From Staff Reports
The Post-Searchlight

Recently, the Decatur County Board of Commissioners voted to consolidate the county’s planning department with the City of Bainbridge’s Community Development Division, which includes the Planning Department for the City.

The merger of county and city building departments will allow contractors to visit one location to obtain permits for all work, regardless of whether or not the construction takes place inside or outside of city limits.

According to Decatur County Administrator Alan Thomas, the decision to merge will be cost effective and provide a more uniform process for builders.

The County’s inspection duties will now fall under the Bainbridge-Decatur Marshals Office, and Chief Marshal Keith Pollock. Chief Pollock will be evaluating building plans, and enforcing building codes, as well as other ordinances related to building and land-use regulations. With the expansion of the Marshals office, applicants are being sought for a Code Enforcement Officer / Deputy Marshal to assist Chief Pollock with enforcing codes in the county as well as the city.

Pollock has worked with the City of Bainbridge for twenty years and currently serves at Chief Marshal and Building Official. He previously served as an officer with Bainbridge Public Safety.

Pollock holds Level 1, Level 2, and Master Certifications in Code Enforcement from the University of Georgia and is currently pursuing his Level 3 Management certification. He also holds a Level 1 Inspector certification through the Building Officials Association of Georgia; is certified as a Storm Water Inspector; is certified in Soil Erosion at Levels 1 and 2; and has extensive experience in planning and zoning in areas such as Historic Preservation Ordinances and Tree Ordinances.

In addition to code enforcement expertise, Pollock holds twenty years of Law Enforcement certification, is certified through the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police as a Police Chief, and is a certified Fire Fighter.

He is married to Bobbi and they have an 11 year old son, Kaden, who attends Hutto Middle School.

Assistant City Manager and Community Development Director Roy Oliver stated that Pollock is a valuable asset to the City of Bainbridge and Decatur County and will do an extraordinary job expanding his knowledge and expertise on a county-wide basis.

Pollock stated, “I am looking forward to the opportunity to serve all of Bainbridge and Decatur County.”