Fayette County commissioners approve park closure, sewer easement and animal‑shelter design contract; federal grants highlighted

The Fayette County Board of Commissioners met April 10, 2025, in Fayetteville and unanimously approved several routine and project‑level measures, including a park closure for a fundraising 5K, an intergovernmental sewer easement to serve a planned Multi‑Use Recreation Center, and a design contract for the county animal shelter.

Parks and Recreation Director Anita Godbee told the Board the TJ Thomas Jefferson Foundation has requested McCurry Park North be closed on Nov. 8, 2025, from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for a 5K to raise awareness of prostate cancer. Godbee said "any funds raised during the event would be utilized to offer scholarships to Fayette County High School," and described planned traffic mitigation that will include barricades, signage and law enforcement with one lane of Highway 54 closed during the event. Vice Chairman Edward Gibbons moved to approve the closure; Commissioner Charles D. Rousseau seconded and the motion passed 5‑0.

Project Manager Tim Symonds presented an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Fayetteville to allow a permanent easement and connection into city sanitary sewer lines for the Multi‑Use Recreation Center project. Symonds said the IGA had been reviewed by both agencies’ legal counsel and executed by the city. Commissioner Eric K. Maxwell asked whether a nearby Parks and Recreation restroom currently on a septic system could be added to the connection; Anita Godbee replied it was too far away but that a closer sewer connection exists for future consideration. The Board voted 5‑0 to authorize the easement and connection.

On infrastructure for animal services, County Administrator Steve Rapson requested approval to award Contract #2018‑P, Task Order #51 to Pond & Company for full design and engineering of Animal Shelter Phase II, with a not‑to‑exceed amount of $228,907. The motion to award the contract passed 5‑0.

Rapson also briefed commissioners on administrative matters, listing several county contracts and reporting that Fayette County received certification from the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency that qualifies the county for certain federal/local disaster match discounts. He noted the Fayette County Health Facility held a ribbon cutting earlier in the day and that the county has been notified via email from Anna Roach, Executive Director of the Atlanta Regional Commission, of federal funding for two projects: about $800,000 for a roundabout/intersection improvement and more than $3 million for a realignment project; Rapson thanked Public Works Director Phil Mallon and his team for the county’s role in securing ARC funding.

County Attorney Dennis A. Davenport reported there were eight items to consider in executive session, including seven involving threatened litigation and review of prior executive session minutes. The Board recessed into executive session at 5:26 p.m., returned at 5:41 p.m., approved the executive session affidavit and the March 13, 2025 executive session minutes by motion, and adjourned at 5:42 p.m.

Public comment at the start of the meeting included a Fayetteville resident, Chealsea Williby, who said rising creek levels and stormwater runoff were affecting her property; Mark Brelsford requested an update on the soccer facility. Chairman Lee Hearn advised both to contact County Administrator Steve Rapson for further guidance.

Votes at a glance: - Acceptance of agenda — mover: Commissioner Charles W. Oddo; second: Vice Chairman Edward Gibbons; outcome: passed 5‑0. - Consent agenda (includes elections IGA with Town of Woolsey; approval of March 27 minutes) — mover: Commissioner Charles W. Oddo; second: Commissioner Edward Gibbons; outcome: passed 5‑0. - McCurry Park North closure for TJ Thomas Jefferson Foundation 5K (Nov. 8, 2025; 7:00 a.m.‑12:00 p.m.) — mover: Vice Chairman Edward Gibbons; second: Commissioner Charles D. Rousseau; outcome: passed 5‑0. - IGA with City of Fayetteville for permanent sanitary sewer easement/connection (Multi‑Use Recreation Center) — mover: Vice Chairman Edward Gibbons; second: Commissioner Charles W. Oddo; outcome: passed 5‑0. - Award Contract #2018‑P, Task Order #51 to Pond & Company (Animal Shelter Phase II design) — mover: Vice Chairman Edward Gibbons; second: Commissioner Charles W. Oddo; outcome: passed 5‑0. - Executive session (threatened litigation, review minutes) — motion to recess: Commissioner Charles D. Rousseau; outcome: passed 5‑0.

The Board did not take additional public actions while in executive session. The meeting adjourned at 5:42 p.m.