On the agenda: Newton County meeting — Data Center (Apr 7)
Past ⚠ Agenda Watch Newton County, Georgia · Tuesday, April 7, 2026 — 5 months ago
About this record
The published agenda for this April 7 meeting contains: "Data Center", "DATA CENTER". The meeting has passed; the record and its outcome live here permanently.
Check the agenda document for the meeting time.
The agenda, word for word
Government public record — the full text of the published document, archived August 5, 2026. Gold highlighting of key terms is ours, not the original’s. Read the original document ↗
NEWTON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MEETING AGENDA
HISTORIC COURTHOUSE – 1124 CLARK STREET
COVINGTON, GEORIGA 30014
APRIL 7, 2026
7:00 P.M.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
CALL TO ORDER
INVOCATION & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
PUBLIC COMMENTS – Each speaker is allowed three minutes to comment, voice
concerns or opinions regarding agenda topics only.
REPORTS FROM THE CHAIRMAN
Dr. Duke Bradley, Newton County Schools Superintendent
REPORTS FROM THE COUNTY MANAGER Staffing Updates
CONSENT AGENDA
7a. BOC Minutes March 12, 2027 - FY2027 Budget Workshop
7b. March 17, 2026 - Regular Session – 7:00 p.m./Executive Session
7c. RATIFICATION – Newton County Sheriff’s Office to apply for FY25 Public Safety and
Mental Health Initiative Grant. Proposed Grant Amount: $600,000.00/Match: $100,000.00
Funding Source: Bureau of Justice, Justice Department.
7d. Disposal of surplus asset - 2006 Roland VersaCamm SP-300V Printer currently has no
value, is inoperable and the parts are discontinued for repair.
This is the end of the consent agenda.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS Zoning Agenda (7:30 p.m.)
CUP26-000001 Tabled from March 3, 2026
NEW BUSINESS
Consideration of Resolution to appoint new solicitors for Newton County Probate Court.
A RESOLUTION OF THE NEWTON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
NAMING LEE R. MOSS, TAYLOR CARTER, AND KARA HOOKS AS
SOLICITORS FOR THE NEWTON COUNTY PROBATE COURT
Resolution R-040726e
Presenter: Judge Melanie Bell
10.
Consideration of Newton County Sheriff’s Office to apply for the FY25 Edward Byrne
Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG). Proposed grant amount: $30,929. There is no match
required. Presenter: Brandy Burch
11.
Consideration of Peach State Construction Company proposal for the River Ridge Trail culvert
replacement project. Cost: $125,850.00/Funding Source: Public Works General Fund
The funds are budgeted and there is no match required. Presenter: Chester Clegg
12.
Consideration of QX Ground proposal for the Ellington Road culvert replacement project.
Cost: $78,361.80/Funding Source: Public Works General Fund/The funds are budgeted and
there is no required match.
Presenter: Chester Clegg
13.
Consideration of Newton County Parks & Recreation to accept a charitable contribution in
the amount of $20,000.00 from Amazon. The funds will be used to help with special
events.
Presenter: Dwayne Mask
14.
Consideration of AN ORDINANCE REPEALING AND REPLACING CHAPTER
12, ARTICLE IV OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF NEWTON COUNTY,
GEORGIA REGARDING MOTION PICTURE, TELEVISION AND
PHOTOGRAPHIC PRODUCTIONS. Ordinance Number O-040726
Filming Price Increases
15.
Consideration of A RESOLUTION BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
OF NEWTON COUNTY, GEORGIA APPROVING A FEE SCHEDULE
FOR MOTION PICTURE, TELEVISION AND PHOTOGRAPHIC PRODUCTIONS.
RESOLUTION R-040726
Filming Price Increases
16.
Consideration of Agreement with Carl Vinson Institute of Government to facilitate a
Sequential Intercept Mapping (SIM) event for Newton County. Cost: $5,885.00
Funding Source: Opioid Settlement Funds/The funds are budgeted and there is no match
required. Presenter: James Brown
17.
Consideration of Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. Biological Rover Monitoring Contract for
scheduled monitoring in the Alcovy River at Alcovy Trestle pump station; monitoring will
follow USEPA’s Rapid Bioassessment Protocol (EPA). Cost: $5,929.00/Funding Source:
Cornish Creek/Water Resources/Budgeted/There is no match required.
Presenter: James Brown
18.
Consideration of Northeast Georgia Regional Commission Agreement for Updated
Comprehensive Plan. Cost: $20,000.00/Funding Source: General Fund/Budgeted
Presenter(s) James Brown, Shena Applewhaite
19.
Consideration of Budget Transfer – Contingency for New Positions – Magistrate Court
2 Deputy Clerk Positions. Funding Source: General Fund Contingency for new positions.
7:30 p.m.
ZONING AGENDA - PUBLIC HEARING
Unfinished Business – Tabled-March 3, 2026 Applicant has requested to withdraw.
1. CUP26-000001 (Conditional Use Permit)
Applicant: Larry Cox
Location: 2765 Access Rd
Map & Parcel Number: 0024 076
FLUM: DN (Development Node)
Zoning: CH (Highway Commercial), Almon Tier 2 Non-Residential/Mixed Use Overlay
Acreage: 1.94 ac
District: Three (3)
Request: Conditional use permit to operate an office with outside storage/fleet parking in
the Almon Tier 2 Overlay.
2. NTL26-000001 (Conditional Use Permit for a New Cell Tower)
Applicant: Brant Ratcliffe
Location: Hwy 81
Map & Parcel Number: 0016 030
FLUM: COM (Commercial)
Zoning: R-2 (Single-Family Residential)
District: Two (2)
Acreage: 3.36 ac (project area is 0.29 acres)
Request: Conditional use permit to develop a wireless telecommunications tower facility.
Planning Commission recommended denial on 3/24/26. (5-0).
3. Consideration of Resolution for Moratorium on Convenience Stores.
A RESOLUTION OF THE NEWTON COUNTY BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS ENACTING A LIMITED MORATORIUM ON THE
ACCEPTANCE OF APPLICATIONS, REQUESTS, OR SUBMISSIONS THAT
PROPOSE THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONVENIENCE STORES
RESOLUTION R-040726a
4. Consideration of Resolution for Moratorium on Data Centers.
A RESOLUTION OF THE NEWTON COUNTY BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS ENACTING A LIMITED MORATORIUM ON THE
ACCEPTANCE OF APPLICATIONS, REQUESTS, OR SUBMISSIONS THAT
PROPOSE THE DEVELOPMENT OF DATA CENTERS.
RESOLUTION R-040726b
5. ALCOHOL LICENSE
2nd Reading - Covington Market LLC. 5485 Highway 81 South Covington, Georgia 30016
District One (1)
Note: Development Services confirmed Covington Market LLC currently holds a valid business
license and currently there are no active code enforcement violations or issues associated with this business.
In addition, the location has received approval from the Fire Department.
20.
This the end of the zoning agenda.
Consideration of Resolution to amend the Newton County Board of Commissioners
Employee Handbook. A RESOLUTION OF THE NEWTON COUNTY BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS TO AMEND THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK TO ALLOW
FOR REEMPLOYMENT OF RETIRED PARTICIPANTS.
RESOLUTION R-040726c
21.
Consideration of Resolution to amend Association County Commissioners of Georgia
Defined Benefit Plan. RESOLUTION TO AMEND ASSOCIATION COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF GEORGIA DEFINED BENEFIT PLAN FOR NEWTON
COUNTY EMPLOYEES. RESOLUTION R-040726d
22.
23.
24.
25.
PUBLIC COMMENTS - Each speaker is allowed three minutes to comment.
BOARD COMMENTS
EXECUTIVE SESSION (IF NEEDED)
ADJOURN
Individuals with disabilities who require certain accommodations in order to allow them to observe and/or participate in this meeting,
or have questions regarding the accessibility of meeting or the facilities, are required to promptly contact the ADA Coordinator
Pamela Maxwell @ 678 625 1243 or email: [email protected] to allow the county to make reasonable accommodations
for those persons.
The government’s own published record — read it yourself, then decide what to do about it.
The facilities, the coverage, and the local record for this community.
Not yet recorded. The record stays open — outcomes are added as minutes and vote results are published.
Provenance
Where this record came from. Every source is listed, permanently.
- Agenda Watch · Aug 5, 2026
Permanent ID DKT-2026-000429 — this record is never deleted.
Record history
Every change to this record, logged as it happened.
- Aug 5, 2026 Filed on the Docket
- Aug 5, 2026 Full document archived — public record
← The full Docket · every meeting, vote, and action on the permanent record · also in the National Record Index.