Burke County commissioners approve ambulance remounts, accept new county road, authorize detention center body cameras; several sheriff funding requests delayed

Burke County commissioners approved several procurement and personnel items Tuesday and debated multiple requests from the sheriff's office to use school‑zone camera or confiscated asset funds for outreach and equipment.

The board voted to award a $313,160 bid to Custom Truck and Body Works for remounting two ambulances, accepted High Brass Way as a county road after plat and drainage clarifications, and approved a CDBG architectural services contract with DPR for an application to add a second gym at Citizens Park. Commissioners also approved advertising to fill library and 9‑1‑1 dispatcher positions, declared county equipment surplus for auction, and approved two new detention‑center correction‑officer positions. A motion to purchase body cameras for the detention center from confiscated assets passed. Several sheriff's office requests to buy community outreach items from the school‑zone camera fund drew no motions or were denied.

Why it matters: The ambulances and road acceptance affect public safety and county infrastructure; hiring detention staff and buying detention center body cameras respond to capacity and staff‑safety concerns raised by the sheriff's office. Decisions about use of restricted camera funds and confiscated assets surfaced tensions about permissible uses and fiscal priorities.

Connie Venelberley, interim Archway professional, introduced the Archway Partnership update and reported Archway’s recent activity in Burke County, saying, "To date, we have done about 33 projects in Burke County" and that the partnership produced a calculated return on investment. Venelberley told the commission the return on investment to Burke County for the last fiscal year was $178,659 and $436,251 over the last three fiscal years.

On procurement and public safety equipment, the board awarded the ambulance remounting contract after staff recommended van‑mounted (type 3) units and endorsement of Custom Truck and Body Works based on prior work and local availability. Commissioner Nix moved to award the bid to Custom Truck and Body Works for $313,160 for two remounts; Commissioner Lively seconded the motion and commissioners voted in favor.

The board accepted High Brass Way as a county road after staff confirmed the plat was refiled, that Georgia Environmental…