David Bennett

The meeting, titled "Hazard Mitigation Plan work session pt 1," focused on the Hazard Identification Risk Assessment (HIRA) process. Key activities included confirming priority hazards for the county, conducting qualitative analysis, and discussing risk assessment methodology. Participants engaged in interactive exercises to confirm current county hazards, such as flooding, roads, fire, and communication issues, and to identify future concerns, projecting 10 years ahead, where infrastructure, population growth, and aging infrastructure were noted vulnerabilities. A significant discussion point involved the difficulties in consistent communication during disasters, including reliance on informal channels like social media versus official notification systems, and the conflict between business continuity and public safety recommendations regarding travel during severe weather.

The meeting included housekeeping items such as announcing the appointment of Commissioner Anthony Simmons as the vice chair for the coming year and confirming key staff positions including the county manager, county attorney, and county auditor. The board also addressed zoning matters. Key discussions involved a request to rezone three acres from A5 zoning to general commercial for the purpose of operating a contractor's office, which included debates on road improvements and a maintenance bond. Subsequently, the board considered a conditional use application for the same property to operate the contractor's office. The final agenda item addressed an application to rezone approximately 1.7 acres from R25 residential to highway commercial for a general business property, noting its location adjacent to a larger planned development within the City of Statesboro, which necessitates an interlocal agreement for public safety response coordination.

The Board of Commissioners meeting commenced with the Pledge of Allegiance and invocation, followed by a quorum verification for Bulock County. Key discussions included a presentation from the Development Authority of Bulock County, which presented a check for $551,19.37 to support the county's fire district, derived from payments in lieu of taxes from new manufacturing projects (Azin Georgia, Secco Ecoplastic, and Hanon Systems). The consent agenda, approved unanimously, covered several items, including the approval of minutes from February 3rd and February 10th, 2026; granting a retail beer and wine license to SK 2026 Incorporated; approving a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service; approving a G Dot supplemental agreement for the SNS Greenway project, awarding $659,296; approving the sole source purchase of forcible entry door simulators; approving a contract for the 2026 Splash Nuro marketing media campaign; approving the purchase of a cab, tractor, and mowers for the airport; approving the purchase of fire hose and nozzles; and approving the submission of the Oichi Judicial Court/Drug Court and Mental Health Court FY27 grant application. New business involved the approval of a resolution to assure compliance regarding the Bulock County School District series of 2026 general obligation sales tax bonds, clarifying that while the Board of Commissioners has no liability, they must levy taxes if SPLOST proceeds are insufficient. Also, an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Statesboro for road improvements on Burke Halter, Kowana, and Harville roads was approved, detailing cost-sharing for design/engineering, right-of-way acquisition, and future maintenance responsibilities. Finally, a resolution to impose a 90-day temporary moratorium on residential and planned unit development rezoning applications was approved to allow time to enact an impact development fee ordinance.

The meeting involved several significant agenda items, including a public hearing regarding a request to rezone approximately 39 acres from a PUD2 (Planned Unit Development) to R40 residential and highway commercial zoning due to the expiration of the PUD approval. The Commission ultimately voted to deny the request to revert to R40 and instead approved keeping the PUD zoning with a two-year limit for build-out completion. Another item involved a request to rezone 9.49 acres from R40 to General Commercial to establish a congregate personal care home, which the Commission approved with 14 stated conditions, including future right-of-way dedication for road improvements. A third agenda item concerned a text amendment to the zoning ordinance to include recovery residences as a conditional use in various commercial zones, categorized into four levels based on resident capacity and clinical support, with supplemental standards recommended.

The meeting addressed two primary items. The first involved a rezoning application from Rent Ventures LLP to change approximately 9.49 acres from R40 (residential 40,000 sq ft) to general commercial for the purpose of developing a congregate personal care home. The commission recommended approval with conditions, including a condition requiring the applicant to convey 20 feet of right-of-way for potential future road expansion and a condition requiring that the project must commence development by filing a conceptual site plan within two years, or the zoning will be subject to reversion via petition to the board of commissioners. The second item involved a text amendment application from Damascus Rehabilitation requesting to modify the county code of ordinances to include the use of 'recovery residence,' detailing four operational levels based on resident capacity and supervision standards, aligning with state and national certifications.