Delegation Day afternoon sessions canceled

Cherokee County's winter weather event closed businesses, government offices and schools, as well as ended the scheduled county Delegation Day halfway through its itinerary on Friday.

The county's legislative delegation planned to meet with county officials in sessions from 8 a.m. until about 5 p.m. Friday to discuss local needs and concerns ahead of the 2018 Georgia General Assembly session, which begins Jan. 8.

The delegation includes eight members who represent the county at the state level, and Rep. Scot Turner, R-Holly Springs was selected to chair the meetings this year. Turner said while it's unfortunate that the weather interrupted the day's scheduled meetings, the sessions that did take place were eye-opening and informative.

"I thought, for the sessions we were able to complete, that [the day] was very productive. It's difficult to match schedules and gather so many state and local public officials in one place for a day, so any time spent discussing is time well spent, Turner said.

The second session of the day, a meeting with Cherokee County Sheriff Frank Reynolds, was particularly productive, and Turner said it gave the delegation perspective on what issues local law enforcement agencies deal with.

"Sheriff Reynolds' session was extraordinarily valuable," Turner said. "He emphasized mental health as one of his top challenges and priorities, and we're going to investigate some ways that we can help to address that issue."

State Court Judge Michelle Homier participated in the session with the sheriff, which gave even more valuable context to the conversation about mental health concerns in the judicial system, he said.

"The reason why we have Delegation Day is so these types of conversations can get started, so that was great," Turner said.

Conversations with the county's Chamber of Commerce and public library for their reports, highlights and budgeting concerns were also enlightening, he said.

Reynolds said the perception of a productive meeting with the legislation was mutual, and that having an opportunity to address the mental health issue on both a local and state level was an important agenda item.

"I think it went well ? very well as a matter of fact. I've had a good working relationship with members of the delegation," Reynolds said. "There's need for mental health facilities, and I think this was an opportunity to work with our legislators to get some things in place to help sheriffs and other government entities deal with our mental health crisis. A lot of times, we have folks in jail that probably need more treatment than incarceration."

Recidivism rates in those with mental illness are notably high, he said, and it's important that incarceration is a last resort for those who may need treatment instead.

"We want to ensure that [the mentally ill] have the proper care, and incarceration is not always the best option," he said.

Discussions like this ahead of the legislative session in January are exceedingly important for local governments, and while every concern and goal of the county can't be voiced in one meeting, it's encouraging just to be able to open a dialogue, Reynolds said.

Afternoon delegation sessions with the city of Canton, the city of Holly Springs, Cherokee County commissioners and the county's district attorney were canceled as the weather worsened Friday morning. Turner said he will try to reschedule the afternoon meetings, but getting all parties in one place is a challenge.

"It's a big puzzle," he said. "It's hard to schedule Delegation Day period and get the majority of the delegation there."

Two senators and three House representatives attended the morning session. Turner said he would be reaching out to the two cities and the county commissioners over the next two weeks to review schedule availability.