DeKalb County Board of Commissioners Meeting - March 24, 2026
DeKalb County Board of Commissioners Meeting - March 24, 2026
The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners convened on March 24, 2026, at 9:00 AM for a regular meeting. The meeting included presentations honoring Women's History Month, Employee Appreciation Day, National Procurement Month, and a Women's History Month Trailblazer Award. Public comments focused on proposed data center regulations, an ICE resolution, water and sewer system concerns, road safety, and other community issues. The board acted on numerous agenda items, including appointments, consent agenda approvals, deferrals, and policy discussions on data centers, water and sewer authority study, and summer meeting calendar changes.
Consent Calendar
- Approved routine items including termination of an airport lease, approval of meeting minutes from March 17, 2026 (Committee of the Whole) and March 10, 2026 (Board of Commissioners), and various district allocations: $5,000 to Paws Atlanta pet food bank, $59,263 to 100 Black Men of DeKalb for Youth Explorers, $5,000 to CAP School's Educational Foundation, $2,000 to Black Boy Blueprint for a summit, $1,000 to Horizon over the Spectrum, and $2,000 to DeKalb Symphony Orchestra for outreach. Additional consent items from Airport, Facilities, and other departments were also approved.
- Item 2026-0551 (allocation of $2,000 to 100 Black Men of DeKalb for the "Legacy is not extinct" event) was pulled from consent and deferred for two weeks to prepare a substitute.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jan Dunaway (DeKalb Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor) urged approval of data center text amendment limiting size to 550,000 square feet, preventing clustering, and requiring protections against discharge of chemically treated water or immersion solution. She questioned the need for a new $300,000 water and sewer study given prior spending, and demanded quarterly public reports and immediate notification of spills.
- Rosalind McIntyre (self) cited 2025 studies from UC Riverside, Caltech, Cornell, and NIH linking data centers to premature deaths, asthma cases, and $20 billion annual public health burden. She highlighted worsening air quality in metro Atlanta (unhealthy ozone days rose from 1.8 in 2023 to 5.5 in 2024) and water contamination in Fayette County. She argued for a true accounting of total community impact.
- Donna Priest Brown (South DeKalb) raised concerns that special land use permits (SLUPs) for data centers lack systematic compliance monitoring or auditing after approval, making conditions symbolic rather than enforceable. She called this a governance failure affecting all SLUPs countywide.
- Gina Mangum (Southeast DeKalb) supported the substitute amendment but requested closure of a loophole allowing campus-like clustering, distance requirements from neighborhoods (minimum one mile), water compliance plans, and a compliance enforcement mechanism as emphasized by Commissioner Long Spears.
- Ashley Heredia (attorney, District 1) criticized commissioners for withdrawing a resolution condemning ICE's use of force, stating it was a missed opportunity to declare values. She argued that a public statement carries weight and that "governing out of fear of hypothetical retaliation is not leadership."
- Jocelyn O'Neill complained about poor road conditions (potholes, metal plates, lack of street striping) and safety issues on Glenwood Road, urging the county to prioritize health and safety. She also mentioned potentially involving the ADA.
- Joan Malow thanked CEO Lorraine Cochran Johnson, Commissioners Bolton, Terry, and Greer for assistance in getting item 2026-0491 on the agenda.
- Stephen Benny questioned the absence of publicly available sewer spill reports after 2017 and news releases from the watershed department. He detailed allegations about Ryan Milsap, former Decide DeKalb chair, involving a 2019 land swap deal for a movie studio that stalled, and a proposed data center development on former parkland. He stated Milsap used racially derogatory language and called the county's dealings a "con job."
- Beverly Dabney (Dunwoody, District 3) requested commissioner assistance to obtain speed bumps on Dunwoody Drive after multiple unsuccessful applications, citing safety concerns for children and adults.
- Cheryl Dudley (unincorporated Stone Mountain) thanked code enforcement but urged a plan to keep ICE away from polling places, referencing the new Homeland Security official's comments about sending ICE to polls. She also suggested investigating county property owned by Russian oligarchs.
- David Holcomb (South DeKalb) asked that compensation for public safety members killed on the job be extended to any county employee killed on the job.
Discussion Items
- Appointments and Reconsideration:
- Item 2026-0508 (District 2 appointment to Friends of the DeKalb Sports Commission) was discussed at length. Attorney Welch clarified that the executive order allows one collective appointment from the Board of Commissioners, not individual appointments. Motion to withdraw failed (6-1); a motion to defer for two weeks passed, with a request for administration clarification on individual appointments. Commissioner Terry noted confusion because commissioners were previously asked to name appointees, and one had already attended a meeting.
- Arts Council appointments (five items) were corrected after Attorney Welch revealed a revised February 25, 2026 executive order allowing each commissioner to appoint one standing voting member. Appointments were read into the record with the correct name of the entity (DeKalb Arts Council) and proper designation as standing members.
- Other appointments approved: Denise Carter to Post 3 of the Recreation Parks and Cultural Affairs Board (approved 7-0). Chief Executive Office appointments including Hunter Hines to the Shamley Doraville Community Improvement District Board, Dr. Sarah Petnod to Post 2 of the DeKalb Regional Land Bank Authority, Rev. Dr. James Todd Speed to Post 1 of the DeKalb County Hospital Authority, and Elizabeth M. Roberts to Post 1 of the DeKalb Regional Land Bank Authority (all approved as a block).
- Meeting Calendar Amendment (Item 2026-0557): The board amended the 2026 regular business and COW calendar. Changes included two night COW meetings on June 2 and October 6 (5:30 PM, location TBD), and a summer recess: BOC action meetings on July 7 and July 14, with no meetings July 21 and 28. The August 4 COW was moved to August 10, with the BOC meeting on August 11. Approved with friendly amendment by Commissioner Terry.
- Water and Sewer System Study (Item 2026-0478): Approved an allocation of up to $300,000 to contract a firm to determine how the county's water and sewer function can be best managed, including options of existing structure, reorganization, outsourcing in whole or in part, or creation of a water and sewer authority. Commissioner Terry offered a friendly amendment to remove the word "privatization" from the scope, but retained outsourcing of components. Commissioner Messiah supported the authority option for oversight. Commissioner Long Spears asked about procurement method (piggyback or RFP) and timeline (target end of summer). The motion passed.
- Data Center Regulations (Item 2026-0341): A resolution requesting the administration and planning department to update the recommended substitute for text amendment 2025-0972 regarding data center regulations, specifically limiting size to prevent campuses, requiring special land use permits for all locations, and incentivizing renewable energy. Commissioner Messiah and others raised additional issues (decommissioning bonds, pre-treatment of water, oversight). The item was deferred to the April 28 BOC with a stop in PECS on April 14, pending a potential special called meeting for further discussion. Commissioner Davis Johnson suggested a special call meeting for deep dive.
- Data Center Baseline Assessment (Items 2026-0244, 0245): Deferred to April 28 BOC.
- Court-Held Dogs Resolution (Item 2026-0286): Approved substitute resolution reaffirming authorization to seek cost recovery for impounded dogs, urging the law department to resume filing cost-of-care petitions, and creating a court-held dog coordinator position. Interim County Attorney Phillips reported progress: seven animals had holds lifted this year, and a proceeding occurred the prior day. Commissioner Long Spears requested coordination with Lifeline and police.
- Unhoused Support and Services Plan (Item 2026-0385): Substitute resolution deferred to April 14 BOC. Commissioner Terry noted additional changes may be discussed in PECS.
- Sound Ordinance (2025-0015) and Electric Landscape Device Rebate Program (2025-0017): Both deferred to April 14 BOC.
- Charter Review Commission Report (2025-1577): Deferred to allow further committee discussion. Commissioner Davis Johnson announced a special call meeting on April 16 at 9:30 AM for the rules committee and charter review.
- Blasting Operations Ordinance (Item 2026-0218): Substitute deferred to April 14 BOC for revisions regarding permit suspension/revocation and fireworks references.
- Various Purchasing and Contracting Items: Approved multiple contracts and change orders as recommended by committees, including firefighting PPE ($110,175), heavy construction equipment ($489,396 for two loaders, $268,143 for mini excavator and track loaders, $192,515 for a track loader, $16.2 million for police vehicles, $6 million for administrative vehicles, $699,316 for network equipment, and others). Items for networking equipment, low voltage cabling, and airport crack seal were approved. Others were deferred to April 14 BOC for committee review.
- Janitorial Services (Item 2026-0393): After initial approval, the item was reconsidered and a substitute that recalculated funding allocation was approved.
- SPLOST II Funding: $9,067,525 approved for facilities improvements (roofing, HVAC) at DeKalb mental health facilities (deferred from earlier). Also approved appropriation for Lew Walker Kitchen Equipment.
- Data Center Moratorium: Noted to end in June 2026.
Key Outcomes
- Approved Proclamations: Employee Appreciation Day (March 24, 2026), National Procurement Month (March 2026), and Women's History Month Trailblazer Award recognizing Lily Paiben of We Love Buford Highway.
- Appointments: Arts Council standing members approved (Kyle Williams, Camille Gilmore, Ron Mayo, Lauren Kiefer, Dolores Burgess). Other board appointments approved as noted.
- Calendar Change: Summer recess adopted as amended: BOC meetings July 7 and 14, no meetings July 21 and 28; COW on August 10.
- Water System Study: Approved $300,000 with privatization removed from scope; target completion by end of summer.
- Data Center Regulations: Deferred to April 28 BOC, with PECS stop on April 14 and possible special call meeting.
- Court-Held Dogs Resolution: Approved; planning for coordinator position.
- Consent Agenda: Approved with one item deferred.
- Deferrals: Multiple items moved to April 14 or April 28 BOC meetings for further committee review. Minutes of February 26 BOC meeting approved.
- Reconsideration: Janitorial services contract approved with substitute funding allocation.
Meeting Transcript
She serves as social superintendent for schools in Archdiocese of Atlanta. Where she leads initiatives in district accreditation programs and teacher certification. She previously served as Principal St. John Angel School and Hillary. This is Wagner brings 22 years of experience as a Catholic school principal and 16 years of teaching in both public and Catholic schools. She's a recipient of the NCEA Distinguished Principal Award and served on the ACE Principals Academy Design Team at the University of Notre Dame. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Thank you so much. Everyone in this room is here because a woman believed in them at some time. A mother, a grandmother, a mentor, someone who encouraged us, challenged us, helped shape the person we are today. Good morning to everyone. Thank you so much, presiding Commissioner Johnson and all of the other honorable commissions and distinguished guests. Thank you for allowing me to give this little reflection during women's history month. This year's theme is women shaping a sustainable future. And sometimes when we hear that word sustainability, we think of preserving our natural resources for the next generation. But really, sustainability is much more than that. It goes beyond environmental concerns and to encompass things like ensuring financial stability, building those resilient communities that foster hope, and developing leaders of the future so that each generation is prepared and has an opportunity to thrive. As an educator and as civic leaders, we share in that goal. The decisions you make, commissioners, each and every day, build those stronger communities of tomorrow. They impact families, neighborhoods, and opportunities, often in ways that aren't immediately seen, but have a lasting impact that are felt over time. We see these in the schools. We see this in the schools. When families are supported by those strong communities, they come to school well prepared to uh thrive. They come to school supported, they come to school ready to learn. And I want to thank you for the work that you do. Women have long been shapers of our future. We can think of women like Rosa Park, whose quiet courage changed the course of history. Mother Teresa, who showed the world the power of compassion and of service. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who championed women's equality, and who remind us to fight for the things that really matter and bring people along the way to join us. These women, they left a lasting impact. They opened the doors for the next generation. But when we think about women who impacted our own life, you're probably not going to find them in the history books. For me, it starts with my mother. My mother was a strong woman of faith and unwavering moral character. Growing up in the direct in the depression, she certainly knew how to stretch that dollar, how to manage a household, how to care for others, even when the resources were pretty scarce. When my father was diagnosed with a brain tumor, I was 10 years old. Our world changed drastically. But not my mother. She was unwavering, steadfast, a woman of uh faith and courage. She taught me to put God first to always do my best, and that you can always reach out to others, no matter our resources. That's the beautiful way she lived her life every day. My community played a really important role during that time. I was involved in youth programs, programs that you like you support here in DeCab County, so important, I believe, to our youth. The coaches that I had mentored, this shy little girl gave me confidence and showed me skills I didn't know I even had. They provided a stability, encouragement, a normalcy, and a difficult time. They showed me something I have never ever forgotten. The strong communities are built when people come together and support one another and foster hope. That's how leaders are formed.
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