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Votes at a glance: Wayne County Commission actions on Jan. 6, 2025
Summary
A roundup of formal motions and votes taken by the Wayne County Board of Commissioners, Jan. 6, 2025, including approvals for EMS staffing, health insurance renewal, software purchase, grants, licenses and contracts; the animal control ordinance was tabled.
Wayne County commissioners took a series of votes on Jan. 6, 2025. Highlights: the board approved an EMS staffing package (Option A), renewed health insurance, approved a beer‑and‑wine license change of ownership, authorized software to publish budget data online, accepted a VOCA grant, authorized a policy to carry opioid antagonists in county buildings to comply with Senate Bill 395, approved several county property listings/price adjustments and accepted a contract with the tourism board. The board tabled an update to the county’s animal control ordinance for further review.
Votes and key details
- Election of chairman and vice chairman: The board elected Kevin McCreery as chairman and selected Mike Gordon as vice chairman during the meeting; roll calls recorded affirmative votes for the slate.
- Approval of minutes: The board approved the listed work session and regular meeting minutes with some abstentions recorded for commissioners who were not present for the earlier meetings.
- Health insurance renewal (item B): After a presentation by Sean O’Quinn, the board voted to consider and approve the county’s health insurance renewal; the motion passed by roll call (recorded as affirmative by the clerk).
- Beer and wine license — Crossroads Country Store (change of ownership): Commissioners approved the transfer; the clerk noted the applicant met county requirements and the motion passed by roll call.
- Resolution authorizing acceptable forms of payment for ad valorem taxes: The board approved a resolution to clarify and expand acceptable payment methods (non‑cash) to facilitate online payments; motion passed by roll call.
- Notice and frequency for disbursement of ad valorem and motor vehicle collections: The board approved a change to allow bimonthly transfers (rather than monthly) in certain months to improve cashflow flexibility; motion passed by roll call.
- EMS staffing and revenue truck proposal (detailed item): The board approved Option A (see separate article). Vote recorded: 5–0 in favor (roll call recorded by clerk).
- Agreement for Oglethorpe Road and Tank Road and resolution authorizing execution: The board approved the agreements and authorized the chairman and county clerk to execute them (motion passed by roll call).
- VOCA grant for the district attorney’s office: The board approved the district attorney’s request to proceed with the VOCA grant application; clerk and commissioners stated the grant funds flow directly to the DA’s office and the local matching requirement was waived.
- ClearGov software purchase (budget transparency software): The board approved a purchase to set up ClearGov for a $3,000 setup fee and approximately $26,625 annual cost thereafter to publish budget data online; motion passed by roll call.
- Opioid antagonist policy (Senate Bill 395 compliance): Commissioners approved a county opioid antagonist policy and training plan to place opioid antagonists (for example, naloxone) and training near AEDs as the law requires; motion passed by roll call.
- Solar ordinance update: The board moved to adopt updated solar ordinance language to establish parameters for solar facilities; the motion passed by roll call.
- Agreement with Jackie Hoyt for bingo at Richardson Hall (JC Richardson Center / community building): After discussion and an initial failed vote on a 3‑year agreement, the board approved a 1‑year agreement with a 5% return to the senior center and with language requiring accommodation of county elections and other county priorities; final recorded roll call was in favor by majority.
- Animal control ordinance update: Commissioners chose to table the proposed animal control ordinance update to allow deeper review of extensive redline changes and agricultural provisions.
- County properties: Several county parcels were placed or re‑priced for sale to return properties to the tax digest; the board approved listing/reduction motions as presented (parcels and proposed listing prices were read into the record and motions passed by roll call).
- Tourism board agreement (JC Hut / fairgrounds): The board accepted the tourism board contract as presented and asked for a signed contract to be returned before the next county meeting; the contract includes multi‑year automatic renewal language with termination/repayment provisions tied to the tourism board’s investments. The clerk recorded an affirmative majority vote.
- Aging advisory committee appointment: The resignation of a committee member was acknowledged and the board tabled appointment to the committee pending advertisement and candidates.
- House Bill 581 (floating homestead exemption): County staff sought a consensus on whether Wayne County would opt out of the newly enacted floating homestead exemption created by House Bill 581; commissioners indicated they did not intend to opt out and staff sought direction to proceed accordingly (no formal opt‑out motion recorded during the meeting).
Meeting follow‑ups: staff were directed to return with contracts, implementation details, and budget impacts for several approved items, including the EMS staffing plan, the tourism contract, and the ClearGov integration.
