Lily Benefield

The public meeting covered several agenda items, including an amendment to the Bartow County development regulations and grant funding for the Mental Health Court. Engineering and road-related discussions focused on the Cartersville Intergovernmental Agreement for the Cass White Road project, right-of-way acquisitions for Center and Popham Roads, and a GDOT PFA agreement. Financial topics included an internship program agreement, payment limit funding for Townsend Park, and grant applications to the Community Foundation and T-Mobile. Public services items addressed a transit fund program allocation and an inter-county inmate detail agreement, alongside a review of zoning applications.

The Commissioner issued a proclamation for Wildcat Day, approved several alcohol license applications, and re-appointed a member to the Zoning Appeals/Variance Board. Discussions and approvals focused on economic development bonds, multiple engineering and transportation infrastructure projects including bridge rehabilitation and road widening, and various grant-funded initiatives. The Commissioner also handled opioid settlement participation agreements, the acquisition of a telecommunications tower lease, public transit service safety plans, trail system construction, and water/sewer development agreements. A zoning application was approved, and the meeting concluded with public comments regarding animal control services and facility management.

The public meeting covered several operational areas. Thirty-one 2026 Malt Beverage-Wine-Alcohol License renewals were approved pending further documentation. Several re-appointments were confirmed for the Bartow-Cartersville Second Joint Development Authority, Bartow-Pickens Joint Development Authority, Tourism Council/Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the Zoning Appeals/Variance Board. In Engineering, Task Orders 3-6 for the Emerson Streetscape Project were approved, and a Joint Resolution with Paulding County regarding a new Interstate 75 access point was executed. The Commissioner authorized the purchase of 13 acres for a new Fire Station and approved the FY 2024 Transit Trust Fund Supplemental Agreement #2. Water & Sewer matters included awarding the 2026 Grass Cutting contract and approving a GEFA Resilience Funding Pre-Application for wastewater system upgrades. Zoning applications involved amendments to M-1 Mining Districts text, rezoning a tract from R-1 to A-1, and de-annexing property from the City of Emerson into unincorporated Bartow County.

Key discussions and approvals during the meeting included the appointment of a new Chief Financial Officer and several members to the Animal Control Board. The 2026 Public Defender Services and Funding Agreement was approved, and qualifying fees for the 2026 Local County School Board Election were set. In engineering, a Task Order with VHB for the FY 2027-2030 TIP Update was authorized, and additional County road rights-of-way were accepted. Finance actions involved approving amendments and re-adopting the County Purchasing and Procurement Policies, as well as approving amendments to the Lodging Tax Ordinance. Fire & Emergency Services saw the approval of a Lease Agreement for housing Metro Ambulance Service in the Euharlee area and authorization for a Motorola Equipment Lease-Purchase agreement to upgrade the County Emergency Siren Warning System. A contract amendment for the Parking Deck Project was approved, and a new agreement for inmate work crews for litter pick-up was authorized. Water & Sewer actions included approving a Water Storage Agreement with the State of Georgia and the City of Cartersville, approving a Tank Maintenance Contract for 17 water storage tanks, and awarding a contract for the Skyview Drive Waterline Upgrade Project. Zoning involved the approval of three applications for rezoning (Z-25-00058, Z-25-00059) and an amendment to the zoning maps for property on Old Mill Road (Z-25-00060).

The meeting included a presentation of historical government documents for display in the Courthouse. The Commissioner approved alcohol licenses, authorized housing revenue bonds for a multi-family housing development, and accepted additional county road right-of-way. Agreements with the Georgia Department of Transportation for transportation improvement projects were approved, along with intersection improvement lighting agreements. A letter of support was executed for intersection improvement projects, and a GDOT grant application for a sidewalk project was approved. An engineering services task order was awarded for the sidewalk project, and a GDOT grant application for a roundabout project was approved. An emergency management facility use agreement with Red Cross was approved, and Drug Free Communities Service Provider Agreements were approved. A Claim Recovery Agreement with Pearl Logic, LLC was approved, and an agreement with the Georgia Mountain Regional Commission to update the County's Geographic Information System was approved. The purchase of property for future park expansion was approved, and county-owned property was deemed surplus. A Transit Trust Fund Supplemental Agreement was approved, and ARC Grant funding was accepted for a water tank and water main project. A contract for a sewer extension project was authorized, and a development agreement related to a water main upgrade was approved. Zoning applications were reviewed and approved with specific conditions.