Thompson Hardwood finally getting water

It has been a long time coming but it appears that, before the end of the year, there will be ample water delivery to the Thompson Hardwoods plant on the Baxley Highway.
That’s the news Oakley Perry, Executive Director of the Joint Development Authority of Jeff Davis County, Hazlehurst and Denton (JDA), delivered to the County Commission last Thursday at its December meeting.
The need for adequate water pressure to be delivered to the plant became acutely obvious more than 11 years ago, following the June, 2014, fire that devastated the plant, burning millions of dollars worth of lumber and equipment in the most devastating fire to ever hit Jeff Davis County.
For years since that time, the City of Hazlehurst, the JDA, state officials and Beasley Forest Products which owns the Thompson Hardwoods facility, have worked to install a larger water line connecting the city’s water system to fire hydrants at the plant south of Hazlehurst. At Thursday’s meeting, Perry informed the commissioners that the work was in its final stages.
Perry also updated the commissioners on efforts to construct pickleball courts for the Jeff Davis Recreation Department, to provide facilities at which the public can participate in the sport whose popularity has been rapidly growing over the past decade.
Perry also reported that the Board of Tourism will sponsor the 2026 Peaches to Beaches Yard Sale the second weekend in March and a bass/panfish fishing tournament May 15.
At Perry’s request, the commissioners agree to increase the local hotel/motel tax rate from 5% to 8% with the added income to go toward specific tourism promoting purposes.
In response to questioning from the commission, Perry explained the JDA’s recent purchase of the Pat Chapman house and property adjacent to The Big House and efforts to move forward with plans regarding the property.
In other action at Thursday’s meeting, the commissioners …
… agreed to a request from the county’s insurance committee to remove all spouses from the county insurance policy who are eligible for coverage elsewhere, effective July 1, 2026.
… reappointed Kenneth Spencer and Robert Standard to the Tax Assessors Board and appoint Charles Marchant to fill a vacancy on the board.
… reappointed Doug Swank, Dustin Atkinson and Dr. Kyle Varnadoe to the recreation board.
… approved the proposed 2026 holiday schedule for the county.
… approved 2026 qualifying fees.
… heard an update from County Attorney Nick Kinsley who discussed issues regarding efforts to remove District Attorney Keith Higgins from office. The matter is at a standstill following a mediation effort and work on the matter will continue in January.
… approved a resolution in support of House Bill 85 concerning a change to state judge compensation.
… heard an update from Recreation Director Josh Horton who said 26 travel ball teams were scheduled to play in Hazlehurst and efforts on a basketball program are continuing, with play scheduled at the fairgrounds where a basketball court had been set up in the exhibits building.
… agreed to proceed with closing Melvin Road and to stop the process of closing K McDaniel Road.