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Lucas C. Allison

Dispatch Correspondent

The Wilcox Board of Commissioners held its regular monthly meeting Tuesday December 3, 2024.  In attendance were Chairman Mel Powell, Commissioners Clay Reid, Jamie Handley, Jowan Johnson, Commissioner-elect for District 2 Kearny Haire, County Attorney Toni Sawyer, and County Manager Michael Pomirko. Commissioner Alphonso Hall was absent. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Powell, followed by invocation from myself and all in attendance reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.  The minutes from meetings of November 5,2024,

November 19, 2024, workshop and November 19, 2024, called meeting were approved after being properly moved and seconded.

Mr. John Wilson Gordon then addressed the commissioner and public in attendance as Chairman of the Wilcox County Economic Development Authority. Mr. Gordon stated he wanted to present information on the solar panel projects in Wilcox County.  Mr. Gordon stated they were working presently with Silicon Ranch on a project that is estimated at 150-million-dollar value. He stated the project would generate $288,000.00 in revenue per year for 25 years  which would split between the county and Wilcox Board of Education once legal has completed and executed all required paperwork.  Also, the deal would be approved by commissioners and the Board of Education. The property for the project will come out of conservation and be classified as commercial. He mentioned needing tax abatement for the panels themselves when purchased. He stated Silicon deal is a land purchase and the Pineview Project is a 15-year lease of land which a bond was issued for.  He stated revenues should be coming in from Pineview project soon. It was also discussed for the county to enact ordinances regarding solar panel projects, with requirements to meet, if want to limit number in county. He stated currently there were possibly two more solar panel projects in the pipeline and also a battery recycling plant. Mr. Gordon stated that the land would be returned to its original state.  Mr. Gordon also stated he didn’t want any taxpayer monies, but that the legal team was working on a legal way for him to be compensated for his time and energy spent bringing the projects to fruition. He stated he wanted all to be on same page the Authority, the county and the school board. He reiterated that Silicon was very financially stable.  He stated his main purpose was to try and clear up rumors about the solar projects and answer any questions.

The next agenda item was appointment of members to the Heart of Georgia Regional Commission after being properly moved and seconded commissioners approved Commissioner Handley’s appointment to replace outgoing Commissioner Hall, and approved Commissioner Reid’s re-appointment as the third member representing as a business owner.

Next Probate/Magistrate Court Judge Shawn Rhodes gave commissioners an update on his office operations and things relevant to his office.  He reported that he was preparing for the end of year closeout. He stated warrants are up from 400 last year to as of today its 658 warrants issued, he stated that 65 percent of his warrants are related to inmate crimes from the prison for contraband or from people being caught with drones trying to get contraband into the prisons. He also talked about once the district attorney has completed the cases, he wanted to pursue civil forfeiture on vehicles and drones involved in the cases if possible. He stated that he is still inputting data in regard to the county fines and penalties schedule.  He stated that he doesn’t want to raise just to raise them as that then causes more problems when people don’t pay.  He stated he was waiting on forms from the Secretary of States office to schedule swearing in all elected officials from November 5, 2024, election.   County Manager Pomirko reported there would be a workshop meeting on HB 581 on Tuesday December 10, 2024, at 5:30pm. Also, there will be a workshop meeting on Tuesday December 17,2024 at 5:30pm this will be a meeting with Sheriff Wessel regarding the jail.  The Fire Protection Services will begin installing the dry sprinkler system on Monday December 16, 2024.There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.  The Board of Commissioners meets on the first Tuesday of each month in the commissioners office located in the courthouse in Abbeville.