Multiple residents used the meeting’s public‑comment period to urge the Burke County Board of Commissioners to pursue a recall of Sheriff Alphonso Williams, alleging misuse of public funds, intimidation of critics and ongoing state investigations. Later in the meeting the board unanimously voted to retain attorney Russell Britt to represent the county in a matter identified in the meeting as Johnson v. Alphonso Williams.

"He is illegally trying to stop the recall I am spearheading," said Tracy Hollingsworth, who identified herself as organizing a recall effort and said she is the subject of an active warrant and a BOLO poster she called retaliatory. Hollingsworth told commissioners she believes Sheriff Williams has "gone to any length to try and silence detractors" and listed a series of lawsuits and investigations she said involve the sheriff.

Nathan Ford, a resident who also addressed the board, called Williams "the most divisive politician in Burke County in my lifetime" and said the recall was necessary because of what he described as repeated abuses of power and mismanagement of public funds. Sarah Ford, owner of Burke County Animal Hospital, said she has faced targeted harassment on social media that she attributed to people with "top knowledge" at the sheriff's office and invited residents to sign the recall petition at her business.

Commissioners later moved into executive session to discuss legal matters. After the session the board returned and approved retaining Russell Britt as legal counsel for the matter identified at the meeting as Johnson v. Alphonso Williams; the motion to retain Britt was made by Commissioner Don Lively and seconded by Commissioner Kelly and carried without recorded opposition. The motion language, as stated aloud at the meeting, specified obtaining Mr. Britt "to represent the sheriff against Brenda Johnson."

Speakers urged the board to seek accountability at the state level; several public commenters said the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has open probes and listed lawsuits they said were pending. The transcript records these as public allegations; commissioners did not announce any change in the sheriff's status and did not vote on a recall. The board did, however, approve entering executive session to discuss four legal matters before the retention vote.