Echols County commissioners approve LMIG contract 4‑1 and pass routine motions including employee gift cards and meeting schedule

The Echols County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 4 voted 4‑1 to contract Watkin's and Associates for the 2026 Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG) project at a fee of 1.4% of the contract amount; Commissioner Stanley Corbett recorded the lone dissent.

The board also approved a set of routine administrative items: purchase of replacement patrol-vehicle computers for the Echols County Sheriff's Office; adoption of a 2026 meeting schedule; a $50 gift-card holiday bonus for each county employee; and nominations for FY‑2026 leadership (Justin Staten as chairman and Stanley Corbett as vice‑chair). The board tabled the proposed 2026 holiday schedule pending additional employee feedback.

Chairman Kenneth Petty requested that staff ask the Georgia Department of Revenue for sales tax information; the board approved that request unanimously. Petitions and updates included a request from Jimmy Tucker, chair of the Board of Elections, for an update on a building to house an election precinct; County Manager Alan Levesque said staff are gathering information and exploring options.

Motions where movers and seconders were recorded included:

- Award LMIG contract to Watkin's and Associates (mover: Commissioner Justin Staten; seconder: Vice‑Chairman Bobbi Pohlman Rodgers). Motion carried 4‑1 with Commissioner Stanley Corbett opposed.

- Purchase replacement patrol-vehicle computers for the Sheriff's Office (mover: Commissioner Justin Staten; seconder: Commissioner Bobby Walker). Motion carried 5‑0.

- $50 gift cards for employees (mover: Commissioner Justin Staten; seconder: Commissioner Bobby Walker). Motion carried 5‑0.

The board moved into executive session to discuss personnel matters and reconvened before adjourning by unanimous vote. Several items were handled by unanimous consent or standard motions; only the LMIG contract recorded a recorded dissent.