Hall County board authorizes part‑time chaplain MOU, introduces contracted chaplain Connie Hine

The Hall County Board of Commissioners on a unanimous vote authorized the board chair to sign a memorandum of understanding establishing a part‑time, contracted chaplain position to serve county and city agencies.

County Attorney Marty (speaker 11) told the board the MOU “formaliz[es] that agreement” previously arranged with the city and described the arrangement as providing no additional liability to the county. He asked the board to authorize the chair to sign the document and send it to the city for signature; the clerk recorded six yes votes and the motion carried.

The board then heard from Chaplain Connie Hine, introduced by law enforcement and emergency‑services representatives. Hine (speaker 15) described the chaplain service and activities: “We accompany, police officers to death notifications. We do debriefs after a particularly traumatic experience. Right now, I'm going to all the different agencies and telling them who we are and what we are.” She said the chaplains also provide confidential support in corrections, follow up at shift change and make themselves available to agency staff.

Speakers representing law enforcement and corrections praised the program as a regional model and said it supports mental‑health resilience for first responders. The board also agreed the clerk’s office should process the initial payment to set up the program.

Action: board authorized the chair to sign the chaplain MOU (6 yes votes).