Dougherty Commission zips through regular meeting, work session

ALBANY — The Dougherty County commission took advantage of a light agenda Monday and breezed through its regular meeting, followed by a brief work session.

Assistant Public Works Director Chuck Mathis was at the meeting to accept a proclamation from Chairman Chris Cohilas recognizing May 20-26 as National Public Works Week. The commission also took a moment to recognize Parks Manager Thomas Bruce as the department’s 2018 Supervisor of the Year and Equipment Operator Christopher Owens as the 2018 Employee of the Year.

The meeting picked up momentum when Cohilas announced Harrell and Jackson LLC had withdrawn a a request to rezone 45.2 acres of a larger 158.3-acre tract from AG (agricultural district) to M-1 (restricted industrial district) for expansion of a recycling plant.

The property fronts the east side of Pecan Lane, about 265 feet north of Moultrie Road. A number of residents in the neighborhood opposed the rezoning and the Planning Commission had recommended denial.

Also at the meeting, the commission:

— Approved a $33,540 bid from FHG Landscape Management to provide landscape and lawn care for some county properties;

— Approved a resolution for the acceptance with the U.S. General Service Administration and Johnson Controls to replace and install two boilers at the Health Department on South Slappey Boulevard at a cost of $76,939 using SPLOST VI funds;

— OK’d a lease agreement between the county and the Albany Convention and Visitors Bureau facility on Front Street, effective July 1 to June 30 2019;

— Signed off on a request from County EMS Director Sam Allen to approve the purchase of a 2018 Type 1 ambulance at a cost of $129,400 in SPLOST VII funds;

— Approved the recommendation from the Emergency Medical Services Department to apply for a second Georgia Trauma Care Network Commission reimbursement Grant in the amount of $5,910 for use to purchase EMS trauma-related equipment. This is a 100 percent grant with no local match.

— Agreed to extend the service agreement with Cornerstone Governmental Affairs to lobby in Washington and Atlanta for one year at $15,000 per month with a one-year option;

During the work session, the commission agreed to take up two future items:

— A recommendation to accept the bid for the 2018 resurfacing project from Reeves Construction Inc. in the amount of $751,788.50. Two bids were received, with the highest being $796,494. Funding will be provided through SPLOST VII resurfacing ($451,000) and 2018 Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant ($391,398) dollars. The specific roads to be repaved will be announced at a later date.

— The board will also consider a recommendation to accept the proposal for Food Management Services for Dougherty County from Trinity Services Group Inc. of Oldsmar, Fla., in the the amount of $650,722. Three proposals were received. Funding will be budgeted in the FY 2019 general fund.

Cohilas also announced that in observance of the Memorial Day holiday next Monday, there will not be a scheduled meeting. The next meeting will be a regular session on June 4 at 2 p.m. in Room 100.