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Board discusses lease to move Waypoint into Handlighter facility, creates naming committee
Summary
County staff told commissioners that the Spalding County Collaborative Authority and county staff have negotiated a lease to allow Waypoint to occupy office and living quarters at the Handlighter facility and asked the board to finalize approval so the nonprofit can move in.
Spalding County staff briefed the Board of Commissioners on a proposed lease with the Spalding County Collaborative Authority to allow Waypoint to occupy office and living quarters at the property referred to in the meeting as the Handlighter facility.
Dr. Ledbetter, staff member, said the county attorney and staff have negotiated terms with Regina Abbott, executive director of the Spalding County Collaborative Authority, and that the collaborative board had agreed to continue the lease so Waypoint can move into the Handlighter site. Lance Griffin, director of construction teams, told commissioners construction staff expect the facility to be completed by the end of the month or in August; staff said September would be Waypoint’s first full month in the location if the schedule holds.
Staff described the leased space as all office space in the back of the building — first and second floors — plus living quarters; the sanctuary (the pew area) would not be part of Waypoint’s leased space but Waypoint would have access to the sanctuary for meetings while the county would retain access for other scheduled uses. Dr. Ledbetter noted the lease would permit assignment but that any assignment must be approved by the board of commissioners; the proposed lease also would prohibit subleases without county approval.
Commissioners discussed timing for a ribbon-cutting and invited county partners, veterans’ representatives and other stakeholders. One commissioner suggested inviting a local veterans liaison and regional partners and proposed a tentative grand-opening date discussion for mid-August or mid-September; staff and commissioners said they would coordinate a date once construction and partner availability were confirmed. Staff asked commissioners to provide names for a five-member naming committee, one representative from each commission district, with the county manager to serve ex officio. Dr. Ledbetter said the board will follow the county’s 2019 naming policy, which she described as a multi-page policy that will guide how the committee narrows suggestions and makes recommendations.
Commissioners also framed the Handlighter lease within a longer-term service goal: using the Waypoint veteran-focused program as an initial step toward addressing homelessness countywide. One commissioner cited a county estimate in the meeting that about 300 people are experiencing homelessness in the county, approximately 130 of whom are veterans; the commissioner described the Waypoint move as a first phase in broader services planning.
No formal lease approval vote is recorded in the provided transcript; staff asked for the board’s approval to finalize and execute the lease so that Waypoint may move forward with preparations, and the board expressed general support during the discussion.
Dr. Ledbetter also outlined the process for forming an advisory naming committee: five members (one from each commission district), the county manager as ex officio, and that the board will receive committee member names from commissioners for appointment. Commissioners agreed to provide member names to staff in advance of the next board meeting.
The transcript does not include the finalized lease document or a recorded motion to execute it; further formal approval or execution steps may be recorded separately in the county’s official minutes or subsequent meeting records.
