Commissioners mark opening of Davis-Thompson Building

The Emanuel County Board of Commissioners met Monday evening, April 21, 2025. The Emanuel County Courthouse, once again, served as the temporary meeting location while the regular County Office Building continues undergoing renovations. Chairman Jim Sherrod called the meeting to order and welcomed attendees. An invocation was offered by county attorney Richard McNeeley followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The minutes of the previous April 3, 2025 workshop meeting, the March 17, 2025 regular meeting and the executive meetings of February 17 and March 17, 2025 meetings were presented and unanimously approved. The first agenda item of the evening was Public Comments, and Chairman Sherrod welcomed District Attorney Tripp Fitzner who delivered some pleasant news to the commissioners in the form of grant money totaling $88,529 received from victim services agencies. The Board agreed to accept the funds and also accepted the thanks of the District Attorney for the commissioner’s support of the operation and activities of the District Attorney’s office. Under new business, the Board considered the acquisition of property adjacent to the courthouse with the expectation of using it to more efficiently serve operations of the Sheriff’s Department. The Board agreed with the recommendation of County Administrator Singletary to pursue the acquisition if acceptable terms could be negotiated. The purchase of a new ambulance was the next issue under new business. Singletary advised the board of the lengthy delivery period that is now required for such vehicles, and recommended that the order be placed to ensure that the county had sufficient capability with its emergency fleet as older ambulances reach retirement. Commissioners accepted the motion and unanimously voted to order the needed vehicle. Auction service to handle the sale of county property was the next item discussed. South Auction of Swainsboro was the sole respondent to the county’s request for services and was selected by motion and unanimous agreement. The possibility of an innovative measure to make traffic safer on the Highway 1 Bypass was the next issue before the Board. The Georgia Department of Transportation has notified the Board of their intention to move forward with the design and planning of a “Roundabout Traffic Circle” at the intersection of Kite Road and the Hwy 1 Bypass. D.O.T officials are requesting that the county accept a lighting agreement as part of the project should the plans move into a construction phase. Transportation officials commented that the roundabout system is being recommended in numerous Georgia cities to limit the danger and severity of traffic accidents in chronic trouble spots. A motion was made and unanimously passed to agree to the D.O.T. request. The last issue under new business was the replacement of two bridges on Halls Bridge Road. Commissioners discussed the federal program that will pay for one hundred percent of construction on the projects leaving Emanuel County to only pay a portion of the right of way acquisition. Administrator Singeltary reported this figure would not exceed $50,000 per project. Motion was made to move forward and unanimously agreed to. At this point, Chairman Sherrod took the floor to address the open house ceremonies of the new Davis-Thompson Building which occurred Monday afternoon. The Chairman expressed his thanks for the support of all who attended the event , “We appreciate the public turning out to help us celebrate this great day. I believe folks had a very positive impression of the finished product, and we are proud to have this fine building ready to serve the people of Emanuel County.” The new building, adjacent to the Post Office in Swainsboro, will be the new home of county operations dealing with tax administration and election activities of the county. This concluded the regular order of the evening’s meeting. At this point, the commissioners moved into executive session.