Commissioners approve Mutual Aid Agreement

On Tuesday, March 2, the Houston County Commissioners met for their first meeting of March.

Brigadier General Matthew Burger of the Air Force Reserve Command led the commission in the pledge of allegiance, and then spoke about his time in the military. Burger has served in the United States Air Force for nearly 31 years, after graduating from the Air Force Academy. During his service thus far, Burger specialized in Combat Rescue, and served that way even outside of conflict. Burger has served in a number of places, including North Dakota, Nevada, and Iceland. Burger was later deployed to Afghanistan and the Middle East. Burger now serves at Robins Air Force Base. After receiving gracious remarks from the commission, as well as a few tokens of gratitude, Burger left the meeting.

The commission’s agenda held no old business; however, it did contain 11 items of new business. Namely, the Houston County Commission once again approved the Mutual Aid Agreement. The agreement was approved before in 2019, and without much deliberation, was approved again by the commission at this meeting. This agreement will allow emergency services within the county to assist people outside of their jurisdiction in a major emergency such as a man-made or natural disaster.

The commission also listened to a reading by County Attorney Hall for an amendment of the Code of Ordinance concerning the Hospital Authority.

“They would be amended by, first all of all, reducing the board from nine to seven,” Hall explained, “and also specifically, setting out the make-up of that board which would be three commissioners, the mayors of each city, and then someone from the Board of Trustees from the hospital.” This amendment would also drop the Indigent Health Care Inquiry.

Commissioner Chairman Tommy Stalnaker commented on this amendment. “It’s long overdue, the reconfiguration of the authority of the hospital occurred a number of years ago, and this ordinance was never changed.” Stalnaker added, “It’s needed changing for a long time, and it’s come to our attention recently.” As this was a first reading of this amendment, the commission, at this time, took no action.

The commission also approved a new construction proposal for a chiller replacement at the Houston County Detention Center. Both JM Cayton and ICB Construction will complete the project. The purpose of this project would be to repair and replace many pieces of the air exchange and cooling systems in the Detention Center. As it stands currently, the estimated completion time frame for this project is within two months of its initiation. This project will cost the county over $33 million; however, it will be covered by the 2012 SPLOST Fund.

However, this proposal also states that the county will pay an additional $4,020 to ICB Construction for every extra week the project extends past it’s initial two-month estimate. Stalnaker expressed concern for this. “We just need to pay real close attention that their clock doesn’t start ticking before that equipment hits the ground and all, or if it does, that it doesn’t start ticking very far in advance.”

The commission approved another construction proposal as well; this one entirely through ICB Construction, for the replacement of the Houston County Annex rear entry steps. This project would cost $94,523 and would be paid for by the HOST Fund. This project would replace the rear entry steps, as well as a repair of the handicap ramp near the Sheriff’s Department. Additionally, this project would provide a new door system at the main employee entrance of the building, complete with the installation of card readers and panic hardware.

The commission also approved multiple bids and Special Exception Applications for new businesses, accepted multiple personnel requests and paid the counties bills before adjournment.

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