Dodge County commissioners adopt solar energy ordinance, review 2026 budget and approve drug task force agreements

Chairman Dan McCranie presided over the Dodge County Board of Commissioners’ Nov. 3 meeting at the Pearl Bates Courthouse Annex, where the five-member board adopted a solar and battery energy storage ordinance, reviewed the county’s proposed FY2026 budget and approved intergovernmental agreements to support a regional drug task force.

The board’s most consequential action was adoption of a Solar and Battery Energy Storage Facility Ordinance and termination of the moratorium imposed on Aug. 18, 2025. Commissioner Jeffrey Jones moved to adopt the ordinance and Commissioner Brian Watkins seconded; all commissioners voted in favor. The ordinance ends the temporary halt on permitting and establishes a regulatory framework (motion recorded by the clerk).

The adoption matters because it restores the county’s ability to accept and process applications for utility-scale solar and battery storage projects after a months-long pause. Commissioners did not record additional zoning conditions or a separate timetable for new applications during the meeting; specifics of ordinance language were not read into the minutes.

Manager Conner Bearden presented the proposed FY2026 general fund and ancillary budgets, listing estimated revenues and matching expenses at $16,914,689. The ancillary accounts presented included T‑SPLOST ($750,000), 2019 SPLOST ($2,520,600), ARPA ($200,000), E911 ($775,710) and multiple sheriff-related accounts. The board scheduled two public hearings on the FY2026 budget to run concurrent with the next two regular meetings.

On public safety and intergovernmental cooperation, the board approved two related items: an intergovernmental agreement with the Oconee Drug Task Force/Middle Georgia Gang Task Force and a Dodge County–City of Eastman memorandum of understanding to share the cost of a sheriff’s deputy assigned to the task force. Commissioner Brian Watkins moved for approval and Commissioner Sharon Cobb Flanagan seconded; both measures passed unanimously.

Operational items approved by the board included an accounts payable report totaling $134,214.89, authorization to implement CAD‑to‑text services through IamResponding for fire and EMS communications, and a change in county fuel operations to discontinue use of the underground fuel tank and monitoring system in favor of WEX fuel cards. All such motions were moved, seconded and adopted by unanimous vote.

Manager Bearden reported on courthouse planning and recommended that the full board serve on the courthouse committee given the project's scale. Commissioner Flanagan said the committee is refining preliminary floor plans and confirmed a meeting with 'Parrish' set for Tuesday at 11 a.m. The county manager also noted receipt of an email about a potential ACCG loan program that could help fund the courthouse project; no action was taken on financing at this meeting.

Residents raised two roadway items. Dr. Lydia Daniels petitioned the board to classify Pecan Lane as a public road and submitted signatories and supporting materials. Separately, public commenter Bradley Mullis reiterated earlier objections to abandoning Coleman Road; the board took no motion to abandon the roadway during this meeting.

The board reviewed the county’s FY2025 third-quarter financial statement and heard that the road committee will meet to align projects for the 2026 LMIG allocation of $1.2 million before returning recommendations to the board.

The commissioners entered executive session at 6:50 p.m. to discuss legal and personnel matters, returned to open session at 7:16 p.m., and adjourned at 7:17 p.m. The minutes show all recorded motions passed by unanimous vote of the five commissioners present: Chairman Dan McCranie, Commissioner Sharon Cobb Flanagan, Commissioner Leigh Ann Greene, Vice‑Chair Brian Watkins and Commissioner Jeffrey Jones.