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Dawson County commissioners approve staffing changes, grants and intergovernmental agreements in unanimous votes
Summary
In a June 5 voting session the Dawson County Board of Commissioners approved a new transit manager position, driver pay increases, a treatment court grant and related case manager position, a tax-assessor delegation resolution, changes to meeting times, and several intergovernmental and contract items; all recorded votes were 3-0.
The Dawson County Board of Commissioners on June 5 approved a series of staffing, grant and intergovernmental items by unanimous votes, including creation of a transit manager position, a pay raise for transit drivers, acceptance of a FY2026 treatment court grant, and updates to mutual-aid and intergovernmental agreements.
Key actions approved by the board (each motion passed 3-0): creation of a transit manager position (grade 21; salary recorded in meeting materials as $104,551.00); an increase in starting pay for four transit driver positions from grade 6 to grade 8, setting a starting hourly rate of $15.54; delegation of authority to the Board of Tax Assessors to remove items of personal property valued at less than $150,000 from the tax digest (with items over $150,000 to be reported to the board); a change to commission meeting times (work sessions to begin at 5 p.m.; voting sessions no earlier than 6 p.m., effective with the Aug. 7 meeting); approval of a treatment court case manager position (base salary $40,000 plus $17,329 in fringe benefits, funded by grant); acceptance of a FY2026 drug treatment court grant in the amount of $321,442 with a local match of $56,725 (salaries for match already in budget); an update to the mutual aid assistance memorandum of agreement with U.S. Army Garrison Fort Benning; FY2025 LegacyLink contract addendum No. 2 (amount recorded in the materials as $20,000.09); and an intergovernmental agreement with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources concerning a radio system upgrade at the Monument Road site.
The consent agenda, approved 3-0, included acceptance of a Georgia Department of Human Resources grant for $56,250; United Way grant funds of $5,000; rejection of offers for RFP 474-25 (community risk assessment, standards of cover analysis, unit location and deployment study and strategic plan) with a staff recommendation to take no further action; a memorandum of agreement with the Georgia Department of Public Health; reappointments to the library board (David Bridal and Whit Myers, terms July 2025–June 2029); and ratification of FY2026 Georgia Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration Section 5311 contract funds totaling $380,000 (50% federal operating funds of $190,000 and a 50% local match already in the budget).
Commissioners discussed some staffing details for the transit pay increase. County staff reported the transit operation currently lists four driver positions and one coordinator (five positions total) and currently has vacancies; the pay increase was described as intended to improve recruitment and align pay across existing employees. Commissioner Bruce moved to create the transit manager position from fund balance; Commissioner Turcotte seconded. Commissioner Bruce moved the pay increase for four transit driver positions from grade 6 to grade 8 ($15.54 per hour); Commissioner Turcotte seconded. Both motions passed 3-0.
On the tax-digest delegation, the board approved a resolution authorizing the Board of Tax Assessors, in consultation with the tax commissioner, to remove items of personal property valued at less than $150,000 from the tax digest and present an annual report of items removed to the board; items valued above $150,000 must be presented to the board. Commissioner Stowers moved the resolution; Commissioner Bruce seconded and the motion passed 3-0.
The treatment court items were presented as grant-funded. The board approved a treatment court case manager position with a base salary of $40,000 and $17,329 in fringe benefits; staff stated the position is funded by the grant with no additional county contribution. The board also approved acceptance of the FY2026 drug treatment court grant award of $321,442 with a $56,725 local match; Commissioner Stowers moved and Commissioner Bruce seconded; the vote was 3-0.
Other administrative approvals included an updated mutual-aid agreement with U.S. Army Garrison Fort Benning related to EMS mutual aid, acceptance of LegacyLink contract addendum No. 2 as presented, and an intergovernmental agreement with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for a radio system upgrade at the Monument Road communications site. All passed 3-0.
The chair announced no public comment sign-ups for several items and adjourned the meeting after the final vote.
