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Residents press commissioners on park maintenance, code enforcement and ambulance response times
Summary
During public comment citizens raised safety and maintenance concerns about county parks and events, reported long ambulance response times under the current Piedmont agreement and asked for follow‑up on a possible dissolved vendor (Prime Pest Control); commissioners pledged to check records and follow up.
A string of public commenters at the May 5 meeting urged the Board to address park maintenance, public‑safety staffing and responsiveness from county departments.
Denise Williams asked the county to confirm whether the Prime Pest Control contractor awarded the pest‑control change order is an active business after she found a dissolution record in 2022. A commissioner later stated the vendor operates as a DBA of BNG Service Solutions Inc. and cited a state code number. Williams also described safety issues at a movie‑night at Denny Dogs Park (cars on the grass, no visible deputies and a nonworking light near the pavilion) and asked who approved the event and the security plan.
Pearl Robins and another speaker urged upgrades to Trailblazers Park and Nelson Heights Park, arguing the facilities are underused, in disrepair and present a poor first impression for visitors. Several speakers called for more transparency about park maintenance and targeted county funding.
James Peterson and another commenter described delayed ambulance responses during medical emergencies and urged the board to review the long‑term agreement with the ambulance provider (discussed in public comments as an extended contract dating back decades). Speakers said one incident required waiting an hour and 45 minutes before an ambulance arrived and urged the county to consider bringing emergency medical services under closer local control.
Commissioners acknowledged the concerns, asked staff to verify vendor registrations and to follow up on the parks and emergency‑service issues. Commissioner comments at the end of the meeting referenced verifying the pest‑control vendor’s status with the Georgia Secretary of State and pledged additional budget and operational scrutiny of public‑safety contracts.
