Macon-Bibb County Commission Meeting Summary - September 2, 2025
Macon-Bibb County Commission Meeting - September 2, 2025
The Macon-Bibb County Commission held a pre-commission meeting at 4:00 PM and a regular meeting at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at City Hall. The commission approved multiple routine items, heard public comments, and discussed significant initiatives including a senior homestead exemption proposal, a new occupation tax on tourist accommodations, and a land donation for a fire station.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: Minutes from the August 19, 2025 pre-commission and regular meetings, and the August 26, 2025 special call meeting were approved.
- Appointments:
- Angela Solomon reappointed to the Department of Family and Children's Services Board.
- Ember Bentley reappointed to the Industrial Authority.
- Patty Gibbs reappointed to the Spice Advisory Committee.
- Road Paving Agreements:
- Independent contractor agreement with Atlanta Paving and Concrete Construction for $2,209,409.11 (2024 LMIG supplemental grant).
- Independent contractor agreement with Macleroy Inc. for $2,336,508 (2025 LMIG and 2018 SPLOST funds).
- Airport Projects:
- Agreement with Chris R. Sheridan dba Sheridan Construction for relocation of the airfield electrical vault at Middle Georgia Regional Airport for $2,913,861 (GDOT grant).
- Agreement with TBI Airport Management for airport operations and maintenance services (annual amount not to exceed $200,000, 5-year term with 5-year option).
- Agreement with APA X Inc. for roof replacement at WWII Hangar B and Embraer Hangar for $1,472,447.01.
- Appropriation of $447,347 for common use passenger processing system and aircraft parking design/markings.
- Other Agreements:
- Agreement with Inspiring Healthy Lives LLC for counseling services up to $27,000 (family treatment court grant).
- Agreement with Great Southern Recreation for playground equipment at Frank Johnson Park for $367,875.80 (2018 SPLOST).
- Agreement with Middle Georgia Outdoor Lighting LLC for lighting at Caroline Creighton Park for $232,982 (2018 SPLOST).
- Change order of $20,000 with Making a Difference Counseling and Training Services (Burn Discretionary Grant).
- Renewal of MOU with GEMA and Chatham County for hurricane evacuation sheltering.
- Grants: Acceptance of hazard mitigation grant of $45,000 (local match $15,000, additional $3,413 available) for updating multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan.
- Appropriations/Transfers:
- Ordinance to authorize reallocation of 2018 SPLOST interest to projects (ARPA wrap-up).
- Ordinance to reallocate up to $2.23 million from general fund to ARPA funds for already incurred expenses.
- Supplemental appropriation of $20,000 to tax commissioner's salary for additional duties.
- Senior Homestead Exemption Resolution: Resolution requesting state legislation to establish homestead exemptions for seniors (age 65: $34,000 exemption; age 75: $64,000 exemption). Approved unanimously and sent to consent agenda.
- Occupation Tax Ordinance: Ordinance to amend code to create new occupation tax classification for tourist courts and short-term vacation rentals ($3/night standard, $1.50/night for 7-29 days, exempt for 30+ days). Public hearing held; approved to consent agenda.
- Land Donation: Acceptance of 4.0 acres on Estes Road from Mr. Clay for construction of a fire station. Approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Julia Callahan expressed concerns about the senior homestead exemption, arguing the county budget is unsustainable due to deficit spending and that lowering property taxes for wealthy owners will harm public safety funding and essential services. She criticized the lack of action on public safety and jail upgrades.
- Ronaldo Scott questioned the senior exemption plan, asking if it was based on life expectancy data and if it would reduce county revenue by $18-20 million per year. She noted that only a few counties have such exemptions and all are income-based; Macon-Bibb's would be age-only. She warned of future service cuts and called for transparent budget discussions.
Discussion Items
- Senior Homestead Exemption Resolution: Mayor Miller detailed the proposed exemptions (age 65: $10,000 county + $10,000 school + $7,000 existing; age 75 additional $15,000 each). The resolution requests state legislation and a voter referendum. Commissioners expressed support, with some noting constituent concerns about age thresholds and future financial impact. The mayor emphasized the exemptions are sustainable based on projected revenue growth and do not shift burden. The motion passed unanimously.
- Occupation Tax for Tourist Accommodations: Senior Attorney Michael McNeil explained the new tiered tax ($3/night standard, $1.50/night for 7-29 days, exempt for 30+ days). Gary Wheat of Visit Macon estimated $2.5 million annual revenue from out-of-town visitors. Commissioners questioned enforcement (especially for short-term rentals) and were assured platforms collect and remit taxes. Approved unanimously.
- Land Donation for Fire Station: Mr. Clay, a 92-year-old donor, recounted how the fire department saved his life in 1980 and donated 4 acres on Estes Road for a fire station. The motion passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Senior Homestead Exemption: Resolution approved unanimously (motion by Commissioner Wilder, second by Commissioner Bronson). Will be sent to state delegation for legislation, then to voters in November 2026.
- Occupation Tax Ordinance: Approved unanimously (motion by Mayor Pro Tem Clark, second by Commissioner Hewlett). Effective January 1, 2026.
- Land Donation: Approved unanimously (motion by Mayor Miller, second by Commissioner Hewlett). Fire station construction required within 10 years.
- All consent agenda items approved unanimously.
Meeting Transcript
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.
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