Houston County commissioners approve annexations, grants, contracts and multiple personnel hires

The Houston County Board of Commissioners approved two annexations requested by the City of Perry, accepted a federal Violence Against Women Act grant for the district attorney’s office, authorized several contracts and equipment purchases, and approved multiple personnel hires during its public meeting.

Commissioners voted unanimously to concur with the City of Perry’s request to annex two tracts on Airport Road — one of about 19.7 acres and one of about 4.88 acres — and to change zoning from County RAG to City of Perry RTH and C2 for the identified tax parcels. The motion was offered by Commissioner Byrd and seconded by Commissioner Talton.

The board accepted a 2025 Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) grant (W24‑8‑12) totaling $64,842 from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council of Georgia for the district attorney’s office, with a county match of $21,614 for a combined total of $86,456. Commissioner Byrd moved to accept the grant; Commissioner Gottwalds seconded, and the board carried the motion unanimously.

The county approved a service agreement with Aviation Capital Partners LLC, doing business as Specialized Tax Recovery of Mayfield Heights, Ohio, for valuation audit and appeal support of aircraft personal property tax assessments. The initial amount noted in the motion was $5,000, with an option to extend for fiscal years 2027 and 2028 and fees for newly discovered aircraft as described in the agreement. Commissioner Byrd moved the agreement; Commissioner Towton seconded.

Procurement and equipment approvals included: - A quote from BTV Systems of Macon, Georgia, to update the camera system at the county annex for $69,109.71, funded by 2018 SPLOST (motion carried). - Purchase of a stormwater pipe camera system from Environmental Products Group of Atlanta for $113,700 to replace an inoperative unit, funded by 2018 SPLOST (motion carried). - Award of a bid for one new 4x4 Ford F‑150 for the fire department to Phil Brandon Ford of Perry for $51,570, funded by 2018 SPLOST (motion carried).

Personnel actions approved by the board included hiring Tommy Lee Crosby to fill a vacant tax appraiser II position at grade 14 step D, effective April 9, 2025; Amy Hanley to fill a vacant personnel clerk position at grade 12 step C, effective April 9, 2025; and Christopher Collins to fill a vacant equipment operator position at the landfill at grade 10 step C, effective April 9, 2025. Commissioner Gottwalds moved each personnel appointment; each motion was seconded and carried unanimously.

Other business carried by unanimous vote included: - Approval of a quitclaim deed to correct an erroneous prior filing affecting property descriptions and to correct title to 405 Lydic Avenue. - Declaration of eight items as surplus for sale or disposal (a list of the items was included with county staff but not shown on the meeting screen). - Donation of a 2020 Ford Police Interceptor utility patrol vehicle from the Houston County Sheriff’s Office to the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office (VIN 1FM5KA88AUH C9LGC01779), moved by Commissioner Towton and seconded by Commissioner Gottwalds. - Approval to pay county bills totaling $4,339,021.49 (motion carried).

Zoning board recommendations and special exceptions The board heard a staff summary of the Houston County Board of Zoning Appeals hearing held March 24 and acted on three special exception applications for home occupations: - Application 2841 (Larry and Jacqueline Galeski, 231 Lydia Drive, McCarty Down Subdivision): request to operate a Polish pottery business as an online broker with no on‑site production. The zoning appeals board recommended approval; commissioners approved the special exception. - Application 2843 (Christie Griffin, 332 Doubledgate Drive, Oaks of Doubledgate Subdivision): request to operate a residential cleaning service with no clients, customers or employees coming to the home. The zoning appeals board recommended approval; commissioners approved the special exception. - Application 2840 (Pedro Corleo, 406 Nelson Drive): request for a home‑occupation residential commercial painting contracting business. The Board of Zoning Appeals recommended denial, citing operation of a nonconforming repair garage on the property; the commission moved to disapprove application 2840 and the motion carried.

Next steps and administrative notes Staff advised approved special exception applicants that the commission’s action is a county decision only and does not supersede any restrictive covenants enforced by homeowners’ associations; applicants were told to apply for required business licenses at the county annex. County staff also said applicants would receive mailed confirmation from the planning and zoning office and that sign removal would be scheduled.

The board meeting concluded with commissioners’ remarks on recent storm response, congratulations to local appointees and personal notes, and brief updates on ongoing trash collection service problems and county efforts to address pickup delays.

Votes at a glance (motions noted in the meeting record) - Approve minutes from March 18 — mover: Commissioner Towton; second: Commissioner Byrd; outcome: motion carried. - Special exception 2841 (Galeski) — approved (per zoning stipulations); mover: Commissioner Byrd; outcome: approved. - Special exception 2843 (Griffin) — approved (per zoning stipulations); mover: Commissioner Byrd; outcome: approved. - Special exception 2840 (Corleo) — disapproved; mover: Commissioner Byrd; outcome: disapproved. - Concur with City of Perry annexations (19.7 acres and 4.88 acres, Airport Road) and zoning changes — mover: Commissioner Byrd; outcome: approved. - Accept 2025 VAWA grant W24‑8‑12 ($64,842) with county match $21,614 — mover: Commissioner Byrd; outcome: approved. - Service agreement with Aviation Capital Partners LLC / Specialized Tax Recovery ($5,000 initial) — mover: Commissioner Byrd; outcome: approved. - Annex camera system quote (BTV Systems) $69,109.71 — mover: Commissioner Byrd; outcome: approved. - Stormwater pipe camera system (Environmental Products Group) $113,700 — mover: Commissioner Gottwalds; outcome: approved. - Ford F‑150 bid (Phil Brandon Ford) $51,570 — mover: Commissioner Gottwalds; outcome: approved. - Personnel hires (Tommy Lee Crosby; Amy Hanley; Christopher Collins) — mover: Commissioner Gottwalds; outcome: approved. - Board of Regents/UGA Cooperative Extension fiscal‑year 2026 renewal agreement — mover: Commissioner Talton; outcome: approved. - Quitclaim deed to correct title to 405 Lydic Avenue — mover: Commissioner Touton; outcome: approved. - Surplus declaration (8 items) — mover: Commissioner Talton; outcome: approved. - Donation of 2020 Ford Police Interceptor to Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office — mover: Commissioner Towton; outcome: approved. - Payment of bills totaling $4,339,021.49 — mover: Commissioner Towton; outcome: approved.

Ending County staff and commissioners advised residents to contact the county with specific service problems (for example, missed trash pickup) while staff and contractors work to resolve service lapses. Approved applicants were told how to proceed with business licensing and would receive written confirmation of zoning actions.