Meriwether County commissioners approve courthouse contract, authorize vehicle and equipment purchases and dozens of appointments

The Meriwether County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 25 approved a slate of contracts, purchases and appointments, including a guaranteed maximum price of $2,019,979.14 for Phase 1 of courthouse exterior and roofing work and authorization to transfer up to $1,000,000 from general fund special projects to SPLOST to fund immediate renovation needs.

County staff told commissioners that the full courthouse project is estimated at more than $2 million plus HVAC work and that the $1,000,000 transfer would be reimbursed starting with the county’s 2026 SPLOST distribution. "We can transfer balances from the general fund special projects account to SPLOST and then reimburse the county back," staff said, noting the board would return if additional funding were required.

The board approved the River City Contracting guaranteed maximum price for Phase 1 — roofing and exterior — not to exceed $2,019,979.14; staff said work could begin within two weeks of approval. The board also authorized Phase 2 HVAC design work for the courthouse 3rd floor so the county can return with a guaranteed price for that construction phase.

In procurement and fleet actions, commissioners accepted a sole bid for two firefighting tankers from First 5 Fabricators Inc. at a total cost transcribed as approximately $384,355.28, funded primarily by an insurance payout with the remainder from SPLOST. The board also authorized procurement of four sheriff pursuit vehicles (Dodge Durango pursuit units) at roughly $43,800 each plus outfitting estimated at $10,200 per unit, for a total purchase and outfitting estimated at about $216,000; staff said buying now saves roughly $17,000 versus waiting.

On facilities maintenance, Max Air Plumbing presented two repair options for a deteriorated sanitary sewer chase in the jail: staff recommended replacing 40 feet of 4-inch sewer line for $39,371 rather than relining the existing line. The larger relining figure in the transcript appears garbled; staff recommended and the board approved the replacement option pending legal review.

The board also moved a budget amendment to prepare general fund department appropriations ahead of the FY24 audit. Staff said the appropriations total $845,310.05 with debits to multiple departments and credits from excess revenue and sale of assets; the board authorized the chair and finance director to sign required audit documents.

Appointments were handled in a block: the board reappointed and confirmed multiple members to county authorities and regional boards, including reappointments or continuations for David Caldwell and Mark Spradlin to the Board of Elections, John Funderburk to the Planning Commission (District 3), and Greg Hobbs to the Tax Assessor board. Several terms and a clerical correction to a one-year term end date were clarified during the appointment confirmations.

Chief Appraiser William Harris recommended Bethesda Appraisals for the countywide commercial property revaluation (Bethesda bid: $110,000; competitor bid transcribed at $124,000). Harris said Bethesda’s proposal included Board of Equalization (BOE) hearing services at no extra charge, which he argued would reduce future out-of-pocket hearing costs and staff time; the board voted to proceed with Bethesda pending review by the Board of Assessors and legal counsel.

County Administrator updates included building exterior work, coordination with Georgia Power for improved lighting and poles at Red Oak Covered Bridge to support cameras, staff hires (a deputy director of public works and a staff accountant starting in December), and tentative audit on-site work beginning Feb. 2.

The board set a public hearing for Dec. 23, 2025, at 6 p.m. to consider corrections to the county’s alcoholic beverages ordinance (Ordinance Amendment 25-05 to Chapter 4) after the county clerk and legal counsel identified errors during review. The meeting concluded after an executive session covering litigation, personnel, real estate and tax matters.

Votes at a glance (actions taken): - Adopted agenda with one addition (motion passed). - Approved minutes for Nov. 10, 2025 (motion passed). - Numerous appointments and reappointments to county boards and authorities (motions passed). - Authorized staff to transfer up to $1,000,000 from general fund special projects to SPLOST as needed to fund courthouse renovations (direction/motion recorded). - Approved River City Contracting GMP for Courthouse Phase 1, $2,019,979.14 (motion passed). - Authorized Phase 2 HVAC design work (motion passed). - Awarded firefighting tanker bid to First 5 Fabricators Inc., total transcribed ~$384,355.28 (motion passed). - Authorized purchase of four sheriff vehicles and outfitting (total transcribed ~$216,000) (motion passed). - Approved jail sanitary sewer replacement option, $39,371 (motion passed pending legal review). - Approved budget amendment/general fund department appropriations totaling $845,310.05 and authorized signatures (motion passed). - Set public hearing for Ordinance Amendment 25-05 (Chapter 4) on Dec. 23, 2025 (motion passed).

What remains: staff to finalize contracts (appraisal vendor and construction), return with negotiated contract language for Board of Assessors and legal review where required, and advertise the public hearing for the alcoholic beverage ordinance corrections.

Sources: Meriwether County Board of Commissioners meeting transcript, Nov. 25, 2025.