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PAGE 6-B
GRAND JURY PRESENTMENTS
GEORGIA. HOUSTON COUNTY
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF HOUSTON
We the Grand Jury sworn for the July Term
through November Term, 1979, convened on
each of the following days: July 2, August 6 and
7, September 10 and 11, October 15 and 16,
November 26 and 27 and December 20
The Grand Jury was convened and the
following presentments were made:
1.
We considered 125 criminal indictments and
have returned 120 True Bills of indictment and 5
No Bills.
11.
Special investigation committees were
established to review the operation of specific
County operations. Our findings are as follows:
HOUSTON COUNTY BOARD OF COM
MISSIONERS
The Grand Jury had County Commissioner
Frank Rozar at the November Term on
November 26, 1979. Mr. Rozar was questioned on
all operations of the Board of Commissioners.
The first item discussed was registration of
mobile homes in the County. It was estimated
that there are some 4,000 mobile homes in the
County with about half being on the tax digest.
Mr. Rozar agreed that the County Com
missioners had been negligent in keeping up
mobile home registration, but steps are being
taken to correct this and keep it in check.
One such step is the hiring of a new employee
on November 26, 1979 for the purpose of locating
all mobile homes in the County, the make, size,
and location, and reporting all not registered to
Tax Commissioner. The new employee’s salary
will be approximately $7,200.00 per year, plus
SIO.OO per day for expenses. He will work out of
the building inspector’s office and will be hired
for one year. After this period there will not be
enough work to justify a full time employee. The
building inspector will handle the mobile home
registration after the first year. The new em
ployee will report to the Commissioners every
two weeks and will work with the Tax Com
missioner on a daily basis.
The County water department is paying for
itself at this point. A one million dollar expansion
program will begin January 1, 1980 in the upper
end of the County. There are no plans for ex
pansion in lower end at the present time. A
problem appears to be developing in sections of
the County due to drilling of deep wells for farm
irrigation and depletes the water level for the
area. Future investigation may be required in
this area.
The County does not pave roads in sub
divisions, but the specifications have to be ap
proved by the State and accepted by the County.
All work in subdivisions such as pipes, ditches,
and driveways are paid for by the individual
owner.
The paving of Tucker Road extension has
priority over other County roads because
Legislature told County if they paved the road
that the State would pay all expenses.
Houston County Commissioners’ only
responsibility concerning food stamps is to pay
for the issuance which amounts to about $19,000
per year. At this time the issuance is handled by
the U.S. Post Office. County Commissioners
explored the idea of the Department of Family
and Children’s Services handling the issuance of
the food stamps. They now have a new director
and will explore idea with him.
Mr. Rozar also said the County Commissioners
will look into the way other counties handle the
food stamp program and explore possibilities of
reducing the cost of issuing the stamps.
Three cameras have been approved for the
County Jail and will be installed in the very near
future.
Recommendations:
1. The Grand Jury recommends that a
feasibility study be made for reporting the en
tering of mobile homes into the County for
taxable purposes.
2. The Grand Jury recommends that the new
employee hired for registration of mobile homes
be assigned to Tax Commissioners office and
work directly with the Tax Commissioners.
3. The Grand Jury recommends that the
County Commissioners reauest a feasibility
study from the Department of Family and
Children Services on the distribution of food
stamps.
HOUSTON COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT
The following departments were visited:
1. Houston County Sheriff’s Department
2. Perry Police Department;
3. Warner Robins Police Department.
Perry Police Department:
The Committee met with Chief Dennard for
this inspection, which he personally conducted,
and he answered all questions very satisfac
torily. The facility housed no prisoners at the
lime of our visit, but were found to be adequate,
clean and all procedures being followed in ac
cordance with existing laws and regulations.
The Committee wishes to thank Chief Dennard
for his personal interest in our visit and to
commend him for his efficient operation of this
Department.
Warner Robins Police Department:
The Committee met with Chief Billy Hunter
and Major Tommy Wright for our inspection of
this department. All facits of this operation were
found to be most adequate and clean. We
commend this department on its new radio
control area and its re-alignment of the housing
of the Detective Division. Our appreciation to
Chief Hunter for his courtesy and additionally
for such an effective operation.
HOUSTON COUNTY CORRECTIONAL IN
STITUTE AND HOUSTON COUNTY JAIL
On October 16. 1979, the Houston County
Correctional Institute and Houston County Jail
were inspected by the Grand Jury members.
Facilities at the Correctional Institute were
more than adequate. Cleanliness throughout the
building was outstanding. Television sur
veillance cameras provide firstrate security.
The Correctional Institute has a capacity of 107,
and when the Grand Jury visited, there were 95
prisoners.
The Houston County Jail Facilities were found
to be adequate; however, a stricter cleanliness
program should be implemented. The County
Jail has a capacity of 76. and when the Grand
Jury visited, there were 59 inmates. Records
°~* inmate had been there since March
23, 1979. This is a period of over six months. We
recommend that every effort be made to bring
these old cases to trial as soon as possible.
We commend the officials of both the County
Correctional Institute and the County Jail for
their cooperation with this Grand Jury.
THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND
CHILDREN SERVICES
On October 24, 1979, the Grand Jury Com
mittee met with Mrs. Connette Gayle, Acting
Director, and Mr. Emory Fullington, Deputy
Acting Director, of the Houston County
Department of Family and Children Services.
The following report is the result of that meeting.
Houston County Department of Family and
Children Services has 56 employees. There are 28
employees located in the Perry Office and 28
employees located in the Warner Robins Office.
The programs, administrative costs, and
salaries are federal and state funded. Houston
County allocates $17,871.00 per year, which is
disbursed as follows: Board Members’ Travel
Expense - $600.00; Board Liability Insurance -
$30.75, Special Needs for Children in Foster
Homes - $6,000.00; 25 percent of salaries for three
Homemakers - $7,452.00; Travels Supplement for
Training - S9OO 00; and Supplies - $2,888.25. This
agency is counseled by five Board Members,
who are appointed for five year terms.
Recent implemented changes in bookkeeping
and accounting procedures have resulted in
internal check and balance procedures, which
meet and exceed regional and state guidelines.
The Aid to Families with Dependent Children
is an assistance program through which
financial aid is provided to needy children who
are deprived of the support of one or both
parents. There are 780 families presently
receiving this aid in Houston County. Recipients
must register for the Work Incentive Program
(WIN) and must accept suitable offers of em
ployment unless they are exempt. The Agency,
along with the District Attorney’s Office and
State Child Support Recovery Unit, attempt to
obtain child support from absent parents for
AFDC recipients.
Georgia Law provides penalties for persons
who receive or attempt to receive public funds
illegally and require repayment of these funds.
The Department of Family and Children Ser
vices are processing such fraud cases on a local
level and are referring results of such in
vestigations ot State Agencies who are
responsible for reporting said cases to the local
District Attorney’s Office for prosecution. Ap
parently, there are problems which exist at the
State level, which result in unnecessary delays in
the prosecution of such cases.
There are $1,442 households receiving food
stamps at this time. The food stamps in Houston
County are distributed by the Post Offices in
Perry and Warner Robins at a cost to the County
of sl.lO per transaction. This results in a monthly
cost of $1,586.20 or an annual cost of $19,034.40 to
administer this program.
Houston County has 1,400 persons receiving
Medicade benefits in addition to the Aid to
Families with Dependent Children recipients.
Medicade provides medical assistance for
persons who cannot afford to pay for medical
care.
Other services provided by the Department of
Family and Children Services include: Family
Planning Service; Work Incentive Program;
Homemakers Service; Protection Service for
Adults; Protection Service for Children;
Placement Service for Foster Care; Information
and Referrals; Home Management; Child Care;
Employability: Health Related Services in
cluding psychological, psychiatric, and speech
evaluation. The Family Unit is providing in
tensive casework to 170 families and-or adults.
Information and Referral Services are given to
approximately 700 individuals each month. The
Place and Protective Services to Children Unit
are providing services to 314 children. Houston
County has 24 Foster Care Homes with 28
children in Foster Care.
The Agency provides volunteer opportunities
for individuals or groups in providing services to
AFDC Recipients. Additional volunteers are
continually needed to continue various services
within the Agency. Interested individuals,
church groups, civic organizations and others
are urged to contact the Department of Family
and Children Services as to areas which they
may wish to assist.
The Agency has assisted in the development
and-or support of the following community
resources: PAL Project; Parents Anonymous;
Food Bank; Council on Aging; and Child Ad
vocacy Groups.
The Agency solicits funds throughout the year
from individuals; civic groups; businesses; and
churches to meet special needs of the people of
Houston County. These funds are used to
provide; Christmas and summer activities for
children in Foster Homes; Reimbursement for
volunteers to transport clients to non-medical
facilities; Medical assistance to clients not
eligible for Medicaid; and Additional food for the
Food Bank.
The Acting Director and Deputy Acting
Director of the Agency stated that the two
existing facilities located in Perry and Warner
Robins were adequate; however, they suggested
that a possible savings and improved services
might result in the combination of both offices at
one central location.
The Committee makes the following recom
mendations for consideration of this Grand
Jury:
(1) Recommend that the Board Members of
the Department of Family and Children Services
review, on a monthly basis, bookkeeping
procedures to insure compliance with internal,
regional, and state guidelines.
(2) Recommend that local representatives and
legislators address themselves to the apparent
time lag at state levels pertaining to welfare
fraud cases which result in unnecessary delays
in the prosecution of such cases. Further,
recommend that through local newspapers and
public service programs, individual citizens be
encouraged to report any knowledge of possible
fraud cases to the proper authorities.
(3) Recommend that the Agency prepare and
forward to the Houston County Commissioners
an alternative plan for the distribution of food
stamps at existing offices of the Department of
Family and Children Services, which would
result in a savings in expenditures to the County.
(4) Recommend that a feasibility study be
made between the Department of Family and
Children Services and the Houston County
Commissioners as to the possible savings and
improved services which would result in the
combination of both facilities in one central
location.
COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM
The Library Committee visited the County
Libraries of Perry, Warner Robins, and Cen
terville on Monday, September 24, 1979.
The average per capita book usage for Houston
County exceeds the National average. The
current monthly average of check-outs is 20,000
for Warner Robins, 10,000 for Perry, and 3,000 for
Centerville. This usage results in a heavy
HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1979
“wear and tear” rate on books.
The hours available for use of the Library
facilities appear to be adequate for patrons.
Change in hours would necessitate additional
personnel.
The Mobile Book Service provides books to
Nursing Homes and Senior Citizens.
The Perry Library does all the cataloging and
repairs of books for all libraries in the County.
The planned extension for the Perry Library
will provide for much needed space for
operation. The Warner Robins Library has
adequate book space and is effectively utilized
for the activities. The library space at Cen
terville is inadequate for the current operation.
There are no restrooms adjacent to the area and
necessitates the one person on duty to take the
telephone off the hook and leave the library
unattended to use the restrooms in the City Hall.
The Library System loses the assigned CETA
spaces in October, 1979, and is authorized two
additional full-time personnel. There are
presently eight senior citizens who work twenty
houss a week, minimum wage. Teh planned
staffing will not be sufficient to provide required
services to the library patrons. At Centerville a
volunteer is utilized to assist the librarian on
duty during the busy hours and to have an
available person in teh library.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is recommended that the manpower
requirements of the County Libraries be re
reviewed by the Library Board and con
sideration be given for additional full-time
personnel and-or use of additional senior
citizens.
Also recommended is that every effort be
made to provide additional space for Centerville
Library facility with consideration given to the
problem of restroom facilities, together with the
limited manning of the library.
SOLICITORS OFFICE
Jack Kemp, Solicitor, state Court of Houston
County appeared before this body to discuss the
bad check situation in Houston County on a
county-wide basis.
During the period September 1, 1978, through
August 31, 1979, the State Court of Houston
County collected $59,555.87 in restitution, costs
and fines in bad check cases for an average of
$4963.00 per month.
The Solicitor pointed out that lengthy jail
sentences are not uncommon for repeat bad
check offenders but that routine offenders are
normally placed on probation to allow them to
make restitution and at the same time not
become a burden on the taxpayer.
It was disclosed that excluding lost income of
the person confined and welfare payments to his
or her family during confinement that the daily
costs of confinement exceeds $14.00 per day as
opposed to approximately SI.OO per day for
probation.
It was acknowledged that in today’s credit
economy that checks are away of life in the
merchant community but it was emphasized
that the merchant must use caution in accepting
checks to avoid unnecessary losses by failure to
require proper identification and follow a proper
check cashing procedure.
Os the last 93 bad check warrants issued by the
State Court of Houston County it was pointed out
that 72 percent had been accepted with
inadequate information noted on the check.
In order to reduce the number of bad checks in
Houston County is was recommended that a
strict system of identification and procedure be
instituted by each merchant and that certain
changes be made in state law to afford the party
accepting checks additional protection.
The Solicitor issued a special word of thanks to
the following persons for their assistance to his
office in reducing the flow of bad checks in
Houston County: Paul C. Armitage, Judge, State
Court of Houston County; Ray Bliss, Clerk,
State Court of Houston County; John Trussell,
Chief Probation Supervisor, Houston Judicial
Circuit and Cullen Talton, Sheriff, Houston
County.
BOARD OF EDUCATION
The committee for the Board of Education met
with Mr. David Perdue, Houston County
Superintendent of Schools on November 19, 1979
and was briefed on school operations.
We found the Board od Education working on
plans for quality education in the entire Houston
County School Systems.
The Houston County Board of Education has
increased its focus on teacher competency and is
presently assessing the performance of every
teacher in the system. The State of Georgia has a
teacher evaluation plan underway to ensure
hiring of competent teachers.
Discipline is better than it has been in previous
years, and parent cooperation with school ad
ministrators has improved.
There is an immediate need for funds to make
additions to current school facilities in order to
provide adequate academic curriculum for the
students enrolled in Houston County Schools. The
need for additional improvements and ex
pansions are due largely to state requirements
for increase in teacher to pupil ratio, adding
kindergartens, handicap and other new
programs.
The maintenance shops in Perry and Warner
Robins are to be commended for the repair and
upkeep of 62 school busses owned by the county.
There appears to be an urgent need for ad
ditional floor space in the repair facility in
Warner Robins.
An inventory needs to be maintained of all the
machinery, tools, supplies, and equipment in the
bus and maintenance shops. The inventory list
should reflect name, manufacturer, serial and
model number (if applicable) and quantity on
hand.
Special teacher aide programs are provided
for students to increase their skills in Reading,
Math, and other subjects.
The schools and departments inspected were
very cooperative and professional.
The committee commends the Houston County
Board of Education for the excellent job they are
doing. Mr. David Perdue and the entire
Department is to be commended for the ef
ficiency, dedication and loyalty to the Board of
Education.
Recommendations:
1. The Grand Jury recommends an inventory
be set up with identification of tools, equipment,
and parts at maintenance shops for school buses.
2. The Grand Jury also recommends a
feasibility, study be made in regards to repair
facilities in Warner Robins.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Members of the Grand Jury inspected the
facilities and equipment of the six (6) County and
two (2) City Fire Departments.
The City of Perry has one (1) station staffed by
seven (7) regulars and 16 volunteers. The City
of Perry pays its volunteers per fire they assist
at.
The City of Warner Robins has four (4)
stations. One of which has been recently built on
the corner of Carl Vinson and Fieldstone. This
station has all the up-to-date equipment. Warner
Robins stations are staffed by 59 regulars, 4 in
training.
The fire departments of Perry and Warner
Robins were found to be in excellent condition.
County stations are located at Centerville,
Bonaire-Kathleen, Elberta, Hayneville, Hen
derson, and Lake Joy.
Centerville has one station staffed by volun
teers. Station and equipment are in excellent
condition.
Bonaire-Kathleen has one station staffed by 27
volunteers. Station and equipment are in ex
cellent condition.
Elberta has one station. This station has been
built within the past year. It is staffed with 16
volunteers. Top soil for the lawn would greatly
improve the appearance of the outside. Their
new truck has an air pressure leak. It has been
taken back to the dealer in Atlanta for repair, but
it has not been fixed. At the present time it takes
15 minutes to build up air pressure; this time
would be vital in saving a home on fire. Since
taking this equipment to Atlanta for repair
works a hardship for the volunteers, it has been
suggested that equipment be bought locally so
repairs could be done locally.
Hayneville has one station staffed by 18
volunteers. It is the oldest station and has the
oldest equipment. Its equipment is in good
working order and the station in excellent
condition.
Henderson has one station staffed by 24
volunteers 8 of whom are women. The station
and equipment are in excellent condition.
A need for a rescue unit in the South end of the
County was expressed.
Lake Joy has one station staffed by 10
volunteers. The station and equipment are in
excellent condition. There is a need to have some
adjoining land cleared of underbrush so firemen
driving the trucks have a clear view of the high
way thus avoiding a serious accident. At the
present time this situation is being looked into.
The County fire departments have expressed a
need for a paid coordinator to coordinate the
workings of the six stations and see to their
needs.
The Grand Jury Members would like to
commend the City and County firemen for their
fine work. It was indeed a pleasure to find such
dedicated men and women doing such a fine job
and liking what they’re doing.
R ecommendations:
The Grand Jury recommends the County
Commissioners make a feasible study into the
need of a paid County co-ordinator for the six
County Fire Departments.
TAX COMMISSIONER
The Committee for the Tax Commissioner met
with Ms. Joyce Griffin, Houston County Tax
Commissioner, on October 9, 1979 and was
briefed on operations of the Office.
Ms. Griffin advised that two accounts are
delinquent for 1977 in the amount of $2,149.00.
There has been $8,093,359.68 in taxes collected in
1979. There are 499 accounts delinquent for 1978
in the amount of $97,021.32. No tax records were
reviewed due to Grand Jury inspection of that
Office during the first six months of 1979.
The Tax Commissioner’s Office appears to be
operating in a very efficient manner. Ms. Griffin
and her personnel should be commended for an
excellent job being done, for their dedication to
the duties of that Office, and for service rendered
to the tax payers of Houston County.
VOTING MACHINES:
The Grand Jury Committee inspected the the
County voting machines on September 13, 1979.
The committee would like to commend Mr. Bill
Cox for the cooperation and the care of the
County voting machines. We found that Mr. Cox
and his staff are well qualified and doing an
excellent job.
Recommendations:
1. Grand Jury recommends that a truck be
purchased and equipped with a back lift to
transport the voting machines to and from the
precincts. It is our opinion that this vehicle could
eliminate the excessive damage received in
transporting these machines. This truck could
also be used for many other county purposes.
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF SAID COUNTY
We, the Houston County Grand Jury, sworn for
the November Term, 1979, convened on the 20th
day of December, and fixes The Jury Com
mission’s pay at $20.00 per day.
This Grand Jury fixes the Grand Jurors and
Traverse Jurors’ pay at $12.00 per day for 1980.
This Grand Jury fixes The Bailiff’s pay at
$30.00 per day for 1980.
This Grand Jury endorses the recom
mendation of the past Grand Juries in
establishing policies permitting all employees of
The Board of Education and other related in
dustries to retain the daily Juror expenses
allowance without deduction from their regular
salaries.
Respectfully submitted this 20th day of
December, 1979.
Aleck W. Speer, Mrs. John H. Griscom, Newman
L. Moore, Mrs. Doris C. Brown, Marjorie C.
Daniel, Teddie Griffin, Lee W. Martin, Doris D.
King, J. Glenn Heard, Mrs. John A. Bailey, Jr.,
Gertrude D. Miller, John Ray Moore, Betty J.
Lowe, Nancy M. Colder, Willie Stubbs, J.W.
McDowell, Selma Timmons, James W. Stubbs,
Jr., Thelma M. Angley, Mrs. Robert E. Byrd,
Joseph E. Goodroe, Sr., Iris H. Tedders, Cuma
M. Coons.
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF SAID COUNTY
The above and foregoing General Present
ments of the July-November Terms, 1979, Grand
Jury of said Court are hereby received and or
dered recorded by the Clerk of said Court in the
manner prescribed by law.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the said
Presentments be published in the official gazette
of said County, the Houston Home Journal, as
recommended therein, the reasonable charges
for such publication to be paid out of the County
Treasury as other expenses are paid.
SO ORDERED in Open Court, this 20 day of
December, 1979.
Hal Bell Stephen Pace, Jr
Senior Superior Court Judge District Attorney
CLERK’S OFFICE. SUPERIOR COURT
I, Carolyn V. Sullivan, Deputy Clerk of the
aforesaid Court, do hereby certify that the within
and foregoing pages hereto attached contain a
true, correct and complete copy of the General
Presentments of the July-November Terms 1979
Grand Jury of said Court, as same appear of file
and record in said office.
Witness my Official Signature and the Seal of
said Court, affixed this the 20th day of Decem
ber, 1979.
Carolyn V. Sullivan
Deputy Clerk,
Houston Superior Court