Commissioners honor David Walker

The Houston County Board of Commissioners named Attorney David Walker an honorary engineer on Tuesday. The board presented Walker, who has retired but still remains active to some degree, with a plaque for his many years of service to the citizens of Houston County by giving his legal expertise in the roadwork process and improving transportation for county citizens. Chairman Tommy Stalnaker expressed his gratitude to Walker, stating that it was an honor to be able to recognize him, and that Walker had done an outstanding job.

Director of Operations Robbie Dunbar echoed Stalnaker’s sentiment. “An attorney is very much a without you,” Dunbar said.

Stalnaker added that he looks forward to continuing a working relationship with Walker and continuing to call on him in the future.

Also acknowledged by the Board were Commissioner Tom McMichael and Commissioner Larry Thomson. The commissioners were honored at the annual Robins Regional Chamber of Commerce Pinnacle Awards as recipients of the Charlie L. Jones Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award. The two commissioners were presented with a framed copy of the comments that were made about them at the award ceremony.

Both McMichael and Thomson announced at the end of last year that neither of them would be seeking reelection. At the end of his term McMichael will have contributed 24 years of service to the county as a commissioner. Thomson will have given 21 years.

An adjustment was approved to the county budget to favorably affect the retirement and health insurance plans of county employees.

“We had said if we had a good fiscal year we would do something for the employees, and that’s what we plan on doing today, is return some of the benefits back to the employees for the good year,” Stalnaker said. He went on to explain that there are a number of reason that the county had a good fiscal year for 2019, but one is the employees’ frugal spending of the county budget. Stalnaker also gave thanks to the employees on their efforts.

In addition to the budget adjustment, there was also a 2% salary increase passed to be effective March 10 for all merit system employees, full-time county elected and appointed officials as well as salary adjustments on supplements for all full-time county employees receiving county supplements.

Also approved by the board was an independent contractor agreement for the Houston County Medical Examiner position. Dr. Melissa A. Sims-Stanley has agreed to fill the role. Sims-Stanley recently retired from the GBI Crime Lab, where all of Houston County’s autopsies are currently performed. Sims-Stanley will perform these autopsies for the county on an on-call, part-time basis, whenever law enforcement or the coroner requires her services. All autopsies that are the product of a homicide, or are to be preformed on children 17 years of age or younger, are to continue to be sent to the GBI crime lab.

In other business, the county approved a request from the department of public works to enter into an agreement with American Forest Management to harvest and sell timber on 72 County-owned tracts at the landfill. American Forest Management recommends Rozier Forest Productions at the highest estimated value of $174,000. Commissioner McMichael raised the question of replanting, to which Chairman Stalnaker responded that it would probably be a year, citing concerns over watering issues if replanting was to begin in the summer months.

HHJ News