[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6263258,"mediaKeyId","3108036-ad52808bb9609a6857ce2982ac7dd2b5","parentId",3108036,"title","Board actions at a glance: Meriwether County commissioners approve leases, contracts, funding allocations and procedural items","audioSeconds",2599,"startMs",2634095,"endMs",5233985,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3108036-ad52808bb9609a6857ce2982ac7dd2b5&start=2634&end=5233","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3108036-ad52808bb9609a6857ce2982ac7dd2b5/thumbnail_2634095.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6263258/Meriwether-County/Georgia/Board-actions-at-a-glance-Meriwether-County-commissioners-approve-leases-contracts-funding-allocations-and-procedural-items","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6263258-c4562fa45a692e64f1863e2fad402b40/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144115&Signature=f0k9G99L3Xhk4frIh3DoFZZkop2xBFWjUisz4UUmZ7IoCBpR13yrtXdY6DuYOOLdmFZvF3kBKxjHVIyO~gzYk~AxmOw~nLNHsA~ZQWbCIWhOwOdswLJnmXy5K1e6ohIERU-3UOFzA7jpU-7gyOWWjP8LNe~aBXMag1ysWcolLK64wbDkqp97Q~VDjNUcuSOI3ApA5QJAK-eSe-g4jtjiCDDUVFKaO6hiNEMGAnBt8CVy-DjRk61fRID~-~dJ41yOkLePNRrVp99zsSpJ2Z~YOkSdiIatsSLNdUMAQLDLNpGWqf1ES~Yw1BFqiqjnEGftI21L8F9j8f6n8mgMZcsZRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-24T08:28:12.657Z","article","The Meriwether County Board of Commissioners handled multiple formal motions on April 22. Below are the motions, stated outcomes and basic details as recorded in the meeting transcript.

Key actions and outcomes

- Confirmed authorization for the vice chair to sign the Tire Products Grant agreement (Grant ID 25-TP-099-01) following staff review and consensus. Motion moved and approved; transcript records assent but no roll-call tally.

- Lone Oak Fire Station lease: commissioners authorized the chair or vice chair to sign the lease agreement when the certified copy is received from the Town of Lone Oak; staff will present the certified copy at a subsequent meeting for final signature.

- ACCG/IRMA contacts and safety coordinator: board authorized submission of the ACCG Interlocal Risk Management Agency insurance contact form and designated county clerk Allison Stevens as the contract contact, county administrator John Gordon (transcript referenced) as safety coordinator, and Valerie Chambers as HR liaison. Motion carried.

- Recreation background checks: board tabled selection of a background-check provider until the May 5 meeting and directed staff to consult with Sheriff Smith; options discussed included Meriwether County Sheriff's Office, Woodbury Police Department, and commercial vendors (costs cited ranged from $5 to $15 per check).

- LWCF Greenville recreation project: board authorized staff to request an extension and submit an amended scope for the 2022 LWCF grant (see separate article) to preserve eligibility and phase work.

- Jail plumbing repairs: board approved awarding the comprehensive jail kitchen plumbing repairs to Max Air with a not-to-exceed amount of $75,000 and authorized the chair or vice chair to sign subject to legal review (see separate article).

- Insurance renewal: after a presentation by NFP, the board voted to table final acceptance of the 2025 insurance renewal until the May 5 meeting so staff can present final premium allocations and employee-cost options.

- Culvert purchases (public works): the board approved using up to $75,000 in SPLOST funds to purchase culverts for identified county roads (Waddell, Primrose, Jack Creek, Norton Creek, Moss, Winter); staff recommended procurement and installation by county crews.

- Project MOU (\"Project Hummingbird\" / County Line Road and Merriweather Parkway): the board approved a memorandum of understanding with a developer to permit use of County Line Road and to commit to permitting conditions; developers will perform road improvements and bridge replacement/reconstruction; financial commitments from the developer noted (landscaping/signage payment of $65,000 on completion of County Line Road; a $250,000 road maintenance allowance payable on completion). Legal reviewed the MOU and the item is contingent on developer permits.

Several procedural items were also approved (minutes approval with small corrections, reappointment to a regional broadband authority, and confirmation of previously granted consensus signature authority on other grants). When motions were put to a vote the chair asked for \"All in favor\" and recorded assent in the transcript; specific roll-call vote tallies were not provided in the record.

Actions (structured)

1) Confirm vice chair signature for Tire Products Grant (25-TP-099-01) — outcome: approved (motion recorded).
2) Allow chair/vice chair to sign Lone Oak Fire Station lease upon receipt of certified copy — outcome: approved (motion recorded).
3) Approve ACCG IRMA contact form and designated contacts — outcome: approved (motion recorded).
4) Table recreation background-check vendor decision to May 5; consult Sheriff Smith — outcome: approved (motion recorded).
5) Authorize staff to request LWCF extension and amended scope — outcome: approved (motion recorded).
6) Award jail kitchen plumbing to Max Air, not to exceed $75,000; allow chair/vice chair to sign subject to legal review — outcome: approved (motion recorded).
7) Table/hold final action on 2025 insurance renewal until May 5 — outcome: approved (motion recorded).
8) Approve up to $75,000 SPLOST funds for culvert purchases and installation — outcome: approved (motion recorded).
9) Approve MOU for Project Hummingbird (County Line Road / Merriweather Parkway) and allow chair/vice chair to sign — outcome: approved (motion recorded).

For many of the above items the transcript records motions, seconds and the chair asking \"All in favor?\"; however, the meeting record did not include individual aye/nay roll-call tallies. Where the transcript lacked a named mover or seconder, the article records the motion language and notes that mover/second were not specified in the spoken record.

The board adjourned into executive session at the end of the meeting to discuss litigation, personnel, real estate and tax matters.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BOC Meeting 4-22-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Meriwether County Board of Commissioners approved a series of administrative and procurement decisions at its April 22 meeting, including a grant-signature confirmation, a lease-signature authorization, SPLOST-funded culvert purchases, and a contract award for jail plumbing repairs.","taxTitle","Meriwether County, Georgia","taxId",73580,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6263263,"Board agrees to seek extension and amend scope for Greenville recreation LWCF grant",354,3152845,3507205,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3108036-ad52808bb9609a6857ce2982ac7dd2b5&start=3152&end=3507","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3108036-ad52808bb9609a6857ce2982ac7dd2b5/thumbnail_3152845.jpg","/articles/6263263/Meriwether-County/Georgia/Board-agrees-to-seek-extension-and-amend-scope-for-Greenville-recreation-LWCF-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6263263-c13e0a81ea1d13207195578185b018eb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144115&Signature=lExOJdd2nG2b1edLmTJ22-14znkhvvTk~ELuy4ng5aX2SSpO74vNywNP8EdouZRn8nhgbyss2-jYaEWgUV0BSVBsc4u~RagM5U8Iuy1A6zuQShziQOwRj~Sk5i~kDdE2DEKchaW0Lw47BgTR7tPYXTMAAxw-233WDMXKxZAzkeWo1hi1CI8JMXn8grxpl7Bgi-ZV7lztkn-tzHBMr5k5sZlrHinKSM~bIFUPHfnsBZi1a3-1l76CLxi2pdGXdBAIkE5qVjlC~BDGJMeWBC1MpS702aeu6MbDmv89KsoDmrnEVfSVvb-NBAKxzxZunN3hduJCRQR5TBCsv3J4X7520A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County Clerk Allison Stevens summarized the status of a 2022 Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant tied to a planned Greenville recreation facility. The grant award totals $400,000, with a required $200,000 local match, and staff said the original scope included playgrounds, a pavilion, parking and a walking trail on county land adjacent to McLaughlin that borders a school.

Stevens said the county can request an amendment and an extension; the LWCF manager told staff the grant can be phased and extended for up to 18 months but the location cannot be changed under current rules. Staff requested direction on whether to submit an extension and an amended scope of work and asked for board approval to prepare the paperwork by the end of the following week to meet the state's scheduling needs.

Commissioners discussed whether the original location remains the county's preferred site given changing recreation priorities and new leadership in the recreation department. Several commissioners noted the value of extending the grant to preserve the opportunity while staff clarifies the most valuable first-phase work the county could complete with $400,000 (and a $200,000 local match). A motion to seek the extension and prepare an amended scope was made and supported; staff will draft a recommended phase-one project list and circulate it to commissioners for feedback before submitting the extension and amendment request to the LWCF manager.

County Clerk Allison Stevens: \"This grant started back in 2022. We applied. We were, considered for it. It's a $400,000 grant with 200,000 coming from them, and we support the other 200,000.\"","Staff asked whether the county wanted to extend and amend a 2022 Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant for a Greenville recreation facility; commissioners approved requesting an extension and directed staff to provide a phase-one project list.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6263268,"Commission approves up to $75,000 for jail kitchen plumbing repairs; Max Air awarded contract",518,3917964,4436725,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3108036-ad52808bb9609a6857ce2982ac7dd2b5&start=3917&end=4436","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3108036-ad52808bb9609a6857ce2982ac7dd2b5/thumbnail_3917964.jpg","/articles/6263268/Meriwether-County/Georgia/Commission-approves-up-to-75000-for-jail-kitchen-plumbing-repairs-Max-Air-awarded-contract","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6263268-ea68dde4e81f7b1ea784db87b47a87bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144115&Signature=CLetNTM06S2ahQ~IWbEruKgoqq6NI9o19oe5CRFkJ6DgueunFA4mgMikXN6Nz4eqcOPOfianEVQNGtZYvXS3KI-f14pfnB95WCAI7BMmHcszcCi84gNFMz5kog0wcYtoPlcNV4KjwTGcWAQyjXabcUGSdSoKP2cKzBf1EZL1pFfLEqoifJrlS0rF-gddMGz0Yepe0RfsZzELNbXFvtv9hF-K9kt0cPxPfFkPdbJsoNycKfA6ckDfIDSeongfM3P2mTskWI2VBMAoX4DcDriaNPodToO4PxCOweoWa~ZOJlOFZycoq7oZz0t9m9e5g~9FWXhL7EC5dHHWPz3Ngoag7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County staff reported a deteriorating plumbing system in the county jail kitchen and presented two bids for repair: an exploratory \"option 1\" from Max Air Plumbing at $28,013 and a full replacement option at $61,980; Bates Mechanical submitted a bid of $78,175 for a comprehensive repair. Staff recommended using SPLOST funds and awarding the full-replacement scope to Max Air with a not-to-exceed amount of $75,000 to allow for possible change orders once crews open the slab.

Commission discussion noted the need to avoid repeated temporary fixes and to use durable materials (PVC/high-rated piping) for longevity. Staff said coordinating meal preparation off-site will be required while work proceeds. Legal review will be completed before the chair or vice chair signs the contract.

A commissioner moved and the board approved an additional $50,000 beyond the previously authorized $25,000 (bringing the total available to $75,000) to complete the jail kitchen plumbing work, to be awarded to Max Air Plumbing, with signature authority for the chair or vice chair and subject to legal review. The transcript records an affirmative \"All in favor\" with no roll-call tallies given.

Staff noted Max Air estimated 7 to 10 business days to complete the comprehensive replacement while Bates estimated up to three weeks; staff recommended Max Air as the vendor. The work will replace metal piping under the kitchen slab and prepare the system for long-term use.

County Attorney Michael (present at the meeting) and staff discussed contract review to ensure change-order allowances were handled in a binding contract.

Michael: \"We would allow for the chair of vice chair to sign the quote and then pending legal review of the contract.\"","After receiving two bids, the board approved awarding the jail kitchen plumbing repair to Max Air with a not-to-exceed amount of $75,000 and allowed the chair or vice chair to sign subject to legal review.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6263273,"Meriwether County hears health plan renewal; consultant recommends sticking with Anthem",1263,113655,1377215,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3108036-ad52808bb9609a6857ce2982ac7dd2b5&start=113&end=1377","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3108036-ad52808bb9609a6857ce2982ac7dd2b5/thumbnail_113655.jpg","/articles/6263273/Meriwether-County/Georgia/Meriwether-County-hears-health-plan-renewal-consultant-recommends-sticking-with-Anthem","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6263273-75da0b5456554176f783ed150f72d1f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144115&Signature=lyI5rHAsDbI-YZvmAKMBPzm2O3Ps0duEa2oHUiodjPWBFH~wMW6kIlW38t8qKAD8bY42cIfSvSyYHCFTmATuQ3WL1IcOgC7LJfoB5F5UnSTthqvnz1bKVcKbsTG~oW9kx3XWcYnfsWBKQiY70bhYyakxw8VE-mMemUKTuCJ20sbYjxFJsr7qkKYzSHFWinJKhzyM750~wu6r3RJG63HffLizR17llavBKrKsTi-T7ufP0cD49WamB3TdZXLeMCfLGSmp5jJgfnO8TVl~gbmHIEItdDCNI5fDHLj~aKG~OtIxQhKHvORDeZ6GJRe9jwJpKiODWxMTO2GAa5EEj2ntrQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Melody Lewis, a benefits consultant with NFP, told the Meriwether County Board of Commissioners on April 22 that the county's 2025 group medical renewal would be higher but recommended renewing with Anthem after negotiations reduced an initial 15% increase to 10.5%.

Lewis said the county's five-year trend for medical and prescription costs is about 8% annually and that if current trends continue the county's plan would incur roughly $1,750,000 in claims for the year, about 12% above 2023. She said Anthem offered $30,000 in wellness funds for the county's employee wellness program, up from $15,000 previously, and that Anthem's overall proposal was roughly $10,000 more in total premiums than a competing Aetna quote but preserved current benefits and reduced member disruption.

The recommendation to remain with Anthem covered medical, dental and vision so employees would retain one ID card and one member portal, Lewis said. She also introduced a voluntary supplemental product from Symetra called Symetra Health (administered by Ansell) that integrates with medical claims and offers three tiers (base, classic, premier), and reported a suggested county employer contribution of $19.98 per eligible employee per month for the base tier.

Lewis reviewed the county's recently reinstated wellness program, launched in October 2024, saying 101 employees completed biometric screenings. She said roughly 44% of those screened were classified as low risk, about 6% moderate, and 51% high risk; 19% of participants were classified as prediabetic and 9% had diagnosed diabetes. Lewis said about 70 employees had engaged with wellness coaching in the first quarter of 2025.

Commissioners asked several questions about timing, per‑employee costs, participation rates and how the supplemental product would be administered; Lewis answered questions, clarified that the $19.98 figure is a monthly premium, and said she was still negotiating minor pricing. County staff said they need final decisions by May to lock in renewals.

Because the board wanted more time to review the numbers and employee-cost options, the commission voted to table final approval to the May 5 meeting. No roll-call vote tally was given in the transcript.

Lewis: \"If we remain with Anthem...we basically are looking at it's a hundred and $98,000 increase for the year compared to Aetna...but Anthem is giving us $30,000 in wellness.\"","An NFP consultant presented the county's 2025 health benefits renewal, recommending renewal with Anthem after negotiating a 10.5% rate increase and securing $30,000 in wellness funds; commissioners agreed to postpone final decisions until the May 5 meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board actions at a glance: Meriwether County commissioners approve leases, contracts, funding allocations and procedural items

Board agrees to seek extension and amend scope for Greenville recreation LWCF grant

Commission approves up to $75,000 for jail kitchen plumbing repairs; Max Air awarded contract

Meriwether County hears health plan renewal; consultant recommends sticking with Anthem