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Politics & Government

A Recap of Tuesday's Board of Commissioners Meeting

Commissioners voted to move forward with curbing the chairman's veto powers.

Tuesday’s meeting of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners began with a moving tribute by Commissioner Eva Elder to the late Eddie Elder.

“Seven years ago we buried Eddie Elder,” Eva Elder said, voice breaking. “He loved Barrow County. He always called in God’s Country.”

Eddie Elder served four terms on the Board of Commissioners previously, including two terms as chairman.

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Two residents asked to speak to the commission regarding the Barrow County Airport Authority and the pending discussion regarding the veto powers afforded to the chairman.

Gail Rusinski suggested the Board of Commissioners and the airport authority operate more like the Auburn City Council and Auburn city departments, which “operates not on personal conflict, but professionally, and continues to improve Auburn’s progress.

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“The teamwork is amazing,” said Rusinski, who continued to relate her opposition to the chairman’s veto power and decry the dysfunctional relationship of the board to the airport authority.

Norma Jean Brown, a former commissioner, spoke regarding the chairman’s veto powers.

“Why should the veto win?” she asked. “This system allows for the minority to rule. Barrow County has done nothing in a long time and continues to be in the worst financial and political situation. Make things right — abolish the veto power.”

After considering a motion to restructure of even abolish the Barrow County Airport Authority, members of the Board of Commissioners sought to curb the chairman's veto powers.

The motion to abolish the airport authority, which failed, was made by commission Chairman Daniel Yearwood.

Commissioner Steve Worley spoke up and sad he was not ready to abolish the authority, citing his appointee as a good representative of Barrow County. A motion made by Commissioner Billy Parks to keep the authority received a second from Isaiah Berry and was carried unanimously.

Commissioner Ben Hendrix withdrew his previous nomination to the airport authority, Don Holiday, who was vetoed by Yearwood during a previous session. Hendrix instead appointed Meredith Cameron, who was approved by all members.  

Yearwood also named his appointment to the authority, Perry Barton, who was approved without any dissenting votes.  

Parks introduced an item to be added to the agenda regarding the veto power afforded to the board's chairman. The commissioner made a motion to allow local legislators to present to the Georgia General Assembly an amendment to the county charter to allow the chairman's veto to be overridden by a simple majority vote by commissioners, versus a super-majority, or a specified majority of votes. 

"Once we get beat, we want to change the rules," Wilburn said, referring to Yearwood's veto of Hendrix's appointment to the airport authority.  

The chairman said he did not want to comment, but went on to say, "The charter gives this authority." 

Following a 5-1 vote, with Eva Elder opposing the action, Yearwood said he would take it and "decide what to do with it."

The board also accepted the Northeast Georgia Regional Solid Waste Management Plan. This was an update to the previous resolution.

“It’s required by state law,” the Chairman said.

Yearwood appointed a committee of four commissioners, Parks, Wilburn, Worley, and himself, along with county facilities management to examine the Courthouse annex.

“In 30 days I want to have a plan on what to do and how to do it,” Yearwood said. “We’ve got talk about the mold issues out there in the paper.”

All appointees agreed to serve.

The chairman also introduced for a vote the Municipal Court Service Agreement. Dennis Dorsey, deputy chief of the Winder Police Department, and Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith both appeared in favor of the agreement.

The agreement moved the Municipal Court location from the police department to the courthouse.

“This increases safety and saves money,” Yearwood said.

Commissioner Worley expressed concern that the elected Barrow County judge would be working on city business during Barrow County working hours.

“Is the city gonna help with the salary of the judge?” he asked.

Wilburn asked about any added expenses for the county.

 “We do not anticipate any added cost,” Smith said. “It saves us all because the jail does not have to book in and out inmates attending court or transport them to the police department. Now all we have to do is take an elevator ride to court.”

 “In the agreement, any costs beyond normal operating hours, the city of Winder will pay,” Yearwood said.

The agreement was voted on and approved by all members, even Worley, who again said the judge “is working two government positions at once.”

 “The judge is an elected official and it is her option to do other work,” Davis said.

Chief Dennis Merrifield, head of Barrow County Emergency Services, was set to appear before the commission but was sick. Lt. John Skinner appeared in his stead and requested budget amendments to use and accept two separate Homeland Security/GEMA grants. All were approved and carried unanimously.

Robert Hohe appeared to request a budget amendment for an Indigent Defense Agreement and a Piedmont Circuit Juvenile Court Agreement. Both programs are budgeted along the calendar year and not the fiscal year the county follows. Both items were consistent with requests from previous years and were passed without any dissent.

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