Fulton County commissioners approve farmers market, recommend $5,000 for Garden Advocates and clear highway and departmental requests

FULTON COUNTY — Fulton County commissioners approved a series of routine permits and community requests at their March 16 meeting, including formal approval for the county farmers market to continue at the same location on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon and a recommendation to county council to award $5,000 to Garden Advocates West.

The farmers market request was presented by Daniel, who said he and Alyssa Whitaker have taken over the market and asked to keep the same site and hours and to have access to a restroom via the probation-office foyer. “I have taken over the Farmer's Market with Alyssa Whitaker… it's Saturdays, 8 to noon is what we plan on doing again this year,” Daniel said. Commissioners discussed who would unlock the foyer restroom in the mornings, arranged contact with maintenance staff, and approved a motion to allow the market at the requested times and location with arrangements for restroom access.

The board also heard from a nonprofit representative seeking operating support for Garden Advocates West. The speaker summarized service numbers, saying the organization has served 26 Fulton County residents since 2020 and described savings to emergency services when the group helps secure housing or services for vulnerable people. “So today I will ask for another $5,000 donation,” the representative said. Commissioners moved, seconded and approved forwarding a recommendation to the county council for a $5,000 contribution from the commissioners.

Highway department head John presented several permit requests and several procurement items. The board approved multiple driveway permits and granted John permission to pursue a Department of Transportation bulk salt-bed contract (proposed increase from 600 to 650 tons to provide a cushion for partners). John also recommended locking half of the county's AE‑90 chipseal oil supply at 105,530 gallons for a total price of $203,135.92; commissioners approved authorization to lock the oil allocation and pricing.

The sheriff's department reported a February jail population of 92 and invoicing for $107,013.47. A deputy's 2020 Dodge Durango was totaled and insurance paid $13,500; the department proposed purchasing a 2026 Ford Explorer at a total cost of $49,500 and asked to appropriate $36,000 from the county's 4302 jail operation fund for the purchase and upfitting. Commissioners discussed fund source details and agreed to forward the appropriation/transfer paperwork to the county council for final action.

Other approvals included the Soil and Water Conservation District contract for $10,457, authorization to send county surplus items to an FFA auction, formal recognition for a suicide task force memorial to be held on the courthouse steps on Saturday, Sept. 19, and a motion to record a recommendation to county council to create a part‑time IT support position as an administrative action.

Votes at a glance

- Farmers market permission (Saturday 8 a.m.–noon, restroom access arrangement): motion made and seconded; approved unanimously.
- Recommendation to county council for $5,000 to Garden Advocates West: motion made and seconded; approved unanimously.
- Driveway/drive permits presented by the highway department: motions made and seconded; approvals unanimous.
- Authorization to pursue DOT salt-bed contract and to lock AE‑90 oil pricing (105,530 gallons; $203,135.92): motions made and seconded; approved unanimously.
- SWCD contract ($10,457): motion made and seconded; approved unanimously.
- Recommendation/administrative record for a part‑time IT support classification: motion made and seconded; approved.
- Authorization to send surplus items to FFA auction: motion made and seconded; approved unanimously.
- Suicide Task Force memorial on courthouse steps (Sept. 19): motion made and seconded; approved unanimously.

What happens next

Several items approved by the commissioners require action by the county council (the $5,000 recommendation to Garden Advocates West, the sheriff's appropriation from fund 4302, and some contract appropriations). Staff said they will forward the approved items and the documentation to the council for formal action at the next available meeting. The highway department will proceed with procurement steps for the salt‑bed contract and the oil purchase authorization under the delegated permission approved by the board.

Reporting note: Quotes and attributions in this story come from the March 16 Fulton County commissioners meeting transcript. Where the transcript records a request to forward items to the county council, the commissioners formally approved forwarding or recommended that action rather than directly appropriating county funds; final authority for some appropriations rests with the county council.