Commissioners learn about the 53rd CAOS, Chairman announces special called meeting 

PERRY– The Houston County Commissioners met for their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday Aug. 6 at the Houston County Courthouse on Perry Parkway. 

The Commissioners first learned about SMSgt Schyler Peck’s time in the military. Peck is an air traffic controller by trade and has been in the Air Force for over 19 years. He is a part of the 53rd Combat Airfield Operations Squadron (CAOS).

“I grew up in West Virginia by way of Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee before finding myself in West Virginia at age 10,” Peck said. 

However, he is not a military brat, despite moving around a lot as a kid. Peck got his inspiration from his grandparents who both served in World War II. 

Peck’s grandfather was in the Army Air Corps and his grandmother was in the Navy Wave in World War II. 

“They met at the tail-end of their service and fast forward several decades, here I am,” he said. 

Peck joined the Air Force when he was 17.

“My mom signed me over to the service, and then shortly after my 18th birthday, I shipped out to basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas,” he said. “After there I completed technical training at the Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi, then shipped off to Okinawa, Japan, followed by South Korea, California, Alaska, Oklahoma, North Carolina then found myself here at Robins Air Force Base around 13 months ago.” 

Peck met his wife through the Air Force and has been married for 12 years. He has two kids who both go to Matt Arthur Elementary. 

Peck then mentioned what the 53rd Combat Airfield Operations Squadron does. 

“Best way to put it is we open and establish austere remote airfields and semi-permissive, potentially hostile environments, or just generally environments that you don’t want to find yourself in,” he said. “This is hugely important, because since the end of World War II, America has had the blessing of home basing and sanctuary bases where we’re not under constant fear of major enemy attacks.” 

Peck said because of great power competition and the potential war of tomorrow, the 53rd CAOS believes the U.S. will not have that luxury anymore. 

“We need to be able to pivot forward and open up airfields very rapidly with scalable capability ranging from a four-person team opening up an austere runway in the middle of nowhere, all the way up to precision instrument approaches that you would find at any international airport,” he said. “We offer that capability to the Department of Defense.” 

Peck said the 53rd CAOS is also developing techniques, tactics and procedures. 

“These will be vital to war planners developing those operational plans on how we’re going to counter and deter our adversaries of tomorrow,” he said. “That national security strategy is being developed just up the road here at Robins within my squadron and squadrons very similar to mine.” 

Peck explained that the community outreach that Houston County provides to the 53rd CAOS is vital to their national security. 

“The exposure the community has to the military is massively important for tomorrow’s fight,” he said. “I’ll be taking this uniform at some point in the near future, and I need to make sure that we have up and coming airmen, soldiers, sailors and marines to take my place and to take that fight to the enemy tomorrow.” 

After Peck’s time at the podium, commissioners gave him gratitude.

“Thank you for being here as I can definitely sense that you’re fulfilling your passion, and I appreciate men like you serving this country as it makes me feel safe,” Commissioner Tal Talton said. 

“Thank you for your service at Robins and for the critical work you do in support of our National Defense, and we’re proud to be the host community to Robins Air Force Base and we want you to know that we’re here to support you,” Commissioner Mark Byrd said. 

Before new business was carried out, Chairman Dan Perdue announced a special called meeting following their regularly scheduled meeting on August 20. Perdue said this special called meeting is to set the millage rate. 

“As you are all aware, we have committed to a rollback of the millage rate and that rate will be 8.501,” Perdue said. 

The board moved on to new business, approved a handful of special exemptions applications. The applications approved included a landscaping and property management business, computer repair and tech support business and a short-term rentals and property management business. 

Also in the meeting, Houston County Utility Director Terry Dietch gave a quick presentation on a proposed C&D landfill expansion to the Board of Commissioners.  

Dietch said the landfill is running out of space rapidly and said it takes several years to acquire the permit. 

“Houston County Landfill has a long history of excellence in providing solid waste services to its citizens,” Dietch said. “The existing C&D landfill is located within Houston County owned property and we have about 2,500 acres for landfill space.” 

Dietch said the proposed expansion is about 43 to 44 of the 2,500 acres and will be used for the C&D placement. 

“The property has been evaluated by our consultants as they’ve done site suitability,” he said. “They’ve determined it’s consistent with our plan.” 

Dietch also mentioned the consultants determined the proposed project would have positive impacts in the county’s existing waste management facilities. 

There was a public hearing on this item and no one spoke for or against. The decision for the approval of the landfill expansion will come up at the next meeting. 

The next Houston County Commissioners meeting will be held Aug. 20, 5 p.m., at the Houston County Annex on 200 Carl Vinson Parkway. The special called meeting about the millage rate will take place shortly after. 

To view the minutes of this meeting in full, go to houstoncountyga.org/commissioner/meeting-minutes.cms.