Latest news, weather and high school sports for Albany and Southwest Georgia

ALBANY, GA -- Dougherty County Commissioners unanimously approved a $338,499.85 American Recovery Act grant that will bring a telejustice video conferencing system to the Dougherty County Judicial Circuit.

The system would allow experts or witnesses to use a computer video camera to appear in court.  Commissioners predict it will save taxpayers the current expenses of transportation, lodging, and food costs they currently pay to bring someone to court.

County Commission Chairman Jeff “Bodine” Sinyard says the telejustice system is impressive in multiple ways.  “You can have a trial right here in Albany Georgia and have folks scattered across the country that can have a huge impact upon how that trial turns out because we can now beam them in through video conferencing.  Its phenomenal the amount of money the system is going to save.  Quite frankly it will all around make a better judicial system for us and help all of our folks who work so hard to be able to adjudicate cases in a much more proper way” says Sinyard.

Commissioners also approved the reallocation of some Splost V funds for projects that will directly affect southwest Georgian’s.

The projects that will benefit from the reallocation are as follows:

• $304,500 East Albany Road Project
• $149,000 Railroad Crossing Improvements
• $60,000 County Fire Equipment
• $20,000 Street Lighting Improvements

Commissioner Jack Stone says the commissioner unanimously agreed to reallocate the money because it was the best way to spend it.  “The infrastructure needs to be done and our top priority is what we can get done now like the railroads and the public safety concerns” says Stone.