FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Board of Commissioners took a giant step toward increasing transparency in county government during Tuesday’s work session with unanimous approval of a motion to begin publication of the Board’s Agenda Packet on the county website.

The packet drills down on the meeting agenda by providing a detailed explanation of each item to be presented in both the work sessions and regular meetings. The packet contains the same information that commissioners have access to throughout the meetings.

As County Attorney Ken Jarrard explained, “The bottom line is this is about transparency. That is where the objective is to give the citizens as much information as possible. At the end of the day, it is very much a positive thing.”

The Board also:

• Agreed to declare a list of items as surplus with authorization for the Department of Procurement to dispose of accordingly;
• Approved a Change Order with Bayne Development Group, LLC on the Eagle’s Beak Park Project in the amount of $120,239.58;
• Authorized the addition of demolition of the Parkstone Wastewater Treatment Plant to the Department of Water and Sewer Capital Project Plan (CIP) with approval of a Task Order with Hayes, James & Associates in the amount of $105,009.00;
• Approved a software licensing and implementation project with Tyler Technologies to track and report animal violation cases for the Department of Animal Services in the amount of $82,100.00 for the Animal Services Project with permission to continue the annual renewal / maintenance (based upon business need) for the life of the software with authorization for the County Manager to sign the appropriate documents;
• Approved of the Sole Source Purchase of Hurst Extrication Equipment through MES-Southeast for the Fire Department from MES-Southeast in the amount of $230,533.60 for the purchase of Hurst Extrication Equipment;
• Approved Bid 20-100-1620 to provide materials, equipment, and labor for the LED Lighting Replacement Project at five County locations in the amount of $99,900.17;
• Approved Bid 21-108-2410 for the purchase of new Paratech Trench Rescue Equipment and trade-in the old equipment for the Fire Department to Georgia Fire and Rescue Supply in the amount of to $98,829.80 with permission to trade-in the old equipment;
• Approved RFP 21-99-1500 for providing services to hold a Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Event for the Department of Recycling and Solid Waste to Clean Earth of Alabama. Service is budgeted with the Department and the cost will be dependent upon the amount of waste received from citizens
• Approved RFP 21-101-1620 for Architectural / Engineering Services for the Old Matt Schoolhouse, Phase 2, for the Department of Public Facilities to Jericho Design Group in the amount of $67,600.00; Capital Outlay Project Budget;
• Approved a Special Facility Use Agreement with Timberline Glamping (formerly known as Georgia Glamping Company, LLC) to allow Courtesy Dumping Service to RVs staying in Shady Grove Campground. County will be paid $1,000.00 per year;
• Approved a 5-year renewal of the Special Facility Use Agreement with Timberline Glamping (formerly known as Georgia Glamping Company, LLC) for glamping setups at thirteen dedicated campsites;
• Approved an updated Site Master Plan for Shady Grove Campground;
• Approved RFP for providing Architectural Design Services for the Denmark Library to McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture in an amount not to exceed $605,900.00; SPLOST 8, Impact Fees, and a State Capital Grant are the funding sources for this Project, which is included in the Capital Improvement Program;
• Decided to take a request by the Superior Court of Forsyth County to increase the County Supplements of newly hired Superior Court Judicial Assistants back to the finance department for further evaluation before bringing it back before the Board on Oct. 12;
• Agreed to initiate the rezoning process regarding an agreement Concerning Environmental Campus Drive between MKW Capital, LLC, JOJO Capital, LLC, the City of Cumming, and Forsyth County, which Agreement includes the potential swap of real property owned by MKW Capital, LLC, and JOJO Capital, LLC, with real property owned by Forsyth County ­ County Attorney;
• Approved an agreement for Exchange of Realty at Sawnee Mountain Preserve, involving Forsyth County and John North and tax parcel 125-113 and tax parcel 125-116;
• Approved a first amendment to Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Disposition of 608 Veterans Memorial Boulevard with the Development Authority of Forsyth County;
• Approved of the Consent Order and Judgment for Civil Action File No. 19CV­2206­2 in the amount of $113,000.00 in connection with Parcel 9 of the SR 369 at Ga 400 Project (Owners: Bobby Joe Wofford, Jr. and Benjamin Carl Wofford) &shy.