The first meeting of the newly-constituted Effingham County Board of Commissioners did not lack for its share of fireworks Tuesday night.

 

Commissioners debated adopting a home rule ordinance that would change when the chairman of the commissioners votes. Currently, the chairman, who is elected at-large, votes at will, as do the commissioners chosen from the five districts. Under the proposal, the chairman would only vote to break a tie.

 

Chairman Dusty Zeigler issued a sharp and pointed response to the home rule proposal.

 

“Personally, I think you people are nuts,” he said to commissioners who were proposing the change. “This is nonsensical. It was created to make a tie, so issues would get looked at. I think you are defeating the purpose of what the position was created for.”

 

For the complete story, see the Friday's Jan. 7 print edition of the Effingham Herald.