[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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",[32,75],{"_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":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6562738,"mediaKeyId","3245640-387c3c73fc8c83b2578b639f9541a306","parentId",3245640,"title","Votes at a glance: Lincoln County Commission approves extension contract, tax-waiver authority, food box participation, copier lease, audit engagement and local","audioSeconds",53,"startMs",1771000,"endMs",1718000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3245640-387c3c73fc8c83b2578b639f9541a306&start=1771&end=1718","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3245640-387c3c73fc8c83b2578b639f9541a306/thumbnail_1771000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6562738/Lincoln-County/Georgia/Votes-at-a-glance-Lincoln-County-Commission-approves-extension-contract-tax-waiver-authority-food-box-participation-copier-lease-audit-engagement-and-local","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6562738-855c918d86c5b4789e427a9b92068143/orig.mp4?Expires=1775541858&Signature=ifNN44lpoeWUJqIkHSuGH-LNIR6BW0FfVpsdcP0J4vhRBxxSn-13SrEKM9L6ycb7uSSN2i~6~fKNqZXqjk5oTbhy-enexaU4sQYofsUED8MdzWq9PR~AmTS41PhHNjQy7SJ-AXIAJ~ugH3~fzN~NFdvAw3puuZUJ4KxAoBsB-al~tyEYcJ6l01K2Xw6t3lMFSNt7PmcdpKpCdjjN1f3-FbyyYLpg8FC6u8AnwRZQ~AagtY3CBx-KU4rZVai5vwFO35bR8C3SvKGjqnF1CTrUYWZVOnXeGjrDqKAMdXDEMHhx1mWtVTUrOAMwZTkZUWHUkKwCtMTO03j3AxMSfljEdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lincoln County","date","2025-05-09T13:49:32Z","article","Lincoln County commissioners approved multiple routine and procurement items during their meeting, including a renewal with University of Georgia Extension, temporary authority for the county tax commissioner to waive small penalties, participation in a senior food-box program administered by Golden Harvest Food Bank and the selection of vendors for copier services and annual audits.

UGA Extension contract: The board approved a one-year extension agreement with the University of Georgia for Extension and 4-H services in Lincoln County. County materials show the contracted amount for the next fiscal year at $73,289.50; the local Board of Education is expected to cover 50% of that cost. The motion to adopt the contract was moved by Commissioner Antonakis and seconded by Commissioner Clyde and carried by voice vote.

Tax-waiver resolution: The board granted the Lincoln County Tax Commissioner, Linda Wilvis, authority to waive modest interest and penalties in limited circumstances (for example, late payments due to mail delays or office closures) without returning to the commission for each case. Wilvis told the board such waivers are typically small dollar amounts and that the change would save time for both her office and the commission. The motion was moved by Commissioner Henderson and seconded by Commissioner Tankersley and was approved by voice vote.

Senior food-box program: The county agreed to participate in Golden Harvest Food Bank’s Senior Food Box program at no cost to the county. Staff said Lincoln County was allotted 50 boxes for distribution to eligible seniors and that distribution would occur monthly at a local pickup location. The motion to approve participation was moved by Commissioner Clyde and seconded by Commissioner Antonakis and approved by voice vote.

Copier and printing services: County technology staff recommended Athens Digital — the incumbent provider — after a request for proposals that produced seven submissions. The board approved a two-part action: first to accept the recommended maintenance and service proposal and then to authorize the chairman and county technology director to finalize a five-year lease and maintenance agreement, to be financed through LEAF Financial. Commissioners and the vendor discussed a standard contract clause that allows an annual maintenance increase (cited in the procurement documents at about 15% in the example language); county staff and the vendor said that historically they have not applied annual increases. Commissioners asked for further negotiation and legal review before final signature. The board approved the motions by voice vote; commissioners indicated the current annual cost is about $20,000 and that the contract estimate would raise that by approximately $2,500 annually under the proposed five-year term.

Financial audit services: The county selected Jones, Jones and Davis and Associates to conduct the FY25 financial audit. The board approved an engagement letter not to exceed $56,250 for the FY25 audit and authorized the chairman to negotiate continuing engagement terms for up to four additional fiscal years. The motion carried by voice vote.

Department of Family and Children’s Services (DFCS) reimbursement agreement: The board authorized a reimbursement agreement for the local DFCS office not to exceed $7,400 for the next fiscal year. County staff said the DFCS office historically has not spent the full authorized amount. The motion was moved by Commissioner Tankersley and seconded by Commissioner Clyde and approved by voice vote.

All procurement and program-participation motions were recorded as carried by voice vote; no roll-call tallies were presented in the meeting transcript.

The board deferred Item 16 at the request of Commissioner Tankersley and adjourned the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 8, 2025 - Lincoln County GA Board of Commissioners Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Lincoln County commissioners approved multiple routine and procurement items during their meeting, including a renewal with University of Georgia Extension, temporary authority for the tax commissioner to waive minor penalties, participation in a seniors food-box program, and vendor selections for copier services and the annual audit.","taxTitle","Lincoln County, Georgia","taxId",73572,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6562743,"Lincoln County approves fee increases, cites tight budget and merges community development into public works",107,2580000,2687000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3245640-387c3c73fc8c83b2578b639f9541a306&start=2580&end=2687","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3245640-387c3c73fc8c83b2578b639f9541a306/thumbnail_2580000.jpg","/articles/6562743/Lincoln-County/Georgia/Lincoln-County-approves-fee-increases-cites-tight-budget-and-merges-community-development-into-public-works","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6562743-29ca897da3f52c058cefc3ab3358be17/orig.mp4?Expires=1775541858&Signature=b0TAEm-o612Kcunlh9~JH8x0uPmq5U9rAn0f~J3sQh~Hd72EAgCHj78-3OKWlNz-HFLcKyyJfPm3-OjpyFJmNih-VdQDga9Z8FRHQncvx3GyZR7mc7mkeM2NuHbP5UzU0mzPd8bZFhTOfkcaHYvzF83d9CzzqR19T4w3iNC~wUCTWi06frAXFdTyT-sbw9WWvtoQUL2BAS~msH-pd9F7tWA~Mear2DWGW3-FIlnTeiZmKdcZcOfQEPdcxYjYiQtA7geXfuMQ0H0YCTLhxZApckrqIDHhUnQ0QocbuJfEIo6kWCMaK7-6oeh4GydTkvVyhJR~tNg0aylGe1skVIgvmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lincoln County commissioners on Tuesday approved new community development fees effective July 1, authorized a separate pre-schedule revenue increase and voted to merge the Community Development office back into the Department of Public Works amid warnings about rising health-insurance costs and other budget pressures.

County finance staff reported the general fund balance was under $1 million at the end of April and noted a Federal Emergency Management Agency obligation of $2.9 million tied to Hurricane Malin is under state review and expected to return to the county within about 12 to 16 weeks. Commissioners said those proceeds are not yet available for operating purposes and cited a roughly 42% projected jump in the county’s employee health-insurance costs — described by staff as about a $253,000 increase — as a central reason to seek new revenue.

The fee adjustments cover a range of Community Development functions including occupational tax licenses and building-permit fees. County staff told commissioners their current rate schedule has not been raised in roughly 20 years and that an update would place Lincoln County’s fees near or slightly below comparable neighboring counties. Commissioners adopted the new fee schedule to take effect July 1 as part of the FY26 budget cycle.

In separate action the board approved a “pre-schedule increase,” described by commissioners as part of the broader effort to generate needed revenue to close budget gaps driven by rising personnel and benefit costs. The board recorded the motion and adopted the increase; formal implementation details will be integrated into the FY26 budget process.

Commissioners also voted to reorganize county operations by combining Community Development and Public Works. Under the change, Public Works Director Greg Seymour will lead a single Public Works Department; the Community Development director (identified in meeting materials as Stephanie Eichner) will become deputy director with primary responsibility for planning and permitting work within the new structure. Commissioners said the change restores an earlier pre-2009 organizational structure and is intended to streamline permitting and reduce duplication.

Commissioners emphasized the limits of local authority over several cost drivers, including mandated employee benefits. The board discussed that roughly 86% of county expenditures are influenced by state or federal requirements and that local revenue options may be needed to address gaps.

The measures passed by voice vote. Commissioners who made or seconded motions during the related votes included Commissioner Tankersley (mover on the pre-schedule increase) and Commissioner Antonakis (second on that motion), and Commissioner Clyde (mover) with Commissioner Tankersley (second) on the reorganization motion. The fee-adoption motion was carried by voice vote as recorded in the meeting minutes.

County staff and commissioners said they will present implementation details for the fee adjustments and the FY26 budget during upcoming budget sessions and will post fee schedules on the county website.

Looking ahead, the board deferred one agenda item (Item 16) to the June meeting at the request of Commissioner Tankersley.","Commissioners approved new community development fees effective July 1, a pre-schedule revenue increase and a reorganization merging Community Development back under Public Works as county officials warned of rising insurance and other costs and a pending FEMA reimbursement.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Lincoln County Commission approves extension contract, tax-waiver authority, food box participation, copier lease, audit engagement and local

Lincoln County approves fee increases, cites tight budget and merges community development into public works