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Tuesday, January 27, 2026 – 6:30 p.m.
Courthouse, Main Courtroom, 16001 Barnesville Street, Zebulon, Georgia
Courthouse Doors on East/South Sides open at 6:00 p.m.
Town Hall Meeting at 6:15 p.m.
ZEBULON - The Pike County Board of Commissioners will meet on Tuesday, January 27, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. in the Courthouse, Main Courtroom, 16001 Barnesville Street, Zebulon, Georgia. The Courthouse Doors on East/South Sides open at 6:00 p.m. The Town Hall Meeting will begin at 6:15 p.m.
The Commissioners will also be holding a Workshop at 4 p.m. with the following two items on the agenda: a. Review and discussion of the updated paving project list and b. Discussion of homestead exemptions for seniors and disabled citizens. The public is invited to attend this meeting as well.
The Pike County Board of Commissioners has its own YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@pikecoga where citizens can watch the meetings both in real time and after the meeting to catch up on county business. Thank you to the Commissioners for providing this service to Pike County citizens.
Readers can go to www.PikeCoGa.com, click on Resources, scroll down to Other Links to click on Meetings & Agendas, and then scroll down to the meeting date and click on Online Agenda to review documentation related to this meeting. Morning meetings have links to financial information and reports from county departments and authorities.
Commissioners James Jenkins, Ken Pullin, Tim Guy, Tim Daniel, Chairman Briar Johnson, County Clerk Angela Blount, and County Attorney/Manager Rob Morton were in attendance at this meeting.
1. CALL TO ORDER ..... Chairman J. Briar Johnson
2. INVOCATION ..... Kyle Garner
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ..... Chairman J. Briar Johnson
4. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA - (O.C.G A. § 50-14-1 (e) (1))
Received a notice of withdrawal on item f. There was a concern about this because neighbors are still being affected by her animal shelter (that has not been approved by the county at this time). Morton. That was forwarded for investigation. Motion to approve the agenda as amended. Approved 5-0.
5. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES - (O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1(e) (2))
a. Minutes of the January 14, 2026, Regular Monthly Meeting.
b. Minutes of the January 14, 2026, Executive Session.
Motion to approve both sets of minutes. Approved 5-0.
6. INVITED GUEST - NONE
7. REPORTS FROM COMMISSIONS, DEPARTMENTS, COMMITTEES, AUTHORITIES
a. Monthly Reports submitted from County Departments and County Authorities, including a Revenue/Expenditure Statement for all departments and a summary check register. There are no Department reports as they will be provided during the first Board meeting of February.
Revenue/Expenditure Statement and Detail Check Register is included.
Discuss/Approve/Deny
b. County Manager Report
Update on County finances for the following funds/accounts:
General Fund ..... $3,671,254.40
Fire Dept. Donations ..... $10,608.62
Cash Reserve Account ..... $227,672.96
Jail Fund ..... $25,757.74
E-911 Fund ..... $65,818.99
DATE Fund ..... $18,487.76
Juvenile Court Fund ..... $14,950.77
Residential Impact Fee ..... $127,458.15
Commercial Impact Fees ..... $12,628.40
C.A.I.P FUND ..... $29,396.23
General Obligation SPLOST 2022-2028 ..... $1,676,184.54
L.M.I.G. Grant (DOT) ..... $619,675.74
c. County Manager Comment
Emergency with an excavator at Public Works. Have spent nearly $45,000 in repair work on this since it was purchased. Last repair was over $17,000. The engine is a specialized Mercedez engine that requires special parts and specialized workers. Options to repair or replace. Can repair for $169,131.41. Purchase price with a different engine for $604,990. SPLOST funds could be used for a purchase or a lease purchase. Moving large trees, etc. Asking for a lease purchase contract for $10,216.54 a month with SPLOST funding. Been looking at this since December. Can possibly sell ours on Govdeals.com. Over 3 months out of the 6 months in the shop. 2016 model. Guy. Concerned about the $600,000 price tag.
Public Works Director Chris Goodman. If we have a bad storm, it takes the place of 10 men. Ditch work, can move pretty much anything, and really useful cleaning up storm damage. This engine isn’t even offered anymore. Has to go to a Mercedes dealer to get it worked on. Morton. Are there any other options? Goodman. Looked at used machines and couldn’t find any. Even looked at an engine swap but not feasible. When counties get these, they don’t usually sell them. This is a highway speed excavator that doesn’t have to be hauled by a low boy. Motion to go approve the lease purchase on this. Approved 5-0.
Motion to approve selling the old equipment on Govdeals.com. Approved 5-0.
Kick off meeting for the proposed bypass (Hwy 19/County Farm Road/Hwy 18 Connector) meeting next week. Morton asked if one or two of the commissioners could attend that meeting on February 4. (Public Notice already published: This is the public notice that a quorum of the Pike County Board of Commissioners may be present at the Development Authority of Pike County’s County Farm Road Master Plan Kickoff Meeting scheduled for February 4, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. The meeting will be held at the Pike County Chamber of Commerce. No official action by the Board of Commissioners will take place during this meeting. This notice is provided in accordance with open meeting requirements.)
Impact Fee Project meeting for February 5. He will attend that. (From CM Report: PCPRA-GOSP Project: This project is moving forward after you approved the used of Impact Fees at your last meeting. There will be a project kickoff meeting scheduled for February 5th.)
Our EMA Director Jim Totten did a great job of keeping everyone informed during the storm. Thanked Goodman and crew and Lalumiere and his crew for their work. County Clerk Angela Blount came in after hours to update for meetings and Human Resources Jo Ann Wrye for payroll. Thank you for your hard work.
From the workshop. Needed to address the 50 foot right of way for Woodcreek Road and Southern Rivers. Motion to approve the 50 foot ROW recommendation on Woodcreek Road. Approved 5-0.
Consensus that the parking lot between the annex building and Sheriff’s Office to be moved up on the paving list.
(From the CM Report: McKinley Road and ARPA Projects: We are processing recent invoices for the McKinley Road, which should be the final invoices except for applicable retainage. Once the costs for McKinley Road have been audited and finalized, we will know the remaining ARPA funds that will need to be spent by December 31st, 2026. The remaining projects earmarked for ARPA funds are all Pike County Water and Sewerage projects.)
d. Commissioner Reports
Chairman Johnson. Thanked Morton for keeping the commissioners informed throughout the storm. Thank you to Tim Daniel for filling in with him when he was sick and could not attend the last meeting.
Going to have a Coffee with the Chairman on February 24 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. prior to the county commission meeting at 1828 Coffee. The public is welcome to attend.
e. County Attorney Report to Commissioners
Pending Worker’s Comp case has been settled for $95,000.
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - NONE
9. NEW BUSINESS
a. Declare identified Extension Office property as surplus and authorize disposal.
Previously approved other property. Water and Sewer is still using the other half through April 1. Some remaining personal property from the county in the form of desks, tables, chairs, and filing cabinets. No more than $200. Church to take that property and dispose of what they don’t use. Could cost us up to $200 to put it on Govdeals.com. Declare the list as surplus and authorize disposal by allowing the church to dispose of this. Motion to approve. Approved 5-0.
b. Consideration of a revised resolution to include the Board of Education qualifying fees for 2026 County Election.
Motion to approve the resolution with both sets of fees. Approved 5-0.
PIKE COUNTY QUALIFYING FEES
ZEBULON - On January 27, 2026, Pike County Board of Commissioners set the 2026 qualifying fees for the offices shown below at their regular scheduled Commissioner’s meeting.
County Commissioner …… $424.52
School Board District 1 …… $84.00
Qualifying for the May 19, 2026, General Primary Election is set for Monday, March 2, 2026 at 9 a.m. to Friday, March 6, 2026 at 12 noon. Qualifying will be done at the Board of Elections office at 81 Jackson Street Zebulon, GA.
c. Discussion on whether to send out Request for Proposals for health insurance services.
Whether to go out for bid on insurance and/or on broker. Gave the names of the different providers. Pullin. What is policy for RFP’s? Morton. CM can do some of these but bringing this one to your attention. Pullin. Any downside on going back out? Morton. Could impact ability to get reductions. Doesn’t see a downside this year either way. We don’t typically see premium estimate until May. Morton. Been contacted by other providers. We would have to go out for bid rather than just bringing someone in. At least 3 vendors have contacted us besides our current vendor. Motion to go out to bid on this. Approved 5-0.
d. Discussion of annexation notices received by the City of Zebulon.
Notices on January 22 and 23 plans to annex at Hwy 19 and Old Zebulon Road as well as property just north of the Senior Center. Both will be Hwy Commercial. There does not seem to be a strong basis for objection to the zoning or the annexation as both will be used for the City of Zebulon sewer system. The City of Zebulon has a policy if that if they provide sewer, they will annex the property. Both are contiguous to other city properties.
Johnson. 3 on the north side of the Senior Center. The other is by Christ Chapel. Johnson. 190 acres will be annexed into the City of Zebulon. When does it stop? Morton. There are criteria that have to be followed. The City has a policy to annex if they provide sewer.
Pullin. Said that the City of Zebulon doesn’t pay Impact Fees. I think that we need to have a condition of Impact Fees from the City because they will be affecting the county with the large number of people that will be coming in with several approved subdivisions. Morton. Allow me to meet with the Mayor and the new City Administrator, and I will report back in February. Consensus for Morton to do this.
e. Discussion of authorizing study of Griffin Judicial Circuit.
Request by Spalding County for a feasibility study with Fayette County possibly becoming its own circuit. This will not cost us any money. Representative Camp is involved with this project. Motion to authorize. Approved 5-0.
f. Applicant Request to Postpone PUBLIC HEARING: To receive public input regarding SUP-25-07 Leann Connell Owner and Applicant requests a special use permit to allow the operation of a dog rescue facility to be located on property at 661 Harden Road, Zebulon, GA 30295. The subject property is identified as Parcel ID 090 012B and is in Land Lots 99 of the 8th District. The property consists of 15+/- acres. Commission District 3, Commissioner Ken Pullin.
This was withdrawn at the beginning of the meeting. However, a concern was expressed by a commissioner at the beginning of the meeting about postponing this because neighbors are still being affected by her (not approved) animal shelter. Morton advised that this concern has been forwarded for investigation. (From the CM Report: ...For your information, Commissioner Pullin received information from the neighbor, including a video, that suggests that the animal shelter has not ceased operations pending the application process, which could be a violation of our ordinances. I have forwarded the information to Jeremy and Tanya to be investigated. If it is determined that there are violations, I have asked for citations to be issued accordingly, which could impact the consideration of this application.)
The following information was provided prior to the actual meeting.
[Note from the Editor: This request to postpone has come from Connell's attorney, Newton M. Galloway, who advised the county that he is not able to attend the BOC hearing on Tuesday "due to a conflict with a significant zoning agenda in Spalding County on the same night." He asked that this item be withheld from this agenda and placed on the February agenda. That letter can be read in its entirety by clicking here and scrolling down to New Business, item f, and clicking on that item in blue. (This is helpful to read about many of the items on the agenda for each meeting.)
To read the information presented to the Planning and Zoning Board at the meeting held on January 8, 2026, click here and click on Exhibit in blue. This documentation includes information that the property is 14 acres and has a full-time, on-site caretaker who resides in the primary dwelling on the property and the staff recommendation for approval based on 1) having a business license, 2) limiting the shelter/rescue to no more than 12 dogs at any given time, and 3) requiring that all kennels or outdoor runs be located at least 100 feet from all property lines.
I did not attend the Planning and Zoning Meeting (there aren't enough hours in the day and... they really ought to be putting their meetings online like the commissioners are doing), and I don't have the vote from the Planning Commission at this time, but they are a recommending board so the commissioners would consider what they have recommended as well as examining our ordinances and all other information given to them in order to make their decision.
Other items of note, Sadie's Friends Kennel to Couch, Inc. is a domestic non-profit organization incorporated on July 25, 2023 and are up to date on their registration with the State of Georgia. They are also licensed as an animal shelter with the State Department of Agriculture as of February 16, 2024.
Click here to read the Animal Control Ordinance. It defines nuisance and other small items that may or may not apply in this case.
This item will have to be readvertised and placed back on a future agenda.
g. PUBLIC HEARING: To receive public input regarding SUP-25-08 Tyler J. Waller Owner and Applicant requests a special use permit to allow for outside storage in the US Highway 19 Overlay for property located at 14911 US Highway 19 Griffin, GA 30224. The subject property is further identified as Parcel ID 074 086 and is in Land Lot 104 of the 2nd District. The property consists of .094+/- acres. Commission District 4, Commissioner James Jenkins.
Morton. Suggested to consolidate the public hearings g and h like Planning and Zoning did. Motion to consolidate the public hearings for items g and h. Approved 5-0.
h. PUBLIC HEARING: To receive public input regarding REZ-25-13 Tyler J. Waller Owner and Applicant request a rezoning from AR (Residential Agricultural) to C-3 (Heavy Commercial) for property located 14911 US Highway 19 Griffin, GA 30224. The subject property is further identified as Parcel ID 074 086 and is in Land Lot 104 of the 2nd District. The property consists of .094+/- acres. The request is to rezone the lot commercial for a shop and office for a well company. Commission District 4, Commissioner James Jenkins.
Planning and Zoning Director Jeremy Gilbert. 3,000 square foot office building for Waller & Sons Well Company. Received a letter advising of 2 phases though they may do it all at once. The outside storage is the special exemption since this is in the Overlay District. They are walking through the Overlay Review with the county. 3 conditions from P&Z. 1) overlay review required,, 2) buffers required 3) outside storage requires Special Use Permit prior to any outdoor storage on the property. Staff recommendation. All outside storage must be screened from the highway.
IN FAVOR
Steve Reeves. Speaking for Ty Waller who has taken over family business for Waller Well. Waller and Sons been in business since 1950’s. This will be a repair business and not drilling. Asking for the special exception because not sure about the cost in interest rates. He is trying to do everything at once now. Going to put in the building and parking. No de-cel lane is going to be required by GDOT. Hoping to take care of drainage issues at Thomas Tire. C3 zoning is allowed on the commercial corridor. Thinks that this will be a good asset there.
OPPOSITION
None.
Closed the public hearing. Pullin. Outside storage. Wondering why we are requiring this for a temporary basis. Gilbert. Our overlay requires all outdoor storage to be screened. Went with 2 different options for landscaping or putting up a privacy fence. They may reconfigure the layout of the building so it will be in front of the materials. Johnson. Only certain exteriors will be allowed. Gilbert. Talked about what they are looking at but all will meet the requirements of the overlay. No metal or wood are allowed. Additional landscaping too. Johnson. How much time between phase 1 and 2? Gilbert. Maybe do both together. Jenkins. Thank you for staying in Pike County. Motion to approve item h rezoning from AR to C-3 based on staff recommendations with conditions. Approved 5-0.
Motion to approve item g with staff recommendation. Approved 5-0.
10. PUBLIC COMMENT (Limited to 5 minutes per person)
a. David Allen to address the Board regarding Tax Assessments.
Said that he is hopeful with new appointments with the Tax Assessor Board. Said that the Commissioners have approved nearly $9,000 in refunds at the last meeting. These citizens will never seen anything past 3 years for those errors. June 2024. Tax refund on Kings Road. The Tax Assessors don’t go inside each property - it is easy to get square footage wrong. April 2025. Heritage Lake Drive. Unfinished basement. They don’t do interior inspections. There is an error made on these two properties. If they don’t go on properties, how is this happening? Does someone do a slow drive by of the property, or someone is clicking buttons at a desk? Sept 2025. Vega Road. No accessory buildings on his property. His property has been incorrectly accessed. February 2024. Wildwood Road. Unfinished area above the garage. Another refund. January of 2026. The person who got the refund had 11,000 square feet down to 5,052. These people had to take time out of their day to get the Tax Assessor’s Office to do their job. Where is this going to end? It is laziness, incompetence, or corruption to make guesses on properties. Also happened to him. (His 5 minutes ran out.) He ended by saying, Let’s serve the taxpayers better on this.
11. EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. County Manager Rob Morton request Executive Session for consultation with the county attorney, or other legal counsel, to discuss pending or potential litigation, settlement, claims, administrative proceedings, or other judicial actions brought or to be brought by or against the county or any officer or employee or in which the county or any officer or employee may be directly involved as provided in O.C.G.A. § 50-14-2(1), germane to pending or potential litigation.
Executive Session 7:31 p.m.
Back in Session. 7:53 p.m.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn. 7:53 p.m.
Agenda subject to change.
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