County commission meets

At the October meeting of the Jeff Davis County Commission, Senior Center manager Ann Rollins told the commissioners the seniors need a new van. The van they are using is hard for the seniors to get on and off, and does not have needed safety features.
The commissioners approved a motion to start receiving bids for a senior citizen van.
John Nail with Ryland Environmental updated the board and answered questions. He said that during the holidays the company would put an extra roll-off at every dumpsite center, and will run the dump trucks the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. He said any Jeff Davis County citizen can dump up to 300 lbs. for free at the transfer station.
The commissioners voted to accept Buddy Creech’s low bid for the road department mobile home.
During the county attorney’s update portion of the meeting, Commissioner James Emory Tate asked county attorney Crystal Vickers for an update on a truck ordinance to keep large trucks off county roads.
County Administrator Jayme Crosby recognized Hazlehurst District Commissioner James Benjamin for receiving an award from the University of Georgia for completing a specialty track in the Lifelong Learning Academy.
She said in FY2027 the county is at 25 percent.
She said the FY2027 property digest had been approved by the state and bills should be mailed out in October.
Crosby also said the board would need to appoint three county citizens to serve on the data center committee. She said last month the county needed to choose only two but Joint Development Authority Director Oakley Perry said he received no appointments from the City of Denton, and suggested the board appoint three citizens.
The commissioners appointed Chase Hall, Chase Ragland and Casey Williams to serve on the committee.
EMS Director Andrew Waldron updated the board that the department is fully staffed. He said the EMS building has a logo on the outside of the building. Waldron said all four trucks are operating well except they are slowly having air conditioner problems. He suggested purchasing another truck for back up. The old M5 is completely down the mechanics cannot figure out what is wrong with it.
During public comments, Kairi White presented her 8th grade recycling project. She addressed her concerns about placing recycling bins at the county dumpsites.
Larry Yarbrough voiced his concerns about seniors paying school taxes and data centers affecting water systems.