Commissioners consider Development Authority request
By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor

Whether or not the county can legally allow the use of its equipment and employees by the Jenkins County Development Authority (JCDA) was a question arising at the Tuesday, July 18, meeting of the Jenkins County Commissioners.

Chairman James Henry told the other commissioners that the JCDA had requested the use of county equipment and county employees on Saturdays to prepare the entrance to the new Industrial Park. The JCDA would provide fuel for the project and would pay employees who performed the work, Henry said.

Commissioners Floyd Chance and Tommy Lane questioned the legality of doing so, and county attorney Troy Gay was instructed to investigate the matter. Gay later advised that he saw no reason why the request could not be honored.

Henry Young spoke to the commissioners concerning vacancies in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department and the need for two computers. The commissioners authorized him to solicit bids for the purchase of computers to be used in the Coroner's office and the EMS office.

In other business, the commissioners approved a motion stating that Eagle Construction must honor a previously submitted bid in connection with a state contract received by the county. The company had changed owners, and the new owner requested the opportunity to adjust the previously accepted bid to reflect increases in fuel. When later contacted with the commissioner's decision, the new owner agreed to honor the original contract.

Other actions taken by the commissioners included the following:

Tabled a request from the Jenkins County Board of Education requesting use of the county's wetland credits for the new auditorium project at Jenkins County High School;

Denied a request from a citizen for reimbursement of a broken windshield which was allegedly damaged by county equipment;

Approved C.S.R.A. Cooperative Agreement contract for nutrition services at the Jenkins County Senior Citizens Center at the present level;

Approved a $10,000 C.S.R.A. Recreation Grant for Jenkins County Senior Citizens Center;

Agreed for the county attorney to handle an open records request; and

Tabled action on van driver position.