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The Led County Ledger Your Hometown Source Of Local News Hometown Newspaper of Mary Ann Gates Volume XLVI- Number 2 Leesburg, Georgia - - September 13, 2023 Fifty Cents Leesburg Police Department Creates Command Staff During their meet ing September 5th, the Leesburg City Council was updated by Chief Chris Prokesh on establishing command staff positions within the police department to improve management operation. Chief Prokesh pointed out that because of the police departments size, multiple divisions and functions, and a 24/7 coverage schedule; it is impossible for one person to direct and effectively manage all operations around the clock. According to Chief Prokesh, the police department has three separate divisions that handle differing seg ments of the full-service police function. The di visions are patrol, SRO and criminal investiga tions. Senior officers di rectly under the chief assigned to each of the three divisions will be promoted to a rank and official capacity of re sponsibility to direct and manage their respective divisions. Greg Barrett will be promoted to Major and will be in the Patrol Division Commander/ Acting Asst. Chief.. Hank Vick will be promoted to Captain and will be the Chief Investigator. Jason Anthony will be promoted to Captain and will be the SRO Direc tor. Perry Hartley will be promoted to Lieutenant and will be the sec ond-in-command of the Patrol Division The Patrol Division is the ‘front-line’ police service function. The Patrol Division conducts the proactive routine pa trol and traffic enforce ment activities, as well as responds to all 911 emergency calls, alarms, non-emergency calls for service and motor vehi cle accidents. The Patrol Division has two squads of a day and night shift DOHERTY, DUGGAN, HART&TIERNAN INSURORS Home • Auto • Business • Life/Health P.O.Box 71628 (229)888-2040 Albany, GA 31708-1628 800-628-2040 2301 Dawson Road (31707) Fax (229) 435-3036 www.ddhtins.com Smithville City Council will meet Monday, Sept. 18 at 6:00 p.m. at the Community Building that rotate in a 14-day cycle to provide 24/7 coverage. At any given point in time, there are a minimum of two patrol division officers “on-ra dio” in direct contact with E-911. The SRO (School Resource Officer) di vision consists of eight officers that hold dual P.O.S.T. Certification for both Peace Officer and School Resource Officer. The SRO’s are assigned to handle all incidents occurring on school property, as well as school bus incidents and GHSA Athletic events at home and away. Additionally, the SRO’s act in the capac ity of a liaison between the city and the school board. The Criminal Investi gations Division (CID), investigates all felony criminal cases. The investigators take over following the initial report from the patrol division and handle a case to its completion until it is turned over to the district attorney’s office for grand jury indictment. Criminal Investigations Division consists of four (4) investigators. Two that work out of the main police office that handle crimes-against-persons and property-crimes on a Monday - Friday schedule in conjunction with the courts and the D.A.’s Office, as well as two that are assigned to the school. The city council ap proved a request from Cheryl Allison, Finance Director to utilize Ameris Bank to deposit excess reserve funds Emergency Services responded to 158 calls during the week of Sep tember 3 - 9, 2023. EMS Responses EMS responded to four calls for abdominal pain/problems. EMS responded to two calls for allergic reac tion/stings. EMS responded to five calls for altered mental status. EMS responded to four calls for assault. EMS responded to one call for back pain (non-traumatic). EMS responded to 11 calls for breathing problems. EMS responded to one call for carbon monox ide alarm. EMS responded to two calls for cardiac arrest/ death. EMS responded to eight calls for chest pain (non-traumatic). EMS responded to one to earn the maximum amount of interest possi ble. She said the city has four bank accounts that have reserve funds. The total of these accounts is $1.6 million. Cheryl Allison and Elaine Kent, consultant from Local Government Consulting Services, did extensive research During the Lee Coun ty Board of Education meeting September 11th, the board approved M & O and Bond Millage Rates. The 2023 school tax rates for Mainte nance and Operations is 17.000 Mills and Debt Service is .80 Mills. Those amounts are cer tified for the Lee County Board of Commission ers to include in the tax levy for 2023. The board of educa tion increased the 2023 property taxes it will levy by 13.55 percent over the rollback mill- age rate. The board held three public hearings to allow the public an opportunity to express their opinions on the increase. Dr, Truitt shared her plans for the next 90 days as Lee County’s new school superinten dent. From August to December, she said the first 90 days, is all about Listening, Learning and Leading. The Lee County School System has the reputation of academic excellence and extensive opportunities for students outside of the classroom. It is her intent to foster and nur ture continued efforts in these areas. She plans call for chronic illness/ medical condition. EMS responded to one call for diabetic prob lem. EMS responded to one call for eye problem/ injury. EMS responded to ten calls for falls. EMS responded to nine calls for fire stand by. EMS responded to one call for heart problems. EMS responded to four calls for medical alarm. EMS responded to three calls for overdose/ poisoning/ingestion. EMS responded to four calls for psychiat ric problem/abnormal behavior. EMS responded to 17 calls for sick person. EMS responded to one call for standby -football game. EMS responded to two calls for stroke/CVA. EMS responded to 11 on the best way to put the reserve funds to work for the city. They requested proposals re garding the use of these funds to earn the best interest on the money. Ameris Bank provides the maximum interest on the reserve funds. Annual net income on the $1.6 million will be to participate in listen ing sessions and focus groups. The school system was notified by Georgia Department of Revenue that a coding issue with the upgrade impacted the sales tax revenue process from September 2022 through August 18, 2023. The specific coding change caused certain return reve nue transactions to be excluded from revenue collected and distribut ed. With the adjustment at the end of August, Lee County will re ceive an additional $123,828.68. August’s SPLOST’s collection was $548,333.08 as compared to July’s total of $424,446.00. The board approved two requests for facil ity usage. The board approved Amelia Reed, the founder of the Brave Kindness Run to use the LCES bus & parking lot on February 17, 2024 for the annual kindness run. The proceeds from the event is donated to a worthy cause. The Chal lenger League will use the soccer complex/field day area for SPED kids September 16, 2023. Teaching and Learn ing Report update was calls for traffic/transpor tation incident. EMS responded to one call for transfer. EMS responded to four calls for unconscious/ fainting/near-fainting. EMS responded to two calls for unknown prob- lem/person down EMS responded to two calls for well person check. EMS made 111 emer gency service responses for the week. Fire Responses Fire department re sponded to five activated alarm calls. Fire department responded to 24 calls to assist EMS crew. Fire department responded to one call to assist police or other governmental agency. Fire department re sponded to one autho rized controlled burning call. Fire department $73,440.00 at an interest rate of 4.59%. The council approved Leesburg Methodist Church placement of a new illuminated sign. The city ordinance pro hibits illuminated signs in residential districts in which the church is lo cated. The current sign is also illuminated. presented to the board. The Georgia Early Literacy Act (HB 538) was explained. This bill addressed kindergarten through third grade reading. One way that instructional coaches support the teachers is to review instructional material that provides the best instruction for the students The aca demic coaches are also providing professional learning sessions on various topics identified by school improvement plans. End of Pathway responded to one call for dumpster or other outside trash receptacle fire. Fire department responded to two EMS calls. Fire department responded to one good intent call, other. Fire department responded to two grass fire calls. Fire department responded to seven calls for motor vehicle accidents. Fire department responded to two calls where no incident was found on arrival at dis patch address. Fire department re sponded to one call for unauthorized burning. Fire department responded to 47 calls during the week. Emergency Services responded to 158 calls during the week of Sep tember 3 -9, 2023. The council tabled the proposal to fill the Lee County Board of Health position vacated when Patricia Tharp moved from Leesburg. The board of health meets quarterly. Mayor Billy Breeden serves on that board. Assessment was high lighted with a compar ison to similar school systems. During their meeting September 11, the board approved the superin tendent’s recommenda tions for employment. The board approved Samantha Wholf as a LCPS special education paraprofessional and Karen Moncrief and Melissa Moore-Wil- liams as ELA interven tionist at LCMS East. Also approved were Althea Macklin as an adult leader for the extended day program, Linda King as a LCPS food assistant and Mary Stroud as a full time bus monitor. 8 10499 02456 8 Homeownership is within your reach, even if you don't have much to put toward a down payment. GCB has you covered with low mortgage insurance premiums. Contact us to get a quote today! Georgia Community Bank 3000 N. Slappey Blvd. (229) 446-0102 Online @ GCB.bank NMLS # 648124 Subject tO Member credit approval. FDIC | Lsi To Subscribe Call 229-759-2413 Lee County Fire and EMS Services responded to 158 Calls Board of Education Approves Millage Rate Dr. Kathleen Truitt was administered her oath of office by Superior Court Judge James Sizemore, to perform the duties of local school superintendent of the Lee County School System to the best of her ability.