Council backs $5,000 support for Guardian Advocates, aids Times Theater and approves small county contracts

Alisha Sturgis, executive director of Guardian Advocates, told the council that her nonprofit provides adult guardianship services across five counties and asked Fulton County to continue a $5,000 annual contribution to support salary, mileage and client needs. She said Guardian Advocates serves seven adults in Fulton County and that the group's Fulton portion of its 2026 budget is about $27,000; the organization used Supreme Court grant funding and matching funds to expand services but needs local support to meet operating costs.

Council members discussed last-year support and budget timing. After confirming the county could include the amount in next years budget and agreeing that the request had been funded previously, a council member moved to continue the $5,000 contribution; the motion passed 6-0.

Shortly after, a community representative described economic-development impacts from events at the Times Theater and requested $5,000 in county support; the council accepted the recommendation and approved an economic-development contribution (vote 6-0).

The council also approved an appropriation contract with the Fulton County Soil and Water Conservation District for $10,457 to cover the districts approved operating budget, and approved a job-classification recommendation to create a part-time IT assistant (intern-level) position at $15/hour (up to 29 hours/week). Those items were approved by motion and vote (each 6-0). The chair noted other small items (sale of county vehicles generating about $6,500 to the general fund) and routine acknowledgements.

What happens next: staff will note Guardian Advocates support in next years budget planning, process the Soil and Water contract appropriation and post the IT position for recruitment.