RAEFORD – The Hoke County Board of Commissioners met Monday, Nov. 20.
The board was presented with the monthly tax collector’s report for the month of October.
“The total collected for the month of October was $594,269.79 at a 74.33% rate compared to a 78.57% rate last year,” said Tax Collector Daphne Graham-Dudley. “Our prior year’s collected was $72,901.12 at a 23.32% rate compared to a 20.66% rate last year. The total collected for the month of October was $667,470.91.
“We’re a little bit behind from where we were at this time last year, but we hope that with the end of the year coming people will pay so they can claim it on their taxes and also because it’s right before interest starts.”
The board also recognized the Sandy Grove Middle School volleyball and cross country teams who each won their respective county championships.
“So many times we can watch the news or listen to the radio or watch social media and we see all the bad, but God has shown us tonight all the good we have with our kids,” said commissioner Harry Southerland.
The board also heard from the Hoke County Fire Chiefs Association.
“We just want to make sure we have some input on potential policy changes that could affect Hoke County and citizens of Hoke County,” said Puppy Creek Fire Chief Richard Whiteside. “We want to make sure that we have some input. If we want to make changes, that’s fine, we just want to have some input that’s beneficial to us and to the whole of Hoke County.”
The commissioners were receptive to the request to allow the Hoke County Fire Chiefs Association and the Fire Marshal’s Office to be a part of upcoming committee discussions.
“This is something that we’re going to handle in committee and on a staff level,” said Chairman Allen Thomas Jr.
Finally, the board also approved the usage of the Robert A. Wright Hoke County Agricultural Building for court functions for nine requested Mondays throughout 2024.
The Hoke County Board of Commissioners will next meet Dec. 4.
