Ben Hill County commissioners approve Anthem insurance renewal, adopt comprehensive plan and confirm several appointments

Ben Hill County commissioners voted unanimously June 8 to renew the county's 2021 employee health insurance with Anthem and to adopt several resolutions and board appointments during a regularly scheduled meeting at the Ben Hill County Courthouse Annex.

Commissioners approved Anthem Insurance option 4 — a renewal that the county manager described as a 1.81% increase from last year — after County Manager Michael Dinnerman presented a spreadsheet prepared by Benefits Consultant Group representative Courtney Howell. Commissioner Daniel Cowan moved to approve the plan; Vice‑Chair Hope Harmon seconded, and the motion passed with Cowan, Harmon, Commissioner Bennie Calloway and Chairman Steve Taylor voting yes.

The action followed a brief county manager report on local revenues. Dinnerman said sales-tax receipts were higher year over year — "LOST is up 16.5%" and "SPLOST is up 16.77%" — and that the county's fund balance was about $2.1 million higher than at the same time last year. "Everything is good," he said, but added a caution: "expenditures and revenues are getting tighter and tighter."

The commission also adopted the Ben Hill County and City of Fitzgerald 2021 Comprehensive Plan resolution and a Board of Commissioners Second Amendment resolution; both measures passed by unanimous votes after motions were made and seconded on the floor. The board adopted a World Elder Abuse Awareness Day proclamation and appointed Vice‑Chair Hope Harmon as the county's voting delegate for the 2021 National Association of Counties conference; all passed unanimously.

On transportation and contracting matters, the commission approved the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) 5311 FY2022 transit operating capital contract and authorized the chairman to sign the agreement. Commissioner Bennie Calloway moved the approval; Vice‑Chair Harmon seconded and the motion passed with all members voting yes.

The board also approved several appointments: it submitted Leah Foster's name to the Hospital Authority Board, and it appointed Dennis Crook and Jason Miller to the Fitzgerald–Ben Hill County Planning & Zoning Commission to replace George Vereen and Farise Taylor. Each nomination and appointment passed on unanimous votes.

Agricultural Extension Agent Holly Anderson announced staffing changes in department reports earlier in the meeting, naming Lauralee Williams as the new 4‑H agent and Teresa Fuller as an administrative assistant.

The meeting concluded with a brief commissioners' remarks section in which Vice‑Chair Harmon said the county would partner with the City of Fitzgerald Tourism Department to present free summer movies at Blue and Gray Park; she said the events would not cost the county. The commission adjourned with no further public comment recorded.