Sheriff Kevin Sproul pleads his case for deputy pay raises

ALBANY — As the Dougherty County Commission held a work session Monday to hear options for its FY ’19 budget, commissioners heard a plea from Sheriff Kevin Sproul to include pay raises for his deputies.

Sproul pointed out that the sheriff’s office is losing deputies to a large number of surrounding law enforcement agencies because of low salaries. He said it is making recruitment and retention harder than it should be.

“The Albany Police Department starts its officers at $34,501 per year; our deputies start at $27,888,” Sproul said. “I beg you to search your hearts because we are trying very hard to recruit people. A 15 percent raise would get to where we need to be competitive for people.”

In other work session items, the commission:

— Agreed to consider a rezoning request from owner Virginia Seabrook and applicant Beverly Barlow-Williams for special approval to develop a 99-acre tract, zoned AG (agricultural district) into an open air museum and recreation and event park for agritourism. The property fronts the west side of South County Line Road approximately 2,200 feet north of the intersection of County Line and Spring Flats roads. The property address is 1001 South County Line Road. The Planning Commission recommended approval. A public hearing and action are scheduled for next Monday’s meeting.

— Approved a recommendation to accept the proposal to restore the exterior wall for the county-owned building located at 200 W. Oglethorpe Blvd. (the Department of Human Services), in the amount of $299,729 to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder meeting specifications, Metro Waterproofing Inc. of Scottsdale.

— Agreed to consider a recommendation from the Retirement Plan Committee to raise the lump sum distribution option for (current and future) terminated employees effective July 1.

— Considered a proposed resolution providing for the renewal of an agreement for Metropolitan Planning Organization Host Services between the city of Albany, city of Leesburg, Lee County, Dougherty County and the Dougherty Area Regional Transportation Study Metropolitan Planning Organization.

— Discussed a new relocation agreement between Georgia Power Co. and the county. The agreement is necessary to allow Public Works to provide construction services in the Radium Springs area along Skywater Boulevard.

— Heard a recommendation to approve three invoices from Ceres Environmental Services in the amount of $199,752.62 for tree removal, construction and demolition, and landfill tipping fees.