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Ben Hill County Commission approves transit drug policy, budget amendments and firearm-sale resolution
Summary
At its March 8 meeting, the Ben Hill County Commission approved a revised Ben Hill Transit Drug & Alcohol Policy, multiple budget amendments including grant-funded public-safety allocations, adopted a Sale of Firearm Resolution and reappointed a DLS board member; all motions passed by 4–0 with one commissioner absent.
The Ben Hill County Board of Commissioners approved a series of administrative and budget actions at its March 8, 2022 regular meeting, including a revised transit drug and alcohol policy, multiple budget amendments tied to grants and sheriff payroll, a resolution authorizing the sale of a firearm, and the reappointment of a DLS board member.
The meeting convened at 6 p.m. in the Ben Hill County Courthouse Annex. Chairman Steve Taylor called the meeting to order; Vice-Chair Hope Harmon, Commissioners Bennie Calloway and Daniel Cowan were present. Commissioner John Mooney was absent.
DLS Director Keith Morrison gave a brief recreation report, saying the basketball season went well and that about 360 children had registered for youth sports; baseball and softball seasons were scheduled to begin April 4. County Manager Michael Dinnerman said he is working on a special-purpose local-option sales tax (SPLOST) rollout planned for May and asked commissioners to consider potential projects ahead of upcoming work sessions.
On new business, the commission unanimously among those present approved the revised Ben Hill Transit Drug & Alcohol Policy. Commissioner Daniel Cowan moved to approve the revision; Vice-Chair Hope Harmon seconded. CFO Darlow Maxwell then presented budget amendments and resolutions.
Maxwell described the 2021-03 Budget Amendment Resolution as the final amendment for fiscal year 2021; the commission approved it on a motion by Commissioner Cowan and a second from Vice-Chair Harmon. Maxwell said two 2022 amendments (2022-01 and 2022-02) reflect grant funding from the Public Safety Officials and First Responders Supplement Grant allocated for the sheriff’s office, the jail and E911. Commissioners approved those grant-funded amendments on a Cowan motion and Harmon second.
A separate amendment, Budget Amendment 2022-03, was identified by Maxwell as covering sheriff department salaries and FICA. Vice-Chair Harmon moved to approve 2022-03; Commissioner Cowan seconded and the motion passed.
The commission also voted to adopt a Sale of Firearm Resolution after a motion from Vice-Chair Harmon and a second from Commissioner Cowan. Finally, Commissioners reappointed Jeremy Cox to the DLS Board; that motion was offered by Commissioner Cowan and seconded by Vice-Chair Harmon. All recorded votes on motions were 4 in favor, 0 opposed, with Commissioner John Mooney absent.
The meeting record shows no public comments were received, and Vice-Chair Harmon said she would attend a legislative breakfast the next morning to discuss mental health and election-law issues. The commission adjourned after routine closing remarks.
Votes at a glance: all motions noted above passed with four affirmative votes (Taylor, Harmon, Calloway, Cowan) and one absence (John Mooney).
