Rockdale County approves routine contracts, MOUs and appointments; budget snapshot reported

Rockdale County commissioners approved a range of contracts, memoranda of understanding and routine county business on April 8, including a new Comcast circuit for water treatment operations, emergency‑sheltering MOUs with local churches, a LexisNexis software subscription for the sheriff’s office, and a renewal for easement‑clearing services funded through the water enterprise fund.

Highlights of approved items - Comcast Enterprise Services (Technology Services / Water Treatment): A network interface and bandwidth service for the water treatment facility at $695.87 per month for 60 months, totaling $41,752.20. Funding: Water enterprise fund; described in the meeting as a budgeted item. - De Castro Trailhead (Department of Natural Resources / General Services): Change order No. 2 to Contract 2022-145 — signature only for a limitation-of-use affidavit to be signed and recorded with county property records. - Snapping Shoals EMC easement: Permanent right-of-way easement on High Rock Road to provide power to residents at 2675 Philadelphia Road — approved. - Emergency Management MOUs: Memoranda of understanding with Conyers First Methodist Church, First Baptist Church of Conyers, Springfield Baptist Church and Kent Westminster to provide sheltering facilities (including temporary pet sheltering) at no cost to the county; the agreements auto-renew annually. - Georgia State University intergovernmental agreement (Sheriff’s Office): Collaboration with mental-health consulting experts for programming and services for an in‑jail mental-health unit; funding and program intended to support a mental-health evaluator and related services. - LexisNexis Risk Solutions (Sheriff’s Office): AccuRent virtual crime-center software at $22,450 per year, term 5/1/2025–4/30/2026; general fund and budgeted. - Georgia Veterans Memorial Foundation MOU (Parks & Recreation): Coordination for a Walk of Heroes memorial space; county responsible for utilities, maintenance and insurance for the space during the MOU term (03/11/2025–03/11/2026) with renewal options; staff said the primary county cost is utilities. - Aptera Solutions, Inc. (Water Resources): Contract renewal for 2025 for clearing various easements, amount not to exceed $250,000; through the water enterprise fund and budgeted.

Additional business - Finance/Budget snapshot: Finance staff presented the 2025 budget-to-actual report for February; general fund remaining percentage stood at 87.37% (the “ideal remaining percentage” was stated as 83.33%), and the enterprise funds (water resources and stormwater) showed combined remaining budgets of 88.09%. - Minutes and routine approvals: The board approved minutes for March 25 and April 4, 2025, and several other procurement and intergovernmental items as listed on the agenda. - Planning Commission appointments: Commissioners appointed five members to the newly formed Rockdale County Planning Commission with staggered terms to initiate the board-directed citizen planning process.

Why it matters: these approvals cover utility and public-safety infrastructure, park and memorial coordination, enterprise‑funded maintenance work and the start of formalized planning commission membership. The Georgia State University IGA and LexisNexis subscription are intended to bolster in-custody mental-health services and law-enforcement information-sharing capabilities, respectively.

Votes at a glance (selected) - Comcast circuit (Item 158): Approved; funding from water enterprise fund; total $41,752.20 over 60 months. - De Castro Trailhead change order (Item 159): Approved (signature-only requirement). - Snapping Shoals EMC easement (Item 160): Approved (permanent easement). - EMA shelter MOUs (Items 161–164): Approved; no-cost MOUs with churches for emergency sheltering and pet sheltering. - Georgia State University IGA (Item 165): Approved; intended to provide mental-health consulting services for a jail mental-health unit. - LexisNexis AccuRent subscription (Item 166): Approved at $22,450/year. - Aptera Solutions easement-clearing renewal (Item 170): Approved, not to exceed $250,000 from water enterprise fund. - Georgia Veterans Memorial Foundation MOU (Item 167): Approved; county to cover utilities and maintenance costs. - Planning Commission appointments (Item 180): Approved; five members with staggered terms.

What the record shows about costs and funding - Several items were described as budgeted and to be charged to specific funds (general fund, water enterprise fund). The county indicated the primary recurring financial obligation under the Veterans Foundation MOU is utilities; staff said they would work to quantify and assess costs.

Next steps Departments will finalize contract documents and record required affidavits. The board’s finance staff will continue monthly budget monitoring and follow up as necessary on contracts and MOUs.

Ending: The board moved on after approving the items; several items—including appointments and routine contract renewals—were recorded as approved without extended debate.