The Long County Commissioners last Tuesday met for the first time in the Long County Courthouse Annex named the Mary Ann Odum Office Complex  in honor of their clerk.

Final completion of the renewal of the former school building is still under way but the meeting room was ready for the commission, meeting at a new time, 9 a.m., on the first Tuesday of each month.

Along with the commission, Long County’s development authority, planning and zoning board and election board will use the new facility at 75 East Academy Street. 

The commission’s agenda was brief and there was little discussion.

The commissioners voted to approve their previously announced plan to increase the pay of commissioners. The new pay will be based on  annual base compensation of the Long County Sheriff: $53,880. The commission chairman will receive 25 percent of that figure and other commissioners will be paid 15 percent.

Pay hikes will not go into effect until after the November general election; officials cannot raise their pay during their term. Whoever is elected or re-elected in November will receive the raise.

In a 3-2 vote the commissioners also gave Chairman Robert Parker authority to approve purchases up to $5,000. Parker, Commissioner Mike Phillips and Commissioner Clifton DeLoach voted for the change. Commissioners David Richardson and Mike Riddle voted no.

The commissioners expressed their appreciation to John Bradley for his work above and beyond the call of duty in supervising and arranging the recent shuffling around of county offices and especially his work on the annex. Other employees were also thanked.

Email Parker at joeparkerjr@hotmail.com.