New health director hired by 3-2 vote

CHIPLEY – Rick Davis is the new Washington County Health Department director. Davis’ recommendation by the state Department of Health was approved by a 3-2 vote at Thursday’s regular meeting of the Washington County Board of County Commissioners.

Commissioners Donnie Ray Strickland and Ronnie Finch voted no, while Board Chairman Joel Pate and Commissioners Jerry Sapp and Eddie Holman voted yes.

Davis, who is not a native of the county, said he understood the issues that arose when he was listed as best qualified by the state. Those issues included only coming for a few months and then going elsewhere as well as not being a native Washington Countian.

“I have no intention of coming here for six months and leaving,” Davis said, noting that he withdrew his application in Walton County due to his preference for Washington County. “My wife is researching real estate here,” he said.

Davis also said this was not a “stepping stone job,” and he intended to stay, apparently until retirement. “Unless you run me out of town I’m not leaving,” he said.

Apparently Washington Countians were on the short list of applicants, but Davis was the state’s recommendation. Commissioners also interviewed Davis.

In other business, the Board:

•Heard that as part of the Fiscal Year 2008-09 budget County heavy equipment would only work three days a week to save fuel. Use of the heavy equipment would be rotated around and County workers would clean ditches and do other work on the fourth day.

•Heard a presentation from Bob Hughes representing the Knight property requesting approval of a resolution supporting creation of a sector plan to guide development of the property. The Board approved the resolution, and similar resolutions would be sought from Ebro and Bay County. There is a “slot” with the state Department of Community Affairs for another sector plan similar to that being used for the new Bay County airport.

•Approved accepting grants and other items involved with the Emergency Management Agency, but also heard that “site prep” funding has been cut by the state and the County could have to find another way to do that work.

•Heard from Marvin Lassiter, who was representing the committee being formed to represent the 193 landowners on Lucas Lake Road. One major request the landowners have is to pave Lucas Lake Road, and the road is now second on the County resurfacing priority list after Buckhorn Boulevard. Funding for paving the road would be hard to come by according to County Engineer Cliff Knauer. Lassiter announced that everyone was invited to a get-together on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 3 p.m. at Fred Apling’s pavilion (signs would provide directions) to form a Lucas Lake Landowners Association.

“We want to have a community down there and help each other out,” Lassiter said.

•Approved advertising for an ordinance to dissolve the Sunny Hills Municipal Services Benefits Unit. Strickland voted no.