Macon‑Bibb pre‑commission clears consent agenda: paving contract, playgrounds, Grand Opera House work and grants; two alcohol license applications denied

The Macon‑Bibb County Commission’s pre‑commission meeting on Tuesday moved a broad consent agenda forward, denying two alcohol‑license applications and approving contracts, grants and budget adjustments that will appear on the commission’s consent agenda at the regular 6:00 p.m. meeting.

The meeting opened at about 5:00 p.m. and proceeded through a series of routine and substantive items. Commissioners unanimously approved the minutes from the March 2025 pre‑commission meeting and then addressed several alcohol‑license applications. After code‑enforcement reports that identified operational issues and, in one case, a prior conviction for selling alcohol without a license, the commission denied an application for a food mart at 1436 Forsyth Street and denied the application for Kitchen Pride at 3101 Columbus Road. Mayor Projean Clark, who identified herself as representing the neighborhood near Kitchen Pride, thanked administration and code enforcement, saying, "I just want to thank the administration and code enforcement for being diligent on Kitchen Pride," and supported the denial.

The commission approved multiple contract awards for the Grand Opera House project. A resolution authorized the mayor to execute an agreement with BTBB Inc. for architectural services tied to renovation work (construction cost estimated at about $63,000), and separate resolutions authorized procurement of production equipment ($154,542.24) and lighting equipment ($333,958.37) from a Barbizon vendor. Commissioners said these purchases fulfill previously promised SPLOST‑era commitments for the facility.

Parks and recreation contracts also advanced. The commission approved a $368,526.18 agreement with Great Southern Recreation to install an inclusive playground at Memorial Park, and a $148,792.30 agreement for playground equipment at Eastview Park, noting CDBG and 2018 funds as the sources.

Infrastructure and operations items included approval of an independent contractor agreement with Atlanta Paving and Concrete Construction for asphalt paving and resurfacing totaling $1,272,125.90 to be paid from LMIG grant funds and 2018 funds. Commissioners discussed prioritizing heavily traveled roads over cul‑de‑sacs when allocating paving resources.

The commission approved a $250,000 change order to cover tipping and dumping fees at the Mead Road transfer station, with staff noting that actual annual costs vary with volume and that the budget will be adjusted next year.

A previously approved network contract with Accord Technologies was supplemented by $200,955.17 to provide a turnkey network configuration across the county’s fire infrastructure. Assistant County Attorney Adrianna Beavers explained the increase was needed after a miscommunication among procurement, IT and legal: "I am assistant county attorney Adrianna Beavers. This change order... will include all 22 fire stations and the fire training academy," she said, adding the supplement ensures a full turnkey solution.

The commission also accepted two grants with no local match required: a Georgia Crisis Abatement Trust award of $117,000 to support Macon Judicial Circuit accountability courts’ staff, training and counseling for substance‑use treatment, and a $40,710 Project Safe Neighborhoods grant from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council for safety and surveillance equipment for the Bibb County Sheriff's Office.

All items discussed at the pre‑commission meeting were carried by voice vote and forwarded to the consent agenda for formal action during the regular 6:00 p.m. session. The chair adjourned the pre‑commission meeting at about 5:18 p.m. and announced reconvening at 6:00 p.m.

Votes at a glance

• Approve March 2025 pre‑commission minutes — Motion by Commissioner Wynne; second Commissioner Bailey; carried; sent to consent agenda. • Deny alcohol license — Food mart, 1436 Forsyth St. — Legal recommended denial based on two inspections; motion carried; sent to consent agenda/legal follow‑up. • Deny alcohol license — Kitchen Pride, 3101 Columbus Rd. — Legal recommended denial; motion by Mayor Projean Clark; second Commissioner Stewart; carried; sent to consent agenda/legal follow‑up. • Approve alcohol license — Macon Arts Center, 4570 Pienona Ave. — Motion carried; sent to consent agenda. • Reappoint Stephen V. Staco to Construction Board of Appeals (Post 5) — Motion carried; sent to consent agenda. • Award BTBB Inc. — Grand Opera House architectural services (~$63,000) — Motion carried; sent to consent agenda. • Award Barbizon vendor — Grand Opera House production ($154,542.24) and lighting ($333,958.37) equipment — Motion carried; sent to consent agenda. • Award Great Southern Recreation — Memorial Park playground ($368,526.18) and Eastview Park ($148,792.30) — Motions carried; sent to consent agenda. • Award Atlanta Paving & Concrete — Asphalt paving/resurfacing ($1,272,125.90) — Motion carried; sent to consent agenda. • Approve change order — Mead Road transfer station tipping fees ($250,000) — Motion carried; sent to consent agenda. • Supplement Accord Technologies contract — Network configuration services ($200,955.17) for 22 fire stations and training academy — Motion carried; sent to consent agenda. • Accept Georgia Crisis Abatement Trust grant ($117,000) — Motion carried; sent to consent agenda. • Accept Criminal Justice Coordinating Council / Project Safe Neighborhoods grant ($40,710) — Motion carried; sent to consent agenda.

What happens next: Each of the above items is to appear on the commission’s consent agenda at the regular 6:00 p.m. meeting for formal adoption or final processing. Several items (Grand Opera House equipment purchases, paving, grants and the network supplement) have specific funding sources noted in committee materials and will be administered through the departments identified in the agenda packet.

(Quotations in this report are verbatim from the meeting transcript.)