See CHANCE VICE CHAIR

was approved and minutes of meetings from November 30, 2022 through December 9, 2022 were approved.

District 2 Commission Clint Chance was selected by the board to be vice-chairman with a vote of 6-0 (Chance abstained). District 3 Commissioner Tommy Lee made the motion, seconded by District 5 Commissioner Ernie Reynolds. This selection is for a one-year time period.

In the business section of the meeting, Finance Director Alecia Searcy presented the financial reports for month ending November 30, 2022. Searcy said she is seeing some downward trends in some areas, and sales taxes are still strong.

Total revenues YTD at November 30th were $37,412,188, while total expenditures at $28,361,148 for the same period, both exceeding the prior year’s totals at this point, revenues by around $2,000,000 and expenditures by around $4,000,000. Expenditures were at 42.3% of budget, and the Fund Balance was $48,559,285. Searcy said they are still working on the Villa Rica fire station, and that Public Works has purchased 11 vehicles, all of which came in at or below the bid prices.

Commissioner Reynolds remarked that Solid Waste expenditures were over 100% of budget. Searcy said that the amount of solid waste is increasing and the cost of running the convenience centers is at 119.3% of budget, but tipping fees and moving trash from convenience centers to landfill make up the balance in that category.

Fire Chief Chuck Barnwell presented a request to consider a proposal from Williams Fire Apparatus to refurbish the pumper engineBuilt on service, for Engine 5 located in Lowel at a cost of $276,234. He said that by refurbishing thefocused on community.engine, they will get another 7 to 10 years of Carrollton light to moderate use out of the truck. Chief said that the Clem station will be getting a new | 119 Maple Street | 770-838-9608 Douglasville fire truck. | 6670 Church Street | 770-942-5681 The commission was also to considerVilla Rica | 485 W. Bankhead Highway | 770-459-3100approval of a lease with Carroll County Mental Health Advocates, Inc. for space in Fire Station #16 located at 680 Tumlin Lake Road, Villa Total revenues YTD Rica, and to authorize the chairman to execute the agreement at November 30th were and to take all other actions to implement the terms of the agreement. Jodie Goodman, $37,412,188, while total expenditures were Member FDIC. © 2022 United Community Bank | ucbi.com at $28,361,148 for the same period, both Director of the MHA, said the lease would give them a dispatch location for the second exceeding the prior Crisis Response Team vehicle year’s totals at this which Villa Rica is sharing in point, revenues by the cost. Goodman said they around $2,000,000 and expenditures by now have the vehicle and it is being outfitted, a police officer is currently in training as a criaround $4,000,000. sis responder, and they are working with the University of West Georgia on hiring a professional counselor specializing in mental health crisis situations. MHA would be using two of four vacant offices at Station 16. Goodman said their office hours would be 10 hours, 4 days per week, and that the dispatch of the Crisis Response Unit will be through the same 911 system that the sheriff and fire stations use. Distict 2 Commissioner Clint Chance noted that the county will not be charged with funding anything there. District 3 Commissioner See MENTALHEALTH page 12

Built on service, focused on community. Built on service, focused on community.

Carrollton | 119 Maple Street | 770-838-9608Carrollton | 119 Maple Street | 770-838-9608 Douglasville | 6670 Church Street | 770-942-5681Douglasville | 6670 Church Street | 770-942-5681 Villa Rica | 485 W. Bankhead Highway | 770-459-3100Villa Rica | 485 W. Bankhead Highway | 770-459-3100

Member FDIC. © 2022 United Community Bank | ucbi.comMember FDIC. © 2022 United Community Bank | ucbi.com

Carroll County Farm Bureau (CCFB) was recognized for its outstanding member programs and agricultural advocacy activities at the 85th Annual Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) Convention held Dec. 4-6 on Jekyll Island. Doug Smith is the CCFB president. Jennifer Dixson is the CCFB office manager. CCFB received the GFB Rewarding Excellence in Ag Program (REAP) Planter Award in the organization’s large membership division. GFB’s REAP award honors county Farm Bureaus for the organization/ membership,

CARROLL COUNTY FARM BUREAU RECEIVES GFB AWARD

Georgia Farm Bureau

UCB

advocacy, leadership development, education & amp; outreach activities they did between Sept. 1, 2021, and Aug. 31. The REAP Awards are divided into three tiers – Harvester (1st), Planter (2nd) and Cultivator (3rd) with five tier winners in each of GFB’s three membership categories Georgia Farm Bureau President Tom McCall, left, – small, medium & presents Carroll County Farm Bureau Office Manager amp; large. “Georgia Farm Jennifer Dixson and CCFB President Doug Smith with a GFB Rewarding Excellence in Ag Program Planter Award in the organization’s large membership division. The Bureau is celebrating its award was presented on Dec. 5 during the 85th Annual 85th anniversary this Georgia Farm Bureau Convention held on Jekyll Island. year. Our organization has thrived since 1937 because of our dedicated volunteer

leaders and county staff who work to promote agriculture in their local communities by visiting schools to teach students how farmers grow our food and meeting with their elected officials,” said GFB President Tom McCall. “It’s a pleasure to recognize Carroll County for the work they have done to promote agriculture in its community this past year.” As a REAP Planter Award winner, CCFB President Doug Smith received an embroidered Farm Bureau vest and CCFB Office Manager Jennifer Dixson received a gift card. Founded in 1937, the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation is the state’s largest general farm organization with 158-chapter offices that cover all of Georgia’s 159 counties. As a membership-driven, nongovernmental organization, GFB serves as the voice of Georgia farmers and rural Georgia by advocating for them on legislative issues and promoting Georgia commodities. Its volunteer members actively participate in activities that promote agriculture awareness.