MOULTRIE — Colquitt County Commission tapped zoning and safety officer John Peters on Friday to act as temporary assistant to ailing County Administrator Brian Shuler, taking the action before notifying Peters.

After a split 4-3 vote, broken by Commission Chairman Benny Alderman, commissioners summoned Peters to the Friday afternoon meeting. Joining Alderman in support of the decision to offer the position to Peters were Commissioners Terry Clark, Ray Saunders and Luke Strong, with Commissioners Winfred Giddens, Johnny Hardin and Donna Herndon opposed.

The measure they approved — after a session closed to the public to discuss personnel — would not have increased Peters’ pay.

The commissioners who voted against the move seemed surprised that Peters had not been asked beforehand whether he was interested in the position, which is not permanent.

After meeting with Peters in another session closed to the public, the commission voted for Peters to fill that role if Shuler recommends a salary increase for Peters while he serves in that role.

That decision was unanimous.

Peters earns $36,519 for his current duties as the county’s zoning official and safety coordinator.

Shuler has been equipped with his county computer and phone line at his residence and has been working from home during his illness, county officials said.

“Bryan is working day to day, but he obviously can’t do everything right now without the assistance of someone who can be arms and legs for him,” County Attorney Lester Castellow told The Observer following the conclusion of the meeting. “The county administrator and the commissioners feel like he needs some assistance officially, and that includes various county departments, department heads and employees having someone they can go to who is out in the field on a day by day basis.”

The second vote taken by commissioners instructs County Clerk Deborah Murkerson to contact Shuler and get a recommendation from him on additional pay for Peters while he serves in the assistant capacity.

Salaries gathered by the county for individuals working as assistants to city managers or county administrators in the area showed them making annual salaries in the $70,000 to $80,000 range.

A job description prepared for commissioners lists essential job functions as:

• Demonstrate a continuous effort to improve operations, decrease turnaround times, streamline work process, and work cooperatively and jointly to provide quality customer service.

• Plan and carry out work assignments approved by the county administrator.

• Perform a variety of administrative functions.

• Receive, investigate and resolve complaints or inquiries from employees and the general public involving county operations.

• Serve as staff liaison with county departments, constitutional officers, other government agencies and the public.

• Perform special assignments as assigned by the county administrator or commissioners.

• Identify and manage critical issues that have public impact.

• Articulate changes in organization and business priorities to staff “in ways that encourage action and support.”

In other action Friday, commissioners granted a variance request to allow the City of Moultrie to cut out a section of Old Adel Road for the placing of a new sewer main.

The section of road being cut is slated to be closed as part of a Georgia Department of Transportation project that will change where that roadway intersects with Georgia Highway 133, the city said in a letter written to county officials. The city will pave over the cut section upon completing its work on the sewage system.