Houston County Commissioners tackle several agenda items

On Tuesday, November 17, the second biweekly Houston County Commissioners meeting of the month took place at the Houston County courthouse.

On the agenda was the Scrap Tire Abatement Reimbursement Agreement. Provided by grant funds offered by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, this is an agreement that will, according to Director of Administration and Tax Commissioner Barry Holland, allow citizens of the middle Georgia area to bring their scrap tires to one of three locations—the Houston County Annex, The Public Works on Kings Chapel, or the Houston County Landfill—free of charge on the April 9 and 10 in the year 2021. The goal being to keep scrap tires out of ditches and yards, Holland also stated that while this isn’t an annual project, it does very well, and is good for the cleanliness of our community.

Also on the agenda was the groundbreaking of two new government constructions. The first, an expansion on the already existing Houston County Courthouse, is a “two story addition to the existing courthouse, solely for the state court functions,” according to Holland. “It will move all state court from Warner Robins here next to the Annex down to Perry.”

This has the potential to be an 18- to 20-month long project. The second, much smaller project, is a new government building that will replace the current standing courthouse in Perry that houses the board of elections, the county extension office, and the solar conservation office. They hope to have this second building finished by September of 2021. Both of these projects will be breaking ground on December 17, the extension beginning at 10 o’clock, and the new government building beginning at 11:30.

Another item discussed was the purchase of Advanced Disposal by Waste Management. According to Chief Executive Officer of the Commissioner Office Tommy Stalnaker, this purchase will cause no change, and as far as government contracts go, the contract with Waste Management will be the same as the contract with Advanced Disposal.

The new solar project coming to Houston County was also a topic of conversation. Self proclaimed “Solar Power Pioneer” Silicon Ranch, a Nashville based company, is looking to build a solar farm here in Houston County.

According to Commissioner Stalnaker, “The closure deposits are very near. There may be one or two hiccups that need to be worked out, but it’s nothing to prevent the project from coming.”

Also on Tuesday’s agenda was the tenth annual road race to benefit Central Georgia’s Alzheimer’s Association – a Georgia based group that is devoted to the research, awareness, and dispelling of Alzheimer’s and dementia. For those that would like to do independent research this topic or get active in this group, go to www.alz.com/georgia.

Other items on the agenda were the approval of bills, the accepting of grants, and board appointments.

HHJ News