Twiggs County Commission: Tension-Filled Talks Over Budget, Other Issues

JEFFERSONVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Tension filled the room as each agenda item was discussed amongst the Twiggs County Commissioners, a majority of them newly elected. It’s only the second week of 2013 and Tuesday the commissioners met for the third time this year.

At a special called meeting inside the Twiggs County Courthouse, several items were brought up for discussion. Some of those items on the agenda included potential changes in payroll procedures, designating a county building for the water authority, and the $6 million county budget.

County Administrator Terry Bates will be looking into ways for all county employees to get paid on the same day. Currently, employees receiving direct deposit and those receiving checks are not being paid on the same day due to bank processing procedures.

Commissioner Donald Floyd, who has served on the board since 2005, said the budget was set for just over $6 million which was based on projected revenues and expenditures.

Back on the board for the first time in 12 years, Commissioner William Bond said he’s confident better days are ahead for Twiggs County and the difference of opinions heard during the meeting is what he called a ‘healthy thing.’

“We’re going to make sure those monies are available and also we’re going to look at our taxing process, evaluations of property and determine if we need more people coming in to do these jobs…Twiggs County is a complicated county when it comes to evaluation…we’re here on the fall line,” said Bond.

When asked the reason for the third meeting, Commissioner Floyd said, “We do what we have to do to get the job done for the people of Twiggs County.”

Chairman Ken Fowler had “no comment” when asked to speak on Tuesday’s special called meeting. Commissioner Tommie Lee Bryant stated, “N-O” before a question could even be asked of him. Commissioner Donald Watson was absent from the meeting.

The Twiggs County Board of Commissioners meet the first and third Tuesday of every month.
For the month of January, they will be meeting every Tuesday at 10A.M.