The first Barnesville city council meeting of the year traditionally brings an agenda full of appointments and reappointments and 2009 is no exception. The biggest change this year will come in the appointments January 12 to municipal judgeships. Due to heavy caseload, the court will go from one judge with others serving in interim capacities to a senior judge with three additional associate judges. According to the meeting agenda, Rob Morton of Zebulon will be recommended as senior judge with Jim Granum, Kathy Martin and Dan Rainey serving as associates. Granum is the current municipal judge. Martin is Lamar County probate judge and Rainey is a Barnesville native and retired Naval officer who served as commander of the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk. According to city records, the municipal court caseload has increased dramatically in recent years. In October, 2008 there were 170 cases on the docket for plea day. Those numbers were 120 for November and 105 for December. In November, there were 50 cases on the trial docket. The appointees are expected to share the caseload. Other appointments on the agenda are: mayor pro tem, Lynn Wilson; auditor, Robyn Underwood-Chute; attorney, Norman Smith (Bobby Melton of Forsyth will serve in an interim capacity as Smith battles an illness); physician, Dr. Lee Woodall; solicitor J. Kristi Rowell; and McIntosh RDC board, mayor Peter Banks, Maxine Gibson and Lewis Fallings.
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