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Record of Proceedings

Clayton County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting – July 21, 2026

Board of Commissioners — Tuesday, July 21, 2026
BodyClayton County, Georgia
SessionBoard of Commissioners
DateTuesday, July 21, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:05:50

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:00

Good evening, everyone.

0:01

All right, the Clayton County Board of Commissioners of Regular Board Meeting is now called to order.

0:07

The date is July 21st, 2026, and the time is 6 o'clock p.m.

0:12

Next, we will move to roll call.

0:14

Um District 1 here, District 3, present, district 2, present, and district 4.

0:21

All right.

0:23

Next is the invocation and pledge of allegiance to our flag.

0:27

Our invocation tonight will be given by Pastor Michael Smith of the Antioch East Baptist Church in Ellenwood.

0:34

He will come forward to deliver the invocation, and thereafter we will do the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag.

0:39

Will you please stand?

0:42

And Reverend Smith, come on up.

0:49

Let us pray.

0:51

Dear Divine Righteous God, we come before you at this present time.

0:56

We stand before these great individuals, those that have been divinely designed for your purpose.

1:03

We ask that these five commissioners, we know what has been entrusted in them.

1:08

We thank you for their integrity, their wisdom, and also their investment in this community.

1:14

We pray for all first respondents.

1:16

We pray for the community itself.

1:19

Let this meeting be one or resolve.

1:22

Let it be a meeting of strength, let it be a meeting of purpose, and also let it be one that we all come into agreement with it.

1:29

We give you all the praises.

1:31

Amen.

1:32

Amen.

1:33

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

1:40

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

1:46

Amen.

1:51

All right, next we will move to the adoption of our agenda.

1:55

Board members, are there any items that you would like to move to the regular agenda at this time?

2:01

Yes, item number four.

2:03

Okay, and then item number four is going to be removed.

2:06

So that item will be removed.

2:08

Any other items?

2:10

Are we going to be alerted that it was going to be removed?

2:36

All right, board members, are you good?

2:38

Did you need you need to move any other items at this time?

2:41

All right.

2:42

Seeing none at this time, um, I need a motion to remove uh item number four from the agenda.

2:49

I make the motion to remove item number four.

2:51

All right, I second that motion.

2:53

Is there any discussion at this time?

2:55

Are you ready for the vote?

2:56

All in favor say aye.

2:58

Aye.

2:58

All opposed, any abstentions, the ayes have it, and the motion carries.

3:02

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

3:06

So moved.

3:07

All right, I second it.

3:08

Is there any more discussion at this time?

3:11

All right.

3:11

Are you ready for the vote?

3:12

All in favor say aye.

3:14

Aye.

3:14

All opposed.

3:15

Any abstentions?

3:16

The ayes have it, and the motion carries.

3:18

Next is item five presentations and proclamations.

3:21

Our first proclamation is recognizing July 7, 2026 as 770 Day in Clayton County.

3:28

And also, we have a proclamation for Mr.

3:31

Zion D.

3:33

McKell, recognition for outstanding leadership.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning And Land Use█████████████████17%
Transportation Safety████████████████16%
Youth Programs███████████████15%
Procedural███████████11%
Public Engagement███████████11%
Data Center Regulation████████8%
Economic Development███████7%
Community Engagement█████5%
Technology and Innovation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Clayton County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting – July 21, 2026

The Clayton County Board of Commissioners held a regular business meeting on July 21, 2026, at 6:00 PM. The meeting included proclamations, public comments, consent and regular agenda items, executive session, and votes on key topics including the MARTA Southlake Bus Rapid Transit Intergovernmental Agreement, a stream buffer variance, a street renaming, and an ordinance changing the Chief Financial Officer’s reporting structure. Several citizens spoke on data center issues, business licensing, and community concerns.

Proclamations

  • Recognized July 7, 2026, as "770 Day" in Clayton County, presented by the 770 Initiative founder Dominique Huff.
  • Recognized Zahion D. Mikell for outstanding youth leadership, presented by the Chairwoman.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Antoine Deal (District 4): Owner of A Plus Automotive and Collision, requested Board reconsideration of his denied business license due to the business corridor overlay prohibiting auto repair, noting an adjacent existing auto repair business.
  • Timothy Vondale Jefferson (consultant for Deal): Argued the overlay rewrite should not exclude long-established automotive businesses and requested a site visit.
  • Dr. Henry Anderson (District 3): Announced a 1950s/1960s jamboree on July 24 at Flint River Community Center, a collaboration with Senior Services.
  • Orlando Gooden: Criticized the $140,000 FIFA watch fest at Southlake Mall (estimated 50 attendees), questioned return on investment, and requested travel itineraries for the Chairwoman’s trips to Mexico and New Orleans.
  • Teresa Tally (District 3): Cited long-standing issues with abandoned properties, unfinished projects, need for a children’s hospital, and utility wire dangers.
  • Tanya Funny (unincorporated Clayton County): Expressed fatigue with the Lovejoy data center process, alleged deceptive annexation in October 2024, and claimed the city changed zoning in November 2025 to allow data centers and gave the mayor sole control of special administrative permits in December 2025. Called for deannexation.
  • Kyrie Lewis (Irondale): Urged a four-step approach (education, enforcement, empowerment, development) to address poverty and development, advocating for teaching resources rather than pricing out low-income residents.
  • Alicia Peterson: Introduced her nonprofit Pathway to Purpose Youth Organization and announced a youth showcase on July 23 at St. Augustine’s Church in Morrow.
  • Marion Usher and Troy Lynn Hickerson: Were called but did not speak (from July 7 carryover list).

Invited Speakers (Point of Privilege)

  • Mayor Marcy Flewellen (City of Lovejoy): Discussed the Development of Regional Impact (DRI) process for a proposed mega data center. Stated that the Lovejoy Mayor and Council do not support 15 data centers and confirmed "there will not be a data center in Lovejoy." Invited all regional leaders to participate in the DRI review; QR codes for meeting notifications were available.
  • Lawyer for Lovejoy (attorney Wiggins): Clarified the DRI process is required by the state (ARC) for large developments, and that the parcel was annexed prior to Clayton County’s moratorium. Zoning was changed later in late 2025 to allow data centers.
  • Dr. Douglas Hendricks, Interim Superintendent of Clayton County Public Schools: Declared schools ready to open August 3, highlighted 50,000+ students returning, announced a Back to School Bash on July 25, and emphasized the district's focus on children.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved consent agenda (items 1–19 and 16–19, with item 4 removed) unanimously.
  • Key consent items included:
    • Monthly purchasing report.
    • Emergency change order for River’s Edge Greenway trail ($3,403,927.93 from 2021 SPLOST).
    • Amendment to contract with Central Square for false alarm fine collection (no cost).
    • Budget amendments: $346,000 for jail HVAC; $600,000 for VIP Amphitheater change orders (SPLOST 2021).
    • Multiple refunds (power reconnections, permit cancellations, etc.).
    • Personnel restructure in Buildings and Maintenance (6 positions deleted, 5 added, net savings).
    • Resolution 2026-162 extending moratorium on gas stations and establishing moratorium on convenience stores until Dec 31, 2026.
    • Resolution 2026-164: Accept $57,037.72 grant from Georgia CASA (Juvenile Court).
    • Resolution 2026-167: Accept $10,000 unrestricted gift from Meals on Wheels America.
    • Resolution 2026-168: Agreement with Jet Dental for no‑cost employee dental services.

Discussion Items

  • Resolution 2026-158 – MARTA Southlake Bus Rapid Transit Intergovernmental Agreement
    • Authorizes Clayton County to enter into an IGA with MARTA for design and construction of the Southlake BRT line.
    • Attorney Reed presented three amendments: (1) define "major change" requiring Board approval; (2) give county authority over condemnation value determinations; (3) change venue to Clayton County (from Fulton).
    • Commissioner Hambrick requested delay for study, citing constituents’ concerns and past unmet promises (rail vs. BRT).
    • Commissioner Reeves urged approval to secure federal funding, noting a deadline for $70–90 million in federal dollars and that the BRT would connect to a future SR 54 BRT line.
    • After debate, the resolution passed with amendments (vote not tallied in transcript, but ayes carried; Commissioners Hambrick and possibly others opposed).
  • Resolution 2026-165 – Street Renaming: Bogey Court to Charles M. Schofield Court
    • Located in the Pine Trace at Pebble Brook neighborhood off Thomas Road. Petition signed by all residents.
    • Approved unanimously.
  • Ordinance 2026-166 – Amend Chief Financial Officer Reporting Structure
    • Amends Section 2-13.5 to have CFO report directly to the Board of Commissioners (similar to COO). First read.
    • Passed with one nay vote.
  • Public Hearing – Stream Buffer Variance (2554 Emerald Drive)
    • Applicant sought 193.6 sq ft encroachment into the 75‑foot impervious stream buffer for a pool, deck, and retaining wall.
    • Director Rohling recommended denial because alternative designs were possible and the applicant did not provide required mitigation measures for impervious area.
    • The builder (Shane Bailey, Hilltop Pools) noted the steep slope and claimed efforts to adjust the design.
    • A zoning board of appeals member spoke in favor, saying such variances are common in the neighborhood.
    • Motion to deny passed 3‑2 (Commissioners Davis and Allen expressed preference for tabling to allow the applicant to submit missing mitigation plans; Commissioner Hambrick’s motion to deny carried).
  • Public Hearing – Conditional Use Permit (4241 Old Dixie Hwy)
    • Request for a commercial parking lot on 8.53 acres in MV-IMO district. Planning staff and Zoning Advisory Group recommended denial.
    • Applicant requested a 30‑day deferral to August 18, 2026, to further consult with staff.
    • Board voted unanimously to table.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved (unanimous): Consent agenda; Resolution 2026-165 (street renaming); tabling of CUP item to August 18, 2026.
  • Approved (majority vote): Resolution 2026-158 (MARTA IGA) with amendments (Commissioner Hambrick voted no); Ordinance 2026-166 (CFO reporting change) with one nay.
  • Denied (3‑2): Resolution 2026-163 – stream buffer variance (Chairwoman Anderson-Henry and Commissioners Allen and Davis voted no; Commissioners Hambrick and Reeves likely yes).
  • Executive Session: Entered for litigation, personnel, and real estate.
  • Post‑Executive Session: Approved transfer of two parcels on Upper Riverdale Road to GDOT (unanimous); approved settlement of eight civil service claims against the Sheriff’s office (unanimous).
  • Adjourned: 10:13 PM.

Next Steps

  • The MARTA IGA will be executed with the Board‑approved amendments; MARTA will respond to the county’s terms.
  • The CUP applicant will return with additional information on August 18, 2026.
  • The stream buffer variance is denied; the applicant may resubmit with required mitigation.
  • The CFO reporting ordinance undergoes a second reading at a future meeting.
  • Public school year begins August 3; Back to School Bash on July 25.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. All right, the Clayton County Board of Commissioners of Regular Board Meeting is now called to order. The date is July 21st, 2026, and the time is 6 o'clock p.m. Next, we will move to roll call. Um District 1 here, District 3, present, district 2, present, and district 4. All right. Next is the invocation and pledge of allegiance to our flag. Our invocation tonight will be given by Pastor Michael Smith of the Antioch East Baptist Church in Ellenwood. He will come forward to deliver the invocation, and thereafter we will do the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag. Will you please stand? And Reverend Smith, come on up. Let us pray. Dear Divine Righteous God, we come before you at this present time. We stand before these great individuals, those that have been divinely designed for your purpose. We ask that these five commissioners, we know what has been entrusted in them. We thank you for their integrity, their wisdom, and also their investment in this community. We pray for all first respondents. We pray for the community itself. Let this meeting be one or resolve. Let it be a meeting of strength, let it be a meeting of purpose, and also let it be one that we all come into agreement with it. We give you all the praises. 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. Amen. All right, next we will move to the adoption of our agenda. Board members, are there any items that you would like to move to the regular agenda at this time? Yes, item number four. Okay, and then item number four is going to be removed. So that item will be removed. Any other items? Are we going to be alerted that it was going to be removed? All right, board members, are you good? Did you need you need to move any other items at this time? All right. Seeing none at this time, um, I need a motion to remove uh item number four from the agenda. I make the motion to remove item number four. All right, I second that motion. Is there any discussion at this time? Are you ready for the vote? All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed, any abstentions, the ayes have it, and the motion carries. Now at this time, I need a motion to adopt the agenda. So moved. All right, I second it. Is there any more discussion at this time? All right. Are you ready for the vote?

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