The Jeff Davis County Board of Commissioners addressed several matters during its October 13th meeting, including appointments to a data center study committee, plans for a possible new ambulance, transportation concerns for senior citizens and county finances. Commissioners also heard updates on solid waste services and received public comments about recycling, property tax relief for senior citizens and the possibility of combining city and county governments.
Commissioners appointed Chase Ragland, Chase Hall and Casey Williams to serve on the data center study committee. The committee is being formed to review issues surrounding potential data center development and its impact on the community. Jayme Crosby explained that the board had previously planned to appoint two citizens. However, after learning that no applications had been submitted through the City of Denton, the county was asked to appoint a third representative.
Eleven residents had expressed interest in serving. Commissioners reviewed the applications before making the three appointments. The committee’s purpose is to study the issue and help provide information about possible data center development. The appointments do not represent approval of a data center project.
EMS Director Andrew Waldron reported that the department remains fully staffed with 12 employees and continues to provide emergency medical services throughout the county. The department currently operates two advanced life support ambulances daily, with either 12-hour or 24-hour staffing arrangements.
However, Waldron expressed concern about the need for a dependable backup ambulance. An older ambulance that had previously undergone transmission repairs is now experiencing additional mechanical problems and is no longer considered a reliable option for returning to service.
Waldron explained that ordering a new ambulance can involve a lengthy wait, with estimated delivery times ranging from approximately 10 months to two years, depending on the manufacturer. Commissioners approved moving forward with seeking proposals from ambulance manufacturers.
Officials indicated that SPLOST funds could be used for the purchase, with sufficient funds expected to be available by the time a new ambulance would be delivered. No ambulance purchase or final price was approved during the meeting. The action allows officials to begin gathering proposals for consideration.
Waldron also reported that a new sign and department logo have been installed outside the EMS building on Jeff Davis Street, behind the courthouse.
Senior Center Manager Ann Rollins appeared before commissioners to request assistance in obtaining a replacement van for the county’s senior citizens. Rollins explained that the center previously used a bus-style van, but that vehicle became unusable after its transmission failed.
The van currently being used is difficult for some seniors to enter and exit because of its height and lack of appropriate accessibility features. Staff members must use an additional step to help seniors board, creating safety concerns, particularly for those with mobility limitations.
Rollins said the Senior Center typically transports approximately eight to ten seniors at a time. Transportation is used for daily trips to the center, shopping, errands and other activities. She explained that limited transportation has restricted some of the outings seniors would otherwise enjoy.
A new van of the type being considered could cost approximately $64,000 to $65,000, according to pricing she had reviewed. County officials said they are also exploring possible grants and other funding assistance. Commissioners approved allowing Jayme Crosby and Rollins to seek bids for a suitable van and bring the information back for consideration at a future meeting. No purchase was approved.
Jayme Crosby reported that Jeff Davis County is currently operating within its approved budget. At approximately 25% of the way through the fiscal year, the county had spent 23.1% of its approved budget. Officials said expenditures were slightly below the projected spending pace and that department heads continue to review finances monthly.
The county also reported that the property tax digest had been submitted and approved. Officials indicated that property tax bills could begin being mailed by the end of the week, with online payment availability expected to begin sooner.
Representatives involved in the county’s solid waste operations provided an update on the transfer station and convenience centers. Recent heavy rain had caused some delays at the landfill and transfer station, but officials reported that operations were returning to normal.
Plans were also discussed to provide additional waste disposal capacity and operate convenience centers on the Saturdays following Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day to handle increased holiday waste.
Residents were reminded of a benefit available to Jeff Davis County citizens. County residents may bring up to 300 pounds of waste to the transfer station at no charge. People bringing waste from outside the county, as well as commercial waste haulers, must pay applicable fees.
The transfer station is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to the information presented at the meeting. Officials noted that the transfer station provides another disposal option on Mondays, when the county convenience centers are closed.
Commissioners reviewed four bids for the purchase of a mobile home previously used as the county Road Department office. The bids ranged from $15,999 to $27,000. Commissioners accepted the highest bid, $27,000 from Buddy Creech. The mobile home must be moved within two weeks under the terms presented at the meeting.
One of the meeting’s public speakers was Kyrie White, an eighth-grade student at Jeff Davis Middle School, who presented an idea for a community recycling program. White explained that after visiting a county waste disposal site with her mother, she noticed that many discarded items appeared to be recyclable.
She proposed a six-month trial program that would place a recycling container in a central location where residents could easily use it. During the trial period, the county could measure participation, determine whether materials were being properly sorted and decide whether expanding the program would be worthwhile. White acknowledged that funding and preventing improper disposal would need to be addressed. Her proposal was presented during public comments.
During public comments, resident Larry Young urged local officials to consider two significant changes: combining the City of Hazlehurst and Jeff Davis County governments and providing additional property tax relief for senior citizens. Young pointed to the county’s combined fire protection services as an example of cooperation between local governments. He suggested that consolidating city and county government could reduce duplication and improve efficiency.
Young also presented examples of senior citizen school property tax exemptions offered in other Georgia counties. He argued that Jeff Davis County should consider additional relief for older homeowners, particularly those living on limited incomes. These were proposals raised by a citizen, not actions taken by the commissioners.
Young also discussed concerns about the possible impact of data centers on groundwater resources. He encouraged officials to carefully examine water use and long-term effects before supporting such development. His comments reflected concerns and information he said he had gathered; no findings about local groundwater impacts were established during the meeting.
Crosby recognized James Benjamin for completing a specialty certification through the Association County Commissioners of Georgia’s training program.
Officials also briefly discussed ongoing work on a possible ordinance addressing damage to county-maintained roads. The matter remains under review, and no ordinance was adopted during the meeting.
The October 13th meeting included both immediate county business and longer-term issues that may return for further discussion.
While commissioners approved data committee appointments, the sale of surplus property and steps toward obtaining transportation equipment, several other matters — including recycling, government consolidation and additional senior tax relief — remain proposals rather than approved county policies.
