Chatham County commissioners approve janitorial contract, deannexation consent, budget changes and dry-hydrant installations

The Chatham County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 20 voted to award a $42,300-per-year janitorial services contract, consented to Garden City's petition to deannex territory into unincorporated Chatham County, approved multiple budget amendments and transfers, and moved forward with approval of dry-hydrant installations for parts of the island communities.

The measures were presented and voted on during the board's regular meeting after several items were taken off the table from prior sessions. The board also advanced an amendment to the county's fire-service tax ordinance on second reading after brief commissioner remarks about how the fee should be presented to residents.

The janitorial contract was described on the agenda as a $42,300 annual award with renewal options (four additional one-year terms) to provide cleaning services for Public Works, Parks and Recreation and the Anderson-Cony (Anderson-Coyne) weight center. The board approved the award as listed on the agenda. The motion and second were entered on the record; the formal roll-call tally was not stated in the transcript.

Commissioners voted to consent to Garden City's petition for deannexation. County staff clarified on the record that the board's action is only the county's consent; any subsequent zoning or land-use changes would require separate petitions to the appropriate municipal or planning bodies.

The board approved a set of budget amendments and transfers affecting multiple funds, including adjustments in the State Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, the Multiple Grant Fund (including a…