Long County manager announces retirement; commission hires successor and approves several administrative actions

County Manager Chuck Scragg used his Dec. 2 report to summarize major 2025 accomplishments, including payoff of a tax anticipation note, completion of the county audit (restoring grant eligibility), a new comprehensive plan, the first property reassessment in 17 years, staff and benefits reductions that he said save about $1 million annually, and progress on funding for a new jail. Scragg told commissioners the Georgia Department of Corrections has declined to lease or purchase the county jail, leaving the county to explore operating options.

Scragg announced this was his final meeting before retirement and asked the commission to authorize the sale of an abandoned 1995 Ford F-150 to the county's chief mechanic for $10 rather than dispose of it; the sale was approved 4-1 with Chairman James Craft voting no. Scragg also presented an old Ludowici tile as a token of appreciation.

After an executive session, commissioners voted unanimously to hire Shane Richardson as county manager effective Jan. 2, 2026. The board also voted to leave the county code on dump-truck regulation unchanged and removed the proposed dump-truck ordinance from further consideration.

During public comment, Greg Daw described a proposed ATV park that he said could generate about $500,000 annually for the county, proposing contributions to emergency services and E-verify screening for park visitors; commissioners did not take action on that proposal at this meeting.