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 Protection Division reviewed and approved the drainage work, and that the road was paved to county standards.

The board approved a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) contract with DPR Architectural Services — the county’s selected firm under the federal competitive procurement rules — to produce the architecture work for a proposed second gym at Citizens Park. Commissioner Kelly moved to approve the CDBG agreement; Commissioner Nix seconded and the motion passed.

Budget and staffing decisions: The board approved advertising to fill one full‑time and one part‑time library assistant and one 9‑1‑1 dispatcher, and later voted to advertise and fill two detention‑center correction‑officer positions. Commissioners discussed detention staffing and overtime extensively; county staff said current detention salary lines were at roughly half spent so far in the fiscal year but cautioned that overtime and seasonal spikes could change the outlook.

On use of restricted funds, the sheriff’s office asked the board to approve multiple purchases from the school‑zone camera fund and from confiscated assets. Several items tied to community outreach (simulator goggles, a dunkin' booth, a mascot, a metal carport) received no motions. The board considered a request to buy 100 traffic cones with school‑zone camera money; Commissioner Kelly moved and Commissioner Nix seconded, but the motion was denied. For the detention center, a motion to purchase body cameras using confiscated assets passed after discussion about inmate population and staff safety; commissioners expressed desire for clearer inventory and accounting of previously purchased cameras before approving additional expenditures.

The board discussed a $91,705 set of invoices for inmate housing dated to earlier months and chose to table a budget amendment to pay those invoices until staff produced a specific dollar amendment identifying funding sources. County staff noted roughly $115,000 in confiscated assets existed; commissioners debated whether those funds could or should be used to pay inmate housing bills versus other needs (evidence room shelving, body cameras, detention salaries).

Other actions: the board declared surplus property (equipment and vehicles) and approved auction/sale plans with a suggested reserve price; approved a motion to authorize a budget amendment to increase the hurricane debris removal allocation (staff reported $14,000,000 in debris costs so far and recommended budgeting up to $17,000,000, with FEMA reimbursements already totaling about $5,400,000 to date); and approved indirect cost allocations for February that included vehicle maintenance ($73,009.63) and facility and IT allocations (about $118,890).

Public comment included requests for maintenance at a local playground and broader appeals for an external review of county spending and advisory panels to compare Burke County services to peer counties. Finance Director Michael reported FY24 federal and state grant receipts of about $9,032,000, led by American Rescue Plan funds currently being used for county broadband and other projects.

Votes at a glance

- Add late agenda item (body camera funding for detention center between items 20 and 21): mover Commissioner Kelly; seconder Commissioner Lively; outcome: approved. - Award bid — remount two ambulances (Custom Truck and Body Works): motion by Commissioner Nix; second Commissioner Lively; outcome: approved; contract amount $313,160 for two remounts. - Award bid — culvert pipe to Cherokee Culvert: motion by Commissioner Nix; second Commissioner Kelly; outcome: approved. - Award bid — youth counseling services (S and K Mind, Body & Soul): motion by Commissioner Kelly; second Commissioner Lively; outcome: approved; price noted $150 per session; funded through grant funds. - Accept High Brass Way as county road: motion by Commissioner Nix; second Commissioner Kelly; outcome: approved. - Waive landfill fees for illegal dumping on private property (process tied to a report from sheriff, DNR, or code enforcement): motion by Commissioner Lively; second Commissioner Nix; outcome: approved (fee waiver contingent on documented report and case review). - Reappoint Ricky Flakes and Karen Reeves to library board: motion by Commissioner Kelly; seconded; outcome: approved. - Advertise to fill library full‑time and part‑time positions: motion by Commissioner Nix; second Commissioner Kelly; outcome: approved. - Advertise and fill one 9‑1‑1 dispatcher: motion by Commissioner Lively; second Commissioner Kelly; outcome: approved. - Approve surplus property list and disposition strategy (reserve on some items): motion by Commissioner Nix; second Commissioner Kelly; outcome: approved. - Approve CDBG agreement with DPR Architectural Services for Citizens Park gym application: motion by Commissioner Kelly; second Commissioner Nix; outcome: approved. - Traffic cones purchase from school‑zone camera fund (100 cones): motion by Commissioner Kelly; second Commissioner Nix; outcome: denied. - Approve body cameras for detention center (funded from confiscated assets): motion by Commissioner Nix; second Commissioner Kelly; outcome: approved; confiscated assets balance cited roughly $115,000. - Budget amendment to pay inmate housing invoices (~$91,705): motion to table until a dollar amendment is provided identifying funding source; outcome: tabled. - Advertise/fill two detention‑center correction officers: motion by Commissioner Nix; second Commissioner Kelly; outcome: approved (hiring contingent on salary line/trends). - Budget amendment — hurricane debris removal (increase toward $17,000,000): motion by Chairman (Murphy); second; outcome: approved; FEMA reimbursements reported $5,400,000 so far. - Indirect cost allocations (February): motion by Commissioner Nix; second Commissioner Kelly; outcome: approved.

What commissioners said: County Manager Merv Waldrop and finance staff repeatedly emphasized the importance of preserving salary lines to ensure payroll and detention staffing through the fiscal year. A sheriff’s office representative (Colonel, Sheriff’s Office) urged use of confiscated assets for safety items and noted a rising inmate population. Commissioner Lively repeatedly urged caution about using restricted camera funds for items that may not meet statutory requirements and requested staff verify legal authority before spending.

Ending: The board met multiple agenda items covering procurement, staffing and emergency recovery. Several requests from the sheriff’s office for outreach equipment from restricted funds were left without approval or denied, while purchases and hiring related to public safety infrastructure and detention staffing moved forward. The board tabled the inmate‑housing invoice amendment pending a detailed funding amendment and asked staff to provide clearer accounting for prior camera purchases and confiscated asset balances.