Creative Solutions: The ACCG Presents County Excellence Awards

Columbus-Muscogee County

A Conviction to Work

Muscogee County Prison inmate Anthony Anglin began serving a sentence for robbery in 2016. With a tentative parole date next August, he’s been taking classes – welding, plumbing, logistics, forklift operation and OSHA training – to prepare for life on the outside.

Job Preparation for Inmates: Herbert Walker III, warden of Muscogee County Prison, with inmates who are taking a class in welding. Photo credit: Nathan LeDuc 

“It makes me feel like I have a better chance at being able to succeed rather than turning this into a revolving door,” he says.

Anglin is an active participant in a Columbus-Muscogee County initiative that reframes incarceration as an opportunity for workforce development. The Restoration of Returning Citizens program reduces recidivism, strengthens the workforce and improves public safety. It also saves the city of Columbus nearly $5.3 million annually in labor costs.

Muscogee County Prison partners with Columbus Technical College to offer skills training to offenders in high-demand fields where unemployment remains high in the surrounding community – including carpentry, construction and welding.

More recently, the prison expanded its offerings to include forklift safety/OSHA and logistics programs. Offenders learn “the whole operation of trucking,” says Muscogee County Prison Warden Herbert Walker III, and can even earn their commercial driver’s licenses.

Anglin is most excited about welding, citing good pay and strong demand. “It’s really given me a positive outlook on things,” he says.

Inmate Kenneth Prather has tried to sign up for welding classes, but they’ve been full. In the meantime, Prather, who is up for parole in 2031, completed logistics, plumbing and OSHA classes.

Educational Offering: Muscogee County Prison now offers forklift training to inmates as part of its Restoration of Returning Citizens program. Photo credit: Contributed

“I’m just trying to better myself for the future,” he says. “I want to be prepared for anything.”

He also says the classes offer a break from the negativity of the prison dorms and help him “feel more normal.”

Soft skills training is also part of the curriculum, including courses such as Motivation for Change, Diplomacy and even Moral Reconation Therapy, a behavioral treatment program that aims to improve moral reasoning and decision-making.

“Not only are they getting credit from the Georgia Department of Corrections, but they’re getting actual certifications through Columbus Tech,” says Normae Beecham, deputy warden of administration at Muscogee County Prison.

Program costs vary – from $750 per student for a fast-track residential plumbing program to $2,105 for the shielded metal arc welding program. The classes are funded through a crime prevention grant from the city of Columbus, Walker says.

Everyone from the prison’s counseling staff to security, who must be present during classes, is involved in the program. “From the bottom to the top, we’re all committed to the mission and the vision to get these offenders skilled, educated and ready for re-entry,” Beecham says.

To enroll in the program, offenders yet to graduate from high school must also be working toward their GED. For the past two years, Muscogee County Prison has been recognized by the Georgia Department of Corrections for awarding the most GEDs of any of Georgia’s county prisons, says Walker. “It helps give them a bigger leap to the door of rejoining civilians in the civilian world,” he says.

The prison is also in talks with various partners about starting beekeeping and animal-control training programs, Walker says.

Dawson County

Transformative Training

In 2024, Dawson County’s Emergency Services Department faced a 35% vacancy rate among certified paramedics and firefighter/EMTs. At one point, the department had more than two dozen vacancies.

Upskilled Workforce: Firefighters in Dawson County participate in a training program that leads to raises and promotions. Photo credit: Contributed

“It had gotten really, really alarming,” says Dawson County Manager Joey Leverette. The county was losing emergency medical personnel not only to burnout, but to better pay and better hours at nearby doctor’s offices and hospitals.

“After we went through COVID-19, a lot of people said, ‘I’m not doing this anymore,’” says Leverette.

At the same time, demand was rising. From July 2023 to July 2024, the U.S. Census Bureau ranked Dawson County the nation’s fastest-growing county with a population of 20,000 or more – up 6.4% to a total of 33,748.

To address the shortage, Leverette proposed a training program. Drawing on his experience with a utility in Florida, Dawson County adapted an operator training incentive model to fit emergency services, he says.

Launched in the summer of 2024, the Dawson County Emergency Services Career Advancement Through Training Program combines in-person, online and on-the-job field training under direct supervision. The program includes a five-year track for firefighter 1/EMT-B positions, a four-year track for firefighter/paramedics and a one-year leadership program for lieutenants. As participants progress, they reach higher pay grades. Upon completion of the program, the employee’s pay increases by just over 20%.

Last September, Dawson County Firefighter and EMT Patrick Meyer completed the CATT program’s lieutenant leadership course. In February, he was promoted to captain.

“The course worked exactly as intended. I feel confident in my ability to lead and make decisions because of it,” says Meyer, who has been with Dawson County nearly eight years. Meyer also completed a rope rescue course and is eyeing “a long list” of courses he plans to take.

“Job satisfaction and morale in the department have increased dramatically since the program launched,” says Dawson County Fire Chief and EMA Director Troy Leist. “The department is fully staffed and has been for more than a year.”

The Dawson County Board of Commissioners approved funding of roughly $340,000 to establish the training program, with ongoing costs estimated at $90,000 annually, according to Leverette.

“The CATT program has been transformative,” he says. “We’ve upskilled our workforce, and we’re delivering a better product to our community.”

Fayette County

Equipped to Save Lives

While on a 911 call last September, Scott Roberts, Fayette County assistant chief of administration and EMS director, arrived at the home of a young person who undergoes dialysis. His shunt, which helps regulate blood flow for treatment, had come loose while he slept.

Lifesaving Measures: Scott Roberts, Fayette County assistant chief of administration and EMS Director, far right, stands with emergency personnel behind specially designed portable coolers of blood used to help patients during emergencies. Photo credit: Kevin Garrett

“He was bleeding out when he woke up,” says Roberts. “Blood all on the floor, all on the bed.”

Just a month earlier, the Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services had launched a pre-hospital blood transfusion program. When paramedics arrived at the person’s home, they were equipped to give blood on the spot.

“The doctors told him that if it weren’t for the blood that we administered, he probably would not be here today,” Roberts says.

Severe blood loss is the leading cause of preventable deaths in trauma cases. A 2024 trauma study published in the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery found that each minute delay in administering blood after an injury increases mortality by roughly 11%.

“I’ve been in this [field] for [about] 34 years now, and it’s the biggest intervention that we’ve been able to do in the field to make a difference,” says Roberts.

Prepared for Emergencies: Two of the Fayette County Emergency Medical Service’s rescue units are outfitted to carry blood products for transfusions. Photo credit: Contributed

Two of the department’s rescue units are outfitted to carry blood products, which are stored in specially designed portable coolers, Roberts says. On-duty personnel and command staff use a mobile app to monitor the coolers in real time.

The program’s startup costs – about $12,000 for equipment – were covered by the Fayette Fire Foundation. Ongoing expenses are funded by Fayette County EMS, including the purchase of blood from LifeSouth Community Blood Centers. Each transfusion costs about $1,000.

Roberts says so far the program has been used roughly once a month.

“Even if it was just one life that we saved, it’s worth every bit of money we’ve put into this program,” he says.

Fayette County is one of at least nine counties in the state that offer pre-hospital blood transfusions. Similar programs have been adopted by ambulance services and healthcare systems in Georgia. Recently, Roberts has fielded calls from other counties interested in starting comparable programs.

“We all collaborate and work together,” he says. “It’s a great thing for EMS and for the patients we serve.”

Walker County

Spay-Neuter Program

Pet overpopulation is straining U.S. shelters. In 2024 alone, nearly 6 million dogs and cats entered shelters, with roughly one-third relinquished by their owners, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Of those animals, only 25% of dogs and 23% of cats arrived already spayed or neutered. An unspayed female cat can have two to three litters a year, quickly turning one animal into dozens. Dogs reproduce less often, but the numbers still add up.

Doing the Right Thing: Walker County Animal Shelter Director Melissa Smith, and Director of Animal Services Bailey Clements, inset, help oversee the spay-neuter voucher program for dogs and cats. Photo credits: Contributed

In largely rural Walker County located along the Tennessee border, the problem is worse than the national average. Nearly three-quarters of the 1,227 dogs and more than 90% of the 884 cats taken in by the Walker County Animal Shelter in 2024 were surrendered by their owners. Of those animals, just 8.7% had been spayed or neutered.

Spaying and neutering remain the most effective way to prevent pet overpopulation, but access to affordable services isn’t always available. Rising veterinary costs – which have consistently outpaced inflation, according to American Veterinary Medical Association data – have exacerbated the problem.

Walker County’s Director of Animal Services, Bailey Clements, sees the impact every day. “People want to do the right thing. They want help for their pets,” she says.

To address the issue, Walker County launched a spay-neuter voucher program last April. Each month, the Walker County Animal Shelter distributes 40 vouchers to residents on a first-come, first-served basis. Accepted by participating veterinarian offices, the vouchers cover the cost of spaying or neutering companion animals, along with microchipping and rabies vaccination.

Demand for the vouchers quickly outpaced supply. More than 500 residents are currently on a waiting list to receive a voucher, Clements says.

“We want to help our citizens, and this is one way we hope to be part of the solution to the overpopulation of unwanted dogs and cats in our community,” says Angie Teems, chair of the Walker County Board of Commissioners, when announcing the program.

Clements credits both local leadership and the community for supporting the effort. “Not just the citizens that want to get their animals altered, but the donations from the citizens who want to help – and also the veterinarians,” Clements says. “They understand the importance of what we’re doing.”

The county has applied for grants to help cover spay-neuter services, according to Clements. For now, the program is funded entirely through donations. She estimates it will be about three years before the program leads to a meaningful decline in its shelter animal population in the county.

In the meantime, residents looking to support animal welfare in Walker County are encouraged to visit the county website’s online shelter shop to donate.

Floyd County

Traction for Recycling

Take a drive on almost any back road in Georgia and the problem is hard to miss – mounds of discarded tires stacked along tree lines and ditches.

Rubber Meets the Road: Floyd County recently began work on a recycling initiative that turns discarded tires into material for road construction. Photo credit: Contributed

Beyond being an eyesore, scrap tires pose public health, environmental and economic risks. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, they can leach chemicals into soil and groundwater and, when burned, release toxic smoke and oils. They also collect standing water, creating ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Across the U.S., roughly 280 million to 300 million scrap tires are generated every year – including about 10 million in Georgia, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation.

To address the problem, in 2022 the Georgia Environmental Protection Division launched a Solid Waste Trust Fund Grant Program that includes a tire products component. With that funding, Floyd County began a recycling initiative that turns discarded tires into material for road construction – with the potential to lower long-term costs.

Made By Tires, For Tires: Rubber-modfied asphalt made from tire scraps can extend pavement life and reduce skid resistance. Photo credit: Contributed

“Scrap tires are a problem, and road maintenance is another,” says Floyd County Public Works Director Michael Skeen. “Out of a problem, Floyd County built an opportunity.”

Using additional funding from state grants, Floyd County embarked on a half-mile pilot project along Terhune Road, which incorporated 7,000 pounds of recycled tires. Processed by Liberty Tire Recycling in Calhoun, the tires were converted into a dry-mix additive and integrated into standard asphalt. Use of the resulting rubber-modified asphalt required no additional personnel or special equipment – a key factor in the project’s success, says Skeen.

That success led to a larger project: A 2.7-mile stretch of Rush Chapel Road was resurfaced in September 2025 using 2,450 recycled tires. Supported by $204,055 in funding from the Solid Waste Trust Fund grant, the project received an additional $247,395 in Floyd County SPLOST money.

While rubber-modified asphalt currently costs more than traditional asphalt, the price declined significantly between the two projects, says Skeen – a shift he attributes to the material’s ease of use. Dry-mix rubber-modified asphalt can extend pavement life by three to five years compared to conventional asphalt, while also reducing cracking and improving durability and skid resistance.

“We hope that this becomes the norm,” Skeen says.

Glynn County

Hoop Dreams

As soon-to-be sixth-grader Degan Jackson tells it, when an off-duty police officer tried to guard him in a pickup basketball game last summer, it was no contest.

“He didn’t stop me from scoring,” Jackson, 11, says with pride. “I scored plenty of points.”

Recreation and Belonging: Students who participate in Glynn County’s Friday Night Hoops program play basketball with friends and get to know adult volunteers, including police officers, fire and rescue personnel and more. Photo credit: Contributed

Jackson is a regular participant at Friday Night Hoops, a free, supervised basketball program for rising sixth to 11th grade students from across Glynn County. On Friday nights during June and July, dozens of middle and high schoolers rotate through the Glynn Academy Annex Gym for evening games and a meal.

The goal is simple: give kids a safe place to spend Friday nights – and build relationships along the way.

“Kids of any skill level can play – boys, girls,” says Glynn County Manager William “Bill” Fallon. “It’s fun and it gives them something to do on Friday nights.”

Volunteers arrive early with T-shirts, dinner, take-home food, sports drinks and – for kids who need them – brand-new basketball shoes. The program draws volunteers from Glynn County Schools, the College of Coastal Georgia, county Parks and Recreation, Glynn County Fire & Rescue, and members of the Glynn County Police Department – some of whom join in the games.

Those informal interactions matter because they give students a chance to see public safety personnel “as people who care about the community,” says Fallon.

Growing Turnout: Dozens of Glynn County kids participate in Friday Night Hoops during the summer. Photo credit: Contributed

On the court, Jackson enjoys testing himself against older players and the occasional police officer. But he’s quick to point out his favorite Friday Night Hoops perk: nights when the food comes from Chick-fil-A.

The idea for Friday Night Hoops took shape years earlier, when Fallon was serving as assistant director of training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers in Glynco. He wanted to create a program that gave back to the community, but the restricted access to the federal campus posed a barrier.

After Fallon became Glynn County manager, he revived the concept. In 2023, he floated the idea during a staff meeting and says he “had quick buy-in” from county personnel and the Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce. More than a dozen businesses now contribute, covering everything from equipment to food, he says.

“It’s pretty much 100% funded by our community,” says Fallon.

With turnout growing and word spreading, county leaders and coaches are exploring ways to expand the program.