Fulton County commissioners approve equipment purchases, bridge task order and voting-machine contract; set uniform purchasing policy

Fulton County commissioners on Aug. 4 approved a package of routine administrative actions that included equipment purchases and repairs, a $10,000 task order for Bridge 106, a contract for voting machines and a new countywide approach to uniform purchases.

The actions, taken by voice votes during the regularly scheduled meeting at the Fulton County courthouse, also included approvals for a chip-seal on a fire-station parking lot, a request to use existing equipment-line funding for vehicle-lift purchases, and several appropriation and transfer requests to cover invoices and software costs.

Why it matters: The package largely uses existing budgeted funds and aims to keep county roads and infrastructure projects moving, provide statutory election equipment, and centralize uniform purchases to improve cost control and consistency across county departments.

Key decisions and context

- Bridge 106 task order: Commissioners authorized a task order with USI for engineering work related to changing the project to an aluminum box culvert and associated services, for an amount not to exceed $10,000. County staff said the culvert approach reduces the estimated project cost from roughly $1.2 million to about $400,000.

- Equipment purchases and repairs: The board gave permission to pursue purchases from the equipment line item, including vehicle lifts priced in the $50,000–$56,000 range and other equipment drawn against an equipment line item with about $65,000 remaining. Commissioners also approved using bond proceeds or bond-authorized funds to replace a distributor for chip sealing if bond proceeds are available.

- Chip seal and fire-station parking lot: The commissioners approved a request to allow county highway staff to chip-seal the fire station parking lot using county labor while the fire department pays for materials; the practice was described as one the county has done in prior years.

- Voting-machine contract: The board granted permission for a county official to sign a contract with Governmental Business Systems (GBS) for voting equipment used at vote centers.

- Parade vehicle policy: Commissioners gave a blanket approval permitting county-owned dump trucks to be driven in local, in-county parades when county employees operate them and insurance/HR approvals are in place.

- Appropriations and transfers: The board approved an appropriation to the drainage board to complete payments to RQAW for flood- and stream-restoration engineering ($23,184 referenced) and an appropriation related to the sheriff’s department for computer/software maintenance ($23,616 referenced, with a portion funded from the commissary fund). Multiple transfer requests were also approved to cover underbudgeted line items and grant-related insurance costs.

- Administrative approvals: The commissioners approved minutes from prior meetings, travel requests, claims and payroll disbursements presented at the meeting and several routine personnel-technology requests (mobile time-clock access, a laptop for offsite/hybrid work, and temporary work-from-home accommodation for medical leave).

- Uniform purchasing policy: The board authorized HR to set up a county “store” with a single vendor (Winning Edge) for departmental uniforms and to freeze new uniform purchases from other vendors as of the meeting date until the store is live; the highway and sheriff’s departments were exempted because of specialized uniform arrangements.

Votes at a glance: - Permission to chip-seal fire-station parking lot (materials paid by fire department; county labor): motion approved by voice vote; vote tally not specified. - Approval to pursue lift and other equipment purchases from the equipment line item (up to amounts discussed; equipment line had ~$65,000 remaining): motion approved by voice vote; vote tally not specified. - USI task order for Bridge 106 (not to exceed $10,000): motion approved by voice vote; vote tally not specified. - Blanket permission for county dump truck in local parades (insurance/HR conditions apply): motion approved by voice vote; vote tally not specified. - Permission to sign contract with GBS for voting machines (Governmental Business Systems): motion approved by voice vote; vote tally not specified. - Appropriation to drainage board (RQAW engineering) and sheriff’s computer/software maintenance (amounts referenced above): both approved; vote tallies not specified. - Transfers and miscellaneous administrative requests (multiple items): approved by voice vote; vote tallies not specified. - County uniform purchasing plan (Winning Edge store) and freeze on other uniform purchases pending rollout: motion approved by voice vote; vote tally not specified.

Discussion and next steps: Most items were routine and presented by department heads with limited debate; where staff noted budget line-item balances (for example, equipment and bond funds) commissioners asked clarifying questions before approving motions. Staff said documents such as the USI task order and the GBS contract will be provided to the commissioners and signed by authorized county officials. Commissioners were reminded that budget workshops are scheduled later in the week.

Meeting context and attendance: Commissioners opened the Aug. 4 meeting with two commissioners present and a range of department heads and staff reporting across public works, health, IT, veterans services, emergency services and other county offices. Several non-action items were presented as informational reports (cybersecurity work, county IT upgrades, transit vehicle recalls and county facility maintenance). The board acknowledged the forthcoming resignation of a county employee and discussed scheduling and logistics for upcoming projects.