Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

Welcome to the Making Bip County Commissioners Precommission meeting.

Today is Tuesday, September the second, day after Labor Day, two thousand twenty-five, and the time is approximately four o'clock.

I'd like to welcome everyone here to City Hall.

We have our pre-commission today at four o'clock, and then at six o'clock, we have our regular scheduled meeting.

And the first item of business is the approval of the amendments that approval of the minutes is for the August 19th, 2025 pre-commission meeting.

I'd entertain a motion for approval.

Motion by Commissioner Stewart.

Do we have a second?

Second by Commissioner Wynne.

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

Opposed, nay.

That motion carries and we sent the consent agenda.

Item uh the next item on the agenda are appointments and authorities for boards and committees.

Uh the first one is item 3A.

This is a resolution of Make and Bibb County Commission appointing Angela Solomon to the County Bip County Department of Family and Children's Services Board.

You can see her there on the screen.

Uh, this is a renewal, and she comes to us with a recommendation from that board.

So that is my motion.

Can I get a second?

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.

Item 3B is a resolution of the Make and Bibb County Commission reappointing Ember Bentley to the Make and Bibb County Industrial Authority.

Uh likewise Miss Bentley has served on that for one term, uh, and she is a viable member of our industrial authority, and we would like to have her reappointed.

At this time, I entertain a motion for approval.

Motion by Mayor Proton Clark, second by Commissioner Bailey.

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

Opposed, nay.

That motion carries unanimously sent to consent agenda.

Uh, the final appointment that we have today on this agenda is a resolution of the Make and Bibb County Commission reappointing Patty Child.

I'm sorry, Patty Gibbs, to serve as a member of the Macon Bibb County spice advisory committee.

Uh, we all know what uh Patty well, and she's done a good job on the splash committee, and we'd ask her to continue in that same role.

So at this time we entertain a motion to approve.

Motion by Commissioner Wynne, second by Commissioner Bailey.

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

Opposed, nay.

That motion carries will be sent to consent agenda.

We have several agreements on the on the uh agenda tonight, as you can tell.

Items A through believe J.

So we'll begin with item 4A, which is a resolution of the Macin Bib County to authorize the mayor to execute an independent contractor agreement with Atlanta paving and concrete construction for as bought paving and resurfacing services in amount of $2,209,000 four hundred nine dollars and eleven cent to be paid from the 2024 LRA LMIG supplemental grant funds.

As you recall, we had um had a call meeting last week to vote on some road pavings, and we said we had two more that would be getting awarded and make the recommendations for this week.

Uh and we've got another one on the agenda as well.

But the good thing about this is we've had four uh bids submitted, and we've had three separate people win those bids.

So that's something that's uh very exciting about the number of people that are applying for these jobs as well as uh allowing us to do multiple projects at one time.

So this time I entertain a motion for approval.

Motion by Commissioner Wilder, we have a second.

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 the consent agenda.

Item B is the resolution of the Make and Bibb County Commission to authorize the mayor to execute in an independent contract agreement with Macleroy Inc.

for asphalt paving and resurfacing services, an amount of two million three hundred and thirty-six thousand five hundred and eight dollars to be paid from the two thousand twenty-five LMIG grant funds and two thousand eighteen supplies funds.

I can get a motion to approve.

Can you get a second?

All right.

I heard two people at the same time.

So we have a motion and second.

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

I'm told I need to tell you that our pavement the way mascot name is Bib C.

That's the cone that you saw just a moment ago.

So uh thank you very much for that.

Uh so both those items are approved and be sent to consent agenda.

I will tell you also that we as of this after this afternoon, we released four more uh projects.

This time that those funds will be coming from the spLOS that was passed this last year and from the money that we borrowed to put out there.

Uh, you'll notice after these four bids go out, and once they are awarded after 30 days, uh, we'll come back before this body again.

Uh, that we'll have 85 miles of roads uh out there for paving, uh, which is well on the way of paving the 20 years and one year that we did.

And the reason we wanted to get these out there is we're trying to make sure that we can get these roads in the process before it gets cold uh sometime in a couple months.

Uh Commissioner Wilder, you have a question, sir, or a comment.

I just really wanted to say thank you to everyone that's been pushing this.

Uh I know I've been talking about several big big roads in the uh district six area since like my first month in office almost five years ago now.

And we're just real thankful that it's finally coming to fruition.

Uh thank you, Commissioner Wilder.

And then once again, for those of you that want uh to remember the roads that we discussed.

If you go on to our make and bib.us under bids for projects, you'll see the uh the roads that are currently out there and the the four that was uh added today.

If you'll click on that information there, you'll see the rows and for a large part, these are entire length of rows on this list here.

We're doing more of the arterial roads as opposed to the neighborhood roads, so there are large length roads on there.

Uh so you'll get a chance to see those.

And if you want to go back, you can look at the bids that are closed, and you can go back to the previous um awards that we made.

And if you click on that, you'll also see those roads as well.

Uh so you can always look for an open and transparent parent uh process.

Those roads will be there.

Remember that each of these roads have to go through multiple stages.

So once we identify which roads need to be paved, uh we have to look for funding for those roads.

They go through the engineer department, they go through the Make and Water Authority to locate all the utilities, etc.

And they also get approved by the state, and then we have to post those for 30 days to our bid process through procurement.

Uh, once a satisfied bidder is awarded that by the committee, they open those bids.

Actually, some of those open in this very room here with the people here there and a sealed envelope, and we bring them back for you for vote.

Uh after that vote is done today and pass at the consent agenda.

Uh, we'll then do a contract directly with the company, and they'll begin their pavement within 10 days of that uh with a maximum of 150 days to pave the roads.

So I'm gonna say that a lot of times up in the in the future, and we'll still get questions after that, but we'll keep reminding everybody.

So we're gonna go ahead and move on to the next item.

This is the uh resolution of the make and bib county commission to authorize the mayor to execute an agreement with TBI, airport management inc, provision of airport operations and maintenance services.

I'm sorry.

I checked off that.

My bad, let's go to see.

A resolution of the Make and Bibb County Commission authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement with Chris R.

Sheridan doing business as shared in construction for the relocation of the airfield electrical vault at the Middle Georgia Regional Airport, an amount of two million nine hundred and thirteen thousand eight hundred sixty-one dollars to be paid from GDOT grant funds.

Uh and I know that's a fancy term, so I'm gonna ask Mr.

Doug Fayore to come up to the microphone there.

Tell us what this vault is and how important it is to our project that we have coming there at the EPI.

And first of all, identify who you're your name and who you're with, sir.

Doug Fayor, aviation director.

Um the airfield electrical vault is a um combination of equipment that's put in one building on the airfield that provides all the power necessary for all the airfield lighting and equipment that's out there.

So if you could think of miles of runway lights, taxiway lights, and navigational aids.

The the airfield electrical vault uh provides that power there.

Um so it is uh obviously a very important piece.

Addition, it was originally constructed near the old FBO in between the old flight service station and the executive terminal.

Um so it is standing in the way of new construction, so it must be relocated so we can continue on with the project.

Thank you for that information.

Also, just so you know that uh the original bid on this came out came out above four million dollars and through the great work of Doug and Clay Murphy and other folks involved with Pastorow.

We were able to get that down to 2.9 million dollars.

So thank you for being able to value engineer it to get it within our our stated allotments there, especially with using the GDOT funds from the state.

Uh so Commissioner Stewart, you have a question, sir.

Yeah, Doug, thank you for all you do and your team uh does at the airports, both airports, as a matter of fact.

Uh this new airfield electrical vault.

I mean, I know we'll have the capacity to handle all the renovations and everything that we have going on out there, right?

Uh yes, sir.

Absolutely.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you.

Okay, at this time I'd entertain a motion to approve.

Motion by Commissioner Howell, second by Commissioner Wynne.

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

Aye.

Opposed, nay.

That motion carries.

Now we'll move on to item 4D.

That's a resolution of Making Bibb County Commission authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement with TBI Airport Management, but a provision of airport operations and maintenance services in an annual amount, not to exceed 200,000 reimbursable expenses, including the cost of operations and maintenance personnel working at the airports to be paid from the contract labor, contractual services line item for both airports.

That's both airports.

At this time, I entertain a motion to approve.

Motion by Commissioner Hall, second by Commissioner Wynne.

Any questions, Commissioner Wynne?

Yeah.

It says 200,000 annual amount.

Is that going to renew every year?

200,000 or I think it renews this year, and I think we have to rebid it out next year if I'm not mistaken.

Is that correct?

Nope.

Go ahead.

Come on, Doug, run run on down here.

Okay.

You can go ahead and answer it correctly.

Um that is uh so that's the 200,000 is per year, which is adjusted through CPI.

And this is a new contract that will it has a uh five year, it'd be a five-year agreement with a five-year option.

Okay, that's what I want to know how many years was it?

How many years was it?

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

Uh this time we entertain a motion to approve.

We already done that.

We have a motion second.

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

Aye.

Opposed nay.

That motion carries it'd be sent to consent agenda.

Got a lot of airport stuff tonight, by the way.

Resolution of Make and Bibb County Commissioner authorized the mayor to execute an agreement with APA X incorporated for the replacement of roofs at the World War II hangar B and the Embryer hangar at the Middle Georgia Regional Airport, an amount of 1,472,447 one cent to be paid paid from the airport fund, airport middle Georgia Regional Building and Building Improvements Line Item.

A lot to be said to say that we have approving this uh award here tonight uh for those hangers to be repaired properly, and we appreciate that.

So at this time we'd entertain a motion to approve.

Motion by Commissioner Howell Second by Commissioner Wilder.

Gotcha that time.

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

Opposed, nay.

That motion carries and will be sent to consent agenda.

Item F is a resolution of the Making Bibb County Commission authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement with inspiring healthy lives.

LLC for the vision of counseling service in the amount of up to 27,000 dollars to be paid from the family treatment court grant funds.

Uh that's my motion.

Can I get a second?

Second by Commissioner Howell.

Any questions?

You're no questions.

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

Opposed nay.

That motion carries will be sent to consent agenda.

Item G is a resolution of the Makin Bibb County Commission authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement with Great Southern Recreation, the amount of 367, 875 dollars and eighty cent for the purchase and installation of play craft playground equipment at Frank Johnson Park to be paid from the SPLOS 2018 fund, recreation Frank Johnson property line item and other lawful purposes.

As you know, we went through this process on making sure we're spending the splash dollars as the citizens asked for in the 2018 splash.

As part of that, we had the Frank Johnson Center that was awarded a uh several uh couple million dollars for this particular part of the project, and that is ongoing.

This right here is the awarding of the play craft playground equipment to this particular company.

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

Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Clark, we have a second.

Second by Commissioner Stewart and Commissioner Stewart, you had a follow-up.

I just wanted to say, you know, for the for the record, I just talked to the gentleman in the front row who knew my Uncle Vernon for way back when he served on city council when I was like five years old.

And uh Uncle Vernon was the one who actually got the the funding for the Unionville gym.

And I just always like to make sure we point that out.

Okay, thank you very much, sir.

Uh this time we have a motion and second.

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

Opposed, nay, Mayor Proton Cart, you want to be added as a sponsor?

Yes, sir.

We got you.

Thank you very much.

We've got a resolution item H a resolution to make and Bibb County Commission authorized the mayor to execute an agreement with Middle Georgia Outdoor Lighting LLC for the purchase and installation of lighting at the Caroline Creighton Park and amount of 232,982 dollars to be paid from the 2018 splash funds.

I can get a motion to approve.

Commissioner Wynn, can I take a motion?

Can I get a second?

Commissioner Bailey has a second.

Commissioner Wynn, you have a question?

Yes.

Do we have more specifics to where about where this lighting is going to be?

We know every year we have the Cherry Blossom Festival, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, but every year we have the Cherry Blossom Festival, and we have to bring in those rented lights uh all the time.

So throughout the park, there these lights will be there and ready and accessible so they don't have to rent them, which helps uh there, but also provide better security and lighting throughout our area there.

We have had some challenges sometimes at night, so it'll be throughout the park.

Okay, that's what I want to know.

Thank you.

Thank you.

What uh uh we have a motion and second.

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

Opposed nay.

That motion carries will be sent to consent agenda.

Item I is a resolution of Making Bibb County Commission to approve a change order in the amount of $20,000 through the purchase order from making a difference counseling and training services to be paid from the grant fund, 24 burn discretionary grant, contract and legal services line item to provide for services through the expiration of the grant team.

Uh who can discuss that, please?

Get more information on it, please.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, this is the DA hiring uh another contractor for her rise initiative.

They've been a long-term partner, um, but she's gotten more grant fund money from the burn discretionary grant, and she would like to continue to hire these through the end of the grant term.

And so that's just seeking permission to do that.

Thank you.

Uh, can we get a motion to approve?

Motion by Commissioner Howell, 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 and we sent consent agenda.

Our final item is item J.

This is a resolution of the Make and Bibb County Commission authorizing the mayor to execute renewal of memorandum understanding with Georgia Emergency Management Agency in Chatham County for the exclusive sheltering of emergency and disaster event exhibit uh evacuees.

I'm thinking about excavation.

Evacues from Chatham County with provision for reimbursement for certain costs associated with shelter and events.

And we've got our EMA director here, Mr.

Spencer Hawkins.

So I'd like him to give a brief presentation on this, like he did the last couple years.

We've done this, so we can vote on it.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Um, yes, this is our annual uh agreement between us, make uh us, Chatham County, and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency when a major hurricane would threaten the Atlantic Coast of Georgia.

We have an agreement with Chatham County to take uh their residents that do not have the ability to evacuate themselves, and we provide safe and secure shelter here in Macon Bib County as long as they need while they uh go through this heart of the storm, and then we will move them back uh very expeditiously back to Chatham County.

And we partner with locally here with our recreation department and others to make sure that they are safe and secure in locations throughout the county.

Commissioner Wynne, you have a question?

Yeah, I'm just curious.

Did we have we used a coliseum before?

And is that what we're gonna use in the future?

No, uh the Coliseum is usually used for um the Georgia Power uh line workers that come in and work.

We utilize various uh county facilities that are available during this time, so and along with some other local churches to make sure that this happens that we have enough facilities for everyone else.

Okay, thank you.

Commissioner Stewart.

Yeah, I just wanted to say thank you.

You know, I just watched the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and uh, you know, I thank you for what you do locally and what GMA does on a statewide basis, reversing the lanes, of course, coming off the coast, making sure nobody's going towards the danger but coming from it.

So uh thank you for what you do.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Thank you.

At this time, I entertain a motion to approve.

Motion by Commissioner Wynne, we have a second.

Second by Commissioner Bronson.

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

Opposed nay.

That motion carries to be sent to consent agenda.

Item five grants 5A is a resolution of Making Bibb County Commission to authorize the acceptance of a hazard mitigation grant program and amount of 45,000 dollars with a local required matching amount of fifteen thousand dollars and additional available funds to the amount of three thousand four hundred and thirteen dollars for the purpose of updating the multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan.

Uh this time entertain a motion for approval.

Motion by Commissioner Bailey, second by Commissioner Howell.

You have any questions.

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

Opposed nay.

That motion carries to be sent to consent agenda.

We're gonna move on to several appropriations and transfers we have.

Item 6A through D.

The first one is the ordinance of the Make and Bib County Commission to authorize appropriations from 2018 splice funds as 2018 supplies interest to be allocated to authorized projects as specified to authorize a transfer between 2018 splash line items.

That's a lot to be said.

Who's gonna talk about that?

Seems pretty straightforward, but I see some puzzled looks, so I'll make sure we're all good on this.

We're just suggesting to continue to adjust the spots to take care of the knees, and we're doing this because we're wrapping up our 2018 spots, but go right ahead.

This is actually to wrap up our ARPA money.

We are taking uh we had some leftover ARPA money.

We had to have already spent it uh by the end of last year, had to already be allocated.

Well, we found some things we already spent money on, and so what we are doing is taking the ARP funds.

We are out, like we are putting those items as allocated from ARP and not from general fund, and we're freeing up some general fund dollars.

That's correct.

Thank you.

This time we entertain motion for approval.

Motion by Mayor Bro Tan Clark, second by Commissioner Bailey.

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

Aye.

Opposed nay.

That motion carries to be sent the consent agenda.

Item B is the ordinance of the Make and Bibb County Commission to authorize the reappropriation or reallocation of up to 2.2 million, 230,000 and already incurred expenses from the general fund to the American Rescue Act funds as authorized by the American Rescue Act to utilize unexpended American Rescue Act funds.

Yep, same thing.

Sorry, I was confused about what you asked before.

I explained the last lot.

This is what I just explained before.

The SPLOSS is a long list of SPROSS projects that we've allocated projects to.

Um, and so it includes a ton of projects that Clay has recommended to wrap up the end of our SPLOS.

That was the last line item that we just discussed.

This one is the ARP where we're cleaning up the ARP money and putting it towards back into our general fund.

Sorry.

I think we knew what you're talking about.

I just figured we would get to the case.

Sorry, I got ahead of myself.

I got ahead of myself.

Thank you all.

At this time, we'd entertain a motion to approve.

Motion by Commissioner Wilder.

We have a second.

Second by Commissioner Bailey.

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

Opposed, nay.

That motion carries will be sent to consent agenda.

Item C is the ordinance of Make and Bibb County Commission to approve a supplemental appropriation from the general fund fund balance to the total amount of $20,000 to the tax commissioner's budget, salaries, major components to provide an increase to the tax commissioner's salary supplemental in recognition of the performance of additional duties.

This is a $20,000 adjustment within that budget.

These additional dues include the bike tax, uh, the subsequent tax sales, the occupation taxes on the agenda for tonight, uh, and also uh all other items related to his job there, which is allowed.

So this time we entertain a motion.

Well, I'll make that motion at this time.

I take a second.

Second by Commissioner Wilder.

Questions on that regard.

Here are no questions.

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

Opposed nay.

That motion carries and be sent to consent agenda.

Item D is the ordinance of the Macin Bibb County Commission to approve a supplemental appropriation from the general fund balance, an amount of 447,347 for the purchase of a common use passenger processing system and for the design, layout, survey, and markings for aircraft parking at the Middle Georgia regional airport.

Go ahead, Doug.

Seems self-explanatory, but since you're here, you might as well earn you keep, sir.

Hello again.

Um, common use equipment is uh equipment that is used typically at airports, so each and the and every individual carrier doesn't have to have their own internal uh processing system.

So um since we've just had contour for the most part and we've had charters uh increasing, um there's since we have more than one carrier, there's kind of a need for common use to make it uh a little bit easier for especially for the charters to process passengers.

So common use equipment would go in the check check-in counters, it would also go at the gates, and this equipment also includes kiosk for self-checking.

As you know, our terminal is is pretty small, and uh when we get a hundred and eighty seat aircraft that comes in, there's a lot of passengers, and processing them timely and getting them through the front of the lobby to the secure side is really important in terms of uh preventing the bottlenecking and uh continuing the flow of passengers, especially when we have two flights on the ground at the same time or more.

So that's the common use piece, and the markings piece is goes out on the ramp area, and what it does is prescribe it uh it allows us to um put down a um uh paint and um various other things so carriers know exactly where they need to park in order to maintain a level of safety.

That way they don't hit any buildings, equipment, or other aircraft.

And um considering the amount of increased traffic that we have, this uh process this uh this piece of the um what the mayor has mentioned will allow us to survey all that, lay it out, ensure it's put exactly to the specs.

So when we're parking aircraft and they're moving off the ramp in a very congested area with equipment, fuel trucks, buildings, other airplanes that we have them parked in a manner that's safe, and when they depart, they have a uh a uh a very um detailed uh process that they would go through to leave the airport without making any connections with any of the things that I've just mentioned, Mr.

Howa.

Yeah, I just want to say that uh along with this particular item, the other items we've added after years of underutilization of our main airport.

It's so wonderful to spend money out there that we know is gonna come back to us a hundredfold.

So uh again, like others have said, I appreciate the effort that you've put into it and build it and they will come.

Thank you.

Commissioner Wynne.

Yeah, thanks.

Doug, thank you for all you're doing out there too.

We appreciate your hard work.

Thank you.

Um, this markings for the aircraft are they gonna be assigned to certain carriers or certain aircraft when they come in there?

No, ma'am, they'll be a common use, but each uh set of markings will have will identify different types of aircraft, so we know exactly where to park that aircraft, but it won't be specific to any carrier.

It'll be common use.

Okay, so they won't be hitting each other's wings when they come in there.

Yes, ma'am.

That's we're thank you for that, clearing that up.

Uh so at this time we'd entertain a motion for approval.

Motion by Commissioner Howell.

We have a second.

Second by Commissioner Stewart.

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

Aye.

Opposed, nay.

All right.

Thank you for being here tonight.

Mr.

Fayore, I don't think we have any more airports on here tonight.

Let me make sure.

All right, looks like we're good.

That's right.

All right.

Well, moving right along.

We're gonna talk about something that's important to a lot of our citizens tonight.

So we're talking about taxes a little bit.

Um so item 7A is a resolution of the Make and Bib County uh commission requesting the local legislation delegation introduce legislation to establish new additional homestead exemptions on advil warm taxation for senior citizens in Macon Bib County as specified or in.

So I just want to go over a little bit about the um the uh exemption recommendation that we're making or as you recall back in February we had this conversation around the horseshoe at that time, along with others express interest uh with trying to do something to alleviate the concerns of our senior citizens of Macon Bib County, and one of the things we mentioned during that conversation was just trying to do some senior exemptions.

Uh so throughout that process since February when we made that comment uh through the uh current month, I met with our tax commissioner, met with our tax assessor, uh I met with the school system, I met with our staff, and I messed with our met with our financial uh finance director, along with other funding that we have come in from various sources, including industrial authority uh and others.

And we wanted to come up with a a tax exemption that did a couple of things, provided real relief to the citizens, the senior citizens in our community uh that makes a meaningful difference between maybe having their house or losing their house.

Uh number two, uh creating a tax exemption that we could live with financially to make sure we can meet those goals uh financially and did not uh cause a burden shifting from a one particular tax holder, uh taxpayer to another taxpayer, uh and to make sure it is stabilized throughout the next uh decades to come in making Bib County.

So in that process, uh we did come up with a formula, and that formula is as follows.

Uh Macin Bib County at age 65 uh would do a ten thousand dollar exemption off your property value uh in conjunction with a ten thousand dollar exemption from the uh school system as well uh as a value there.

Uh we thought that was important to do that at that year uh along with a seven thousand that you get exemption from the county or your county portion of taxes and a seven thousand you get on your school taxes for a total um value decrease of thirty-four thousand for many of our residents.

This means that age sixty five you would pay no taxes.

Uh for for most of our residents at a 65, you would pay at least 50 percent, uh, get a 50 percent reduction, and sometimes as much as 100% reduction.

Uh so we moved on to the next age is a 75, a 75, uh, you would get an increased exemption.

A 75 exemption would be your 7,000 for your county, 7,000 for your school system, and you would get a 10,000, 10,000 like we talked about before, but you'll get an additional 15,000 from the school system and additional $15,000 uh from the county for a total of $64,000 off your taxes.

And basically what you do just to look at simple formula is take the amount of value that your property's been assessed with, you multiply that times 0.40, and that becomes your tax value on that property.

Then you would subtract out subtract out your exemptions, and once you subtract those exemptions out, then you multiply that by the millage rate for the county.

Uh in doing so, uh, we were able to determine the amount of properties we had, the amount of values that we have for these properties, and uh be able to determine what the potential exposure for making Bib County and the school system uh would have.

Uh so these are the reasons we're doing those are the amounts.

Here's the process.

The process is this body of government here uh would pass a resolution, presumably tonight.

Uh that resolution would make its way to our local delegation.

We all know who our local delegation uh members are.

Uh that local delegation would put forth the uh legislation at next year, uh 2026 legislation, and it will be voted on uh by the House and by the Senate.

If it successfully is completed at that point in time, then of course the governor would sign that and it would be on the ballot for November for the citizens of Makin Bib County to vote on whether or not they wanted the senior exemption.

Uh that's the process, those are the amounts.

Uh we set those amounts uh because we know they're doable based on the income that we know will have come in uh in the next couple of decades, uh including growth and other things that we're doing in our community now, including the one penny sales tax that we have.

Um we did not set those goals to hurt any future administration or school system, and also want to let you know that there's no wiggle room in those numbers, meaning you can't go down 10 years and have nobody pay taxes.

Uh that would harm the school system and it would harm the county.

Uh we set those goals based on the numbers that we have now.

So this is the process to do that.

Those are the exemptions that we're recommend recommending.

Uh inevitably, it'd be up to the taxpayers of Makin Bib County uh to decide whether or not they wanted to uh approve or not for these tax exemptions.

Commissioner Bailey, I'm with you.

Um yes, Mayor.

Um I just like to say unequivocally that thank you, Mayor, for your initiatives and for thinking out of the box concerning our senior citizens.

They have worked hard all of their lives and have paid their way throughout their term in their season.

So it's only fitting that we as a commission and that this administration step up for them and recognize their dedication to make and be ab county, their their need to also be recognized as having served Make and Bibb County.

And I also like to be added to this initiative.

Thank you, Edge, as a co-sponsor.

Commissioner Stewart.

Yeah, uh, thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

I appreciate that.

And uh the mic goes off.

I got a megaphone under here somewhere.

But nonetheless, uh I polled my uh constituents in East Making, and we're split.

You know, I've you know I always try to make sure that I'm taking the the temperature, if you will, of those people that I represent.

And uh they're totally split.

Some are definitely for it, they really are, you know, and in terms of uh as Miss Bellage has said, you know, they've worked hard in their lives.

The only thing those who are against it would wish that perhaps the age limit could be dropped because Macon's life expectancy is 72.

And you know, for the most part, by the time you get to tier two or tier three of it, the propensity of people may be dead.

So, you know, so they would like to see that age limit possibly dropped uh in that regard.

But I I'm voting yes for it tonight because uh I'm always on the side of people having a voice in the matter.

Up or down, it makes no difference as long as your voice is heard.

And that's what this measure does.

It takes it to the next level, takes it to the state, and allows them to make that decision and ultimately allows the people of Macon Bib to make that decision.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Commissioner Howell?

Yes, sir.

I think I've I think I understand the answer, but can you expound on this just uh a little bit because I've had a couple different people ask me the question.

We are passing this tonight, and it affects the school board.

Do they have to vote on it or have they already approved it, or because I'd kind of like to know the answer when people ask me that?

No, sir.

Uh this this body of government is the only body of government that can request that.

Um and the school system I have met with the school system, and I believe that they are favorable with this uh because they'll end up uh being able to recover their money plus more uh based on discussions that we have with them.

So the process is this body of government can ask for the local delegation to include both the school system and the county on that.

It all comes down to a public referendum.

Uh, I suppose suppose that if the school system changes their mind later, they can advocate against it uh at the referendum.

But no, sir, we're the ones that asked for that.

We're the legislative body, and uh certainly the local delegation has the authority to pass that based on our request.

Yeah, well, just and I I knew that we had talked to them, and everybody was seen to be in in favor of it.

I just I had several people ask me that and now I know thanks.

It does not have to go before the school board, but like I said, I've had conversations with the school board's leadership.

I know Dr.

Uh Sims has had conversation with his his uh his team and his staff, and of course we met with them with our staff uh to go over the numbers uh to go over the uh replacement income on how we think this is doable and uh to make sure that they understand that we are a partner.

We wouldn't do anything to hurt the school system because uh we're always stronger together and we're stronger when they are there do their job as well.

Commissioner Wynne.

Yes, I know this you just said this doesn't have to go before the Board of Education, but it goes before the legislative body.

That's correct.

And they have to vote on it.

Do you is this something that's been done before by other counties that you're aware of?

What uh it has been okay, and it's passed before.

Yes, ma'am.

There are there are numerous, I say numerous.

There are some counties in Georgia uh and districts in Georgia that have various forms, and it goes through the same process.

Matter of fact, I think uh I sat there in the legislative last year and several uh local delegations brought it up and unanimously passed at the state house.

It all depends on your particular budget, right?

Uh, I know some folks think that we we try to hide our numbers in our budget, but I'll tell you when we came on board with this particular commission back in 2020.

Um the the previous year's value was about 19 million dollars in the general fund.

We built that to 33 million, and then the next year 44 million.

Uh then it went to 74 million, 97 million, and now we back to 97, 77 million because we went ahead and invested in some projects that we knew was going to cost money, but we also knew we had the spice.

So I think that every decision has to be made by the local community.

You may have a community like Cobb County that has you know several hundred thousand people that have an average house value of 750,000 dollars a house.

Their taxes are way more than making Bibb County.

They may be able to get a better break to their citizens in that particular jurisdiction because they have them uh a bigger tax base uh there and more people to absorb that.

Bibb County would be the only one in Middle of Georgia, I can tell you.

House and Jones, Twigs, Monroe, none of them have what we're having right here.

And I think it does a couple of things.

Not only is it give those folks that need it the most a break here in our community.

Uh, we may attract more people.

Uh and those ACEs that stay here instead of downsizing or moving out of making Bibb County and continue to live here, they have disposable income that they spend.

Uh they do not commit crimes.

Uh they're very good uh taxpayers as far as that's concerned.

They uh contribute a lot to stabilizing uh property values in communities and they get involved in philanthropy.

I've had a few people reach out to me and say, Well, why are you putting in there about the income?

Because I think if we're gonna give this break, we can give it to everybody, no matter what you make.

A lot of times people haven't taken advantage of the ones that have been offered because you can only make eight or ten thousand dollars a year.

Uh there's not many jobs, including the people sitting around this horseshoe that make less than eight or ten thousand dollars a year.

So, quite honestly, we remove that restriction in hopes of more people will take us up on this to make sure that they do that.

It is a substantial break at age 65, uh, and then it's age 75.

So around the state, I I don't know of any that have failed uh that failed on this right here.

Uh, but I do know that not everybody does them because not everybody has a vision that we have, and not everybody is in the financial situation that we're in uh as well.

So uh I'll follow you got a follow-up question with that.

I just certainly am interested in that.

As I grow a little older, I can imagine.

But I it's so once we make the legislative step, we get past that, it still has to come back to our community to vote on that's correct.

It it uh I just want everybody to understand what's going on here.

We will help uh draft the legislation for the local delegation, the local delegation, assuming they would take it up, and I would assume they will since it's a tax bill for citizens here in Bibb County.

Uh they will present that, whether the House or the Senate next year, and uh it will go through for the for a vote and the governor's signature at such time uh we should be able to put that on our November ballot with the governor's race next year, uh so the people can vote it up or down.

Uh so that's that's the way the process is.

So you got a feel for it?

Uh I I don't I think with the local delegation we have, they're certainly um encouraged about cutting taxes, uh, at least they have been at state level, and I think they would uh recognize this.

Keep in mind these same same local delegations voted to allow the OLAS to be on a referendum for us.

So I feel pretty confident that they're gonna move this thing through there.

Thank you.

Yes, Commissioner Bronson.

Hey, sir.

Um great great uh write up on the resolution.

I support it.

Make sure I put that out there first.

Uh, in talking with some of my constituents, there there was some concern in regards to it.

And I think we've kind of already addressed the majority of the concerns.

One main uh one I will I would like to ask though, as far as when we're having these meetings, has any of the other commissioners set in on the meetings that were had?

Just out of curiosity.

No, sir.

Okay.

The commissioners uh made it.

This is my proposal, right?

So you can vote it up or down.

But the commission uh we discussed this.

I went back and watched the tape back in February's meeting.

Uh we talked about that when we were in the House Bill 92 and 451 because making Bibb County opted out of that.

We opted out of that because we're a consolidated government that got no additional benefit from doing a penny because we're not able to do a FLOST.

And the consensus around this horseshoe, as I remember it, was that people were in favor of the senior exemption.

Uh, when I say go meet with the school board, it was Dr.

Moffitt, uh, urban development authority there, Mr.

Uh Morrison was there.

We had our attorneys, Mr.

McNeil, right?

He was there, uh, and we have our financial people, and of course on the other side they had their finance director, they had their lawyer there, they had their superintendent, they had their VP over there.

So uh we may met together on those, and of course, I've had uh uh several conversations with Wade uh Wade McCord, the tax commissioner, and of course with Andrea Crutzfield, our tax assessor, to make sure that I understand the numbers before making that recommendation to this body of government here.

Sweet to I and I'm with you on that, and this is not a hit to anybody.

I just know for me when we have discussions, even back in February and March, I think one of my biggest concerns is just kind of ensuring that the commissioners had an opportunity to kind of sit in so we can kind of basically address prior to getting to the vote to kind of ask those questions of concern that we have and also be able to have an opportunity to uh best explain to our constituents what the bringing them bring them answers on what they're asking prior to.

Um so I just I'm hoping that future future references, right?

We can actually kind of make sure that we're involving whether or not you're pulling two or three commissions at a time to sit in on the meetings that you're having.

Um but we do thank you for being on the lead, spirit end of this.

Uh the other part of that was, and I think mean you spoke earlier today in regards to uh the possibility of any backlash, right?

So when we start talking about um the rolling back of taxes and so forth at some point, um, whoever decides to run for the seat or wherever decides to take the lead on that end, um we may I want to make sure that we're not putting them in a position to have to raise taxes on the on the on the fur end, right?

Um so I just want to make sure that, and I and I know you've done your numbers.

You have a you have a great team, doc.

Thank you, Miss Julie, Alex, thank y'all for what y'all do.

Um, I just want to ensure that from our seat, right?

When we start sitting down having this discussion, that we can speak on a on a on an educator part of it to say yes, these are the numbers, this is what we have, and it's how we can work it.

And future references that we don't have to have to come back and say, hey, we got to raise taxes for whatever reason.

But other than that, I support it.

And as a veteran myself, um, when I hit 65, always game on.

But yeah, that's it.

That's all I have.

Thank you.

Well, I think that any future commission and mayor that lives within their budget and within their means, I think uh has a capability of making making this state.

This is no sunset.

I'm not asking to expire at any period of time.

I want it to be permanent.

Uh, in order for someone to try to change it, they'll have to go through the same exact process that we're going through right now uh to run it through the legislature on that.

So I'm gonna go ahead and call for a vote on this.

Um, I'll get a couple more questions if y'all have them after we do this, but I'll entertain a motion to approve.

Motion by Commissioner Water, second by Commissioner Bronson.

Commissioner Bell, would you have a follow-up?

Yes.

I just like to say that as we continue to build, make and be ab county, we're fixing our infrastructure, we're contributing to our educational programs, our public service program.

It is only fitting that we also contribute to the welfare and the betterment of our seniors in our community that have already given their lives to this community.

It's only fitting, and as we also continue to make that promise, you know, we're we're echoing the voice of Caesar saying that you know every society is best known by how well it treats those that have the least of us.

Not only are our senior citizens presently when they do cross that threshold of either being disabled or senior, they're no longer in the workforce.

I found out myself, not only am I no longer in the workforce, but I have no health care insurance.

So in the event that I do become sick, all of that actually falls on my household.

So whatever income that that senior person does have, or that disabled person does have, it's definitely counted in that household, and it is a serious toll that our seniors are presently going through.

When you reach that plateau in age, you're dealing with health, you're dealing with the same mortgage, you're dealing with the same taxes if it was not for our Mayor Miller.

So I do ask that we seriously think about where we're going and what we're doing because what we're setting ourselves up for is not for failure.

We're setting ourselves up to actually come forth and pull that promise out continuously.

And now we're gonna hope and pray that the next mayor that takes Mayor Miller's place, that he's intelligent enough to do the same and continue on with that same process.

And that's that's my hope because I know that I'm not gonna get any younger.

I I know that I'm gonna get much older.

And I'm not gonna say how old I am, but I am very appreciative.

And I just want to speak up for this, and I hope that all of our executives out there are going to be speaking up for this measure as well, and we're gonna continually stand by our citizens because we know one day, one day, it's not gonna be them, it's gonna be you.

Thank you, Commissioner.

It's gonna be us.

Commissioner Water.

Yeah, so I heard about this uh press conference the other day, and I attended it, and I was pretty excited because I will be 65 in November.

I'm right here on the window of this, and I'm glad to see that there's a benefit for SH65, then more at 75, and then more at 85.

I just think I'm excited about it.

Like I'm not 65 yet, and I still got a little ways to go, but uh maybe it'll be still in good shape by the end.

Commissioner Stewart, you had to close us up, sir.

Yeah, I just wanted to say um that Paul's a little nicer than I am, but we need to be as commissioners in those meetings going forward because each one of us represents 17,000 on average of making nights, and so we need to be in those meetings.

I hope you take that to into deep consideration.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Stewart.

Appreciate that.

Commissioner Howell.

Yeah, I'll finish it out.

Just saying that um one of my constituents reached out to me, long time friend mentor.

So, Mr.

Eugene Christie at sick at 93.

This was for you, buddy.

All right.

Uh, this time we'll uh entertain a motion to approve.

Alright, did that?

Yes.

Good lord.

We got you talk that long.

All right.

We have a motion and second.

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

Opposed, nay.

That motion carries unanimously sent the consent agenda.

Uh, next item is item B is the ordinance of the Make and Bib County Commission to amend Article 7 of chapter 26 of the Make and Bib County Code of Ordinances relating to occupation taxes for the purpose of establishing a new classification of occupation taxes for tourist counts and short-term vacation rentals to prescribed regulations therefore and penalties for violations, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

I forgot to tell you something before we get to this point.

Just let me give you an update briefly.

We have completed our review and interviewing of the top three of the architects.

And I along with the others will be making a recommendation to you to select architect that's going to draw, design, and select the contract manager that's going to build the expansion and upgrade to the jail.

Hopefully at a meeting this September, possibly a call meeting on September the 23rd.

Meant to tell you that a little bit early before we start talking about these projects.

But we we have gone through the process.

You saw where the RFP was posted, you saw the dates online if you're keeping up with it.

And we have interviewed those in our committee.

Our committee consisted of sheriff chief with with Cass Hatchet with the uh with the uh River Edge and also myself along with uh one other person, Clay Murphy with our uh other team.

We have interviewed all the folks, narrowed it down to three, and we will be selecting one to bring back before this commission for a final vote on the jail so we can begin that process to put pen and paper to that to start uh constructing uh the new addition at the jail.

So now we'll move back to item B.

And I think I'll at this time I'll let our senior uh attorney, Mr.

Michael McNeil, uh give an explanation on here.

Uh we do have a co-sponsor of Mr.

Mayor Pro Tempseth Clark and Mr.

Joey Hewitt on this item.

Thank you, Mr.

Thank you, sir.

Mr.

Mayor, yep.

So this is a uh proposed code change, and we'll have a public hearing scheduled for this at 5 45 uh tonight as well, um, in case there's any members of the public that want to comment on this um proposed code change.

But um this is related to business licensing, and essentially we'll create a new category of um business uh of how the business license fees are counted for certain types of businesses, that being tourist courts, which are hotels, motels, um, anyone that provides overnight tourist accommodation that is permitted by the health department for doing that, and then also short-term vacation rentals.

Um, think Airbnb, VRBO, um places where uh homes are rented out on a sort of commercial operation on terms of less than 30 days at a time.

And so um this is this is a tax that is imposed on them as part of their business operation.

The um structure of the tax is that for guests who are staying under a written agreement that's more than 30 days long, um, then there's no change, there's no charge.

Um so we do have some people in town that we know there's some uh long-term residents in our hotels and making and things like that.

They would have no charge, and um that would not be imposed on the hotels uh for that.

People that are paying um for seven days or longer at a time, but less than 30 days, it would be a dollar fifty a night that would be added uh to the occupation tax fees for the accommodation uh business, and then for anybody else, it would be a charge of three dollars per rental night per um unit of accommodation, whether it's a room, a campsite, an RV site, a trailer site, uh three dollars per night.

Those would be uh submitted with the um tax reports at least once a quarter.

Um we're working out the logistics with the tax commissioner's office for exactly what that form would be, but this allows him to establish the forms and and any necessary regulations to show what the procedure would be to file those tax returns.

Um because this is an occupation tax, any businesses that are categorically exempt under state law from occupation taxes would be exempt from this charge as well.

And then also the powers that create um this the authority to give this occupation tax also categorizes non-compliance as a misdemeanor under state law, which is unusual.

Most of our code uh is just a general ordinance violation, it's a a slight smaller penalty, and it goes through a municipal court, but under the authority that creates this uh this occupation tax provision, it's actually a misdemeanor and it could be it would be prosecuted in state court if people are violating this ordinance.

And then finally, this gives the tax commissioner already has currently enforcement and audit powers with respect to the hotel motel tax that we charge.

And so this would give mirror those powers as to the occupation taxes.

If somebody is, for example, submitting um reports, uh tax returns that look like they're under reporting or things like that, then this would allow him to to request to audit that information and to make estimates if if they are found to be under reporting and things like that.

Um that's that's sort of a general overview.

We have a public hearing at uh 545 if anyone has any further questions, Mr.

Mayor.

Thank you.

Uh we also have Mr.

Gary Wheat here today.

Uh he's all dressed up in a suit.

I know he doesn't necessarily want to talk, but I'm gonna ask him to come up to the microphone just briefly.

Um you who who know uh Gary Wheat knows he's all about tourism.

I just want him to let you know the importance of tourism in our community, what it means in dollars and cents, but also more specifically, he is our direct connection to these folks that this is gonna affect.

This is not gonna uh adversely affect any of their pockets.

This is a pass-through.

Just like when we go to Atlanta and we go to Savannah, we go to Disney World, we pay those fees.

Uh and as people that come outside of our community, so local citizens are not paying this.

This also gives us another way without imposing any kind of burden on the taxpayers uh to help uh finance things like commission centers, arenas, et cetera, uh, and provide debt service.

We estimate about two and a half million dollars per year, uh, which is the equivalent of about 40 million dollars worth of contribution to this financial stack.

So uh having set that up for Mr.

Wheat, I'll ask you to uh again say your name and your position and give us your spill, sir.

Sure, Mayor, thank you.

Uh Gary Wheat, President CEO of VisitMaking, and obviously to the mayor's point about uh investing in infrastructure.

And I you know, with things that that bring people to town, uh we've seen tourism grow uh probably by an average of of 29 percent as far as the hotel motel tax collections in the last four years since COVID.

Uh so obviously we want to continue to see that investment in our community because these visitors are choosing to come to Macon Bibb County, choosing to have a wonderful quality experience, but also invest their dollars into our community, which helps our citizens.

And ultimately, this is what this would do would enhance our community, enhance that infrastructure, and help continue to grow tourism, not only for our citizens, for our visitors, but also the hotels uh that are collecting this pass through.

Thank you.

Uh Commissioner Wayne, did you have a follow up?

I do have a question, Gary.

First of all, you we appreciate what you do.

You do a great job.

Glad you're in town with us.

I want to know who's going to enforce this and how they're going to enforce that not the hotels and motels, but the V RBOs and things like that that have one person come in there for two nights, three nights, four nights.

Who's gonna be checking that?

How do we know?

Sure, Commissioner, thank you for the question.

Um per Georgia ordinance, all short-term rental platforms such as the Airbnbs, the RBOs, they collect that from the visitor when they book the room, uh, and when they are charged to their car, that is collected by the platforms and remitted to each intimate individual municipality and county throughout Georgia because each county is different in how they structure their collections.

Uh the legislature put it on the ordinance to collect have the platforms collect this tax from the visitor and remit it to the municipality.

Well, I know I realize that, but the Airbnbs, the VRBOs, where do they register themselves so we can follow them and track what they're doing?

Correct.

That's through the tax commissioner.

Uh we work very closely with them to look at numbers that we receive.

Uh we employ numerous uh data services that help us understand who's checking in, who's traveling, uh, and kind of help monitor those check-ins and visitation.

Uh and it's it's an industry-wide standard that we kind of follow and also help our our tax office uh with those monitoring and and following that.

So we have to trust that we're being told the truth and people are not being dishonest about this because we don't want to we don't want to tell on our neighbor, right?

Correct, correct.

That is that is through the platforms.

And we're already doing all this right now.

Correct.

Uh correct.

And I know other communities already do this.

We're already doing this in the we do this as well.

Well, but I just I worry about the VRBOs and Airbnbs, people that have those are gonna say, you know, they're telling us, but I'm not sure.

But I think it's a good idea, obviously.

Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Mr.

Stewart.

Yeah, Gary, uh, first of all, appreciate your friendship over the years and everything else.

We've talked about taking care of family, and so I really appreciate it.

I listened to the I listen to your information, listen to the numbers you give me.

And I take that to heat more so than I do with some other people.

Um, but I did have a question though.

When we hear about the 70 percent of tourists, you know, the dollars being spent here.

Pretty much asking the same thing, Commissioner Wynne was asking, where can we go and see?

Do we see accounts?

You know, like you like you have bank accounts, stock accounts.

How do we see the real numbers behind the percentages that are being thrown out politically?

Sure, and and thank you for that question, Commissioner.

What we do is we use several, we contract with several services, and the hotels report to those services because it helps them understand their business, it helps them improve their business.

So they are very accurate in how they report these numbers each and every month because it helps them with their competitive set.

So they know how to set their prices, what that looks like, what their competitor down the street is doing.

So we we see these numbers come through in these contracted services that we use.

And we compare those with the hotel motel tax collections that come in.

So we have an understanding and a knowledge in working with uh Wade McCord and his staff at the tax office to to kind of understand and and hold accountable those numbers.

And uh I know the mayor has has heard me say on numerous times, um, you know, looking at it, and this is this is this is good, this matches up, this is what expectations for collections will be this next month.

Uh, as far as economic impact, uh, for instance, say GHSA basketball or or wrestling or uh Jehovah's Witness or future farmers.

Um every time we have one of those events, that's about two million dollars in economic impact.

So, what do I mean by that?

That's dollars that the tourists leave in our community uh while they're here before they exit.

And for us, we run that through a nationally recognized formula uh by one of our parent organizations that gives us those numbers based on the attendees, length of stay, average daily rate of a room, so on and so forth.

So to answer your question, we follow those numbers as close and as best that we can based on the information that we received from these nationally accredited uh data centers.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Appreciate that information, Mr.

Wheat.

And uh this time I got a motion by Mary Pro Cham Clark, a second by Commissioner Hewlett.

Any further questions?

Here are no questions.

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

Aye opposed, nay.

That motion carries a consent agenda.

We do have a 545.

We'll come back in here for a hearing to see if anyone shows up.

We have one final item on the agenda tonight, and I know this gentleman's been patiently waiting here uh tonight, sitting on the front row there.

And uh, this is a uh a resolution of the Make and Bip County Commission authorizing to accept the donation of 4.0 acres more or less along Estee's Road to be the subdivided from the larger parcel known as 8221 Thomason Road for the construction of a fire station and other public safety facility and other lawful purposes.

I appreciate our fire chief being here today.

Uh he's been meeting with uh Mr.

Clay and others about this.

Uh this is a a donation uh by Mr.

Clay.

He would like to see that there.

Uh, the only restriction I believe that we have on this property pursuant to this uh agreement here, and we did get the just today we got the um the change on there about the um the plat.

So it is 4.0 acres, so we we've got a document here for that.

Um and the only restriction I believe is that we need to construct uh a fire station on there within 10 years of this uh particular vote.

Uh so I'm not sure if Mr.

Clay or family members like to get up and say anything, but certainly uh we appreciate if you do.

If not, um we appreciate you making this this generous offer.

You don't mind, yeah, Chief.

If you don't mind if you put that microphone on a little bit.

I'm here today to thank the making Pip County by Department for their uh uh saving my life.

Uh uh I I'd say that in truth.

April 21st, 1980.

Uh I ran over myself from uh with uh uh international 444 tractor.

It went up the side a bit and pinned me down, and uh uh left left me left me uh uh on the ground there, and it's been it in my face.

It broke every bone, punctured my lungs, broke my ribs, broke almost cut my leg off because I had a 16 blade hair on the back with a tree trunk on top of that.

The fire department got there before the ambulance did because they were a little closer.

And uh the without the fire department's manpower and knowing what to do, uh I wouldn't be here today.

Uh I feel uh I feel like uh they got there, they did what needed to be done, disconnected the hair uh took took to the the tractor up to where the uh ambulance uh personnel could put me on a stretcher and get me to the emergency room.

That was the fastest ride I've ever seen.

And uh it it took me several years to get back to pretty normal.

I lost my eye sight.

I I I uh uh uh uh uh also uh wondered what in the world I could do uh or whether I wanted to live because of uh so many injuries.

I had 27 doctors when it was all over with me back together.

I have been living for 45 years with a broken collarbone right here and my neck, which is still broken, and my eyesight is gone.

Uh and I and I kept thinking during this time that if I bobbin had not gotten there and gotten the tractor offer me, I wouldn't be here.

Uh when I found out that uh they needed to put a fire station out in the neighborhood of Thomas and Road and ST's Road.

I said, God, that's uh that's the nicest thing I could do would be to give them some land to build this fire station.

I've donated to the city of making four uh acres or more, whatever they need.

And uh I only ask uh uh one favor, and I'll ask it for Chief uh Edwards also to please please uh hurry it up.

I'm 92 and a half and I haven't got many more days to live, and I sure would like to see that fire station located on SD's Road on my property.

Uh I I thank I thank the Macon Fire Department again for everything they've done for me.

And it gave me 45 years more of life, uh even though I've been uh handicapped for some time.

But uh I hope that you all will uh will expediate this project and uh Chief Edwards told me that he had three more years before retirement and he would certainly like to see so anyway.

Uh happy to give you the acreage and uh thank all of you all for everything you can do.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Mr.

Clay.

We appreciate you, sir.

Appreciate you being here tonight.

We appreciate your contribution uh and your donation of this property.

Of course, we know we have a class one fire station, and we expect them uh to do exactly what they did in this case, and they always come through, and a lot of times uh we take them for granted.

And a lot of people don't realize how much we save uh as opposed to our surrounding county is just an insurance because we have a class one and certainly uh we need another fire station.

We need a fire station in that area for the people that live there.

So we appreciate you being here tonight.

Uh I did make that motion, Commissioner Hewlett was a co-sponsor, so he has a second on that one.

Uh we have a motion and a second, Mr.

Stewart.

Did you want to say something, sir?

Yeah, I just wanted to see uh I had a chance to talk to Mr.

Clee and his grandson beforehand.

Um I'm glad you got those extra 45 years or more in Steel County.

And um I hope I haven't read this this entire day I'll be honest with you, but I hope they name it.

Hope they name it after you.

And hope they put a description on the wall as to why that property came about and why that fire station came about.

Uh our fire department is a one.

Thank Chief Elberts and thank the two gentlemen to my either side here for their time as serving in that department as well.

Uh my mother's last day, engine number nine, but you know Chief Edwards.

Uh tried to save her life.

And so I I appreciate you for doing what you're doing, okay.

Thank you.

Mr.

Wynn.

No, I just want to be at it as co-sponsor, please.

Okay.

Thank you.

Yeah, I think everybody else wanted to be at it, so we'll include everybody on that.

Uh we have a motion and second.

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

Aye.

Opposed, nay.

That motion carries to be sent to consent agenda.

Make sure you mention that on the sidelines sheets up here.

Ladies and gentlemen, it's now 545.

This is the public hearing of Macon Bibb County Commission regarding a uh particular item on the agenda tonight.

This day is Tuesday, September 2nd, 2025.

Uh this time we'll go ahead and ask our uh senior attorney to go over the purpose of this change of the Macon Bibb County Code of Ordinances and the purpose of this hearing.

Uh and then shortly after that we'll uh adjourn and then start our regular meeting at six o'clock unless we go longer.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um so this is the public hearing on an ordinance of Macon Bibb County Commission to amend Article 7 of chapter 26 of the Macon Bibb County Code of Ordinances relating to occupation taxes for the purpose of establishing a new classification of occupation taxes for tourist courts and short-term vacation rentals to prescribe regulations therefore and penalties for violations to provide for audit and enforcement thereof and other lawful purposes.

This is an ordinance uh uh changing the county code to create a new charge on the occupation taxes of um tourist courts, which are hotels, motels, RV parks, trailer parks, campgrounds, anything that's required to be permitted um through the tourist accommodation permit by the health department.

And also for short-term vacation rentals, um, which is rentals of private property um for less than 30 days at a time.

And um the the additional occupation tax, this doesn't change any of the existing occupation taxes, but it adds to it a requirement that they'll do uh returns that will be filed with the tax commissioner.

Um he's gonna be he's gonna be preparing forms to uh provide for this.

And the uh the taxes will be charged on a a three-tier system.

Um any accommodations that are rented to a single party under a written agreement for more than 30 days, there's no additional charge um to the operator.

Um if that agreement is terminated early prior to the end of the 30 days, then instead it's a three dollar per rental night charge.

Um for any accommodations which are rented to a single party and paid in a single payment for a term of greater than or equal to seven days, uh then it's a dollar fifty per rental night.

And then for any other transaction um involving the rental of any accommodation for overnight use, it's three dollars per rental night.

So all of the tour tourist courts and the um short-term vacation rentals that are subject to occupation taxes, will be required to pay that um in a return that's at least quarterly, possibly monthly, to the tax commissioner's office.

Um and then the um ordinance goes on to establish that he'll have powers to uh do enforcement to audit the records to make sure people are complying, um, to prosecute those that uh submit fraudulent or false returns, things like that.

And um the estimation from uh visit making, we had uh Gary Wheat here earlier today from Visit Macon, and the estimate from their numbers is that this will bring in approximately two and a half million dollars a year of additional um unobligated general fund revenue that would be paid generally by uh out-of-town folks that are visiting Macon Bibb County.

And um this, if it is adopted by the commission tonight, would take effect uh January first of 2026.

Is there anybody here from the public that wants to speak on this proposed ordinance?

Mr.

Mayor, I don't see anybody here.

Um that's all I have to say about this matter.

Thank you, Attorney McNeil.

We do have one item of business on this particular uh public hearing, that's the approval of the minutes from our previous uh public hearing on August 19th.

So I get a motion to approve the approval of the August 19th, 2025 public hearing.

Uh can I get a motion to approve?

Motion by Commissioner Stewart, second by Commissioner Wilder.

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

Opposed, nay.

That motion carries.

We stand adjourned until six o'clock.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

Welcome to the Make and Bip County Board of Commissions regular meeting.

Today is Tuesday, September to six, September 2nd at six o'clock.

And we're gonna have our regularly scheduled meeting.

Uh tonight.

We're going to begin our meeting like we always do with a call to order, uh, followed by a prayer led by Miss Natalie Hunt with the hopeful heart of Georgia, then the Pledge of Allegiance.

So those you can and will please stand and buy your head for our prayer.

And Miss Hunt, I'll ask you to come up to the microphone there.

We thank you for your wisdom and your goodness toward us, Lord.

I pray, God, for the members of this council, God, for the mayor and all that that participate this evening, God, that they would operate in wisdom, God, that they would operate in honor, and that they would operate in truth.

Father, we thank you, God, that they will that they serve this community, God, that they serve our city, God, and I thank you for them.

I pray you bless them, God, I pray you bless the welfare of our city through their efforts, Lord.

And I pray, God, tonight that you would be honored in their um in how they conduct themselves, God, that there would be no um nothing done out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but for the benefit of our city, God and its inhabitants, Lord.

So I give you tonight, though, Father, and I pray these things in Jesus' name.

Amen.

We're not gonna move on to uh public comments on agenda items.

We have two of those tonight that would like to speak prior to our regular meeting and our approval of the minutes and the consent agenda.

Uh Miss Julia Callahan, you don't mind coming up first.

Ms.

Callahan, good to have you here again tonight.

You're welcome to speak up to five minutes.

And she wants to speak about the homestead exemption slash taxes.

So you're at five minutes begins now.

Thank you.

Hello, good evening, commissioners.

I um wanted to foster some dialogue on property taxes and the millage rate.

I don't believe that the current budget in way of operating our county that we have is sustainable.

The reason why I say that is because when we look at the numbers, we could see that for fiscal year 2024, we operated out of deficit.

For us to be operating out of deficit and then to simultaneously be lowering property taxes for wealthy property owners and business owners in our county who, frankly, we need to pay their fair share for infrastructure, it won't seem like it will benefit us in the long term.

Now, I understand some of us might not be thinking about longevity, but this will come back to haunt us in the future when we do not have the money to continue to sustain operations.

Back in 2018, we had to close our libraries because we did not have the money to keep them open.

Now, currently, we're struggling with a public safety crisis, and we're being told that the county can't afford it.

Well, it seems to me that if we kept our millage rate at the rate that it was, maybe we would be able to afford some of the things that we desperately need now.

For example, we have to talk about an additional sales tax in order to get any upgrades to our jail.

We just had a press conference at the Capitol this session in front of the whole state talking about making superior public safety.

It was all a lie because now we're over here talking about the jail, and we don't have enough officers on our streets, so it takes four hours to get out to a call.

We don't pay our officers competitive wages, we can't just continue to be about talking points, we have to be about action.

We have to get that money in so that way we can do something with the money to make a better investment into our community.

When are we gonna see that?

Because I see the money coming in, but it's not going towards the community.

Thanks.

Thank you, Miss Calheim.

I appreciate you being here tonight.

Ms.

Ronaldo Scott.

Hey, Ms.

Scott, why to speak on the same uh item?

Good to see you here again tonight.

Yeah, about the five minutes to speak, sir.

Ma'am.

Good afternoon.

I have some concerns in the form of questions to help the citizens of making Bibb County to understand the future of our city.

And reviewing the numbers for the seniors' exemption, is this plan based off life expectancy data?

Have we considered other sources for relief?

For example, providing homestead exemption for seniors to complete this form, which would give them relief based off their income.

Also, would these exemptions reduce county revenue by 18 to 20 million per year?

In fiscal year 24, in order to balance the budget, did we transfer funds of over 18.4 million from reserves into areas like public safety and general government operations.

If we keep pulling from reserves without replacing the revenue, will we eventually face difficult trade-offs, such as cut in services, libraries, raising taxes on others, or deferring critical projects that the city would definitely need?

It's important to understand that while this relief helps seniors directly, it also shifts financial responsibility onto others, the rest of the community, younger families, and working age homeowners may end up carrying the burden of our community.

I want us to have a transparent and honest conversation about these impacts so we can find balanced solutions, relief for seniors, and stability for all citizens.

You talked about having the homestead exemptions throughout Georgia that other cities had it also.

Well, out of the one, two, three, is about seven of the counties that have the homestead exemption, including Fulton County and the City of Atlanta, but they're all based on age and income.

Bibb County would be the first one where it's just based on age only.

Are we gonna take if we adopt this plan, it would be among the most progressive.

Well, Bill County would be among the most progressive counties to take on this plan.

If we're running out of deficit, we're taking money out of reserves.

We're hurt currently hurting our community.

If we're not placing that money back, what would what are we gonna do in five years when we need funds for anything, public safety?

Like she said, it takes four hours for the police to get anywhere.

So we need we need help now.

We need to review the budget and have transparency.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Scott.

Appreciate you being here again tonight.

Uh that concludes our comments on agenda items.

We do have uh approval of the minutes.

Item 6A is approval of the minutes from the August and 19th, 2025 regular meeting and the August 26, 2025 special call meeting.

I get a motion to approve.

A motion to approve by Commissioner Stewart.

We have a second.

Second by Commissioner Bailey.

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

Opposed, nay.

That item carries will be sent, I'm sorry, will be finalized.

Uh the next is the consent agenda itself.

So items 7A through M.

Item 7A through M.

So this time I entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda as previously voted and has uh appeared on the agenda tonight.

Motion by Commissioner Wilder.

We have a second, second by Commissioner Wynne.

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

Opposed, nay.

That motion carries unanimously.

We have several comments on uh non-agenda items tonight.