On the agenda: Tift County Minutes — data center (Sep 14)

REGULAR SESSION
TIFT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2026 (6:00 PM)

The scheduled Regular Session of the Tift County Board of Commissioners was called to order by
Chairman Tony McBrayer on Monday, September 14, 2026 at 6:00 pm in Room 207 of the Charles Kent
Administration Building. Members of the Commission present in addition to Chairman McBrayer were
Commissioners Paul Webb, Donnie Hester, Tyler Riddle, Stan Stalnaker and Melissa Hughes.
Commissioner Greg Wood was present via phone.

Chairman Tony McBrayer offered an invocation and led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States
Flag.

APPOINTMENTS

3.1 Commissioner Stan Stalnaker and Mr. Ronald Brownlee presented a letter of appreciation to
Paramedics Kirk Baldree and Austin Barnes and to Ryan McBrayer who works in the Emergency
Department at Tift Regional Medical Center.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Christopher Burchell, 2415 Madison Dr, spoke concerning data centers.

ITEMS TO BE ADDED TO THE AGENDA

41 Commissioner Paul Webb made a motion to add the consideration of a Scrap Tire Abatement
Reimbursement Grant to the Regular Agenda as Item 8.3. Motion seconded by Commissioner
Melissa Hughes. Motion carried 6-0.

MINUTES

Commissioner Tyler Riddle made a motion to approve the following minutes: (1) Work Session — August
4, 2026; (2) Public Hearing, Hazard Mitigation Plan Update — August 10, 2026; (3) Regular Session —
August 10, 2026; and (4) Executive Session — August 10, 2026. Motion was seconded by Commissioner
Paul Webb. Motion carried 6-0.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

6.1 Road Abandonment Request Submitted by Chad VanOrman, Agent, for a Portion of Southern
Avenue — TABLED 07.13.26 & 08.10.26

County Manager Jim Carter asked that the Commission table this application until the October
meeting. The applicant is waiting on information from the Georgia Department of
Transportation.

Commissioner Tyler Riddle made a motion to table this item until the September meeting.
Motion seconded by Commissioner Paul Webb. Motion carried 6-0 with the Chairman voting.

6.2 Resolution No 2026-22, TC-ZA-26-09 — Petition is being made by Meshell Dominguez, owner, for
6.17 acres located at 219 Hutchinson Rd - Map 0044 046A. The current zoning is AG
(Agriculture Use) and the requested zoning is R-1 (Single-Family Residential)

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REGULAR SESSION
TIFT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2026 (6:00 PM)

Community Development Service Director Chad Branch presented the application. He stated
that the Planning Commission recommends approval. He further stated that there have been
no inquiries in his office for or against the application.

County Attorney Anthony Rowell (via phone) opened the public hearing.

There being no comments, Mr. Rowell closed the public hearing.

Mr. Rowell asked the Board of Commissioners if any of them, personally, a family member or
business relationship has any interest in the property to be considered for rezoning that needs
to be declared so there will not be any conflict of interest. Mr. Rowell asked that the record

reflect there were no affirmative responses.

Commissioner Greg Wood made a motion to approve Resolution No 2026-22, TC-ZA-26-09.
Motion seconded by Commissioner Donnie Hester. Motion carried 6-0.

CONSENT AGENDA:

71 Motion to Approve Purchase of an Ambulance Module from Frazer for a Cost of $339,967.50
and for the Purchase of an Ambulance Chassis from Griffin Ford for a Cost of $65,127 Totaling
$405,094.50 to be Funded from General Fund

7.2 Motion to Accept NextGen Warning Grant from GEMA/HS to Receive Integrated Public Alert and
Warning Systems (IPAWS) Alerting Software at No Direct Cost for the First Two Years of Service

73 Motion to Renew Maintenance Agreement with Motorola Solutions for the VESTA 911 Phone
System for a Cost of $34,247.33 to be Funded from £911 Fund

74 Motion to Approve Funding in the Amount of $12,500 from Contingency to Enclose the Dog
Adoption Wing at the Animal Shelter so that an HVAC System can be Installed

75 Motion to Approve Contract with Traylor Business Services for Personal Property Audit Services
in the Amount of $18,000 to be Funded from General Fund

7.6 Motion to Approve Resolution No 2026-20, Surplus Vehicles

7.7 Motion to Approve Resolution No 2026-19, Filing of Application for Regional Transit Services

7.8 Motion to Approve Resolution No 2026-21, Adoption of Millage Rate as Follows: Maintenance
and Operations (Incorporated Areas): 8.225 mils; Maintenance and Operations (Unincorporated
Areas): 8.225 mils; Special Services Tax District (Unincorporated Areas, Ty Ty and Omega): 0.952

mils; and Tift County Board of Education: 11.777 mils

Commissioner Donnie Hester made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as read by Chairman
McBrayer. Motion seconded by Commissioner Tyler Riddle. Motion carried 6-0.

REGULAR SESSION
TIFT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2026 (6:00 PM)

REGULAR AGENDA:

8.1 Technical Assistance Services Agreement with Southern Georgia Regional Commission — TABLED
08.10.26

County Manager Jim Carter asked the Board to table this agreement until the next meeting.

Commissioner Melissa Hughes made a motion to table this item until the October meeting.
Motion was seconded by Commissioner Paul Webb. Motion carried 6-0.

8.2 Alcohol Beverage License Application Submitted by Arvindbhai Lavajibhai Chaudhari for Tifton
3726 GA LLC Located at 3726 US Hwy 82 W

County Clerk Miriam Jordan asked that consideration of this application be tabled because
owner has not yet obtained his county business license.

Commissioner Melissa Hughes made a motion to table consideration of the Alcohol Beverage
License Application Submitted by Arvindbhai Lavajibhai Chaudhari. Motion seconded by
Commissioner Donnie Hester. Motion carried 6-0.

8.3 Scrap Tire Abatement Reimbursement Grant

County Clerk Miriam Jordan stated that this grant reimburses for transporting and processing of
scrap tires up to $75,000 per year. The grant application has been prepared for an event to be
held on October 31° (as requested by Commissioner Hughes) but because that is not 90 days
prior to the event it may not be approved. The alternate date submitted will be January 10,
2027.

Commissioner Paul Webb made a motion to approve the submission of a Scrap Tire Abatement
Reimbursement Grant application. Motion seconded by Commissioner Melissa Hughes. Motion

carried 6-0.

COUNTY MANAGER’S COMMENTS:

County Manager Jim Carter thanked the Board for always putting Tift County first instead of any
particular political party.

COUNTY ATTORNEY’S COMMENTS:

There were none to report.

COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS:

Commissioner Paul Webb stated that Tift County is always his first priority.

Commissioner Tyler Riddle stated that today was a happy but somber day as everyone reflected on the
memory of former Commissioner Fred “Buck” Rigdon. Mr. Riddle stated that he is proud that the Tift

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REGULAR SESSION
TIFT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2026 (6:00 PM)

County Government Annex was dedicated in his memory and he is proud of what was done with that
building.

Commissioner Stan Stalnaker stated that there are several things that he doesn’t agree with President
Trump.

Commissioner Melissa Hughes introduced the new ‘One Street Crew’ — Christopher Bryant, Demetris Ivy,
Kelwin Howard, Chavious James and Anthony Brown. These gentlemen have indicated their desire to
get involved and help clean up our community. Commissioner Hughes stated that the ‘Pickett Building’
sign on the actual building needs to come down. She asked if spraying and mowing can be done more

often in South Tifton even if that means outsourcing the work. Lastly, Commissioner Hughes asked
County Manager Jim Carter if he had contacted Golden Environmental.

Chairman Tony McBrayer thanked County Manager Jim Cater and Architect Mac McCall for their vision
for the Gazette building.

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

There was none to report.

ADJOURN: There being no further discussion, Commissioner Melissa Hughes made a motion to adjourn
the meeting. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Donnie Hester. Motion carried 6-0.

Bseact iz

Chairman Tony McBrayer, District 7 Cofnmissioner Stan Stalnaker; District 4

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Commissioner Donnie Hester, District 1

Wh Boe Lwylsa/

Vice Chalk Melissa Hughes, Disteict 2

i D Uf. a WA ATTEST: U Wid we Card ne

ommissioner Paul Webb, District 3 October 12, 2026

Grég Wood, District 6

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