Commissioner Questions Chairman's Authority, Board Votes to Move Forward with Projects

Tensions flared during Tuesday night’s Barrow County Board of Commissioners meeting as Commissioner Bill Hendrix questioned the chairman’s recent authorization for the assessment of costs associated with having an in-house attorney.

Board Chairman Daniel Yearwood Jr. had authorized a South Carolina firm to research salaries paid to attorneys and paralegals working for counties similar in size and population to Barrow.

“Do you mind telling the board why you authorized the Archer Company to do this work?” Hendrix asked.

Yearwood said he had the authority to do so and the job descriptions and salary comparisons were for information only.

“I thought it might be good for the citizens of Barrow County to know what the options might be in the budget,” Yearwood said.

“I don’t appreciate it,” Hendrix responded. “I think you owed it at least to this board to tell us what you were going to do.”

Yearwood questioned the amount of communication offered by the board.

“Let’s talk about personal issues here,” Yearwood began, before being interrupted by Commissioner Isaiah Berry.

“This is not what we’re here for,” Berry said. “We’re not here to bicker and go on.”

Commissioner Larry Joe Wilburn made a motion to remove the item concerning the jobs descriptions for county attorney and paralegal from the agenda. The motion was carried unanimously.

Other business

The board unanimously approved moving forward with a financial compliance audit and authorized Bob Hohe to contract with Carter Watkins Associates for work on the historic courthouse and annex. Commissioners also gave the go-ahead for Darrell Greeson, manager of the county engineering department, to authorize Jackson EMC to relocate six power poles at the intersection of Ga. Highway 81 and Hoyt King Road to complete realignment to improve sight distance.