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Commissioners table vote on engineering office public access after debate
Summary
Commissioners debated whether the engineering and permitting office should remain appointment-only because of overcrowding and limited lobby space; the court tabled the item until November to assess impacts after adding a receptionist in the new budget.
Liberty County commissioners opened a debate on Aug. 20 over whether the county—s engineering and permitting office should be closed to walk-in public traffic and operate by appointment only. Concerns centered on overcrowding in a small lobby, lack of reception staff and privacy issues for applicants.
Melinda Holiday, the permits and inspections official who spoke to the court, described a cramped office with four employees and a 40-square-foot lobby and said appointments have worked well since COVID. Commissioners and staff discussed occupancy limits, the potential for a bilingual receptionist, and relocation plans tied to a future annex in Colony Ridge. One county member recommended adding a receptionist in the October budget and then reassessing operations.
Leon moved to table the item; the motion was seconded and the court voted to table it until November to see whether the added receptionist and the new annex alleviate the concerns. Commissioners instructed staff to revisit the matter after the budget change and provide occupancy or process updates as needed.
