County commission hears presentations on historic circuit court split; a proposed TAD with the City of Carrollton; and fentanyl education request by sheriff’s department

Vice Chairman Clint Chance presided pulling items from a one-vote consent agenda ensuring separate votes - an individual show of hands per item - at the following regular meeting’s agenda

story by Janice Daniel

The Carroll County Board of Commissioners met for their monthly work session Thursday, June 1, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. Vice Chairman / District 2 Commissioner Clint Chance presided in Chairman Michelle Morgan’s absence. District 4 Commissioner Steve Fuller was also absent, attending a yearly training meeting.

Superior Court Chief Judge John Simpson was at the meeting to present a request to form a committee to discuss the process of splitting the Cowetta Judicial Circuit into two new judicial circuits, and make such reports as are necessary to the board of commissioners. Proposed committee members are: Judge John Simpson, Judge Dusty Hightower, Sheriff Terry Langley, District 2 County Commissioner Clint Chance, Judge Dennis Blackmon, Judge Erica Tisinger, Carrollton City Police Chief Joel Richards, and District 6 County Commissioner Danny Bailey. This item was made Consent Agenda #1 to be voted on at the regular meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 6th.

Judge Simpson presented some statistics from the

Judicial Circuit of Georgia Administrative Office of Courts (AOC) website that details the factors that must be considered for the initial qualifications for splitting a judicial circuit, mainly consisting of a) caseload and workload, b) trend of population growth rates, c) ensuring that the “per judge” population is more evenly split among the circuits impacted, and d) that the trend of population growth would not necessitate another split of circuits within 10 years. There are one-time as well as recurring administrative costs which should not be overly burdensome to the state or local governments involved, and operational and case assignments policies must not be negatively impacted in the split circuits. In another presentation, City of Carrollton City Manager David Brooks shared details of the proposed Carrollton Tax Allocation District (TAD). The city is asking the county government to partner with them on this TAD. This TAD area includes 540 acres (837 parcels) starting at downtown, out Maple Street, the city school property off Cottage Hill, to the bypass area of See VICE CHAIR CHANCE page 8