A Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) investigation concerning the Bulloch County Board of Commissioners is currently in progress. On Tuesday, the board’s chairman addressed the public, urging them to avoid jumping to conclusions before any verdict is reached.

“It’s perfectly fine to have personal disagreements with someone,” said Commission Chairman David Bennett. “However, in the United States, a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.”

Sand Creek Construction, a company involved in the reconstruction efforts, is owned by the brother of current commissioner Toby Conner. County officials informed me that Sand Creek has held contracts with the county for several years, predating Conner’s tenure on the commission.

Conner’s brother was at the meeting Tuesday, accompanied by his attorney who says he’s been unfairly targeted.

“I recognize public corruption and fraud, but the allegations against Clay and his company are extremely exaggerated,” stated Jim Durham, the attorney representing Clay Conner and Sand Creek Construction.

County officials mentioned that due to an emergency order, contracts for Sand Creek and Derriso Trucking bypassed the typical bidding process. They reported extending the storm repair contracts to at least five different firms, with Sand Creek and Derriso being the only ones ready to proceed.

The Bulloch County chairman said in the meeting he wanted to respond to all of the public inquiry he’s gotten about it.

“The fact is that we need to look at is a man is innocent until he’s proven guilty, so I tell y’all, ‘stand by’,” said chairman Bennett.

The GBI has not disclosed many details about their investigation, noting it remains open and pending a decision from the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council of Georgia (PAC).

According to PAC, the district attorney has recused himself in the case, and a replacement prosecutor hasn’t been named yet.