Pickens County commissioners approve airport RFP, vehicle lease, GDOT apron contract and contracts for inspections and IT

The Pickens County Board of Commissioners on May 18 approved a slate of administrative, airport and public-safety measures, including initiating an RFP for remaining airport land leases, authorizing a municipal lease-purchase for Sheriff's Office vehicles and approving a combined GDOT/FAA contract for terminal-apron rehabilitation.

Chairman Kris Stancil told the board that about 220,000 square feet of airport land remains available and that the county's engineering firm will score proposals once an RFP is released in June. Commissioner Josh Tatum moved to approve the RFP process; Commissioner Josh Tippens seconded the motion, which passed with a recorded vote of 2 yes and 0 no.

The board approved a Municipal Finance Equipment Lease Purchase Application (#789200) enabling the Sheriff's Office to acquire 10 fully equipped patrol vehicles through Ford Credit for a total cost of $906,764.08, to be structured as a lease-purchase using SPLOST funds so funds may regenerate. Commissioner Tatum moved to approve and authorized the chairman to sign documents; the motion carried 2 yes and 0 no.

On airport matters the board approved a sign application for Hangar H-12 and approved RB Aviation's request to add three grass tie-downs at Hangar H-14. A paving plan for leased airport property was discussed and tabled until the June meeting to align with final GDOT apron plans. The county also approved an addendum to an existing land lease with Flaps Up LLC to shift a leased area roughly 49,900 square feet west and restart the 18-month development window.

The board authorized Chairman Stancil to sign a combined GDOT Aviation contract (AP026-9112-31(227), PID T008713) for terminal-apron rehabilitation and related fencing after FAA funding was released. Commissioners also approved a staff-recommended hybrid IT services model with Clearlink IT, which will include an on-site IT engineer coordinating with Clearlink's network support while retaining the existing IT security contract.

The board approved a building inspection services contract with Charles Abbott and Associates under a revenue-sharing arrangement in which 75% of building permit fees would fund inspection services, replacing county-employed inspectors. It also approved an agreement with Faithful Guardian LLC to host local paramedic training for county personnel, and voted to change regular meeting scheduling beginning in June, consolidating work sessions and regular meetings onto the third Monday of each month.

The board placed a resolution on its agenda to call for a referendum on package-store sales of distilled spirits in unincorporated Pickens County; the board approved placing the question on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot. The board also approved multiple minutes, adopted rezones RZ-191131 and RZ-191132 (the latter approved after a tie-breaking vote by Chairman Stancil), and approved downzone DZ-191150. Commissioner Josh Tippens moved to appoint Kevin Roper to the IGA Panel for Indigent Defense in Juvenile Cases; the motion passed 2 yes and 0 no.

Chairman Stancil addressed questions circulating in social media and local letters about FAA-required access changes on the east side of the airport, saying the county had tried twice to persuade FAA and GDOT to alter language but both agencies required full compliance. "I have no interest, nor does the County administration or staff, in acquiring the property on the east side of the Airport at any price," he said, adding there has been no intent to do so over the past five and a half years. The board entered an executive session on personnel matters and returned with no formal action; the meeting adjourned at 6:44 p.m.