June Grand Jury report

Gordon County Superior Court convened on Monday, June 4 with the Honorable Suzanne H. Smith presiding. After Court was called to order, and Grand Jurors were sworn in, the following business was conducted:

Grand Jurors examined all criminal cases presented by the Gordon County District Attorney’s Office and reported 72 True Bills and 3 No Bills.

The Grand Jury received and reviewed written financial reports from Gordon County Sheriff Mitch Ralston; Hon. Scott Clements, Tax Commissioner; Hon. John R. ( Richie) Parker, Judge of Probate Court; Hon. Grant Walraven, Clerk of Court and Gordon County Administrator and Attorney Jim Ledbetter.

A committee of the Grand jury inspected the tax commissioner’s Executive Docket and discovered that 99 percent of 2015 taxes have been collected, 98 percent of 2016 taxes have been collected and 96 percent of 2017 taxes have been collected. As of June 2018, the total property tax and title ad valorem tax that was collected for Gordon County totals $ 33,559,834.44.

In other business, the Grand Jury inspected the conditions and operations of the Gordon County Jail. The i nspection committee observed the facility exceeded their expectations; the facility was in excellent condition, staffed and run professionally and the committee observed that all prisoners were maintained appropriately. The committee also concluded that the Sheriff is operating the jail and the department in a fiscally conservative manner.