By Jamie Gardner
At a meeting held on Tuesday, Jan. 6, the Appling County Commissioners voted against a request from the Appling County Board of Elections and Registrar to consolidate certain voting precincts, specifically in Districts 3, 4 and 5. The board of elections stated that the move would reduce costs associated with ballots and poll workers.
Commission votes no to changes in precincts
County Commissioners Ronnie Rentz, Sarah Boatright and Charlie Leggett all opposed the request citing it would cause voters, especially elderly voters, to have to drive longer distances to vote. Commissioner Chairman Lewis Parker cited that he has watched the vote shrink in the community over the years and anything to discourage voters from voting is something the county did not need to do.
Commissioner Rentz made a motion to not close the precincts and Leggett seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously.
Other business
A public hearing was held to discuss the abandonment of Miliken Church Road. Local citizen Jeffrey Murray stated that he would like to see the road closed due to a lot of unknown traffic on the roadway. He added that his mother and sister live on the road and they are not opposed to the abandonment. A school bus driver, Susie Thornton, disagreed with Murray’s assessment. Thornton stated that if the road is closed it would require her to go back out onto a paved highway to make the block and she cited safety concerns. County Manager Lee Lewis recommended that Murray and Thornton meet with Appling County School System Transportation Director Charles Vann to see if the issue could be resolved. The commissioners did not take any action on the matter.
Manager Lewis told the commissioners that Pineland Mental Health is requesting that the county appoint a member to Pineland’s Mental Health Board. Lewis asked that the commission consider making a recommendation at the next county meeting.
The commissioners voted to set the 2015 Meeting Dates and Times as the first Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m.
Board members approved the 2015 holiday closure schedule for all county offices as presented, which includes a total of 10 holidays.
Bob Highsmith was unanimously reappointed as County Attorney for 2015 by the commission.
The commissioners voted to appoint Commissioner Daryl Edwards to serve as Vice-Chairman for 2015.
Following an executive session for personnel purposes, board members agreed to increase the salary of a county motor grader operator to match other operators in the county’s road department.
County Road Project Coordinator Hayden Rozier gave an update to the commission regarding ongoing road projects. Rozier reported that the first bridge on Zoar Road has been completed by Southern Concrete. The next bridge on Zoar to be redone will be the bridge close to Lake Mayers and Buck Head Roads. The final bridge to be worked on will be the bridge near Prentiss Road on Zoar Road. He stated that all three brides should be completed by the end of February. Rozier noted that a number of road projects are near completion, but wet conditions are causing some minor delays.
Manager Lewis reported that the Pineland Mental Health building, located in the Oak Street Complex, is having trouble with severe leaking from roof issues. He stated that the county needed to look at fixing these issues as soon as possible.
Commissioner Rentz made a motion to not close the precincts and Leggett seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously.
Other business
A public hearing was held to discuss the abandonment of Miliken Church Road. Local citizen Jeffrey Murray stated that he would like to see the road closed due to a lot of unknown traffic on the roadway. He added that his mother and sister live on the road and they are not opposed to the abandonment. A school bus driver, Susie Thornton, disagreed with Murray’s assessment. Thornton stated that if the road is closed it would require her to go back out onto a paved highway to make the block and she cited safety concerns. County Manager Lee Lewis recommended that Murray and Thornton meet with Appling County School System Transportation Director Charles Vann to see if the issue could be resolved. The commissioners did not take any action on the matter.
Manager Lewis told the commissioners that Pineland Mental Health is requesting that the county appoint a member to Pineland’s Mental Health Board. Lewis asked that the commission consider making a recommendation at the next county meeting.
The commissioners voted to set the 2015 Meeting Dates and Times as the first Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m.
Board members approved the 2015 holiday closure schedule for all county offices as presented, which includes a total of 10 holidays.
Bob Highsmith was unanimously reappointed as County Attorney for 2015 by the commission.
The commissioners voted to appoint Commissioner Daryl Edwards to serve as Vice-Chairman for 2015.
Following an executive session for personnel purposes, board members agreed to increase the salary of a county motor grader operator to match other operators in the county’s road department.
County Road Project Coordinator Hayden Rozier gave an update to the commission regarding ongoing road projects. Rozier reported that the first bridge on Zoar Road has been completed by Southern Concrete. The next bridge on Zoar to be redone will be the bridge close to Lake Mayers and Buck Head Roads. The final bridge to be worked on will be the bridge near Prentiss Road on Zoar Road. He stated that all three brides should be completed by the end of February. Rozier noted that a number of road projects are near completion, but wet conditions are causing some minor delays.
Manager Lewis reported that the Pineland Mental Health building, located in the Oak Street Complex, is having trouble with severe leaking from roof issues. He stated that the county needed to look at fixing these issues as soon as possible.
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