Tift County commissioners approve reimbursements, grants and vehicle purchase; set special FY25 budget meeting

Tift County commissioners on Monday approved a package of administrative and procurement actions, including a recipient–subrecipient agreement with the Georgia Emergency Management & Homeland Security (GEMA/HS) to pursue federal reimbursements tied to Hurricane Idalia and a replacement vehicle for the county fire department.

The regular session opened at 6 p.m. in Room 207 of the Charles Kent Administration Building. Chairman Tony McBrayer presided; Commissioners Paul Webb, Greg Wood, Donnie Hester, Fred "Buck" Rigdon and Stan Stalnaker were present. Commissioner Melissa Hughes was absent.

Public Safety Director Joey Fowler told the board the GEMA/HS agreement would allow the county to claim federal reimbursement for projects related to Hurricane Idalia, which affected Tift County on Aug. 30, 2023 and was the subject of a presidential disaster declaration issued Sept. 7, 2023. Fowler said that, as of the meeting, FEMA had obligated two of four projects submitted by the county totaling $63,519.17. Commissioner Greg Wood moved to add the agreement to the agenda; Commissioner Paul Webb seconded. The board later voted to approve the agreement 6-0.

In other actions, the board approved a consent agenda that bundled grant awards, equipment procurements, leases and contracts. Notable items included a Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) grant for adult felony drug court for $345,371 (local match required: $34,898.62), a CJCC DUI-Drug Court grant for $146,794 (match $24,700), and the award of a $1,529,856.04 bid to The Scruggs Company for supplemental Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG) resurfacing projects funded from LMIG and SPLOST VI. The consent agenda also included the purchase of law-enforcement vehicles under state contract, a $25,000 drainage-study addendum, several lease renewals, and a property and liability insurance renewal for $843,816. Commissioner Donnie Hester moved to approve the consent agenda; Commissioner Paul Webb seconded and the motion carried 6-0.

On the regular agenda, the board moved to reappoint four library board members — Dr. Shubba Chatterjee, Judith Hutt Thomas, Filiberto Hernandez and Juan C. Diaz Perez — to three-year terms ending June 30, 2027. Commissioner Stan Stalnaker nominated and moved the reappointments and the board approved them unanimously. Stalnaker also nominated Chelsea Webster to fill a vacancy; the board approved that appointment 6-0.

The board approved purchase of a replacement Ford Explorer for the Fire Department from Brannen Ford at the state contract price of $47,000, plus an emergency equipment package for $9,600 and vehicle lettering for $3,820, bringing the total replacement cost to $60,420. Fowler told commissioners ACCG’s adjuster had deemed the May 9, 2024 vehicle a total loss and that ACCG is coordinating with the other insurer on reimbursement. Commissioner Greg Wood moved to approve the purchase; Commissioner Donnie Hester seconded. The motion passed 6-0.

County Manager Jim Carter announced a Special Called Meeting for Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. to consider the FY25 budget. The meeting adjourned after brief commissioners’ remarks; the final vote to adjourn was 6-0.

Votes at a glance - Add agenda: GEMA/HS Recipient–Subrecipient Agreement (motion: Commissioner Greg Wood; second: Commissioner Paul Webb) — outcome: approved 6-0. - Add agenda: Fire Department vehicle purchase (motion: Commissioner Greg Wood; second: Commissioner Donnie Hester) — outcome: approved 6-0. - Consent agenda (motion: Commissioner Donnie Hester; second: Commissioner Paul Webb) — outcome: approved 6-0. Key consent items: CJCC Adult Felony Drug Court grant $345,371 (match $34,898.62); CJCC DUI-Drug Court grant $146,794 (match $24,700); LMIG resurfacing award $1,529,856.04 to The Scruggs Company; insurance renewal $843,816. - Library board reappointments and appointment (motion: Commissioner Stan Stalnaker; second: Commissioner Greg Wood) — outcome: approved 6-0. - Regular agenda: Approve GEMA/HS agreement (motion: Commissioner Greg Wood; second: Commissioner Paul Webb) — outcome: approved 6-0. - Regular agenda: Approve Fire Department vehicle purchase (motion: Commissioner Greg Wood; second: Commissioner Donnie Hester) — outcome: approved 6-0.

What to watch next The board scheduled a special meeting June 18 to consider the FY25 budget; any budget decisions from that meeting could affect funding for the projects and purchases approved on June 10.

Sources: Tift County Board of Commissioners regular session minutes and on-the-record motions and statements.