Bibb County Commissioner Lonzy Edwards had a little fun at fellow Commissioner Joe Allen’s expense during Tuesday’s committee meetings.

When commissioners were informed that the 2013 Justice Assistance Grant would be used to upgrade the county’s breathalyzers to the Intoxilyzer 9000 as mandated by the state, Edwards remarked that a similar upgrade was mandated a few years ago for radar-detection equipment.

“I remember a few years ago, one of our favorite commissioners got caught by one of those (radar) devices,” Edwards said, indicating Allen.

“I got caught by the radar, not because I was drinking,” Allen clarified.

After the commissioners enjoyed a laugh, Allen noted that since he approved the radar devices that later caused him to get a ticket, “I paid (for the radar devices) twice!”

The new, more accurate Intoxilyzer 9000s would replace Intoxilyzer 5000s, which were approved in 1995.

Deal taps two for state boards

Gov. Nathan Deal appointed two Middle Georgians to serve on state boards.

Dr. David B. Kay of Macon was appointed to serve on the Georgia Board for Physician Workforce. He is owner and an OB/GYN at Middle Georgia Women’s Health Practice in Warner Robins, and he serves as chairman of the surgery and anesthesia department at the Medical Center of Peach County. He received his bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and his medical degree from the Mercer University School of Medicine.

Former state Sen. Johnny Grant of Milledgeville was appointed to the Board of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. Grant now works as director of community engagement and economic development for Georgia College & State University, and as vice president of the Exchange Bank Board of Directors. He received his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Georgia Tech and a master’s degree in public administration from Georgia College.

Events reschedule county meeting

Bibb County commissioners had a slightly unusual committee meeting schedule Tuesday. Normally, committee meetings begin at 9 a.m., but Tuesday’s meetings started 45 minutes later because commissioners attended a community consolidation meeting. Then, after three committees met, commissioners recessed from mid-morning until after lunch so they could attend the memorial service for Samuel Lanier Richardson, who died Sunday. Richardson was the son of longtime Bibb County Commissioner Elmo Richardson.

Redefining success

Telegraph columnist Dick Yarbrough wrote about an interview with the Department of Natural Resources commissioner, Mark Williams. Yarbrough wrote that Williams made certain he knew of what Williams called the “success” of the Go Fish Center in Perry.

Wrote Yarbrough, “He says the facility which is operated by his department has had more than 40,000 visitors from around the country since it opened in late 2010 and more than 6,000 children and adults have participated in education programs there.”

Problem is, when the place opened, state officials predicted it would get 100,000 visitors each year. When Go Fish was being planned, it was projected to have 200,000 visitors per year.

In other words, Go Fish was supposed to have been a success with 40,000 visitors every couple of months. Now it’s deemed a success with 40,000 visitors every couple of years.

Big dam problem

Bibb County government spokesman Kevin Barrere sent a memorable pair of e-mails this week. The second started with, “I am re-sending this press release because I misspelled dam.”

The other dam homonym was used repeatedly to describe upcoming work on Lake Tobesofkee’s dam. Fishing close to the dam will be stopped for about four months until repairs are completed. We don’t know when the dam spelling mistakes will cease.

Hearing problem

A court hearing with political and financial implications had a hearing problem.

During a court hearing about Forest Hill Road construction -- which may have repercussions for state and local governments -- Superior Court Judge Edgar Ennis asked a state lawyer to move so a court reporter could best hear her, then suggested she was talking too quietly when she got in front of a microphone.

“I went to an Elton John concert last night, so I can barely hear,” the judge explained.

Telegraph writers Phillip Ramati and Mike Stucka contributed to this report.