Meriwether County commissioners approve variance for resident, vendor licenses and multiple procurement actions; set July 2, 2027 fireworks date

Meriwether County commissioners approved a package of routine and substantive items during their July 13, 2026 meeting, including a hardship variance that will let a resident build a home smaller than the county standard, an alcohol-sales permit for a convenience-store restaurant, multiple procurement and contract approvals, and a fireworks date for July 2, 2027 with a contract limit not to exceed $25,000.

The meeting opened with an invocation credited to Derek Pardue and a proclamation honoring the Meriwether County Recreation 9U football team for its 2025 CGYSA Super Bowl championship. The board then reviewed financial reports and moved through several public hearings and agenda items.

On land use, commissioners approved planning case PC26-006, a hardship variance for Rodney Landrum at 6156 Cove Road in Woodbury. Landrum told the board he can no longer work full time because of health issues and asked to build a 1,140-square-foot house where the county standard is 1,375 square feet. "I had to get a medical release," Landrum said, explaining his reduced income and need for a smaller house. Neighbors and supporters spoke in favor and the board approved the variance after discussion of neighborhood home sizes.

In other permitting business, the board approved PC26-011 allowing the new owner of Riverside Store and Barbecue (doing business as SK Riverside Inn Incorporated) to sell and serve alcohol at 29 River Cove Road. Planning staff confirmed the applicant had completed health inspections, and the owner said the alcohol would be served within the restaurant suite.

On procurement and records matters, the county clerk recommended and the board approved a sole-source CivicPlus package (agenda management, AudioEye/doc access and CivicPlus Media) to help meet U.S. Department of Justice ADA Title II website-accessibility requirements for jurisdictions under 50,000 residents. The clerk noted CivicPlus waived implementation fees totaling $9,621.53; staff listed a prorated first-year cost of $6,002.71 and an annual recurring cost of $18,006.61. "These services provide website monitoring, document remediation, and accessibility to support accessibility" needs, the clerk said, emphasizing compliance with the department deadline.

The board also approved a records‑destruction agreement with Rivermill Data Management LLC that provides locked on‑site shredding every eight weeks (service priced at $150 per visit with $75 for additional containers) to comply with Georgia Archives/local retention schedules and keep confidential records on site until destruction.

On infrastructure and contracts, the commission accepted staff and EMC Engineering Services’ recommendation to award the Alta/Allison Road paving contract to C.W. Matthews as the low, responsive bidder (low bid listed at $899,726). Funding was identified from various LRA sources and fund balance as needed.

The board voted to decline a $200,000 cybersecurity grant the county had been offered after staff found the grant application identified a specific vendor and the August 2026 project deadline could not be met under county procurement rules. "It was a $200,000 grant," staff said, adding the application named a vendor and the county could not perform a competitive procurement in time; the board approved declining the award and notifying the granting agency.

To clear a title/record discrepancy for Roosevelt Memorial Airport, commissioners approved an assignment-and-assumption agreement with the Meriwether County Airport Authority required by the Georgia Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration that formalizes the airport authority as sponsor and preserves eligibility for future federal and state grant funding. A separate appointment motion approved Greg Brandner to fill an unexpired five-year Airport Authority District 2 term through 10/31/2030.

During event planning the board considered a fireworks contract for Lake Merriweather. After debate about vendor selection and pricing, commissioners approved holding the fireworks display on July 2, 2027 and directed staff to secure a vendor and contracts not to exceed $25,000, with contract specifics to return to the board as needed. The chair’s motion approved the date and the not‑to‑exceed amount.

The meeting closed after administrative reports, a brief county‑attorney announcement, an executive session on litigation, personnel, real estate, tax matters and cybersecurity, and a motion to approve personnel actions discussed in executive session. The board adjourned following the vote.