Government Structure

Government Structure

Government Structure 

Bartow County is governed by a sole commissioner, who is the chief administrative officer and elected official of the county government. A sole commissioner has governed Bartow since the late 1920s, and is only one of approximately 10 counties in Georgia (and the largest) to still use the sole commissioner system. Voters turned down referendums in 1992 and 2006 to implement a Board of Commissioners. The County Administrator, Assistant County Administrator, County Financial Officer and County Clerk compose the Commissioner’s senior administrative staff. 

All directors of county departments report to the Commissioner, except elected officials. Other elected county officers are the Sheriff of Bartow County, the Clerk of Court, Magistrate Judge, Tax Commissioner, Coroner and Surveyor. These elected officers operate outside of the Commissioner’s authority, with exception to budgetary matters.  The Cherokee Judicial Circuit District (Bartow and Gordon counties) is the chief state court with jurisdiction here, which includes four Superior Court Judges and a District Attorney. 

The Commissioner appoints all other department and assistant department heads. Duties of county departments include: 

Public Safety Services 

• Sheriff’s Office –The Sheriff is elected for a four-year term and oversees the department, which is organized into the Jail, Criminal Investigation, Patrol and Warrant divisions. The Sheriff’s Office is responsible for law enforcement, operating the Bartow County Jail, serving warrants and other court documents, providing security at the courthouse and criminal investigations. Its jurisdiction covers the entire county including the municipalities. It is the largest department in the county government. The Sheriff also oversees the Bartow County 911 Communications Center. The Sheriff’s Office and the Bartow County Jail are located at 104 Zena Drive.

• Fire Department - Bartow County has 14 fire stations that cover all of unincorporated Bartow and the cities of Adairsville, Kingston, Euharlee, Taylorsville, Emerson and White. Three new stations are planned for future construction. The department’s responsibilities include fire suppression, fire safety, rescue, first responder to medical emergencies and initial response to hazardous materials incidents. The following are station locations:

-         Station 1 (Headquarters) – 5435 Ga. Hwy. 20, Cartersville

-         Station 2 (Cassville) – 1975 Cassville Road, Cartersville

-         Station 3 (Euharlee) – 109 Covered Bridge Road, Euharlee

-         Station 4 (Allatoona) – 5305 Groovers Landing Road, Acworth

-         Station 5 (White) – 19 West Rocky St., White

-         Station 6 (Emerson) – 43 Fourth Street, Emerson

-         Station 7 (Kingston) – 30 W. Main St., Kingston

-         Station 8 (Pine Log) – 3310 Pine Log Road, Rydal

-         Station 9 (Southwest) – 614 Ga. Hwy. 61, Cartersville

-         Station 10 (North Bartow) – 6793 Ga. Hwy. 140, Adairsville

-         Station 11 (Taylorsville) – 11 Euharlee St., Taylorsville

-         Station 13 (Wilderness Camp) – 293 Wilderness Camp Road, White

-         Station 15 (Folsom) – 2142 Ga. Hwy. 140 NW, Adairsville

• Emergency Management Agency – The County EMA Director organizes and executes emergency responses to natural disasters such as tornados and floods. EMA serves as the local homeland security agency and coordinates with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA).  The agency is assisted by a network of trained volunteers during emergencies and disasters. The county EMA office is located at 10 Elizabeth Street, Cartersville.

• Emergency Medical Services – Established in 1971, the department operates seven life-support ambulances out of five stations in Adairsville, Cassville, Emerson, Euharlee and Cartersville. Its headquarters are at Bartow County Fire Station No. 1 (5435 Ga. Hwy. 20, Cartersville).

• Animal Control – The department enforces the Bartow County Animal Control Ordinance and answers reports of stray dogs and cats and animal nuisance calls. It also operates the county animal shelter, where stray, unwanted and dangerous animals are kept until claimed by an owner, adopted or humanely euthanized. Located at 50 Ladds Mountain Road, Cartersville.

• Coroner – The Bartow County Coroner is an elected official who investigates by inquest causes of death, usually of those not clearly of natural causes. The Coroner’s office is located at the 1903 Courthouse (115 Cherokee Avenue).

Development/Planning

• Zoning Department – The Zoning Department is responsible for zoning land classification/usage and code enforcement. An independent Planning Commission hears rezoning applications, with the sole commissioner making the final decision on all rezoning requests. The department maintains the Future Land Use Map and the Bartow County Comprehensive Plan. Located on the first floor of the Frank Moore Administration and Judicial Center.

• Engineering Department –The Engineering Office is responsible for reviewing all development plans within unincorporated areas of the county to ensure compliance with county development regulations, and has oversight responsibility for county compliance with state and federal stormwater regulations. Located on the first floor of the Frank Moore Administration and Judicial Center.

• Building Inspections – The office issues building permits for new structures and remodeling projects of industrial, commercial and residential property and is responsible for inspections in unincorporated Bartow County. Located on the first floor of the Frank Moore Administration and Judicial Center.

Public Works

• Water Department – The Bartow County Water Department provides water and sewer services to more than 20,000 customers through 730 miles of water lines and 93 miles of sewer lines with an average water consumption rate of 6.3 million gallons per day. It maintains 39 water and sewer pumping/booster stations, 12 water reservoirs and two wastewater treatment plants. Located at 50 Nelson Street in Cartersville.

• Road Department – The department maintains the county road system, and provides the following services: paving, right-of-way mowing, road sign installation, bridge installation and repair, drain ditch maintenance and maintenance of most county vehicles and equipment. Located on 10 Ladds Mountain Road, Cartersville.

• Solid Waste Department – The Department of Solid Waste maintains the county’s 300-acre landfill at 40 Allatoona Dam Road. Recent expansions will address the county’s landfill needs for 35 to 40 years. The department also operates 11 collection/recycling sites and the Bartow County Recycling Center. The department’s administrative office is located at the landfill.

Community Services

• Social Services – The office is responsible for assisting county residents with various social service needs such as access to health care, obtaining food and medications and obtaining other basic services such as housing and transportation. In most cases, the office does not provide the service but assists residents with finding the proper federal, state or local agency that can provide the service. Located at the Bartow County Annex Building, 150 N. Bartow Street.

• Parks and Recreation Department – The department staff maintains parks and facilities for public recreation, and offers youth programs that include baseball, football, soccer and basketball. The county’s recreational facilities include Hamilton Crossing Park, Manning Mill Park, Gatewood Park/Bartow Beach, Bartow Carver Park, Center Community Facility/Walking Trail and Osborne Park. The administrative office is located at Hamilton Crossing Park, 31 Beavers Drive, Cartersville.

• Senior Services – The county operates two senior centers (102 Zena Drive and 33 Beavers Drive).The centers provide a meeting place and activities for Bartow seniors. Senior Services programs include music, dance, recreation and cultural activities to assist seniors in maintaining an active lifestyle, which improves health and longevity and adds to the quality of life for many seniors.

• Transit Department – The Transit Department staff operates a fleet of minibuses and offers public transportation for county residents, but mostly serves disabled and senior citizens needing trips to medical appointments, grocery stores and other needs. Also, by contract, the Transit Department provides transportation to local clients of the Georgia Department of Human Resources. The Transit Department is located at 140 Douglas Street.

• Environmental Coordination Office – The office, established in 2006, oversees the Environmental Management System, the Keep Bartow Beautiful program and the Bartow County Greenspace program. The Environmental Management System is the first program of its kind in the United States. Created with the support of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Bartow County EMS gives the county government more of a role in protecting the environment. The EMS works with local businesses and industries to help them finds ways to cut back on pollution and energy usage. The federal government plans to use the Bartow EMS as a model for other communities. Keep Bartow Beautiful encourages community involvement in protecting the county’s environment through activities such as river cleanups and litter prevention. The Bartow County Greenspace program uses local and state funds to purchase available tracts of scenic, historic and environmentally sensitive property for preservation. The joint office is located in the 1903 Bartow County Courthouse (115 Cherokee Avenue).

• Grant Writing Office – The office writes, applies and administers various grants and compiles and maintains statistical and demographic information for Bartow County, the City of Cartersville and other local agencies. The City of Cartersville helps fund the office, which is located at the Agriculture Building, 320 W. Cherokee Ave.

Judicial Services

• Bartow County Superior Court – The court is part of the Cherokee Judicial Circuit with Gordon County. Four Superior Court judges are elected and receive a salary from the state. The Superior Court is jointly funded by the State of Georgia and Bartow County. Courtrooms and judges’ offices are on the third floor of the Frank Moore Administration and Judicial Center.

• Clerk of Court – The files and records of the Superior Court are kept and maintained by the Office of the Court Clerk. Fines and restitution payments and child support payment ordered by the Superior Court are paid to the Clerk who must account for those funds and disperse them as required by law. The Clerk’s Office also keeps and maintains important records such as property deeds and plats, adoption records, military discharge records, mortgage records and various records of liens against property. Located on the second floor of the Frank Moore Administration and Judicial Center.

• Juvenile Court – Also known as Family Court, the Juvenile Court handles trials of persons charged with delinquent (criminal offenses committed by a minor) or unruly acts (truancy, gross disobedience to parents or guardian or school disobedience). The Juvenile Court Judge is appointed by the Chief Superior Court Judge. The Juvenile Court has concurrent jurisdiction with the Superior Court in many other family law matters, including child custody and termination of parental rights. The court is located on the third floor of the Frank Moore Administration and Judicial Center.

• Magistrate Court – The Magistrate Court handles small civil claims, warrants, bonds and conducts preliminary hearings for criminal matters. The office is located at the Bartow County Annex Building on Cherokee Avenue (Old First Baptist Church).

• Probate Court – The Probate Court has jurisdiction over the probate of wills, administration of decedents’ estates, temporary guardianship of minors, guardianship of incapacitated adults, guardianship of property of minors, Traffic Court and is the custodian of vital records such as birth and death certificates. The office is located on the second floor of the Frank Moore Administration and Judicial Center.

• District Attorney – The District Attorney is elected to a four year term and serves the Cherokee Judicial Circuit. The D.A maintains an office in Bartow and Gordon counties. The D.A.’s office presents criminal cases to the Grand Jury for indictment and prosecutes criminal cases in Superior Court. The D.A. also maintains a Victim’s Assistance program. The office is jointly funded by the State of Georgia and Bartow County. The D.A.’s office is located on the third floor of the Frank Moore Administration and Judicial Center.

• Public Defender’s Office – The state-established office provides indigent criminal defendants with legal representation in Superior and Juvenile courts. The office is jointly funded by the State of Georgia and Bartow County.  The office is located at 114 West Cherokee Ave.

Tax Services

• Tax Assessors – The Tax Assessor’s Office is responsible for establishing the fair market value of all taxable real and personal property in the county and preparing the property tax digest. The property tax digest is used to establish the property tax millage rate by local government authorities, such as the county and city governments and school boards. Located on the first floor of the Frank Moore Administration and Judicial Center.

• Tax Commissioner - The Tax Commissioner is elected for a four year term and maintains an office with the responsibility for keeping the property tax digest, submitting the tax digest for approval to the Georgia Department of Revenue, collecting and dispensing all property taxes collected, maintains a list of delinquent taxpayers and issues automobile license tags. Located on the second floor of the Frank Moore Administration and Judicial Center.

Administrative Services

• Commissioner’s Office – The Bartow County Commissioner serves as the governing authority of Bartow County with authority over very department and office of county government, except those of elected officials. The Commissioner sets the budget for all county office. The Commissioner is elected to a four year term and is assisted by a County Administrator, Assistant County Administrator, Chief Financial Officer, County Clerk, Public Information Officer and financial, administrative and clerical staff. The Commissioner is responsible for establishing the budget for the county, setting the property tax millage rate for the maintenance and operations of the county government and for the management of county operations through the administrative staff and county departments. Located on the second floor of the Frank Moore Administration and Judicial Center.

• Information Services - The office issues licenses for businesses in unincorporated Bartow County and collects occupational taxes. The department also maintains the county’s computer and phone systems, structural numbering and the Geographic Information System. It also issues alcohol licenses and collects fees for various county services such as ambulance and landfill fees. Located on the third floor of the Bartow County Annex Building (Old First Baptist Church building).

• Human Resources – The Director of Human Resources is responsible for overseeing the county’s personnel policies, pay plan and the training of department heads, supervisors and employees on a variety of issues involving employment.Human Resources oversees the hiring of employees, coordinates employee benefits and many other matters pertaining to the employment system of the county. Located on the second floor of the Frank Moore Administration and Judicial Center.

• Purchasing - The purchasing department oversees buying equipment and supplies needed for county operations. Purchasing staff also assist other departments in preparing specifications and obtaining bids on equipment, vehicles and supplies. The office is located at 105 N. Bartow Street.

• Elections – The Elections Superintendent and staff oversee the Elections Office, where citizens can register to vote and obtain absentee ballots for county, state and federal elections. The superintendent secures ballots, sets up polling places, voting booths, staffs the polls and tallies and reports the results of the elections. The office is located at 105 N. Bartow Street.

• Facilities – The department manages the Frank Moore Administration and Judicial Center facility and the court and administration annex facilities. The Facilities Manager supervises the housekeeping staff and oversees the maintenance and climate control within the facilities. The Facilities Manager also assists in the acquisition of real property for various county uses and participates in construction oversight. The Manager’s Office is located on the second floor of the Frank Moore Administration and Judicial Center.

• Building Maintenance – The Building Maintenance Department has the responsibility for the maintenance of all county facilities and grounds, including repairs and maintenance of plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems. The office is located at 140 Douglas Street.

Cooperative Offices/Agencies

• Extension Agent – The Georgia Cooperative Extension Service in Bartow County provides county residents with staff services in agricultural and natural resources, 4-H Club and youth, family and consumer sciences. The office is located at the Agriculture Building, 320 W. Cherokee Ave.

• Economic Development – A joint office with the City of Cartersville operating under the direction of the Bartow-Cartersville Joint Development Authority, the department recruits business and industry to Bartow County and Cartersville, as well as targets land for future industrial development and provides assistance to existing businesses. Located at the Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce (122 West Main Street).

• Health Department – The Bartow County Health Department is an agency of the State of Georgia located at a county owned facility at 100 Zena Drive. The county provides support for funding the department. The department offers medical services to any county resident, regardless of age, race, religion, national origin, political belief, disability or sex. Some services have adjusted fees based on ability to pay. The office also issues inspection reports for restaurants in the county and regulates septic tank usage.

• Cartersville-Bartow County Library System – The library system is a cooperative agency with a staff overseen by a Board of Directors and funded by the State of Georgia, the cities of Cartersville, Adairsville, Euharlee and Bartow County. The main library is located at 429 West Main Street. Other branches are located in Euharlee and Adairsville.