Commission Discusses Agenda Packet Software

By Jack Bagley

The Meriwether County Commission voted to approve utilizing a software program called Agenda Packet to prepare meeting agendas and share with the public. During the discussion, Commissioner Bryan Threadgill said he was concerned that agendas and packets are not official until they are approved by the Commissioners, and items could be in the packets that have not been approved. Threadgill said the packets would have to be sent to the legal department each time before being released to ensure nothing was there that had not been approved.

Commissioner Jennifer Snelson said that she favored the software for transparency and accountability, noting that the program would automatically redact items that should not be there. Snelson said the public knows that the agendas are not official until they are adopted, but the software would let them know what is in there. The Commissioners approved a 90-day period to review the software and undergo training from Civic Plus by a 4-1 vote, with Threadgill voting no.

A request for a bond reconsideration was before the Commissioners. A bond amount of $350,649.51 for Hidden Meadows Subdivision had been approved for a five-year term, but the developer of the subdivision asked that it be reconsidered. Documents showed that the cul-de-sac in the development had not been inspected before paving. The original bond had been calculated based on replacing the entire road in the subdivision, which does not have to be done.

County Administrator John Gorton said that the cost to repave just the cul-de-sac and drive would be $144,148.08, and that would revise the bond to $216,231.12. The developer had asked for a five-year term as before, but the Commissioners voted to approve it at a four-year term.

In other business, the Meriwether County Commission:

• Introduced the county’s new Finance Director, Jamie Tarleton;

• Approved a request from Joseph Pendley to rezone a parcel of land from LDR to A1 for an event venue and hunting camp;

• Voted to table consideration of Surface Maintenance, LLC to do road maintenance on Maffett’s Pond Road and Gunter Road until the county’s new public works director is aboard;

• Approved execution of the 2025 HMPG Hazard Mitigation Grant application;

• Approved accepting credit card payments for the county Recreation Department;

• Approved applying for $1,018,943.37 in LRA funding for 2025 to cover projects including culverts, bridges and roads, with the understanding that the project list can be amended; and

• Approved opening a new bank checking account for Lake Meriwether.

The next regular meeting of the Meriwether County Commission will be Monday, April 7, at 6 p.m.