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ZEBULON - The Development Authority had a round table meeting at the Lakehouse on August 5, 2026 beginning at 8 a.m. Present were: Shane Williamson School Superintendent, Dee McLeRoy, Jason Leatherman, Bryan Oglesby - Chairman, Kyle Fletcher - Development Authority Director, Briar Johnson -Commission Chairman, Stewart Esary - Treasurer, Sonny Gwyn, and Joe Walter - Mayor of Zebulon.
Call to Order
Approval of the Agenda
Motion to approve. Approved.
Approval of the Minutes.
No meeting in July. Approving the June minutes. Approved.
Financials for June
Stewart Esary walked through the financials. $1.3 million in the account. Almost $2.2 million owed on the land. Still have 2 small lots left in the business park. Motion to approve. Approved.
Have to approve the conceptual plan and then it will go into Comprehensive Plans for county and city of Zebulon. Will start with environmental reports and getting grants, etc.
Going to deed 34 acres back to the county. No cost to the county because the county has already put money in this. Discussion about Sheriff's Office and Fire Department acreage. There is some land there that is not usuable. Trying to plan for the future many years from now. Need to approve the Master Plan for this property today. There are a lot of moving parts to this that will addressed at a later point. That includes possibly deeding up to 50 acres back to the county. Motion to approve this Master Plan as a conceptual plan. Approved.
Budget Amendment to approve additional work for Thomas & Hutton. Discussion.
Phase 1 of the contract needs to be done. Working toward grants, etc. Has to be in both the City and County's Comprehensive Plan. Rezoning will required in the future as well. Wetlands, topographical, etc. will be a part of getting this prepared for future business owners. There is a $250,000 grant to help with the environmental with the opportunity to access other funding in the future as well. 10% grant so $25,000 will be required as a match if the Development Authority receives the grant. There will be multiple grants that could be applied for in the future. But these studies are required to start so it shows that the planning has been done to make the project become a reality. Motion to approve the agreement with Thomas & Hutton for engineering, etc. on Phase 1 only. Approved.
Discussion. City is working on zoning ordinances. Rezoning will be done in the future based on the ordinances that they are working on.
Motion to adjourn. Approved.
8:58 a.m.
Adam Smith from Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT)
Active Pike County projects include:
Purchasing the ROW on the bridge at Flat Shoals. Working on how to get the bridge back open. 2 to 3 years before the bridge will be rebuilt. Will be discussing this on Friday. Click here to read: "BREAKING NEWS: Bridge at Flat Shoals Closed for Repairs.".
Elkins Creek and Hwy 74 Bridge. Hoping to award this in 2028 and have a work around rather than closing the road.
Williams Road / Potato Creek. County program. Local government will pay for this. $75,000 right of way (ROW) acquisition from the county and the state will do the rest including utilities and ROW.
Line Road (Glover) and Turn Pike Creek. 100% state funded. 2027 ROW authorization.
362 at Williamson-Zebulon Road Round about. City of Williamson applied for this.
Funding Discussion
Funding is available through the quick response program. This goes up to $500,000. Has to be a part of a state road. Turn lanes, etc. Not sidewalks. Simple design things that can be done. Try not to involve utilities because that's expensive. Safety issues especially.
About $2 million a year for quick response from the State. Trying to spread that money around.
Brought up the turn at Mr. B's.
LMIG Discussion
30% match here. Based on population and lane miles. $617,000 this year. Next year is $652,000. Local Road Assistance (LRA)
$666,000 this year. No match is required.
Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP)
There will be another call for projects in the next 6 months for safety, accessibility, sidewalks, trails, bike paths, roundabouts, etc.
Georgia Transportation Infrastruture Bank (GTIB)
Grant or loan program to make improvements for connections to roads. $2 to $6 million max usually on the high end. Low interest. Can use LMIG for match on this. Call for projects is going on right now. Ends on the 27th of this month. Maybe start for the next round of projects.
Approval usually comes within 2 to 3 months after the deadline. Funding things to be constructed. A connection to an existing project is feasible.
Question on whether the Development Authority could apply for Quick Response money for the new Business Park. Only at the state highways.
[Note from the Editor: Discussion went into the afternoon. Pike County Times stayed for a couple of hours and then headed out. It was some pretty good discussion!]
Past Meetings that Pike County Times has attended
March 26, 2026 Devlopement Authority Meeting
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