The Brooks County Board of Commissioner's meet on the first Monday of every month. Meetings begin at 5 p.m. and include Public Hearings and Department Workshops.
Located just west of Valdosta in southwest Georgia, on the Florida border, Brooks is a county of moss-laden oaks and a long and honored history.
Founded on December 11, 1858, Brooks County was created from portions of Lowndes and Thomas counties. The 494-square-mile county was named for Preston S. Brooks of South Carolina, an extremely popular young legislator known for his intensely southern sentiments and his zealous defense of southern rights. In 1853 Brooks was elected to Congress as a States' Rights Democrat and served until his death four years later, at the age of thirty-eight. A year later the Georgia legislature showed their appreciation of him by naming a county for him.
1818, U.S. president Andrew Jackson entered a treaty with the Spanish and the Native Americans and claimed the land that is now Brooks County for the United States. Settlers later came down the Coffee Road from middle Georgia in their covered wagons, ox-drawn carts, and buggies. These early settlers had three things uppermost in their minds: religion, education, and agriculture.
In 1859, the home of Thomas Folsom in Quitman was used as Brooks County's first courtroom. Later that year, work began on a permanent courthouse. The Civil War slowed the building's progress until it was finished in 1864. The first courthouse is still in use today, although it has undergone remodeling and modernizing.
The largest town in Brooks County, Quitman, was named the county seat. Quitman, in Brooks County, is known as the Camellia City. Longtime resident Betty Sheffield developed a camellia variety that carries her name.
Other small towns in the county include Barney (famous for its peaches), Barwick, Dixie, Morven, and Pavo.
According to the 2010 U.S. census, the population of Brooks County is 16,243, a decrease from the 2000 population of 16,450.
Administration
Office of the County Administrator & County Clerk
The Brooks County Administration Office is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Brooks County and is responsible for many operations that occur daily in Brooks County, Operations such as but not limited to: Annual Budgeting, Accounts Payable and Receiveables, Payroll, Human Resources, Record Retention, Preparation of all Regular and Special Called Meetings, Business Licenses, and more.
The Administration Office is located at 610 South Highland Street Quitman, Georgia 31643
Citizens interested in appearing before the Board at a Regularly Scheduled Board of Commissioner's Meeting should visit the Forms page to download an Agenda Request Form.
Administration Staff
Administrator
Justin DeVane
Responsible for day-to-day operations of the County and annual budgeting process
In case of emergency, please contact Brooks County 911 by dialing 9-1-1 or (229) 263-4262. To report a non-emergency road concern please contact the Brooks County Road Department at (229) 263-8817.
Superintendent
Glenn Walker
Phone: (229) 263-8817
Fax: (229) 263-6912
1625 Johnson Short Road
Quitman, GA 31643
Adopt-A-Road Program
Interested in Couny Road Adoption? Be sure to read the rules and policies below regarding road adoption and whether you, your family, or your organization is interested in adopting a County road.
Office of the Chief Assessor & Board of Tax Assessor's
The Brooks County Tax Assessor's Office is responsible for the maintaining the County's Property Tax Digest. The Tax Assessor's Office calculates property values for all real property within Brooks County.
The Assessor's Office is located at 610 South Highland Street Quitman, Georgia 31643
Monday - Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Office of the Election Superintendent and the Board of Elections
The Brooks County Elections Office is responsible for the maintaining the County's Voter Registation List and for conducting elections in Brooks County.
The Elections Office is located at 610 South Highland Street Quitman, Georgia 31643
Monday - Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Elections Staff
Superintendent
Ken Collins
Phone: (229) 263-9939
Fax: (229) 263-5372
Board of Elections
Board of Elections are appointed by Board of Commissioner's to serve a three year term.
The Brooks County Inspections and Zoning Office is responsible for maintaining and enforcement of zoning laws and regulations, inspections and issuing permits.
The Inspection Office is located at 610 South Highland Street Quitman, Georgia 31643
Monday - Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Building Inspector
Billy Ingram
Phone: (229) 263-5184
Cell: (229) 263-6002
Planning & Zoning Commission
Planning & Zoning Commission are appointed by Board of Commissioner's.
For parties interested in requesting a driveway permit, property address, property re-zoning/variance/exception or utility permit, they should visit the Brooks County Inspection Office.
702 Barwick Road
Quitman, GA 31643
229-263-1047
bcfd1@windstream.net BrooksCountyFire.com For fire related incident reports, to volunteer as a firefighter, or find out about upcoming safety classes, such as CPR, contact us.
For more information about the Brooks County Fire Department, visit www.BrooksCountyFire.com.
911 Emergency Services
Fire - Rescue - Law - EMS
Michael Smith
Director, 911 & EMA
P.O. Box 911
702 Barwick Road
Quitman, Georgia 31643
229-263-4262
brks911@windstream.net
BROOKS COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT
702 Barwick Road
Quitman, GA 31643
229-263-1047
bcfd1@windstream.net For fire related incident reports, to volunteer as a firefighter, or find out about upcoming safety classes, such as CPR, contact us.
Provided by
Grady Ambulance
510 North Walker Street
Quitman, GA 31643
855-278-5911
DISPATCH WRECKER ROTATION
The Brooks County 911 Dispatch uses a wrecker rotation list for 911 related calls and requests.
Operators may download a copy of the rules and policies by clicking here.
You may download a copy of the Vehicle Identification Chart by clicking here.
Please note that the wrecker policies are subject to change at any time and interested parties should check with the 911 Director to ensure that the version posted online is up-to-date.
Probate Court
Judge Beth Hurst
Elected Probate Judge
Judge Beth Hurst
Probate Judge, Elected
P.O. Box 665
100 Screven Street
Quitman, Georgia 31643
229-263-5567 office
229-263-5058 fax
The Brooks County Probate Office is located in the Brooks County Courthouse at 100 Screven Street, at the intersection of US Highway 84 and US Highway 221. The Probate Office is open, Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm.
Please use the following links for information regarding Services provided by the Brooks County Probate Office.
Marriage Licenses - Gun Permits
Learn more about the Probate Court. Read about the Probate Court on page 3 in the Brooks County Record Brooks County Record Issue #3
Victim Assistance Program
A coordinated effort of the Brooks County Board of Commissioners and local Law enforcement serving ALL Victims of crime in Brooks County.
Brooks County Victim Advocacy
Peggy McCoy Wilson
Director
P.O. Box 167
610 South Highland
Quitman, Georgia 31643
229-263-9866
brookscova@windstream.net
Judge Joyce Miskiel
Magistrate Judge, Elected
P.O. Box 665
400 East Courtland Avenue
Quitman, Georgia 31643
229-263-9989 office
229-263-7847 fax
The Brooks County Magistrate Office is located in the Brooks County Ag Building on 400 East Courtland Avenue, at the intersection of US Highway 333 and Us Highway 76. The Magistrate Office is open, Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm.
Charles "Ben" DeVane
Surveyor, Elected
P.O. Box 860
1105 East Screven Street
Quitman, Georgia 31643
229-263-8894
mkdevane@windstream.net
Coroner's Office
Michael Miller
Brooks County Coroner
Michael Miller
Coroner, Elected
P.O. Box 272
Quitman, Georgia 31643
229-305-7906
Joseph Lee Leverett
Deputy Coroner
P.O. Box 904
Quitman, Georgia 31643
229-300-8513
josephleverett@yahoo.com
Delphanie McGhee
Deputy Coroner
Recreation
Operated by the Boys & Girls Club of Valdosta
Calendar
November - Youth Soccer Instructional Leagues
January through May - Youth Baseball/Softball Leagues
Facilities
Brooks County Recreational Fields - U.S. Highway 333
Washington Street Teen Center - Quitman
In November of 2014 the Brooks County Board of Commissioners and the Boys & Girls Club of Valdosta signed a Memorandum of Understanding, that states the Boys & Girls Club of Valdosta shall provide recreational sports and activities to the citizens of Brooks County. The agreement includes baseball, softball, and soccer leagues and activities, but also for future expansion of services to children and adults of Brooks County.
You may contact the Boys & Girls Club of Valdosta directly by calling the Administration Office at (229) 242-0676.
Meeting Minutes
Minutes from Commission Meetings
A copy of the minutes can also be provided by the County Administrator Office by completing an Open Records Request with the County Clerk. The County Administration Office is located at: 610 South Highland Street Quitman, Georgia 31643
Monday - Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
The County Administration office will make a good-faith effort to ensure the more recent copies of meeting minutes are posted. If a copy of the minutes you seek are not posted, please contact the Adminsitration Office.
A copy of the budgets and audits can also be provided by the County Administrator Office by completing an Open Records Request with the County Clerk. The County Administration Office is located at: 610 South Highland Street Quitman, Georgia 31643
Monday - Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
(229) 263-5561
The County Administration office will make a good-faith effort to ensure the more recent copies of audits and budgets are posted. To ensure you have the most current budget version, please contact the Adminsitration Office.
The Brooks County Development Authority oversees all economic development opportunities in Brooks County and Quitman.
The Development Authority Office is located at:
220 East Screven Street
Quitman, Georgia 31643
Monday - Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
(229) 263-9085
For information online, visit the Brooks County Development Authority web page.
www.brookscoda.com
Interested in Georgia Income Tax Credits for your business? Brooks County is a Tier 2 County. For more information, click here.
TV Clips and Newspaper Articles about Brooks County
"Spook Bridge" by RKDS Media
RKDS Media owners Roy Kirkland and Doug Sebastian are writing, producing, and filming a movie in Brooks County, featuring one of the County's oldest landmarks, Spook Bridge.
