Rickey Shirley Retires
Rickey Shirley will retire after 34 years of service to Hart County.
By Jane Marsh
Reporter, Hart Co. News-Herald
The Hart County Fiscal Court met at 9 a.m. on July 21 on the second floor of the Hart County Courthouse.
During the Citizen’s Request portion of the meeting, Judge-Executive Joe Choate announced that Rickey Shirley, who started working for the county on June 1, 1988, would be retiring after over 34 years.
“…From the court, we just wanna thank you for all those years of service and wish you the best and anything you need from us in the future, let us know,” Choate said. “…The Court, we wanna present you with a plaque for 34 years of service.”
Rickey Shirley commented on his time of service.
“…It’s been a good place for me to work right here at home,” Shirley said. “I’ve worked with some good guys, good judges…I thank God for each and every one of ya’ll. Ya’ll helped me a lot. God bless you. Continue to be strong. Work together!”
Fiscal Court members and meeting attendees all stood and clapped for Shirley.
“I just would like to say that he is going to be missed quite a bit” Brian Weber, Road Department Supervisor, said of Shirley. “Rickey’s one of those employees I’ve never heard him say nothin’ bad about nobody…He’s done more than any supervisor could ask for, and he’s been an asset to the Hart County Road Department.”
Ricky Shirley commented on his time of service during last Thursday’s Fiscal Court meeting. Photo by Jane Marsh.
Jail Report
Jailer Israel Bergenson stated that the total population of inmates was 222. The total number of paying inmates was 178. There were 45 class Ds, 47 class Cs, 1 alternative sentence, 18 controlled intake, 5 parole violators, and 35 prisoner transports. The total included 22 Edmonson County inmates, 45 Hart County inmates, 4 Graves County inmates, and 1 Allen County inmate.
Fiscal Court members also went into closed session for personnel. There were two actions out of the closed session. The first was to acknowledge the two-week notice resignation from Brandy Nichols as the Animal Shelter Director. The second action was to approve hiring Trent Page full-time.
Fiscal Court members also approved the following items during the meeting:
- Bids for Jail Telecommunications
- Bids for Jail Commissary;
- Bids for 2016 Chevrolet Express Van #3923;
- Bids for 2018 Ram 2500 4X4 Truck #2250;
- Sheriff’s 2021 Tax Settlement ;
- Easement with Hinkle Contracting Company, LLC on Dennis Whitlow Road;
- Easement with Israel Bergenson on Jericho Church Road;
- Judge/Executive to sign DR4630 Public Assistance Grant expires 6/30/2024;
- Appointment of Andre Barbour to Extension Board to replace Greg Carter with a term ending 12/2024.
- To cancel the August 4th and 18th scheduled Fiscal Court meetings;
- August 11th and 25th as the next Fiscal Court meetings.
The next fiscal court meeting will be held Thursday, August 11, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. on the second floor of the Hart County Courthouse.
Fiscal Court presented Rickey Shirley with a plaque in honor of his 34 years of service to the county. Front row, from left: Magistrate Gary Gardner, Rickey Shirley, Judge-Executive Joe Choate, Magistrate Doug Wells, and Magistrate Lee Miles. Back row, from left: Magistrate Ronald Riordan and Magistrate Ricky Alvey. Photo by Jane Marsh.
Rickey Shirley was recognized by the Hart County Road Department. From left: Randol Carby, Larry Reynolds, Charles Rountree, James Dobson, Brandon Wilson, Rickey Shirley, Brian Weber, Russell Burd, Todd Jefferies, Chris Garmon, David Bunnell, and Terry Riley. Not pictured: Ronnie Thompson.
