Commission schedules public hearings for CDBG and HOME plans; reviews traffic list and firefighter bargaining items

Commissioners discussed several administratively significant items during the agenda-setting meeting.

Community development and housing programs: Items related to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) annual action plan and the HOME and HOME-ARP funding recommendations will remain on the discussion docket to accommodate required public hearings; staff confirmed HUD numbers and asked to leave the items open for additional public input.

Traffic management program: Staff presented the 2026 residential traffic-management list, noting it uses an analytics tool to prioritize streets. Commissioner Link said he will request inclusion of additional "normal town" roads to address cut-through and speeding near the hospital and medical school. Commissioners asked that prioritization remain data-driven.

Collective bargaining: The commission reviewed a proposed update to the collective bargaining agreement with International Association of Firefighters Local 2795, including the county absorbing a portion of a Georgia firefighter pension contribution in the short term and continuing discussions about health-insurance arrangements and long-term budget consequences. Staff said future bargaining will be timed to align with the budget process.