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Lois Morris hired as county administrator Longtime Assistant Clarke County Administrator Lois Morris was hired Tuesday to be county administrator to succeed the retiring Ellen Toland whose retirement is effective March 31. Morris was the only applicant for the position that was advertised only among county employees. She has been assistant county administrator since 2003 and was first employed with the county in 1975. Clarke County Commission Chairman Paul Bradford complimented Morris' work and said she has been doing a lot during Toland's recent absences due to sickness. He said the county has had three straight years of good audits with zero findings by examiners. He said neighboring counties regularly have lots of audit problems and credited Morris and others in the office for the good work. He said he knew some have questioned the county for not looking at applicants outside of the county employee pool, "but when you have a gem like we do, it is only good business that we promote from within." The vote to hire Morris was unanimous. Commissioner Rhondel Rhone was not at Tuesday's meeting. There was some question as to what Morris' pay will be. Toland made around $19.50 an hour, it was reported. Bradford said that a salary range for the position will be set and said he wants to look at salary ranges and descriptions for all county positions as well. Water authority Clarke County Commissioners agreed for the West Clarke Water Authority to increase the number of directors from three to five Tuesday. West Clarke has agreed to the change that many of the water system's customers had sought. The system's bylaws had to be amended to allow for the change and the board must reaffirm the change and file with the probate judge, explained County Attorney Bruce Wilson. Wilson told commissioners that they will have to wait for the bylaw changes to be fully implemented before adding two new members. West Clarke customers have wanted representation from the areas served by the system and some have even asked that some board members be removed. However, commissioners learned that while they do appoint board members there is no provision for them to be removed before their terms expire. Proposed nominees include current member Larry Jones, Willie Parden, Brenda Moody, Obie D. O'Neal and Gaines Carter. Some of the West Clarke customers have wanted longtime board members Alex Lovette and George Dunigan removed. A check shows that Lovette was reappointed in 2003 and his term will not expire until 2009. Jones' term expires this year and Dunigan's term has already expired. In other action regarding a local water board, commissioners reappointed Connie Cade to the North Clarke Water Authority. Sheriff's vacancies Commissioners also approved for Sheriff Bobby Moore to hire a transport officer, increased pay for starting lawmen and set salary ranges for other positions. Starting pay has been as low as $8.50 an hour, well under neighboring counties and law enforcement departments, Bradford said. Currently it is $10 an hour and commissioners voted to raise it to $11.25. If a lawman has police academy training, or after the training is completed, the salary increases to $11.25 to $12 per hour. Bradford said this is necessary for the sheriff to hire and retain good employees. Also, the pay range for a corporal was set at $12 to $13 an hour and for a sergeant-investigator, $13 to $14. Sheriff Moore will be implementing 24-hour coverage of the county starting April 1. In the past, deputies worked at night only if they were called out for emergencies. Unfortunately, Bradford noted, "Some people in Clarke County just won't act right" and deputies are regularly called out after hours. That has resulted in a lot of overtime. Moore and other county officials believe the elimination of overtime will offset the higher pay and keep the total payroll budget about the same. Other business + County Engineer Sam Noble won approval to seek bids to extend a culvert end pipe on County Route 17 (the Chilton Road) so that a guardrail can be installed in preparation for paving of the road. The cost will be $6,000 to $7,000, he estimated. + Commissioners approved a resolution proclaiming April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Seventy six child abuse or neglect cases were reported in Clarke County during the most recent reporting year and the Child Advocacy Center was credited for investigating those. Statewide, some 2,000 to 3,000 cases are reported annually. + Commissioners voted to roll over a $720,000 loan with Merchants Bank due in April so that new motor graders can be paid for now. The interest on the loan will be paid and the loan continued at the same interest rate for another year. + Commissioners approved a resolution to extend Enterprise Zone status from a location on Highway 43 where Evergreen Trucking will build a terminal to Jackson Industrial Development Board property on Highway 177. Enterprise Zones offer various incentives for development.
+ Commissioners agreed to start considering nominations to the Clarke County Board of Equalization for the term starting in October. Nominations need to be submitted by August.
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