Georgia County Government - January 2009 - (Page 17)

BULLOCH COUNTY continued from page 15 “smart-growth” evaluations to allow planning commissioners and the elected officials to make objective development decisions. Whether Bulloch County is ready for impact fees is currently at issue, Couch and Tankersley assert. “We feel we’re not ready just yet, but we have studies under way,” Couch concludes. County Government The Bulloch County Board of Commissioners, led by Chairman Garrett Nevil is comprised of District 2-C Commissioner Roy Thompson, a local floor-covering businessman who holds a degree in recreation; District 1-A Commissioner George Jackson, who is also a Georgia State Trooper; District 2-D Commissioner Robert Rushing, a retired farmer; District 1-B Commissioner Anthony Simmons, a mental health services professional; District 2-B Commissioner Walter Gibson, a retired educator; and District 2-A Commissioner, civic leader and incoming ACCG President Jan Tankersley. New ACCG President Tankersley is an effervescent “force of nature” whose popularity in the community has apparently escalated steadily since her days as a high school student here in the 1960s. Tankersley is perhaps most unique for the at once gracious and businesslike way she brings new meaning to the notion of government “close to home.” She and husband Hughie have lived in the community of Brooklet for many years, and she is a former city councilwoman for the town. The Bulloch County native is well connected. Not only does she know everyone in her jurisdiction as friends and neighbors – three of her fellow elected officials were friends since childhood – she is a respected regional influence, with several Governor’s appointments under her belt, and a respected community civic leader. In addition to her long list of county and regional leadership roles, she has recently been appointed to the Bulloch County Kiwanis Club Board of Directors, the Georgia Leadership Academy, the Foundation Board of Ogeechee Technical College, for which she had also served on the scholarship and fundraising committees, and as a member of the Bulloch Public School Foundation Board she is a “mover and The Bulloch County Agribusiness Center is an important resource for Bulloch County farmers. The traditionally agricultural county is still a farming stronghold, and ranks third among counties, owing to its ‘farm gate’ value to the state. shaker” in terms of promoting education opportunities for educators and public school students. To further enhance post-secondary education opportunities, Tankersley is a wholehearted supporter of Ogeechee Tech President Dawn Cartee’s ambition to form a Career Academy dual enrollment program between Bulloch County high schools and Ogeechee Technical College. “There are a lot of success stories from graduates of Ogeechee Tech,” she points out. “We could make education more available through a public school fund to help pay for programs the federal government can’t pay for.” “Plus, we remain concerned about high school dropout rates, and programs like dual enrollment between high schools and technical colleges greatly reduce the dropout rate,” Tankersley adds. Her concern extends to the whole, Clearly, Bulloch County with its vibrant Statesboro “epicenter” is successfully adapting to the changes of recent years, and preparing well for a prosperous future. not unusual for this community-involved public servant. Tankersley and all commissioners here underscore the county’s motto, “First in Safety and Service,” expressing the determination to effectively deliver services to county residents. Says Chairman Nevil, “The ultimate goal is continuous improvement and to provide value, knowing that the expectations of our citizens and guests must exceed our own. Bulloch County’s elected officials and employees clearly understand that we must be ethical and held accountable – as well as responsive.” Commissioners here also attest that they enjoy unusually excellent relationships with the county’s constitutional officers, which has helped the county restructure toward improving overall efficiency. Staff provide a high level of support for the commissioners. Under the direction of County Manager Tom Couch are new County Clerk Maggie Fitzgerald, former Public Information Officer for Statesboro, who holds an MPA from Georgia Southern; and department heads include Attorney Charles Brown, Staff Attorney Jeff S. Akins, Sheriff Lynn M. Anderson, Tax Commissioner James W. Deal, Probate Judge Lee H. Deloach, Clerk of Court Sherri Akins, Registrar Reginald Beasley, Purchasing Director Ken Trapnell, Deputy Clerk Regina BULLOCH COUNTY continued on page 19 JANUARY 2009 www.accg.org 17 http://www.accg.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Georgia County Government - January 2009

Georgia County Government - January 2009 Contents President’s Message County Matters Forward-Thinking Bulloch County Leaders Put Progress on the Front Burner Robert Farris: Champion for Georgia’s Forests ACCG, BCBS of Georgia Work Together to Improve County Employee Health Georgia’s Grand Old Courthouses: McIntosh County Extension News: Cooperative Extension Generates ROI Research Corner: How Does Your County Rate? County Parade Index of Advertisers

Georgia County Government - January 2009

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