Treutlen County Board of Commissioners Discuss Timber Tax Relief and Upcoming Hurricane Season

The Treutlen County Board of Commissioners discussed House Bill 223, the upcoming hurricane season, trucks driving on Cedar Grove Road and more in their June 2 meeting in Soperton.

Following an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, Commissioner Joey Powell offered a motion to accept the minutes from the meeting on Monday, May 5, with an amendment to fix a typo. The motion passed unanimously.

Beginning the agenda was the chairman’s updates, delivered by Chairman Phil Jennings IV. Jennings reported the auction of surplus equipment, including old tractors, blades and spare cars, had yielded approximately $140,000.

Jennings also reported he did not anticipate any need to increase the mileage rate for the upcoming 2026 fiscal year, as the proposed budget for the 2026 fiscal year is balanced with more funds expected in the future.

Next, Jennings and the Board discussed Georgia House Bill 223, which went into effect on Thursday, May 8. The bill excludes from calculation the taxable net income of disaster relief and assistance grant funds for damage to agriculture caused by hurricane Helene, as well as providing refundable income tax credits for certain timber producers, including landowners and counties.

According to Jennings, many landowners in Treutlen County had taken a much lower price for timber just to clear up their land after Helene, going from $18-$20 per ton to $2-$5 per ton.

“So they did pass a deal which is going to alleviate any timber taxes coming out of the landowners’ pockets, and the state’s going to reimburse the counties for what the market value should have been on the timber, not just what they lost,” says Jennings. 

The Board does not currently have much guidance on the bill, but the Association County Commissioners of Georgia and the Georgia Forestry Association will host a webinar in July to provide that guidance. Powell offered a motion to accept the resolution, which passed unanimously.

Next, the Board discussed whether to offer monetary support to the upcoming Juneteenth Freedom Festival. The Festival, organized by the Black Citizens Council, aims to entertain and spread awareness about Juneteenth by providing guests with vendors, rides and historic displays.

Commissioner Thallia Gillis offered a motion to help fund the event, which passed unanimously.

The Board then heard a report from EMA Director Justin McNure. According to McNure, the Atlantic is expected to see 13 to 19 named storms, with six to 10 of those storms becoming hurricanes and three to five becoming major hurricanes.

“I know we don’t like the H-word after Helene, but it is upon us again,” says McNure.

In an effort to be more efficient in the event of another storm, the Treutlen County EMA has been working on new protocols, utilizing knowledge gained during hurricane Helene. The EMA is also working on several projects, such as debris cleanup and FEMA collaboration.

“We’re trying to get as many projects pushed through, money coming back into the county as fast as we possibly can, but we also want to be accurate,” McNure said. “We don’t want to mess up anything, and we don’t want to miss anything, so it’s a long, drawn out process.”

Next, McNure relayed an update on the Treutlen County Fire Department on behalf of Derek Phillips. Over the past month, the fire department received 64 calls, including 34 medical calls, nine cancelled calls, four vehicle accidents, three public service calls, three brush fires, three weather-related tree calls, three equipment fires, two structure calls, one gas leak, one traffic control accident and one vehicle fire.

The Board then heard a dive team report from EMA Deputy Director Joseph Glenn. According to Glenn, the team assisted in the investigation of a drowning death in the Oconee River in Laurens County on Saturday, May 31. 

“I’m super proud of our team,” said Glenn.

Glenn also reported the EMA had made upgrades to the Emergency Operations Center.

The Board then considered a resolution for the Treutlen County Schools’ bond issuance. 

According to Mary Jane Corbin of the Treutlen County Schools’ finance department, the schools will issue bonds totalling in value to $10,007,500, which will pay for a new athletic facility and an HVAC replacement. The bonds will not be taxed, as the school system believes SPLOST funds will be sufficient to cover potential extra costs.

Commissioner Rodney Meeks offered a motion to approve the resolution, which passed unanimously. 

Next, the Board considered a $7,236 quote from Rivers Air Conditioning and Heating to replace an air conditioning unit in the new Crime Victims Office. The Board decided to wait for an update regarding the air conditioner quotes before taking a vote.

At the request of Gillis, the board then considered the issue of log trucks and 18 wheelers driving on Cedar Grove Road, requiring the road to be repaved more often and inconveniencing local residents in the interim. The board agreed the trucks did not belong on the road, but decided to make an official decision during the meeting on Monday, July 7, to give more time for a solution to be found.

Gillis also reported an update on the Middle Georgia Food Bank, which the board will revisit in the July meeting.

The board then considered the proposed general fund and special revenue budgets for the 2026 fiscal year. The budgets will be further discussed in work sessions held on Monday, June 11, at 5 p.m. for public comments and on Monday, June 23, for adoption.

Next, the board heard the county manager’s report. First, Jim Gaddy of the Treutlen County Road Department reported on the replacement of a methane pump at the landfill, which would cost $6,000 to purchase and $750 to physically install, along with hiring an electrician to connect the pump. 

According to Gaddy, the cost will be split with Wheeler County, and the remaining cost will be covered by SPLOST funds. Councilmember Meeks offered a motion to approve the purchase and installation of the pump, which passed unanimously.

Gaddy then reported on the quotes for the flooring project in the Treutlen County Government Annex building. The previous carpet flooring was damaged due to a leak, resulting in what Gaddy described as “stinky” and an “eyesore”, and all three quotes offered to replace it fully with new linoleum flooring.

The board opted to wait and revisit the quotes in an upcoming meeting after upcoming rain, as to ensure the original leak has been repaired.

“I think I would recommend let’s at least get through and make sure the rain stops, so we don’t put something brand new down and be right back in there repairing,” said Jennings.

Gaddy provided the board with an inventory of the county’s voting machines, as some experienced errors and may need replacement. Gaddy also provided a quote for a replacement brush mower, priced at $164,764.43.

Commissioner Gillis offered a motion to purchase the new mower, which passed unanimously, though Chairman Jennings asked for the contract to begin on July 1 as to align with the beginning of the new fiscal year.

County Manager TJ Hudson then offered an update on the Altamaha Fiber internet service for Treutlen County offices. The new internet would allow smoother contact between various county departments and would cost $3,161.75. 

Commissioner Cali Hollis offered a motion to approve the new internet service, which passed unanimously, and the contract will also begin July 1.

Hudson also offered updates regarding the Treutlen County Library, including cutting tree limbs which could endanger air conditioning units, seeking quotes on repairing the building’s foundation issues and removing the infestations of rats and squirrels in the building.

Next, Jennings provided a financial report regarding county bank balances as of July 1. According to the report, the general fund balance totalled $2,338,515.59, the Certificate of Deposit (CD) balance totalled $417,657.37, the Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG) balance totalled $404,604.18, the 2019 SPLOST balance totalled $1,099,004.71, the Crime Victim Assistance fund totalled $329,085.92, the Drug Abuse Treatment Education fund totalled $27,506.60, the Drug Seizure fund totalled $70,177.06, the E-911 fund totalled $249,944.85, the Jail Reserve fund totalled $57,163.01, the Treutlen/Wheeler Landfill fund totalled $717.21 and the TSPLOST fund totalled $1,161,982.23.

In addition, the county also reported a revenue of 106.86% of the annual budget and expenditures totalling 85.51% of the annual budget as of April.

The board then entered an executive session to discuss matters regarding real estate and personnel. Following the session, Commissioner Gillis offered a motion to adjourn the meeting, which passed unanimously.