County staff summarized 12 consent agenda items on Oct. 21 that included budget amendments, grant/loan approvals and contract awards for capital and operating needs.

Key items presented by county staff (Jeff and other department leads) included a budget amendment of $2,000,000 to accept a Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank (GTIB) loan for Technology Ridge Parkway and Airport Road Spur; a request to use reserves to complete purchase of a Lenco BearCat armored vehicle for the Sheriff’s Office ($399,839) after manufacturer lead times caused the buy to slip into FY2026; and a SPLOST request to award the State Route 140 at Springer Road traffic signal contract to the low bidder (American Lighting and Signalization LLC) for about $247,102, with operation expected once mast arms and poles are delivered (roughly a multi‑month lead time).

Staff also outlined plans and awards for several large SPLOST projects: a professional services agreement with Goodwin, Mills & Caywood for program and schematic design work for a new four‑story Justice Center (not to exceed $550,000), and a design‑build agreement with Spratling Construction for two replacement fire stations and repurposing the former Buffington Elementary School as a fire‑education facility (contract value $17,487,853; total project budget including contingencies and FF&E up to $20,000,000). Staff said Spratling plans to open a local office and has experience on similar projects. Other consent items included the county’s pre‑application for a Georgia DNR Outdoor Stewardship grant to improve Gober Beach Recreation Area, purchases of 15 Ford Police Interceptor vehicles and upfits (total about $875,936.85, SPLOST funded), and various budget and procurement housekeeping items.

Commissioners asked for schedule clarity on signal installations, noted long lead times for signal mast arms and for the Sheriff’s armored vehicle, and received detail on how funds would be applied. The board did not take final votes in the work session; staff said many items would appear on the consent agenda or as public‑hearing items at the Nov. 18 meeting.