The September meeting of the Emanuel County Board of Commissioners convened on Monday evening, September 21, with Chairman Jim Sherrod gaveling order. All commissioners were present, along with County Administrator Guy Singletary, County Clerk Halei Lamb and County Attorney Richard McNeely. Following the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, the minutes of the 9/14/26 workshop, the 9/9/26 Budget Public Hearing and millage rate adoption meeting, and the 8/17/26 regular meeting were all passed as presented.
Under old business, a motion was unanimously passed to accept the resolution concerning the District Attorney's Victims of Crime Grant which had been presented to the Board at the August meeting by D.A. Tripp Fitzner. Under new business, discussion was continued on the closing of Rheney Road. Following consideration, the board agreed to the closure. Item seven under new business concerned the collection of Stillmore city taxes. Following discussion, an arrangement between The City of Stillmore and offices of the Tax Collector of Emanuel County was provided that will utilize joint services for the collection of said taxes. Item eight on the September agenda dealt with the ambulance services for the county and the routine refit and installation upgrade of a new body onto a cab and chassis unit already serving in the EMS fleet. The cost of $150,000 for a "remount" is a $100,000 savings over the price of a new ambulance and was unanimously agreed to by commissioners. Road maintenance and improvement scheduled in the Ranch Park section of Swainsboro was the next item under new business. Commissioners voted to approve a road resurfacing project in a group of streets in the area which will be funded by a $1.4 million dollar grant. An extremely favorable low bid for the project may mean additional funding or assistance for other needed projects. The work is due to begin shortly. In other road projects, a previously out-of-service road will be reopened thanks to the 2026 Emergency LMIG program. This will also be done with grant funding from the state. Following major repairs, Canady Bridge Road will again be serviceable following damage caused from previous major flooding. The final two items on the agenda looked ahead to the coming year and the 2026-2027 County Budget. Item 11 provided for final discussion and formal unanimous agreement for the new county budget following pervious Public Hearings and Comment. In final budget matters, item 12 gave unanimous consent for the adoption of 2025-2026 Budget Amendments. This action is required for resolution of any outstanding accounting issues that may arise dealing with the previous year’s budget. In a status update on various construction projects, County Administrator Guy Singeltary informed the Board that favorable progress continues at the Coleman Hotel County Office Building with repairs and renewal of the parking lot beginning soon as well as interior redesign and renovations moving along well. Also, completion of the Recreation Department Gymnasium facilities, Swimming Pool construction and the enhanced new softball area are all nearing completion.
An Executive Session was listed on the meeting agenda, and any ensuing action that may take place during that time will be reported. This completed the agenda for the September meeting.
