Lucas Allison

Cordele Dispatch Contributor

ABBEVILLE – The regular monthly meeting of the Wilcox County Commission was held Tuesday July 3, 2018 at the Abbeville Courthouse.  Mrs. Ruby Naylor spoke to commissioners giving an update on littering in Wilcox county.  She presented Commission Chairman Lanier Keene with information on the county becoming a part of Keep America Beautiful and Keep Georgia Clean organizations and campaigns.  She gave a report on the recent Keep Georgia Clean Conference.  Commissioners thanked Mrs. Naylor for her input and hard work in gathering the information and will schedule a workshop meeting to discuss the matter further.

Adam Dowdy, Wilcox Road Superintendent presented the commissioners with details for the purchase of a tractor and mower based on a 60-month lease with the total for mower and tractor being $948-month payments with a $1 buyout at the end of the lease.  The proposal was prepared by Lasseter Equipment Company from Albany, GA.

Charles Futch, EMS Director, reported 750 calls were answered last month, noting recently they had five calls for service at once, some did not require transport, if they had we have mutual aide agreements with other departments for assistance.  He also reported that the Tift Regional Foundation had donated a Life Pack 15 Cardiac monitor/defibrillator which was valued at $30,000 to Wilcox EMS, he stated that Rochelle Woodmen of the World had given a $600 donation for the purchase of CPR mannequins, which he received on Monday.  He stated he would like to thank both these fine organizations for the donations.

Toni Sawyer, Wilcox County Attorney was in attendance and spoke to commissioners on the new Hands-Free Cell Phone Use law HB673 which took effect July 1., she recommended that the county adopt a cell phone use policy for all county employees while on duty performing county business and while operating county owned vehicles.  She stated the policy should be that cell phone use should not be allowed noting that law enforcement and public safety departments would be exempt.  It was also recommended this become a part of the employee handbook.  Commissioner asked Mrs. Sawyer to draft the policy and they would adopt it.  Under new business commissioners approved the Lease/

Purchase contract with Lasseter Equipment for a John Deere 5100E tractor and a Hardee Ditch Bank Mower for the Road Department.  The commission approved the following purchases using SPLOST funds, Zero turn mower for Recreation Department for $8500, Life Pack 15 Cardiac Monitor for EMS for $19, 995.

The commission also approved resolution authorizing county manager Paula Jones Ball to execute documents and transferring funds into the GA Fund I Investment Pool.

Approved requested budget for Public Defender’s Office for $11,204 which covers period July 31, 2018 to June 30, 2019, this was the same amount of last year’s budget.

Commissioners appointed Tarra Conner to the Wilcox DFAC’s Board to replace Gayle Goodman who no longer wishes to serve.

Approved the following 2019 LMIG projects resurfacing Hatley Road from Hwy 159 to Crisp County line 3.6 miles estimated costs of $334,800, resurfacing American Legion Road Hwy 129 to Sibbie Road 2.0 miles estimated costs of $186,000, and repairing and patching approximately ¼ mile on McBryant road to the hill estimated costs of $80,000.

The Wilcox Board of Commissioners meet the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30pm in the Commissioners office, the next meeting is August 07, 2018.