Clayton County Board of Commissioners Regular Business Meeting – September 15, 2026

The Clayton County Board of Commissioners held a regular business meeting on September 15, 2026, at 6:00 PM, adjourning at 9:10 PM. The meeting included proclamations, a pocket park update, public comments, consent and regular agenda items, zoning hearings, executive session, and post-executive session approvals. Key actions included approving a travel expense management software contract, filling several board appointments, voting on conditional use permits, tabling a wireless tower request, hiring a new county warden, and approving two settlement agreements.

Presentations & Proclamations

• Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 6330 and American Legion Post 258 – Proclamation recognizing their service to Clayton County. Speaker Cornell Madison noted 21,000 veterans live in the county and the organizations assist with PTSD and homelessness.
• National Senior Center Month (September 2026) – Proclamation reading, followed by remarks from Senior Services Director Melissa Myers-Bristol, who highlighted a Flint Gospel and Lawn event on September 17 at Flint River Community Center from 5–8 PM.
• National Kinship Care Month (September 2026) – Proclamation accepted; Director Myers-Bristol noted the Kinship Care Resource Center is undergoing final renovations and is located on Battle Creek Road.
• National Voter Registration Day (September 15, 2026) – Elections Director Shauna Dozier announced a block party at the courthouse until 8 PM and reported that the voter registration deadline for the November 3 general election is October 5, with advanced voting beginning October 13.
• Small Business Opportunity Week (September 21–25, 2026) – Proclamation accepted by Montina Young Frazier, founder of CIE Media Group and government affairs chair for the Georgia Business Council, who thanked the county for its commitment to small businesses.
• Honoring Freddie Hendricks for Excellence in Theater Education – Proclamation read by Commissioner Alaina Reaves. Mr. Hendricks, a veteran arts educator at Utopian Academy for the Arts, received the 2026 Tony Award for Excellence in Theater Education. The award included a $10,000 grant and a master class for students from Carnegie Mellon University.
• Pocket Park Update – COO Detrick Stanford reported that the county received $7.2 million in state grant funding plus SPLOST dollars to create a pocket park in each of the four districts. The parks are designed to host mobile medical clinics, exercise areas, and community engagement spaces. District 3’s park will be geared toward youth with unique abilities (wheelchair-accessible). The Board unanimously passed Resolution 2026-211 to name the District 2 Pocket Park at 1740 Flat Shoals Road the “Gail B. Hambrick Park” in honor of Vice-Chair Gail Hambrick’s 17 years of service and advocacy.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Dr. Henry Anderson (District Constituent) – Provided data on townhome approvals: 3,028 total townhomes approved in Clayton County over the last three years, including 1,587 since the moratorium. Breakdown by district: District 3 (581), District 2 (460), District 1 (383), District 4 (163). He expressed strong opposition to further townhome development, calling them the “scourge of Clayton County,” and encouraged commissioners to review the data.
• Orlando Gooden (District 3) – Praised the 9/11 remembrance ceremony by Fire Chief Sweat and Police Chief Roberts. Requested that Board of Commissioners meeting agendas and videos be published more promptly—currently a five-day delay for video and unpredictable agenda posting.
• Timothy Vondell Jefferson (District 3) – Advocated for beautification: curb-cutting machines, street sweepers, ordinance enforcement for signs and overgrown trees, and replacing deteriorating six-foot wooden fences with vinyl or wrought iron. Proposed building electronic towers in each district for revenue-generating advertising.
• Linda Rankin (District 1, unincorporated Ellenwood) – Opposed the proposed 190-unit, four-story development at 3182 Anvil Block (BOC-2510-0579), approved 5-0 on January 20, 2026, despite a unanimous Zoning Advisory Group denial. Noted the area is active farmland and marketed as “senior housing” (55+, not traditional senior age). Asked for reconsideration and community meetings. Chairwoman Anderson-Henry clarified the project is not yet before the Board for final approval and promised a dedicated district meeting.
• Mickey Garber (District 1) – Congratulated Vice-Chair Hambrick on the park naming. Supported small business proclamations and Freddie Hendricks recognition. Suggested giving MARTA buses pull-off areas and requiring new subdivisions to include a right-turn lane for exiting traffic.
• Dylan Carlis (District 4) – Filed an open records request regarding the Flock camera system with the Sheriff’s Office on April 29, 2026; received no substantive response after four and a half months. Noted that a deputy was recently arrested by GBI for misusing that system, raising questions about oversight.
• Khalila Fhew (Owner, Creative Crowns Collective) – Requested approval of her conditional use permit for a barbershop/beauty salon at 9526 S Main St, Unit B (BOC-2505-0500), originally denied. Argued the denial was arbitrary and unconstitutional and that the county should embrace the beauty industry as an economic asset. She had filed a lawsuit challenging the denial.
• Tanya Endosi – Asked how property taxes would be affected by the new North Clayton High School construction. Chairwoman referred her to COO Stanford for follow-up.
• Olga Rodriguez (District 3) – Mother of Nazareth, stated she had a formal PAC complaint filed against her by District Attorney Tasha Mosley after raising concerns about her son’s case. Alleged the DA’s timeline omitted key facts about law enforcement conduct that internal affairs had validated. Demanded transparency and accountability.
• Kari Lewis – Criticized the county’s handling of “Stop Rus” and called for impartial accountability. Recommended improvements to MARTA service, including increased express bus frequency and relocating the Justice Center Transit Hub to a park-and-ride.
• Chris Gallagher (Jonesboro) – Reported trash dumping at the shopping center on County Line Road, particularly near the Eaton Fresh parking lot, and expressed concern about blight after the store’s closure.

Consent Calendar

• Approved without objection (all 18 items):
  1. Approval of September 1, 2026, Board Meeting Minutes
  2. Monthly contracts/change orders report from Central Services
  3. Contract Amendment SWC #19-72: Emergency cooling system rental for Clayton County Jail – CGL Facility Management, five-month rental, total not to exceed $2,479,997 (equipment $1,250,000, fuel $1,166,175, DEF $63,822)
  4. Ratification of Emergency Change Orders #3 & #4 for ITB #24-26A (River’s Edge Greenway walking trail) – Pride Contracting, Inc., $2,518,581.41 for unsuitable soil removal (SPLOST funded)
  5. Award ITB #26-97: Riverdale Library Renovation – Diversified Construction of Georgia Inc., $2,511,854 (funded by Board of Regents grant and 2015 SPLOST)
  6. Award SWC #26-172: NetApp Annual Support Services – Computacenter United States Inc., $158,153.90 (IT General Fund) 7–10. Budget Amendments (BA 2-71 through 2-74) totaling $6,853,046 (various funds)
  7. Refund to Southern Vision Design for permits not issued
  8. 2027 Health Benefits Package approval (open enrollment late October/early November)
  9. Resolution 2026-205: Accept volleyball equipment donation from Danielle Strickland (value $5,353) for Virginia Burton Gray Recreation Center
  10. Resolution 2026-206: Renew DEA MOU for joint operations (2026)
  11. Resolution 2026-207: Apply for Good Sports Equipment Donation Grant (handling fee 5% of value)
  12. Resolution 2026-208: Apply for GDOT Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Grant (up to $400,000) for Panhandle Road Roundabout scoping/design; local match $80,000 from 2027 SPLOST
  13. Resolution 2026-209: Special Facility Use for Delta Air Lines TechOps Veterans Appreciation Day parking lot event (November 5–6, 2026)
  14. Resolution 2026-210: Renew DEA High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Task Force MOU (2026)

Discussion Items

• Item 19 – Travel and Expense Management Software (GSA #26-148) – Finance Department recommended a three-year contract with Carahsoft Technology Corporation for SAP Concur, total $98,662 (base year $27,504; two option years $27,504 each; initial setup $16,150). Commissioner Hambrick raised concerns about spending $98,000 on software when employees already perform those tasks and other departments were asked to wait for mid-year budget requests. CFO responded that funding was approved in the 2027 budget, that the program runs through March 2030 with billing starting April 2027 (so first-year cost ~$24–26K), and that American Express card rebates will offset the cost. The motion to approve passed (vote: ayes vs. nay count not specified, but carried).
• Board Appointments (Items 20–38) – Multiple appointments deferred to October 6 or October 20 meetings. Reappointments made: Marvin Dixon to Animal Control Board (Commissioner Allen); Ricky Lovelace to Parks & Recreation Board (Vice-Chair Hambrick); Charles Burks to Clayton County Public Facilities Authority (Chairwoman Anderson-Henry); Pat Sebo to same board (Commissioner Davis); Evan Oglesby, Gerald McClellan, and Dr. Ralph Simpson to Sports & Entertainment Council. Commissioner Allen held one appointment due to a name error (Nancy Howard vs. Tammary Scott). Items 34–36 (Viewpoint Health Board) – Chairwoman moved to appoint State Representative Yasmine Neal; vote failed (3 nays). Board decided to hold these appointments to October 6 pending receipt of candidate names from Viewpoint Health.
• Zoning Item BOC-2505-0500 (Barbershop/Beauty Salon – Decision Only) – Staff and Zoning Advisory Group recommended denial. Applicant Khalila Fhew spoke. Commissioner Davis moved to approve; seconded; passed with ayes.
• Zoning Item BOC-2606-0622 (Wireless Telecommunication Facility – Public Hearing) – Applicant Hellman Yates/Diamond Communications proposed a 175-foot monopole tower on Georgia Power property (114 acres, 3,600 sq ft compound) to improve Verizon coverage for two elementary/middle schools and surrounding neighborhoods. Conditions: replant trees or donate to tree bank fund. Several speakers opposed: Dr. Anderson questioned lack of visual simulations; Carrie Burgess (president of neighborhood association) raised concerns about access via Clearwater Trail (135 homes), inadequate notification, and potential use of Georgia Power property for a data center; Chris Gallagher cited health risks from radiation. Applicant rebutted with visual impact photos and explained the tower is designed to collapse within the property. Commissioner Allen moved to table the item to the October 20 meeting to allow a meeting with the community about driveway access. The board agreed without a formal vote.
• Executive Session – Closed for real estate, litigation, and personnel.
• Post-Executive Session –
  • Hiring of County Warden – HR Director Pam Mambles reported that Mr. Jane Payne passed background checks by HR and the Georgia Department of Corrections. Recommended approval of starting salary of $122,828 plus $13,186 supplement (total $138,186). Start date October 3, report date October 5. Motion to approve passed.
  • Settlement Agreements – Two settlements approved: Caleb Elliott auto accident ($165,000) and Cody Law federal claim ($192,500). Both motions passed.

Key Outcomes

• Approved Consent Agenda (all 18 items).
• Approved Travel and Expense Management Software contract (GSA #26-148).
• Made/Reappointed board members: Miles to Animal Control Board, Lovelace to Parks & Rec, Burks and Sebo to Public Facilities Authority, Oglesby, McClellan, and Simpson to Sports & Entertainment Council.
• Held several board appointments to October 6 or October 20 meetings, including Airport South CID, Board of Health, License Review Board, Parks & Rec (Reaves), Water Authority, Zoning Advisory Group, and Viewpoint Health (three positions).
• Approved Conditional Use Permit for barbershop/beauty salon at 9526 S Main St (BOC-2505-0500).
• Tabled Wireless tower application (BOC-2606-0622) to October 20, 2026.
• Approved Hiring of Warden Jane Payne at $138,186 salary.
• Approved Two settlement agreements totaling $357,500.