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Ware County commission approves weight limit, holiday, leases, grants and employee Roth option; several rezones move forward
Summary
At its Oct. 13 meeting, the Ware County Board of Commissioners approved Ordinance 2025‑O‑03 (weight limits and a four‑way stop), added Veterans Day to paid holidays, authorized radio‑tower leases and a 5311 rural transit grant application, adopted a Roth retirement option for employees, and approved several liquor‑license and rezoning requests; one rezoning was tabled.
The Ware County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 13 approved a series of administrative and policy measures affecting county operations, employee benefits and local business licensing.
The commission adopted Ordinance 2025‑O‑03 to establish a weight limit on Wind Clay Drive and to install a four‑way stop at Stetson and Mesa drives after staff reported repeated large‑truck traffic and a recent crash at that intersection. Commissioners said the sheriff’s office will enforce the restriction and signage will be posted at both ends of Wind Clay Drive.
Commissioners voted to add Veterans Day to the county’s list of approved paid holidays for county employees. Staff told the board that the change would have little net budget impact because annual payroll is already budgeted and only essential staff would still be scheduled to work.
The board approved written leases with Monroe Communications for antenna space on the Monroe communications tower used by emergency management, public works, EMS, the county fire department and the sheriff’s office. Staff said the new one‑year leases (with annual renewals for up to 10 years) formalize a long‑standing verbal arrangement; monthly rates listed in the staff packet were $255 for EMA, $125 for Public Works, $130 for EMS, $230 for Fire and $130 for the Sheriff’s Office.
On transportation, the commission approved Resolution 2025‑20 authorizing application for the federal and state 5311 rural public transit grant administered by the Southern Georgia Regional Commission; staff said the program, used for medical and other trips, carries no direct county cost.
On employee benefits, the board approved a resolution and simple adoption form to add a Roth (post‑tax) contribution option to the county’s defined‑contribution retirement plan, following a presentation by Paul Smith of ACCG Retirement. Staff and commissioners emphasized the option is voluntary for employees and requires only a short plan amendment.
The board approved three alcohol‑license applications—two convenience‑store/change‑of‑ownership requests at 1900–1902 Alma Highway and a new license at 2501 Plant Avenue—after staff reported no statutory disqualifiers. The commission also approved a borrow‑pit option agreement allowing county access to dirt at a Manor site for public‑works needs and accepted notice of a $1,000,000 CDBG award for paving work.
On land‑use votes, the commission approved a zoning text amendment reducing the rear setback for Limited Industrial properties from 100 feet to match General Industrial (25 feet) and approved rezoning several Industrial Park parcels from IP/SDD‑IP to GI/SDD‑GI to broaden permitted uses. The board also approved rezoning 2401 State Street from R‑90 to C‑3. The rezoning request for 840 McKinley Road (to allow single‑wide manufactured homes) was tabled so the property owner can appear and clarify development plans.
Several items were moved by motion and recorded with individual aye votes. The meeting packet and staff reports will be posted to the county’s record for reference. The commission’s formal minutes will list recorded votes and the precise ordinance and resolution numbers.
