The Stephens County Board of Commissioners voted to approve several agreements and routine matters during its evening session.
The board authorized the chairman to sign a commercial lease allowing Avida Community Partners to occupy the county's old hospital building beginning Jan. 1; staff said both the county attorney and county staff reviewed the contract and recommended approval.
Commissioners also approved a memorandum of agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation for replacement work on two Riverdale Road bridges and one bridge on Tower Road. Staff said GDOT will fund the predominant cost and the county must provide a $200,000 match for all three bridges combined; staff said that match is budgeted in SPLOST funds.
To comply with a new state law requiring PTSD coverage for first responders effective Jan. 1, the board approved a resolution to participate in a program administered by ACCG and IRMA. Staff told commissioners the program meets statutory requirements and that funds were budgeted at the county’s budget retreat.
Other approvals included a proclamation declaring Nov. 20–28 as Farm City Week, approval of 25 alcohol license renewals for local retailers and venues, and payment of invoices and quotes over $10,000. Staff listed three larger items brought to the board: Southern Elite Concrete ($14,000) for a Shiloh VFD parking lot (funded with ARPA and VFD budget), Acree Oil Company ($12,930.22) for gasoline, and Tech 84 ($178,000) for a new body scanner at the jail (which had been returned to the agenda after prior discussion). All motions were moved, seconded and carried by voice vote with no opposition recorded on the transcript.
Why it matters: the measures advance infrastructure projects, implement a new personnel/insurance mandate for first responders, and put a private tenant in a county-owned building — all actions with budgetary or programmatic implications for Stephens County.
The board did not request further public comment on these items during the roll-call approvals.