At its Jan. 6 meeting the Harris County Board of Commissioners approved several appointments, granted a community request to plant a commemorative Liberty Tree on county property, heard county financial and infrastructure updates from County Manager Clark Carroll, and approved a $6,000 increase to the county manager’s base salary effective with the current pay period.

Appointments and community request: The board voted to retain Andrea Zobo as county clerk and to reappoint Jean Weldon and Tommy Hutchison to the planning commission for terms running Jan. 1, 2026 through Dec. 31, 2029. Dr. Kimberly Brown Gullett, chief medical officer for Valley Health Care System, was appointed to fill the unexpired term on the Harris County Board of Health through Dec. 31, 2029 following the resignation of Dr. Rod Jurasky (effective 11/21/2025). In public comment, Dan McMichael of the Sons of the American Revolution asked permission to plant a Liberty Tree (American elm) behind the library; he said his chapter would pay for the tree and that library staff agreed to assist with watering. The board approved that request by show of hands.

County manager report: County Manager Clark Carroll reported several items: remediation and drainage work by Georgia Power on the east embankment at Bartlett’s Ferry Dam (a project coordinated with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and expected to run through Dec. 2026), and heavy hauling associated with that work (Carroll said the estimated materials to be hauled include "8,500 cubic yards of aggregate and 25,000 tons of riprap"). Carroll also read county financial balances provided by the CFO: General Fund savings $14,542,646; Solid Waste $6,552,000; Waterworks $5,996,000; 2019 SPLOST $639,517; 2025 SPLOST $616,877; TIA funds $103,362; airport $352,068. One entry in the transcript for the Public Safety Radio System account appeared garbled and is recorded here as not specified; staff should be consulted for an official ledger total. Carroll said the county auditor expects to present the audit at the Jan. 20 meeting. He also said the Man of War Trail project has received a notice to proceed and surveying is scheduled to begin.

Manager compensation: After an executive session concerning personnel, the board voted to add $6,000 to the county manager’s base salary effective with the current pay period and authorized the chairman to execute the necessary contract addendum.

Votes at a glance: minutes approved (Dec. 16); reappointment of Andrea Zobo as county clerk (approved); Liberty Tree planting permission (approved); reappointment of Jean Weldon and Tommy Hutchison to the planning commission (approved); appointment of Dr. Kimberly Brown Gullett to the Board of Health (approved); rezoning approval for the Snyder parcel and subsequent correction to A-1 (approved); $6,000 increase to county manager base salary (approved). Most approvals were taken by show of hands; the transcript does not include a roll-call tally.

County staff will follow up on the Liberty Tree logistics, verification of setback compliance for the Snyder rezoning, and provide an official ledger for the Public Safety Radio System account that was unclear in the transcript.