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The Lowndes County Commissioners voted to approve various items of business during their regular meeting Monday, Feb. 10. Among the business items passed as part of the consent agenda were appointments of commission representatives to several directors’ boards.

The measure passed by a 3-2 vote, approved by Commissioners Fletcher Hayes, Joseph Barganier and Dickson Farrior with opposition from Commissioners Robert Harris and Charlie King, Jr. Representatives appointed to board positions are:

• Felicia Scott and Randy Adams to the Industrial Development Board;
• Fletcher Hayes to the Organized Community Action Program (OCAP); and 
• Marcus White to the E-9-1-1 Board.

In a separate motion, the board approved appointing Bargainer to replace Harris on the Industrial Development Board.

Hayes replaces Joshua Simmons on the OCAP board. Harris argued that the appointment was untimely, that Simmons had not yet served out his tenure.

County Administrator Jacquelyn Thomas explained that traditionally, commissioners who were not re-elected to their seat were replaced on any board they had been appointed to.

“Brent Crenshaw, who is the [OCAP] board chairman, called to say the commissioners need to appoint someone to replace Joshua Simmons,” Thomas said.

“We cannot replace [someone] once a commissioner appoints people to the board until the time has run out, or they quit,” Harris replied. After further discussion, the commissioners tasked County Attorney Prince Chestnut with researching local board bylaws to determine requirements for board appointees.

As part of the Attorney’s Report, Chestnut introduced a resolution to amend articles of incorporation for the Industrial Development Board, also known as the Industrial Development (ID) Authority, requiring clarification of the section pertaining to membership on the board. According to the resolution, “each county commissioner shall select a qualified person from his district, subject to a majority vote of the Lowndes County Commission to serve” on the board.

Chesnut told commissioners the amendment was needed to clear up confusion regarding how many people could serve, how long terms would last and the qualifications for appointment.

“Right now, everybody you have over the number three is probably serving wrongfully or illegally, so we [have] got to get this correct,” Chesnut said.

Gordonville Mayor Orbuty Ozier, who has served as a director on the board for 15 years and requested permission to address the commission, weighed in on the resolution.

“Ever since I’ve been on that board, the County Commission has always appointed representation from their own district to serve on that board, until recently, when Mr. Harris appointed Joshua Simmons from another district to that board,” Ozier said. “That was not done according to how the County Commissioners have been doing it for all these years. 

“I have been trying to be effective in getting the board in order for some time and have not been able to do it. [I’m asking] that the County Commissioners do allow Attorney Chestnut, who also represents the ID board, [has] an opportunity to get the board in order, the way it’s supposed to be.”

After significant debate, the resolution passed unanimously.