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Coffee County approves sheriff vehicle purchases, clears one rezoning and rejects another in routine meeting
Summary
At its Feb. 3 meeting, the Coffee County Board of Commissioners approved purchase of five sheriff’s vehicles from Anderson Ford using SPLOST VII funds, authorized two Road Department items for surplus auction, adopted administrative resolutions including a waiver of certain tax penalties and a measure to contract retired Superior Court judges, approved a commercial rezoning and denied a residential rezoning after public comment.
The Coffee County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 3 approved several routine administrative measures, purchased vehicles for the sheriff’s office using SPLOST VII funds and decided two rezoning requests for property in Willacoochee.
Chairman Johnny Wayne Jowers presided over the 9:35 a.m. meeting attended by Vice-Chairman Oscar Paulk and Commissioners AJ Dovers, Jimmy Kitchens and Ted O’Steen. County Administrator Wesley Vickers told the board the county solicited bids for five sheriff vehicles to be paid from SPLOST VII; Anderson Ford submitted the lowest totals for three 2025 Ford Explorers ($132,957.00) and two 2024 Ford F150 crew cabs ($98,400.00). Commissioners voted unanimously to accept the Anderson Ford bids and proceed with the purchases.
The board also approved placing two Road Department items on GovDeals for auction: a 2011 JD 7107J (SN 4556) and a 2007 F150 pickup (SN 8721). The surplus declaration passed unanimously.
On administrative business, the board unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the Coffee County Tax Commissioner to waive certain penalties and interest as described in the presented resolution, and it approved a proclamation recognizing FCCLA Week (Feb. 10–14, 2025). County Attorney Tony Rowell introduced a separate resolution permitting the county to negotiate agreements with retired Senior Superior Court Judges to provide judicial services to the Waycross Judicial Circuit; the board approved authorizing the chairman, county attorney and county administrator to make minor adjustments during negotiations.
Land-use decisions drew brief public participation. The board opened a public hearing on a rezoning request by Rajwant Kaurt to change 1 acre at 37 Old Pearson Highway in Willacoochee from AG (Agriculture) to C (Commercial) for a proposed laundromat. Code Enforcement Director Jason Whiddon said the Planning Commission and staff recommended approval. Willacoochee resident Brian Durst spoke in opposition, citing "traffic issues and also drainage issues with runoff across his property" and asked that the health inspector review the site. County Attorney Rowell said engineering and development requirements are intended to address such concerns. After closing the hearing, the commissioners voted unanimously to approve the rezoning.
At a separate hearing, Code Enforcement Director Whiddon presented a rezoning request by Ydarius Baker for 1.96 acres at 1656 Old Columbus Road in Willacoochee to change from AG to RM (Residential Mixed) to allow two mobile homes on roughly two acres. Whiddon noted the Planning Commission recommended denial because the change could create an isolated district. Applicant Ydarius Baker said he "has family members that need a place to live after Hurricane Helene and he has the land and would like to add mobile homes for his family." No other members of the public spoke. The commissioners voted unanimously to reject the rezoning request.
Procedural items approved without debate included minutes from Jan. 6 (pre-meeting work session, regular meeting, executive session and special called work session) and the meeting agenda (which was approved with the deletion of Item #11). The board adjourned at 10:04 a.m.
Votes at a glance - Approve minutes (Jan. 6 sessions): Motion by Commissioner AJ Dovers, seconded by Vice-Chairman Oscar Paulk; vote 5–0 to approve. - Approve agenda with deletion of Item #11: Motion by Commissioner Jimmy Kitchens, seconded by Commissioner Ted O’Steen; vote 5–0 to approve. - Approve proclamation (FCCLA Week): Motion by Commissioner AJ Dovers, seconded by Vice-Chairman Oscar Paulk; vote 5–0 to approve. - Approve resolution to waive certain tax penalties and interest: Motion by Commissioner Ted O’Steen, seconded by Commissioner Jimmy Kitchens; vote 5–0 to approve. - Purchase five sheriff vehicles (Anderson Ford): Motion by Commissioner Jimmy Kitchens, seconded by Commissioner Ted O’Steen; vote 5–0 to approve. Totals: Explorers $132,957.00; F150s $98,400.00. - Surplus Road Department equipment (GovDeals): Motion by Commissioner AJ Dovers, seconded by Vice-Chairman Oscar Paulk; vote 5–0 to approve. Items: 2011 JD 7107J (SN 4556); 2007 F150 (SN 8721). - Approve resolution to negotiate agreements with retired Senior Superior Court Judges: Motion by Commissioner Jimmy Kitchens, seconded by Commissioner Ted O’Steen; vote 5–0 to approve. - Rezoning approved (37 Old Pearson Highway — AG to C, Rajwant Kaurt): Motion by Commissioner AJ Dovers, seconded by Vice-Chairman Oscar Paulk; vote 5–0 to approve. - Rezoning denied (1656 Old Columbus Road — AG to RM, Ydarius Baker): Motion by Commissioner Jimmy Kitchens, seconded by Commissioner Ted O’Steen; vote 5–0 to deny.
Next steps and context The vehicle purchases will be executed using SPLOST VII funds; procurement paperwork and vendor contracts were authorized. Engineering and permitting processes remain applicable to the approved commercial rezoning at 37 Old Pearson Highway; county staff indicated engineering plans will be required to address drainage and traffic concerns raised during public comment. No further public hearings were scheduled on these items during the meeting.
