DeKalb commissioners set committees, defer 2025 budget vote and add walk‑ons; board convenes special call and executive session

DeKalb County commissioners reviewed and organized items for the Feb. 11 Board of Commissioners meeting during the Committee of the Whole on Feb. 4, including a deferred vote on the 2025 annual budget, committee referrals for purchasing and contracting items, acceptance of several grants and two walk‑on appointments for a district community council. The board later convened a special‑call meeting and voted to enter executive session for litigation and real‑estate matters.

Presiding officer Michelle Long Spears opened the committee of the whole and staff presented the proposed executive agenda and routing recommendations. County staff asked that the proposed motion to adopt the 2025 annual budget (item 20250185) be deferred to the Feb. 25 meeting. The agenda also included airport lease items, fire‑rescue medical director agreements, purchasing and contracting referrals and two watershed project agreements identified for the Public Works and Infrastructure committee.

Key items and committee referrals County staff identified several items to be placed on the consent agenda or routed to committees: - Airport lease items (standardized T‑hangar lease and a Peachtree Aviation lease amendment) were slated for consent. - Purchasing and contracting items were routed across IRPS, Ops and PWI committees (a total of multiple items; staff enumerated item IDs for committee consideration). - Watershed management had two PWI items (one related to sewer upgrades; the other a GDOT water and sewer facilities agreement tied to a State Route resurfacing project).

Grants and contracts highlighted Staff flagged two fire‑rescue medical director agreements with Emory Clinic Inc. for committee review in IRPS: one not to exceed $544,235.84 (five years) and a second E911 medical director agreement not to exceed $341,844.51 (five years). A public‑health grant from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Injury Control and Prevention) for community violence intervention was presented for acceptance at no cost to the county: $50,000 to serve an estimated 40 youth at McNair and Cedar Grove (Candler Road) high schools.

Walk‑ons and appointments Commissioner Marita Davis Johnson announced two walk‑ons for recording in the minutes: appointments of Malia Evans and Linda Jones Williams to the District 5 community council to fill existing vacancies.

Commissioner Michelle Long Spears introduced two walk‑on items of her own: a budget amendment to add three positions to the BOC central staff (a legal counsel, a financial consultant and a communications director) and a resolution condemning U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids conducted on Jan. 26 and reaffirming “DeKalb County’s commitment to diversity, inclusion and the safety of all residents.” Spears asked that the budget amendment be considered in Ops and the resolution be referred to PECS.

Board motions and executive session Later in the meeting commissioners approved procedural motions to convene a special‑call meeting and to enter executive session for litigation and real‑estate matters. The motions passed by voice vote; the clerk recorded the vocal “Aye” and the chair announced the motion carried. No roll‑call tallies were recorded in the transcript.

Other procedural items The clerk’s office presented several ministerial items for recording of the minutes and reappointments, including reappointments scheduled for community council and advisory board seats. Staff also confirmed committee meeting times and slight schedule adjustments for follow‑up meetings.

What the actions mean The deferred budget adoption (item 20250185) will return to the Board for action on Feb. 25. Commissioners also flagged items for more detailed committee review: multiple purchasing and contracting items will be considered in IRPS, Ops and PWI, and staff committed to providing additional vendor and background information on watershed and transportation contracting questions raised by commissioners.

Ending note: The board convened a short executive session and returned to open session before adjourning. Commissioners asked staff to supply requested background materials ahead of committee hearings and the special‑call meeting.