County Commission Meets

Mental health is a growing concern across the country and Jeff Davis County is no exception.
At the July 10 meeting of the Jeff Davis County Commission, the commissioners heard an explanation about a program that will help law enforcement officers in the county to be better able to recognize mental illness among individuals they come in contact with.
Pat Strode, with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, explained that the organization can provide free training to teach emergency personnel to learn to recognize people having mental problems and what to do when they do recognize it, with the end goal to see that they get proper mental care.
The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities provides treatment and support services to people with behavioral health challenges and addictive diseases. They also assist individuals who live with developmental disabilities. The agency’s mission is to provide high-quality health care opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities or behavioral health challenges close to their homes, so they can live a life of independence and recovery and create a sustainable, self-sufficient, and resilient life in their community.
Strode explained the services available to the members of the community who need mental health care, and added that law enforcement officers and emergency personnel can help this people get the needed care if they can more efficiently recognize mental illness in those people.
In other action, the commissioners ….
…. heard from citizen Joe Toler who shared photos he had taken of a dangerous open well on county property and of scenes left when county mowers ran over trash and discarded tires. Commission Chair Jerry Wooten said the county has been having problems with people throwing tires on the side of the roads and agreed that, with two people on grass cutting duty, one should pick up trash before the mower operator runs over it.
…. approved the closing of Sally McNair Road.
…. reappointed Jesse Hagans, Bo Reese, Cecelia McLoon and Dwayne Creamer to the Joint Development Authority to serve 4-year terms.
…. reappointed Johnny Bohannon to the Recreation Department Board.
…. heard from Recreation Director Bruce Johns who explained the bids received for new lighting at the Baxley Highway recreation site. The commissioners agreed to a lease-purchase agreement.
…. appointed Walt Swain to the Board of Elections.
…. named Jessica Medders Board of Elections Chairman.
…. named Charles Wright Board of Elections Vice-Chairman.
…. agreed by consensus to have a workshop to discuss the 2019 Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant.
…. approved a request by Sheriff Preston Bohannon that his department hire a school resource officer with the salary being paid by the Board of Education and the county paying the benefits.
…. adopted a resolution presented by County Administrator Keith Carter to request the refund of costs for testing at the landfill.
…. heard from Commissioner Ricky Crosby who said the recently purchased Hwy. 341 site for the new detention center needed to be cleaned up. Sheriff Bohannon said his department has already purchased roundup and will use inmate labor to spray grass and weeds on the site.
…. approved a recommendation from County Attorney Carla Powell that the county abandon a portion of West Tennessee Avenue in Denton which has a 100-ft. right-of-way. She said it was in the best interests of the county to approve a request to abandon a 18-ft. x 150-ft. portion of the right-of-way.
…. reappointed members to the Ohoopee Regional Library Board.