Walton County approves $180,000 sheriff merit-pay pilot, advances water projects and confirms key appointments

Walton County commissioners approved a package of personnel, capital and administrative items, including a $180,000 budget amendment to pilot merit‑based pay increases for the sheriff's department, briefed on major water‑infrastructure work, and made several appointments.

A motion to allocate $180,000 to fund the first round of merit‑based increases for the sheriff's office passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition. The motion and discussion made clear the funding is intended as a one‑year pilot; the board said it will review effectiveness during next year's budget process.

During the county manager's report, staff announced the county has implemented a centralized open‑records request system that went live on 12/08/2025 and had received 44 requests as of the prior Monday. The manager also updated commissioners on the Hartleaver Creek water‑treatment project: officials moved the plant's planned capacity from 12,000,000 to 16,000,000 gallons per day at an estimated not‑to‑exceed cost of $7,560,000 and said the revised schedule shifts a start target from a September date to January 2028. Transmission‑line bids for the first section of the project came in roughly 50% below estimate, with the recommended local winning bid at about $9,700,000.

The board also approved several personnel and administrative items by voice vote: appointment of Rhonda Hawk as county clerk; a continuation of the county attorney contract; appointment of the assistant county clerk; retention of Tim Shalnut as vice chairman; and appointments to the planning commission and board of assessors (Mark Banks and Mark Peavey, respectively).

Other administrative actions included approval of two building‑maintenance proposals for Walton government facilities (EIFS/gutter/downspout repairs for $139,000 and a TPO roof section for $89,100) and acceptance of single‑bid farm and hay‑cutting contracts.

On intergovernmental matters, the board approved an agreement to provide water to data‑center sites within the City of Social Circle's corporate limits. During discussion a commissioner asked whether successors to the data‑center businesses could include other uses such as detention facilities; staff and counsel said the agreement is intended to apply only while a site operates as a data center and would cease if the use changed.

The sheriff budget amendment and the other listed votes were approved by voice vote with no recorded opposition. Staff will report results of the pilot and continue project procurement for the water system.