Elbert County to circulate draft social media policy for review; board may act at next meeting

Wendy Holmes, Elbert County's communications and public affairs director, presented an updated county social media policy on March 25 designed to centralize and standardize how county accounts are used, who may post and how the county communicates in high-visibility events.

Holmes said the policy is meant to reduce misinformation, improve emergency communications and clarify who on staff may authorize or distribute content on official accounts. "This policy helps us speak with one voice," she said, adding that the policy is intended to strengthen public trust and support staff who manage accounts.

One commissioner praised the draft and recommended circulating it to elected officials and department heads for review during the next two weeks, with the aim of moving the policy to action at the following meeting. Holmes said she appreciated the feedback and the team's intent to keep the policy from being perceived as restrictive; the draft, she said, focuses on improving communication quality and clarity.

The board did not take formal action; commissioners asked that the draft be distributed to elected officials and department heads for review and that staff return with recommended next steps.