Chief Appraiser Submits Resignation; Given Immediate Dismissal

A “legal” Board of Assessors relieved Jasper County Chief Appraiser Brac Bohannon of his leadership duties last Wednesday at the close of business.

The announcement came shortly after a called meeting of the now legal assessors—James Harrell, Gerald Bramblett, and Cathy Benson—concluded with a brief executive session for personnel in the Courthouse law library.

In addition to Mr. Bohannon’s immediate dismissal, Lynn Bentley of the Tax Maintenance Office was named Deputy Chief Appraiser and will act in the absence of a chief appraiser.

The assessor trio convened just minutes after being sworn in as assessors by Superior Court Clerk Dan Jordan. The county commission’s resolution to appoint a five member board was also filed at that time. As of now the board is composed of four members including David Morrison, who did not attend the swearing in or the called meeting.
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During the meeting Mr. Harrell was elected chairman and Mrs. Benson as vice chairman. Cheri Phipps-Shaw will remain the assessor secretary.
With housekeeping duties handled, the assessors voted to advertise the chief appraiser vacancy prior to reviewing Mr. Bohannon’s final chief appraiser report.

The chief appraiser’s report included an update on the manufactured housing digest for which bills were mailed earlier this month. Accolades were given to Mrs. Phipps-Shaw for a timely completion of that task.

The report also included a compilation review of the boat digest, currently in progress.
With regard to educational seminars, the assessors were informed that they had been registered for the Georgia Assessment Administration Course in Tifton.

Assessors voted to allow Ms. Bentley to attend two courses in preparation for Appraiser III status that she had been approved to take last year but then delayed until the digest was completed.

Office manager Phyllis Norwood was denied attendance to two courses in February that were previously approved in November. After reviewing her educational file, assessors voted to allow the new chief appraiser to select courses for Mrs. Norwood on the basis that the courses were repetitious with her file.

Andrea Appling was also denied attendance to a requested educational seminar in lieu of also allowing the new chief appraiser to select courses for her.

The last action taken during open session was to accept the resignation of Mr. Bohannon.