Chattahoochee County sets 2026 qualifying fees, moves cemetery rules to Feb. 3 agenda and directs sheriff to return county truck

The Chattahoochee County Commission set candidate qualifying fees for the 2026 local elections during a Jan. 26 called meeting and moved several administrative items to the Feb. 3 regular meeting agenda.

The Commission set the qualifying fee for County Commission candidates at $362 and for County Board of Education candidates at $72. Commissioner Jason Frost moved to approve the fees; the vote was unanimous. Qualifying was scheduled to open March 2 at 9 a.m. and close March 6 at noon.

During the work session that followed, County Manager Thomas Weaver reviewed departmental updates (including water‑system permit renewals for wells 2 and 3, progress on a dock project and road‑shoulder work planned for Feb.–May). Commissioners reviewed proposed changes to cemetery rules and regulations and directed staff to place the item on the Feb. 3 agenda for formal action. Proposed edits discussed by Commissioners included permitting purchases for spouses or for special circumstances involving recent residents, adding a one‑time plot purchase fee of $500, and prohibiting glass items on plots for safety

The Commission also reviewed an item addressing county-vehicle procedures after staff reported an instance in which a recently purchased truck was taken to the sheriff's property without county inspection, insurance tagging or final assignment. The Commission voted to defer formal policy adoption until a future work session so staff can draft a policy clarifying vehicle custody, insurance, tagging and assignment procedures.

The Commission entered executive session at 10:08 a.m. to discuss personnel and legal matters and reconvened at 11:39 a.m. After returning to open session Chairman Charles Coffey said the closed-session topics fit within legal exceptions to open‑meetings law and that no votes were cast in closed session. Coffey then requested that the sheriff return the county truck to the County Manager's office by noon Friday or deliver the truck that had been promised as the trade; the directive was recorded in the minutes. The meeting adjourned at 11:43 a.m.

The Commission also approved several routine minutes and agenda items during the Jan. 6 regular meeting; those approvals were recorded in the minutes. The cemetery-rule changes and the surplus declaration for buildings across from the courthouse were added to the Feb. 3 agenda for formal consideration and any required votes.