By Ella McGalliard

HAWKINSVILLE, Ga. — April 10, 2026

The Pulaski County Commission held its regular meeting Monday morning at the county courthouse annex, where residents raised pressing questions about the financial stability of Taylor Regional Hospital and the condition of county roads. Commissioner Jenna S. Mashburn presided over the hour-long session, which also included contract approvals, proclamations, and departmental reports.

Taylor Regional Hospital Under Scrutiny

The majority of discussion during the meeting centered on Taylor Regional Hospital (TRH), which has faced public scrutiny over reported financial difficulties, staffing shortages, and an alleged failure to remit employee health insurance premiums to providers. 

Yvonne Roundtree, a Pulaski County resident, addressed the commission directly, asking whether the county could intervene in hospital operations and finances. Commissioner Mashburn clarified that TRH is a private, non-profit entity and that neither the county nor the city has jurisdiction over its daily operations or financial affairs. Because TRH does not receive tax dollars, the county is not provided with the hospital’s financial information.

Roundtree expressed the belief that the hospital’s challenges stem from management rather than finances alone, and she called for the resignation of both the board and Chief Executive Officer Jon Green.

Donald Johnson, a TRH board member who attended the meeting, confirmed that the county and city have no authority over hospital operations. Johnson told those present that TRH is actively seeking a financial partner in order to maintain full services. He acknowledged a six-month delay in funding caused by a clerical error in the hospital’s Rural Emergency Hospital designation, which he said has since been corrected, though no funding was received during that period. Johnson also addressed the insurance premium issue, likening the situation to a matter of prioritizing which financial obligations can be met, and expressed confidence in the hospital’s future and its leadership.

Virgil Roundtree added an emotional dimension to the discussion, recounting an incident in which a 911 call reportedly resulted in a patient being diverted away from TRH. The individual later died. He urged swift action to resolve the hospital’s situation, emphasizing the stakes for emergency response in the county.

Discussion also touched on the University of Georgia’s Archway Program, which was clarified to have provided only a community assessment through the College of Public Health and no financial assistance to TRH. Questions about the RJ Taylor Foundation were addressed as well; it was explained that the foundation is a separate fundraising entity.

Road Maintenance Requests

Two residents brought county road conditions before the commission. Marilyn Jelks reported that the bump near the bridge on Highway 341 by Bembry’s Mill has been repaired, but raised separate concerns about road maintenance near her property, including dirt being piled in front of her driveway and a clogged drainage pipe. Mashburn agreed to meet with Jelks following the meeting to inspect the site and address the issues.

Ruby Harrell requested repairs to Fourteen Lane Road, noting that recurring patchwork fixes have not resolved the underlying problem. The commissioner explained that the county currently has access only to temporary cold patch materials, but that Fourteen Lane Road is included in the 2026 Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG) paving project. Mashburn noted that road funding is limited and relies primarily on property tax revenue and TSPLOST collections.

New Business and Proclamations

On the business side, the commission signed a contract with Georgia Mass Appraisal Solutions and Services, Inc. (GMASS), approved a quote for an asphalt supplemental project on Lovers Lane with Griffin Grading & Concrete, LLC, and formally adopted the Pulaski County Financial Policies.

The commission also approved two proclamations: one designating April as Donate Life Month, and another recognizing the week of May 1–7, 2026 as Bible Reading Marathon Week in Pulaski County. The CDBG Senior Center Progress Letter was entered into the official record.

Lynn Johnson presented the Chamber of Commerce report, and Jamie McDonald delivered the Economic Development report.

Virgil Roundtree also took a moment during public comments to commend Sheriff Wayne Wiley and his department for improvements residents have noticed across the county.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:54 a.m.

The next Pulaski County Commissioner meeting will be May 4 at 10 a.m. 

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