Residents tell Heard County commissioners speed bumps are slowing first responders; SPLOST and GPAC also criticized

Several residents used the public-comment period at the Heard County Board of Commissioners' March 15 meeting to raise concerns about traffic calming measures and county spending.

Mike Annas told commissioners he had submitted a letter about "speed bump laws" and said speed bumps recently placed by the Town of Centralhatchee on Nutt Road and Southbridge Road slow first responders and negatively affect residents. Shayne Hester, who identified his address as 1264 Southbridge Road, said he had spoken at a town council meeting but felt his concerns were dismissed because he does not live inside the town limits.

Another speaker, Mike Robinson of 5100 Five Notch Road, said the county did not need GPAC (the county advisory panel referenced in the meeting) and urged commissioners to consider reducing the SPLOST funds each city receives. The transcript records these arguments but does not show the board taking action on any of the requests during the meeting.

Earlier in the meeting, representatives from Southern Power and Georgia Power introduced themselves and said they were available to answer questions from the board. No substantive exchange between those utilities and the public commenters is recorded in the transcript.

The board later entered executive session to discuss possible litigation and, upon returning to open session, authorized County Attorney Michael Hill to evaluate legal options and report back at the next meeting. No further direction on speed bumps, GPAC, or SPLOST was recorded.