DeKalb Ops committee approves legislative agenda package, adds annexation opposition and warehouse worker protections

The DeKalb County Operations Committee voted to forward a revised legislative agenda to the full Board of Commissioners after discussing new priorities and support statements ranging from annexation policy to worker protections and election procedures. Committee Chair Commissioner Marita Davis Johnson led the Jan. 1 meeting and asked members to approve the packet with a handful of textual changes before it is placed on the board agenda.

The package adds a new priority to oppose any legislative annexations and asks the General Assembly to review the so-called 60% annexation method used to determine voter or acreage thresholds for annexations. Commissioner Ted Terry moved to add the priority and described the change as intended to guard counties against “significant legislative annexations.” Dan Baskerville, an outside contract lobbyist for the county, told the committee that there is “chatter” among municipal interests about filing annexation bills this session and recommended broadly-worded language until specifics are known.

The committee also agreed to support creation of a Warehouse Workers Protection Act. Commissioner Terry and Commissioner Patrick told the committee they had both been approached about the issue; the stated concern is that current building and labor codes do not require cooling or ventilation for warehouse workers during extreme heat. Commissioner Terry said legislators and unions are leading similar efforts in other states and that the county will add a support statement in this year’s agenda.

The elections section gained several new support items. The committee endorsed a proposal to suspend code-enforcement sign…