Bell To Stay Commission Chair in 2016

Stephens County Commissioners choose to stay with Dennis Bell as the board’s chair for another year.

At a called meeting on Tuesday, the commission voted unanimously to select Bell as the Chairman for 2016.

Bell said he appreciates the board’s confidence in nominating him as the commission chairman for the second straight year.

“I am very humbled by the vote of confidence that they have given me and I will tell you like I told you last year, I will do everything in my power to do the best that I can,” said Bell.

Bell said in 2016, he wants to see the county continue work on two of his goals from 2015 on which progress has already been made, working on the county’s roads and bringing jobs and economic development to the county.

Also, Bell said he looks forward to the completion of three new fire station buildings early this year.

“That should happen around the end of February,” said Bell. “That will help a tremendous amount of people out with their homeowners’ insurance and stuff like that. Plus it will give a lot more safety to the communities as well.”

Stephens County is using SPLOST VI money to build fire stations on North Holcomb Drive and Red Bluff Road to provide more coverage to the Big Smith Fire Department, and on Black Mountain Road to provide more coverage to the Shiloh Fire Department.

Meanwhile, one new thing Bell said he wants to look at this year is the retirement system for the county’s employees.

“I do want to say that county employees, the retirement rate they have right now is pitiful,” said Bell. “That is one thing I will stand up for this year is to make sure our county employees get a better retirement system to what they have right now.”

After selecting Bell as Chairman, the board voted unanimously to name Commissioner Debbie Whitlock as the Vice-Chair.

Also on Tuesday, the board voted unanimously to re-appoint Beth Rider as County Clerk and Sanders, Ranck, and Skilling as the county attorney.

The board also voted to keep its meeting dates and times the same.

In 2016, the county commission will continue to meet on the second Tuesday of the month at 8:30 a.m. and the fourth Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m.

All meetings will be at the historic Stephens County Courthouse in downtown Toccoa.