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Lucas C. Allison

Dispatch Correspondent

 

Those present for the meeting were as follows: Jamie Handley Chairman, Clay Reid Vice Chairman, Commissioners Mel Powell, Kearney Hair, Jowan Johnson, Michael Pomirko County Manager/Clerk, Jeff Wessel Wilcox County Sheriff.

Agenda under New Business

Resolution 2025-06: Transfer Equipment Wilcox County Crown Vic to Irwin County Sheriff

Office, County Manager, Michael Pomirko mentioned to the board a prior discussion we held

with Sheriff Jeff Wessel. The goal was to purchase a K-9 Car from Irwin County Sheriff Office

for $7,000.00 with the understanding of trading in a Crown Vic from the Wilcox County fleet.

The value of the Crown Vic was put at $2,000.00, which gives Wilcox County the opportunity of

purchasing a Dodge Charger from Irwin  County Sheriff Office which has all the K-9 equipment

in place. This resolution is made according to Pomirko only includes the trade of 2009

Crown Vic. A motion was made by Commissioner Kerney Hair to adopt Resolution 2025-

26,Transfer Equipment Wilcox County Crown Vic to Irwin County Sheriff Office.

The motion was second by Commissioner Mel Powell with a unanimous vote. Dodge Charger

2017 K-9 Patrol Car Irwin County Sheriff Office ($7,000.00) purchase County Manager, Michael

Pomirko informed the board about the recent topic and how the board tabled the item until we

knew more about the effect of having a K-9. Mr. Pomirko presented information showing no

increase for insurance coverage and that we will need to go into a contract with the deputy

who owns the K-9 with training and upkeeping on the animal. A motion was made by

Commissioner Mel Powell to purchase the Dodge Charger from Irwin County Sheriff Office for

$7,000.00 with the funds coming from the 2018 SPLOST. The motion was second Commissioner

Kerney Hair with a unanimous vote on the car. Intergovernmental Agreement Fire Protection:

(IGA) Contributions to other agencies. County Manager  Pomirko covered the new (IGA) related

to the Cities responding into the county for fire protection. In return for their services, we will

offset some costs at $5,000.00 per agency which is currently at $2,000.00 per agency. Within the

IGA you will find a lot of areas covering the many different areas that will be understood from

all parties. Currently, the county and the four cities are working on a fire pack that is well over

forty years old. This helps bring everything up to today’s standards with laws and other

obligations which are vital for protecting the county and protecting the cities. The agreement is

good for five years which can be terminated at any point once if the county or cities wish so. It

was understood by the board that this was an agreement that would give us time to get the fire

tax in place so each city who provides those services would benefit within a five-road mile from

the station.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This would only include the residences that are outside the city limits but

benefit from the fire station service. According to Pomirko, hopefully this will give us the foundational piece we need to start heading in the right direction because we need to start seeing how much we need to do with getting the fire tax in place. A motion was made by Commissioner Kerney Hair to adopt the IGA for fire protection and contribution to other agencies. Also, in the motion Commissioner Kerney Hair added that if a city does not sign the IGA, they would be ineligible for the $5,000.00 per year until the new fire tax starts. The motion was second by Commissioner Mel Powell with a unanimous vote on the IGA. Fire Contribution from $2,000.00 to $5,000.00 per agency. Chairman Jamie Handley talked to the board about helping the cities offset some cost with a new fee of $5,000.00 which at one time was $2,000.00. This 150% increase would help the cities with more equipment or other things they see fit. Also, the cities are currently getting diesel at the county barn which also helps offset cost. The understanding was the board would be okay with $5,000.00 per year if the cities entered into the new IGA. This agreement will be good until the county has everything in place for the fire tax that would go back to the cities. A motion was made by Commissioner Kerney Hair to increase the yearly

contribution from $2,000.00 to $5,000.00 per agency per year. The motion included the

$5,000.00 amount with the cities agreeing to the IGA until the county could implement the fire

tax in the county which should be in January of 2026. The motion was second by Vice Chairman

Clay Reid with a unanimous vote. Chairman Handley explained to the board a budget

amendment would be needed to show for the increase in contribution to each agency. The total of

premium we collect in FY25. A motion was made by Commissioner Mel Powell to make the

following budget amendment for the fire contribution. The motion was second by

Commissioner Kerney Hair with a unanimous vote. A motion was made by Vice Chairman Clay

Reid to adjourn the meeting. The second was by Commissioner Mel Powell with a

unanimous vote. 6:41p.m. The Wilcox Board of  Commissioners meets the first Tuesday of each

month at 6:30PM, in the Commissioners office in the Courthouse located in Abbeville.