Brooks County, Georgia

History

Information credited to New Georgia Encyclopedia

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.

Close History

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

• Phone: (229) 263-5561


• Fax: (229) 263-9345


• Email: brooksco@windstream.net

Clerk

Patricia Williams

Responsible for maintaining County records, open records requests, contracts and oversees human resources

• Phone: (229) 263-5561


• Fax: (229) 263-9345


• Email: brookscocc@windstream.net

Accounts Payable & Receiveables Clerk

Sharon Sims

Responsible for purchasing, accounts payables, and receiveables

• Phone: (229) 263-5561


• Fax: (229) 263-9345

Deputy Clerk / Payroll

Leslie Hall

Payroll Clerk, Business Licenses, handles orientation for new employees

• Phone: (229) 263-5561


• Fax: (229) 263-9345

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Sheriff's Department

Sheriff Mike Dewey

Sheriff's Department for Brooks County

For emergency situations, please dial 9-1-1.

The Brooks County Sheriff's Department includes the Brooks County Jail, Uniform Patrol, Investigations and Narcotics.

Sheriff Dewey's Office is located at
100 Screven Street
Quitman, Georgia 31643

The C.I.D. Building is located at
1004 Holloway Drive
Quitman, Georgia 31643

The Brooks County Jail is located at
1003 Holloway Drive
Quitman, Georgia 31643

Brooks County Jail Inmate Directory
Brooks County Sex Offender Registry

Department Staff

Sheriff

Mike Dewey

Elected 2008

• Phone: (229) 263-7558

Chief Deputy

Joe Wheeler

• Phone: (229) 263-9323


• Fax: (229) 263-4846


• 1004 Holloway Drive


• Quitman, GA 31643

Uniform Patrol

Captain Daniel Bell

• Phone: (229) 263-9323


• Fax: (229) 263-4846


• 1004 Holloway Drive


• Quitman, GA 31643

Jail Administrator

Captain John Ulm

• Phone: (229) 263-8153


• Fax: (229) 263-8624


• 1003 Holloway Drive


• Quitman, GA 31643


• Brooks County Inmate Information

Investigations

Eugene Owen

• Phone: (229) 263-9323


• Fax: (229) 263-4846


• 1004 Holloway Drive


• Quitman, GA 31643


• Sex Offender Registry

Narcotics

Captain Jerry Miller

• Phone: (229) 263-9323


• Fax: (229) 263-4846


• 1004 Holloway Drive


• Quitman, GA 31643

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Road Department

Highways & Streets

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

JJ Allen

• Phone: (229) 263-8817


• Fax: (229) 263-6912


• 1625 Johnson Short Road


• Quitman, GA 31643


• Office Hours: M-F 7a-4p

Close Project

Tax Assessor's Office

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

Tax Assessor's Staff

Chief Appraiser

Wayne Waldron

• Phone: (229) 263-7920


• Fax: (229) 263-5125


• Email: wwaldron@brookscountytax.com

Board of Assessor's

Board of Assessor's are appointed by Board of Commissioner's to serve a three year term.

Daniel Graham, Chairman

Gerald Golden

John Stalvey

The Board of Tax Assessors, appointed for 3 year terms by the County Commissioners, is responsible for determining taxability, value and equalization of all property within the county. The County Board of Tax Assessors notifies taxpayers when changes are made to the value of the property; receive and review all appeals filed; and insures that the appeal process proceeds properly. In addition, they approve all exemptions claimed by the taxpayer.
The Brooks County Board of Tax Assessors’ hold their regular scheduled meeting on the second Tuesday of each month at 9:00 a.m. in the chief appraiser’s office located in the county office building 610 South Highland Road, Quitman, GA 31643. All meetings are open to the public, for additional information please contact the Board of Assessors’ office (229) 263-7920 or assessors@brookscountytax.com.

Annual Notification of Assessment returned by USPS

FY2017

Assessor Meeting Minutes