BOA chairman promises digest will be ‘on time’ in 2009

“Gentleman, your digest will be on time this year, I promise,” Ragland stated.

The statement came during a special meeting called Wednesday, primarily to hear the BOA’s recommendation for a chief appraiser to replace James Flynt, whose contract expired on Dec. 31.

But the BOA failed to have such a recommendation for commissioners, voting 3-2 during their own meeting the previous Monday to deny the recommendation of their lead candidate, Carey Lamb, of Swainsboro, for the position.

The BOA meeting also resulted in the resignation of two of the five assessor board members – Larry Stewart, the former vice-chair and three-and-a-half year veteran of the board, resigned at the end of the Monday meeting, while Bob Fowler, who had served on the board since last March, officially resigned on Wednesday. Stewart has said he will stay on the board until Feb. 1; Fowler made his own resignation effective immediately. Both Stewart and Fowler had supported the recommendation of Lamb. During that same meeting, Ragland, the newest member of the board, was voted, also 3-2, as the new BOA chairman, while former chairman Samantha Garland took the vice-chairman position from Stewart.

But Ragland said despite these difficulties, the county’s tax appraisal office will work hard to get the digest out on time. And he said the assessor board will work with “due diligence” to find a new chief appraiser that is “the best recommendation for taxpayers,” one that will not allow them to “lapse back into what we have just experienced.”

“I’m asking for your consideration, help and support,” Ragland told commissioners.

Ragland said the tax appraisal office is running “proficiently” under the guidance of the board and staff member Stacey Rubio, who was named the office’s “lead person” by the BOA during their continued search for a chief appraiser.

District 5 Commissioner Bruce Scogin suggested that perhaps Rubio could be named chief appraiser if the applicant search drags on too long. The BOC discussed the fact that a new chief appraiser is needed as soon as possible to ensure that the 2009 digest preparation and appraisal process moves forward. The county has not had an “on-time” digest in a number of years.

Ragland promised that the board will continue to work diligently to secure a good candidate.

“As soon as we have someone who passes our criteria you’ll be the first to know,” Ragland promised.
District 4 commissioner Mike Youngblood told Ragland he and the board has his “full support.”

“I know there’s been some bickering, but I hope that’s been honed out and I have confidence that you’ll do a good job,” Youngblood said. “… If there’s any way I can help you, let me know.”

In another matter, the BOC approved a design and survey contract by Rochester and Associates (expected to cost between $10,000 — $15,000) in order to estimate repairs to a washed-out bridge on Sam Bruce Road in the Harrison District. The matter of whether or not to repair the bridge remains under litigation between the county and landowner Marion “Hoss” Cartwright, who opposes the bridge’s repair.
County attorney Mike Pruett said a hearing was held on the litigation several weeks ago, at which the counsel for all parties agreed on this course of action that allows the litigation to proceed. Pruett said by e-mail Monday that the results of that work, which will tell (the BOC) not only the cost, but design options, regulatory permitting requirements, and other details, will presumably give the commissioners the information they need to proceed.

In other action, the board also chose commissioner Scogin to serve as BOC vice-chairman for 2009.