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New Year off to rough start

The new year for the Jeff Davis County Commission got off to a rough start as the meeting began with election of the chairman and vice-chairman for 2020.
James Benjamin quickly nominated 2019 Chairman Ricky Crosby for another term and Vann Wooten quickly seconded.
But Hank Hobbs had something to say about the matter. He objected to the fact that Brad Crews had never been given the opportunity to serve as chairman in his six years on the Board of Commissioners. He also lamented the fact that the commissioners don’t even discuss who should serve as chairman. He added that he felt Crews should be given a chance.
Crosby responded by saying that Hobbs and Crews don’t come to half the meetings, to which Crews replied that he had missed two meetings in six years.
Wooten pointed out that Crosby had gone to Atlanta every time a trip was made to seek funding but he hadn’t seen Crews or Crosby when he and Crosby were working to get anything good for the county.
Eventually, the Crosby was chosen chairman on a 3-0 vote with Crews and Hobbs not voting.
Benjamin then nominated Wooten for vice-chairman, Crosby seconded and, again, the vote was 3-0.
Late in the meeting, the commissioners discussed the fact that Ryland Environmental, which has a contract with the City of Hazlehurst to collect household garbage, had been placing trash receptacles in front of homes outside the city, especially out the Alma Highway. While residents were putting trash in the receptacles, Ryland didn’t pick them up.
Hobbs said the trash cans were full of trash and dogs were turning them over leaving a mess behind.
Hobbs said he, County Administrator Keith Carter and Mayor Bayne Stone had talked with Ryland officials but the receptacles were still there.
In other action, the commissioners …
… approved refunding taxes paid in error on a mobile home.
… granted an easement on Young Street to the City of Hazlehurst so the city could run a water line through county property. The matter passed 4-1 with Benjamin opposing.
… reappointed Wooten to represent the county on the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission.
… reappointed Tim Cain to the Board of Assessors.
… appointed Jim Moore and Greer Smith to the Joint Development Authority.
… appointed Greg Land to the Board of Health.
… agreed to hire a truck driver.

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