DeKalb County Ops committee approves multiple contract changes and purchases, defers animal ordinance and environmental justice item

The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners’ County Operations Committee approved a series of contract increases, purchases and routine agreements during its meeting, and deferred two items for later consideration.

The committee approved a change order and short-term funding increase to multiple commercial janitorial contracts; approved a cooperative purchasing award to W.W. Grainger pending a revised substitute amount; approved a purchase of a replacement backhoe for DeKalb Peachtree Airport; approved an increase to a technology-supply contract with CDW Government LLC; and approved a $400,000 increase for replacement of overhead doors at fire stations. The committee also deferred an ordinance on companion animal sales and a proposed environmental justice/resilience advisory group until the last meeting in March.

Why it matters: The committee’s approvals affect county operations across facilities management, parks, fire rescue, the airport and information technology. The janitorial contract action includes both ratification of past invoices and a short-term funding extension while departments rebid longer-term procurement. The environmental justice item was deferred so it can be considered alongside a pending clean-energy and clean-transportation transition plan.

Key actions and financial details

- Commercial janitorial services: The committee approved a request to increase contract funding and extend terms through June 2025 for three incumbent vendors providing commercial janitorial and custodial services. The request included ratification of payments for October–December 2024 invoices and a previous 45-day term extension. The additional, short-term funding requested totaled $3,684,471.71 (not to exceed). The transcript identified three vendors and original multi-year awards that together total $20,765,102 (BMS: $7,858,943.43; CleanStar: $8,670,801.45; A Action Janitorial: $4,235,358.08). Committee members were told the ratification covers already-paid invoices and that the 45-day extension contained no additional dollars and was intended to keep the contracts active while the change request was reviewed. Staff said the ratified invoices came from the fiscal 2024 budget; the additional January–June 2025 amounts would be charged to fiscal 2025 funds (the 2025 budget had not yet been adopted at the time of the meeting).

- Cooperative purchasing agreement with W.W. Grainger: The committee approved a cooperative agreement for maintenance, repair and operations supplies across multiple departments, but noted the originally listed amount ($3,323,000) was reduced by the Office of Internal Audit to $2,423,000; the committee approved the item contingent on a corrected substitute being provided for the next Board of Commissioners meeting.

- DeKalb Peachtree Airport — nonfederal agreement: The committee approved a nonfederal reimbursable agreement involving the Federal Aviation Administration and DeKalb Peachtree Airport to coordinate FAA work related to airfield lighting during upcoming runway construction. The agenda listed an amount of $177,648.76; during discussion staff described the equipment as FAA-owned and said the FAA would perform the work, but that costs would be borne by the airport. When asked about reimbursement, an exchange in the record indicated some confusion about whether the agreement was reimbursable; one staff speaker called it “non‑reimbursable.” The committee voted to approve the agreement.

- Equipment purchases and change orders: The committee approved a purchase under a statewide contract for a rubber-tire front loader/backhoe to serve DeKalb Peachtree Airport (amount not to exceed $106,890). The committee also approved a contract increase not to exceed $400,000 for replacement of apparatus bay overhead doors at fire stations (unit cost per door described in discussion as about $10,000–$15,000). Both items were presented as routine replacements.

- Information technology supplies: The committee approved an increase to a technology-products contract with CDW Government LLC to purchase Apple devices and other hardware and software (amount not to exceed $1,000,800). A commissioner announced a recusal on the record because he owns stock in Apple; the committee proceeded with the vote.

Deferred items

- Companion animal ordinance (companion animal litter permit and transfer and sale of dogs and cats): County staff asked to defer the item so a draft ordinance can be circulated to commissioners and outside advocates; the committee approved deferral to the last meeting in March.

- Resolution to establish an Environmental Justice and Sustainability Residents Advisory Group: Committee members requested the item be scheduled to coincide with presentation of the county’s clean-energy and clean-transportation transition plan by Southface. The committee approved deferral to the last meeting in March.

Votes at a glance (outcomes recorded in committee)

- Approval: Minutes (approved by voice vote) - Deferral: Companion animal ordinance to last meeting in March (moved and seconded; referred) - Approval: Change order and funding increase for commercial janitorial services; ratification of October–December invoices; extension through June 2025 — request not to exceed $3,684,471.71 (approved) - Approval: Cooperative purchasing agreement with W.W. Grainger — approved pending substitute that reduces the amount to $2,423,000 (approved, contingent) - Approval: Nonfederal agreement with FAA for DeKalb Peachtree Airport airfield lighting coordination (approved) - Approval: Purchase of rubber-tire front loader/backhoe under statewide contract — amount not to exceed $106,890 (approved) - Approval: Change order to increase funds for overhead door replacement at fire stations — amount not to exceed $400,000 (approved) - Approval: Increase to CDW Government LLC contract for Apple devices and other IT equipment — amount not to exceed $1,000,800 (approved); one commissioner announced a recusal due to Apple stock ownership - Approval: Resolution supporting City of Chamblee’s request to amend its charter for single-member council districts and urging review of similar charters (approved)

Discussion and committee context

Committee members pressed staff for clarity on funding sources and timing. On the janitorial contracts, staff said the October–December invoice payments come from fiscal 2024 budget lines for parks and facilities, while the January–June 2025 spending would come from fiscal 2025 allocations. Committee members expressed concern about the short-term six-month extension and asked about original contract terms (staff said the original awards were five-year agreements). Members also asked about contractor wages; staff reported the average wage range provided by contractors was roughly $16–$19 per hour (average about $18).

For the FAA airfield-lighting agreement, committee members clarified that the project does not lengthen runways or change flight operations and that it involves FAA‑owned navigational lighting equipment; staff said coordinating the FAA work during county runway construction avoids having to tear up newly placed concrete later.

Next steps and closing

Several items were deferred to allow staff to provide revised drafts or to coordinate agenda timing with related presentations. The committee closed after a routine adjournment.