Coffee County commissioners award $4.09M soccer‑field contract, approve road closure and equipment purchases

Coffee County commissioners on Oct. 6 awarded a $4,094,295 contract for construction of the Premier Sports Complex soccer field, approved the purchase of a $175,000 excavator for the Road Department, authorized the closure of 1.43 miles of roads inside Town & Country Mobile Home Park, and approved an engineering contract while tabling larger resurfacing bids.

Lancore Engineering recommended awarding the Premier Sports Complex contract to Harper & Company Builders, Inc., which submitted the low bid of $4,094,295.00 for GA OPB‑INODIC #GA0013741. County Administrator Wesley Vickers said a $2.2 million grant will cover part of the project and that the remainder will be paid from SPLOST VII. Vice Chairman AJ Dovers moved to accept the Harper bid and Commissioner Ted O’Steen seconded the motion; the board voted unanimously to approve the award.

Vickers reviewed Road Department equipment bids and recommended the low bid from Perry Brothers for a SANY SY 225 excavator at $175,000 with a five‑year full machine warranty. Commissioner O’Steen moved to approve the purchase, Commissioner Jimmy Kitchens seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

The board opened a public hearing on an application by Town & Country 2 MPH, LLC to close 1.43 miles of roads within Town & Country Mobile Home Park and convert them to private ownership; notices had been sent and the item was advertised. No members of the public spoke during the hearing. Commissioner Kitchens moved to approve the closure and Commissioner O’Steen seconded; the motion passed unanimously.

Bids for the county resurfacing project (SWE #25‑3580) were opened, with East Coast Asphalt submitting the lowest bid at $3,791,316.52. County staff described adding Lott’s Crossing and milling at bridge ends on George Deen Road as proposed change‑order work. Commissioners discussed incomplete work on a prior LMIG project and, on a motion by Commissioner Kitchens seconded by Vice Chairman Dovers, unanimously voted to table the resurfacing bids for further review.

Separately, the board approved an engineering contract with Statewide Engineering for SWE #25‑3580 totaling $127,860.94, with the County’s portion listed as $107,860.94 and the remainder to be split with the cities of Broxton, Ambrose and Nicholls by road responsibilities. Commissioner O’Steen moved to approve the contract; Vice Chairman Dovers seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Jason Whiddon, the county’s Code Enforcement Director, announced a first reading of a rezoning request by Carlton Dorminey to rezone 10 acres at 3662 Highway 32 West from R‑1 Residential to Commercial to allow a warehouse; the Planning Commission recommended approval on Sept. 22, 2025, and staff supports the request. The item was presented as a first reading and no final decision was recorded in the meeting minutes.

The board also adopted proclamations for National 4‑H Week and Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Ashley Smith, the county extension agent, thanked the commission for its continued support of 4‑H. County Attorney Tony Rowell read both proclamations before the board’s unanimous votes to adopt.

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn at 10:00 a.m.

Votes at a glance: all recorded motions in the minutes passed unanimously (4–0) with Chairman Johnny Wayne Jowers, Vice Chairman AJ Dovers, Commissioner Jimmy Kitchens and Commissioner Ted O’Steen voting yes; the District 1 seat was vacant.