Commission approves transfer station operator, vehicle policy and road-closure process as residents press for better contracting

The Screven County Board on June 8 approved a package of actions affecting the county transfer station and vehicle operations and began the formal process to close a county road.

Commissioner Romeo moved, and the Board approved by a 5-2 vote, a proposal to hire Allgreen Services to operate the county transfer-station loader; Commissioners Mike Dixon and Allison Willis opposed the motion. Commissioner Dixon also presented a preventative maintenance agreement from Yancey for the loader as background to equipment decisions.

The Board unanimously authorized Fire Chief Harvey Cryder to surplus specified vehicles and sell them for the best price, with proceeds returned to the Fire Fee Fund. Separately, the Board adopted a vehicle use policy that restricts handheld cell-phone use while operating county vehicles and allows hands-free options; that policy passed by a 6-1 vote with Chairman Will Boyd recorded as opposing.

Commissioner Willis moved to begin the process to determine that a road has no public purpose and to close it if appropriate; the motion carried unanimously.

During public comment residents raised operational concerns. Uley Robbins asked about routine maintenance for the loader; Kevin Hagan urged hiring locally and criticized contractors who do not perform work properly; Tre' Evans questioned the legality of contracts executed prior to the bidding-resolution discussion; Chairman Boyd said the County Attorney advised that bidding was not required. Michael Newton asked that the public-comment period be moved earlier on the agenda so citizens may speak before decisions are made. Ben Counts inquired about progress hiring a county manager.