A number of individuals were appointed to several boards during the Newton County Board of Commissioners' first meeting of the year on Thursday.

Though the meeting became controversial as the board had a split decision on who should be appointed as the citizen representative to the Joint Development Authority, the board unanimously approved several other appointments to a number of boards that would represent the county.

County Commissioner J.C. Henderson was appointed as the vice-chairman of BOC, John Middleton was reappointed to serve as the county manager, Tommy Craig was again reappointed to serve as the county attorney, and Jackie Smith was again appointed to serve as the county clerk.

Three appointments were made to the Animal Control Board. Mimi Lee was appointed as chairman-at large; Ann Ezell was appointed to represent District 1 and Betty Bellairs was appointed to District 5.

BOC Chair Keith Ellis was appointed to the Board of Health and Northeast Georgia Regional Commission. Ellis was also appointed to serve on the Joint Development Authority as the elected official and former county commissioner Mort Ewing was appointed to serve on the JDA board as the citizen position.

Betty Bledsoe was appointed to the Library Board and three appointments were made to the Planning Commission as Landis Stephens was appointed chairman-at large, Troy Bledsoe was appointed to serve for District 1 and Bob Kitchens to serve on the board for District 3. Donna Edwards will now serve as the Senior Services Board Chairman and Lou Parratt will represent District 1 on the board.

Reginald Grimes was appointed to serve as the District 1 representative on the Tax Assessor's Board.

James Johnson was appointed to an open BOC position on the View Point Health Board and Keith Ellis was appointed as the chairman. The board of commissioners appointed Norris Key to represent District 1 on the Water & Sewerage Authority.

Gil Davis will now serve as chairman on the Zoning Board of Appeals and Carolyn Hardeman will represent District 4 on the board.

The Newton County Board of Commissioners will meet again for a regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m.