The Decatur County Board of Commissioners
July 27, 2010

Cooperation was the theme at the Decatur County Commission meeting on Tuesday evening, but that was it regarding the city inmate housing fiasco.

Ted Snell, Commission candidate for District 4, began the dialogue as he told Commissioners that cooperation and togetherness "are under-rated in our County and City".  County Commissioners sat grimly as he stated "Both County Commissioners and City Councilors should be working together to better and protect the citizens who elected them."

We have more important things to worry about, he told them and posed the question, "How much cooperation togetherness went into the decision to send $125,000 of our tax dollars to the city of Pelham for their prison."

Commissioner Butch Mosely immediately responded to Mr Snell.  Commissioner Mosely stated that he spoke with that one City Council member who voted against the city contract with Pelham on his way out of town.  He stated that he assured him that, if things could be put on hold, when he returned he was sure something could be worked out.

"It's a crying shame, when we're 2 blocks apart, in walking distance, that someone from here and someone from there couldn't sit down and talk... and come to some resolution." Commissioner Mosely stated.  "That disappoints me as a citizen, as a taxpayer and as a Commissioner..."

At the end of the meeting, during the Remarks by Commissioners item, Commissioners Russell Smith and C.T. Stafford hopped on the cooperation train stating they hoped City and County officials could work things out and move forward for our citizens.

County Commission Chairman Earl Perry addressed the cooperation failure.

Chairman Perry stated that he, Administrator Tom Patton, Finance Director Carl Rowland, Attorney Brown Moseley and Sheriff Wiley Griffin had met on the issue but did not anticipate the City would act so quickly.

He stated "We are working on this matter, we're gathering information, we need more time.  I regret, like my fellow commissioners, that it went so quickly on the part of the city."

Under the law that establishes the County Commission, it states "All members of the board shall have the same authority and privileges."  This was an important basic component of the first change made in 2008 and continues now.

I would question why are all commissioners not included in a meeting discussing any matter where a decision, like what to offer the City in a contract for inmate housing, is being made?  Who is making the decision?

Decatur County Planning Director Paul Soudi was recognized for his efforts as the 2010 Decatur county Census coordinator.

In other business
Approved Minutes of Commissioners' Meeting - July 13, 2010
Approved Minutes of Public Hearing for USDA Grant/Loan - July 13, 2010
Approved Minutes of Adopting Budget Resolution for 2010-2011 - June 29, 2010

Approved Memorandum of Understanding between Development Authority of Bainbridge and Decatur County and Corrections Corporation of America.

Approved Proclamation for Ms. Alto Screen.

Approved Proclamation for Family of Wise Screen, Sr. and Alberta Screen.

Award bid for HVAC for the Decatur County Prison Visitation Room for $14,500.

Approved E911 Recommendation for Contract to Obtain Inter-Operable Radio Communications Consulting Services for Decatur County, Grady County, Bainbridge and Cairo.
It was awarded to RCC Consultants of Tallahassee in the amount of $111,744.