MoCo Commission Receives Updates and Concerns from Officials and Citizens
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No official business was on the agenda for the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners meeting on February 10. Both county officials and citizens shared updates and comments on the work within the county.
Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency Director Donnie Daniels announced that he would officially be retired from his position this month, on March 31. Commissioner Amie Vassey asked Daniels what the two best qualities an emergency management director should have, so that the commissioners may work to pick the best possible option. Daniels replied, “A lot of patience and [an ability] to deal with bureaucracy.”
Toombs- Montgomery EMS Director Drew James informed the commissioners that he had recently received the annual Georgia Trauma Commission 2025 Equipment Grant, which helps to contribute to the cost of ambulances and other EMS equipment each year. This funding comes from super speeder traffic ticket fines, which helps to offset cost at the local level.
James shared that the funds will be used to purchase an emergency response UTV, which can respond to off-road emergencies. “We have had downed hunters in the county, and our ambulances can’t fit. This will allow us to respond to these types of emergencies, river emergencies, and even events at the recreation department or school sporting events,” he explained.
Montgomery County Recreation Director Kendall Bennamon updated the commissioners on the department’s operations and his preparation for the upcoming baseball and softball season, as he asked commissioners to authorize the Montfort Group to provide mulching for areas within J.M. Fountain Park, which houses the Department, so that the season could begin. The motion passed on a 4-1 vote, with Commissioner Amie Vassey opposing the action.
Citizen Linda Page spoke to the commissioners about the debris cleanup process in the county, as she asked if there was any potential for an extension on pick-up. County Manager Heather Scott told Page that she did not foresee clean-up to continue, as she said that Montgomery County looked better than most of the surrounding counties and other communities were having to search for millions of dollars to extend their clean-ups.
Page also addressed the current Montgomery County Recreation Department, as she commended Bennamon and encouraged the commissioners to move the Department’s location. “I want to plant this in your mind – it should have already been planted. Matter of fact, it should have been planted before Helene even came through. That recreation department – is it really where we want the future of Montgomery County’s children?” she remarked. “This County’s school system growing and getting better greatly depends on this recreation. It just does. I raised children in Vidalia; that was one thing that drew people there. That’s one thing that is drawing our people out of the County.”
She continued, “[We need a] recreation department that is central – this thing is almost on the dang river, folks. How many more sinkholes do we have to go through? Do we have to get a child hurt? What has to happen before we realize that our County is not this corner – it is a big place. Should we be trying to centralize a recreation department that belongs to all citizens of this county?”
The next work session of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 6, at the Montgomery County Government Annex, located at 251 S. Richardson Street in Mount Vernon. The next official meeting of the commissioners will be held on Monday, March 10, at 5:30 p.m. at the same location.
