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Rockdale rescinds Roots of Life contract, reallocates $40,000; UGA to lead garden buildout under USDA grant
Summary
The board voted to rescind contract 2024-214 with Roots of Life LLC, approved a $40,000 budget transfer to general-fund contingency, and heard staff describe continued progress on a county community garden funded by a $145,000 USDA grant with University of Georgia participation.
The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 25 voted to rescind contract 2024-214 with Roots of Life LLC (Michael D. Brown) and approved a corresponding budget amendment to move $40,000 from extension services to the county general fund contingency.
During discussion, county staff described an ongoing USDA grant of $145,000 that supports the community garden project. Director Sanders (county staff) told the board roughly $50,000–$60,000 of the grant is earmarked for plants and educational materials and about $85,000 is budgeted for contractors to establish planting beds, trails and wellness areas. Sanders said University of Georgia extension staff and master gardeners will continue to lead programming once the buildout is complete.
Sanders said the county’s general services department will handle construction and bidding for the buildout; UGA representatives including Dr. Bledsoe and Julie Lynn Macy will support program development and run the garden with master gardeners. The staff noted the grant deadline requires project completion by May of next year and that UGA asked the county to hold the hiring posting for a garden position until UGA could be involved in the selection.
Ending: The board approved rescinding the contract and the $40,000 budget amendment by voice vote; staff said the USDA-funded project will proceed with county construction oversight and UGA program management toward the stated grant deadline.
