Long County Pre-Release Center Unit Manager Bobby Rowland recently shared a possible plan for saving taxpayers money — inmate labor.
Rowland told Long County commissioners during their Feb. 6 meeting the county could set up the use of a 12-man detail for various labor jobs.
The cost for the program would be $37,300 per year, and the county would be able to use the labor throughout its departments.
“One area I would like to use this labor in, should this work out, would be in cleaning up the county and the roads,” Commissioner Mike McGowan said.
Rowland also noted the center is also furnishing two trustee laborers to work at the sheriff's department and at the courthouse — separate from the detail, and at no cost to the county.
Commissioners requested Rowland provide them with paperwork to review at the March meeting.
Road debate
Several residents in the community addressed commissioners about the continuing debate over a road off Elim Church Road known as both Dorsey Road and Lee Place Road.
During the past few months the issue has come before the commissioners more than once. In an effort to solve the debate, Commissioner Tony Fowler had proposed naming it Dofe Smith Road as a compromise to please everyone.
Janie Lee spoke first to commissioners, saying it was her understanding the road had been named Lee Place Road in 1999, and she wanted it to retain the name. Toni French also addressed the forum. She reported having contacted the sheriff's department about a problem, identified the road as Lee Place Road and was told responders were unsure of her location.
Annette Abbey, whose grandfather was Lee Place, and who addressed commissioners before about the road being named Lee Place Road, spoke tearfully to the group. “I’m not healthy enough to fight to change the name back, so I’m kind of throwing it on the mercy of the court, asking you to change it back to what it was,” Abbey said.
Fowler said, “I'm hearing folks on both sides of this, and I’m just trying to make everyone happy. I will ask the entire board to vote on this, and I promise you I will get back to you.”
Recreation
Anna Scott also appeared before the commissioners with two items to present. She first asked them to consider having a recreation/playground known as Curvin’ Young People Club maintained and the grass cut in the area.
According to Scott, the community has been cutting the grass and maintaining it.
She also informed commissioners she had 15-20 acres of land on Frazier Harris Road and would consider donating it to the county with the hope a portion of it would be used for a playground.
All commissioners praised Scott for the offer, and said Commissioner Charles Reddish, who represents the district where the land is located, and McGowan would confer with the county attorney and get back with her.
Also, Kerrie Hunt, the county recreation department head, noted how children in recreation sports are to be selected when they play a team sport.
On behalf of the Long County Board of Recreation, he said, the board had passed a Player Draft Provision. The provision limits individuals to be drafted together to be immediate family members living in the same household.
According to Hunt, this was necessary because of past individuals’ efforts to build or “stack” a team, and to maintain integrity and a quality program.
Players outside of the immediate family living in the same household would be drafted separately.
Election
Long County Elections Superintendent Marie Middletown also went before the commissioners in regards to the upcoming election in March.
The county had relocated its voting booth on Tibet Road, moving it to the fire station further down the road. She said the remodeling of the building and the addition was partially complete, but there still was no electricity, plumbing, or heat in the building.
She noted with the upcoming election it needed to at least have a bathroom and electricity to be functional. All agreed, and Commissioner Tony Fowler said he would address the issue.
Appointment
Commissioners appointed John Bradley to the RC&D Council, and approved publishing an ad to accept bids for the hiring of a new county surveyor.
Rowland told Long County commissioners during their Feb. 6 meeting the county could set up the use of a 12-man detail for various labor jobs.
The cost for the program would be $37,300 per year, and the county would be able to use the labor throughout its departments.
“One area I would like to use this labor in, should this work out, would be in cleaning up the county and the roads,” Commissioner Mike McGowan said.
Rowland also noted the center is also furnishing two trustee laborers to work at the sheriff's department and at the courthouse — separate from the detail, and at no cost to the county.
Commissioners requested Rowland provide them with paperwork to review at the March meeting.
Road debate
Several residents in the community addressed commissioners about the continuing debate over a road off Elim Church Road known as both Dorsey Road and Lee Place Road.
During the past few months the issue has come before the commissioners more than once. In an effort to solve the debate, Commissioner Tony Fowler had proposed naming it Dofe Smith Road as a compromise to please everyone.
Janie Lee spoke first to commissioners, saying it was her understanding the road had been named Lee Place Road in 1999, and she wanted it to retain the name. Toni French also addressed the forum. She reported having contacted the sheriff's department about a problem, identified the road as Lee Place Road and was told responders were unsure of her location.
Annette Abbey, whose grandfather was Lee Place, and who addressed commissioners before about the road being named Lee Place Road, spoke tearfully to the group. “I’m not healthy enough to fight to change the name back, so I’m kind of throwing it on the mercy of the court, asking you to change it back to what it was,” Abbey said.
Fowler said, “I'm hearing folks on both sides of this, and I’m just trying to make everyone happy. I will ask the entire board to vote on this, and I promise you I will get back to you.”
Recreation
Anna Scott also appeared before the commissioners with two items to present. She first asked them to consider having a recreation/playground known as Curvin’ Young People Club maintained and the grass cut in the area.
According to Scott, the community has been cutting the grass and maintaining it.
She also informed commissioners she had 15-20 acres of land on Frazier Harris Road and would consider donating it to the county with the hope a portion of it would be used for a playground.
All commissioners praised Scott for the offer, and said Commissioner Charles Reddish, who represents the district where the land is located, and McGowan would confer with the county attorney and get back with her.
Also, Kerrie Hunt, the county recreation department head, noted how children in recreation sports are to be selected when they play a team sport.
On behalf of the Long County Board of Recreation, he said, the board had passed a Player Draft Provision. The provision limits individuals to be drafted together to be immediate family members living in the same household.
According to Hunt, this was necessary because of past individuals’ efforts to build or “stack” a team, and to maintain integrity and a quality program.
Players outside of the immediate family living in the same household would be drafted separately.
Election
Long County Elections Superintendent Marie Middletown also went before the commissioners in regards to the upcoming election in March.
The county had relocated its voting booth on Tibet Road, moving it to the fire station further down the road. She said the remodeling of the building and the addition was partially complete, but there still was no electricity, plumbing, or heat in the building.
She noted with the upcoming election it needed to at least have a bathroom and electricity to be functional. All agreed, and Commissioner Tony Fowler said he would address the issue.
Appointment
Commissioners appointed John Bradley to the RC&D Council, and approved publishing an ad to accept bids for the hiring of a new county surveyor.