Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

I apologize for the slight delay, a little technical difficulties for everyone here at the chamber and those of you watching from home.

We'd like to welcome you to our Board of Commissioners pre-commission meeting.

Today is Tuesday, August the 19th, and the time is approximately 435.

I'd like to officially welcome everyone here and call this meeting to order.

We don't have any presentations tonight, but I do know we have some new people that are joining us today from the uh county attorney's office.

So I ask our our senior attorney uh Mr.

Michael McNeil to come forward and introduce his guests.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um, as y'all know, uh we've we uh expanded our internship program that y'all voted on that about a year ago, and so this is our our third semester of having a year-round internship program.

And uh I've got two interns here um that are joining us now uh as of today.

They just started about an hour ago.

And um first I have Alexis Merritt, she's a third year law student at Mercer.

Um she was here in the spring, so some of y'all may recognize her, and then um Noah Ring is a second year law student, um, also from Mercer.

And um, so if y'all come up to our our offices and you see them around, I just want you to know who the faces are.

So we're excited to have them both.

Thank you very much.

Well, thank you, Attorney McNeil.

Uh welcome my boy.

We appreciate y'all being here today, and certainly Alexis, welcome back again.

And I know you'll get some uh great information uh in our county attorney's office.

They do a wonderful job.

And I appreciate you too for participating in this program to give our young folks uh experience in various areas.

So this has been a very successful program all across the district.

So thank you for being here today.

Appreciate y'all.

Thank you.

Uh he hasn't been around with them the whole time.

Give me give him time.

They haven't been around me yet.

I'm actually teaching the course at Mercer this semester.

Oh, okay.

It's I'm I'm getting more and more roots into this thing.

So congratulations.

We appreciate that.

Uh we do have the approval of the amendments, these are approval of the minutes from our pre-commission on August the 5th.

Uh pre-commission meeting.

Can I get a motion to approve?

Got a motion by Commissioner Wynn, second by Commissioner Bailey.

Uh all those in favor of the motion, please say aye.

Opposed, nay.

That motion carries and will be sent to consent agenda at 6 o'clock tonight.

Uh, we do have one appointment to authorities, boards, and committees.

This is a resolution of the Making Bibb County Commission reappointing Mr.

George Thomas Sr.

to the Board of Tax Assessors.

Uh that is my motion.

Can I get a second?

Second by Commissioner Bailey.

Uh we have a motion and second any discussion.

Uh this was a request from theirs.

They are going through the appeal processes, and we don't want to uh miss any uh board uh decisions there.

So uh and he has served uh at least two terms uh on that board and been very successful in doing that.

So we do have a motion and second.

All those in favor of the motion, please say aye.

Opposed nay.

That motion carries and will be sent to consent agenda.

We've got several new alcohol licenses that'll be uh items five A through D.

Items 5A is the flying biscuit cafe located at 588 Mulberry Street.

Uh legal does recommend approval.

This is a new business, uh, and they have had their grand opening and been very successful uh downtown uh on a corner of Mulberry Street.

So that's my motion.

Can I get a second?

I got a second by uh Commissioner Howell.

Uh all those in favor of the motion, please say aye.

Opposed, nay.

That motion carries will be sent to consent agenda.

Gonna move on to item 5B.

This is uh quick stop 2025, located at 2700 Riverside Drive.

Uh you can see a picture of that uh on your screen.

Uh legal does recommend approval.

They've all met all the legal and statutory requirements uh for obtaining an alcohol license.

At the same time, they have completed a certificate of good standing that's required by our ordinance.

At this time we'd entertain a motion for approval.

Motion by Commissioner Wynne, second by speaking of microphones, I can hear you there.

Commissioner Bryant.

Motion second, all those in favor of the motion, please say aye.

Opposed, nay.

That motion carries a sent to consent agenda.

Item C is WACO.

Uh Beverage located at 3117 Vineville Avenue.

Uh you can see that.

Um, as well as um it's been an existing business exchange and ownership.

Uh, it does meet all the legal uh requirements.

Legal does recommend approval on that and they have completed a uh certificate of good standing.

At this time, we'd entertain a motion for approval.

Motion by Commissioner Wynne, second by Commissioner Bailey.

Any further questions?

Hearing no questions, all those in favor of the motion, please say aye.

Opposed, nay.

Motion carries to be sent to consent agenda.

Item D is Dulce Amigos Food Mark located at 584 Emory Highway.

I've got a picture of that on Emory Highway there.

Uh they do meet all the legible and statutory requirements to uh have an alcohol license.

Uh they have completed a certificate of good standing and otherwise are eligible.

At this time, we entertain a motion for approval.

Motion by Commissioner Howard.

We have a second.

Second by Commissioner Wilder.

All those in favor of the motion, please say aye.

Opposed, nay.

Okay, that motion carries resent to consent agenda.

We have several agreements on there, which is item 6A, B, C, D, and E.

We'll begin with item 6A.

This is a resolution of the Making Bib County Commission authorizing the execution of an agreement between the Bib Judicial Circuits Attorney's Office and Cynthia Adams for the provision of contract attorney chief of appeals services in an annual amount not to exceed $84,000 to be paid from the general fund district attorney's office contract and labor.

Uh, this is in her contractual services line item.

That's my motion.

Can I get a second?

Second by Commissioner Bailey.

Uh and what I understand is Miss Adams has retired from there from that job, and she's gonna be hired on as contract services, and she's one of the most senior folks over in that in that uh experience wise in that office.

So this time we do have a motion and second.

All those in favor of the motion, please say aye.

Opposed nay.

That motion carries and will be sent to consent agenda.

Item B is a resolution of the Making Bib County Commission to authorize the mayor to execute an independent contractor agreement with ACE entities LLC for the emergency covert and road repairs on Hopewell Road in the amount of $94,500 to be paid from the engineering budget.

You can see a copy of picture of that location there.

Contract labor line item.

Any questions regarding this item?

You hear no questions?

Can I get a motion to approve?

Motion by Commissioner Wilder.

We have a second.

Second by Commissioner Howell.

All those in favor of the motion, please say aye.

Opposed, nay.

That motion carries and be sent to consent agenda.

Item C is a resolution of the Make and Bibb County Commission to authorize the mayor to execute an independent contract agreement with professional paving service, LLC for asphalt paving and resurfacing services, an amount of 1,896,165 and 22 cent.

This is going to be paid from the LMIG 2024 funds and 2018 supplies.

As you recall, last uh meeting we indicated that we had uh got in a position to award contracts on the LMIG on one, and the other three were still pending that we'll bring back for you to at a later time.

Uh this company has been uh gone through our processes here and through procurement and through the committee and uh are deemed to be qualified to do this project and therefore the lowest bidder and they're asking to approve this.

Uh we see a couple of lights on.

I'll go ahead and do a motion and second first.

Can I get a motion to approve?

Got a motion by Commissioner Wynne, second by Commissioner Bailey.

And do we have questions?

I just want to be added to the question.

Yes, ma'am.

We'll put you on a sponsor.

Thank you.

Uh Commissioner Bryant, did you have a question, ma'am?

Yes, I just want to know.

Um you explained that this was one of the ones that bid it.

And you say you had three more.

Now they doing the entirety of the pavement or just some of the pavement.

No, ma'am.

As you call last time we were here, uh, these items are posted on our our um website under procurement.

So as we post these items, you can actually pull up the document and see all the roads that's gonna be paved uh for this amount.

This particular company was awarded the 2024 LMIG list that correlates with that um bid that went out.

Four went out, and we are expecting at least two more to come back on actually two to come back on the 22nd, I think the other on the 28th, thereabout.

And we'll bring those back to you for approval once we get them in.

But those are the original lists that you should proceed.

We voted on last year, I believe, uh, but we showed you last week, but they are on our procurement website, so you can see a copy, and your people at home can see a copy of all the roads that's on that LMIC list.

Okay.

Commissioner Bailey, do you have a question?

Yes.

Um, I just like to say thank you to Dr.

Muffet for sending out that list so that we could disseminate that to our citizens so they'll be able to take a look at what we have placed on our agenda first, second, and third in those particular orders.

And then I would like to be added as a sponsor to this as well as we move forward throughout this millennium.

Yes, ma'am.

We'll add you down as a sponsor.

Commissioner Week this is one of the newer companies, correct?

Uh we've used this company before, but it is one of the newest ones that put in for bids for the the mass road projects.

We've used them for uh resurfacing areas and filling potholes and things of that nature.

But I just want to say more than anything, good to see some new blood in the right.

It they were substantially lower.

I think they're trying to get their foot in the door, so they were substantially lower than other bidders.

And of course, I'm not sure who has uh submitted bids or on the other projects we have coming up, but we'll have many more to come after after this vote.

So at this time we do have a motion and second.

If there's no further discussion, I'll call for a vote.

All those in favor of the motion, please say aye.

Opposed, nay.

That motion carries will be sent the consent agenda.

Commissioners, I'll go ahead.

This is probably a good point to say is that we have we have these uh road projects that are out now on bid, and we'll have several more based on the list that we we the draft and list that we gave you the criteria on last week, uh the last meeting that is.

Um, and they're not gonna necessarily correlate with our our schedules for commission meeting.

So we may from time to time, if we can get at least five commissioners, uh, do a call board meeting uh to go ahead and at least call the meeting uh for voting on an award and a contract so that contract can go ahead because we want to make sure we get as many of these roads started and completed this year.

Uh and I know that the commissioners have a conference coming up, and likewise I have a policy committee coming up that's going to interfere with some of our scheduling.

So we're gonna be uh moving some some uh times around a little bit.

So just make sure that you stay tuned uh on that.

And of course, uh Miss Ross will be reaching out to you as well as myself because I I don't want it to go three or four weeks if we've got two or three bids or back before we can vote on this because that's three or four more weeks, uh less time that we have to do these roads.

So just keep that on your schedule.

If you've got some vacation times and other things you're gonna be out of there, if you'll just let us know, we'll try to work around your schedule.

If we can, if not, we'll get you on the telephone.

Uh so we'll move on to the next item.

This is a resolution of the Macon Bib County Commission to authorize the mayor to execute an agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation for procurement and facilitation of value engineering services for the Bass Road Widening Project and amount of 100,000 to be paid from the engineering department budget, professional services line item, and reimbursed through GDOT.

Okay.

Uh Commissioner Wynne.

Well, first of all, I want to be added as a co-sponsor, but I should have asked you this before.

But what is value engineering services?

Uh anytime you value engineers, you're going to look at that and see if you can get a better price for for lack of a better term.

Um but we got to go out there and do some road work on that area.

Uh, and it's gonna cost a certain amount of money like buying right away, looking at designs and things of that.

In order to go ahead and get started on this project, uh, we're gonna have to put up a hundred thousand dollars that we will get reimbursed back for.

Okay, and one more question.

The is the Bass Road widening project.

That's correct.

Oh my god, we're just finishing that uh bridge so we can use it.

So we're gonna start making a mess out of the road again.

Well, this is very initial stages you call the very long project, and it probably will not begin to 27-28.

Uh but this is uh this is something that uh we're relying on state and federal funds for.

We certainly put some some money aside in our splash for roads projects, and this would be one of them, but certainly we can't determine a time on that until it gets let.

So good question.

Commissioner Stewart, you have a follow-up, sir.

Yeah, uh, what's the general time for reimbursement, Mr.

Mayor?

From GDOT, usually.

Uh, it usually takes about at least six months, 180 days.

That would be a safe guess uh for that.

Uh, but we want to go ahead and do this because I didn't want to go through their process and take a year before we ever got started on this thing, so we went ahead and did this and we'll get reimbursed.

Um we do have a motion and second.

Correct?

We have a motion and second already?

Yeah.

We have a motion and second if no further questions, we'll go ahead and call for a vote.

All those in favor of item D, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Opposed, nay.

That motion carries will be sent to consent agenda.

Gonna move right along to item E, which is a resolution of Making Bibb County Commission authorizing the mayor to execute a one-year extension to the professional services agreement with Southern Behavioral Services in amount of $99,320 to operate the employee assistance program for making BIP County employees to be paid from the general fund human resources payment to others, employee assistance services line item.

Uh this is a renewal for this year, and I believe next year we're going to be putting that out for bid.

Is that correct?

Okay.

Uh similar to what we did on an item last meeting as well.

So this time we entertain a motion for approval.

Motion by Commissioner Howell, second by Commissioner Bailey.

Uh any questions regarding that item.

Here are no questions.

All those in favor of the motion, please say aye.

Opposed, nay.

That motion carries and will be sent to consent agenda.

Uh, we're gonna move on to item seven, which concerns grants, and we only have one of those tonight.

Item seven A is a resolution of the Macon Bibb County Commission authorizing the acceptance of a juvenile justice incentive grant from the state of Georgia, criminal justice coordinating counsel for fiscal year 2026, an amount of 365, 114 with no local match required awarded to the Macon Judicial Circuit Court.

Commissioner Bright, you have a question?

Yes, got three.

I understand this is a grant.

Um, I want to know how is this money to be spent, where, who and what?

We have one of the attorneys that can give any further information on this.

It's the same we did last meeting, and then we didn't bring them back because they answered all those questions, but it's it's the same information we gave last week.

Different money that you that we're giving them, we're giving them more money, or is this the same money?

It's different money, but it's for the same purpose.

Go ahead.

Okay.

Sarah Davis from the county attorney's office.

Um, this is money that the the state is giving to the juvenile courts.

It's separate from all the other money that was given to the accountability courts.

This is an annual grant that they get.

Um, and sometimes they even get it supplemented and get an additional a set of this same money later in the year.

So this is just um for them to pay for counseling services for juvenile court participants.

So this money is just going for counseling.

Is that what you're saying?

Just it's counseling and technology is what this is being spent for, but this is money that comes straight from the state to us to give to the juvenile court.

So I guess my question would be in whose hands, what department is it going to?

You're saying juvenile um justice is juvenile court.

Juvenile court.

It's the juvenile court.

So you say technology if they need stuff like cameras or um things that don't that they need at juvenile courthouse, is that this money gonna be spent for that also as well?

If they put that in their in their budget when they applied for this grant with the state, they have to put exactly what they're spending the money on in their budget, and the state approves that.

So this can only go to technology that they have already applied for.

I guess I'm missing the question then.

I I guess my question is who put in for this money?

The Junior Juvenile Court, meaning what part of the court, and I guess I'm not um it's authorized by the judge.

Okay, Judge Young would would submit her budget to the state.

Okay, making Bibb County is just the pass-through agent.

So this we don't determine how much money and where the money goes, it has to be allocated exactly like they put the request into the state, and we're just uh basically forwarding those funds directly through us to them.

It's the process they require in order to get the funds.

And this is money they get every year or they can put in for it every year.

Yes, ma'am.

Okay, and when they get this money every year, how how are we measuring the milestones?

Like what are they doing with the money?

Do we go back and check or I'm I'm just I'm asking.

I mean these are questions that I just want to know.

I understand.

Um, because it's a state grant, the state monitors their spending and make sure it's in compliance with their budget.

Okay.

Thank you.

Welcome.

Any other questions?

This might be a redundant question, but um, I do feel a need to ask this particular question as many of our juveniles fall between the crags.

What they've done has placed them homeless and out of their original household, but not necessarily under the jurisdiction of our police force.

So can any of these monies be used to house or temporarily shelter our juveniles?

Well, no.

I do believe this money cannot be used for that purpose.

There's other funds that may be available there, but not this particular grant.

It's limited only to the scope of the request that they made to the state and their budget.

Yes, thank you, Mayor.

Thank you.

We do have a motion.

Oh, Mr.

Bright.

Yeah, one more question.

We need a motion.

My bad.

For the people that's counseling for the whose what kids are doing the counseling.

Are there kids as going through juvenile court or are these and who's doing the counseling?

The court hires a contractor and contracts out that those counseling services.

I'm not sure who their vendor is this year for that.

But um, it is the kids and and and the families of those kids who are getting services through the juvenile court, correct.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

At this time we do need a motion to approve, and I'll get back to your question just a second, Commissioner Stewart.

Get a motion to approve uh item 7A.

Got a motion by Commissioner Bryant.

We have a second, second by Commissioner Stewart.

And Commissioner Stewart, do you have a question, sir?

Yeah, just really a question and maybe more disguised as a comment.

You know, we we've got to find ways to do um and I and I applaud the MVP program.

I applaud everything that we're doing.

But when you have 12 year olds like the other day going around shooting each other, and and and I think what's more disturbing is they can go and find a gun.

And somebody who says it's almost equivalent to me in my day and age going to the to the store and buying candy.

And so we've got to find ways to find uh a way to kind of uh make sure the kids that age, or any age for that matter, don't fall into what happened the other day here in Macon Georgia.

Thank you, Commissioner Stewart.

We do have a motion and second.

All those in favor of the motion, please say aye.

Aye.

Opposed, nay.

That motion carries will be sent to consent agenda.

Item eight, uh, we have items eight A and B, which are appropriations and transfers.

First one, item eight A is an ordinance to make and Bibb County Commission to authorize a budget transfer within the linear park grant budget and amount of sixty-four thousand and ninety dollars to be provide additional amenities at the park, the linear park.

Uh at this time we entertain a motion for approval.

Motion by Mayor Bridum Clark, second by Commissioner Bailey.

Uh questions, Commissioner Bryant.

I know I got a question for thing today.

What so what um additions are they adding to this part?

Uh Alex Morrison, director of planning public spaces.

So this move in the line item is moving from contingency to contractual services to pay for the base construction contract with Stafford.

So the amount of the contract that they bid uh was more than what we had in that contractual services line item.

So we just pulled it from contingency, so that's why it's that 60,000.

Um the the full scope is to make significant improvements to the park, including uh shade pavilions, uh usable bike track, um additional walking facilities and usable space within the park that came out of uh various public comments from the neighborhood a couple years back.

So basically, you're saying when they contracted to do this job, they gave you one amount and then they decided that based on the citizens wanting other stuff, they add it to it.

Is that correct?

Uh no, ma'am.

So this is the grant, and this is all grant funding from the state.

The original grant budget had an amount for contractual services and 125,000 for uh contingency.

So after the improvements were bid based on that public feedback, um they the amount came in higher than what we had in that contractual services line item.

So in order to pay staffer, the contractor, we have to move money from that contingency to contractual services.

Okay, just this is moving money within existing line items in the grant.

Okay.

Other questions, Ms.

Bryant?

Okay, any other questions for commissioners?

Commissioner Wynne.

Yes.

Okay, well, good.

So so basically, just for more information, information is a budget is submitted is the best guess on what the project's gonna cost, and you have a total amount of money, and so they put line items for each particular item, and as you go through those items, sometimes it costs a little bit more money, but they leave a contingency, a reserve account over here.

So as they deplete that amount of money for contractual service, they they transfer those funds over.

So this is just merely transferring within that budget that's already been approved and the scope of work to be completed into that particular item to fund it, and it's required to go through us because uh the money is running through Macon Bibb County.

Okay, so appreciate the questions.

Uh, we have a motion and second already.

We do have a motion and second.

All those in favor of the motion, please say aye.

Aye oppose nay.

That motion carries and will be sent to consent agenda.

Item 8b is the ordinance of the making bibb county commission to authorize the appropriation of up to 230,000 dollars from the 2018 spots proceeds to fund a lighting project at Caroline Creighton Park.

Uh, these are funds that's authorized by the SWATS in 2018.

Uh, and this is uh what the funds are gonna be expended for.

Commissioner Wynn, you have a question.

Yes, ma'am.

I first read this I said a lightning project.

I didn't realize that.

I almost said that myself.

Uh we do need a motion to approve.

Can we get a motion to approve?

Motion by Commissioner Wynn.

Do we have a second?

Second by Commissioner Bailey.

Any further questions?

Hearing no questions, all those in favor of the motion, please say aye.

Opposed, nay.

That motion carries will be sent to consent agenda.

We got two items under the abandonment of items, item A and B.

I believe uh the first one is the is authorizing that, and we also have a hearing on that.

Is that correct today?

What time is that hearing again?

5 30?

55 5 45?

Okay.

The first one uh Miss Beavers, if you don't mind coming up front.

This is a resolution of Makin Bibb County Commission authorize the mayor to abandon a certain portion of right-of-way running between Broadway and Stephen Street and removing such path from the original roadmap of Macon Bib County.

And I'll ask Miss Beavers to explain a little bit more information on these two items before we vote.

Absolutely.

I'm assistant county attorney Adriana Beavers, and I have another abandonment for you guys today.

We received a petition to purchase from the Crisp Street Church of God in Christ.

Whoof, I can't talk today.

But uh and part of that is a small piece of alley that is running between three parcels that they own between Broadway and Stephen Street, and it is essentially one parcel back from Spike Street.

So they are the only abutting landowner, and they are looking to obtain this to help expand their footprint and provide more services in the neighborhood.

But to do that and put up the fence they want, they have to have this old alleyway, which was found on their plat.

And since it is an old alleyway, it is in our public rights of way.

So we have to have our abandonment hearing.

Notice was run for this over the past two weeks and it's scheduled for 545 today.

Thank you, Ms.

Beavers.

Any questions regarding that item?

At this time, we didn't attend a motion for approval.

Sure, Commissioner Stewart.

Once that's done, you're gonna then a quick claim dee would be issued to them.

Yes, sir.

The uh item nine B is the actual authorization transfer.

So that would be um this commission voting on the issuance of a quick claim deed to the church for the um approximate fair market value.

$1,300.

Yes, sir.

Okay.

Which is the next item.

So this time we entertain a motion to approve item 9A.

Motion, Commissioner Howell, got a second.

Second, Commissioner Wynne.

All those in favor of the motion, please say aye.

Opposed, nay.

Now we move on to item B, which is a resolution of the Making Bibb County Commission to authorize the mayor to exclude a quick claim deed in favor of Christ Street Church of God in Christ for the sale of real property totaling 0.04 of an acre, more or less from its approximate fair market value of $1,306, as you can see on the picture there.

So this time we entertain a motion for approval of that sale.

Motion by Commissioner Wynn, second by Commissioner Bailey.

All those in favor of the motion, please say aye.

Opposed, nay.

Uh we will have this hearing at 545, and then we'll take further action on our consent agenda.

Uh I'm sorry, Commissioner Bryant, go right ahead.

What does it look like for the county when we I know everybody taxes are gonna go down, but when we roll this millage rate down, and we're not taking in as much money as we were taking in.

Does it have anything to do with it?

Does what does it look like?

Okay, so you're not talking about the item, we just you going on to the adoption of the millers rate.

Is that what you're talking about?

Yeah, okay.

We'll we'll get that just a second from my reserve question.

Okay.

Um the other item was approved.

We'll move on to the mills rate, and I'll be happy to answer that question, but let me at least go through uh what we're proposing here uh on this adoption of the millage rate.

And if I can, this is an ordinance of the Macon Bibb County Commission reducing the millage rate from a 9.900 mills to 9.57 mills uh to be levied and assessed for the year 2025 upon the taxable property located in the Macon Bibb County tax district.

Uh, do we have a copy of uh the mill trick?

Damn.

Um and got a next screen coming okay.

I won't talk until you uh have it up here.

There we go.

Um as you recall, we we did a proposed budget a couple months ago and it passed unanimously for this commission.

Uh a couple of things you want to notice from this uh is from 2000, basically 22 uh budget, the last five years, the amount of the budget that we funded.

Uh of course, at the budget meeting, we went over the total amount of increases we had and which departments got increased, uh including the public safety for a large part of that.

So you'll see that the budget has grown because our salaries and and benefits have increased over the last several years from 2022 to the proposed proposed 2026 budget.

Uh however, you'll look in the top right-hand corner, which shows you that the uh millage rate has decreased uh from the amount of 20.331 down to a proposed for tonight at 9.57, which recomm uh represents about a 53 percent um reduction in the millage rate.

Next slide, please.

So uh also we addressed this under the budget, but I think it's it's uh it's important to re-educate folks at home uh because a lot of times we will see that people believe that the county will raise your value of your property to get more money.

Uh and that this one screen right here pretty much dispels that rumor.

If you look in 2022, that the county was receiving $80,868,000 from property taxes and making Bibb County.

Uh and if you trail that down to 2026, uh the county will receive 54,724,000 uh in property taxes, uh, which is what 20 you do now, 26 million dollars roughly decrease uh in in the amount of property taxes that we're receiving from the community, despite any values that you may have gone up, Bib County themselves receives less money uh because of that uh from your property taxes.

As you recall, we did um the county overwhelmingly, the folks that showed up for vote did approve the OLOS, which is an additional one penny sales tax that was passed uh back, I believe in 2021, uh began collection in 2022, requiring that at that time only five meals of your property tax be rolled back, and then every subsequent meal, every every subsequent year, uh whatever you collected to be rolled back.

Uh as you also can see we have exceeded uh well above the amount that we're required to do, because we're basically now almost 11 mills rolled back as opposed to original five and the additional two the next year that we were required to do.

Uh we do that because we have a balanced budget each year.

We had not had to tap into our reserves because of the fiscal management that this board and commissioners have done and mayor, and we've been able to use the the taxpayers' dollars wisely.

And by wisely, I mean targeting certain areas that we need for tourism and things of that nature while providing the services in increased amounts.

And we went through the others increased amounts, whether it be for our benefits for our employees, our salaries, uh items we choose for mental health, uh, for recreation, for beautification, and for public safety.

All those items have increased uh and our services has increased based on those, but yet our taxes have gone down by doing that.

You also uh are reminded each day, and I see some media in the room that almost every single city surrounding Macon Bibb County uh has increased their taxes.

Uh one to the north south about 11 percent, and to the north, they basically had to do a tax freeze because there's gonna be a like 20 percent, uh, and all those in between.

Um, I don't, you know, everybody has to argue for themselves, but I would say we've been good stewards of the taxpayer dollars by continuing to increase services where we need to, but also realizing that in the times that we have today, we've been very efficient use of the taxpayer dollars.

So having said that, uh, I think that we're meeting all the vital uh needs uh within our budget for services to our community and taxpayers, uh both homeowners and renters.

There's also a misperception out there that renters do not pay taxes.

That's that's entirely not true.

I can promise you if our vote tonight was to raise taxes, then rent would go up for those people involved.

And a lot of times when you cut taxes, rent don't go down quite as fast, right?

Uh, but we know that they will increase them uh if you raise the taxes, and it has a a huge effect on everybody.

So tonight we are proposing that we'll roll the millage rate back to 9.575.

Um, and the county can only do what the county can do.

I can't control what House of County does, Tweed's County, Monroe County, or the school system.

Uh they're entirely different taxing entities.

All we can control is what we control, and that's what we're asking you tonight to do.

Uh so is my recommendation to this uh board that we roll back the millage rate again to 9.575, uh, that we allow the community to spend keep more of their money and to continue to spend the money that they see fit in their families.

So this time I'll I'll answer any questions you have, and I'll start with you, Commissioner Bryant, since you were asking the question earlier.

Okay.

Because you know my constituents ask me, so I'm glad that you can see it so that they can hear it.

Um but one of the other questions was well, this is from me.

Um I see that the millage rate has dropped, and back then it was 80 and now it's 54.

How are we making up the difference of the 26?

The one percent splash monies.

Okay.

So the splice.

The OLIS is going there.

The one percent additional tax.

Okay.

That makes up a part of it now.

It doesn't make all the all the amounts we've been rolling back.

So the one penny.

That's your only question.

Okay, thank you very much.

Uh, Commissioner Wynne.

Mine's not a question, but it's a comment.

You already said this, but I wanted to reiterate I'm pleased that we were able to continue to lower the millage rate for Macon Bibb County and to decrease property taxes for our citizens, in spite of the fact that above us and below us in other counties, they're raising taxes.

They're gonna be coming back to Macon pretty soon.

Commissioner Stewart.

Uh Mr.

Mayor, you took about five minutes, and I'm gonna take about two minutes on behalf of my constituents in East Making.

Um I talked to you in the hallway.

Uh I voiced my concerns.

Nobody in this room could ever say I'm not a straight shooter.

Uh, because I don't mind voicing my opinion about anything, any time.

And I just simply on behalf of my constituents, I take two minutes to read this to you.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um I apologize for not being in my customary suit and tire.

Um, been working on a project out in East Macon today.

But I applaud you, Mr.

Mayor on this your fifth year of mill uh rollback and property tax reductions.

However, as a long-term thinker and representing the constituency that are also long-term thinkers, my sincere concern is for the future administrations and commissions to forecast the financial well-being on sales tax and in particular sales tax generated from tourists, which analysts put at 70 percent of our sales tax take in.

As we all know, the number will fluctuate with trends, fluctuate with shows coming into the amphitheater, coming into the coliseum or the auditorium.

And which is more if we demolish and rebuild the coliseum, there will be a period of time that that property will not be generating income for us.

But yet we will be spending.

All this has to be taken into consideration.

Financial consideration.

As we move deeper into the 21st century, deeper past this mayor and this commission that you see before you, according to a recent data released by the United Way, Macon Georgia has a 57% either poverty rate or individuals living paycheck to paycheck, better classified as the working poor.

We have to find ways to alleviate the stress and strain on them as well.

I want to revisit, as I mentioned to you, Mr.

Mayor in the hall just now, the 4% state grocery tax, which would give citizens 40 dollars more per 1,000 they spend on groceries.

Our neighbors in Gwinnett and Cherokee counties are doing this.

And we need to study and look into how this can be done for our precious Maconites.

Again, I applaud you for this millish rollback, and I gladly vote yes tonight for it.

But again, we have to be forward thinkers and good stewards, no pun intended, with our decisions and dollars.

We can't one week close libraries because we say that we can't afford them, and the very next week base our future existence on whether tourists want to come to Macon Georgia.

We all hope that they will.

We all will work as we always have to ensure that they will, but there's no guarantee.

The future of this precious patch of grass that we know as Macon Georgia USA upon the alt muggy deserves us to be great in our thoughts and our decisions, and that we continue to roll the dice year after year, it's unsatisfactory.

Many of you grew up in poverty.

I'm glad to say I didn't.

I I'm thankful to my family and the family that I grew up in.

But there's still little Lester's out there.

There's still little bills out there.

There's still Raymonds out there.

There's still young girls being born in East Macon out near Camp Wheeler, like Valerie.

So we can't take away from them.

We got to make sure that we use our decisions going forward as Maconites the best way we can.

Not because we're making political promises, but because it's the right thing to do.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Stewart.

Of course, I don't generally like to go back and forth, but I do want to clear up a few things you said.

Number one, the I can't envision a time that the Coliseum would be closed and lose revenue before a new arena was built.

So anyone thinking that's entirely incorrect.

Uh we would be a fool to lose G SSA and have them go somewhere else and blow that building up, tear it down, repurpose it, whatever, without having a new facility in place.

Uh I can assure you that this penny sales tax that you see is a balanced approach uh to taxes, and you can't rely just on property taxes either.

Because the more you tax people, the less people you have, and it puts the burden on people that are have less money than other people.

So I I appreciate a balanced approach.

And I'll tell you the state must appreciate it too because they're allowing every community in Georgia now the opportunity to do a floss, that extra one penny, because they seen themselves as well how giving the county an additional penny can help do what Macon has done.

We are leading the way.

The reason that people are getting that opportunity is because Macon Bibb County showed that we can reduce taxes by this amount, still get a splash pass with the vote of the people.

That's what they were worried about, and still get things accomplished for our community.

A balanced approach works better.

And I I do agree with you that if we had closed the uh coliseum down, didn't have another place, you would lose valuable resources, money, and time.

But make no mistake, we are looking at our children, our grandchildren.

When I make every decision I make, it's not about Western Miller, it's not about the next two years, three years, five years, or six years.

It's about my kids, their kids, and their kids.

I come from Southwest.

I come from poor.

I I was a considered entire time.

I know what it means to go to work each and every day.

I know what it means to give up the game you love paying the best at 14 years old to go to work for your family to help support them.

I know when you're a dad files bankrupting, you don't get the car, everybody gets how that feels.

So I don't just come in this thing from some attorney who worked himself away through Mercer and go through law school to try to help our people back.

I come through it in a sense of community in a sense that I look at the next 40 and 50 years through this community to make sure that I leave it in better condition than what I found it.

And that part is doing what I am doing right now.

I'm going to continue to do.

Opposed, nay.

All right.

Well, now in executive session.

We do have a hearing at 5 45, so I know we'd be out then.

I get a motion to come out of the second session.

I'm sorry, Commissioner Howell, second by Commissioner Wilder.

All those in favor of the motion, please say aye.

Opposed, nay.

We're now executing session.

Uh and otherwise, this meeting here is adjourned, but we're going to go ahead and go into our uh hearing that we have.

So uh Attorney Beavers, if you don't mind, let us know what we're here today, and if there's anybody here to speak on this particular item at that time, we'll allow them to come forward.

You're good.

Am I on?

Okay.

Um if the is anyone here to comment on this potential abandonment?

Um, it doesn't appear that we have anyone to comment on the actual abandonment.

If the commission would like to hear from Pastor Blackman now, or if you'd like to hold him for public comment on agenda items, whichever.

Good afternoon, Mary Lester to everyone here.

Thank you for the opportunity to come down and uh be able to speak on this particular property.

First, I uh appreciate you all for reason considering it.

We're in the uh interest of taking that property.

We actually we didn't know it was there till we got ready to consolidate.

We have three lots there that have been sitting there, and we're trying to consolidate the lots so that we can put a fence around it and we put a playground in the back and trying to do some things for the community over that area.

And so that was our vested nature in this.

But the opportunity, is there any donating opportunities in this?

Yeah, the answer would be the short answer being no, sir.

No, sir.

Okay.

Well, I did what they asked me to do, and you did what you paid to do.

And I have so I have to say thank you for allowing us to uh opportunity to put something back in the community.

Yes, sir.

We appreciate I believe the price that we discussed earlier based on our appraisal is about one thousand three hundred six dollars, maybe a few cents.

So uh we believe that's a fair price, and certainly uh we appreciate your interest in there, and hopefully we can get this thing accomplished at our consent agenda tonight.

Okay, I look forward to thinking when I come down and go to that.

Anyone else is going to need to speak on this particular item?

If not, we're going to stand adjourned until six o'clock.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

Welcome to the Making Bibb County Board of Commissioners regular meeting.

I have a big crowd here tonight.

Tonight's Tuesday, August the 19th, 2025, and a time is approximately six o'clock.

I'd like to welcome everyone back here to City Hall, and we officially call this meeting to order.

We'll begin our meeting like we always do with a prayer followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

So this time, those of you that will please stand, bow your head while we hear a prayer from Mr.

Lynn Wooder from Hillsborough Baptist Church.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day that you give them each one of us so we can gather in this Halloween chambers tonight, Lord, to discuss county business.

Bless them and the homes they represent.

Amen.

So if you don't mind all coming up front.

I'll be shy.

All right, this proclamation, Office of the Mayor, Make and Bibb County.

It's National Emergency Management Awareness Month Proclamation.

Whereas the safety and well-being of the people of Macin Bibb County are paramount, and the proactive preparation for, response to, and recovery from all disasters are essential functions of effective governance.

And whereas the emergency management profession is dedicated to saving lives, protecting property, and ensuring the continuity of essential services by leading comprehensive programs that encompass mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.

Whereas emergency managers develop emergency plans, conduct training exercises, educate the public on disaster readiness, and establish critical partnerships with government agencies, volunteer organizations, and private sector.

And whereas a Make and Bib Emergency Management Agency serves as the cornerstone of our community's resilience, assessing risks, developing robust plans, managing resources, and providing timely information and coordination during crisis.

And whereas the dedicated staff of the Macin Bibb County EMA and emergency support functions play a vital role in fostering a culture of preparedness throughout our community, empowering all people to take proactive steps to protect themselves and their loved ones.

And whereas the first national emergency management awareness month provides a unique opportunity to recognize the invaluable contributions of our emergency management professionals locally and nationally and to highlight the critical importance of community-wide readiness.

Now we're therefore let it be proclaimed that Makin Bibb County declares today, August, actually the whole month of August 2025, and today is the 19th, as National Emergency Awareness Month in Macon Bibb County, and we urge all people, businesses, and organizations to join us in recognizing the vital work of the emergency managers and to take this opportunity to enhance their own personal and family preparedness.

So good evening, Mayor Miller, County Commissioners, and members of our community.

Thank you so much for this honor.

We are deeply grateful to the Make and Bib County Commission for this proclamation recognizing August as National Emergency Management Awareness Month.

Your support means the world to us.

This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire emergency management team.

I want to personally acknowledge the incredible staff of the Macin Bib County Emergency Management Agency.

Day in and day out, they work tirelessly behind the scenes to prepare our community for any challenge that may come our way.

From severe weather to public health emergencies, their commitment, expertise, and resilience are the bedrock of our preparedness efforts.

This is a diverse group of individuals from various county departments and partner agencies who volunteer their time and expertise to ensure a coordinated and effective response during a crisis.

Their collaboration is what truly makes our emergency operations a success.

Last but certainly not least, I want to thank, I want to thank the family and loved ones that support us.

Well, we're out working to protect our community, they're at home protecting what matters most.

Specifically, thank you to Aaron, Sawyer, Brennan, Hannah, Amy, JD, Abigail, Eddie, Dakota, Bree, and Jeremy, and the countless others supporting our team.

This proclamation serves as a powerful reminder that emergency management is a community-wide effort.

It's about preparedness, partnership, and working together to build a more resilient make and bib county.

Thank you again for this recognition.

We are proud to serve this community, and we will continue to work hard to ensure the safety and well-being of all of our residents.

Thank you.

Thank you, Spencer, to all all you and your staff, and we have to do believe we have the best staff.

At this time, if any of those folks that came to stand up, uh took the picture just a moment ago who would like to leave, we'll take a about a minute, allow you the opportunity to leave to go to your families.

Feel free to stay here if you like to as well.

So I'm gonna give you an opportunity to do so.

Good to see you again, Miss Scott, if you don't mind going to the microphone there.

And we'll give you five minutes to talk once you begin.

Good evening.

I want to speak on the millage rate and the decrease.

The milletry is set to drop to 5.75 meals on the average.

That's for a 200,000 dollar home, that's only 90 per year, about $7.50 per month.

But here's the catch.

If your property values go up, that small savings will go away.

It would disappear.

And despite the lower rate, the relief is not guaranteed.

At some point, this cuts take away about 1.33 million dollars a year from the budget in the Make and Bib County.

Those funds can use to be to make libraries, youth programs, and essential community services.

We need to ask ourselves is seven dollars a month worth closing doors on our libraries, children's services, and our senior services.

Again, cutting that millage rate would drop our budget by 1.3 million dollars per year.

So our residents, that's only $7.50 per month.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Cobb.

Mr.

LJ Malone.

Mr.

Malone would also like to talk about the millage rates.

Uh it says increase by assuming it's decrease, and then in linear park contingency transfer.

Good to see you, Mr.

Likewise, you have up to five minutes to speak.

For sure.

All right, greetings to all of you guys and ladies.

Um, I like to speak first of all.

Um, two uh separate uh agenda items.

One is the uh first of all, the milliser.

Um, I think that it would be uh great if uh our our community at large could be educated more in regards to how the military affects everyone, uh including non-property owners or people who are renters or even just children, um, and and understand the ecosystem, I guess, of how it affects everyone in regards to us uh having the sales taxes and even with the 70% of our tourism, um, you know, drawing in the extra money, I guess that we need for our budget.

Um, sometimes that could look like the narrative on the surface, could appear as if we are more concerned, I guess, with tourism than we are for actual residents, uh, although I know that's not the case, uh, being I know that all of you all care about our town and our city, but at the same time, uh, I think that us being able to be educated uh in regards to the the data and effects around a lot of these situations will really help.

But at the same time, I think that us being able to be educated in regards to the data and the facts around a lot of these situations will really help.

So I know a lot of times people push back on certain ideas like this.

And a lot of times they're told that uh even myself at times maybe that I'm misinformed, or maybe I'm speaking incorrectly.

So I think that us being educated more on these things will help us more.

And uh one thing that's been floating out, and I even heard uh Commissioner Stewart mention that that Georgia has a uh when George, I just read the time in Georgia.

Most groceries and food ingredients purchased for off-premises consumption or exempt from the 4% state sales tax.

Uh however, this exemption does not apply to local sales tax, uh, which can be levied by cities and counties.

Uh therefore the total sales tax paid on grocers in Georgia can vary depending on the local jurisdiction.

So uh what I'm asking is uh with us having a 25% poverty rate and uh 40% of our kids living below the poverty line.

Um, is there any way um that you all could potentially uh you know lobby or uh deliberate or come up with a plan for us to get that 4% reduction in groceries here in Macon?

Because I think that would really help us all regardless of our uh medium income levels.

Um and then secondly, uh I normally have five minutes, uh, but I definitely want to like to really highlight that.

If we can really get four percent uh four percent of our uh groceries uh taken off if it's uh possible, which it is here in the state of Georgia.

Uh and then secondly, uh in regards to the linear park uh situation.

Um I know that that contingency money is is it was meant to be transferred over uh to begin the process of the linear park in Pleasant Hill.

And um there's been some concerns.

Me myself is being a part of the strategic plan.

I've been at pretty much all the meetings and also being a pleasant air resident, um, that uh originally in the plan there were uh there was a uh a fitness center and also uh you know outdoor fitness equipment and fitness center that was included, as well as a uh you know, a basketball court, basketball gym renovation.

And just recently, only three to four months ago, residents and people who were a part of the entire process and filled out all the surveys and been a part of all the meetings, uh just became aware that the recreation components of that plan have been taken away.

So now it would be considered to be what they would call a passive park, which means that there aren't any recreation uh man out of 1.375 million dollars going to Tillaniar Park, and uh especially with the reasoning for it, uh with the social determinants of health being affected by urban renewal and uh the different issues from heart disease and the lack of access to fitness equipment and being able to uh have some recreation in that area.

Uh I think it's it's really uh a travesty that's happening that we don't have uh that uh the fitness equipment anymore or the basketball uh renovation.

So now Booker T.

Washington, which is adjacent to Linear Park, now only has one uh recreation activity, which would be the pool, which we all know uh is only for the summer time.

So spring, you know, the other three seasons uh we don't have that ability anymore.

And although that's something that all the residents wanted to see, and we all were part of the surveys and want to make sure that we had that outdoor fitness equipment as well as the basketball court.

And I also like to say in the end with this, um, that the uh there was uh a plan put together by Mr.

Sherman Kine and Frank Dixon and also myself uh when we were uh working uh through the cure violence program about four years ago.

And uh we submitted some uh we actually did do groundwork, started a design and submitted uh something to the CEA, which uh eventually uh they submitted and got a grant for 40,000, I guess, to supplement uh building this outdoor fitness equipment the same way they have in uh Emerson Park.

Uh for some reason or somehow uh we just found out the money disappeared.

So I know that has nothing to do with making Bibb County, um, but we would like to know what happened to that funding that came from the community foundation.

Um and um we would really like to see if there's any kind of way that you all can help us to uh to get that done, you know, anyway that you can.

Although we know that wasn't, you know, you all's fault.

We would appreciate if we can get y'all support.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Malone.

Good to see you again.

Uh Commissioners, we have the approval of the amendments from the August 5th, 2025 Commission meeting.

Can I get a motion to approve?

Motion by Commissioner Wynne, second by Commissioner Bailey.

All those in favor of the motion, please say aye.

Opposed, nay.

Uh we move on to our consent agenda item, which is items uh seven, items A through P.

Uh Ms.

Lucas, I did see that, but I don't see anything on our agenda on there.

No, we had waterboard on there and they had non-agenda item budget.

You want to speak on the mill trait?

Okay, you can come forward.

Thank you.

I'm sorry to be good evening.

Good evening.

Um I am just always very pleased to come and be here with you having served the number of years that I served uh with you with some of you on the um commission.

And uh today I've got three things that I want to very quickly mention.

One of those things is to compliment you because having served here, I know you don't get complimented.

People always come with the negative and what they don't like and what you what they thought you didn't do.

But I am very complimentary of this body in your desire to get as much paving done as possible.

That is a really really important issue for so many people in this community, and it has an impact on everything else that's going on.

The quality of life is so very important, and uh this just has a positive impact on everybody.

While we're doing this, I was a little dismayed, and I was not here at that last meeting where you voted to remove the uh citizen reps off of the complete streets uh program that you initially approved.

Well, some of you were here and some were not, but complete streets was sort of the roadmap for how we would deal with paving and disruptions of our roads and other infrastructure, and it is always important, and I just want to remind you that you represent people, not those roads, and what we'd like to do is always have citizen input.

I know why the changes were made because you want to get as much done as quickly as you possibly can, and that's great.

But I just want to ask you, and making your changes, please consider input from citizens, community groups, all who have a vested interest in doing this thing right.

And while you're doing all this paving, then make sure that it's pedestrian friendly, that every opportunity that you have that you incorporate that.

And I think I read, Ms.

Mayor, that that was um a part of the whole discussion, even though the community folks were taken off, and it was just the folks who are in the trade, that there would be consideration for uh pedestrian safety uh in there, and I think we owe it because we adopted that policy and we've operated under it.

And one other thing I would like to ask.

I noticed that several of you were uh have been appointed to the Board of Health.

Board of Health has so much going on.

I previously served on there, and the two who serve on the Board of Health owe it to citizens to not just sit there and get that information, but you owe it to all of Macon, because Board of Health is a wonderful, a fabulous place.

They provide health care for so many of our citizens, but unfortunately, from the national level, we're getting cutbacks in health care of all things.

And so I think it's incumbent upon those of you who serve on the Board of Health to make sure that all of the resources that are available to citizens that they know about, and you can start by having your meetings live streamed.

They have not come into 2025 yet, either, unfortunately.

That's two things, and the last thing, and I'm I know my time is up, and you're very kind to me to let me um mention all three of these things.

But the third thing is my husband, Senator uh Lucas introduced at last uh in January a bill to change the makeup, the numbers and everything on the water board.

And he states our water board, uh, the numbers we represent too many people, almost 40,000 people each.

I represent district one.

And we that's almost 40,000 people.

You're nine of you.

You represent the whole county, and your numbers are what 17,000, 18,000 each.

That's out of line.

Plus, we are consolidated now.

So there's no need to continue having two people from the commission as much as we love you.

But there is no need in the world to have two elected folks from over here coming over and voting on water issues and money and other kinds of things on the water board.

So at the next meeting, I hope to come back and outline the entire bill that Senator Lucas has uh introduced.

And I ask the citizens to pay attention to this and for greater representation, for greater accountability.

Please look at the possible changes to our water board.

And rest assured your water is good.

I can tell you that.

They're doing an excellent job as far as our water.

But the organization and the finances are in the toilet.

Thank you so very much.

Appreciate you being here tonight.

Good to see you again.

Commissioners, we have uh items seven A through P on the consent agenda at this time.

We don't have to take a motion for approval.

Motion by Commissioner Water, second by Commissioner Wynne.

All those in favor of the motion, please say aye.

Opposed, nay.

That motion carries unanimously.

Gonna move back to the non-agenda items.

We have Mana Ministries Inc.