LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS  MINUTES WORK SESSION Monday, June 24, 2024  COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chairman Bill Slaughter Commissioner Joyce Evans Commissioner Scott Orenstein Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker Commissioner Clay Griner  Vice Chairman Demarcus Marshall was not present Chairman Slaughter called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.  MINUTES  The minutes were presented for the work session of June 10, 2024, the regular session of June 11, 2024, and the Budget Public Hearing of June 13, 2024. No revisions to the minutes were requested.  FOR CONSIDERATION  Budget Plan for Hotel Motel Proceeds for Fiscal Year 2025 budget is also required to be included in the county's budget plan. Adoption of Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget  Finance Director, Stephanie Black, presented the item. Ms. Black stated the Commission is required to approve a budget for the use of hotel-motel proceeds each year, adding the Tourism Authority's  Finance Director, Stephanie Black, presented the item. Ms. Black stated the Commission held the required public hearing on June 13, 2024, adding the budget remains ready for the Commission's  consideration.  Lowndes County Accountability Court Grant Approval and Cash Match  Program Director, Jennifer Fabbri, presented the item. Mrs. Fabbri stated the Lowndes County Accountability Court (LCAC) is funded through a reimbursable state grant. LCAC must secure a cash match from Lowndes County. This year's cash match amount is $35,354.00, which is an increase  from 12% to 15% for fiscal year  2025.  Purchase of Stream Credits for PI # 0016279, Coleman Road NW Paving and Drainage County Engineer, Mike Fletcher, presented the item. Mr. Fletcher stated Lowndes County is required to purchase 28.5 stream credits as a result of the Coleman Road NW paving and drainage improvements project. Mr. Fletcher stated staff recommends the purchase of28.5s stream credits from  Improvements    Georgia Alabama Land Trust, Inc. for $1,800.00, per credit, with the total amount being $51,300.00. Commissioner Wisenbaker asked to verify the cost? Mr. Fletcher answered $1,800.00, per credit. EMA Director, Ashley Tye, presented the request for proposal (RFP) to solicit qualified debris removal contractors. Mr. Tye stated Lowndes County has maintained pre-event contracts since 2008 and utilized the contract for the first time following Hurricane Idalia. Mr. Tye stated the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends that all local governments maintain a pre-event contract with two-three qualified contractors in advance of a disaster. Lowndes County had a pre-bid meeting with an evaluation committee of emergency management and public works staff from Lowndes County, the City of Valdosta and the City of Hahira. Mr. Tye stated the scoring was based on price, experience, qualifications, fee schedule and the quality of the proposal. Staff recommends awarding the pre-event contracts for the debris removal to the top three companies, which are Ashbritt, DRC and Southern Disaster Recovery. Mr. Tye stated Ashbritt willl be the primary company. Commissioner Evans asked the location of the vendor? Mr. Tye responded, Ashbritt is located in Deerfield Beach, Florida. Commissioner Orenstein asked regarding the contract amounts versus what we paid? Mr. Tye answered the pricing did not change from the previous contracts. Additionally, Mr. Tye stated with the pricing being established and by having these contracts approved ahead of time, the removal  Pre-Event Debris Removal Contracts  process could begin immediately.  Pre-Event Disaster Debris Monitoring Contracts  EMA Director, Ashley Tye, presented the item. Mr. Tye stated Lowndes County has previously entered into pre-event contracts with a qualified disaster debris monitoring contractor that works in conjunction with the disaster debris removal contractors. Additionally, Mr. Tye stated Lowndes County recently utilized the existing contract following Hurricane Idalia. Mr. Tye mentioned regarding the disaster debris monitoring contracts, those firms bring in their management staff and try to hire local people to do the monitoring aftert they have been trained. Mr. Tye further stated staff recommended Thompson Consulting. Chairman Slaughter stated with the proper monitoring, this verifies the debris is accounted for and also helps with the documentation submitted to the Georgia Emergency Management Agency  (GEMA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Lowndes County Juvenile Accountability Court (LCJAC)  Case Manager, Geoffrey Martin, presented the item with Judge Tunison available in the audience. Mr. Martin stated the Lowndes County Juvenile Accountability Court (LCJAC) is funded through a reimbursable state grant. LCJAC must secure a cash match from Lowndes County. This year's cash match is $11,183.00, with an additional amount of $3,817.00 for a total amount of $15,000.00. Mr. Martin stated the additional request for $3,817.00 is for case management. Mr. Martin stated last year 19 juveniles were served with three (3) graduating. Commissioner Wisenbaker asked why the increase in cost? Mr. Martin answered to subsidize some of the money used from the emergency grant as well as inflation. Mr. Martin acknowledged their service provider, Ms. Ja'Taryia Thomas was  int the audience.  Lowndes County DUI Court Grant Award and Match Approval  Lowndes County DUI Court Program Coordinator, Heather Harris, presented the item. Ms. Harris stated that the Lowndes County DUI Court has been awarded a grant by the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council for $149,276.00, with a 15% match requirement by the County in the amount of $26,343.00. The Lowndes County DUI Court is requesting a total $42,404.00 for the 2024-2025 grant  2    period to offset the shortfall from the grant. Ms. Harris stated there are ninety-one (91)graduates from  the program.  Request for Proposals (RFP) for Property & Liability Insurance  Human Resources Director, Kevin Beals, presented the item. Mr. Beals stated a request for proposal (RFP) was advertised for property and liability insurance. Mr. Beals stated two proposals were received with T. Hudson Risk Advisors, LLC submitting a proposal for loss control services only and ACCG-IRMA submitting a proposal that meets all the coverage specifications listed in the RFP. Chairman Slaughter asked if any local vendors submitted a proposal? Mr. Beals responded no sir. Commissioner Wisenbaker asked if this amount wasi in accordance with previous amounts? Mr. Beals  answered yes sir. BID  Bid for a Vac-Trailer for the Utilities Department  Purchasing Agent, Amy Woods, presented the bid. Mrs. Woods stated Lowndes County solicited bids for a new Vac-Trailer for the Utilities Department. This is an approved budgeted item. Three bids were received that met specifications with Carter's Equipment being the low bidderi in the amount of$ $96,110.00. Chairman Slaughter asked Utilities Director, Steve Stalvey, if this is the same as the  bigger truck? Mr. Stalvey answered yes, this is a smaller unit.  REPORTS - County Manager  Chairman Slaughter requested an executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel. At8:46 a.m. Commissioner Wisenbaker made a motion to enter into executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel, Commissioners Evans and Orenstein seconded. All voted in favor, no one  opposed. Motion carried. ADJOURNMENT  At 8:53 a.m. Chairman Slaughter reconvened the work session with no additional information being discussed. Commissioner Griner made a motion to adjourn the work session meeting, Commissioner  Evans seconded. Chairman Slaughter adjourned the meeting.  3    LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS  MINUTES REGULAR SESSION Tuesday, June 25, 2024  COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chairman Bill Slaughter Vice Chairman Demarcus Marshall Commissioner Joyce Evans Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker Commissioner Clay Griner  Commissioner Scott Orenstein was not present.  Chairman Slaughter called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.  INVOCATION Commissioner Griner Commissioner Griner MINUTES  PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG  The minutes were presented for the work session of June 10, 2024, the regular session of June 11, 2024, and the Budget Public Hearing of June 13, 2024. No revisions to the minutes were requested. Commissioner Evans made a motion to approve the minutes as presented, Commissioner Griner  seconded. All voted in favor, no one opposed. Motion carried.  FOR CONSIDERATION  Budget Plan for Hotel Motel Proceeds for Fiscal Year 2025  Finance Director, Stephanie Black, presented the item. Ms. Black stated the Commission is required to approve a budget for the use of hotel-motel proceeds each year, adding the Tourism Authority's budget is also required to be included in the county's budget plan. Commissioner Griner made a motion to approve the budget plan as presented, Commissioners Evans and Wisenbaker seconded.  All voted in favor, no one opposed. Motion carried. Adoption of Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget  Finance Director, Stephanie Black, presented the item. Ms. Black stated the Commission held the required public hearing on June 13, 2024, adding that the budget remains ready for the Commission's consideration. Commissioner Griner made a motion to approve the budget as presented, Commissioner Wisenbaker seconded. All voted in favor, no one opposed. Motion  carried.    Lowndes County Accountability Court Grant Approval and Cash Match  Chairman Slaughter presented the item stating the Commission heard from Mrs. Jennifer Fabbri during the work session meeting. Vice Chairman Marshall made a motion to approve the continued funding and cash match of $35,354.00, as requested, Commissioner Evans seconded. All voted Purchase of Stream Credits for PI# 0016279, Coleman Road NW Paving and Drainage Director of Engineering Services, Chad McLeod, presented a proposal from Georgia Alabama Land Trust, Inc. in the amount of $51,300.00, for the purchase of stream credits required for the Coleman Road NW project and drainage improvements. Vice Chairman Marshall made a motion to approve the purchase as presented, Commissioner Griner seconded. All voted in favor, no one opposed.  ini favor, no one opposed. Motion carried.  Improvements  Motion carried.  Pre-Event Debris Removal Contracts  EMA Director, Ashley Tye, presented the item. Mr. Tye stated this is an update to the disaster related debris removal contracts which have been maintained since 2008. Mr. Tye stated a request for proposal (rfp) was issued and after being evaluated, staff recommends to approve the top three companies, which are Ashbritt, DRC and Southern Disaster Recovery. Vice Chairman Marshall asked what is the criteria in which the committee evaluated? Mr. Tye answered pricing, past experience, qualifications and what resources they have available. Vice Chairman Marshall made a motion to approve the item as presented, Commissioner Griner seconded. All voted in favor, no one opposed.  Motion carried.  Pre-Event Disaster Debris Monitoring Contracts  EMA Director, Ashley Tye, presented the request for proposal (RFP) for disaster debris monitoring services. Mr. Tye stated the debris monitoring services would work with the debris removal contractors. Additionally, Mr. Tye stated staff recommended Thompson Consulting. Commissioner Griner made a motion to approve the item as presented, Commissioner Evans seconded. All voted  in favor, no one opposed. Motion carried.  Lowndes County Juvenile Accountability Court (LCJAC)  Chairman Slaughter presented the item stating the Commission heard from Mr. Geoffrey Martin during the work session meeting. Commissioner Evans made a motion to approve the continued funding and cash match of $15,000.00 as requested, Commissioner Griner seconded. All voted  in favor, no one opposed. Motion carried.  Lowndes County DUI Court Grant Award and Match Approval  Chairman Slaughter presented the item stating the Commission heard from Ms. Heather Harris during the work session meeting. Commissioner Wisenbaker made a motion to approve the continued funding and cash match of $42,404.00 as requested, Commissioner Evans seconded. All voted in  favor, no one opposed. Motion carried.  Request for Proposals (RFP) for Property & Liability Insurance  Human Resources Director, Kevin Beals, presented the item. Mr. Beals stated a request for proposal (RFP) was advertised for property and liability insurance. Mr. Beals stated two proposals were received with ACCGIRMA submitting a proposal that meets all the coverage specifications. Vice Chairman Marshall made a motion to approve the request as presented, Commissioner Wisenbaker  seconded. All voted in favor, no one opposed. Motion carried.  2    BID  Bid for a Vac-Trailer for the Utilities Department  Finance Director, Stephanie Black, presented the item. Ms. Black stated three bids were received for the Utilities Department with the low bidder being Carter's Equipment located in Havana, FL in the amount of $96,110.00. Vice Chairman Marshall asked regarding the delivery time? Utilities Director, Steve Stalvey, responded within a month. Commissioner Wisenbaker made a motion to award the bid to Carter's Equipment, Vice Chairman Marshall seconded. All voted in favor, no one opposed.  Motion carried.  REPORTS - County Manager  County Manager, Paige Dukes, mentioned the below:  The Board of Assessors Office, as of this afternoon, has received 130 appeals on residential and agriculture with the commercial assessment notices being sent out tomorrow. Monday, July 1st the Commissioners will be providing lunch from Chick fil-A for employees of As we remain under a heat advisory, Public Information Officer, Meghan Barwick, will be providing social media releases, and we are making sure that our teams in the field are staying Meghan Barwick and Jessica Ganas are working to have the Lowndes County Historic Courthouse added as a stop on the Georgia Grown Trails Tour. The Lowndes County Historic Lowndes County Sheriff's Office has provided a message board on the Ashley Street side, near the Lowndes County Historic Courthouse, in the downtown area to encourage people to slow  Lowndes County as a mid-year appreciation for their hard work.  hydrated.  Courthouse has had over 3,000 visitors since October of last year.  down.  CITIZENS WISHING TO BE HEARD-  Marcelle Rosbury, 7855 Enoch Lake Circle, addressed the Commission with concerns regarding the percentage needed on ar road paving petition. Mrs. Rosbury would like Enoch Lake Circle to be paved. Vice Chairman Marshall made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Commissioner Wisenbaker  ADJOURNMENT  seconded. Chairman Slaughter adjourned the meeting at 5:54 p.m.  3