New-look Dougherty County Commission conducts first meeting
Carlton Fletcher
ALBANY — As he relinquished the Dougherty County Commission chairman’s gavel to Chris Cohilas Monday, outgoing Commission Chairman Jeff Sinyard offered a quick, heart-felt assessment to Cohilas and his wife, Karen Cohilas.
“Chris, Karen … It’s gonna be something,” Sinyard said.
After Probate Court Judge Nancy Stephenson swore Cohilas, fellow newcomer Anthony Jones and incumbents John Hayes and Ewell Lyle into office to start their four-year terms, the new chairman offered brief remarks and got down to work.
“I’d like to thank everyone from the public who is here this morning; public involvement is important,” Cohilas said to the large crowd that had gathered for the swearing-in ceremony. “I’d also like to say thank you to the members of this board. Thank you for your service.”
The commission conducted a brief work session, during which Assistant County Administrator Mike McCoy discussed the proposed “emergency purchase” of two vehicles for the Dougherty County District Attorney’s office and District Attorney Greg Edwards recommended that his office be allowed to apply for a DHR Child Support Enforcement Grant in the amount of $71,179.90.
Edwards said one of the attorneys in his office is funded through the annual grant, and Cohilas endorsed Edwards’ recommendation.
“I know from personal experience this (grant program) has been wildly successful,” said the new commission chairman, who was Edwards’ chief assistant before entering private law practice.
In the business meeting that immediately followed the work session, the commission unanimously approved the purchase of two Kia Sorentos from Kia of Albany for $45,146, the second-lowest bid for the automobiles, and approved the grant sought by the district attorney’s office.
“We recommend the second-low bid due to the urgency of the need for these vehicles,” McCoy said. “The low bid (from Langdale Chevrolet of Sylvester) came in at $40,744.02, but they cannot have the vehicles delivered for 65 days. The vehicles currently assigned to the district attorney’s office have been out of service since October.”
The board also approved appointments of Bridges Sinyard and Sabrina Brown to vacant seats on the Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful board.
Related Articles
Georgia’s school funding formula still ignores poverty; educators say students pay the price
During a report to the board on the outcomes of this year’s legislative session, Dyer discussed the district’s efforts to persuade lawmakers to add an “opportunity weight” to Georgia’s Quality Basic Education (QBE) funding formula — a change supporters say would provide additional state funding for students living in poverty.
Albany Commission approves $358.2 million budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027
The Albany City Commission approved a $358.2 million spending plan during its final meeting of the budget year that ends on June 30.
Red light violations will bring citations at a dozen Albany intersections
“That was always the goal of the school zone cameras, to change the behavior. It’s the same with the red lights, we want to change the behavior. When you see a yellow light, you need to slow down and prepare to stop.”
