Macon-Bibb County Pre-Commission Meeting Summary – November 3, 2026

The Macon-Bibb County Commission met in pre-commission session at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, ahead of the 6:00 PM regular meeting. The chair also reminded attendees that polls were open until 7:00 PM. No agenda or minutes were available; this summary is based on the raw transcript. Most items were recommended by staff and forwarded to the consent agenda.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the previous meeting's minutes.
• Appointed Luis Fonseco to the Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority to fill the remaining term of the late Ron Shipman, expiring December 5, 2027, after a background check and certificate of good standing.
• Alcohol licenses forwarded to the consent agenda: Legacy Fuel & Business dba Chevron Extra Mile, 4987 Bloomfield Road; 7-Eleven, 5250 Sardis Church Road; 1833 Tavern, 1635 Montpelier Avenue; Ice Smash, 6443 Zebulon Road, Suite 1F; and Grand Opera House operations, 651 Mulberry Street.
• Approved construction manager-at-risk change orders with Barton Malow Builders LLC for the Macon Arena project, payable from 2026 arena bond proceeds, not to exceed $324 million; commissioners noted the bonds had been sold and work is underway.
• Approved an as-needed fire suppression maintenance and services agreement with Superhero Fire Protection LLC for Middle Georgia Regional Airport for up to five years.
• Approved as-needed facilities management contracts for electrical, general contracting, HVAC/plumbing, and traffic signal services for up to five years; hourly rates are included in the legislation exhibits, for example $210 per hour for routine annual preventive traffic-signal maintenance and $255 per hour for a two-hour emergency response.
• Approved an intergovernmental agreement authorizing the Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority to advance up to $7 million to the Mid-Georgia Gateway Joint Development Authority, to be repaid first from PILOT revenues; the site is shared with Houston and Peach counties and has a potential automaker announcement.
• Approved a professional services agreement with Urban Design Associates Ltd for the Pleasant Hill Urban Design and Cultural Preservation Plan, not to exceed $500,000, funded by a federal Neighborhood Access and Equity Grant with no local match.
• Approved a contract with ARS/JH Inc., dba All South Roofing Solutions, for Phase Two of the Douglass Theatre roof replacement for $194,200.
• Approved a $59,000 budget transfer within the Superior Court budget to purchase furniture for Courtroom C.
• Approved a $25,000 appropriation from the general fund fund balance for site work and planning services at 108 First Street, the former Hilton/Radison property.
• Approved a resolution requesting a March 2027 referendum to renew the Local Options Sales Tax (OLOST) for five years; the penny has helped roll back the millage rate from 20.33 to 9.575.
• Approved acceptance of a $323,001.28 HEAT grant from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, with no local match, for the Bibb County Sheriff's Office.
• Approved acceptance of a $545,226 U.S. Department of Justice OJJDP grant, with no local match, for the Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office to launch the RISE for Girls Initiative.
• Approved naming the fire training building at 1191 First Street the Larry Smallwood Fire Training Building and appropriating $500 for signage.

Discussion Items

• Family Supermarket alcohol license (2965 Houston Avenue): Legal and code enforcement recommended approval after an inspection on October 20, 2026, found the business met grocery-store requirements. Commissioner Bronson expressed concern about food quality and moved to table the item for one more inspection. The motion to table carried; the license was not approved and will return after another inspection.
• Pleasant Hill Plan: Alex Morrison, Planning and Public Spaces director and Urban Development Authority executive director, explained that a selection committee of Pleasant Hill residents shortlisted firms and about 40 residents attended vendor presentations. Urban Design Associates was the clear resident preference. The plan will cover the full Pleasant Hill neighborhood and include economic development, sidewalks and streetscapes, anti-displacement, and cultural preservation, with Pleasant Hill Neighborhood Organization as lead partner and St. Peter Claver involved. Commissioner Stewart described the neighborhood as historically torn apart by the interstate and expressed hope for a future green-space connection.
• OLOST referendum discussion: The mayor noted the county cannot advocate for or against OLOST, but third parties could hold educational meetings. Commissioner Cutter said she had not seen district-specific benefits; the mayor responded that all property owners receive the millage rollback from 20.33 to 9.575. Mayor Pro Tem Wynne expressed strong support for continuing the penny tax.
• Larry Smallwood dedication: Commissioner Wynne and the mayor offered tributes, highlighting Smallwood's 44 years of service, community presence, mentorship, and awards, including a state fire inspection award from Governor Brian Kemp in 2018.

Key Outcomes

• The Family Supermarket alcohol license was tabled for another inspection, not approved.
• All other alcohol license items were approved and forwarded to the consent agenda.
• All contract, appropriation, grant, and dedication items were approved and forwarded to the consent agenda for the 6:00 PM regular meeting.
• No executive session was held; the pre-commission meeting adjourned at 5:05 PM.