Hart County Board of Commissioners

The board of commissioners of Hart County consists of five members, elected as provided in the Hart County Code of Ordinances. Each candidate for membership on the board is a resident of the district in which he or she represents and is elected by a majority vote.

Click here for Commissioner Districts map. Note: Requires Adobe Reader

District One Michael Bennett

District Two Frankie Teasley

District Three Marshall Sayer Chairman

District Four Jeff Brown

District Five Joey Dorsey Vice-Chair

The Hart County Board of Commissioners regular meetings are held the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesday
of each month at 6:00 PM at the Hart County Administrative & Emergency Services Center
located at 800 Chandler Street in Hartwell, GA

---

Hart County BOC Open Records Resolution

Hart County BOC Executive Session Resolution

---

• Powers
• Division of Districts
• Compensation
• Terms
• Qualifications
• Regular Meetings
• Public Participation
• Executive Sessions
• Appeal Procedure
• Code of Ethics
• Mission Statement

Powers.
(a) The board of commissioners shall be the governing authority of Hart County, Georgia, and shall have the power and authority to fix and establish, by appropriate ordinance or resolution entered on its minutes, policies, rules, and regulations governing all matters reserved to its exclusive jurisdiction, which policies, rules, and regulations, when so adopted, with proper entry thereof made on the minutes of the board of commissioners, shall be conclusive and binding on those affected thereby. The policies, rules, and regulations so adopted by the board of commissioners shall be carried out, executed, and enforced by the chairman and other designated administrative officers of the county. The board of commissioners of Hart County shall have exclusive jurisdiction and control over the following matters:
[1] Levying taxes for county purposes;
[2] Controlling all of the property belonging to the county as they may deem expedient according to law, including the proceeds of the sale of any and all bonds which may have heretofore been authorized or which may hereafter be authorized in the county;
[3] Supervising tax collector's and tax receiver's books;
[4] Allowing the insolvent list of the county;
[5] Settling all claims and accounts of officers having the care, management, or disbursement of funds belonging to the county and bringing them to settlement;
[6] Providing for the poor of the county;
[7] And for the promotion of health as granted by law or not inconsistent with law;
[8] To examine the tax digest of the county for the correction of errors;
[9] Regulating or fixing license fees as may be provided by law;
[10] Requiring any county officer or department to submit budget information and budget requests;
[11] Maintaining and operating the county public correctional institution or other similar facility of the county as provided by law, and employing and fixing the salaries of all employees such as superintendents, wardens, and guards of convicts;
[12] Providing an annual budget and acting on all budgetary matters and budgetary requests;
[13] Having and exercising all the power heretofore vested in the commissioner of roads and bridges and board of finance; and
[14] Exercising such other powers and duties as are now or as may be hereafter provided by law for governing authorities of counties, by whatever name called, or as may be necessary, incidental, or convenient to their jurisdiction over county matters and county finances.
(b) The board of commissioners of Hart County may exercise any of the powers listed in subparagraph
(a) of paragraph III of section II of article IX of the Constitution of the State of Georgia in the unincorporated areas of Hart County and no other governmental entity or municipality shall exercise any of such powers outside its own boundaries except by contract with the board of commissioners of Hart County. back to top of page

Division of Districts (b) For the purpose of electing members of the board of commissioners, Hart County is divided into five commissioner districts as follows:back to top of page

Commissioner District 1: Hart County VTD: 0001 Hartwell (Part) Tract: 9604. Blocks: 219, 220B, 221, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 328B, 330B, 345, 346, 347 Tract: 9605. Blocks: 104A, 104B, 105A, 105E, 106, 107, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 227A, 243A, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 333, 405, 406, 407A, 407B, 407C, 407D, 408, 409A, 409B, 412C, 412D, 413A, 413B, 414A, 414B, 415, 416, 417, 418, 419, 445, 446, 447, 448, 449B, 450B, 451, 452, 453, 454, 455, 456, 457, 458, 459, 460, 461, 462, 463, 464, 465, 466, 467, 468, 469, 470, 471, 472, 473, 475, 476, 477, 560 VTD: 0003 Cokesbury (Part) Tract: 9604. Blocks: 459, 463, 464 Tract: 9605. Blocks: 421, 435, 436, 437, 438, 439, 440, 441, 442, 443, 444, 474, 521, 522, 523, 553, 555, 556, 557, 558, 559, 562, 563, 575, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 583, 584, 585, 586, 587, 588, 589, 590, 591 VTD: 0007 Bio (Part) Tract: 9604. Blocks: 401, 402, 403, 414, 415, 416, 417, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 424, 437 Tract: 9605. Blocks: 569, 570, 573 back to top of page

Commissioner District 2: Hart County VTD: 0001 Hartwell (Part) Tract: 9601. Blocks: 426, 427 Tract: 9605. Blocks: 101, 103, 104C, 105B, 105C, 105D, 108, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227B, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235A, 235B, 236, 237, 238, 239A, 239B, 239C, 240, 241, 242, 243B, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 401, 402, 403, 426, 427, 428, 429, 430, 431, 501, 502, 503, 504, 514, 515, 593 VTD: 0003 Cokesbury (Part) Tract: 9605. Blocks: 404, 420, 422, 423, 424, 425, 432, 433, 434, 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 513, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 524, 525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 533, 534, 535, 536, 537, 538, 539, 540, 541, 542, 543, 544, 545, 546, 547, 548, 549, 550, 551, 552, 592, 594, 595, 596, 597 VTD: 0004 Reed Creek (Part) Tract: 9601. Blocks: 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 139, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 193, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328, 329, 330, 331, 332, 333, 334, 335, 336, 337, 407, 408, 409, 410, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, 416, 434 back to top of page

Commissioner District 3: Hart County VTD: 0001 Hartwell (Part) Tract: 9601. Blocks: 523A, 524, 532, 533, 534, 535, 536, 537, 538A, 538B, 539, 540A, 540B, 541, 542A, 542B, 552 Tract: 9604. Blocks: 101A, 101B, 101C, 101D, 101E, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106A, 106B, 107A, 107B, 107C, 108, 109A, 109B, 109C, 109D, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120A, 120B, 121, 122A, 122B, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 201A, 201B, 201C, 202A, 202B, 203, 204A, 204B, 204C, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209A, 209B, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215A, 215B, 216, 217, 218A, 218B, 220A, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 254, 255, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328A, 329, 330A, 331, 332, 333, 334, 335, 336, 337, 338, 339, 340, 341, 342, 343, 344 Tract: 9605. Blocks: 102, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328, 329, 330, 331, 332, 334, 335, 336, 337, 410, 411, 412A, 412B, 449A, 450A VTD: 0005 Bowersville (Part) Tract: 9601. Blocks: 520, 521, 522, 523B, 544, 545 Tract: 9602. Blocks: 338, 365, 366, 367 back to top of page

Commissioner District 4: Hart County VTD: 0001 Hartwell (Part) Tract: 9601. Blocks: 419, 423, 424, 425, 428, 429, 430, 431, 432, 510, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531 VTD: 0004 Reed Creek (Part) Tract: 9601. Blocks: 135, 136, 137, 138, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149A, 149B, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158A, 158B, 159, 160, 161, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 189, 190, 191, 192, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 417, 418, 420, 421, 422, 433, 435, 436, 437, 438 VTD: 0005 Bowersville (Part) Tract: 9602. Blocks: 268, 269, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309A, 309B, 310, 311A, 311B, 312, 313, 314A, 314B, 315, 316, 317A, 317B, 318, 319, 320A, 320B, 321, 322, 323, 324A, 324B, 325A, 325B, 326, 327, 328, 329, 330, 331, 332, 333, 334, 335A, 335B, 336, 337, 339, 340, 341, 342, 343A, 343B, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 358A, 358B, 359, 360, 361, 362, 363, 364, 379, 380, 381A, 381B, 381C, 382A, 382B, 383A, 383B, 384A, 384B, 385, 386, 387A, 387B, 388A, 388B, 389, 390, 391A, 391B, 392, 393, 394A, 394B, 395 VTD: 0006 Shoal Creek back to top of page

Commissioner District 5: Hart County VTD: 0002 Goldmine VTD: 0003 Cokesbury (Part) Tract: 9604. Blocks: 460, 461, 462, 465, 467, 468 VTD: 0005 Bowersville (Part) Tract: 9601. Blocks: 543, 546, 547, 548, 549, 550, 551, 553 Tract: 9602. Blocks: 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 397 Tract: 9604. Blocks: 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233 VTD: 0007 Bio (Part) Tract: 9604. Blocks: 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409, 410, 411, 412, 413, 423, 425, 426, 427, 428, 429, 430, 431, 432, 433, 434, 435, 436, 438, 439, 440, 441, 442, 443, 444, 445, 446, 447, 448, 449, 450, 451, 452, 453, 454, 455, 456, 457, 458, 466, 469, 470, 471, 472, 473, 474, 475, 476, 477, 478, 479, 480, 481, 482, 483, 484, 485, 486, 487, 488, 489, 490, 491, 492, 493, 495, 496, 497 Tract: 9605. Blocks: 561, 564, 565, 566, 567, 568, 571, 572, 574, 576 (c) back to top of page

For purposes of this section: (1) The terms "tract," "block," and "VTD" shall mean and describe the same geographical boundaries as provided in the report of the Bureau of the Census for the United States decennial census of 1990 for the State of Georgia; (2) The term "precinct" is synonymous with the term "voting precinct" and means a geographical area designated by O.C.G.A. tit. 21, ch. 2, art. 7 or ch. 3, within which all electors vote at one polling place; (3) Precinct names and designations following VTD designations are included for convenience only; and in the event the description of any commissioner district contains a conflict between the geographical boundaries of any VTD and the boundaries of the following named precinct, the geographical boundary of the VTD as shown on the census maps for the United States decennial census of 1990 for the State of Georgia shall control; (4) Any part of Hart County which is not included in any commissioner district described in this section shall be included within that commissioner district contiguous to such part which contains the least population according to the United States decennial census of 1990 for the State of Georgia; and (5) Any part of Hart County which is described in this section as being included in a particular commissioner district shall nevertheless not be included within such commissioner district if such part is not contiguous to such commissioner district. Such noncontiguous part shall instead be included within that commissioner district contiguous to such part which contains the least population according to the United States decennial census of 1990 for the State of Georgia. back to top of page

Section 10. Compensation.
(a) The chairman of the board of commissioners shall receive a salary of $793.72 per month payable from the funds of Hart County. (b) The other members of the board of commissioners shall receive a salary of $476.23 per month payable from the funds of Hart County. back to top of page

Section 2. Commissioners terms. (a) Inasmuch as the present board of commissioners in office on February 1, 1993, holds office pursuant to the terms of a consent order entered on May 4, 1989, in the case of Mayfield, et al. v. Crittendon, et al. (U.S. District Court Case No. 88-56-ATH (DF)), and given that the present five commissioners have all been elected for full four-year terms as prescribed by said consent order, there is no need for a special election. Accordingly, the members of the present board of commissioners are hereby appointed to serve out the remainder of their terms; specifically, Mr. R. C. Oglesby shall serve as commissioner from commissioner district 1 until his successor is duly elected and qualified pursuant to section 2(c) below; Mr. Dan Reyen shall serve as commissioner from commissioner district 2 until his successor is duly elected and qualified pursuant to section 2(b) below; Mr. Brandon Johnson shall serve as commissioner from commissioner district 3 until his successor is duly elected and qualified pursuant to section 2(c) below; Mr. Ken Brown shall serve as commissioner from commissioner district 4 until his successor is duly elected and qualified pursuant to section 2(b) below; and Mr. Joey Dorsey shall serve as commissioner from commissioner district 5 until his successor is duly elected and qualified pursuant to section 2(c) below. (b) At the general election in 1994, members of the board of commissioners shall be elected from commissioner districts 2 and 4. Each such member shall serve for a term of four years and until his or her successor is elected and qualified. (c) At the general election in 1996, members of the board of commissioners shall be elected from commissioner districts 1, 3, and 5. At the general election in 1996 and every four years thereafter, successors to such members shall be elected and shall serve for terms of office of four years and until their successors are elected and qualified. (d) All such elections shall be held and conducted as provided by O.C.G.A. tit. 21, ch. 2, the "Georgia Election Code," as amended, from time to time. (e) The members of the board shall be elected in the general election which shall take place immediately prior to the expiration of their respective terms of office. Candidates who are elected to office shall take office on the first day of January following their election back to top of page

Section 4. Qualifications. Members of the board of commissioners shall be citizens of this state who have been residents of their respective commissioner districts for not less than 12 months preceding their qualification as a candidate and on election day and shall hold no other elective public office. Should a member of the board of commissioners move his or her residence from the commissioner district from which he or she was elected, such position on the board of commissioners shall be declared vacant by the election superintendent who shall call and hold an election to fill said vacancy in accordance with section 5 of this act. The office of county commissioner shall be deemed to be a part-time position. back to top of page

Sec. 2-66. Regular meetings. Regular meetings of the board of commissioners shall be held at 6:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month.  All regular meetings shall be held in the commission meeting room at the county administrative and emergency services building. A notice shall be posted and maintained containing this information in a conspicuous place available to the general public at the regular meeting place of the board and on the bulletin board at the county courthouse. (Ord. of 3-12-1996, § 1-15)
back to top

The board of commissioners shall meet at least twice each month for the transaction of public business pertaining to county matters which shall be held in an appropriate place at the courthouse of Hart County. The meetings shall be held at such times as the board shall prescribe by ordinance or resolution. At least one of the two regular meetings shall be an evening meeting. The board shall hold such other meetings as shall be called by the chairman or by a majority of the members of the board. The board may also appoint or designate any one or more of its members to transact such business connected with the duties of the board, between regular meetings, as the board deems proper. A regular meeting of the board of commissioners may be canceled, rescheduled or moved to a new location within the county by the chairman for any reason. Other special meetings may be scheduled by the chairman or at the request of two commissioners. Whenever a rescheduled regular meeting or any other special meeting is to be held at a time and place other than the regularly scheduled time and place, written notice shall be posted for at least 24 hours at the place of the regular meetings. In addition, written or oral notice shall be given by the clerk, county administrator or chairman at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting to either the legal organ of the county or a newspaper having a circulation equal to that of the legal organ and to each member of the board of commissioners (a) Generally. back to top of page

Public participation in meetings of the board of commissioners is encouraged and shall be permitted in accordance with the provisions of this section. (b) Public comments. The final agenda item of the meeting shall be reserved for comments from the public. All members of the public who wish to address the board should, when possible, submit their name and the topic of their comments to the county administrator at least three business days before the board meeting in order for the commissioners to prepare an appropriate response if such is required. These individuals will be allotted five minutes to make their comments, and their comments must be limited to their chosen topic. These limits may be waived by a majority vote of the board. (c) Public participation on agenda items. By a ruling of the chair or a majority vote of the board, public comment on an agenda item may be allowed at the time the item is being considered by the board. These comments must be limited to the subject being debated. Members of the public should stand, state their name and address, and speak for no more than five minutes. Members of the public may speak only once on any individual agenda topic. These limits may be waived by a majority vote of the board. Any member of the public wishing to speak on a topic must first be recognized by the chairman before addressing the board A quorum must be present for conducting meetings of the board of commissioners. back to top of page

Executive sessions of the board of commissioners may be held for the purpose of conducting business excepted from public access requirements of the Georgia Open Meetings Act, O.C.G.A. §§ 50-14-1--50-14-6 and relating to: (1) Potential or pending litigation matters; (2) Potential purchase or sale of real estate by the county government; and/or (3) Discussion of sensitive personnel matters where rights of employee privacy might be involved. Any vote taken as a result of discussions in an executive session shall be taken in an open meeting. (b) No executive session shall be held except pursuant to a majority affirmative vote of the board of commissioners taken in a public meeting. The minutes of the public meeting shall reflect the names of the commissioners present, those voting for the executive session and the specific reason for the executive session. Minutes of the executive session may be maintained by the clerk of the board of commissioners at the discretion of the chairman or by a majority vote of the commissioners present. Any such minutes shall be maintained in a confidential file and shall not be subject to disclosure; except that disclosures of such portions of minutes identifying real estate to be acquired or sold by the board may be delayed only until such as the acquisition or sale of the real estate has been completed, terminated, abandoned or court proceedings have been initiated. (Ord. of 3-12-1996, § 1-18) back to top of page

Sec. 10-51. Appeal procedure. (a) A permittee under this article may, within ten days after he has been notified of an adverse determination, submit a notice of appeal to the county clerk/treasurer. (b) The notice of appeal shall be addressed to the board of commissioners and shall specify the subject matter of the appeal, the date of any original and amended application or requests, the date of the adverse decision (or receipt of notice), the basis of the appeal, the action requested of the board of commissioners, and the name and address of the applicant. (c) The clerk shall place the appeal on the agenda of the next regular board of commissioners meeting occurring not less than five days nor more than 30 days after receipt of the application for board action. (Ord. of 2-13-1996, § 20) back to top of page

To provide for the residents of Hart County high quality essential services and as many other services as tax dollars will allow; to spend and account for tax dollars in an ethical and responsible manner; to be responsive to the needs and concerns of citizens; to conduct business in an open and professional manner with no favoritism to anyone, while abiding by the following:

PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC SERVICE ETHICS

PUBLIC INTEREST: Public office is a public trust. Power and resources should be used only to advance public interests and not to attain personal benefit or pursue any other private interest incompatible with public good.
OBJECTIVE JUDGMENT: Employ independent, objective judgment in performing duties, deciding all matters on their merits, free from all avoidable conflicts of interest and improper influence, real or perceived.
ACCOUNTABILITY: Assure that government is conducted openly, efficiently, equitably and honorably and in a manner that permits all citizens to make informed judgments and be able to hold government officials accountable for their decision.
DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP: Honor and respect the principles and spirit of representative government, setting a positive example of good citizenship by scrupulously observing the letter and spirit of laws and rules.
RESPECTABILITY: Safeguard public confidence in the integrity of government by being honest, fair, caring and respectful and by avoiding conduct that might create even an appearance of impropriety or which is otherwise unbefitting a public official. back to top of page