Tift County commissioners accept grants, approve equipment purchases and hold millage steady

The Tift County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 13 approved a series of grants, equipment purchases and resolutions and set the county millage rate for 2025.

Public safety and equipment: Public Safety Director Joey Fowler said the county received $9,275.50 from the Georgia Trauma Commission (FY26 EMS Trauma grant) and proposed using that allocation to buy a refurbished Lukas chest compression system to replace an unrepairable unit and the remaining $360.71 to buy 11 chest decompression needles. The Board approved the grant acceptance and purchases on a 6–0 vote after a motion by Commissioner Paul Webb and a second from Commissioner Tyler Riddle.

Fowler also said the Fire Department received $17,100 from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation to purchase three electric positive pressure ventilation (PPV) fans to replace aging gas-powered units. The Board accepted that grant on a 6–0 vote after a motion from Commissioner Melissa Hughes and a second from Commissioner Stan Stalnaker.

Public Works: Staff received two timely bids for a new excavator and recommended purchasing a Deere 210P from Dobbs Equipment for $235,000 to match existing fleet equipment. Funding for the purchase will come from TSPLOST. Commissioner Paul Webb moved to approve the purchase; Commissioner Greg Wood seconded and the motion carried 6–0.

Taxes and finance: County Manager Jim Carter recommended keeping the current millage rate rather than adopting the rollback rate of 8.448. The Board approved Resolution No. 2025-25 to set the millage rate at 8.427 for incorporated and unincorporated county, 1.116 for a Special Service Tax District and 12.275 for the Tift County Board of Education; Carter said adopting 8.427 would collect $36,771.08 less than the rollback rate. The motion to adopt the millage rate passed 6–0.

Courts and technology fee: The Board approved Resolution Nos. 2025-27, 2025-28 and 2025-29 seeking local legislation to allow State Court, Magistrate Court and Probate Court to collect a technology fee of up to $5.00 per conviction/filing to fund court technology, maintenance and cybersecurity insurance; County Manager Jim Carter presented the request and the Board approved the resolutions 6–0.

Other actions: The Board approved Resolution No. 2025-24 to surplus three 2011 Chevrolet Caprice vehicles from the Sheriff's Office for sale on GovDeals. Staff recommended tabling appointments to the Tift County Hospital Authority and the Region 4 Advisory Council (Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities) for 30 days due to lack of applications on file; both tabling motions passed 6–0. A Keep Tift Beautiful appointment was removed from the agenda after the present incumbent, Christopher Burchell, declined another term.

Procedural notes: The meeting record shows motions and final tallies (most recorded as "motion carried 6–0") but does not provide a roll-call of individual votes. The minutes include an inconsistent attendance reference in the signature block (see audit note); the transcript does not list which commissioner, if any, was absent for those votes.

The Board entered executive session for legal matters and reconvened before adjourning; the meeting adjourned following a final motion carried 6–0.