County commissioners assigned to committees

For the second year in a row, Columbia County Commissioner Ron Thigpen was named vice-chairman of the commission.

//

Thigpen also was appointed chairman of the county's Public Works Services Committee during the county commission meeting last Thursday.

Other committee chairmanships include commissioner Scott Dean heading the Management and Financial Services Committee, Trey Allen overseeing the Community and Emergency Services Committee, and Charles Allen chairing the Development Services Committee.

Each commissioner also serves in a vice-chairman's role on a committee -- Thigpen for Management and Financial Services, Dean for Public Works Services, Trey Allen for Development Services and Charles Allen for Community and Emergency Services.

Commission Chairman Ron Cross serves as the third member of each committee, which often make decisions later approved without debate during full commission meetings.

Though Cross is charged with making committee appointments, he said he typically allows the commissioners to decide those appointments themselves. He only insists that they never serve in the same role from one year to the next.

Cross said he believes it's important for commissioners to serve on varying committees to better learn all facets of county government.

The Management and Financial Services and Public Works Services committees will meet at 8 a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month. Meeting at 9 a.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month will be Community and Emergency Services and Development Services committees.