John McPhaul
info@thesylvesterlocal.com
The Worth County Commission regular meeting was held on August 27th. All commissioners and staff were present.
County Administrator Carl Rowland gave a report on the CARES Act funding. The State of Georgia received billions of dollars from the federal government for COVID relief. It was allocated to the various counties with some going to federally funded programs. Worth County’s portion was $690,774. This was disbursed in increments starting with $200,000. The specific use of these funds had to be itemized and sent to the state for approval before the second installment could be received; however, the forms and procedures for the reconciliation process did not arrive until a few days before the report was due. Working long hours, Mr. Rowland and Kim Stripling prepared the forms and Worth County was one of only 19 counties that made the state’s deadline. The submission was approved by the state and WC recently received the remainder of the CARES funding.
Chairman Fred Dent was reappointed as the voting delegate for the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG’s) 2021 legislative policy agenda.
The commission voted on replacing the carpeting in the clerk of court and the district attorney’s office. The total expenditures will be $8,432 which was approved.
The county approved a resolution setting the millage numbers for Worth County, Worth County Board of Education, and the Economic Development Authority to the same rates as last year. There is no tax increase.
Mr. Hal Carter questioned the chairman if he could have an antenna attached to an existing fire department radio antenna to boost the internet speed at his office. The antenna in question is only used by the hospital. The discussion led to the ownership of the land where the antenna is located and more study was required before a decision could be made.
About six or eight WC citizens paid their garbage bills before applying for and receiving a garbage fee waiver. They are asking for a garbage fee refund and the commission’s consensus is; a refund is due. After
discussion, the commissioners agreed to handle each of these waivers on a case by case basis.
The commissioners went into executive session for land acquisition.
In September, the meetings are as shown. Workshop on September 1st at 7:00 p.m. A public hearing on USDA Rural Development is planned for Wednesday, September 9th at 10:00 a.m. to hear comments on procuring E-911 equipment. Regular meeting on September 17th at 7:00 p.m.