Board approves consent agenda, renews medical examiner contract with CPI increase and fills several authority seats; 1 water-authority appointment fails

The Clayton County Board of Commissioners approved its consent agenda and several formal actions at the Feb. 21 meeting.

Agenda additions and adoption At the start of the meeting the board added two items to the consent agenda: Ordinance 2025-16 (a second reading related to a county pension ordinance under the county's home-rule authority) and Resolution 2025-35, a request to participate pro rata in a professional services agreement for federal lobbying services (to share costs with the school board and municipalities for aviation fuel tax advocacy). The board adopted the agenda with those additions by voice vote.

Medical examiner contract (PSA 22-318) County staff asked the board to approve an amendment to PSA 22-318, the annual medical examiner services contract with Coswell Truman LLC (doing business as Clayton County Medical Examiner, headquartered in Covington). Staff said the vendor requested a CPI-based increase submitted within the contractual renewal window and the recommended amendment increased the contract by 4.1 percent (the vendor's requested CPI basis reflected earlier months). Staff presented the verified CPI support and said funding was available in the general fund; the amendment raised the per-case fee so that the contract total would be $1,778.55 as presented. The board approved the renewal and price amendment; one commissioner recorded a dissenting voice during the vote but the motion passed.

Board and authority appointments The board took multiple appointment votes for county authorities and development entities: the motion to appoint Arvis Walker to the Clayton County Water Authority failed (the board reported the nays prevailed and the motion did not pass). The board reappointed Dr. Cephas Jackson to the Clayton County Water Authority for a five-year term through Feb. 28, 2030. The board also reappointed and confirmed multiple members to the Clayton County Development Authority, including reappointments and new appointments consistent with statutory terms; those motions passed by voice vote.

Consent agenda and contract authorizations The board approved the full consent agenda by voice vote. In executive session the board authorized two tax-parcel acquisitions (listed by parcel ID with amounts) and directed the CFO to amend the budget to reflect the revenue and expense entries required to complete the purchases; the board voted to authorize the chair or her designee to execute required documents.

What was on the record County attorney and staff framed the medical examiner amendment as a renewal consistent with contractual CPI provisions submitted within the renewal notice window. Staff also explained that some procurements (including the previously discussed curbside RFP) had lapsed and would require new procurement actions if the board wished to pursue them.

Votes at a glance - Motion to add Ordinance 2025-16 (second reading) and Resolution 2025-35 (lobbying agreement participation) to the consent agenda: approved by voice vote. - Motion to adopt the meeting agenda with additions: approved by voice vote. - PSA 22-318 (Clayton County Medical Examiner) contract amendment (CPI increase; total presented $1,778.55): approved (one dissent recorded; motion passed). - Resolution 2025-27 (rescind mandatory curbside plan): approved (see separate coverage). - Reappointment of Dr. Cephas Jackson to the Clayton County Water Authority (term through 02/28/2030): approved. - Appointment of Arvis Walker to the Clayton County Water Authority (motion failed). - Multiple development authority appointments and reappointments: approved. - Consent agenda: approved. - Executive-session authorizations for two tax-parcel acquisitions (parcel IDs referenced on the record): approved and CFO authorized to amend budget.