Zoning issues, requests to close roads and citizens expressing their concerns dominated the regular bi monthly meeting of the Bulloch County Commission on Tuesday evening May 2, 2023.
Read through the story to review all fo the business covered by the Commission.
APPROVAL OF ZONING AGENDA
DEFERRED - 1. Terri Grant submitted an application for a conditional use to locate and operate a day care facility. The property is located at 27 B. Stubb Road, Parcel No. 106 000016 000.
Elizabeth Grant spoke in favor of the variance.
Cassandra Mikell spoke against the variance.
APPROVED - 2. Sinkhole Sand Pit, LLC an application for a conditional use to allow natural resource development (surface mining) according to section 503 (b)(13). The property is located on Twin Forks Road, Parcel No. 082 000025 000.
Don Marsh spoke in favor of the variance.
APPROVED - 3. Charles (Clay) Chandler Jr. submitted a variance request to Appendix B, Article 6, Sec. 6.6 to be exempt from paving requirements of a 60' private road serving the subdivision. The property is located at 2244 Banks Dairy Road, Parcel No. 030 000002 000.
Don Marsh spoke in favor of the variance.
PUBLIC HEARING- ROAD ABANDONMENT/CLOSURE
APPROVED - 1. Public Hearing and Resolution to Abandon a Portion of County Road No. 422 a/k/a Venson Road
DENIED - 2. Public Hearing and Resolution to Abandon a Portion of County Road No. 255 a/k/a Kevin Deal Road
Jamie Brannen spoke in favor of the abandoning the road.
Joey Jones spoke in favor of the abandoning the road.
Kevin Deal spoke in favor of the abandoning the road.
Herman Johnson spoke against the abandoning of the road.
Ken Harville spoke against the abandoning of the road.
APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA RESOURCE PERSON/FACILITATOR
1. Minutes Approval: Wednesday March 22nd, 2023 08:30 AM
2. Minutes Approval: Thursday March 23rd, 2023 08:30 AM
3. Minutes Approval: Tuesday March 28th, 2023 11:30 AM
4. Minutes Approval: Tuesday April 4th, 2023 05:30 PM
5. Minutes Approval: Tuesday April 18th, 2023 08:30 AM
6. Motion to approve the acceptance of Georgia Recreation and Park Association (GRPA) BOOST Grant Award for Summer 2023
Bulloch County Recreation & Parks has been selected to receive the Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) BOOST grant for the contract period of June 1, 2023 - July 31, 2023 (Summer 2023). The grant, in the amount of $101,000, will help us to provide comprehensive out-of-school time services / programming in our community.
7. Approve and Ratify an Economic Development Agreement by and between the Development Authority of Bulloch County and REVALYU (US) LLC
8. Motion grant an alcoholic beverage license for retail beer and wines sales to Guninder Singh and Guranchal Singh, Buzzway LLC, located at 22963 US Hwy. 80 Statesboro, Georgia 30458
PUBLIC COMMENTS
1. Charlotte Spell - spoke for opting out of the county allowing marijuana dispensaries.
2. Bruce Simon - lives on the south end of the county and is concerned about water and sewer coming down Hwy. 46. Will current land owners be forced to use sewer or is there an option to be grandfathered in. How will tax evaluations be determined and will there be a tax freeze for currently land owners.
Tom Couch, County Manager responded to Mr. Simon by saying they are trying to project demand and of course there is a lot of interest in land in that end of the county. They will probably will have to review new developments versus present land owners based on the proximity of the land to water and sewer availability. He said this is still a work in progress and they do not have all of the answers.
3. Len Fatica, Chair of the Bulloch County Democratic Party addressed the Commissioners regarding a concern of voter disenfranchisement. Fatica is concerned about Lawton Sack, who is the Chair of the local Republican Party, appointment by the Commissioners to the Bulloch County Elections Board. Sack replaced Hadley Campbell whose party affiliation was independent. Now all three current members of the board are registered republicans. He proposed expanding the board to five members, ask Sack to step down from the local elections board or step down as Chair of the Republican party. This will bring them into compliance with Senate Bill 202 which is the new elections integrity law and create what he feels would be a more fair elections board.
Lawton Sack was in the audience but was not allowed to speak because he had not signed up to do so. He submitted a few clarifying facts from Fatica's points. Theresa Jackson, the Elections Board chair is a democrat. There is no such thing as registered party members in Georgia. The section of SB 202 Faticia referred to is for State Election Boards. It has no relevance with local boards of elections. Hadley Campbell voted as a Republican not an Independent.
EXECUTIVE SESSION (PERSONNEL AND POTENTIAL LITIGATION)
After a brief executive session the commission returned with no action.
