Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Administration And Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Walker County commissioners approve broadband-ready rules, make multiple appointments and award historic-survey contract
Summary
At its Jan. 9 meeting the Walker County Board of Commissioners adopted a broadband-ready ordinance, appointed several municipal and advisory positions, added Juneteenth to the county holiday schedule and awarded a historic-resources survey contract funded partly by a state grant.
The Walker County Board of Commissioners approved a series of organizational and policy items at its Jan. 9 meeting, including adopting a local ordinance to align the county with the state's community connectivity plan, appointing multiple board and commission members, adding June 19 to the county holiday calendar, and awarding a contract for a historic resources survey tied to a state grant.
Ordinance O-01-25: broadband-ready community standards The board adopted Ordinance O-01-25 to amend Chapter 34 (Utilities) of the Code of Walker County and adopt the state "community connectivity" or broadband-ready standards. County officials said the statewide program makes providers eligible for state funding if a county adopts the plan; county staff told the board participation costs the county nothing. No members of the public spoke at the ordinance hearing, and the motion to adopt the ordinance passed unanimously.
Appointments and organizational actions - Resolution R-002-25: Commissioners re-elected Commissioner Askew as vice chair (motion approved). - Resolution R-004-25: The board appointed Lisa Richardson as county clerk (motion approved). - Resolution R-005-25: The board tabled the appointment of a county attorney until the Feb. 6 meeting; current secondary counsel (Gerard & Davis) will continue as interim legal support until a contract is finalized. - Resolution R-006-25: The 2025 county holiday schedule was amended to include June 19 (Juneteenth); members thanked Beverly Foster and local organizers for their work on celebrations. - Resolution R-007-25: The board reappointed Scott Abston and appointed Courtney Johnson to the Walker County Water and Sewage Authority (motions approved). - Resolution R-008-25: The board appointed Harold Hughes as chair of the Walker County Alcoholic Beverage Commission and Don Ritchie to a three-year term ending Dec. 31, 2027 (motions approved). - Resolution R-009-25: The board reappointed Theresa Dorsey and reappointed John Culpepper as chair of the Historic Preservation Commission (motions approved).
Historic-resources survey contract and state grant The board awarded a contract to Adura to conduct a historic resources survey intended to restore the county's certified local government status with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (Historic Preservation Division). The county staff presentation stated the project was funded by a $20,000 grant with a $13,333 local match; Historic Preservation Commission chair John Culpepper described the survey area and scope, saying the team planned to survey approximately 197 structures in the defined rural area and that the survey must be completed to meet grant deadlines. The board approved the contract award to Adura by voice vote.
Pension trustees and agenda modification The board approved appointments to the Walker County pension plan trustees: Carter Brown and Steve Rogers Jr. will replace Shannon Whitfield and Greg McConnell effective Jan. 1, 2025. Separately, the board approved a modification to the meeting agenda at the start of the session that removed consideration of a full pension-plan restatement because county secondary counsel identified potential ERISA compliance issues; the chair said the restatement must be brought into compliance before further action.
Votes at a glance - Agenda modification (remove pension-plan restatement, add water/sewer appointees): approved (motion carried). - Minutes (Dec. 19, 2024): approved. - Ordinance O-01-25 (Chapter 34 / broadband-ready): adopted. - R-002-25 (Vice chair): approved (Askew re-elected vice chair). - R-003-25 (2025 meeting calendar / regular meetings set for first Thursday at 6:00 p.m.): approved. - R-004-25 (County clerk appointment, Lisa Richardson): approved. - R-005-25 (County attorney appointment): tabled to Feb. 6, 2025. - R-006-25 (Add June 19 to 2025 holiday schedule): approved. - R-007-25 (Walker County Water and Sewage Authority appointments): approved (Scott Abston reappointed; Courtney Johnson appointed). - R-008-25 (Alcoholic Beverage Commission appointments): approved (Harold Hughes as chair; Don Ritchie appointed). - R-009-25 (Historic Preservation Commission appointments): approved (Theresa Dorsey reappointed; John Culpepper reappointed as chair). - Contract award (historic resources survey to Adura): approved. - R-011-25 (Pension plan trustees Carter Brown and Steve Rogers Jr.): approved.
The board also established its 2025 meeting calendar and set its next regular meeting for Feb. 6, 2025. Several commissioners and guests thanked county staff, volunteers and civic groups for recent events and service.
