Monroe County Commissioners made numerous annual board appointments on Tuesday, Jan. 5. All appointments made Tuesday were unanimous selections.
Janet Abbott, a 13-year Monroe County employee, was re-appointed for a one-year term as Monroe County Clerk. Abbott is a Georgia Certified Clerk and Certified Human Resources Director. Her re-appointment was recommended by County Manager Jim Hedges.
Chairman Greg Tapley, Forsyth Mayor Eric Wilson, Culloden Mayor Lynn Miller, Forsyth Councilman Melvin Lawrence and T.G. Scott Elementary Principal Dick Bazemore were each re-appointed for one-year terms as Forsyth-Monroe County representatives on the Middle Georgia Regional Commission (MGRC) Council. Bazemore is the current MGRC Council president.
District 4 Commissioner and The Brokery owner George Emami was appointed to a four-year term to replace local developer Otis Ingram on the Development Authority of Monroe County. Emami will be the Board of Commissioners’ representative on the Development Authority. Larry Evans was the Commissioners’ representative, but Evans no longer serves on the Board. Evans will remain a member of the Development Authority, however. Emami initially accepted the Board’s nomination to the Development Authority contingent upon Commissioners agreeing that all future Commissioners should resign their positions on the Development Authority at the end of their Commission tenures. After Monroe County Attorney Ben Vaughn said he would review whether adding that stipulation for all commissioners is allowable under law, Emami agreed to accept the appointment with the condition that he would resign from the Development Authority should he lose his Commission re-election bid in two years.
In addition, two other current Development Authority members, Head Heating & Air owner Greg Head and local attorney Wendell Horne were re-appointed to four-year terms on the Development Authority. Evans, Phil Ham, Craig Craddock, Mike Leverett, Jim Cole and Tom Baugh (Chairman) are the other current Development Authority members who were not up for re-appointment on Tuesday.
Chairman Greg Tapley was re-appointed to a four-year term as the Board of Commissioners’ member on the Central Georgia Joint Development Authority. Tapley joins Kerri Swearingen as Monroe County representatives on the Joint Development Authority.
New District 1 Commissioner Lamarcus Davis was appointed to replace Larry Evans, the out-going District 1 Commissioner, as the Board of Commissioners’ member on the Monroe County Board of Health. Davis will join current Board of Health members Hugh Cromer, Dr. Jeremy Goodwin, Lillian Davis, Forsyth Councilman Chris Hewett, Forsyth Mayor Eric Wilson and Monroe County Schools Superintendent Mike Hickman.
Forsyth dentist Dr. Stan Hickman was re-appointed to a five-year term on the Hospital Authority of Monroe County. Hickman has served on the Hospital Authority since June 2019 when former member Kate Cotton resigned prior to the end of her term. Other current Hospital Authority members not up for re-appointment on Tuesday include: Kerri Swearingen, Phillip English, Larry Burney, Dr. Craig Caldwell, Mac Brown (Chairman) and Wes Cone.
Current members Jim Rollins (Chairman At-Large), Chuck Benson (District 2), Richard “Red” Ezelle (District 3) and Michael Brewster (District 4) were re-appointed to one-year terms on the Monroe County Planning & Zoning Board. Meanwhile, new District 1 Commissioner Lamarcus Davis is expected to select a new member to replace Connie Gantt as the District 1 representative to the P&Z Board at the next Commissioners’ meeting on Jan. 19.
Current members Kenneth Mantle (At-Large), Ron Shipman (Chairman District 2), Adam Ham (District 3) and Melissa Mixon (District 4) were re-appointed to one-year terms on the Monroe County Recreation Board. Meanwhile, new District 1 Commissioner Lamarcus Davis appointed Marecha Gaines to replace Lovett “Frank” Redding as the District 1 representative to the Rec Board.
Chairman Greg Tapley was re-appointed to a three-year term on the Region 4 Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) Planning Board. Anchor of Hope founder Debbie Harbin, who was not up for re-appointment on Tuesday, is Monroe County’s other representative on the DBHDD Planning Board.
Monroe County Board of Education member Dr. Priscilla Doster was re-appointed to a three-year term on the River Edge Community Service Board. An appointment to fill another Monroe County vacancy on the River Edge Community Service Board was tabled on Tuesday after previous member Martie Brown notified Commissioners she did not wish to be re-appointed. Roz McMillan, who was not up for re-appointment on Tuesday, is Monroe County’s third representative on the River Edge Community Service Board.
Chairman Greg Tapley and Road Superintendent Junior Watts were each re-appointed to one-year terms on the Two Rivers Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council.
