Most decisions made by local elected officials are usually easy to understand. Once in awhile, though, a ruling is handed down that defies logic and common sense. The decision that perfectly aligns with the latter is that of the Board of Commissioners’ decision last year to keep a few thousand dollars in ad valorem tax monies that were paid to the County in error.

It was through no fault of the two residents who thought they were the owners of the property in question – a mistake that wasn’t unreasonable, due to the fact that Craig and Eddie Hodges were heirs to property that once belonged to their father. When they were moving forward with plans to sell the small tract of land last year, the two men learned through an attorney that they were not the rightful owners of the property in question. It was actually owned by Claxton Poultry Company.