Commissioners discuss Keep Emanuel Beautiful and new building proposals

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The Emanuel County board of commissioners convened for their regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Monday, February 20, 2023, at 6 p.m., at the John C. Coleman Hotel in Downtown Swainsboro. Commissioners present for the meeting were, Chairman Hugh Foskey, vice chairman Jim Sherrod and fellow commissioners Desse Davis and Timmy Oliver. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Hugh Foskey who welcomed guests and media. Commissioner Desse Davis gave the invocation and Commissioner Jim Sherrod led the pledge of allegiance.

Public Comments:

The first order on the agenda was an announcement for Keep Emanuel Beautiful given by KEP Chair, Tony Hutcheson. Hutcheson announced that plans for the countywide, anti-litter kickoff of “Operation Clean Sweep” are underway and that the event will commence on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, 2023.

He explained that although KEB has a plan in place, assistance is needed for the initial funding of $3,5000 for the county’s affiliation with Keep America Beautiful and Keep Georgia Beautiful as well as the yearly dues of $425. His request from commissioners was for the assistance in helping fund these costs.

In response, administrator Singletary explained that funds were allocated for the specific purpose of supporting KEB, two years prior, so no motion was needed. Vice chair Sherrod expressed appreciation to the group for their efforts in making Emanuel County a beautiful place to live and mentioned that Justin Morris of the county public works department is also anticipating the assistance of Lovins Contracting, to help during the Earth Day county-wide trash pick-up project.

New Business:

· County Administrator Guy Singletary presented package proposals to Commissioners for consideration for the administration building site. Singletary explained that currently, Emanuel County is using Pope Construction to manage the bidding process for the new county administration building. This building will house the tax commissioner, tax assessor and board of elections offices and will be located by the post office. He further elaborated that one of the major complaints from citizens is the inaccessibility that they have to local voting services.

Phase one of the site work contains 11 construction packages with maximum price not to exceed $1,304,182. Funding, according to Singletary, would come from county SPLOST funds and money set aside in a capital projects’ fund. Vice Chairman Sherrod motioned to approve the beginning of the phase 1 sitework of this project, not to exceed $1,304,182, and was seconded by Commissioner Davis. The vote then passed unanimously.

· County Administrator Guy Singletary presented a contract the county has on transfer station hauling. He explained to guests that Emanuel County does not have a landfill but rather a transfer station that is the central gathering point of all trash in Emanuel County and is the most critical of operations that our County has. In turn, the transfer station has a group of men who keep it tidy as well as haul the trash to a landfill outside of the county. Landfills charge the haulers a per ton fee, and those costs are passed on to the county. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for solid waste has increased 6.4% for the last four to five months of the contract. Later, the county transfer fees would need to be increased to offset the hauler costs. Commissioner Oliver motioned to approve the increase effective March 1, 2023, at 6.4% and was seconded by Vice Chairman Sherrod.

With no further discussion or executive session, the meeting was adjourned.