Worth County

The workshop primarily addressed the 2026 alcohol license renewals for four entities: PKGC, LLC; Hashi Sandhu, Inc. D/B/A Webbs Truck Stop; Shiv 2010, Inc. D/B/A Shiba Express; and Ty Ty Market, LLC. Discussion also focused on the purchase of a van for the Worth County Cooperative Extension Service, with a recommendation to select the 12-passenger van over the 15-passenger model to avoid CDL requirements. Specific considerations included engine size and the potential addition of safety and utility options such as tilt & cruise control, rear window defogger, and a towing package.

The Board meeting addressed several key matters, including the approval of the meeting agenda. Reports covered a fire incident at the landfill, which was exacerbated by drought conditions but contained after rain, and concerns regarding the backed-up conditions and poor building conditions at the transfer station, prompting plans to obtain more quotes for repairs and potential replacement. Commissioners also discussed issues related to road conditions (Douthit Road and Barfield Road) and received reports concerning beaver dams in drainage culverts and the spraying of ditches and rights-of-way. Action items included the approval of the 2026 alcohol license renewals and the approval to purchase a van for the Worth County Cooperative Extension Service using SPLOST funds.

The workshop included a presentation from the Georgia Forestry Commission, a discussion on the Probation Services Agreement with Judicial Alternatives of Georgia (JAG), and solid waste fee waivers. The board discussed an amendment to the waste service agreement with Ryland Environmental, intergovernmental agreements for E-911 services with the Town of Sumner and the Cities of Poulan and Warwick, and setback requirements for chicken houses. The board also discussed penalties for failure to get a building permit prior to construction, an intergovernmental agreement between the City of Warwick and Worth County for the provision of Building and Zoning services, and a proposed millage rate.

The public hearing was convened to gather public input on the proposed millage rate, prompted by a reassessment of property values mandated by the Department of Revenue. The Board addressed concerns about potential property tax increases, assuring the public that the county aimed to offset increased property values by proposing a reduced millage rate. The discussion also covered the county's challenges in retaining trained employees due to salary disparities and highlighted revenue sources like SPLOST and T-SPLOST. A point of clarification was made regarding an advertisement that mentioned both a tax increase and a millage rate decrease, explaining that it was a state-required notice due to the total countywide taxes exceeding the previous year's levy.

The meeting addressed public comments on tiny houses, mosquito spraying, tree removal near Mobley Road, and a solid waste fee waiver. The Board discussed SPLOST with city mayors, solid waste exemption criteria, and the Local Maintenance Improvement Grant (LMIG) for 2026. They approved a change order to the Allstate Construction, Inc. contract, the transfer of property to the Land Bank Authority, and budget amendments for FY 2025-2026 and FY 2024-2025. A new policy regarding the use and distribution of excess dirt was postponed for further discussion.