Commission proclaims Crime Victims Week

Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney Keith Higgins attended last Tuesday’s meeting of the Jeff Davis County Commission and requested that the commissioner adopt a proclamation naming April 23-29 as Crime Victims’ Week in Jeff Davis County. The commissioners adopted the proclamation and also gave Higgins’s office the okay to set up a Crime Victims’ display at the courthouse.
Higgins also invited the commissioners to the crime victim’s ceremony, April 25 at 5:30 p.m.
The commissioners looked over two proposals to upgrade the phone system covering all the county offices, one from Alma Telephone Company and the other from Southern Technology Partners, LLC. County Administrator Heather Scott recommended the commissioners approve the proposal from Southern Technology and agreed to buy the system up front instead of renting.
After discussing the fire suppression system to be placed in the new Emergency Medical Services building, the commissioner agreed to have two-hour fire walls in the two vehicles bays and have a fire suppressions system in the living quarters.
The commission approved a request from the Jeff Davis County Library to be allowed to raise the money necessary to erect a new sign at the facility.
The commissioners discussed updating the county’s dangerous dog ordinance. Scott and County Clerk and Jamey Crossby will be working to update the ordinance.
County Attorney Andy Ramay shared an update with the Board regarding the New Opioid Settlement. The commissioners agreed to adopt a resolution and memorandum of understanding as presented to them.
Commissioner Vann Wooten brought up the fact that he and commissioner James Emory Tate are the two commissioners that live farther away from Hazlehurst than any of the other commissioners and he felt that everyone wanted to build everything in Hazlehurst. He added that he wanted to do something in their area of the county such as build a place for an ambulance at a fire stations in their area.
Tate shared an update on his looking for a used bulldozer for the Road Department.
During public comments, Sheryl Disharoon asked to address the board concerning the EMS Department. Commissioner Hank Hobbs stated that Mrs. Disharoon had not filled out a Public Comment form but he would allow her to speak if she would share her name and what she would like to speak about. Mrs. Disharoon shared her thoughts and concerning regarding the shortage of EMS employees.
After a closed session to discuss personnel, the commissioners voted to hire two new road department employees.
The commissioners also passed a motion to deny the renewal of a lease with the Department of Juvenile Justice.