Appling County hires contractor for juvenile prosecution, rescinds $30,000 supplemental and limits DA funding

The Appling County Board of Commissioners voted to rescind a $30,000 supplemental payment to the district attorney and approved a contract to hire Jan Kennedy as the county’s juvenile prosecutor, the board said in a motion carried in open session after an executive-session discussion.

The action follows the district attorney’s notification that he would withdraw juvenile-prosecution coverage for several counties after those counties declined his requested budget increase. County Attorney (unnamed in the record) told the board he had identified a candidate willing to serve as an independent contractor for juvenile prosecution at a price “within the realm of $30,000.” The board authorized the chairman to sign a contract with Jan Kennedy for $2,500 per month (equivalent to $30,000 annually) and a one-time $2,500 payment for continuing-education/errors-and-omissions insurance; the contract is scheduled to begin Oct. 1.

The county attorney, speaking during the discussion, said the candidate has about 30 years of experience and that the arrangement would be an independent contractor relationship rather than a county employee. He told commissioners the contract would include provisions allowing either side to terminate or renegotiate the agreement and that the county would need the prosecutor in place by Oct. 1 to cover detention hearings and other juvenile matters.

The board also rescinded the board’s earlier $30,000 augmentation to the district attorney’s budget and restated the commission’s intent to fund the district attorney at the budgeted level for 2025, payable periodically, while reserving the right to rescind payments if prosecution services in Appling County cease or halt.

In executive session the board separately agreed to continue legal-cost coverage for an ongoing employee-related lawsuit up to a $15,000 cap and then returned to open session to record votes. Commissioners moved and carried motions to (a) rescind the $30,000 supplemental; (b) set the DA funding at the 2025 budgeted level to be paid periodically with the commission reserving the right to rescind if services cease; and (c) authorize the chairman to sign the contract with Jan Kennedy for juvenile prosecution, $30,000 annually plus the one-time $2,500 payment.

Why it matters: The county acted to ensure local coverage for juvenile cases after the circuit’s district attorney indicated he would withdraw juvenile-prosecution services for some counties when additional funding was not approved. Approving a contractor avoids an immediate service gap in juvenile court and sets contractual terms the board can revisit.

Board direction vs. formal action: Commissioners formally rescinded the previously approved $30,000 supplemental and approved the contract authorization for Jan Kennedy. The board also approved continuing legal-cost coverage for an employee lawsuit up to $15,000 (executive-session item reported in open session).

Quotes and attributions: County Attorney (unnamed in minutes) said, “I have been in discussion with a very competent person that would be willing to provide those services. The negotiation for that fee, I believe, would be within the realm of $30,000.” The county attorney later described the candidate’s experience and urged the board to authorize the chairman to sign the contract.

Next steps: The contract is to begin Oct. 1. The board directed the chairman to finalize and sign the agreement after counsel’s review. The board reserved the right to withdraw periodic DA funding if local prosecution services are not provided.

Votes at a glance: The motions were carried by the board in open session; the minutes record the approvals as unanimous. The transcript does not include a roll-call tally by name in the public record.