June 9, 2026 DeKalb County Board of Commissioners Meeting Summary
The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners met on June 9, 2026, for a full agenda including proclamations, public comments, public hearings, and votes on multiple ordinances and contract approvals. Key actions included extending a data center moratorium for 100 days, deferring a death benefit pension amendment for line-of-duty personnel, and advancing several purchasing and contracting items. Public comments highlighted concerns about data centers, water infrastructure, safety, and political practices.
Proclamations & Presentations
- UFSA Division Recognition: Commissioner Michelle Long Spears presented a proclamation honoring the UIFSA Division of the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office for over 20 years of child support services. The division manages more than 4,000 cases, serves over 6,000 children, and distributes over $9 million annually. The contract with the state will not be renewed for FY2027.
- Sisters United in Human Services: Commissioner Nicole Messiah presented a proclamation to Sisters United in Human Services, a Muslim women's nonprofit, for 28 years of service. The organization has served over 100,000 meals, mentored over 250 young women, and awarded more than $30,000 in scholarships. Commissioner Messiah also announced $10,000 in discretionary funding for the program.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Brenda Pace (South DeKalb resident): Expressed disappointment with Commissioner Ted Terry, accusing him of working to change the form of government and attempting to take control of the BOC. She defended CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson.
- Pat Coke (Cedar Grove Neighborhood Association President): Fact-checked a political mailer about Commissioner Messiah and data centers, stating the agreement predated her term. Encouraged residents to verify information.
- Kiana Jones Moore (District 3 resident, candidate): Discussed forms of government, denied being a protégé of Commissioner Terry, and raised concerns about water billing issues in South DeKalb, including erroneous bills and collection notices past the statute of limitations.
- Beverly Dabney: Supported economic development in South DeKalb, criticized focusing solely on data centers, and noted progress on Candler Road development.
- Jan Dunaway (Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor): Stressed the need for a robust data center text amendment, citing water usage and consent decree concerns. Opposed the current draft and urged a mile buffer between data centers.
- Donna Priest Brown: Shared personal story of home value loss due to predatory lending in 2007, drawing parallels to data center development. Called for a moratorium on data centers until the 2011 federal consent decree is met.
- Joan Monroe (Concerned Citizens of Stone Mountain): Reported a business owner (handyman) allegedly scamming seniors by taking payment for substandard repairs, seeking county intervention.
- Stephen Benny: Criticized the 2021 land swap, alleged bribery, and urged investigation into Ryan Milsap. Also noted low voter turnout in the District 3 runoff.
- Multiple seniors from Sterling County Village and Vista Senior Tenant Association: Raised safety concerns at the intersection of Candler Road and County Line Road, citing two fatalities and a wheelchair accident. Called for traffic calming measures and a school zone sign for Peace Academy.
Public Hearings
- Pension Death Benefit (Item 2026-0941): Proposed amendment to add a line-of-duty death benefit for certain employees’ beneficiaries. Commissioner LaDena Bolton moved to defer for two weeks to address retroactivity for Officer Rose and Master Firefighter Fant (died 2025) and other policy gaps. County Attorney Phillips cited potential violation of the Georgia Constitution’s gratuities clause. Motion to defer carried.
- Data Center Moratorium Extension (Item 2026-0857): Staff recommended a 100-day moratorium (through September 17, 2026). Commissioner Terry moved to substitute a one-year extension, later amended to nine months, citing concerns about water, power, noise, and environmental justice. That motion failed. The original 100-day motion was then approved, effective June 23, 2026, through September 30, 2026.
Discussion Items & Votes
- Consent Agenda: Approved multiple items including airport lease, minutes, funding allocations (e.g., $50,000 to Atlanta Humane Society, $3,885 for park due diligence), grants for sexual assault kit initiative and Project Safe Neighborhoods, and contract amendments.
- Deferrals: Many items were deferred to June 23 or later meetings for further committee review, including a racial equity resolution (to August 11), animal restraint ordinance, sound regulation, electric landscaping rebate program, water customer bill of rights, stormwater and sanitation fee increases, and several large contracts (>$3M) pending audit.
- Appointments: Dr. Jeremy Cole to Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority and Mr. Jerome Edmondson to DeKalb Housing Authority approved.
- Purchasing Contracts: Approved multiple contracts for roof repairs ($3.7M SPLOST-funded), landscape maintenance, litter removal (with substituted GIS map and contingency), dump trucks ($3.3M), and professional services.
- Line-of-Duty Death Benefit: Deferred for two weeks after debate on retroactivity and policy gaps.
Key Outcomes
- Moratorium Extended: Data center development moratorium extended 100 days (June 23–September 30, 2026).
- Pension Amendment Deferred: Return to committee to address retroactivity and beneficiary concerns; two-week deferral.
- Contract Awards Approved: Multiple maintenance, service, and equipment contracts approved, including substitute contracts with added service locations.
- Public Comment Time Expired: Several speakers from May 26 were not present; new speakers addressed data centers, safety, and political practices.
- Town Hall Scheduled: Board of Commissioners town hall for June 10, 2026, to discuss proposed stormwater and sanitation fee increases.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning, everybody. I am Commissioner Shekaira Johnson, your district for commissioner and presiding officer. Welcome to the June 9th, 2026 Board of Commissioners meeting. Um, a couple of housekeeping items. If you are if we are out of agendas, there are there is a QR code just outside that door. Um, and you guys can scan it and um see the agenda on your phone. So now we'll move into the agenda. First, we have our inspirational speaker, Imam Dr. Suleiman Hamad. If you'll make your way up here to the front podium, our inspirational speaker is Imam Suleiman Hamad, resident Imam of the Alana Majad of Al Islam, Amon Suleiman received an advanced Islamic training at Abu Noor University in Damascus, Syria, and has served Muslim communities throughout the United States as an imam, educator, and community leader. He has taught Arabic, Islamic sciences, theology, and Islamic law, and remains deeply committed to strengthening Islamic education and developing future generations of Muslim leaders. He works his work in community service, scholarship, and guidance has earned him the respect of Muslims across the country. Please help me. Welcome Imam Suleiman Hamad. Good morning, sir. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Good morning, commissioners and to you all. I was looking for Commissioner Messiah. I like saying that name. But I'm not going to preach this morning, even though I am an imam. I'm just going to give three words of reminder so that we can do better at what you all do. And good morning to our public, all of our citizens as well. God gives he gives a reminder in scripture, he says, and be he instructs justice. What if we use those three and what we do? The justice reminding that we're all to be just and fair in administering the law and the resources and what you do. The excellence, that's the fun one. Serve in the way like God sees you. Imagine if you or rather, if you could see him, if you saw God, how much more better would your work be? Know that he sees you and still be excellent in your work. And then the last one is to be generous to people, be generous in our work and our day-to-day work, ensuring that we're being kind, that we're being generous and giving to others just as we would like to be given to ourselves. These are the three that I encourage you all as we begin this day, as you begin your work for this county. Atlanta and DeCab is not made special just from buildings, it's made special from you all, from us, from the work and the uh production that you all uh produce in this great county. So again, what is it? Justice, excellence, and generosity towards people. Let us utilize these and have a great day and be productive in the work that you do. May God bless you. Thank you. Thank you, sir. We love a brief inspirational. If you'll stay um until after our proclamations, we'd love to give you a pen. Thank you. And now we'll have the Pledge of Allegiance from Commissioner Ladina Bolton, and then we'll go down to the podium for two presentations. 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. Commissioners, if you'll join me down on the at the podium, just bear with us one minute and we'll get started. Just bear with us one minute and we'll get started. Well, I have an announcement while we wait. Today is June 9th, and as of today, I have been married 19 years. So to my husband, if he's watching, happy anniversary. Good morning, everyone. Excited I get to go first this morning.
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