Board Agenda Routine But Sheriff's Report Shows True Numbers

Courtsey of WRBE, Your HomeTown Radio
The George County Board of Supervisors met for their regular first-of-the-month meeting on Monday with several road issues, bid openings, which was taken under advisement and a couple of travel approvals for Fire Coordinator Lorriane Howell to attend a regional meeting in Gulfport and for Circuit Clerk James Cochran to carry the executive election committee to an election training session in Hattiesburg.The board did accept a request by Duke Energy Gas Transmission, LLC in reference to the pipeline which is schedule to cross the county in the near future. They also requested more quotes on work to be done at the Drug Court Building and voted to get specs on repairs and work needed on the south roof of the courthouse.The board heard a request from School Superintendent Donnie Howell to assistance with dirt work to be done at the site of the new construction of the high school soccer field, which is scheduled to be completed by October 2008. Board President Kelly Wright told Howell that the supervisors had several big projects coming up but would be able to work out a schedule to assist with the dirt project.During the meeting, Sheriff Garry Welford submitted a report to the board on the activity of his department in 2006. The report showed that the sheriff's department work load was up from the previous year with 700 more felony arrest in 2006 than in '05; with the total arrest and citations up by 33.5 % from 2005, and up by 90% from 2004 numbers. The report stated that drug cases was up by 49.5 % but the manufacturing and use of meth was actually down.“We have put a lot of emphasis on the meth problem and it has paid off, Welford stated, but said other drug uses are up. Welford pointed out that his department has lost several experienced deputies and narcotics officers to better paying jobs; and the department has seen an increase in all types of calls since Hurricane Katrina.The report also showed an increase in juveniles detained by 23% from 2005 and by 122% from 2004, which also meant an increase in travel to detention centers and training schools.Vehicles accidents worked by the sheriff's department had increased by 39% and the total of 16,000 more calls were answered in 2006 than in 2005.Welford told the board that the county was growing and his department was struggling to keep up with the demand. He pointed out that with the loss of experience deputies meant more expense to the county in training new deputies, he said that the 2006 loses amounted to more than 40 years combined experience. “I personally believe it is more economical to adjust salaries than to train new officers,” but told the board that he needed their support and budgetary processing to do that.

A complete copy of the Sheriff's Report can be read below...