Commissioners approve donation of three SPLOST-funded vans to Fayette County Senior Services over commissioner objections
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Summary
The Fayette County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 to transfer ownership of three transport vans purchased with 2023 SPLOST funds to Fayette County Senior Services after debate about whether taxpayer-owned vehicles should be titled to an outside provider.
The Fayette County Board of Commissioners narrowly approved donating three transport vehicles purchased with 2023 SPLOST funds to Fayette County Senior Services, a move opponents warned could remove county control of taxpayer-financed assets.
The vote on the consent-agenda item was 3-2. Commissioner Eric K. Maxwell moved approval and Commissioner Charles W. Oddo seconded; Vice Chairman Edward Gibbons and Commissioner Charles D. Rousseau voted in opposition.
Commissioner Rousseau said he was concerned about giving county-owned assets to a third-party provider and suggested adding a reversion clause tying vehicle ownership to the organization’s status as the county’s authorized service provider. “I had serious reservations about losing these assets,” he said, noting the county could be left without transportation capacity if the provider ceases services.
County Attorney Dennis A. Davenport responded that “the vehicles would be owned by the entity listed on their title,” and that, as written, title to the vehicles would be held by Fayette County Senior Services if the donation was approved. Chief Financial Officer Sheryl Weinmann said the donation was needed so the provider could use the vans immediately and explained county insurance would not allow non-county employees to drive county-owned vehicles.
The donation covers three transport vehicles totaling $134,355, part of a SPLOST-funded transportation allocation. Davenport said the legal agreement between the county and Fayette County Senior Services (an agreement dating to 2008, renewed annually) could be reviewed and amended if the board wished to add specific ownership or reversion language.
The Board’s majority emphasized the practical need: Weinmann told commissioners that delaying approval would leave Fayette County Senior Services without access to the vans they need to provide services. Rousseau said his opposition was procedural rather than a critique of the senior-services organization.
Next steps: The motion carried and the county will transfer title as described; the county attorney offered to review the existing services agreement for potential clarifying language regarding vehicle ownership.