Light agenda at Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday

Bulloch County Commissioners met for their regular bi-monthly meeting on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. Chairman Roy Thompson opened the meeting asking Commissioner Anthony Simmons to lead the Commissioners in prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

The commissioners had a light agenda approving vehicles and equipment for the Bulloch County Correctional Institute.

Read about all the business covered below.

APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA

1. Minutes Approval: Tuesday May 7th, 2024 04:30 PM

2. Minutes Approval: Tuesday May 7th, 2024 05:30 PM

3. Approve and ratify the purchase of two 2025 Ford Explorers from Friendship Ford in the total amount of $81,706.00

At the November 7, 2023, Board of Commissioners meeting the Board approved the purchase of two 2024 Ford Explorers, one for Administration and one for Recreation Administration, using State of Georgia Contract pricing from the state approved dealer Allan Vigil Ford. The state contract pricing offered the vehicles at greater savings than the amount that was offered in a bid that was issued for the FY 24 Vehicle Allotment.

On Wednesday, May 8, 2024, the salesperson at Allan Vigil Ford let the purchasing manager know that Ford Manufacturing was not going to build anymore 2024 Ford Explorers and the two which we ordered were not going to be built. However, 2025 Ford Explorers could now be ordered. Prices were figured at a total of $42,283.00 each. Delivery time unknown.

Friendship Ford was contacted to see if the two 2024 Ford Explorers that were quoted on the bid could still be purchased. The salesperson checked, 2024 Ford Explorers could no longer be purchased, but he could order 2025 Ford Explorers with a delivery date in October 2024, and he would honor the prices in the bid. When prices were figured for the two vehicles, the cost for each vehicle was $40,853.00 which is $3,337.00 less than what was offered on the bid for each 2024 vehicle and is less than $1,430.00 than state contract pricing for each 2025 vehicle.

It is recommended to approve and ratify the purchase of the two 2025 Explorers from Friendship Ford.

4. Approve a Resolution approving a 2024/2025 Renewal Proposal from Companion Life Insurance to Provide Stop-Loss Insurance for Employee Health Plan

The attached resolution authorizes the renewal of medical stop-loss insurance coverage from Companion Life Insurance Company, with pricing and terms as outlined in the renewal proposal attached. The proposal reflects estimated costs as follows:

Specific stop-loss coverage - $205.63 per employee per month (rates are 4.62% higher than current), and
Aggregate stop-loss - $4.91 per employee per month (rates are 11.85% higher than current).

The attached report from Mark III Employee Benefits provides specific cost information relative to the stop-loss renewal, as well as other costs to the plan. (Note that the Board of Commissioners has previously approved all other components of the 2024/2025 employee health plan, including claims administration services, network access, utilization review, and similar.)

Although the stop-loss renewal includes an increase over the current plan year, the quotation is better than expected, based on the plan’s claims experience. When factoring in stop-loss premiums, administrative fees, and anticipated claims, the total estimated maximum plan costs for 2024/2025 are slightly less than originally anticipated. Companion Life is our current carrier who knows and understands our account and will be a favorable partner for the stop-loss component of the health plan.

Approval of the attached resolution is recommended

NEW BUSINESS

APPROVED - 1. Motion to approve the Replacement of the Boiler System at BCCI by Neal's Plumbing & Electric, Inc RESOURCE PERSON/FACILITATOR: Warden Robert Toole

BCCI received a reimbursement grant from Georgia Southern University to replace the boiler system at the facility. The current system is outdated and has been in need of continuous repairs. The repairs are beginning to become cost prohibitive. A new system was needed to maintain hot water within the facility to include the dormitories that the inmate population reside. The grant from Georgia Southern University requires Bulloch County to pay the cost of the equipment and installation and then be reimbursed

APPROVED - 2. Motion to approve the Replacement of a Food Service Tray Machine at BCCI from Stafford-Smith, Inc

BCCI has received a reimbursement grant from Georgia Southern University to replace the Food Service Tray Machine at the facility. The current machine is outdated and has been in need of continuous repairs. The repairs are beginning to become cost prohibitive. A new system is needed to maintain clean trays and utensils for the inmate and jail population during meal times. The grant from GSU requires the County to pay the cost of the equipment and installation and then be reimbursed at 100%

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Len Fatica, a candidate for Bulloch County Commission, shared a thank you to Tom Couch and staff for providing two extra handicapped parking spaces at the Annex. He also thanked Commissioner Curt Deal for his responsiveness and help with an issue with flooding on Josh Deal Road after heavy rain over the weekend. He thanked public works for getting it repaired quickly.

Tim Powell discussed how nasty the election has become and said he will be glad it will be over today. He referenced a negative text message that was sent out and asked for them to apologize for this text message.

Chair Thompson, Commissioner Deal, Commissioner Stringer and Commissioner Mosely all said they had nothing to do with the text message.

Commissioners Anthony Simmons responded to Powell saying, "the Commissioners have sat here for eight months and been called everything but a child a God and took it. But when someone posts something that is not from us and not true you all raise alarms. These men sitting with me on this Commission board are men of integrity. We listened to insults and did not say a thing. We are here to do the business of the people, regardless of the people who don't like us. We work together to make the best decisions for the whole of the county."

COMMISSION AND STAFF COMMENTS

Brian Hendrix, Bulloch County EMS Director reminded the Commissioners that this week is EMS week. "Please thank our people and all other ambulance services serving out community for the work they are doing for our community."

Commissioner Anthony Simmons thanked the County staff for their help with the Day of Flight at the airport. "It got rained out and they hope to reschedule soon. But this is an example of the great people we have working for us."

Commissioner Curt Deal thanked everyone involved with the Touch A Truck event at the Ag Complex last night. "It was a great event."

Commissioner Jappy Stringer agreed that they all did a great job and the kids in the community really enjoyed it.

Commissioner Roy Thompson thanked the staff for "the job each of you do. There will be no pink slips handed out by this Commission board no matter how this election turns out tonight. I encourage everyone to go out and vote no matter how you vote."