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The Decatur County Commissioners met on Tuesday evening for their second meeting of the month. There were only two items listed on the evening’s agenda: a request from the district attorney, and a consideration of appointments.

First, District Attorney Joseph Mulholland requested American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, specifically to be divided amongst the five counties in the south Georgia judicial circuit (Baker, Calhoun, Decatur, Grady and Mitchell). “With ARPA funding, we have been able to employ two Assistant District Attorneys and one Investigator,” Mulholland wrote in his initial request. “Due to COVID limitations, we have incurred an unusual amount of back-logged cases. These new positions have supported our efforts to reduce this backlog, while addressing new cases… As we continue to further reduce this backlog of cases and provide quality prosecution-based services, it is essential that we continue to receive the ARPA funding.” According to Mulholland, in order to be considered eligible for ARPA funding, the DA’s office must make a request for the funds from county governments. The total amount requested was $106,500, which would be divided among the circuit’s five counties; this brings the total amount for Decatur County to $34,186.

“We respectfully ask that you consider our request for ARPA funds in support of our attempts to continue and improve our efforts to provide quality services within our circuit, that the ARPA funding has thus far supported,” Mulholland concluded in the written request.

After hearing the DA request, several appointments whose terms are approaching expiration were considered: John Marshall and Dr. Frank Flowers to serve three year terms for the planning commission; Ted Martin to serve a four year term at the development authority; Steve Brock for a one year term as a county appointee for the regional commission; Billy Poppell for a one year term to the public sector for the regional commission; Larry Nichols to serve at the Georgia Pines Community Service Board for a two year term; Gina Burke to serve a four year term at the Board of Elections; and Tynese Jones to serve a three year term at the Recreation Authority. All of these appointments were confirmed at the meeting.

The next commissioner’s meeting will be scheduled for Tuesday, December 13, 9:00 AM, at the county commissioner’s office.