What the Preview covered
Old Atlanta Road Phases 4 and 5: all three approved
The board approved Task Order No. 05 with Volkert, Inc., not to exceed $1,924,722.00, for program management and construction engineering and inspection services on Project 21-125-3190, Old Atlanta Road Phases 4 & 5. (Summary, item 17.) Asked about the task order, the county manager said the county is changing construction engineering and inspection firms, terminating the previous contract after some challenges, and that the project is on schedule and largely under construction. (Video, 28:00.) Asked whether the new firm would cost more, a staff member said the balance of the original contract would be transferred into this one. (Video, 29:25.) The motion carried four to nothing. (Video, 29:44.)
The board also approved two change orders to the same agreement with G.P.’s Enterprises, Inc.: Commitment Change Order #005 for $90,385.16 for James Burgess Road dual left turn lanes, and Commitment Change Order #006 for $373,035.53 for a 20-inch water reuse by-pass. (Summary, items 18–19.) The first carried four to nothing without discussion. (Video, 30:17.) So did the second; neither the Summary nor the captions give a reason for the by-pass. (Video, 30:41.)
Three rezoning reviews: all postponed again
At the start of the meeting, Chairman Alfred John proposed taking two of the three items off the day’s agenda. (Video, 01:52.) The board postponed ZA4108, Vijay Garlapati (District 1), to the November 10, 2026 Work Session, and ZA4135, Athena Learning LLC (District 2), to the December 17, 2026 BOC Regular Meeting / Public Hearings. (Summary, items 27–28.) The first postponement carried four to nothing. (Video, 02:20.) So did the second. (Video, 02:37.)
The board postponed ZA4163, Tipton Development LLC (District 5), to the November 24, 2026 Work Session. (Summary, item 29.) Staff said 18 months had passed without a land disturbance permit submittal for the property, on the west side of Old Atlanta Road, zoned for 12 residential lots on about 10 acres. (Video, 38:17.) Commissioner Laura Semanson moved to bring it back in 30 days, leaning toward the rezoning process but asking for “one more opportunity to work with them.” (Video, 38:38.) The motion carried four to nothing. (Video, 38:59.)
Zoning buffers: sent to public hearing
The board approved for staff to commence the public hearing process on the Planning Commission’s recommendation to consider Unified Development Code amendments on zoning buffers between non-residential uses and Specialty and PUD districts; the Summary lists the item under Semanson and Moore. (Summary, item 30.) Staff said a non-residential use built next to a Specialty or PUD district today does not require a buffer, though those districts often include a residential component. (Video, 39:34.) A commissioner asked that it be moved to public hearing, and the motion carried four to nothing. (Video, 40:34.) The Summary gives no amendment text or buffer width.
Transit staffing: approved, time sensitive
The board approved adding one full-time dispatcher, one full-time bus driver and three part-time bus driver positions in 2026, positions budgeted for FY2027 with no additional funding required in the FY2026 budget, on a time-sensitive basis. (Summary, item 4.) Asked whether a new program was driving the need, staff said it was for general demand. (Video, 15:08.)
County Way Campus master plan: approved
The board approved Task Order #12 with Jericho Design Group, LLC, for County Way Campus master planning and program design services, $451,500.00. (Summary, item 22.) Staff said the plan covers Roads and Bridges, Fleet Maintenance, a second phase for Water and Sewer, the sign shop and fuel station, and an ephemeral stream between Coal Mountain Park and the area; a study of possibly piping a stretch of it about 400 to 500 feet long could gain a little over a couple of acres for stockpiling and equipment parking. (Video, 32:19.) Staff said the task order is below budget, and the county manager said the aim is to solve material storage, including salt mixed in a muddy, unlit area during bad weather. (Video, 34:20.)
Other agenda outcomes
Mass-grading code revisions requested
On a residential code work update from the County Manager, the board authorized staff to bring code revisions regarding mass grading to a future Work Session. (Summary, item 32.) The county manager first showed a draft map tool of existing residential zonings, including older “legacy” ones, and said staff reports will color-code school capacity. (Video, 42:41.) The county manager said the revision would let developers grade only for roads, utilities and stormwater. (Video, 1:14:17.) Asked whether it would reach older zonings, a staff member said it would apply to projects that are not vested when they apply for a land disturbance permit. (Video, 1:14:51.)
Recycling and Solid Waste presentation
The Director of Fleet and Environmental Services presented the Department of Recycle and Solid Waste’s programs; it was informational only, and no formal Board action was taken. (Summary, item 1.) Staff said the next household hazardous waste event is November 7 at Freedom Park and was 85% full about a day after registration opened. (Video, 10:29.) Staff said each such event costs about $63,000. (Video, 12:39.)
The board approved a Subscription Service agreement with Ford Motor Company for a no-charge trial of on-board vehicle dashcams. (Summary, item 2.) It approved the FY27 Professional Services Contract with University of Georgia Extension, as approved in the 2027 budget. (Summary, item 3.) It awarded Quote 27-06-3150 to North Cherokee Electrical, LLC for traffic signal maintenance and repairs as needed, with the associated General Services Agreement. (Summary, item 5.)
For the Sheriff’s Office, the board approved an application for a $46,451.00 FY2026 Criminal Justice Coordinating Council Victims of Crime Act grant for the Victim Advocate Unit, with no match required, on a time-sensitive basis. (Summary, item 6.) It ratified applications for two FY2026 GEMA/HSA State Homeland Security Program grants with no match required, $79,100.00 for an Explosive Ordinance Detection K9 and $23,300.00 for the Community Emergency Response Team, both time sensitive. (Summary, items 7–8.) It approved acceptance of a $109,101.01 Governor’s Office of Highway Safety HEAT grant, with a $72,734.01 required match. (Summary, item 9.)
The board approved updated Standard Specifications for Water Distribution and Sanitary Sewer Systems. (Summary, item 10.) It approved IDQ-084 with Lanier Contracting Co. for $110,277.15 for the Antioch WTP High Service Pump Station Freeze Protection project. (Summary, item 11.) It approved the emergency purchase of two fine screen drums for the Fowler Water Reclamation Facility from Ovivo USA, LLC for $208,080.00. (Summary, item 12.) Staff said the purchase is within budget as a capital purchase; neither the Summary nor the captions give a reason for the emergency. (Video, 23:45.)
For the Department of Public Facilities, the board approved Change Order #5 to the Vertical Earth agreement, $15,526.70, for additional rock on the Barker Overlook Project. (Summary, item 13.) It awarded Quote 27-16-1620 to Bureau Veritas National Elevator Inspection Services, Inc., $6,921.00, for state-mandated annual elevator inspections. (Summary, item 14.) It approved Change Order #1 to the Energy Systems Southeast agreement, $39,763.53, to install copper wire for a generator at Old Atlanta Recreation Center, on a time-sensitive basis. (Summary, item 15.) It approved six full-time positions in 2026, budgeted for FY2027, to prepare for assuming custodial responsibilities on January 1, 2027, with no additional FY2026 funding. (Summary, item 16.)
For the Department of Capital Projects, the board approved Task Order No. 06 with Volkert, Inc., not to exceed $141,365.00, for the SPLOST IX Transportation Bundle 7 roundabout at Holtzclaw Road and Chattahoochee Road (PE148). (Summary, item 20.) It approved Change Order #001 with E.R. Snell Contractor, Inc., $92,743.52, for the Holtzclaw Rd./Rowe Lane Extension project. (Summary, item 21.) It approved Change Order #ARS 006 with Hussey, Gay, Bell & DeYoung, Inc., $11,760.00, for additional construction administration on the Water & Sewer Maintenance Warehouse project. (Summary, item 23.) It approved Supplemental Agreement No. 2 with the Georgia Department of Transportation for the Punch Hammond Road Intersection Improvements (PE144), adding $283,232.00 in federal funds and $70,808.00 in local match, with the associated budget resolution. (Summary, item 24.)
The board approved a right-of-way easement to Sawnee EMC at 6115 Jot Em Down Road for a cell tower, on a time-sensitive basis. (Summary, item 25.) Staff said T-Mobile is expected to be operating there in the next couple of weeks, with AT&T to follow. (Video, 36:49.)
The board approved a resolution designating representatives to deposit and withdraw funds from the Local Government Investment Pool. (Summary, item 26.) It approved an amended resolution to condemn property interests in Tax Parcel No. 216-046 for the Crossing at Coal Mountain Connector Sidewalks Project, replacing the one adopted October 6, 2026, with estimated just and adequate compensation of $7,200.00, on a time-sensitive basis. (Summary, item 31.) The county attorney said the amendment adds an exhibit to what is being condemned. (Video, 41:08.)
What this Report does not claim
The county’s Meeting Summary records outcomes, not the board’s reasoning or every discussion during the meeting. This Report does not reconstruct unrecorded deliberation or cover everything said. What was said comes from Vimeo’s machine-made, automatic captions, which can mishear words; the linked video is the record.
Sources
County Meeting Summary: Forsyth County Board of Commissioners Work Session Summary, October 20, 2026 ↗, fetched October 22, 2026 at 22:15:08 UTC.
Meeting video: Board of Commissioners | Work Session | October 20, 2026 ↗, automatic captions, fetched October 20, 2026 at 22:52:05 UTC.
Written by the site's AI reporting agent from the county's Meeting Summary and the meeting video's automatic captions, and read and approved by the editor before publication. Outcomes are as the Summary records them; what was said comes from the captions, linked to its moment in the video.