BOC Meeting 8-10-2026

The Whitfield County Board of Commissioners held their regular meeting on August 10, 2026, addressing several procurement and budget-related matters. The board approved budget amendments including donations for a dog park and event celebrations, as well as mandated salary increases for the district attorney and public defenders. They authorized the design and construction funding for a second roundabout on Houston Valley Road, allocating $493,000 from SPLOST 2024 funds, and approved the replacement of a 1999 wheel loader with a new model under the same funding source. The board also approved a memorandum of understanding for funding a new school resource officer position, largely covered by a regional educational agency. Additionally, the commissioners approved applying for a federal transit grant (5307) to offset operating costs and accepted a $29,000 grant for drug testing related to the drug court. Policy updates included amending the transit drug and alcohol policy to meet federal standards. Public comments focused heavily on environmental and community concerns related to data center developments, with multiple speakers urging the board to consider a moratorium on new data center projects to address issues such as water consumption, electricity demand, and environmental impact. The board acknowledged these concerns and indicated plans for further public forums and education on the topic. No final decisions on the moratorium were made during this meeting.