43

God, we know to be a servant, to be a person is to sacrifice something.

2:52

And so tonight may we all come knowing that in order to gain there's always loss.

3:01

But God, we ultimately ask that the gains be for your glory and your honor and your praise.

3:13

Amen.

3:14

Thank you, Messie.

3:16

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

3:23

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

3:49

Thank you.

3:50

And thank you, uh Pastor Farnell.

3:52

Next, we will move on to the adoption of our agenda board members.

3:56

Are there any items that you would like to move to the regular agenda?

3:59

Yes.

3:59

Commissioner Hambrick.

4:05

Number 25.

4:10

26.

4:11

Okay.

4:13

And 28.

4:18

25.

4:20

28.

4:22

All right.

4:22

Um also on the I would like to move items 21 and 23 board members.

4:28

And chief, I'm just gonna have you to speak on the the ones that I'm one of some one of the ones that I'm moving on.

4:34

All right.

4:34

What was that?

4:35

21 and 23.

4:37

I'll make sure I got the right ones too.

4:41

21 is uh is the Carfax and 23 is the Citizens Academy.

4:49

All right, all right, board members.

4:51

Are there any other um items that you would like to move to the regular agenda?

4:55

So I have 21, 23, uh 25, 26, and 28.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety████████████████16%
Procedural█████████████13%
Transportation Safety████████████12%
Public Engagement██████████10%
Budget Equity Analysis███████7%
Personnel Matters██████6%
Procurement Management██████6%
Emergency Management████4%
Data Center Regulation████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Clayton County Board of Commissioners Regular Business Meeting - July 7, 2026

The Clayton County Board of Commissioners held its regular business meeting on July 7, 2026, at 6:00 PM. The meeting included presentations, public comments, approval of a consent agenda, and several regular agenda items. Key actions included approving a $60 million bond for the Justice Complex, a moratorium on boarding homes and short-term rentals, and tabling a MARTA Bus Rapid Transit intergovernmental agreement for further discussion.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the June 16, 2026, meeting minutes.
  • Approved change order CP #25-141 for body armor (net decrease to $96,032.00).
  • Approved sale of surplus vehicles and property.
  • Awarded ITB #26-40 for exterior renovations at Reynolds Nature Preserve to P&M Sullivan dba GreenHeart Enterprises LLC ($120,087.00).
  • Awarded ITB #26-51 for milling/resurfacing five roads to Blount Construction Company ($3,358,978.49).
  • Approved Budget Amendments 2-03, 2-04, 4-1, 4-17, 4-18, 4-20.
  • Approved Resolutions 2026-144 (9/11 5K run/walk), 2026-145 (agreement with Southern Crescent Sexual Assault and Child Advocacy Center), 2026-146 (utility installations ordinance), 2026-147 (GDOT construction agreement), 2026-148 (Emergency Operations Plan adoption), 2026-149 (Hope Shelter lease agreement), 2026-150 (Library MOU with Ready Set Push), 2026-151 (Library grant application), 2026-152 (Water Authority eminent domain), 2026-154 (Carfax for Police program), 2026-155 (Officer Kanu vest memento), 2026-156 (shooting range public use), 2026-157 (Senior Services OAA grant), 2026-160 (Library state grant).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Dr. Henry Anderson thanked commissioners for the budget process and praised the magistrate court expansion.
  • Orlando Gooden criticized the board chair for travel expenses and alleged mismanagement of funds; he also referenced the Roman United project as a "scam."
  • Esther Harding, former correctional officer, alleged discrimination and unfair termination after a workplace injury; she requested reinstatement.
  • Nial Land, former officer, questioned unequal discipline in termination for gossip about another officer’s criminal history.
  • Valeria Munoz, former jail officer, detailed a pattern of discrimination and favoritism in the sheriff’s office, citing multiple examples of unequal treatment.
  • Teresa Talley opposed a data center project on Panhandle Road near Michelle Obama School, citing health and environmental risks; she thanked Commissioner Allen for speaking out.
  • David Hamrick urged action on gun violence after a recent shooting and criticized overbuilding of apartments.
  • Mickey Garber requested recognition for Freddie Hendricks who won a Tony Award.
  • China McLean questioned why a defendant in her son’s murder case was not held after an arrest in Florida; she demanded accountability.
  • Olga Rodriguez described losing her son due to courtroom backlog and criticized music played at a gun violence event.
  • Timothy Bondale Jefferson requested help for a client’s business license caught in zoning overlay district issues.

Discussion Items

  • Carfax for Police Program (Resolution 2026-154): Chief Kevin Roberts explained the partnership allows the county to share crash data with Carfax in exchange for vehicle investigation data. No cost to county. Approved unanimously.
  • Public Shooting Range (Resolution 2026-156): Chief Roberts outlined opening the CCPD range for public use for a fee (proposed $25/hour) to offset maintenance costs. Out-of-county fee discussed but not finalized. Approved unanimously.
  • Southlake BRT Intergovernmental Agreement (Resolution 2026-158): MARTA representative Mr. Holder described the 13.5-mile BRT line at 30% design, with $60.9 million in federal funds. Commissioner Hambrick raised concerns about lack of information on half-penny sales tax balance, coordination with GDOT, and past unmet promises. The board voted to table the item to the July 21 meeting, with a work session on July 14.
  • MARTA Program Coordinator (Resolution 2026-159): The COO explained this renews a previously expired agreement to reimburse the county for a program coordinator position. Approved unanimously.
  • $60 Million Bond (Resolution 2026-161): Authorizes general obligation bonds for Justice Complex upgrades as approved by voters in the 2027 SPLOST. Commissioner Hambrick criticized fees as exorbitant. Financial advisor stated fees (1% of principal) have not changed since 1990. Bond passed with one nay (Commissioner Hambrick).
  • Moratorium on Boarding Homes, Group Homes, Short-Term Rentals (Resolution 2026-153): Planning and zoning chief Cheryl Brooks stated the moratorium is needed to align county codes with new state regulations. Commissioners expressed differing views: Commissioner Hambrick supported it to prevent neighborhood overcrowding; Commissioner Reeves warned it could worsen the housing shortage. Approved with one nay (Commissioner Reeves).

Key Outcomes

  • Approval of Carfax program and public shooting range resolutions.
  • Tabling of MARTA BRT IGA to July 21 meeting for further discussion.
  • Approval of MARTA program coordinator resolution.
  • Approval of $60 million bond for Justice Complex (vote: 4-1).
  • Approval of moratorium on boarding homes, group homes, personal care homes, short-term rentals, and community living arrangements until December 31, 2026 or until new ordinance adopted (vote: 4-1).
  • Board appointments: Crystal Perry to Development Authority; Rhonda Endis to Family and Children Services Board; Dwayne Fabian reappointed to Library Board.
  • Conditional offer of employment for Chief Information Officer to Misty Pearson approved.
  • Executive session held for personnel; reconvened with no further actions.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. Good evening. All right. The Clayton County Board of Commissioners regular business meeting is now called to order. The date is June, July 7th, 2026, and the time is 6 o'clock p.m. At this time I will do roll call. District 1. District 3. Present. District 2. Present. And District 4. Present. Thank you. All right. Next, we will move on until I to our invocation and pledge of allegiance to our flag. Our invocation tonight will be given by Pastor Davita Parnell of the First Baptist Church in Morro, Georgia, in his first Baptist Church Morrow. She will come forward to deliver the invocation, and thereafter we will all we will stand for the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Will you please stand for the invocation and the flag and the pledge? Thank you. Let's pray. God, in the quiet of these moments. And we come into your presence and we leave in your presence. And so tonight we ask that everything that we do and all that we say and that the attitude that we engage in conversation and the intent of our hearts be pleasing to you. God, we come from busy places. We've got things on our shoulders and in our minds and our hearts that are hard to put down sometimes. And so as we come tonight, we ask that as we do this business that you remind us of why we do it. And we do it because we want to seek what is best for all. God may we approach this work from common ground, from a place of listening and learning and true curiosity. And God may we see this time of engaging and of accountability as one done in your presence, recognizing your presence in one another. God, we know to be a servant, to be a person is to sacrifice something. And so tonight may we all come knowing that in order to gain there's always loss. But God, we ultimately ask that the gains be for your glory and your honor and your praise. Amen. Thank you, Messie. 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, uh Pastor Farnell. Next, we will move on to the adoption of our agenda board members. Are there any items that you would like to move to the regular agenda? Yes. Commissioner Hambrick. Number 25. 26. Okay. And 28. 25. 28. All right.

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