The Baldwin County Board of Commissioners hosted its final meeting of the year on Dec. 19 completed several presentations and approved the budget. All members except Commissioner Henry Craig were present at the meeting.
The meeting began with a presentation of bikes to seven children from a grant in partnership with U Create Macon. The organization is looking to have a youth bike “hub” and accessibility for students in every region.
“The Middle Georgia Regional Commission had Outride bikes for each county to start the program. This is the first regional push to get more kids on bikes,” said Carlos Tobar, county manager. “And Baldwin County Fire and Rescue will add the smallest bike to their toy drive.”
Emergency Management Agency Director Wayne Johnson presented to the commissioners and updated them on the Hazard Mitigation grants the county applied for earlier this year. Through this grant, the county received 200 weather radios to be placed in city and county critical facilities.
Johnson also informed the board that Putnam County applied for a mitigation grant in 2019 for generators at the Sinclair Water Authority which has now been received.
“The grant is estimated to be $400,000 but Senator Jon Osoff is trying to adjust that because inflation has increased the costs. Senator Osoff is asking to increase the amount of the grant,” said Tobar. “The local match will be $35,000 for Baldwin County and $35,000 for Putnam County.”
Commissioner Kendrick Butts presented Certificates of Appreciation to T.J. Webster and Danny Register in Districts 2 and 3 for their assistance to the county and civil work.
“This is something as a board we would like to present to each of you for your civil involvement in the Coopers and Dixon Hike area in Baldwin County,” said Butts. “Much improvement has been made thanks to your hard work.”
Moving into agenda items, the FY 2024 budget was unanimously approved, commissioners unanimously approved chairwoman Emily Davis to continue on the Middle Georgia Advisory Council on Aging, and unanimously approved the Georgia Department of Transportation Local Administered Project (LAP) Engineering and Design Procurement Policy and Procedure Certification without discussion.
The board, however, did discuss the use of Walter B. Williams Park for the 2024 Bicycle Ride Across Georgia (BRAG) event. Commissioners expressed concerns about the use of the park conflicting with sports and costing more due to the need for security and other resources.
Tobar stated the event would take place on Tuesday through Thursday (June 4-6) and would have approximately 1,200 riders. He said the grounds would primarily be used for camping and the event would not conflict with sports. He also stated no specific requests for additional law enforcement were made. The county would charge BRAG $1,500 for the use of the property.
Commissioner Sammy Hall made a motion to provide pending approval after a thorough review of the BRAG handbook and getting confirmation on details regarding insurance, security, and more before approval. The board unanimously voted for the pending approval.
“I motion to approve it pending a complete review of the handbook to ensure all our bases are covered and that the $1,500 will cover our expenses,” said Hall.
County Attorney Brandon Palmer presented a Property Purchase Agreement for 0.2 Acres on Horace Veal Road to relocate a booster pump station.
A county resident reported having the pump on their property and wants to have it moved. For $2,000, the land on Horace Veal Road would be purchased for the pump to be relocated and maintained there. According to Palmer, with the vote unanimously approved they will look to set a closing date on the property in January.
During the county manager's report, Tobar informed the board that the third house of the CHIP grant should be completed in January and bids are going out in less than a month for the Aquatic Center.
Concluding the meeting, pickleball enthusiasts continued advocating for resurfacing the courts at Walter B. Williams Park. Three individuals spoke on the issue, pointing out the benefits of the sport, as well as stressing the need for immediate reconstruction and resurfacing of the courts.
Milledgeville Pickleball Club president Jeff Moore explained to the commissioners that the $40,000 raised to help fund the project has been returned to those making the donations. Moore said the club thought the money was going to repair the eight existing pickleball courts, not the adjacent tennis courts that would include only six new courts for pickleball play following reconstruction.
The commissioners voted recently to fund the reconstruction of the four tennis courts, replacing two with six pickleball courts. That is where the problem began, according to Moore.
“We had no promise or guarantee that the other side, when or if it would get done. And so, that is kind of where the communications broke down.”
Moore went on to say club members came back after that vote and requested the change of plans but were told no.
“That’s why the funding or donations are no longer available,” he explained, as end-of-the-year tax consequences came into play with many of the donors.
Following additional discussion, it was agreed that county representatives and a small group of players would get together soon to discuss options and alternatives, a meeting District 5 commissioner Johnny Westmoreland requested.