JONESBORO — In its meeting Tuesday, May 16, the Clayton County Board of Commissioners approved the hiring of 33 more deputies for the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office.
The measure passed 3-2 with Felicia Franklin, Alieka Anderson, and Gail Hambrick voting for and Commission Chair Jeff Turner and DeMont Davis voting against.
The hires come at a total cost of more than $3.6 million.
Turner said his objection was not about the hires but the numbers and that it’s going to be addressed in the budget.
“We have to make sure we’re responsible (in the budget),” Turner said to Clayton County Sheriff Levon Allen during the meeting. “We can’t write you a blank check but we’ve got to make sure you have what you need to be effective in this county.”
On the original proposal, Allen requested 25 deputies now at a cost of more than $2.76 million with plans to request for 25 deputies in the next budget.
During the meeting, Allen said he had 33 deputies he is ready to hire now so the current proposal was changed to 33 new hires.
When asked about the urgency of the hires now instead of waiting until the next budget cycle, Allen said other agencies could reach out to them and hire them in the meantime.
The additional positions will be used to provide more security at the courthouse with at least two deputies per courtroom and for the civil unit, which serves warrants, evictions, etc.
In another public safety matter, Clayton County Police Chief Kevin Roberts and Clayton County Interim Fire Chief Tim Sweat made a presentation to the County Commission at the May 9 work session.
Both are losing personnel to other departments with pay being a major factor.
Roberts also said E911 is losing personnel and is currently at less than half staff.
“Dispatch is the foundation of all public safety in this county,” he said. “If dispatch…
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