Court System May Move To Virtual Hearings

The Jeff Davis County Court System may be moving toward virtual hearings as all the counties in the Brunswick Judicial Circuit are discussing the possibility of modernizing courtroom proceedings.
County Attorney Andy Ramay explained to the County Commissioners at their August meeting an agreement has been proposed between all the counties in the circuit to make all courtrooms in the counties to be modernized to enable virtual hearings. The plan is for all judges, lawyers, juries, defendants, etc., to have monitors through which hearings can be held without all parties gathering in one location. Documents pertaining to those hearings can be scanned and shared with all parties.
“It’s really a modern way to conduct hearings,” Ramay told the commissioners, adding that the expenses are proposed to be paid for through funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The cost for setting up the system in Jeff Davis County would be an estimated $264,000 plus maintenance, Ramay said. He said the Brunswick District would front the money and the circuit is to be reimbursed by ARPA. “But if they don’t get reimbursed, we are responsible for the reimbursement,” Ramay said.
Ramay said he had some concerns about the proposal and planned to negotiate with Glynn County officials and report back to the Commission. He suggested the Commission table the matter until the September meeting.
The commissioners agreed to his suggestion.
The commissioners had their first opportunity to meet as a group with new Road Department Superintendent Dewayne Stone who told the group he was proud to serve the Commission and if anyone needed anything they could just let him know.
Stone said he is coming up with a plan for the department and would do diagnostics on all the equipment and report back to the commission at their next meeting.
In other action at the meeting, the commissioners ….
…. heard from Joint Development Authority (JDA) Executive Director Laura Bloom who said the JDA Board had recommended Johnny Watkins to be appointed to the Board. Also, Bo Reese stated that the JDA Board had received another application from Andrew Marsh but that due to their board not meeting until next week they have not made a second recommendation at this time. The commissioners approved the appointment of Watkins to the board and tabled action on Marsh.
…. heard from Commissioner Vann Wooten who said he wanted to move the 4-H office to the fairgrounds and then move the elections office to the current 4-H building.
…. listened as Recreation Department Director Josh Horton shared an update on activities at the Recreation Department. Horton also asked the Commissioners to consider allowing the department to purchase a Turf Tank Robot. The commissioners approved a quote for the Turf Tank Robot, which will be purchased through Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax funds designated for the recreation department.
…. heard an update from County Administrator Heather Scott who said the current employee handbook has not been revised since 1998. She said Grievance and ADA policies have been added and a PTO policy had been amended. She also said the Youth Center needed improved insulation. The commissioners voted to advertise for a Request for Proposal for the Youth Center insulation.
…. met in closed session to discuss real estate.