[{"_1":2,"_121":-5,"_122":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,73,85,97,109],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":55,"_72":55},"mediaId",6174235,"mediaKeyId","5371126-7aeac40d5083527b4dba0be857c4a09a","parentId",5371126,"title","Resident urges county action on dog overpopulation and animal-control enforcement","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",2045000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5371126-7aeac40d5083527b4dba0be857c4a09a&start=2045&end=2045","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5371126-7aeac40d5083527b4dba0be857c4a09a/thumbnail_2045000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6174235/Appling-County/Georgia/Resident-urges-county-action-on-dog-overpopulation-and-animal-control-enforcement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6174235-811443bdab009df79c78d53c597fa059/orig.mp4?Expires=1770422543&Signature=F7zK754m0c0INvx2-uAfHB0h0C7NFbYGUMsufTCyfU9L-izcyuXTxY9yxEX-2kcg2JcorLFSgapFHxWNxeYujnZN1uBOfmt7z2cat-TxqJfd-D9OMwzh93qyCWHPaBHD3GteASghq2NZrSUymQ7yiTxzRo6c~hXGR7Cm55VYnzbYD1V5SbeSLS~TT5b3ZH2oo6fd1RTpaI1f9AQOyr4ogidkxHBW2w88QqRpCPYUcw7d6mnWcgoEKs95OH8pSIYpmyje1Xx3TbjJLS~VdbwFU~pdjGnU-n8DdOn~D5HG14UhRpzQz3XSgan6m1Vs9Yynz1NYfSJjLRkf9AVkqIki6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-07-12T04:13:55.347Z","article","During the public comment period a resident described a growing dog-overpopulation problem in parts of the county and urged commissioners to take action on animal control.

The commenter said there are \"plenty of dogs\" and described ongoing breeding and uncontrolled animals that have constrained children from playing outdoors. \"Dogs breed twice a year. And they're going unchecked,\" the resident said, adding that people sometimes cannot afford veterinary care. The speaker urged the county to consider mandates, a shared funding arrangement with municipal governments or a joint animal control facility.

The resident said they would continue to raise the issue at board meetings until the county produced results and suggested the county partner with cities for shared funding of animal-control services. \"Why can't we get with the city and split funding for an animal store? Put in leash mandates,\" the speaker said.

Commissioners acknowledged the comment and invited follow-up; the comment was presented during the public-comment portion of the meeting and did not result in any formal action recorded in the transcript excerpt.

Why this matters: Calls for improved animal-control services touch on public safety, animal welfare and potential budget or intergovernmental arrangements to provide enforcement and sheltering.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025 0708","oneSentenceSummary","A resident told commissioners that many unowned or unrestrained dogs in the county create safety and quality-of-life concerns, urged a mandate or funding to address animal control, and asked the board to coordinate with cities to fund services.","taxTitle","Appling County, Georgia","taxId",28219,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":74,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":75,"_41":76,"_43":77,"_45":78,"_46":79,"_48":80,"_50":81,"_52":82,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":55,"_72":55},6174240,"After executive session, commissioners approve a hire and authorize legal steps on multiple matters",442,1857000,2299000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5371126-7aeac40d5083527b4dba0be857c4a09a&start=1857&end=2299","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5371126-7aeac40d5083527b4dba0be857c4a09a/thumbnail_1857000.jpg","/articles/6174240/Appling-County/Georgia/After-executive-session-commissioners-approve-a-hire-and-authorize-legal-steps-on-multiple-matters","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6174240-25d60e4b534dbe4f1ba81fedeaf3cc21/orig.mp4?Expires=1770422543&Signature=jrdpm3Wkcr~4fTxTZKwynV4wTEXdRqO4-u0XRYT5XeZIoPs59wvDhpMAqhhotKZGx2k3SjrNYrgYpTr3Eqil5mHJNuHeqifash914iY-Ok0019rmKE1ZL61yt~qE2gOUQ5ilyqkzTX2ICZs6J0ICBRD8HSDhpKv2EBzIbf8-NuzbHMj9S~iEZoSDLW1WYG3ahYJLxV-AFk5C1YtuLl8FPoreX8Vam3Fe6PlZTBa9gRbpNdJQ6xCU1ERPpIFcqqcoi6I4KxUN1bmAzQbwKBE1AD78Xucyi3fZDpjSwT4d43Ki-3lNZbL2Z-MsbuvCR0CoTtKE~qyConjRcGG5PL-sEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","After an executive session covering personnel, litigation and real estate, the board considered and approved several administrative actions.

County manager Kenny recommended hiring Billy Davis for a fleet maintenance department-head position at an O-11 pay step with an annual rate of $46,645.69. A commissioner moved to approve the hire and a second was recorded; the board approved the personnel hire in open session.

County attorney reported on an election-related lawsuit originally filed by Ryan Taylor. The case has been appealed; the attorney recommended continued payment of co-counsel fees on the appeal because the appeal raised new filings on attorney fees. Commissioner Taylor moved to continue attorney fees for co-counsel; the motion was seconded and approved.

On a separate item the county attorney recommended beginning the legal process to abandon a public easement known as the Ford Street easement, citing that the street has not been maintained. The board moved, seconded and approved allowing the county attorney to begin the abandonment process.

Why this matters: These post-executive-session actions address staffing for county operations, the county's legal posture in pending litigation and the start of a formal process to relinquish an unused public easement. Each action has operational, fiscal or legal implications for county administration.

Details: The hire was presented as a personnel appointment with pay step and was approved in open session. The attorney noted the appealed matter centers on attorney-fee award amounts and that co-counsel representation continues through the appeal. The Ford Street item authorizes the county attorney to begin the abandonment process; no timetable or public-notice schedule was recorded in the transcript excerpt.","Following an executive session on personnel and other matters, county leaders recommended hiring a fleet maintenance department head, approved continuing co-counsel fees in an appealed election lawsuit, and authorized the county attorney to begin abandonment proceedings for a Ford Street easement.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_46":91,"_48":92,"_50":93,"_52":94,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":95,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":96,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":55,"_72":55},6174245,"Landfill reopened temporarily while county seeks state certification for new disposal cell",366,1612000,1978000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5371126-7aeac40d5083527b4dba0be857c4a09a&start=1612&end=1978","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5371126-7aeac40d5083527b4dba0be857c4a09a/thumbnail_1612000.jpg","/articles/6174245/Appling-County/Georgia/Landfill-reopened-temporarily-while-county-seeks-state-certification-for-new-disposal-cell","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6174245-1cf4e72f629e558121b00189e652c33e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770422543&Signature=NyiSNVkvDh2ylcvvgg372OnUGu29kDp2PyyEPRH-zLNBkjkHTNZCrHwu6glBmwPuUMppmuY9zwhEGUDx7Wh5tJQZy~YVFarIL7tYbORiRKj0jg-yPQlcuIpL5OsfsY9bDlOsPKX1QKDdUNr-w0JsxuA62zWkENb-jgcs7rgpO8040FEW1z-NQasWwZG-brQbRBLBgZ2R4JL~r~tth-z8QOLLfFkB8Y6OdyRzb32K2u7aWW2x4pWWEIhGRR1~snLbcvbl85H~0J~Ahh4SEp7w9ld6lEeQGeVh-t1gxQfMrdY3bHUSEQ9hKtXTzGd5W0lQ0UMn2Amm8GECriAG2Vgyug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public Works staff updated the board that the county landfill reopened after recent work to construct a new disposal cell, but the county is still working to obtain final certification from the Environmental Protection Division (EPD).

A staff member identified in the meeting as Kenny said surveyors inspected the site and returned with corrective items; he said the contractor had brought in roughly 12 to 15 feet of fill in places before the site could be permitted and receive trash. \"Surveyors came twice already. Once to give us what we needed to correct. And then 2, they checked it today,\" the staff member said. He said slopes on part of the pad still needed to be corrected and that EPD would issue certification after review; the county expected EPD to visit in some cases.

Kenny said the county reopened the landfill while finishing certification work and that the county will need to design and permit two additional cells ahead of capacity shortfalls. \"We're on the short end of the cell,\" he said, noting smaller numbered cells (8 West/8 East) were smaller and that the county plans to build additional cells sequentially to avoid another shutdown.

Officials said the landfill closed earlier because it was near capacity and due to wet weather that made access unsafe; reopening followed grading, vegetation/tree clearing and bringing in enough fill to create the liner subgrade. Kenny said the county had hauled significant fill and adjusted grading to meet targets for certification.

Why this matters: The landfill's certification status affects where residents and contractors may legally bring trash and how quickly the county must construct additional permitted cells to avoid repeat disruptions.

The transcript records this as an informational report; there was no formal board action recorded in the provided excerpt specifically tied to the landfill report.","Public Works reported the county landfill reopened after work on a new disposal cell, but the county is awaiting final certification from the state environmental regulator (EPD) and plans to build additional cells as capacity fills.",{"_33":98,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":99,"_41":100,"_43":101,"_45":102,"_46":103,"_48":104,"_50":105,"_52":106,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":107,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":108,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":55,"_72":55},6174249,"Commissioners discuss local resolution to implement state timber-tax reimbursement for hurricane damage",148,344000,492000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5371126-7aeac40d5083527b4dba0be857c4a09a&start=344&end=492","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5371126-7aeac40d5083527b4dba0be857c4a09a/thumbnail_344000.jpg","/articles/6174249/Appling-County/Georgia/Commissioners-discuss-local-resolution-to-implement-state-timber-tax-reimbursement-for-hurricane-damage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6174249-ca8f853d8c3d3574cda4889a1eaa3a65/orig.mp4?Expires=1770422543&Signature=GJSMYsUnNLVv5MhrcHZrJx8qB60uZjJ36UJeMgVgwDFBV4K-BSo-sTyLwCrzK61YXZdAoNZm-vlImNjTvf9~LH9JheX4T-YmAYwK4rSV2JjOb1U9Uk70xtBVLrAvGDRlzpBaUr1m629LlYUAHVPrD0bEvK5YQpFIixUTEFbztwAHP6Vjc7UdrHnw5Mnq2DJkDfRM2Ny~EvoEgE8-Cx7J1sQ6RBAR8IpMgDOhmuvSAzHHu2FlaoMxkaBfwVuo9bRvMz24FC5G3IurGaflxbe~orbjqdnqFg6~B-UIbmwGF4b7iaCRgzAt3yppjybQx~5GSXOTQr~aoOtox3UB0sq7XQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The board reviewed a proposed local resolution to implement a recently passed state house bill designed to ease the timber-tax burden for owners of timber damaged in the hurricane.

Commissioner Sellers explained that the state passed a house bill allowing local governments to exempt or relieve timber owners from taxes on trees damaged by the storm if the owners apply for certification. \"This resolution is given basically the timber tax giving releasing the burden of the tax for the ones damaged in hurricane Helena,\" Sellers said. He said the county tax commissioner would keep track of certifications and submit the county's claim to the state to be reimbursed for the tax amount the county would otherwise have collected.

Sellers told the board the local resolution is required to put the state's program into effect locally: \"We still collect the tax, but through the grant, rather than the person, we get reworked,\" he said.

A motion to approve the resolution was made and seconded during the meeting; the public transcript available here does not include a roll-call vote in the excerpt, but the motion was moved by Commissioner Sellers and seconded by another commissioner in open session.

Why this matters: If adopted, the local resolution would enable the county to administer the state's reimbursement process for timber owners who lost timber in the storm. That shifts the tax reimbursement mechanism from individual taxpayers to a state grant process routed through the county tax commissioner's office.","The board reviewed a resolution intended to implement a recently passed state house bill that would allow the county to process timber-tax certifications for property owners affected by hurricane damage and seek reimbursement from the state for refunded taxes.",{"_33":110,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":111,"_41":112,"_43":113,"_45":114,"_46":115,"_48":116,"_50":117,"_52":118,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":119,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":120,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":55,"_72":55},6174254,"County considers buying unified emergency notification app for residents",995,429000,1424000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5371126-7aeac40d5083527b4dba0be857c4a09a&start=429&end=1424","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5371126-7aeac40d5083527b4dba0be857c4a09a/thumbnail_429000.jpg","/articles/6174254/Appling-County/Georgia/County-considers-buying-unified-emergency-notification-app-for-residents","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6174254-fa9dea1296f9723af644e27671f80ddc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770422543&Signature=Y-~0fY0JvMdKKqZGRVLCiKArF4Ps1mK8a2OK7HKDgKulu-KiNlNZsPvUJ-q6slgLqqEY2LZQpYqRjaif-jUTVroVEZ1tc1n3NrisksFcs4~Faczu7HpyqwGcRNu1AMpRi0JH4De5qEP329yFYq40WLLW-BEKB97246XDBW~398NEYGWmYYxWu0EKlgzetsiy~RiBbd4JIjTgTY6voxK7yPr3CZeEk1Hbb4ZVHs1Crm1ZFHlXUtpVd57IIrQkQ4WVUKD1mYdHB1nqPUWn42PiTHgtRs7pV79q-P76JCSLKGb4ji8Iwu7JIaRro4jfanpdgqoS5RDaBCXwwU0g4gQ~eg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Apple County commissioners discussed whether to contract for a county-owned emergency notification mobile app that would centralize weather alerts, damage reporting, road-closure notices and departmental information for residents.

Commissioner Sellers, who presented the proposal, said the app would be free to download and would let users toggle notifications by city or topic. \"It's basically like a notification system on your phone,\" Sellers said, adding that the county would own the app and control the content. He told the board the first-year cost, including city participation, would be $16,609 with an annual subscription of $7,608.35 and that the initial contract would run three years.

The app, Sellers said, can rebroadcast National Weather Service messages; that capability is included in the vendor's fee and accounts for roughly $900 of the annual cost. He said the county and participating cities (Baxley, Searcy and Graham) could each have submenu views so users can receive only the notifications they want. \"We'll have a tab on there where they click City of Baxley and it pulls up basically the same sub menus,\" Sellers said.

Sellers described other features under consideration: push weather alerts, school-closing links that point to school websites, maps of power outages provided by utility outage feeds, damage-reporting forms that could be used to document storm impacts for FEMA or state reimbursement, shelter-location listings and event/tourism information in partnership with the chamber of commerce. He said the county would establish internal processes for who publishes which notifications.

Board members asked about reliability and technical support. A commissioner asked whether the vendor provides 24-hour IT service in the event of outages; Sellers replied that physical and financial services are part of the annual fee and that the vendor would monitor the system. A commissioner asked whether the app requires personal information; Sellers said it does not link to personal phone numbers or require personal data.

Sellers said the county hopes, if the board chooses to proceed, to have an app in place by Sept. 1 and that the county would attempt to seek reimbursement from the nearby nuclear plant or other sources. He emphasized the objective of having a single place for residents to receive timely, push-based notices instead of searching multiple websites and social feeds.

The transcript records a motion to approve the contract; the recorded transcript does not include the outcome of a recorded vote on the app contract in the public portion made available here.

Why this matters: Commissioners framed the app as a tool to get timely storm and infrastructure information to residents during weather events and other county operations. If implemented, the county would centrally manage official alerts and could expand the app to include multiple county offices and participating cities.","The county discussed buying and operating a county-owned emergency notification/mobile app that would centralize alerts, weather notifications, damage reporting and departmental notices. The vendor proposal includes a first-year cost of $16,609 and an annual subscription of about $7,608.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Resident urges county action on dog overpopulation and animal-control enforcement

After executive session, commissioners approve a hire and authorize legal steps on multiple matters

Landfill reopened temporarily while county seeks state certification for new disposal cell

Commissioners discuss local resolution to implement state timber-tax reimbursement for hurricane damage

County considers buying unified emergency notification app for residents