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Pike Chamber of Commerce Meeting Room - 8 a.m.
ZEBULON - The Pike County Development Authority met on March 4, 2026 at 8 a.m. Present were Bryan Oglesby, Stewart Essary, David Nix, Zebulon Mayor Joe Walter, Sonny Gwyn, Dee McLeRoy, Jason Leatherman, County Commission Chairman Briar Johnson, and Director Kyle Fletcher.
1. Call to Order.
2. Approval of the Agenda.
Motion to approve. Approved.
Follow up
Mark Whitley. Plans are 80 to 90% and will be finished in the next couple of weeks to go to the City for reviews and final approval. He has been moving dirt around the park from his parcel to other parcels. Weather has been a factor on this as well. 60 to 120 days. Hoping 60 to 90 days. Preparing the building for as soon as grading is done and approval through the City. Motion to give extension to start construction of the property in 120 days. Approved.
Approval of the February Minutes
Motion to approve. Approved.
Financials
Discussion: Anticipate income from sales, etc. Budget will be balanced out by the end of the year. Going to work on having the businesses paying the lights out there with a covenant/association like an HOA so the Development Authority isn’t footing this electric bill every month. Grass cutting, sign and street lighting, etc. through the HOA, but the City will maintain the road itself. The City may do this through taxes, etc. Development Authority to formally request this so the Council can discuss it in the April meeting.
Motion to approve the financials. Approved.
Mark Whitley. Talked about Lot 11 at the past meeting. Looked at it physically. Area behind the wetlands. Is it usable? State water buffers and accessibility and topography, it’s going to be very difficult to use. Adjusted this per their request. That’s the last lot on the culdesac. Discounted the price because of all this.
Old Business
Project Gabriel Update.
Met with 3rd District DOT about the potential bypass. Need to come up with a significant amount of funding to get this started with $2.4 million a mile and over $10 million if using state and federal funds. From $6 million project if local and over $30 million if state and federal funds are involved. Looking at the future with a school being out that way and helping with current traffic problems around the square and on Williamson-Zebulon Road. Will also help with the new Business Park and county expansion in the future. This is a development into business to help with revenue in the county in the future as well.
Briar Johnson. Should we look at improving County Farm Road to Williamson-Zebulon? Will be looking at alternatives for this area because it is needed. Nothing is in stone at this point. The big question in this is where the first phase will be and how it will be funded. If state and federal funds are used, it will take longer. There are still a lot of questions to be investigated and answered before this project moves forward. It’s complicated with utilities, etc. One step at a time. Sonny Gwyn. Maybe need someone to create several options to look at to get this project moving. More discussion needed on this.
County Farm Road Update.
A firm is working on the Master Plan to give a recommendation and proposal for overall design around the County Farm Road property. This is separate from the feasibility study for the proposed bypass.
Millage Discussion
Met with Attorney/County Manager Rob Morton. Get ¼ mill now. The next few years can work on this if additional funds come in from projects. That covers operating costs and cost of the note for the 238 acres. Engineering costs may be an issue in the future, but we can move forward with what we have for now. May have to talk about additional funding at a later time if funds are drawn down on the bank account. Concern about moving things forward. About $230,000 now. The goal is to be self-sustaining in the future so we won’t need funding from the county. Motion to stay with ¼ mill for now. Approved. Mayor Joe Walter. Need to try to get an estimate on possible land sales to anticipate cash flow in the future to show the plan to the commissioners. Discussion. We don’t want to lose momentum. Wants to create positive economic impact for the county. Grants and a line of credit at the bank are a possibility too. Trying to minimally impact the taxpayer.
Economic Incentive Policy.
Every project is different but has a policy written up to define the potential incentives for Pike County based upon the jobs, etc. that will be brought into the county with businesses. Very general. Discussion about job tax credits, etc. Mayor Walter is on the Three Rivers Commission as a representative. Importance of a plan was stressed for the future. This will be fine-tuned going forward. Motion to send this to the Board of Commissioners for approval. Approved.
MOU for Flat Shoals Energy Center
Request for an amendment to the MOU. Their financials have changed. The footprint, design plan, etc. required from Georgia Power, technology, tariffs, etc. have increased their investment amount for the substation. $170,000 to $220,000 and $130,000 to $180,000. Yearly payouts are looking at possibly bringing in $7,587,000 over 15 years. Bringing in $9,000 in tax revenue now. Motion to approve the amendment to the MOU. Approved. This will now go to the Board of Commissioners for approval.
New Business
Director’s Report
Keeping track of what she is doing so anyone can see what she is doing. Working with local employers for those needing employees from other counties where businesses are closing. April 15 Job Fair with Southern Crescent. Passionate about work force development. Praised Jennifer Shepherd at the High School for working with the community and connecting students with potential jobs after graduation.
Motion to adjourn at 9:18 a.m.
Next Meeting is April 1, 2026.
Past Meetings that Pike County Times has attended
January 14, 2026 Devlopement Authority Meeting
September 3, 2025 Devlopement Authority Meeting
March 13, 2024 and April 3, 2024 IDA Meeting
August 21, 2023 New Development Authority Director Named
July 26, 2023 Special Called IDA Meeting
June 7, 2023 IDA Meeting and History and Background of the IDA
February 20, 2023 Joint Commission and IDA Special Called Meeting