White County Manager Cason resigns
News March 21, 2022
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. –White County Manager Joey Cason has resigned his position after less than one year on the job.
Commission Chairman Travis Turner said, “We are disappointed to have received Joey Cason’s resignation over the weekend. While Joey was with us for only a short period of time, we appreciate Joey’s accomplishments for White County community and pray the best for him and his wife Sheila going forward.”
It marks the second time in less than a year that a county manager has resigned. Former White County Manager Jason Cobb tendered his resignation in May 2021 to pursue a business opportunity in the private sector.
Board’s financial report is good news
News June 3, 2020
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. – Finance Director Jodi Ligon presented the monthly financial report at Monday’s Board Commissioners meeting and as Commission Chairman Travis Turner, noted, “Considering the impact COVID-19 has had on revenue, it’s not as bad as we thought.”
Ligon informed the Board that through the month of April, the county has collected 84 percent of budgeted revenue for the year and exhausted only 79 percent of budgeted expenditures.
One highlight of Ligon’s report is that TAVT has produced $1,231,247. That is a whopping 121 percent of the amount budgeted for 2020.
The Local Option Sales Tax revenue for the month of April was $228,103, which is about 3 percent less than April 2019, but it brings the year-to-date total to $2,519,163 or approximately 95 percent of the budgeted amount.
Now comes the difficult task of adopting the proposed FY 2020-21 budget of $24,156,352. A public hearing is set June 8 at 4:30 p.m. and is open to the public.
There was also a discussion about opening the public swimming pool.
Turner said, “It’s not looking favorable. It’s not that we couldn’t open it by the way. One challenge we have is certified life guards.”
The Board’s new County Manager Jason Cobb explained, “The Red Cross has suspended their lifeguard training up until as late as last week. So, we’re stuck between a rock and a hard place there.”
Commissioners approved several land use applications for short term rentals. The application of Braden Hansen for a conditional use permit at 35 Allen Summit Drive in Cleveland to be placed in the short-term rental program was denied, primarily of an existing road maintenance agreement in that neighborhood.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
White County welcomes new fire chief and county manager
News April 28, 2020
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. – The White County Board of Commissioners said goodbye to two long time county employees then welcomed their replacements during a combined called meeting and work session Monday (Apr. 27).
County Manager Michael Melton is retiring at the end of this week and will be replaced by Jason Cobb. Also, Fire Chief Norman Alexander is retiring. He will be replaced by Seth Weaver.
Alexander retired after 15 years’ service to White County. Fire Services held a retirement celebration for him Monday morning. “It has been an honor to serve with Norman, a humble man with solid integrity, and professionalism,” said Public Safety Director David Murphy. “He is a good friend and I will certainly miss him being part of our team.” Weaver has been a full-time firefighter since 2014. Prior to that, he was a volunteer.
The Board voted unanimously to approve:
- Adoption of a multi-county, all-hazard, all-emergency agreement with the Garrison at Fort Benning, Ga.
- Purchase of a Ford Explorer for the Tax Assessor’s Office from Jacky Jones Ford for $28,991.14.
- Writing a letter of request for the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission to assist White County in preparing an Appalachian Regional Commission grant application to the Appalachian Regional Commission to develop a strategic economic development plan.
- Reappointment of John Zimmer to the Development Authority, Dustin Hulsey to fulfill an unexpired term on the Authority, Michael Yarbrough and Ridley Kimsey to six-year terms on the Authority.
- To engage Carter & Sloop Engineering to develop design plans for re-provisioning Claude Sims Road.
- A 60-day spending freeze on non-essential items due to the impact of the coronavirus.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
BOC names Jason Cobb county manager
News March 30, 2020
Jason Cobb
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. — The White County Board of Commissioners held a special called teleconference meeting this morning (March 30) and approved the contract of new County Manager Jason Lee Cobb.Cobb comes to White County from the City of Eastman where he was the City Manager.
He will be paid $110,000 annually plus $5,000 relocation expense and three weeks paid time off starting April 27. Cobb replaces Michael Melton, who has served as White County Manager since 2012. Melton announced earlier this year that he would retire at the end of April.
Cobb studied Management at Georgia College & State University and holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Valdosta State University.
He has been in government services since 2010 including time as a Community Development Planner for the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission. He also has prior experience in manufacturing management and retail. He is married and has two young daughters.
Cobb joined the teleconference from Eastman and said, “Thank you guys for this opportunity to move my family up to White County. We are very excited.”
Commission Chairman Travis Turner said, “We look forward to you guys becoming part of our community.”
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com