County Commission authorizes $7.66M lodging tax bonds and adopts victim notification software

The Houston County Commission meeting held on April 11, 2025, addressed several key agenda items, including proclamations and financial resolutions. Commissioner Herring was noted as absent, while Commissioner Adams confirmed his absence for the following meeting.

The meeting commenced with four proclamations. The first was for National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, which received unanimous support. The second proclamation recognized Community College Month, with Dr. Ashley Wilkins from Wallace Community College expected to attend. The third proclamation was for Child Abuse Prevention Month, with Terry Debose from the Southeast Child Advocacy Center also set to participate. The fourth proclamation, concerning Sexual Assault Awareness Month, was supported by Angela Underwood from the House of Ruth, although there was some discussion about who would present it.

Following the proclamations, the commission moved to the regular agenda. The first item involved a request to adopt a resolution for entering contract negotiations with APPRIS Insights to provide automated victim notification software. This software aims to keep victims informed about the status of their cases in the criminal justice system. There were no objections to placing this item on the agenda.

The second item was a request to authorize the issuance of $7,660,000 in general obligation warrants for the county, specifically related to a lodging tax bond. This resolution allows the county to borrow funds, with the intention of using the recently approved 1% lodging tax as a funding source, although it does not pledge that funding.

The third item involved a budget amendment to decrease revenue by $560,000 due to lower-than-expected sales of fixed assets, particularly noted by the Road and Bridge department. This amendment was also placed on the agenda without objection.

The final item discussed was the request to sell a 2024 BMW from the sheriff's department, which had been made operational with a new fuel pump. This item was approved for the agenda without objection.

The meeting concluded with no further business, and a motion to adjourn was entertained and accepted. Overall, the meeting focused on important community recognitions and financial decisions impacting Houston County.