[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-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",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_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",6224362,"mediaKeyId","3550903-cac8cc9a3489f41e7f059c0484048132","parentId",3550903,"title","County staff: new building design out to bid soon; yard‑dog equipment repaired and back in service","audioSeconds",229,"startMs",2696820,"endMs",2925844,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3550903-cac8cc9a3489f41e7f059c0484048132&start=2696&end=2925","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3550903-cac8cc9a3489f41e7f059c0484048132/thumbnail_2696820.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6224362/Carroll-County/Georgia/County-staff-new-building-design-out-to-bid-soon-yarddog-equipment-repaired-and-back-in-service","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224362-101c8f2e7c537b7b63f382e899f844c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771118038&Signature=PxD0RDDl7HPVyGJ4GuceAYsnw5BZLQAMEl9rw-l4ldYrIddkCm~-8PNfddlOzCIKPft6V8LPpiaEZExNeBsyi48NMZE2V3sEtNE34yIuaRxbETpco53ltEpAs2qV8wvrhL5N9uxG82ao70EmcKk3KQ~hCEI~AeWddVYy~ALYnUHJm3mqBOdwQGQupHMO78xLjfAIJ7D3jgObOy2s-VpN1XBXYLSx4HT9Uy8o0PVrXistS3oARRUV4y~Izq4FIaWrs8V0RJ7dAOsZqnmu2ZUP4Zqp0Xo~1Und4I7cWnY7rpg~FM7tNpjuBmnuopqa~LwnJvuEWVVVwndPTbNI7qAcRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-28T16:05:55Z","article","Public works staff updated commissioners on two operational items: the building replacement project and a yard‑dog vehicle used in transfer‑station operations.

Staff said the new building is under design and that construction documents should be ready for bid around June 9; staff expected to return with construction bids in July or August for commissioner consideration. Separately, staff reported the yard‑dog (a yard tractor used at the transfer station) experienced an electrical/battery issue over the weekend, a mechanic repaired the unit and staff had installed a replacement engine; staff said the yard‑dog was placed back into service and used at the transfer station the preceding Friday.

Commissioners asked about equipment readiness and the replacement timeline for the building; staff confirmed the engine portion of the yard‑dog replacement is complete and that bidding for construction will proceed as scheduled. No formal actions were taken in the work session on these items.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 27th Budget Work Session","oneSentenceSummary","Staff reported the replacement building is under design with construction documents to be bid in June and that a yard‑dog vehicle had electrical issues over the weekend but is repaired and back in operation; a replacement engine is installed and in service.","taxTitle","Carroll County, Georgia","taxId",28238,"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},6224367,"County staff report GFL hauling price and plans for park compactors; contract still in legal review",236,2615920,2851970,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3550903-cac8cc9a3489f41e7f059c0484048132&start=2615&end=2851","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3550903-cac8cc9a3489f41e7f059c0484048132/thumbnail_2615920.jpg","/articles/6224367/Carroll-County/Georgia/County-staff-report-GFL-hauling-price-and-plans-for-park-compactors-contract-still-in-legal-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224367-5e1a5887bfbb2586dcb1d61530cd1548/orig.mp4?Expires=1771118038&Signature=RbscaTcFIsknYE~lRnt~ykijfE613-P0-I-B5yuY6BrQzCHnyr6LTOma3SL8vLXjYIfcN-DdQnTiI7S5dhWJ-1AixLpLXrLgIuf6KhwSFJh9gflJP5yYVj0hHiINF0e8pctxf7eAIH919jx9jynCuFxKe1c0woiCnL0U5oTzEUz9gZxAEYnaRAEWgbqX7o-RPn3bo1EkTX-eNQ3SxQUvcnbnZccjTbzJXRHNMJ3LIFTj88o~Dxs5EN3j2KY6wJNxUimdEdwVXzthiGWJ4f0pliA1OxtVfc5LiAUMK02DfpPpUCjbaD9iMvtfyfbk0095o-lfQa5goen-prDHaVZJaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Danny (surname not given), the county’s solid‑waste staff lead, briefed commissioners that Carroll County has negotiated hauling pricing with GFL for roll‑off service but does not yet have the final contract; he said GFL’s legal department was still preparing the agreement.

Danny said the negotiated rate with GFL had moved from the vendor’s original $3.65 per load proposal to $310 per haul (presented in the meeting packet) and that the county expects roughly 5,200 loads under the service estimates. He said he had also solicited quotes from three local roll‑off companies to haul compactors at county parks; the lowest local quote would save about $110 per haul compared with the county’s current arrangement for parks. Danny said he plans to bring a contract recommendation to the board around July 1 and that county staff will forward the GFL contract to HR/administrative staff for review as soon as it is received from the vendor’s legal department.

Chairman Morgan and staff said the changes could reduce the amount of savings the county might need to use to balance the budget next year but acknowledged the figures were still proposals. Staff reiterated they would present the final contract for commissioners’ consideration after legal review and recommended local roll‑off hauling options for park compactors would be considered under a one‑ or two‑year contract.

No formal procurement decision or contract award was made during the work session; staff will present the finalized contract and any recommended park hauling agreement when vendor documents are complete.","The county has negotiated a per‑haul rate with GFL for roll‑off hauling and is obtaining local roll‑off quotes for park compactors; the GFL contract remained with the vendor’s legal department during the work session and will be presented to commissioners when complete.",{"_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},6224372,"Commissioners direct staff to include option removing weight‑loss drugs and switching telemedicine in draft budget",2175,2111680,4287675,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3550903-cac8cc9a3489f41e7f059c0484048132&start=2111&end=4287","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3550903-cac8cc9a3489f41e7f059c0484048132/thumbnail_2111680.jpg","/articles/6224372/Carroll-County/Georgia/Commissioners-direct-staff-to-include-option-removing-weightloss-drugs-and-switching-telemedicine-in-draft-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224372-da6a6fe2867607ea526e82f842aab7be/orig.mp4?Expires=1771118038&Signature=li4o5e2OQGeOsEsQC~aRxOuint5SViSxIIXQvSrV-UM0EpH85YfhrRytPQq0Ctv8erlIuU5UHUoNBXCL9F~EWCZ-tFLpbV1FKsPrFTj~wBUO4uFo2uzKyO16O8mUlfS1TdROKAtNXn8mPXii5bibhhE1iAHiWES0Lye~3HMGXsVucPB3p8DLqzckZ-VFJpcFumMlYIZFABL1jFzJviS8Pibh9KzZUuYbr-1oU18aO4ip7rgOafMZ6WNtatWG94A7LyLJvXGAtS9stAdMRR0AmdkHab~HWgrvwNRNpjRp7heXyRfiPkIWyF70zTppCfY40LUuQhYKj7vrcUUfa3qp6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County benefits staff presented renewal offers from multiple carriers and four package options for the county’s employee health plan, and commissioners gave direction on two near‑term changes to include in the draft budget.

Swede Sullivan, joined by HR Director Lori Blattman and benefits staff, said the county solicited bids from eight medical carriers and found Cigna remained the most competitive. Cigna proposed an 11.4% renewal after negotiation; plan design changes could reduce the increase to 9.3%. Removing employer coverage of certain weight‑loss medications would reduce the renewal to about 6.7%. Combining plan changes and removing weight‑loss coverage would bring the renewal down further, to about 4.6%.

Sullivan told commissioners that the county currently covers roughly 83 employees for weight‑loss drugs at an estimated annual cost to the plan of about $700,000; the county insures approximately 560 employee subscribers and 990 total covered members (employees plus dependents). Staff noted 95% of private employers and many governments do not cover these medications and that usage and cost have grown rapidly since the benefit was added about three years ago. Benefits staff also listed known side effects reported with some of the newer weight‑loss drugs.

On telemedicine, Sullivan said the county currently pays roughly $28,000 a year to an external telemedicine vendor (Clever Health) and that Cigna will provide an integrated telemedicine product at no additional monthly fee. Commissioners expressed broad support for switching telemedicine enrollment to the insurer’s product to save the county about $28,000 while maintaining telemedicine access; staff said they will market the benefit internally to raise utilization.

After discussion about potential health impacts of removing coverage for weight‑loss drugs — including questions about whether patients requiring those medications for comorbidities would retain access — commissioners asked staff to explore options such as lower‑cost compounded alternatives, possible grandfathering or transition approaches, and whether a member opt‑in premium could be offered. Benefits staff said some lower‑cost compounded alternatives exist and that employees could purchase medications directly if the county did not cover them.

Chairman Morgan said he would place the budget with Option 3 (remove weight‑loss drugs and adopt Cigna telemedicine) into the draft FY budget for the board to vote at the regular meeting; he said commissioners could change the budget item during the meeting. Staff committed to follow up with detailed cost impacts and any transitional options to minimize abrupt disruption for members who rely on these medications.","County benefits staff presented medical, dental and ancillary insurance renewal options; commissioners agreed to switch telemedicine to the insurer’s telemedicine product (saving about $28,000) and to place a plan that removes employer coverage of weight‑loss medications into the draft budget for the upcoming vote.",{"_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},6224376,"Commissioners briefed on insurers, premiums and deductible tradeoffs for county property and casualty coverage",1401,734270,2135530,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3550903-cac8cc9a3489f41e7f059c0484048132&start=734&end=2135","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3550903-cac8cc9a3489f41e7f059c0484048132/thumbnail_734270.jpg","/articles/6224376/Carroll-County/Georgia/Commissioners-briefed-on-insurers-premiums-and-deductible-tradeoffs-for-county-property-and-casualty-coverage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224376-e5772a5f47e192fef4a7de8f3ea2cc10/orig.mp4?Expires=1771118038&Signature=dT4zus0B-kaaREz2fl1T-M~RWJC-QVXzkPNxqRBmSiNrQ3wnokM~WkG3aGAO0xkHi4ITm0Rg12msxf3h8Hhp6TZNNdjXXjAjuO4lU1t7otRZUG0kyS2QWdU5WYfhh9aWotV9A3j6I4IkaHkBRYUDsz1UPs~xFbbmZGjgdoRLUTauiglvwEBMTEcPYwjwKhNxpnKcmX9L8X2XgC4aH5jr9Jc4sXPeLt9tMiJda~~jvFR8hnPLTfw2LFNJrtnoZYJVpQ-VpJ6AEhJfEPfWOk4ZP1m22ThRHQkBysZsyDnif60Rsl9J3acuzc-r1Vxs8~UX9iSiwVhciLcVQLni~Wms4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Newton Jennings, presenting insurance renewal options, told the Carroll County Board of Commissioners that the county’s loss history has improved since 2022 and described two primary options for property and casualty insurance: the incumbent carrier (Liberty Mutual) and a newer market entrant (Obsidian).

Jennings said Liberty Mutual offered continuity and lower deductible tiers (current liability/auto/property deductible structure includes $50,000 on liability and lower physical‑damage deductibles on many vehicles) and that Liberty’s renewal proposal had been negotiated down to an overall premium increase of roughly 7.9% (about $127,000) over last year in the package shown. He said a $50,000 deductible option would not require collateral; a $100,000 deductible option would require an estimated $345,000 of collateral to secure the higher self‑insured retention.

Jennings described Obsidian’s proposal as carrying a lower face premium but substantially higher deductibles: a $100,000 deductible on general liability, umbrella and auto, and a flat $100,000 physical‑damage deductible on vehicles (meaning the county would self‑insure most claim amounts under that threshold). He said Obsidian would require the county to engage a third‑party administrator (TPA) for claims handling; the broker estimated average TPA costs could be about $40,000 yearly and the high end near $70,000 depending on claim frequency and complexity. Jennings also noted Obsidian is A‑minus rated and smaller financially than Liberty Mutual, which is a much larger, A‑rated carrier.

Commissioners asked about flood and earthquake coverage; Jennings said both carriers will require separate flood policies if a county location is in a flood zone. Commissioners also requested a historical average of losses to calculate likely out‑of‑pocket exposure under higher deductible options. Jennings and staff emphasized that premium comparisons must include expected deductible and TPA costs to be apples‑to‑apples.

Chairman Morgan said he left Liberty Mutual in the draft budget with a $50,000 deductible for Tuesday’s budget vote because of Liberty’s market presence, the county’s recent history with the carrier and uncertainty about third‑party fees from Obsidian; he reminded commissioners they could make motions on Tuesday to change the budget item. No final procurement decision was made during the work session.

Staff made documents available showing four years of loss summaries, the Liberty Mutual proposal and the Obsidian proposal; Jennings and county staff offered to provide additional breakdowns and a five‑year average of losses to support the commissioners’ decision prior to the budget vote.","An insurance broker briefed the Board on renewal options from incumbent Liberty Mutual and a newer carrier, Obsidian, including premium differences, deductible structures, third‑party administrator costs and collateral requirements; the chair left Liberty Mutual in the draft budget to allow discussion at the upcoming meeting.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6224381,"Carroll County chief magistrate asks commissioners to convert part‑time intake role to full time",672,44950,717716,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3550903-cac8cc9a3489f41e7f059c0484048132&start=44&end=717","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3550903-cac8cc9a3489f41e7f059c0484048132/thumbnail_44950.jpg","/articles/6224381/Carroll-County/Georgia/Carroll-County-chief-magistrate-asks-commissioners-to-convert-parttime-intake-role-to-full-time","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224381-e195f2d4b530b05bdeae6b6453bb6c9c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771118038&Signature=oAeroLpZNOOK31YALqaOdSqURDt3aBohnqz4WrUqXwg6Xbk7OglbeveRXlwKxrSUPXu9TInX4N6P6BS6jDCvJ0ugg62kA1-BzWcl8SWbXsYP4RuzSvhvUdnNZ4vvIF06HNapDHh4UEYruFglr82LEo5dUYs8xwuZD3vTyJYabALOpbHFg4lKCbbf9YF4dCmeR45IMH3ZVmH-vBoRs9-a~l6k1BLx1RgkJLKJ21fBvwhyBKI6LUTpsGttAQTAmmm~g6KfEF~bC0099NHT2C~Bk~5zsIGAyirEBFhXRO1g~2xrB4lQ~OHETDjn1~CieFfHOtjaE3xie6KH4TUEb63iMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chief Magistrate Judge Kirsten Phillips asked the Carroll County Board of Commissioners to approve converting a part‑time intake position in magistrate court to a full‑time clerk to address increasing civil and dispossessory case filings.

Phillips said she brought the request after the county budget was already drafted and that she had discussed funding with finance; she told commissioners that the county currently budgets about $25,000 for the part‑time role and that the full‑time position would require roughly $47,000 including benefits. Phillips said she personally forgoes the county supplement allotted to a full‑time chief magistrate, which reduces the county cost and leaves about $3,100 remaining in her estimates that she expects to cover within her existing budget.

Phillips presented filing statistics from 2019 through May (printout dated May 12) showing an upward trend in civil filings and dispossessory cases after the 2020–21 COVID dip. She said civil filings have outpaced dispossessories in recent years and that the intake clerk would split duties between front‑desk intake and civil clerk responsibilities so the court could keep up and avoid backlog as the office moves into the new courthouse later this year or early next year.

A commissioner asked whether the full‑time estimate included benefits and whether Phillips had compared staffing levels and caseloads to similar counties. Phillips said her estimate included benefits and that she had used Paulding County as an informal benchmark — Paulding has a far larger caseload and proportionally more staff — but she did not provide a formal per‑clerk caseload comparison in the meeting. Phillips said the proposed hire would result in roughly \"two and a half\" positions handling civil and dispossessory work (one existing full‑time clerk, one full‑time clerk, and the newly converted position doing mixed duties).

No final vote was taken in the work session. Chairman Morgan said the conversion request has been incorporated into the county budget and will be on the agenda for the Board’s vote at the regular meeting the following Tuesday; Phillips said she would make herself available to answer further questions before that vote.

The request, the supporting case‑filing printouts and Phillips’s funding explanation were the substantive items the board received; commissioners asked for any additional benchmarking or detail they wished to see before taking a formal vote.","Chief Magistrate Judge Kirsten Phillips asked the Carroll County Board of Commissioners to approve changing a part‑time magistrate court intake position to full time to handle rising civil and dispossessory caseloads; the change was placed in the county budget for a vote at the next regular meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County staff: new building design out to bid soon; yard‑dog equipment repaired and back in service

County staff report GFL hauling price and plans for park compactors; contract still in legal review

Commissioners direct staff to include option removing weight‑loss drugs and switching telemedicine in draft budget

Commissioners briefed on insurers, premiums and deductible tradeoffs for county property and casualty coverage

Carroll County chief magistrate asks commissioners to convert part‑time intake role to full time