MoCo Commission Appoints Inaugural Board of Elections
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The Montgomery County Commission continued preparations for the installment of the new Board of Elections on January 1, as it appointed members to the Board at the regular monthly meeting on Monday, November 14.
Applications have been accepted for the Board positions in previous months, giving commissioners time to review each application and to appoint individuals they felt would best suit the Board.
Five members were chosen: Bennie Sammons, Seat 1, 4-year term; Nika Brazell, Seat 2, 4-year term; William Morris, Seat 3, 4-year term; Erica Russell, Seat 4, 2-year term; and Barbara Clark, Seat 5, 2-year term. The new Board will receive training on its duties and will officially begin functioning on January 1, 2023. Recreation Department Grant Commissioners also approved a resolution to apply for a grant, which would fund several improvements to the Recreation Department, including new LED lights for three baseball fields, a walking trail, and a new football/soccer field on the property.
According to County Manager Brandon Braddy, additional proceeds will go toward other improvements, such as a new pavilion with restrooms, new fencing around the proposed football/soccer field, and resurfacing the tennis courts. The county may even use additional funding to convert the current tennis courts to allow pickleball, as well as tennis to be played on the same grounds.
This grant opportunity, which could award up to $2 million, comes from the Governor’s Office of Planning & Budget, and is titled the “Improving Neighborhood Outcomes in Disproportionally Impacted Communities” grant. Braddy said there are no guarantees that the County will be awarded the funding, but County officials are enthusiastic about taking advantage of the opportunity to apply. Dispersion of Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) This year, the Board of Commissioners received $378,535.03 of IPT proceeds, on October 14, which they voted to disperse to the Rural Fire Protection and Solid Waste Collection funds at the last meeting. After the vote on November 14, Rural Fire Protection received $131,000 of the funds, while Solid Waste Collections received the remaining $247,535,03. Board of Tax Assessors
Two individuals were named to the vacated Board of Tax Assessors seats. Joyce Allen will take Seat 3 on the Board, serving a five-year term, while Nina Thompson will claim Seat 4 on the Board, serving a six-year term.
New Website
The County will revamp its website to make it more user-friendly, after the Commission’s approval of contracting CivicPlus to redesign the site. The County already has a working relationship with CivicPlus, as this company also owns Municode, the host online database of the county’s code of ordinances.
Tire Amnesty
The County will host the annual Tire Amnesty event at the Montgomery County Solid Waste Center, which is located at 400 Earth Saver Drive in Ailey, on December 12-15 from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m., and December 16 from 7 a.m. until 12 p.m.
This event is only for the public; commercial businesses will not be allowed to participate. Proof of residency, such as a driver’s license or current utility bill, will be required to dispose of tires for free during the event. Car, truck, and all-terrain vehicle (ATV) tires will be accepted. Only 10 commercial truck tires will be allowed per household address.
The County may stop accepting commercial tires at any point during the event. No heavy equipment tires, such as skidder tires will be allowed. All tires must be dismounted from wheels and free of debris. County staff will be available to assist the public at the drop-off site. Contact County Manager Brandon Braddy at (912) 583-2363 with any questions.
Continued Partnership
Commissioners voted to renew the Intergovernmental Agreement with the Oconee Drug Task Force to perform drug enforcement services. This partnership has been established for years and requires annual renewal.
