Bullock County commissioners approve land takings for Hightower Road, several SPLOST‑funded contracts and equipment purchases; send elections board change to GA

The Bullock County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved a package of actions that advance local roadwork, county equipment procurement and planning changes.

The board unanimously approved three resolutions to acquire properties by eminent domain for the Hightower Road paving project after county staff said two parcels had title problems and a third owner had not responded to outreach. "We exhaust every opportunity to go through," County Engineer Ron Nelson told commissioners, noting one owner had been nonresponsive for more than four months. County Attorney Jeff Akins said two properties had title issues that made condemnation the quickest way to clear ownership barriers so the county could complete the paving work.

Also approved was a $615,063.15 construction contract with Sykes Brothers Incorporated to build a roughly 550‑foot connector road to serve the new Ogeechee Technical College training center. Nelson said the contract allows 180 days for completion and that the county expects the road to be finished by about August next year. The construction work and related services will be paid from the 2019 SPLOST account, county staff said.

The board authorized two related change orders with EMC Engineering for construction management and inspection: a $72,500 change order for full‑time inspection on the OTC connector road and a $32,500 change order for inspection and project management at the new Fire Station No. 3 parking and driveway work. County staff said full‑time, on‑site inspection is needed to ensure concrete and other work meet specifications.

In public‑works purchases, the commission approved buying two 2026 John Deere tractors with Tiger boom mowers for $232,620.04 each (total $465,240.08) via Sourcewell contracts and a 2026 Caterpillar backhoe loader for $169,951. Staff said the tractor‑mounted boom mowers have proven more durable than the previously used MowerMax units and the backhoe will add capacity rather than replace an existing machine.

On governance, County Attorney Jeff Akins presented a resolution from the Bullock County Board of Elections and Registration asking the county to request local legislation to expand that board from three to five members and to permit the two leading local parties to submit nominees for the two new seats. Akins said the two new seats would be appointed initially for one year (to begin 01/01/2027) and thereafter for four‑year staggered terms; commissioners voted unanimously to send the request to the county’s legislative delegation.

The board also held a lengthy work session on a planning office text amendment that would modify ordinance language on conservation subdivisions, accessory dwellings, parsonages, microbreweries/brewpubs and conditional standards for go‑kart/ATV/motor‑bike tracks and trails. Planning Director James said the draft draws on other counties’ ordinances and is intended to give the county rules for conditional commercial recreational uses and for conservation easements. Commissioners debated whether the county should accept conservation parcel ownership, whether boundaries for ATV/trail uses should be fenced or simply posted, and how to require wetland delineations by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for projects affecting wetlands. The planning office will incorporate the feedback and return a revised draft for the December meeting.

Chairman David Bennett closed regular business and the board voted to enter executive session to discuss real‑estate matters under OCGA 50‑14‑3(b); the chair said no action would follow the executive session.

What this means: The eminent‑domain approvals and the road and inspection contracts put county SPLOST funds to immediate infrastructure work aimed at connecting a new technical‑college facility and paving a long‑pending road. The elections‑board request, if taken up and passed by the General Assembly, would change how local election appointments are sourced and could affect future appointment dynamics. Planning changes discussed in the work session would add new conditional controls on recreational motor‑sport uses and offer a formal path for conservation subdivisions, but the proposals will return to the commission after staff revisions.

Next steps: Staff will send the local‑legislation request to the county’s legislative delegation, proceed with contract procurement and inspections on the OTC connector road, and return a revised zoning text amendment to the commission at the December meeting.