The Dade County Commission was short two commissioners as both Commissioner Hartline and Commissioner Woods were absent tonight, Thursday, April 3, 2025, for the County Board of Commissioner Workshop and Commission Meeting however, the absence of the two commissioners didn’t deter the remaining three commissioners from digging in as the workshop was jam packed tonight.
During the County Board of Commissioner Workshop the three commissioners approved the amending agreements, approved resolution agreements, tabled a few agenda items, listened to a SPLOST request for Capital Equipment, went over the disposal of surplus county property, added an addendum that touches on drugs and alcohol to the consent agenda, discussed storm shelter policy, discussed the sale of surplus property, reviewed the personnel status report, and went over and approved resolutions/proclamations adding it to the consent agenda.
During the commission workshop meeting the commissioners discussed the Agreement For Fire Protection and Rescue Services with County Executive Townsend explaining that a couple of months ago there was a gainful meeting with the fire chiefs where some amendments were made and that County Attorney Robin Rogers has been working on the amendment and that they would like to get the them back so that can present them to the Fire Chiefs so, that they can ensure that they are satisfied with the amended changes.
It was explained during the meeting that Attorney Rogers will transmit the amendments to Fire Chief Rodney Gass and all the Fire Chiefs will have their meeting this coming Monday. It was further explained that this topic will be tabled until the May Commission Workshop meeting.
Another topic discussed during the meeting was the Approval for Groundwater and Methane Testing of Back Valley Road Landfill. According to County Consecutive Townsend this testing has been done for 11 plus years and began around 2013. The testing company S & ME, a company based out of Chattanooga, has been a great partnership for Dade County.
S & ME goes semi-annually and checks the old landfill (Back Valley Road Landfill), as well as checks the different wells located there around 3 to 4 times per year to check for methane.
Regarding the testing County Executive Townsend had the following to say, “we hope one day that the Environmental Protection Division will relieve us of this duty. We’ve got to be close to 30-years, and 30-years is the magic number that is allotted to no longer be required to do this but, as long as any of these wells ever show any kind of abnormal reading they will continue to require us to do this. This is just a continuing work authorization to do that.”
In closing County Executive Townsend asked if anyone had any questions before adding Approval for Groundwater and Methane Testing of the Back Valley Road Landfill to the Consent Agenda.
Another topic that was touched upon and spoken about briefly before ultimately being tabled by the commission tonight was the storm shelter policy.
According to County Executive Townsend the policy document “came from Alex Case and was titled Community Safe Room Operations Plan.”
He went on to explain that this was only a proposed plan, and he had no plan to sit and read it. Regarding the policy he stated, “it is something that we already have as a plan for the county but, that I don’t know that it’s ever adopted by the county commission. There was some discussion and questions online at one of our recent storm events that kind of drove us to put this on here and do a little bit better job of making this a public document.”
He continued to explain, “the question at the time that came up at the time was talking about animals and this does actually have aid animals listed here.”
County Executive Townsend went on to read what the policy has written about aid animals (page 13 of the policy):
“Evacuees requiring the use of aid animals will be allowed to bring the aid animals into the tornado safe room. The aid animals shall be crated on a leash, and kept under the owner’s control at all times. Aid animal’s needs such as food, water, and clean supplies are to be provided by the owner. The owner is responsible for the action of the aid animal. Note companion animals and other house pets are not allowed in the safe room area due to the space the pets will require which will reduce the amount of space for human occupants.”
County Executive Townsend opted to table the policy until May so that all the commissioners will have the chance to go over the policy. He indicated that he wanted Commissioner Bradford and Commissioner Pullen to both look over the entire document, not just the pet policy part to see if there were items that they might wish to add to policy. He also indicated that he wanted to have a full discussion with all the county commissioners regarding the policy so that they can go over it, and adopt it into place soon.
The Dade County Sheriff’s Department got their moment to come forward as County Executive Townsend called Major Tommy Bradford of the Sheriff’s Office forward to speak about approving SPLOST funds for capital equipment for the approval of the purchase of 29 rifles for the Dade County Sheriff’s Office officers, as well as riffle plates for the officers’ vests.
Major Bradford stated “we’ve got some rifles that are getting quite a bit of age on them that need to be replaced, and then we’ve got a lot of the officers that’s carrying their own stuff so, the problem with that is unfortunately is if they’re involved in a shooting or something then GBI is going to take their own personal weapon from them, and we don’t know how long they would keep it for, whether it be a month, or whether it be two years.”
Major Bradford explained that he has received two bids one from GT’s and the other Ed’s Public Safety.
BIDS:
GT’s Bid — Springfield Saint Victor (556) Rifle – $40,100.50; TRADE IN WEAPON CREDIT (19 weapons)- $6,320.00; TOTAL: $33,780.50
Ed’s Public Safety Bid — FN15 (556) Rifle – $52,643.00: TRADE IN WEAPON CREDIT (19 weapons)- $$7,550.00: TOTAL: $45,093.00
Major Bradford indicated that if he were to pick he would go with GT’s bid as there is almost a $12,000 difference in pricing. He also indicated that with the purchasing of the 29 rifles that would cover all the officers and leave the Sheriff’s office “with two spares.”
He went further on to explain that the Dade County Sheriff’s Office officers have never had rifle plates, and explained that ballistic vests do not protect against rifles. He then indicated that the sheriff’s office has been interested in purchasing some soft rifle plates for the front of the ballistic vests to better protect the officers for some time now. He then gave the commissioners the quote to purchase 29 soft rifle plates from Safe Life Defense as being $11,200.00.
He concluded adding the lowest bid of the 29 rifles from GT’s at $33,780.50 together with the bid from Safe Life Defense of $11,200.00 for the purchase of 29 soft rifle plates totaling them to show that together they would be $44,980.00.
Upon listening to Major Bradford’s presentation the commissioners agreed to add his SPLOST request to the consent agenda.
Major Bradford did indicate during the workshop that he would be back around June or July to speak again to the Commission regarding vehicles before thanking the commission and stepping away.
The County is asking for SPLOST funds for the purchase of 2025 Ford F-250 work truck. According to County Executive Townsend the work truck that Dade County currently has has almost 200,000 miles on it and has been experiencing stater problems and other mechanical issues. He stated the following regarding the vehicle, “it’s been a good truck, it’s just got some miles on it, and I’m not proposing that we get rid of the truck quite yet.”
He then went on to provide two quotes for vehicles one from PRATOR FORD and the other from MARSHALL MIZE FORD.
QUOTES:
PRATOR FORD QUOTE —– TRUCK – $48,670.84; BED – $20,826.00; TOTAL: $69,496.84
MARSHALL MIZE FORD QUOTE — TRUCK – $48,508.80; CM TRUCK BED with Ladder Rack, Pro Rack Leg Cross Bar, Side Channel Kits – $12,855.68; TOTAL: $61,364.48.
In conclusion this item was added to the consent agenda.
After finishing his quote presentation for the F250 County Executive Townsend indicated that the county is also looking into getting an F150 as well however, he wished to hold off and get the other commissioner’s opinions so, he was going to table that item until next month.
The next matter that the commission discussed during their workshop was Disposal of Surplus County Property. The county has a 1998 Grasshopper, zero-turn lawn mower with 2,991 hours of mowing time on it. According to County Executive Townsend the 27-year old mower is in poor condition. He wet on to explain that it will be surplussed and placed on govdeals.com for anyone who might wish to bid it.
The commission also covered the Warranty Deed sale of what was described as the old Public Defender’s Building by County Executive Townsend to Trenton Telephone Company during the workshop. County Executive Townsend commented on the sale by saying, “we advertised everything as instructed under the law, and we only received one bid, from Trenton Telephone Company for $100,000.00 for the purchase of real estate located at 129 Case Avenue so, with a legal description set forth so, that is our only bid. I think that’s a very fair bid. In fact it’s probably somewhat gifting a little bit maybe.”
In ending, he explained this resolution comes with a warranty deed, and they will be having a closing with the county attorney and Trenton Telephone Company’s representatives once the monies owed for the property is paid.
He then asked for approvals of the resolution and for the warranty deed. No commissioners had any questions, and Commissioner Bradford approved the resolution and warranty deed therefore, they both were added to the Consent Agenda.
Another item that was discussed was the addendum to the Zero Tolerance Drug and Alcohol For Safety Sensitive Employees. It was explained by County Executive Townsend that every 3 years this policy is generally updated however, since Mr. Rumley retired, and he took over as County Executive the policy needed to be updated due to name changes, before it could be submitted to the Georgia Department of Transportation for FTA.
He noted that nothing in the policy is changing except replacing Mr. Rumley’s name with his.
County Executive Townsend then asked if anyone had any questions before adding the addendum to the Zero Tolerance Drug and Alcohol For Safety Sensitive Employees to the Consent Agenda.
Another County topic discussed was the Personnel Status Report for the County. It was noted that as of March 31, 2025, the county is down by six employees as E-911 lost two employees, Public Transportation lost one, Sanitation lost one, the Jail lost another, and County Executive Townsend lost an intern.
Lastly the commission approved four resolutions/proclamations. The first proclamation the commission approved named April 2025, as “Child Abuse Prevention Month” in Dade County, Georgia. The second, approved proclamation named April as “Donate Life Month” in Dade County, Georgia in honor of organ donors. The third, approved proclamation April 19, 2025, as a local Arbor Day Celebration in Dade County, Georgia honoring National Arbor Day and Tree City USA. For the fourth and final approved proclamation named Dade County, Georgia followed suit of the United States Government, and the State of Georgia and named April as “Sexual Assault Awareness Month” as they did, to bring awareness to the global issue.
R-17-25 APPROVAL OF FIRE SERVICES AGREEMENT DOCUMENT CREDIT – Dade County, Georgia via the county website.
R-16-25 S&ME FOR BACK VALLEY ROAD LANDFILL TESTING AND REPORTING DOCUMENT CREDIT – Dade County, Georgia via the county website.
PRATOR FORD QUOTE DOCUMENT CREDIT – Dade County, Georgia via the county website.
MARSHALL MIZE FORD QUOTE DOCUMENT CREDIT – Dade County, Georgia via the county website.
R-14-25 DISPOSAL OF SURPLUS COUNTY PROPERTY DOCUMENT CREDIT – Dade County, Georgia via the county website.
DADE CO. – WARRANTY DEED TRENTON TELEPHONE COMPANY DOCUMENT CREDIT – Dade County, Georgia via the county website.
R-18-25 DADE CO. – RESOLUTION SALE OF PROPERTY TO TRENTON TELEPHONE COMPANY – Dade County, Georgia via the county website.
SURPLUS PROPERTY – PUBLIC DEFENDERS OLD OFFICE BUILDING DOCUMENT CREDIT – Dade County, Georgia via the county website.
R-15-25 ADDENDUM TO ZERO TOLERANCE DRUG AND ALCOHOL POLICY FOR FTA EMPLOYEES DOCUMENT CREDIT – Dade County, Georgia via the county website.
2025-4 CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH PROCLAMATION; NATIONAL DONATION LIFE MONTH PROCLAMATION; NATIONAL ARBOR DAY FOR TREE CITY USA PROCLAMATION; SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH PROCLAMATION – DOCUMENT(S) CREDIT(S) – Dade County, Georgia via the county website.
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