Long County commissioners approve two rezones, library reappointment and ratify jail bond

Long County commissioners approved two rezoning requests, reappointed a library trustee and later ratified a bond authorizing the county’s new jail project, the board’s minutes show.

At the March 12 regular meeting the board voted to approve Rezoning Request Z-023-006, filed by A New Beginning Church to rezone 6.65 acres on Highway 57 from C-1 Neighborhood Commercial to RVP (Recreational Vehicle Park District), and Rezoning Request Z-024-001, filed by Lakisha D. Shelley to rezone 1.0 acre on Highway 84 from R-1 Single Family Residential to C-1 Neighborhood Commercial for a daycare. Planning and Zoning Administrator Jessica Smith told commissioners the comprehensive plan supports commercial use along Highway 84 and recommended approval of both requests.

Commissioner John Reddish moved to approve Z-023-006 and Commissioner Gerald Blocker seconded. The minutes note Commissioner James Craft opposed the motion but also state the motion "passed unanimously," a contradiction in the record. The transcript does not provide a roll-call tally to reconcile that discrepancy.

Commissioner James Craft moved to approve Z-024-001; Commissioner Blocker seconded and the minutes record that motion as passing unanimously.

Also at the March 12 meeting Commissioner Reddish moved and Commissioner Blocker seconded the reappointment of Melinda Stonecipher to the Long County Public Library Board of Trustees for a three-year term beginning July 1, 2024; the motion was recorded as passing unanimously.

On March 22, in a called meeting, the board voted to ratify the bond resolution of the Long County Building and Public Facilities Authority related to the jail project and voted to name the facility after the late Cecil Nobles. Chairman Robert Parker made the naming motion; the minutes record the vote as unanimous. The March 22 meeting minutes list only three commissioners present for that called meeting (Chairman Parker, Vice Chairman Blocker and Commissioner Reddish); Commissioners James Craft and Jeremy Hall were absent.

The minutes show routine procedural approvals — agenda, prior minutes and authorization to pay bills — were moved and approved early in the March 12 meeting. The record also shows the board entered and exited an executive session for real estate before adjourning.

Next steps noted in the minutes: the board continues code and ordinance work under a moratorium affecting certain development items; no hearings or appeals related to the listed rezonings were recorded in the minutes.