City Council

CITY OF STATESBORO COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 07, 2026 Regular Meeting 50 E. Main St. City Hall Council Chambers 9:00 AM 1. Call to Order Mayor Jonathan McCollar called the meeting to order 2. Invocation and Pledge City Manager Charles Penny gave the Invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance. ATTENDENCE Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Jonathan McCollar Mayor Present Tangie Johnson Councilmember Present Paulette Chavers Councilmember Present Ginny Hendley Councilmember Absent John Riggs Councilmember Present Shari Barr Mayor Pro Tem Present Other staff present: City Manager Charles Penny, Assistant City Manager Jason Boyles, Public Affairs Manager Layne Phillips, City Attorney Cain Smith and City Clerk Leah Harden 3. Recognitions/Public Presentations: A) Presentation of a proclamation recognizing April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Mayor McCollar read a proclamation declaring April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in the City of Statesboro. The proclamation emphasized the importance of prevention, supporting families early to reduce crisis response needs, and the collective responsibility to foster positive childhood experiences while preventing adverse ones. Lora Cooper Executive Director of Positive Childhood Alliance Bulloch accepted the proclamation and highlighted that Georgia ranks 39th in the nation for child and family well-being according to the 2025 Kids Count Data Book. She invited the community to attend the Building a Resilient Community Summit on April 29th and noted the loss of the Boys and Girls Club last year as creating a critical gap in essential services for children and families. B) Presentation of a proclamation recognizing April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Mayor McCollar read a second proclamation recognizing both Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The proclamation acknowledged organizations such as CASA Southeast Georgia, the Teal House, and Safe Haven for their collaborative work in providing advocacy, prevention education, and critical services. Representatives from Safe Haven and the Teal House accepted the proclamation and invited the community to the "Blooming for Prevention" event on April 23rd at noon at the venue next door to City Hall. 4. Public Comments (Agenda Item): None 1  5. Consideration of a Motion to approve the Consent Agenda A) Approval of Minutes a) 03-17-2026 Council Minutes b) 03-17-2026 Executive Session Minutes A motion was made to approve consent agenda. RESULT: Approved (Unanimous) MOVER: Mayor Pro Tem Shari Barr SECONDER: Councilmember Tangie Johnson AYES: Johnson, Chavers, Riggs, Barr ABSENT: Councilmember Ginny Hendley 6. Consideration of a motion to approve Resolution 2026-14: A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to appoint voting delegates for the Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia’s Election Committee. A motion was made to approve Resolution 2026-14: A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to appoint voting delegates for the Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia’s Election Committee. RESULT: Approved (Unanimous) MOVER: Mayor Pro Tem Shari Barr SECONDER: Councilmember Tangie Johnson AYES: Johnson, Chavers, Riggs, Barr ABSENT: Councilmember Ginny Hendley 7. Consideration of a motion to approve a Development Agreement with JBP Southern, LLC, to use $78,300 in TAD funds for the installation of private infrastructure within the development commonly known as Lafayette, Turner, and Thomas located at 10 Lafayette Street within the South Main Tax Allocation District. A motion was made to approve a Development Agreement with JBP Southern, LLC, to use $78,300 in TAD funds for the installation of private infrastructure within the development commonly known as Lafayette, Turner, and Thomas located at 10 Lafayette Street within the South Main Tax Allocation District. RESULT: Approved (Unanimous) MOVER: Mayor Pro Tem Shari Barr SECONDER: Councilmember Paulette Chavers AYES: Johnson, Chavers, Riggs, Barr ABSENT: Councilmember Ginny Hendley 2  8. Consideration of a motion to approve Contract Amendment #2 in the amount of $13,931.75 on Task Order #7 with Goodwyn Mills Cawood, Inc. for additional professional engineering services on STM- 46 Little Lotts Tributary Stream Restoration, to be funded by the EPD Section 319(h) grant. A motion was made to approve Contract Amendment #2 in the amount of $13,931.75 on Task Order #7 with Goodwyn Mills Cawood, Inc. for additional professional engineering services on STM-46 Little Lotts Tributary Stream Restoration, to be funded by the EPD Section 319(h) grant. RESULT: Approved (Unanimous) MOVER: Councilmember Tangie Johnson SECONDER: Mayor Pro Tem Shari Barr AYES: Johnson, Chavers, Riggs, Barr ABSENT: Councilmember Ginny Hendley 9. Consideration of a motion to negotiate a contract for design services to DPR Architecture. This contract will entail major design renovations and repairs to City Hall (GBD-4) and will be funded from 2025 SPLOST funds. A motion was made to approve to negotiate a contract for design services to DPR Architecture. This contract will entail major design renovations and repairs to City Hall (GBD-4) and will be funded from 2025 SPLOST funds. RESULT: Approved (Unanimous) MOVER: Councilmember John Riggs SECONDER: Councilmember Tangie Johnson AYES: Johnson, Chavers, Riggs, Barr ABSENT: Councilmember Ginny Hendley 10. Consideration of a motion to award a contract to Suncoast Restoration in the amount of $299,737.75 as they submitted the lowest responsive bid for this project to refurbish and renovate the brick surfaces and windows of the Averitt Arts Center. This project (GBD-4) will be funded from 2025 SPLOST funds. A motion was made to award a contract to Suncoast Restoration in the amount of $299,737.75 as they submitted the lowest responsive bid for this project to refurbish and renovate the brick surfaces and windows of the Averitt Arts Center. This project (GBD-4) will be funded from 2025 SPLOST funds. RESULT: Approved (Unanimous) MOVER: Mayor Pro Tem Shari Barr SECONDER: Councilmember Tangie Johnson AYES: Johnson, Chavers, Riggs, Barr ABSENT: Councilmember Ginny Hendley 3  11. Consideration of a motion to approve a bid and contract with Underground Excavating, Inc. for $331,804.08 for construction of the Fire Station 3 access road (ENG-130A), funded by TSPLOST funds. A motion was made to approve a bid and contract with Underground Excavating, Inc. for $331,804.08 for construction of the Fire Station 3 access road (ENG-130A), funded by TSPLOST funds. RESULT: Approved (Unanimous) MOVER: Councilmember Tangie Johnson SECONDER: Councilmember Paulette Chavers AYES: Johnson, Chavers, Riggs, Barr ABSENT: Councilmember Ginny Hendley 12. Consideration of a motion to approve the purchase of a 2026 Chevrolet 2500 Crew Cab from Alan Jay Fleet Sales in the amount of $69,790.82 for the Stormwater Division, to be funded by Stormwater Operating Revenue. A motion was made to approve the purchase of a 2026 Chevrolet 2500 Crew Cab from Alan Jay Fleet Sales in the amount of $69,790.82 for the Stormwater Division, to be funded by Stormwater Operating Revenue. RESULT: Approved (Unanimous) MOVER: Councilmember Tangie Johnson SECONDER: Councilmember John Riggs AYES: Johnson, Chavers, Riggs, Barr ABSENT: Councilmember Ginny Hendley 13. Consideration of a motion to award a contract to Tyson Utilities in the amount of $115,351.50 for the installation of approximately 2000 feet of six-inch water main with appurtenant equipment (hydrants, valves, services) to serve additional hangers at the Statesboro/Bulloch County Airport. This project will be paid by Bulloch County with Airport TSPLOST funds. A motion was made to approve award a contract to Tyson Utilities in the amount of $115,351.50 for the installation of approximately 2000 feet of six-inch water main with appurtenant equipment (hydrants, valves, services) to serve additional hangers at the Statesboro/Bulloch County Airport. This project will be paid by Bulloch County with Airport TSPLOST funds. RESULT: Approved (Unanimous) MOVER: Councilmember Tangie Johnson SECONDER: Councilmember Paulette Chavers AYES: Johnson, Chavers, Riggs, Barr ABSENT: Councilmember Ginny Hendley 4  14. Public Comments (General): None 15. Other Business from City Council Mayor Pro Tem Shari Barr reminded everyone that Downtown Live starts Thursday night at 7:00 PM with Liquid Pleasure performing. She also highlighted that the Statesboro Main Street Farmers Market had started the previous Saturday and encouraged people to make it part of their Saturday routine from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM. Additionally, she reminded citizens to sign up for the new Code Red emergency alert system to replace the old system, as the default system was being discontinued. 16. City Managers Comments City Manager Charles Penny made several announcements:  Downtown Live: He encouraged people to come early for food vendors before the 7:00 PM start time, noting that vendors will only continue coming if people shop with them.  Whitesville Park: On Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at 1:30 pm, we will have a Ribbon cutting at the newly renovated Whitesville Park.  Keep Statesboro-Bulloch Beautiful Recognition: Mr. Penny shared that the City of Statesboro was recently recognized by the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation for its commitment to the Keep Statesboro-Bulloch Beautiful (KSBB) initiative. Mr. Penny credited the City Council for the decision eight years ago to transition the KSBB coordinator position from part-time to full-time. He noted that this change has provided significant stability and progress for the program following years of high turnover.  America 250 Celebration: On April 16th at 10:00 AM at Triangle Park, the Daughters of American Revolution will host a celebration of America's 250th anniversary. Penny highlighted that Arabella McLamb, daughter of city employee Brittany McLamb, won an American History Essay contest and would be recognized at the event.  Fire Service Fee Discussion: Mr. Penny addressed the ongoing discussion about funding fire protection following the dissolution of the fire district by Bulloch County on July 1, 2025, which cost the city $2.7 million in funding. While they've sustained operations through intergovernmental loans, he expressed concern about implementing a fire service fee due to legal challenges facing other municipalities. He cited Garden City, which settled and eliminated their fire fee, and Chatham County, which faces a $30 million judgment including $27 million in refunds and $3 million in interest. City Attorney confirmed that legal challenges are highly likely due to the five-year refund statute. Penny requested council direction on whether to continue pursuing the fire service fee or look at millage increases, noting the risk of being enjoined from collecting fees after implementation. A motion was made to finish the Fire Service Fee Study and to put on hold any changes in how we fund the fire system. RESULT: Approved (Unanimous) MOVER: Mayor Pro Tem Shari Barr SECONDER: Councilmember Paulette Chavers AYES: Johnson, Chavers, Riggs, Barr ABSENT: Councilmember Ginny Hendley  Sewer Lateral Policy: The last item Mr. Penny addressed was a change to the city's sewer lateral assistance policy. Currently, property owners are responsible for lateral repairs from their property to the city sewer line. He recommended that while property owners remain responsible for the lateral itself, the city should handle street opening and repair work to ensure proper standards and compaction. This would apply to both homeowners and rental properties, as all are customers paying for sewer service. The proposal will be brought to a future work session. 5  17. Consideration of a Motion to enter into Executive Session to discuss “Personnel Matters” “Real Estate” and/or “Potential Litigation” in accordance with O.C.G.A 50-14-3(b). There was no need for executive session. 18. Consideration of a Motion to Adjourn A motion was made to RESULT: Approved (Unanimous) MOVER: Councilmember Tangie Johnson SECONDER: Councilmember John Riggs AYES: Johnson, Chavers, Riggs, Barr ABSENT: Councilmember Ginny Hendley The meeting was adjourned at 9:49 a.m. _______________________________ Jonathan McCollar, Mayor _______________________________ Leah Harden, City Clerk 6