Also our presiding officer as well as Commissioner Ted Terry, Super District 6.

We're going to, because today is a full day and we have zoning that starts at 5 30.

I'd like to try and keep us as short as possible and if possible get done by around four, and then that gives time for people to get ready for another four or five hours of zoning tonight.

I love zoning, but that's a lot.

With that said, Commissioners, uh, let's go ahead and take care of the minutes.

Uh this is agenda item 2026-0583.

This is for all commission districts.

Minutes for the March 7, 2026, excuse me, March 17, 2026 Public Works and Infrastructure Committee meeting.

If move to approve second, got proper motion, proper second.

All those in favor, raise your hand, say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

All right.

Uh COO Williams, if you could bring our new sanitation director up here.

Absolutely, Mr.

Chair.

It's my honor to uh welcome to the podium for the first time as uh director of sanitation, Mr.

Eugene McKinney.

Uh he's recently joined the team uh about a week ago uh from the city of Atlanta was his last stop.

Okay.

Um and we're expecting big things out of Mr.

McKinney.

He's hit the ground running already.

Uh and he said he's ready for this item, but uh if we could give him uh maybe 30 seconds just to tell a little bit about himself bringing to the table.

Yeah, Mr.

McKinney, welcome and thank you for for coming to the DeCAB team.

Committee chair and committee.

It's an honor to be here today.

Um I'm delayed to be on the team.

Just a little bit about me.

I've been on the municipal side of uh providing service to communities for about 35 years, primarily in solid waste and environmental services, dealing in environmental sustainability, uh reuse opportunities, every product has a reuse life, and it has value to it.

So I'm here again, honored to serve, and um I look forward to networking with you soon in the future.

Okay, thank you.

Um as you and I briefly mentioned before, um there was a town hall uh two weeks ago and or la last week actually, and uh sanitation was part of the conversation without hesitation.

Everyone loves your department.

So you guys are well appreciated within at least district one, and I'm sure the rest of the county, uh, you have a great reputation and and we look forward to it getting better from there.

So thank you.

And that is very refreshing to come into a new environment where sanitation is already on a pedestal of great news.

This is the greatest committee in DeCab County, so you're gonna have fun here.

We got you know what?

The funny thing he heard that.

That's why he said that.

That's why he wanted I was wondering, Mr.

Chair, you missed that in your intro.

I mean, we don't have to sell it all the time.

You know, it's it's in it's implied.

But again, uh thank you very much for being here with us.

Thank you.

Um let me go ahead and and we have uh some people here for at least one presentation.

What I'd like to do is go through our agenda um and then uh if we have time, get that presentation uh knocked out.

Um so here we go.

Uh commissioners, we have under public works sanitation and beautification.

Agenda item 2026-0413.

This is for all commission districts.

Low bid invitation number 22, excuse me, 2025-137 ITB County Abatement Properties Mowing and Maintenance, annual contract with three options to renew for use by public works sanitation and beautification to obtain mowing and maintenance services at various county abatement locations.

Recommend award to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, flex landscaping management LLC, amount not to exceed 100,000 dollars.

Director, what can you tell about this?

Yes, basically this this contract or this service request for service is to support our existing crews and abating properties, which um the CAP County has many crop across the county.

Uh we do a phenomenal job.

You know, the rainy season is coming.

We want to get on top of this to make sure our our ergonomics right of our right-aways and things like that are well maintained and beautiful for the county.

Perfect.

Um, I'll say uh from District 1, we have a property that's going through the courts or has been through the courts that needs maintenance, and I hope that that uh we can talk offline about those specific properties and situations like that, and just make sure that they're still being taken care of.

Residents uh frequently contact me uh about the status, and so as long as we can keep that taken care of, I'd be very grateful.

Absolutely.

Look forward.

Commissioners, any questions?

No, sir.

Commissioner Terry.

Yes, thank you, uh Mr.

Chair.

So um uh welcome, Dr.

McKinney.

Thank you.

Uh appreciate your experience.

Um back to Tampa, Tampa, Tampa Buccaneers.

Buccaneers, all right, very good.

Um over the years, Mr.

Chair, you'll remember this.

So if it's okay between director and then CO Williams, could we just make sure that all the commissioners are inquired about the problem spots that might need to be picked up in this contract?

I think in the past we've added a couple streets here and there, just because we're always trying to stay on top of it, and there might be one that emerges.

So as we move this engine to item forward, could we open up the possibility of including a few more locations that might have not have made the list?

Is that possible?

What I would suggest is just go on and um you can either email and we I don't know if there's going to be room on the contract, but we'll figure that out if there's a few uh locations that aren't listed.

Just shoot me an email and we'll get it figured out.

Okay.

Um and then one thing um I did want to ask about um and we've had this request from a couple neighbors.

I don't see it on here directly, but I might when I look at it more detailed.

Um some neighbors have asked that some of these abandoned lots, as opposed to mowing them, um, that in essence we we sort of allow them to be sort of, you know, um little community garden spots, parks, like little pocket parks basically, or park lets as they call them.

So um, you know, I don't know if this is like a law department question, um, attorney Phillips or Zach, um, but when it comes to these abatement lots, you know, we're I guess we're in control of them, um, but what is the ability for neighbors to utilize lots that probably aren't really in line to be developed for flowers or gardens and things like that.

Right.

What would be the process to consider?

Right.

So and I think we would have the cleanest way would be disposing of the property.

Um and quite frankly, in many instances, we would probably prefer that because the properties are kind of a liability.

You know, we're simply maintaining them.

So if there were um neighbors uh that were interested in maybe acquiring and maybe, you know, I don't know.

How we would determine the cost, but as as inexpensively as possible.

Okay.

Um, we would love to work to uh send properties to to neighbors to take over and maintain it.

I know that's something we've done before.

Okay.

All right.

Um I think we should consider just if it could be possible to help us figure out what would be the process either for the parks department to pick them up as little neighborhood parks and maybe those very like a lower level maintenance but more intentionality.

You know, instead of just mowing it, maybe we kind of let some elements of a garden or something or even just flowers, right?

Just something that's like sort of neighborhood specific, give them neighbors a little bit more kind of agency over these vacant lots.

Maybe they could adopt them, for instance.

Um I'm familiar with the Detroit Future Fund that actually has a program where you they have like 20 different treatments of abandoned lots that neighbors can literally apply for grants from the Detroit Future Fund to plant wildflowers or to you know do something very low level.

It's sort of the idea of turning a blighted property into something that could just be uh a little bit more visually appealing.

Um the second question, Mr.

Chair, I had is it on these cemeteries.

So I see there are one, two, three cemeteries on the list.

Are these cemeteries that we own?

I think we have a response.

I don't know that we own them, but I think abandoned cemeteries is something we have a responsibility for maintaining.

Okay.

Um the reason why I ask is uh we're doing a cemetery cleanup at Anderson Cemetery over in Scotdale.

Uh on the parcel map, um, it says the cemetery owns the cemetery, and that cemetery obviously has been abandoned for like 30 or 40 years.

Right.

So um and then there's another one down at Fleetwood that the CID actually uh paid to kind of like clean it up.

But the ongoing maintenance obviously is sort of like the big the big question.

So um in terms of these uh adding two additional cemeteries that again kind of no one basically claims.

Right.

Send send us that information, Commissioner, because that may be something that just has fallen off our list or never made it to a list.

Um but I think abandoned cemeteries is is one of those responsibilities of the county.

Okay, and Mr.

Chair, the reason why I'm asking about it is DeCab County actually has several I want to say dozens and dozens of what were historically African American cemeteries that basically just kind of got cut out of the um there's like a fund they set up the a state set up a fund that like basically a cemetery has to put money in a um a trust or something for the long-term maintenance, but some of these cemeteries weren't sort of allowed under state law, and so they basically were the only place the African American families could bury their loved ones, but then there was no system set up to actually and so what happened is they got abandoned and then they just got overgrown, and then now there's they're just sort of blighted weed lots.

Um so I'd love for us to just um if we're if it's possible and if you if the law department thinks it's acceptable for us to if we need to actually like take over the cemetery like in terms of title or simply suffice for us to maintain it as an abandoned property.

Well the the attorney is walking up I just want to add Commissioner Terry uh there was at some point a program under the state where they would help do payments if it was a historic cemetery and so it may be well worth doing some little background history on each of these cemeteries and see if we can still bring it in for some type of state funding uh and make it a historic resource within the community great point the decap history center is working with us oh on uh cataloging uh once we clear it we can document uh everyone who's buried there cool mr turning so commissioner terry I think the important thing is with respect to each of the cemeteries and to back up a second what you referred to as abatement properties there needs to be a case by case analysis done of the individual property the individual cemetery to make sure that the county's position is clearly identified and understood and then informed decisions can be made about what the county will do what the options are and what's appropriate moving forward okay but it's hard to give you a just a blanket answer without making sure we're clear about exactly what's in front of us and our analysis has been done fully okay well um if you don't mind if you could um just help me understand how we got to the point where we were maintaining these three cemeteries and what led to sort of the um I guess the approval for us to maintain them and we can look at the process we'll we'll work with the public works department and look at the history and and get those answers up to C O O Williams to share with you guys.

Okay thank you back uh thank you Commissioner Terry for those good questions.

Commissioner Johnson Yes I just had one one really brief question for the list of the properties that are included in the agenda item can we get that broken down by district?

Yes ma'am just email it to us mail I was uh would like to follow up with that could we get that put into a GIS map that would also be great.

And then um if there was some way that these could be taken off of the county rolls and put into the market where we're not liable for them that might be also beneficial.

Yes so we guess well we can get it broken out by district and put onto a map we'll see if we can get that to you before I guess we don't meet to the 14th yeah there's plenty of time.

Yeah.

Um I know uh Director Greer has the ability to make a web map so I don't know if that's something he could put on the website that just says abandoned lots the county maintains or whatever the correct nomenclature would be that that would be also triple confirm with uh the land bank and with Dr.

Ferguson that uh these can't be put into productive use.

So we'll do all of that perfect yes sir.

Perfect.

Okay.

All right so we'll so we'll ask the commissioners if there's any other lots or roadways or traffic islands medians that might be missing we can send those I think these are mostly the lots not the right not the street I think that's a separate agenda item looking at that on the list.

Number three though has um has traffic circles and medians and it's like a cemetery traffic island triangle median um but looking at the list is all has specific addresses for the most part so that's why I was thinking that other list we had last year was a lot longer with all the right of ways.

Just right yeah I'm assuming we have multiple contracts yeah right we have multiple contracts that's correct yeah so this one is just for it looks like it's mostly abatement lots but I guess we added in these islands maybe as in at some point from a from a committee discussion probably probably probably I feel like some of these I've added in over the years.

And following up with that point as well that you both have mentioned um at some point could you guys get us a one of those uh web maps that shows the areas where the county already has as a listed road that's maintained uh for cutting grass and all that kind of activity sure uh because if if there are additional lanes rights of way that should we want to see added this would be a great way to add those into that conversation provide break it out by district provide a map for um each of the parcels as well as the map for the right-of-way maintenance.

All right.

Moving on.

We've got public works fleet management to be used by the Department of Watershed Management.

This topic page two, agenda item 2026-0473.

This is all commission districts.

Cooperative agreement, sewer vacuum hydro excavation and municipal pumping equipment with related accessories and supplies.

Source well contract number 101221 VAC for use by public works fleet management to be used by the Department of Watershed Management.

This request seeks to purchase from the competitively let source book contract number.

We just read for the provision of one uh VATCON International Truck Cabin Chassis, model number HV 507 with hot shot jetting machine for the purpose of unclogging sewer mantles and residential sewer lines throughout the county awarded to VATCON Incorporated, care of Carolina Environmental Systems, amount not to exceed 412,880 15 cents.

Yes, sir.

Um it is exactly like described.

We call them a uh back-on truck or a sewer sucker for other words.

Uh it is a replacement truck.

Um the one that's replacing this time for it to go.

And uh just getting a new truck.

Okay.

I'll just add that in ops when you guys had the pictures.

That was awesome.

That was Renessa's thing.

She did that.

We'll make sure that absolutely.

Commissioners, any questions?

No, no.

Okay, I'll open the floor for a motion.

Move to approve item 0473.

Second.

All right.

Proper motion, proper second.

All those in favor, raise your hand say aye.

Aye.

Thank you, Director.

Yes, sir.

Uh, under Department of Watershed Management, we have agenda item 2026-0568.

This is for all com excuse me, Commission Districts 5 and Super 7.

Uh, agreement for the construction and financing of sewer upgrades with the company uh with a contribution of $682,000.

Director Wells, good to see you.

Yes, sir.

Good afternoon.

So this item is um ultimately one of those uh another agreements where we ultimately fund the sewer upgrades up front and then ultimately are reimbursed by the uh developer.

This particular um developer, as you mentioned, uh it's gonna uh develop 210 housing units and some retail space in the covenant uh highway the indicator.

Um ultimately the um county's contribution is 213,000.

Um and we ask you guys approval.

Okay.

Uh thank you, Director Wells.

Commissioners, any questions?

What's the uh development again?

So it says I was just gonna mention that it says in the information Westbury Family ILP.

So whatever the company name is what the uh corporation documents read.

I mean, I don't but that's that's a corporation.

Yeah.

Or company, if you will.

And I think the comment, I think, Commissioner Terry, you made I'm sorry, Chair, Mr.

Chair, I'm taking away.

Yes.

During when we were um talking about this at agenda setting, was it put the company name in the actual item?

Yes, so absolutely, uh, Commissioner Johnson.

I actually got with staff, we we understand how to how to rectify that going forward.

Um it's basically um it'll be corrected going forward.

Thank you.

There it would never read the company again.

Um the subject part is just kind of um a placeholder, and we usually put all our details in the uh purpose and need to impact, which is hence the fact wise there and not um in the subject nor on the agenda.

So we figured out the specific uh fields to ensure that that's rectified going forward.

Appreciate it.

Okay.

Commissioner Terry, any questions for you?

Yeah, that's my bit's in district five and seven, so I'll I'll let them inquire further about it, but it looks fun to me.

Okay.

Umless there's any questions or concerns, open the floor for a motion.

Move to approve item 0568.

Second.

All right, proper motion, proper second.

All those in favor, raise your hand, say aye.

Aye.

I got it done.

Uh moving on, uh, agenda item 2026-0436.

This is for commission districts two, four, and super six.

Intergovernmental agreement for paving of SR 10 uh US 278 between DeCab County, Georgia, and the city of Avondale Estates, Georgia.

Uh Director Wells, I guess is this associated with sewer work, water work in the area?

Yes, the um water upgrades just along College Avenue from the Avondale States area continue continuing down Coventon.

Actually, in the area, also where Commissioner Terry asked that we deploy some different uh water meter lids, which yield um I think some positive feedback and results.

Hadn't heard any new complaints?

Um really predicated this was the um City of Avondale estates um issued uh a memo to my my boss and madam CEO um stating um that we were delaying work and damages of a million dollars per se um preemptive and so we got together um engaged and there was opportunity where we could do the infrastructure work which is what we do best and ultimately pay our fair share of them to do pavement being that it's in there proper and um here we are I believe it's in the best interest of us as well as the city of Avondale to allow them to complete all the payment and basically release the county for any future um issues so any arise as it relates to to pavement registration.

Perfect.

Okay.

So that's basically what this is unless there's any other questions, open the floor for a motion.

Uh motion to approve.

Second, all right.

Proper motion, proper second.

All those in favor, raise your hand say aye.

Aye.

All right.

Uh another item here, and I know that this is um going to be a public hearing.

This is just sort of an informational update, but uh agenda item 2026-0601.

This is for commission districts four and super seven.

Septic to sewer petition, Pine Lake, Georgia, uh, Forest Road.

Yes, sir.

So ultimately, um there's areas uh within the county where customers are on septic, and at some point those septic systems reach the end of their useful um service life.

And thus uh the health the pop department ultimately, if there's not certain parameters will not reissue approval for a new septic.

So at that time you will have to um convert and connect to the public system.

Um that's where we come in because because historically it's been served by septic, there is no uh uh gravity sewer system.

So this allow us the um legislation that was completed some time ago allows for the um special tax district and us to do the work, the homeowners to be able to contribute up to a cap amount of 7500, and it's in the best interest of all, and and this is one of those cases.

Um what you guys ultimately is approving today is um the process for things to actually go forward.

We've met with the homeowners, they're they've um fulfilled the requirements for the uh 51 percent petition, um, which allowed us to do the due diligence to um ensure that we can serve the uh the necessary properties with uh gravity sewer, um, but ultimately we have to come back to you guys for approval before actually executing.

So this is actually what it is once you guys approve the public hearings, all those different things.

Now there have been some notification requirements that's already been done, but I do believe there's a public hearing April 14th or um thereafter um based on you guys' approval today and allowing things to go forward.

Okay.

Uh Commissioners, any question?

Uh Commissioner Johnson.

I'll be brief.

Um so 51% of just the three lots that we're bringing on.

Yes, ma'am.

Okay.

Those those within Yeah.

This is a very small area.

I'm actually shocked that these small lots are ever on sep day.

It definitely would not meet current standards.

Correct.

Correct.

Absolutely.

I yield thank you.

Commissioner Terry.

Yes, thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um, so it looks like all so we've got a hundred percent though.

Yes, of signatures.

Uh but the but the sewer district requirements is 51 percent.

Yes.

So yes.

Okay.

That's what it requires, however, we got 100 percent.

So I'm looking at looking at my our our county attorneys here.

So this this suit this tax district is 51 percent.

Is that right?

You're saying the requirement to move forward?

Yes, it's at least 51% majority.

Okay.

All right.

So just to note that's what the we have other petition driven districts that require a supermajority, uh 65% for traffic calming, for instance.

So I'm just I'm looking, I'm gonna be looking for some consistency or consistency, because we got some traffic calming that we got to do, and we're getting caught up on signatures not reaching that 65% threshold.

This is a much bigger cost than a speed bump.

Um I appreciate that it's 51 percent because it's a vital you know infrastructure.

Um, pointing out that it can be done.

Yeah, you can occupy the property if without these type of services.

It's yes.

Yeah, absolutely.

But nonetheless, glad that they're getting on sewer.

That's good.

Absolutely.

For the long term.

It's not just this it's a little different.

That's right.

You've got to pay the sewer fees.

It's a little different.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah.

You know that that revenue is a little different.

So but we don't get any revenue, but you know, public safety, safer streets.

Absolutely.

You could Commissioner Terry.

Okay, just a quick follow-up, Reggie.

And um reading over the notes again, 240 linear feet and it's six hundred and was it six hundred and fifty thousand?

Well, if I could get away with just a pipe work, that number would diminish.

But when you have to uh restore pavement, you know, certain and actually um we actually have to extend actually sewer laterals to each other properties.

Um the manholes.

Yes, and being that the residents um as part of the special tax task district um stipulation, yep, are capped at 7500.

So we have to incur costs that ordinarily would we wouldn't if contained to just the just the sewer main itself, but we have to understand, you know.

Okay.

Do some some additional things.

Thank you much.

Uh Commissioners, uh unless there's any other questions, open the floor for a motion.

Do we have a motion?

Do we need to vote on this since it's not on public hearing?

That's right.

Um I would just want it.

We'll just let it be.

Thank you, Reggie.

All right.

Thank you guys.

I appreciate it.

Um Commissioner Terry, we've got a few minutes.

Do you want to get into 1787?

Yeah, I'll just um this is really for us to consider for the committee to consider.

So we already went over the air monitoring and we had uh EPD um air division present.

Um so we went over kind of the air quality aspects of the resolution.

The other main policy point is on the discount structure.

And so that's what I'm uh over the next um few committee meetings, if we can um hone in on uh the committee's uh uh thoughts on the discount structure, which is on page one of the resolution.

And so it's laid out the closer you are to the landfill, you get a higher discount on your uh residential um service, and it would sort of it's characterized as a rebate program, so it wouldn't be taken off of their taxes, it would just be something that they can apply for in essence is the theory.

And the the main point here is that um individuals, and this is just from my constituents who um uh are live in this area and they were told by apparently Manual Maloof in the 80s that the landfill was only gonna be there for like 20 years and that when it closed it would be a beautiful park.

Um and so they're convinced that uh they were bamboozled.

Uh they have asked the county to close the landfill.

Um I could not commit to that, because that's a much bigger discussion.

Um but in the in the effort to create a more equitable uh sanitation system and taking into account aspects of environmental justice, um those who are closest to the pollution and to the other um damaging aspects to their property or their health, um the idea is those who are closest to the problem area should receive some sort of mitigating uh uh benefits.

So this discount program is our approach to create some small um but meaningful relief to those um people who live near the landfill.

Uh we did do a GIS map and concluded that of the entire two of two mile radius, there are 4400 households total, and so if we uh calculate based on the current rates and the approximate numbers, we're looking at about 200, maybe 300,000 would be uh would be the reduction in the revenues from those customers based on the current rates.

Okay.

Uh Commissioner Johnson.

No questions.

No questions, okay.

So that's my ask is if y'all could just if you if you don't like the discount program, say so if you think it should be different.

Um you know, this all of this is you know up for negotiation.

Um that's this is probably the most important part of it.

Um I do think the air monitoring and the air filters is a smaller piece um, but also important.

But the the brunt of it is the discount program.

So that's uh would love to get y'all's thoughts on that uh between now and next committee meeting.

Okay, all right.

Um if I could call on uh COO Williams.

Um as you know, Commissioner Terry, under agenda item uh 2025 1787.

Um there is a component that asks for a discount program.

That's the right way to phrase it.

Um based on a radius uh in each percent of step.

Distance from the landfill.

Correct.

Um how would uh I guess how has the county in the past address similar situations?

Um and then do you have an analysis that shows we we currently do not have an analysis?

That's something we need to conduct, and I I think we've started that, but I want to double check.

And I can't.

I don't have recollection of a similar situation where we have applied a differential based on proximity to a environmental concern.

But we we can research it.

But I I know that in the last 13 years we haven't introduced any anything like that.

Okay.

All right.

Um if you could do any research to see if there's any kind of history beyond beyond your time.

Between now and next time, yeah.

We'll see if if we've done it, or maybe even if we know of other jurisdictions, maybe we can work with Commissioner Terry and get some ideas that who else is has grappled with this type of thing.

All right.

I think our next meeting is uh is it the 21st of April?

So if we could have that back in time for the 21st, if that works, Commissioner Terry.

And then we can sort of engage more in that conversation.

Of course, we had I believe they were from EPD uh Marcus.

Uh and they uh they let us know, you know, the the sort of the the mechanics in the background of air quality monitoring.

Uh this area, this portion of DeCab actually has the two monitoring stations, if I recall that might be in the call the teal band uh around 285 from your map.

Um and of course, uh there is a distinction between uh odors and pollutants, and so um those are all be part of the conversation I think that we have as we get back into the 21st.

Okay.

Yeah, please go ahead.

Yeah, I think that sounds good.

Um so if it's possible, Mr.

Allen's been working with us on this item, but um Zach, maybe between Marcus and GIS, they could actually true up the true fiscal impact based on the initial map that we did, and if they could give us because I think the fiscal impact is the only thing missing, so we can get an exact sort of amount as close as possible.

I think that would be helpful.

Um and then just yes, just to reflect that as EPD air team presented, um, the odor at the landfill is not considered air pollution.

Um it's just it's annoying and awful if you live near it.

Um so uh the goal here is really just to recognize not that it's like air pollution and anyone's getting you know having detrimental health impacts, but more just quality of life impacts because of the smell.

Uh but happy to um yeah, we defer it for to the next committee meeting you said uh I think the 21st, April 21st.

Okay.

All right, so moved.

Okay.

Second.

All right.

Uh we've got a proper motion, proper second.

All those in favor, raise your hand say aye.

Aye.

All right.

Commissioners, I had committed to us being finished by four o'clock, it's 404.

But I also know we do have someone here for a presentation.

Um Zach, if I could you guys would be fine doing it next.

Yes.

Okay, that would be ideal.

And thank you.

Uh with that said, Commissioners.

It's just a walk downstairs.

Um the floor for a motion to adjourn.

Move to adjourn.

Second.

All right, proper motion, proper second.

All those in favor, use your hands say aye.

Aye.

All right.

We'll see you guys in an hour and a half for zoning.