Newspaper Page Text
Page 2— Wednesday, August 30, 2023, The True Citizen
Department heads make requests
as budget talks continue
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
County Extension Coordina
tor Peyton Sapp began the Au
gust 18 budget session with a
request for funding for another
county agent.
Historically, Burke County
has employed two agricultural
agents. However, in 2019 the
second position was vacated
when the agent accepted em
ployment in Jenkins County.
The BOC had the funds set
aside to refill the position, but
then UGA made budget cuts
and wasn’t prepared to provide
their portion of the benefit
funding. UGA is now prepared
to provide their partial funding
for the position.
Sapp says there is a need for
two agents. Burke County’s
total farm gate value for 2022
was $ 190,231,307. In compari
son to other counties across
the state, Burke County ranks
first in the production of com,
sixth in soybean production,
eleventh in peanut produc
tion and fourteenth in cotton
production.
Animals Services Director
Chaddrick Parrish approached
the board asking for a new
facility, estimated at $500,000.
So far this year, the shelter has
experienced a 39% increase in
their animal population com
pared to last year. Originally,
contracting animal services to
outlying cities was not consid
ered during the design of the
building. However, two Burke
County cities have signed on
for animal services and two
more cities are showing in
terest in contracting with the
county department.
“All day, every day, every
kennel generally has some
thing in it,” Parrish said. “One
leaves and two more come in.”
<n
ID
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Animal Services Director Chaddrick Parrish (right) weighed in
on Planning Commission Building Official Scott Lee’s request
for a raise for his department’s clerk.
County Extension Coordinator Peyton Sapp began the August
18 budget work session with a request for the funding to hire
a second ag agent.
Parrish is requesting the
funding for a stand-alone
building, equipped with heat
ing and air that will be utilized
solely for kennel space.
The Burke County shelter
has passed state inspections
with flying colors, avoiding
even minor infractions, Par
rish reported. The Department
of Agriculture has referred
other animal shelter agencies to
consult with the Burke County
facility for advisement on how
to meet state protocols.
“I patted my staff on the back
for that last week,” Parrish said
and pointed out the facility
has achieved that g^
status after less
than four years of ’
operation. ®
TRANSPARENCY
•;/accountability
TRUST WORTHINESS
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LEWIS
FOR MAYOR
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