On the agenda: Newton County meeting — DATA CENTER (Oct 6)

NEWTON COUNTY BOARD OFCOMMISSIONERS
MEETING AGENDA
HISTORIC COURTHOUSE – 1124 CLARK STREET

COVINGTON, GEORIGA 30014
October 6, 2026
7:00 p.m.
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7e)

CALL TO ORDER
INVOCATION & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
PUBLIC COMMENTS Time limit of (3) minutes each to comment on agenda topics.
REPORTS FROM THE CHAIRMAN None to report.
REPORTS FROM THE COUNTY MANAGER
Presentation of Fire Prevention Week Proclamation – James Franklin, Fire Services
Presentation – Amanda Huggins, City of Covington Natural Gas Department
CONSENT AGENDA_____________________________________________________
Regular Meeting Minutes – September 15, 2026
Executive Session Minutes – September 15, 2026
Purchasing Card/Credit Card Agreement Authorization – Amber Dally, District Attorney
Submitted by: Randi Fincher, Purchasing Coordinator
Street Light Petition- The Ridge at Twin Rivers Subdivision (formally The Valley @ Twin Rivers Ph. 4)
Resolution R-100626 - A RESOLUTION PROVIDED FOR THE INSTALLATION OF
STREET LIGHTS AND THE ASSESSMENT OF THE ANNUAL COSTS OF
MAINTAINING AND OPERATING SAID LIGHTS AGAINST PROPERTY SERVED
BY THOSE LIGHTS.
Grant Acceptance - Newton County Sheriff’s Office requests to accept the FY27 Governor’s
Office of Highway Safety CRTEN Grant. This is 100% federally funded.
Cost: Federal Award Amount - $28,686.32|Funding Source: Governor’s Office of Highway
Safety – National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. No match required.
Submitted by: Brandy Burch
This is the end of the consent agenda
NEW BUSINESS_______________________________________________________________

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Consideration of Newton County Sheriff’s Office to apply for the FY26 Byrne Discretionary
Community Project Grant/Byrne Discretionary Grants Program
Cost: $39,000.00|Funding Source: Bureau of Justice| Budgeted: Yes| No match required
Presenter: Brandy Burch

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Consideration of Newton County Sheriff’s Office to apply for the Patrick Leahy Bulletproof
Vest Partnership Program. This is a reimbursement grant that will require a 50% match. The
grant amount is not yet determined. |Funding Source: Bureau of Justice Assistance
Budgeted: Yes| Match: Yes
Presenter: Brandy Burch

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Consideration of Newton County Sheriff’s Office to accept the FY27 Governor’s Office of
Highway Safety HEAT Unit Grant. The grant is a 60%(County)|40% (Federal award) split.
Funding Source: Governor’s Office of Highway Safety – National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration| Cost: Federal Award amount: $75,999.36|
County Match: $113,999.04|Budgeted: Yes
Presenter: Brandy Burch

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Consideration of Newton County Fire Services to apply for the Meta Community Action
Grant. Proposed grant total: $200,00.00| Funding Source: N/A| Budgeted: N/A|
No match required.
Presenter: Chief Royce Turner

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Consideration of Patrick & Associates quote for Topographical/Boundary Services for the
Westside Youth Facility & Westside Park and Denny Dobbs Park. Lowest quote received.
Cost: Westside Youth Facility & Westside Park: $37,490.00|Denny Dobbs Park: $8,500.00
Funding Source: SPLOST |Budgeted: Yes| No match required
Presenter(s): ICM James Brown| Dwayne Mask, Parks & Recreation Director|
Jason Johnson, Facilities Director

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Consideration of Biological Monitoring Alcovy River Intake Project #202479.00 agreement
between Newton County Water Resources and Vanasse Hangen Brustilin, Inc.
Cost: $5,929.00|Funding Source: Cornish Creek| Budgeted: Yes| No match required
Presenter: ICM James Brown

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Consideration of Pattons PM 2026 Service Agreement for compressor services and valve
preventative maintenance. Cost: $12,965.89|Funding Source: Cornish Creek| Budgeted: Yes
No match required
Presenter: ICM James Brown

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Discussion of T-Mobile Settlement Agreement – Attorney Stephanie Johnson

7:30 P.M.
ZONING AGENDA AND PUBLIC HEARING
NEW BUSINESS
1. APP26-000004 (Appeals Case). Companion case PP26-000004
Applicant: J.D. Wyatt Farms LP (Rep: Steve Rothman)
Location: 643, 557, 527, 517, 461, 495, 445 & 447 Harold Dobbs Rd
Map & Parcel Number: 0026-021A, 0026-022, 0026-022A, 0026-023, 0026-024, 0026-025A, 0026025B & 0026-252
FLUM: DN (Development Node)
Zoning: R-2 (Single-Family Residential), Almon Tier 1 Residential Overlay
District: 3 (Three)
Acreage: 89 acres
Request: Appeal to the Planning Commission’s decision on 7/28/26 to deny the preliminary plat for
the Easthampton Development @ Harold Dobbs Road with 222 single-family detached homes.
7/28/26 - Planning Commission denied the Easthampton preliminary plat (PP26-000004).
Vote 3-0. District 1 & District 5 Planning Commission members recused themselves from the vote.
2. Consideration of A RESOLUTION OF THE NEWTON COUNTY BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS TO EXTEND AN EXISTING MORATORIUM ON THE ACCEPTANCE
OF APPLICATIONS, REQUESTS OR SUBMISSIONS THAT PROPOSE THE
DEVELOPMENT OF DATA CENTERS. Resolution R-100626A
3. Consideration of A RESOLUTION OF THE NEWTON COUNTY BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS TO EXTEND AN EXISTING MORATORIUM ON THE ACCEPTANCE
OF APPLICATIONS, REQUESTS OR SUBMISSIONS THAT PROPOSE THE
DEVELOPMENT OF CONVENIENCE STORES. Resolution R-100626B

NO PUBLIC HEARING
1. Consideration of Proposed Annexation – City of Covington| R5 Holdings, LLC
Map & Parcel 0083000000012000, 0083000000013000 & 0083000000014000 Located at 10593
Highway 36, 10603 Highway 36 & 10701 Highway 36.
Brief Description:
The City of Covington is requesting to annex approximately +/- 2.45 acres total of land zoned CH
located at 10593 Hwy 36, 10603 Highway 36 & 10701 Highway 36. The request is for Map & Parcel
0083000000012000, 0083000000013000 & 0083000000014000 be annexed in order to develop a
develop the corner lot for retail or a restaurant.
This is the end of the zoning agenda.
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PUBLIC COMMENTS – Time limit of (3) minutes each to comment.
BOARD COMMENTS
EXECUTIVE SESSION – To discuss pending litigation
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.