[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6323367,"mediaKeyId","2342573-3da152be31a7152185a115c734da413a","parentId",2342573,"title","Commissioners approve minutes and a $2/hour pay increase for EMS positions after executive session","audioSeconds",6905,"startMs",360000,"endMs",7265000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2342573-3da152be31a7152185a115c734da413a&start=360&end=7265","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2342573-3da152be31a7152185a115c734da413a/thumbnail_360000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6323367/Harris-County/Georgia/Commissioners-approve-minutes-and-a-2hour-pay-increase-for-EMS-positions-after-executive-session","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6323367-96cc2d3ae12edc3e8f2b211045c815c7/orig.mp4?Expires=1777113845&Signature=SXMTbI0XY9w3dRhvDYRV-e-IVDiJm4L3ElrjFhwRdNHM8W4fR0az7cM0zyI8auUxKslvPZ~Ih40LhUCFusKAhDjiH0J8DpRNNze7cS3Z5EoM-oRm3sRdnVk9yH~3YQXU1rgSlSP~vyzPwnhun7yZj35e5oZMcejHfZ7S1zrg92p-hvBERX-sn5YDj8GKYq-DOfYlgexyVmptjt69JnrBNdJQzR9k3~WjdoT1QK-u-0eupfn9rJ8f99PydRrj47fZQ-n4XIIGfYSjG2MMMPCoHU2Q2TimJVUKt9tbKVOFAoYBhsj7gq7hEZBWlEN3ibHWXeLvQv~Tl2pNOd~Lmh5PIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-19T01:34:48Z","article","Harris County commissioners approved regular-session minutes for February, moved into executive session on personnel and litigation matters, and after returning to open session approved a temporary pay adjustment for emergency medical positions.

At the start of the meeting a motion to approve the minutes for the regular session of February 2025 was made, seconded and carried by voice vote.

Near the meeting's end the board voted to adjourn into executive session for personnel and litigation. Following the closed session, a commissioner moved to increase the starting hourly rate by $2 for county cardiac technicians, EMTs and paramedics (both full- and part-time). The motion specified the effective date as the pay period ending Feb. 15. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote; the transcript records the board's approval but does not include a roll-call tally in the public record.

Ending: The board completed ministerial approvals, held an executive session on personnel and litigation, and approved a $2/hour increase to starting pay for EMS classifications effective with the referenced pay period.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","February 18, 2025 Commissioner's Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved the February regular session minutes, adjourned to executive session for personnel and litigation, and returned to approve a $2 hourly starting pay increase for county cardiac techs, EMTs and paramedics effective the pay period ending Feb. 15.","taxTitle","Harris County, Georgia","taxId",28419,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6323372,"Commissioners expand Board of Tax Assessors to five members, appoint attorney to new seat",411,2603000,3014000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2342573-3da152be31a7152185a115c734da413a&start=2603&end=3014","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2342573-3da152be31a7152185a115c734da413a/thumbnail_2603000.jpg","/articles/6323372/Harris-County/Georgia/Commissioners-expand-Board-of-Tax-Assessors-to-five-members-appoint-attorney-to-new-seat","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6323372-7e08f9f775befe3e5bfbb207b806e391/orig.mp4?Expires=1777113845&Signature=SMS3GwXmZZuAJGQC8~tErWGzFVMaSEoEBIsCAb-ejMLwqPMNEWkyzs5v~~ffE0azVcn0eZyjSHi~9PN-nF-k2usxoFhJFUfog6FO86yv4Q5jpXKjIcClkLKzoxR6q4OcKxssXUKkcCpJ6hBZCDQAkVaEVWzYcxQWEVX6q~AIyEB9t0IMfg-lDt5kD38kIRD--RjlxnzeQMAfYIZFdK3J2LCwh3h8UdvLw5LknSPCA1bRgQGiZRswQ0klcNzeCssEqKg6hOTUJ~~jUi4LTk7fqt2OiTkUX4RjmOZy6GvycFBTYk0bvAQAvsWC4urGRAy1nvpVGzz8RZhZriru5OjhVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Harris County Board of Commissioners voted to amend county ordinance to expand the Board of Tax Assessors from three members to five, and they appointed an attorney to one of the newly created terms during the February meeting.

County staff presented a proposed ordinance that would increase the number of assessors and adjust term dates so the board’s composition complies with statutory requirements. Staff said the change would require at least three public, at-large members and allow up to two staff members to serve on the board, and that all members must reside in the county.

A commissioner moved to adopt the ordinance, and after a second the board approved the change by voice vote. The meeting record indicates the motion passed; no roll-call tally was recorded in the public transcript.

Following adoption, the commission discussed two vacancies created by the change and appointed Brian McKean (attorney and local landowner, per the meeting) to a term labeled in the ordinance as term number 4, with an end date on 12/31/2028. The motion to appoint was made and seconded and the board approved the appointment by voice vote. Commissioners said McKean brings commercial and northwest-county representation to the board.

Commissioners characterized the adjustment as a response to county growth and to broaden perspectives on the assessors’ board; staff noted the amendment does not change the board’s current functions for selecting a chief appraiser and carrying out assessment duties.

Ending: The ordinance expanding the assessors board was adopted and the commission appointed Brian McKean to one of the new public at-large seats; staff will proceed to fill the remaining vacancy consistent with the new ordinance language.","Harris County commissioners adopted an ordinance to increase the Board of Tax Assessors from three to five members to reflect county growth, and appointed attorney Brian McKean to one of the new public at‑large seats.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6323377,"Residents call for more youth fields; concession contract dispute raises funding questions",799,1614000,2413000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2342573-3da152be31a7152185a115c734da413a&start=1614&end=2413","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2342573-3da152be31a7152185a115c734da413a/thumbnail_1614000.jpg","/articles/6323377/Harris-County/Georgia/Residents-call-for-more-youth-fields-concession-contract-dispute-raises-funding-questions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6323377-ed3232ca6ff1acb159be97128f30f9b3/orig.mp4?Expires=1777113845&Signature=HPv-tmy0TKgS6ZqAZGfVRDXOtqbZNhFG6wwhgjuTw1qN28YqZO6blzfxvfcw0GxcHal2ktwq37yEE-~9ofQkMN1anN8Ta3K-F6nehosk3FDMSHACt0sFmaIBOIxpDKAfm~h1uDtq3WYxzla8bPI0i5mne6I7m8v3zSWRR91eh5rBFrfh9A5W3hD0PY4dBiIXELnDOasvqGPf5AxMTXEGcAteYNSK4Qyi5XDcUW6ialZ16LaXsPR1u4JZYvjFNIyWQT1MFWf89PYBYTnUEc1j7JNVYemViHk7jUY6rg7ABGSem3~WI2~KwMTfMbwVhGaE6pZZTaLdg40M4ksXMoTLOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents and Little League officials told Harris County commissioners the county is short on youth sports fields and urged expedited planning and private‑public partnerships to create tournament-ready venues. A separate speaker presented concession-bid documents and said the rec board’s recent beverage contract choice reduced potential fundraising revenue for fields.

“Right now, we're at 800 kids in our little league program,” said Caleb Brewer, a Little League board member and volunteer, describing a program with roughly 70 teams and limited practice time across existing fields. “Some of the fields we have three teams to practice on. That's kinda dangerous.” Brewer urged commissioners to explore public‑private partnerships and other revenue sources to build more fields and host tournaments that bring hotel and restaurant revenue.

Trent Davidson, who said he was asked by citizens and athletic board members to speak, distributed a Pepsi bid and asserted that, on the pricing figures he had, a Pepsi contract would have yielded materially more concessions revenue (he estimated tens of thousands of dollars) than the contract the rec board ultimately accepted. Davidson said the rec board controls concessions bidding and awards according to its bylaws, and he urged greater transparency because concession revenue, he said, could be directed toward field improvements.

County staff and commissioners clarified the rec board’s role: commissioners do not directly award concession contracts for recreation concessions; the rec board acts pursuant to its bylaws and handles the five‑year bidding cycle. Commissioners said some capital projects are in the pipeline — including plans for a new football field, a community center with pickleball courts and a baseball field, and upgrades at Pine Mountain Valley Park — but added that those projects will take multiple years to fund and complete through the county’s SPLOST (special-purpose local-option sales tax) and other revenue planning.

Recreation staff also noted existing fields beyond the county-owned inventory: municipal fields in Pine Mountain and Waverhall, and privately owned fields at Catawba U Sports and other partners that may offer additional capacity if agreements are arranged.

Commissioners and staff recommended that volunteers meet with the recreation director and assistant director to review timelines, funding options, and possible public‑private partnership models. The commissioners said they welcome fundraising proposals and offers from private donors but urged interested citizens to go through the recreation department so projects align with permitting, timelines and long-term maintenance plans.

Ending: Commissioners acknowledged a shortage of youth-sports practice and tournament fields, urged coordination with recreation staff on near- and long-term plans, and reiterated that concession contracts and fundraising are administered by the rec board under its bylaws rather than by the commission.","Little League volunteers told commissioners Harris County lacks enough practice and tournament-quality fields for growing youth sports; a citizen presented concession-bid figures and said a Pepsi award would have generated materially more fundraiser revenue than the chosen provider, a decision the recreation board handles under its bylaws.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6323382,"Volunteers urge county review of Humane Society governance as commissioners approve new building shell",3218,432000,3650000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2342573-3da152be31a7152185a115c734da413a&start=432&end=3650","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2342573-3da152be31a7152185a115c734da413a/thumbnail_432000.jpg","/articles/6323382/Harris-County/Georgia/Volunteers-urge-county-review-of-Humane-Society-governance-as-commissioners-approve-new-building-shell","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6323382-6bea02446b756b828d0d5bc8dc4fc0a0/orig.mp4?Expires=1777113845&Signature=o7PY7~GuLemtDKwX0ResuLFZIwUdHRr9mh2nxehgCi-FBchdqXg2Wutmmh7riNrmFUUPXXlItXQUPoC9jBiGOTT~0QtzEnpk1uW5WkDCvgVYXs-O1fEViuiz-gP~cs5hwuV0YogtfNuLEcO3Un9YTVOut4n4SRxnEXKe3s42JtnlX-LKpWQ5RBuruO83~TXQO1O0~VLbESMy5W0Buztzrhgg0V3OrHFYbpk~OzQwe5rr-UfN3gAqLxgjatDT5ldK-0JjL2KMX0yZCWLtEvXsUhKOgQuTutoRAUoZWqpD8ARX7xFTLT-cgWxs4zaxzEOeXEWc0EkA5aVoL8IeN8vDYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Longtime volunteers and former board officers pressed Harris County commissioners on a series of programmatic and financial concerns about the Humane Society of Harris County before the commission granted written consent for a new building on the society’s leased property.

“I have been a longtime volunteer at the Humane Society,” said Sue Stepp, who identified herself as a former six-year board president and current volunteer, outlining what she described as a six-month decline in coordination with animal control and in core programs such as adoption events, trap-neuter-release work and a pet food pantry. “A review of the current contract between the county and the Humane Society of Harris County is warranted to address future expectations and safeguard the health and safety of the animals in Harris County.”

The volunteers described multiple program reductions they trace to leadership changes after the retirement of Catherine Jenova, the longtime executive director. George Kiss, who said he served as a board president and volunteer, told commissioners the shelter “used to participate in PetSmart events twice a month,” and that transports and spay/neuter partnerships had declined. Julie Raines, a former six‑year board member, said the volunteer base and outreach programs had fallen off and asked whether funds earmarked for construction would be spent instead on programs the community depends on.

Neil Callahan, an attorney who said he is the society’s registered agent, appeared with Jenova and representatives of Houston Homes to answer questions about a proposed addition. Callahan told commissioners the society is “in compliance with this lease,” and said Jenova had agreed to return to help stabilize operations. He described a roughly 3,000-square-foot shell being donated by Houston Homes and said the society would raise funds to finish the interior.

Commissioners noted that section 4 of the lease requires prior written consent for permanent or portable buildings and must meet county codes. Board members said county staff and building inspectors had visited the site, that permits had been pulled, and that periodic inspections would take place as construction proceeds. One commissioner asked that any additional outbuildings or action buildings currently on the site be addressed separately; the board said it would consider those at a later work session.

The commission voted to approve the plans for the new building shell after a motion and second; the motion passed with a voice vote and no recorded roll-call tally in the public record. Commissioners stressed the approval was limited to consent for the construction plans and did not constitute a county financial guarantee for interior work or operations.

The volunteers asked whether the county can require a forensic audit of the society’s finances. County staff said they would check the authority of the commission to order an audit and that the lease gives the county obligations related to impounded animals but does not itself specify an audit process. Commissioners said they would place a review of the lease and contract on an upcoming work session agenda and that county legal staff would be asked to advise on what oversight the commission may lawfully exercise.

The county’s consent to the new building is effective while the society remains a tenant; commissioners noted the lease provides that improvements revert to the county if the lease is not renewed. Several citizens said they supported Jenova’s return and called for explicit service expectations and safeguards to be included in any future contract revisions.

Commissioners and staff also encouraged volunteers to reengage with animal control and the society’s board as the organizations work to restore services and donor confidence.

Ending: The commission approved written consent for the building shell to proceed and agreed to review the lease and related partnership obligations at a future work session; no county funding for the project was approved by the board during the meeting.","Longtime volunteers told Harris County commissioners the Humane Society’s programs and partnerships declined after leadership changes; the commission gave written consent for a privately donated 3,000-square-foot shell to be added to the leased property and said it will review lease terms at a future work session.","actionData","errors"]

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Commissioners approve minutes and a $2/hour pay increase for EMS positions after executive session

Commissioners expand Board of Tax Assessors to five members, appoint attorney to new seat

Residents call for more youth fields; concession contract dispute raises funding questions

Volunteers urge county review of Humane Society governance as commissioners approve new building shell