Dougherty County commissioners to take closer look at drug fund usage

ALBANY — Dougherty County Commissioners directed County Attorney Spencer Lee Monday to look into usage of funds that are designated by the state for “drug abuse treatment and education.”

Lee said in a report to the commission that his interpretation of state law that dictates usage of the funds is that they must be used to benefit “people who are drug abusers.” The county attorney’s report sprung from Dougherty Sheriff Kevin Sproul’s request for funding for his CHAMPS (Choosing Healthy Activities & Methods Promoting Safety) program.

The commission has also been asked to use those funds to help support the National Youth Sports Program held each summer at Albany State University.

“I’m not familiar enough with the sheriff’s CHAMPS program, and I will get more information for this board,” Lee said. “But my interpretation of the statute that determines use of those funds is that the (CHAMPS) program doesn’t fall under the statute. Now if this board makes a broader interpretation of the statute and allows for a strictly ‘education’ program, there are still guidelines for usage of the funds.

“There has to be a specific contract that outlines how the funding will be used.”

District 6 Commissioner Anthony Jones asked if the commission could amend the statute to include “prevention” as one of the funding criteria, which would pave the way for programs like CHAMPS and NYSP to qualify. Lee said he would research the matter.

Since state law includes specific mention of a “drug court” among funding criteria, District 3 Commissioner Clinton Johnson asked for more information on Judge Stephen Goss’ nationally acclaimed drug and mental health court.

Doug Wingate, whose Wingate Land & Development LLC is listed as owner of Stonebridge Golf & Country Club, asked the commission to hold off on its plan to seek $152,000 in penalties surrounding the country club’s construction of unpermitted ponds that are blamed for the flooding of adjacent property owned by Michael and Janelle Smith. Wingate asked the commission to “let us finish the job” rather than paying the hefty fines that accrued after county Public Works assessed a civil penalty of $250 a day, which commenced on March 6, 2013.

Wingate admitted to “making mistakes” that included installing a pumping system in catch basins for excess water control rather than installing 36-inch drainage pipe as planned when the pond was built in 2012. He said the flooding on the Smith property was the result of “what The Albany Herald reported was the wettest February ever recorded.”

Lee warned commissioners before Wingate made his appeal that litigation was pending in the matter and that they should not discuss it.

The commission also got reports Monday from Solid Waste Director Scott Addison and Public Works Director Larry Cook. Addison noted that while revenues had not decreased sharply, total usage of the landfill had. He said a recent contract with the city of Albany to collect organic matter will increase usage.

Cook lauded his 52-person staff for its work in six separate divisions: drainage, road maintenance, fleet management, park maintenance, environmental control and engineering.

Addison recognized Solid Waste Employee of the Year Leroy Williams, a 28-year employee. Cook recognized his department’s Employee of the Year, 30-year Engineering Aide II Leigh Tipler, and Supervisor of the Year, Administrative Supervisor Karen Goff, who has worked with the county for 26 years.

Jones’ recent conversation with state Department of Transportation officials about what he called a “dangerous intersection” at U.S. Highway 19 and Nelms Road sparked the creation of two DOT options that could curtail potential danger. Crowdis said state transportation officials could not get to the “low-priority” project for five to seven years, but if the commission paid for materials to make improvements on the roadway, which would be conducted by the state, it could be addressed in the next year or two.

The commission decided to collect more information and to meet with DOT officials before moving forward.