Newspaper Page Text
Page 2A— Wednesday, December 22, 2021, The True Citizen
Board of Elections Director retires
The Board of Commissioners recognized Executive Director Lavern Sello December 14
for 17 years of service with the County’s Board of Elections office.
COUNTYTARGETST-HANGAR
DESIGNS FOR DOT FUNDING
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
The Board of Commission
ers recognized Executive Di
rector Lavern Sello December
14 for 17 years of service with
the County’s Board of Elec
tions office.
Sello began her career with
the County in 1990 as a poll
worker. Before that she assist
ed her husband in managing
the family’s business, Lonnie’s
Towing Service. She had also
worked in manufacturing.
“I was asked to help,” Sello
said of the poll worker posi
tion. “It started from there and
each time they had an election,
they would call me.”
She enjoyed the interaction
with the public and the voting
process enough to accept a
part-time position in the office.
“I was only supposed to
work there a year and ended
up staying until this year,” she
said with a smile on her face. “I
worked part-time for one year
and they moved me up to full
time in 2005 as a registrar.”
In 2016 Director Barbara
Hammett fell ill and Sello
stepped into her role. She ap
plied for the permanent posi
tion and was chosen to take
on the responsibility. Sello
developed a passion for her job
which sometimes presented
her with challenges.
“You have to have passion
during election time,” she
pointed out.
It was a desire to make sure
that voters were treated fairly
that kept her going. However,
in 2005 poll pads replaced
traditional voting methods and
Sello questioned her ability to
adapt.
“I thought ‘ I am going to
have to quit because I am not
going to be able to do a poll
pad,”’ she said. “But I got thru
it.” At 68 years old though, she
decided it was time to move on.
“Technology is changing so
much and I think a younger
person should be in with all
that new technology,” she said
but pointed out she does not
know what the answer is to
getting the young voters to par
ticipate in the election process.
“They just don’t want to
vote,” she said. “They just
don’t trust politicians any
more.”
Sello said all the years in
the elections office impressed
upon her a mindfulness of how
to treat people. She learned
how to control her own emo
tional response.
“I was always the type that
if you said something that was
out-of-the-way, I always had to
come back at you with some
thing,” she said. “I learned how
to control all of that.”
Like Sello, voting laws have
evolved during her time in
office. When she first started
precinct and polling place
changes involved a lengthy
process through the Depart
ment of Justice. It’s an easier
process now, through the state
Board of Elections office.
Recent changes to absentee
voting ballots seem restric
tive to voters, she said. Sello
disagrees.
“It’s not complicated,” she
said. “You can still apply for
your own absentee ballot or a
family member can apply for
them, other people just can’t
get your application and bring
it in.”
Sello said she would not
be surprised if online voting
becomes a thing in the future.
“I don’t think that would be
a good idea,” she said.
The County is currently
seeking Sello’s replacement.
Although her last day of em
ployment is December 30, she
intends to stick around long
enough to train the next person.
She may also volunteer to help
out in the office during future
elections. Other than that, she
plans to assist her husband
again with the family business
and to spend time with her two
new grandchildren.
“In all of my years, begin
ning as a poll worker, they were
good years,” she said. “There
were some ups and downs,
some seesaws, but all in all it
was a good experience.”
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
The Board of Commis
sioners voted unanimously
to adopt the first reading of
Ordinance 22-01 Decem
ber 14, which amends the
speed limit on four county
roads.
At the suggestion of the
Public Works Committee,
speed limits on Spring
Branch Church, Jack De-
Laigle, Johnson and Idle-
> wood Roads could soon
t be reduced to 45 mph. The
i BOC will decide in January
if the ordinance gets their
x final approval.
Construction at Burke
County Airport (BXG)
could be picking up speed
soon. The Georgia Depart
ment of Transportation has
funding that it needs to
use for Capital Projects on
airports across the state. In
order to secure that fund
ing , the county must have a
project designed and ready
to bid by March so that it
meets a contract deadline
of June 30. The BOC unani
mously approved a task or
der for consulting engineer
MaesAwyr for design and
bidding services. Hangar
construction is a top priori
ty after obstruction removal
and fuel system installa
tion, according to County
Manager Merv Waldrop.
The task order, not to ex
ceed $93,885.95, includes
completing a design for two
sets of T-hangers along with
paved taxi lanes, sitework
and bidding services. The
county will be responsible
for 5% of the cost.
Stating not enough infor
mation to determine impact
to the county budget, the
panel tabled Sheriff Al-
fonzo William’s request to
approve an agreement with
the City of Midville for law
enforcement services while
Midville conducts a search
for a new police chief.
f
Like Us On
Facebook
1 2.23.21
9:00AM - 5:30PM
LOOKING FOR A
LAST MINUTE
CHRISTMAS GIFT?
National Wreaths Across America Day
Waynesboro American Legion Post #120 conducted a cer
emony December 18 at Burke Memorial Gardens. Memorial
wreaths were placed at Burke Memorial as well as other
cemeteries in the area as part of the annual National Wreaths
Across America Day
Sheriff's case
Continued from front
attempt to work with the Sher
iff and denied that the panel
tried to block his efforts to
implement night shift differ
ential pay. A series of discus
sions and legal research took
place to see how the Sheriff’s
demands could be met. He
pointed out that the unusual
request presented many issues
that the county was unsure of
how to address. He admitted
the law provides no clarity on
who is responsible for process
ing payroll checks. He argued
that it leans, however, in the
county’s favor. He said the
law providess that the county
is responsible for health insur
ance benefits. A division of the
BCSO from the county would
also complicate workers’ com
pensation benefits.
County Manager Merv Wal
drop and Sheriff Alfonzo Wil
liams both took the stand and
answered questions.
Judge Stone did not make a
decision on the case but instead
gave both sides 15 days to sub
mit proposed consent orders
for his review.
According to Lleming, re
ferring the case to a jury trial
is a decision Stone could still
make.
Meet Burke County’s
Lt. Jason Buckley - Burke
Lt. Jason Buckley began his career with
Burke County Emergency Management
Agency in January 2007. He received his
initial medic training at Burke County EMA
and his initial firefighter training at
Martinez Fire Department. Lt. Buckley is
currently stationed at Burke County EMA
Engine Company 2 on Spring Branch
Church Road near Highway 23 on shift 2.
Buckley is a state-certified paramedic and
firefighter.
Lt. Buckley still resides in his hometown of
Trenton, South Carolina. His father was a
firefighter in Richmond County for 33
years, and he chose this career to follow
his father's footsteps. When not working,
he enjoys woodworking and riding his
motorcycle.
We appreciate your service to Burke
County Lt. Buckley!
County EMA Office
Officer Dylan Mobley ■ Waynesboro Police Deptartment
Dylan Mobley received his training from
Augusta Technical College and took his
first job with the Waynesboro Police
Department, where he has served on the
road patrol for the past two years. He is
the son of Monica Gandy and Robert
Mobley; brother to Bryson Gunn; and
grandson of Paul and Sharon Bennett.
Mobley resides in Burke County, his
hometown, and says he chose this
profession because he loves helping
people, especially during hard times. “My
favorite thing about the job,” he says, “is
being able to protect and serve and giving
back to the community that has given to
us.”
Proudly sponsored by:
IAYL0R flR(pE|S AUp SALES
1022 North Liberty Street, Waynesboro ■ 706-554-6974