Coffee County commissioners approve contracts, $9.5M debris‑contract amendment, paving bid and Sunday‑sales referendums

The Coffee County Board of Commissioners on July 7 unanimously approved a package of contracts, amendments, mapping agreements and ballot resolutions, including a second amendment to a debris contract raising its total to $9.5 million and the award of paving work to the low bidder East Coast Asphalt for $4,242,398.63.

County Administrator Wesley Vickers told the board the $20,000 Unison Behavioral Health county participation contract for July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026 is already in the FY2025 budget, and commissioners approved both that participation contract and a related lease for Unison at 1005 Shirley Avenue under which the county maintains the building exterior and Unison maintains interior upkeep (no money changes hands). The board also unanimously approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Health for 1003 Shirley Avenue (county maintains exterior and HVAC; Department of Health maintains the interior).

Vickers presented two annual support agreements with the Southern Georgia Regional Commission — $1,500 for Elections interactive mapping maintenance and $2,000 for E‑911 road/address mapping — and counsel indicated they would discuss indemnity language with the commission before final execution. Commissioners approved an annual Guardian ad Litem contract for $14,400 and an indigent defense agreement for $24,999.96.

The board passed Resolution #2025‑10 authorizing temporary property tax relief for eligible standing timber located in a declared disaster area related to Hurricane Helene, permitting the county and school board to waive timber tax fees for the final quarter of FY2024 through FY2025, with state grant funds to offset lost revenue.

The board approved a second amendment to its independent contractor agreement with Debris Tech, increasing the previously amended total to $9,500,000; county staff said the work is complete. Commissioners also authorized two referendum resolutions under state law to place on the ballot (1) on‑premises Sunday sales and (2) package Sunday sales of malt beverages, wine and distilled spirits.

On procurement, the board received three bids for Bud Hutcheson Road and Grandview Circle projects (SWE #20‑3337 and SWE #20‑3337B) and accepted East Coast Asphalt, LLC's low bid of $4,242,398.63, noting East Coast Asphalt agreed to time‑of‑completion terms and a $3,500 per day liquidated‑damages clause for TIA work. The commission also approved a $1,000 utility easement to Miguel Trejo with terms requiring Trejo to return the property to its previous condition and assume responsibility for any later maintenance costs.

Auditor Parker Borland reviewed the county audit, reporting a $577,000 increase in fund balance for FY2024 and a clean opinion with no audit findings. The meeting adjourned at 10:42 a.m.

What to watch: referendums on Sunday alcohol sales will proceed to the ballot per state law; counsel and staff will finalize indemnity language with regional partners before executing mapping contracts.