Laurens County Commission cuts tax rate, gives updates on hurricane recovery

The Laurens County Board of Commissioners met Monday to roll back its millage rate to avoid a net tax increase, and also used the called meeting to give and receive updates on the recovery from Hurricane Helene.

The board voted to cut the millage rate to 5.744 mills from 6.998, offsetting a $273.7 million increase in the tax digest from a reassessment of existing properties. The reassessment, along with the values of newly constructed homes, boosted the net digest to $1.9 billion, from $1.6 billion last year.

The city of Dublin and the city and county school boards set their own millage rates. The commission’s cut was approved with no fanfare or discussion. Instead, the board shifted focus to the latest on the storm.

County Administrator Bryan Rogers said the PODs, or distribution sites, at the Civitan Fairgrounds and schools have closed, but the county still has water, MREs (meals, ready to eat) and other supplies. Rogers said officials are contacting churches and other groups to get the supplies to people who need them here and in surrounding counties.

Rogers also said an out-of-state group plans to provide meals in areas served Altamaha, Washington and Little Ocmulgee EMCs, where residents remain without electricity.

The county’s plan to offer roadside pickup of storm delay has hit a snag due to another hurricane brewing in the Gulf of Mexico. 

“Hurricane Milton has thrown a wrench into everything,” Rogers said’

The county does not have roadside pickup of debris or waste, and contractors that the county had planned to use here are headed back to Florida due to pre-existing cleanup contracts there.

Rogers said he has been working with County Emergency Management Agency Director Bill Laird but “we’re kind of dropping back and punting, and working on a new plan.”

The roadside pickup is available only to residents who stack their own debris, and not to contractors. Commission Chairman Trae Kemp explained the contractors are prohibited by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency).

“People are saying it’s because the county is cheap. It’s because of FEMA,” Kemp said after the meeting. “We don’t need to invalidate their FEMA relief. They need that relief.

“We’re doing everything we can within the bounds of the federal government, We could not afford to do this without FEMA. It would break the county.”

During the meeting, Kemp asked it the county could put propane-fueled generators at fire stations around the county to prepare for another such disaster. The stations could serve as decentralized stations where residents could access running water,” he said.

“It’s been a nightmare thing. If we had one in Cedar Grove, Rock Springs and all the places that are affected around East Dublin,

Rogers said the county actually was awarded a federal grant a couple of years ago to buy a dozen or so propane generators, but has never seen the money.

“The money just never got turned loose,” said Rogers, who plans to follow up on the funding.

Rogers gave “kudos to the county employees, city employees and city and county officials” for their response to the hurricane.

“I feel like we have performed above what we were expecting to.”

In other business, the commission agreed to provide in-kind labor for the Dublin-Laurens County Recreation Authority whenever it builds an indoor sports facility.

“I’m on the rec board and this is my district,” said Commissioner Brenda Chain, who made the motion. “The rec department is one of the things that draws people to Laurens County. They want to go ahead and get started.”

Rogers said the work should take only three or four days. Commissioner Kevin Tanner asked about a timeline, noting, “We’re in a mess right now.”

“They just want assurance,” said Chain.

The motion carried unanimously.