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Carroll County commissioners approve equipment purchases, right-of-way abandonment, judicial pay unfreeze and election fees
Summary
In a single session the board approved multiple routine items: two tractors and four batwing mowers (using SPLOST funds), began abandoning Woodland Drive right-of-way, reappointed Craig Dodson to a county board, un-froze state court judges' pay under OCGA and set 2026 qualifying fees.
The Carroll County Board of Commissioners approved several routine procurement and administrative items during its Jan. 6 meeting, voting unanimously on a slate of motions covering equipment purchases, land record changes, judicial pay and election administration.
Finance Director Alicia Searcy opened the meeting with a November 2025 financial recap: $45,821,000 in revenue versus $42,642,000 a year earlier, tax revenue of $38,875,000, and SPLOST collections of $31,860,000 year-to-date compared with $30,108,000 in 2024. Searcy said year-to-date expenses were $38,243,760 (34,572,000 excluding capital acquisitions) and noted SPLOST spending on the county Admin Building.
Public Works presented two equipment purchases. Danny Yates recommended buying two Kubota tractors from Mason Tractor for a total of $105,690 after five proposals were received; commissioners confirmed competitive bidding and approved the award 7-0. Yates also recommended four Woods BW 10.72 batwing mowers from Atlas Equipment at $20,625 each (total $82,500) to replace older mowers, citing a 10-year gearbox warranty and two-year structural warranty; the board authorized the purchase using 2021 SPLOST funds, 7-0.
The board voted to begin the process of abandoning the recorded right-of-way for Woodland Drive inside the North By 27 Commercial Park after an adjoining owner requested the change and the area no longer functions as a road. County staff reported there are no apparent conflicts with other governmental entities.
Avery Jackson presented a resolution to lift the suspension of compensation under OCGA 1-3-12 for Carroll County state court judges tied to the Judicial Compensation Reform Act (House Bill 85). The board had budgeted funds and voted 7-0 to unfreeze state court judges' pay effective Jan. 1, 2026; commissioners also confirmed the judges indicated they did not anticipate additional budget requests through fiscal 2027.
The board approved a resolution setting candidate qualifying fees for county offices in the 2026 elections, covering three district commissioner seats, the newly enacted state court judge position, and three county school board seats.
The commission reappointed Craig Dodson to a county board referenced in the meeting record as the "board of wars" to fill a term expiring Jan. 31, 2026; the transcript term is unclear and may be a transcription error. Commissioner BN Hicks was nominated and approved as vice chairman for 2026 following commission rotation. The meeting adjourned by unanimous vote; no public comments were recorded.
