Houston County adds four-year MOU to fund health department roof, $162,250 a year

The Houston County Commission on June 4 added to its administrative agenda a memorandum of understanding (MOU) under which the county would pay $162,250 per year for four years to cover a roof replacement at the Houston County Health Department.

County staff member Stacy told commissioners the county put the project out for state bid and "the total come back at 649,000," and described the MOU as interest-free, with the county billed annually and the payments budgeted beginning Oct. 1. "It's interest free," Stacy said, explaining the county would repay the cost over four years rather than paying the full amount from the county's new bill fund.

The chair asked for discussion and any objections to adding the MOU to the agenda; none were voiced, and the item was added. The transcript does not record a final vote or formal approval of the MOU during the administrative meeting.

Why it matters: The agreement would spread the cost of a capital replacement over multiple fiscal years and avoid a large one-time draw on county funds, shifting the expense into four budget cycles. The payment schedule and the county's characterization of the arrangement as interest-free are central implementation details staff highlighted.

What happens next: Adding the item to the agenda means the commission will consider the MOU in a subsequent action item or meeting; the transcript does not show when a formal approval vote is scheduled.

Sources and attribution: Details and direct quotations in this article come from the June 4 administrative meeting transcript and remarks by a staff member identified as Stacy and by the presiding commissioner.