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February 13, 2026 - 8:30 A.M.
ZEBULON - The Board of Assessors met on February 13, 2026 at the EMA Building across from the ballfields at Public Works. Present were: Christopher Tea, Parrish Swift, and Lyn Smith. Greg Hobbs, Emily Morris, and County Attorney/Manager Rob Morton.
The video can be viewed on Pike County Times' Facebook page (look in the Reels) for the next 30 days or from here on out on the Pike County Times YouTube Channel at: www.youtube.com/@PikeCountyTimesinZebulonGA.
Call to Order
Approval of the Agenda
Motion to approve. Approved.
Invocation
Pledge of Allegiance
Approval of the Minutes
No public comment
7. Invited Guest
Joe Norman from Norman Appraisal. Gave an update at the last meeting. Not at this meeting.
8. Board Member Report.
Smith. Discussion about meeting dates and times. Smith wants to move back the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month. It worked for years, and people can plan and let people know when they can't be there. Swift. Doesn't want to that without at least talking to the new members. Hobbs. Why don't we put it on the next meeting agenda?
[Note from the Editor: This conversation is taking place because there wasn’t a quorum at the past meeting. Since the beginning of the year, meetings have also been changed from 2 meetings a month that normally last a couple of hours to 1 meeting a month that will certainly last at least a couple of hours.]
9. Chief Appraiser Report. Norman and Associates is walking Ashley Glenn. Over 300 properties. Also walking commercial. Commercial has gone up 30%. Preliminary will be up about $45 million on the commercial digest. Board of Equalization coming up. Will not be here on March 10 for the scheduled meeting because of a long-time scheduled trip. Can we reschedule for March 12? The budget to the county is due on the 20.
Motion to schedule a special called meeting for February 24 at 9 a.m. Approved 3-0.
10a. Discussion of the Budget for 2026-27
Laptops. A notebook. We talked about this before. Morton. I haven’t received a written request for this. Swift. How much for this? Asked about the commissioners’ tablet/laptop/notebook. Tablet plus software and licenses. Morton. There is $3,100 in the budget for computers now. Discussion of paper versus a notebook, etc. Will discuss this at the next meeting.
[Note from the Editor: The amount of paper that has to be printed out for these meetings is a lot. The commissioners have small laptops that allow them to view everything on their agenda with the swipe of a finger.]
Wingap. We don’t get automatic updates. Pike County is paying $3,500 for the lowest level of support. More than $5,000 will be needed annually. The updates take a long time to do, and everyone has to be out of the system.
Contracts. Personal property from Traylor. Emily has been through most of the properties. All we’re doing is taking what people bring in. All personal property has to be reviewed every 3 years. We haven’t been with Traylor since around 2020. We had really good success with them. The Consent Order said to order a full-time property appraiser. You shall… Contracting someone isn’t hiring someone but could be a step in the right direction. The cities are giving us building permits now too. We have gotten back as much as 3-1 for what we pay for so the county is coming out well with contacting for this. Used to spend $10,000 for it. There are about 3,000 properties in the county. What is the starting salary? Probably around $60,000. There are a lot of duties because this is the job that Melissa Connell used to do. Morton. Shall have staff as required by the law. Recommended designating a Personal Property Appraisal to focus solely on personal property. It could be contracted out.
Put out an RRP for Personal Property Appraiser but got no response. Traylor wanted to provide this service for $42,000. They were going to do a desk review of all of the personal properties that could be used to choose what to audit after that was complete. It would cost extra for each “Boots on the ground” audited property. (That means physically putting boots on the ground on the properties.) All property has to be physically reviewed every 3 years. Hobbs. Will bring this back at the next meeting.
Norman Associates will be in the next contract. How much? $80,000 which is the same as this year. Visiting subdivisions now. Commercial and industrial properties were visited this year. Ag land has not been done yet. Hobbs. Having those 2 is like having 3 people.
Secretary. Do we need one? We have 5 employees in the budget now.
Morton. This board is going to have a budget meeting on the 24. Why are you discussing this now? Discussion. We thought that this was going to be today. Going to move on to the next item then. Also noted that the Board of Equalization gets paid $50 per meeting.
b. Board Consideration for Kayla Clower
Question of whether this is 2 pieces of property or not. It’s 2 separate tracts. Just need to make this a matter of record. Motion to separate the parcel in accordance with the plats. Approved 3-0.
c. Board Consideration Exempt Questionnaire Anunnaki-ILE-IFE Ministry
Hobbs. Did not see parking, burials, or a worship facility. Recommends denying it. Discussion. Asking to be exempted from taxes. There is a shipping container, but it looks like a regular residential lot. Motion to postpone until the next meeting on the 24th and extend a request to them to explain what they are doing.
11a. Board Consideration Exempt Questionnaire One Heart Community Church Inc.
It meets all of the qualifications. Motion to approve based on staff recommendations. Approved 3-0.
b. Non-Disclosure
Anyone who works for a state or municipal entity. Firefighters, police officers, county board members, etc. are included. Motion to approve the non-disclosure. Approved 3-0. This motion was rescinded. Look below in bold. This will be visited again in the next meeting.
[Note from the Editor: The Georgia Department of Revenue put out a July 17, 2025 memorandum on on HB 199: Non-Disclosure of Protected Persons and Senate Bill 508 (passed in 2025) which amended and created new code sections pertaining to non-disclosure. Local governments can receive requests from those who meet the state definition for non-disclosure to not have their information on a website or on requested printed documentation. HB 199 (OCGA 15-5-110) defines personal information as personal phone number, home address, or property or tax records of protected persons which include any current or former judge or justice of the state, county, municipality, or United States and their spouse (think law enforcement or someone with arrest powers).]
Real Property
a. Approval/Denial CUVA 0 Renewals
b. Approval/Denial CUVA 6 continuations
Motion to approve continuations based on staff recommendations. Discussion. Inspected? Yes. LLC qualifies? Yes. Meet the acreage? Yes. Approved 3-0.
c. Approval/Denial FLPA 4 renewal (Timber)
Motion to approve. Approved 3-0.
Motion to rescind the Non-Disclosure that was just approved based on the recommendation from the county attorney so more investigation can be done on this.
Personal Property
a. Antley – 2006 GMC Sierra 2500
$4500. 9675 State. $8950 NADA. Discussion. Says that this has no bed. Motion to postpone until the next meeting to verify about the bed. Approved 3-0.
Public Comment.
None.
13. Attorney Comment.
None.
14. Motion to Adjourn
9:45 a.m.
Here are links to some of the past meetings that Pike County Times has attended.
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - January 13, 2025 - 9 a.m.
http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor1.13.26.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - November 14, 2025 - 9 a.m.
http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor11.14.25.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - October 14, 2025 - 9 a.m.
http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor8.14.25.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS SPECIAL CALLED MEETING - May 13, 2025 - 9 a.m.
http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor5.13.25.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS SPECIAL CALLED MEETING - December 9, 2024 - 9 a.m.
http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor11.19.24.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - November 19, 2024 - 4:30 p.m.
http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor11.19.24.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - August 20, 2024 - 11 a.m.
http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor8.5.24.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - August 5, 2024 - 11 a.m.
http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor8.5.24.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - July 16, 2024 - 4 p.m.
http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor7.16.24.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - June 18, 2024 - 11 a.m.
http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor6.18.24.html
Board of Assessors Leaves Sales Ratio at $91 Per Square Foot
By Editor Becky Watts
http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor6.3.24.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - May 21, 2024 - 11 a.m.
http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor5.21.24.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - March 7, 2024 - 11 a.m.
http://pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor3.7.24.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - February 6, 2024 - 4:30 p.m.
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor2.6.24.html
Click here to read: "BREAKING NEWS: Commission Votes to Appeal Fine and Request a State Review of the Board of Assessors" http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/BREAKINGNEWSrequestforreview2.2.24.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - January 18, 2024 - 11:00 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor1.18.24.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - January 4, 2024 - 11:00 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor1.4.24.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - December 19, 2023 - 11:00 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor12.19.23.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - December 5, 2023 - 11:30 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor12.5.23.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - November 9, 2023 - 11:30 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor11.9.23.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - October 17, 2023 - 11:00 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor10.17.23.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - October 3, 2023 - 11:00 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor10.3.23.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - September 19, 2023 - 11:00 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor9.19.23.html
BOARD OF ASSESSORS REGULAR MEETING - September 7, 2023 - 11:00 AM
http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/taxassessor9.7.23.html