Commissioners hear from Senior Pastor, concur annexations 

WARNER ROBINS — In the most recent meeting, the Houston County Commissioners heard from the Senior Pastor of Warner Robins CME Church, Dr. Andre C. Loyd, Jr., and concurred on two annexations. 

“It has been a prized privilege of mine to serve as Pastor of the Warner Robins Church now for about five months,” Loyd said. “God has graced me to be a part of not only a vibrant congregation, but also being a part of a vibrant community, which is a place I am proud to raise my family.” 

Loyd said at the Warner Robins CME Church, they believe to be the church that the whole community can depend on. 

“Every ministry that I have served, from here to Virginia to Tennessee to Atlanta and now Warner Robins, I have always lived on the mantra of, ‘I’m not just the church’s pastor, I’m the community’s pastor,’” he said. “I oftentimes say to community leaders and community people who come into my ministry that a healthy church and a healthy community together can create a healthy standard for a healthy group of people to make a healthy impact not only on our state but on our nation.” 

Loyd said he is proud to serve in Georgia’s most progressive county. 

“I will seek to follow the suit of our Commissioners and pray that our church is one of the most progressive churches in the Houston County area,” he said. “I am here to serve this community and the community people. No matter who you are or what you do, I want you to know you always have a friend in me and a friend in the Warner Robins CME Church.” 

Commissioners then shared remarks about Rev. Loyd. 

“We went to school together, and so even back then your caliber of the young man you were at the time is very impressive as you always have been,” Commissioner Shane Gotwalls said. “ I followed you over the years, and found out a few months ago that you were returning back to Houston County, and I’m glad that our community has you and  glad your church has you as their pastor.” 

“Thank you for being here and also thank you for you and your community involvement as that means a lot to us,” Commissioner Tal Talton said. 

Old business from the Nov. 5 meeting came back up on the agenda, involving a bid approval for a new pothole patcher truck for the Roads and Bridges department. The decision was tabled at the previous meeting because another option was brought before the Board. The Board approved the initial bid. 

“After further consideration, the proposed bid offers the most suitable truck for the county’s requirements,” Gotwalls said. 

The Board then concurred with two annexations, one located on Moody Road and the other located at 227 Wilson Road in Bonaire. 

The annexation on Moody Road contains 309.4 acres. Chad Bryant of Bryant Engineering said this annexation is an expansion of the Woodlands subdivision. 

A few people were opposed to the annexation. One citizen said the main concern is rezoning from R-1 to R-2. 

“Moody Road is already very crowded, and most of us moved out there for country living. If they open Moody Road up to the Woodlands, there may be hundreds or thousands of homes that will be coming out on Moody Road,” the concerned citizen said. 

County Attorney Tom Hall said the county does not have grounds to object to an annexation.

“For the annexation part, we have nothing to say or argue about, because we would not be able to even take that to mediation or arbitration because it doesn’t meet the guidelines,” Hall said.

Hall also pointed out the Comprehensive Land Development Plan. It said the area is called suburban residential which is compatible with the land use.

“If we did make an objection to that, in my opinion, we would not prevail in that,” he said.

A few Commissioners disagreed with this annexation, however, there is not much they can do from the county level. 

“I don’t like it, but it’s what happens for this type of land. I figured the 28 years I’ve lived out there with all these other subdivisions that have grown up around me that it was eventually going to become a neighborhood. I don’t like it because I hate to see all the trees go away,” Commissioner Gail Robinson said. 

“Being a commissioner is a weighty thing as there’s a lot of things that come before us and you feel like your vote makes an impact, and I got to say every time there’s an annexation request and it’s a concur, nonconcur vote, I feel very weak. As County Attorney Tom Hall said, we just really can’t do anything,” Gotwalls said. 

The next Houston County Commissioners meeting will be held Tuesday, Dec. 3, at 9 a.m. at the Houston County Courthouse located at 201 Perry Parkway. The agenda for this meeting can be found at houstoncountyga.gov/minutes/2024-11-19%20Department%20Heads%20Copy.pdf