Coffee County commissioners approve $15 million in short‑term investments, Bristow LLC brush contract and public‑safety leave changes

The Coffee County Board of Commissioners on May 1 approved a set of financial, contract and personnel items during a regularly scheduled meeting.

County Administrator Wesley Vickers reported the county solicited bids and recommended depositing $5,000,000 into a money‑market account at Colony Bank at 4.64% and $10,000,000 into a certificate of deposit at Douglas National Bank at 5.26%. Commissioner Johnny Wayne Jowers moved to approve the placements; Vice‑Chairman Jimmy Kitchens seconded and the board voted unanimously.

Vickers also reviewed a brush‑spraying contract with Bristow LLC for fiscal year 2023 priced at $125 per acre with an annual not‑to‑exceed cap of $40,000. Commissioner AJ Dovers moved to approve the contract; Commissioner Oscar Paulk seconded and the board approved it unanimously.

Human Resources Director Princess Zachery presented proposed changes to the county’s personnel policy affecting sick leave and holiday pay for public safety employees. The recommendations included a six‑hour monthly sick‑leave accrual for public safety staff and maximum sick‑leave caps of 960 hours for regular full‑time (40‑hour) employees, 1,032 hours for full‑time public safety employees and 1,440 hours for full‑time firefighters. Zachery also proposed adding Good Friday, Juneteenth and Veterans Day to the county holiday schedule and permitting public safety employees to roll over up to five holidays to the following year with department‑head approval. Vice‑Chairman Kitchens moved to approve the personnel policy changes; Commissioner Johnny Wayne Jowers seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

All actions recorded in the transcript carried unanimous votes; the board adjourned at 9:45 a.m.