Pickens County accepts $161,509.20 VOCA award, approves field use and adopts ACCG mental‑health resolution

At its Jan. 4 meeting the Pickens County Board of Commissioners approved a set of routine grants, agreements and a county resolution supporting statewide mental‑health reform.

VOCA: The board accepted a Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) federal award totaling $161,509.20 for the period Oct. 1, 2023, through Sept. 30, 2024. The chair stated the waived local match amount as $15,377. The board moved, seconded and approved acceptance of the grant. The chair said the acceptance is required so the county can receive the funds from the Prosecuting Attorney's Council of Georgia.

Field use agreement: The board approved a standard annual field‑use agreement with the United Football Academy (UFA) allowing UFA to use a field the county leases via the school system and sheriff's office. The chair called the agreement 'standard' and moved it to a vote; the board approved the motion.

ACCG mental‑health resolution: The chair presented a draft resolution circulated by ACCG (the Association County Commissioners of Georgia) expressing county support for recent state efforts to reform and improve mental‑health services; the board authorized the chairman to sign and transmit the resolution to the county's state legislative delegation.

Qualifying fees: The board also approved a resolution authorizing publication of qualifying fees for 2024 local elections as provided in the statutory citation read during the meeting; the resolution directs the county court to publish the fees no later than February.

Next steps: Staff will complete grant acceptance paperwork and publish required qualifying fee notices; the meeting did not specify how VOCA funds will be allocated internally.