Editor's note: This article has been revised to remove a section that mischaracterized a discussion during the April 19 Long County Board of Commissioners' meeting. The following correction will appear in the May 1 print edition. Mike Allen’s property was not involved in a discussion during the Long County Board of Commissioners’ April 19 meeting. The discussion involved a property in the city of Ludowici he does not own. An article in the April 24 edition mischaracterized the parcel about which the commissioners were expressing concern. The Coastal Courier regrets the error.

Free-roaming dogs and horses and 911 were topics discussed by Long County Board of Commissioners at a Tuesday morning work session.

Chief Code Enforcement Officer John Bradley outlined problems with weekend manpower at the county animal control office, along with the problem of rounding up vicious stray dogs.

He also cited increasing numbers of loose horses that the department is having to be round up.

Noting that weekend manpower at animal control is handled with the help of prisoners, who feed and care for dogs, he said this situation requires standby oversight of animal control officers, stressing that these officials need to be paid.

The commissioners agreed, and the matter is expected come up later at a regular commission meeting.

Bradley also reported that increased numbers of loose horses, "19 already this year," are reported, informing commissioners that a "lady with a state-approved equine rescue operation, and a trailer and a truck," is helping this situation. Roberts said the horses were being rounded up and taken to Second Chance Equine Rescue Inc. in Gum Branch by Andrea Doolittle.

There is also another horse rescue operation in Long County, Bradley said, and this rescue might also be helping.

911 discussion

The commissioners also discussed the county 911 system, currently handled by a McIntosh County office.

Gordon recommended meeting with those 911 officials to discuss Long County establishing its own 911 facility. This would cost, he estimated, about $350,000, an amount about equal to what the county receives through phone fees.

The commissioners also expressed concern that many 911 fees are lost to Long County because of the mailing addresses of phone users.

Commissioner Robert Long said many Long County residents use mailing addresses elsewhere, adding, "This is especially true of the military."