Commissioners approve annexation request, hear more concerns on dismissed lawsuit 

WARNER ROBINS — The Houston County Board of Commissioners met for their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, April 22. 

In new business, the Board concurred with an annexation request from the City of Warner Robins. This property is located at 120 Kennel Drive containing 22.97 acres. 

Commissioner Mark Byrd said the City of Warner Robins required additional buffering adjoining the additional residential area. 

“I want to express my appreciation to the City of Warner Robins for agreeing to only provide emergency vehicle access on Mauk Circle,” Chairman Dan Perdue said. “This body has considered this annexation before, and we asked for no access from Mauk Circle. We reached a compromise with the city, and this is an important redevelopment project for that area.” 

The Board also approved the hiring of poll workers for the June 17 special election and personnel requests.

During public comments, the Board heard more concerns about the dismissed lawsuit issued by the DOJ against the Houston County Board of Commissioners 

NAACP Youth Advisor Dr. Rutha Jackson said she still has some unrest about the lawsuit. 

“Is this the final say of changing the voting process? The Voting [Rights] Act guarantees that all eligible citizens have an equal opportunity to participate in the democratic process and to elect representatives of their choice regardless of race or ethnicity,” she said. 

Jackson said it has been 33 years since there has been an African-American presence on the Board of Commissioners, and the situation could be rectified by implementing districts instead of at-large seats. 

“With our working together, I believe we can get this done. The DOJ brought clarity and understanding concerning a group disenfranchised people in the election process,” she said. “The facts are proven and solid with percentages as well as possible maps drawn to solidify. The numbers needed to substantiate it, leveling the playing field are there, but allegedly the coffin is closed.” 

Rev. Daryl Vining spoke on how the county is divided into urban, suburban, rural, and farm areas. He said those distinct areas require different perspectives. 

“It would make better sense that we partition our county commissioners in the same way so that those voices can be heard,” he said.

Houston County NAACP President Jonathan Johnson expressed his concerns about the dismissed lawsuit, adding the African-American community will keep pushing this issue until they find some common ground. 

“I don’t understand how you all can sit on that Board and live in the community and not address these issues of what’s going on with the African-American community that says that they feel like they should have the same opportunity to sit on the Board, to vote and if they want to run for office,” he said. “Those districts need to be put in place so that someone of the African American community can represent us. It’s nothing hard to do and you all have the power to do it.”

Houston County Fire Chief Christopher Stoner also spoke on the new and improved ISO-PPC rating the fire department had received. Read more about what the ISO-PPC rating is and Chief Stoner’s thoughts by clicking here.

The full agenda for this meeting can be found at www.houstoncountyga.gov/minutes/2025-04-22%20Department%20Head.pdf

The next Houston County Commissioners meeting will be held Tuesday, May 6, at the Houston County Courthouse in Perry.