Henry County Board of Commissioners Chairman Tommy Smith has filed suit in Superior Court against all five of his fellow commissioners for what he says is an attempt by the board to take away a portion of the chairman’s powers.

The action was filed Nov. 21, according to court records, and is listed as a “complaint for declaratory judgment, injunctive relief, and attorney’s fees.”

Commissioners Bo Moss, Brian Preston, Gary Barham, Reid Bowman and Bruce Holmes are listed individually in the suit as well as the board as a unit. Bowman will be leaving office in four weeks and succeeded by Blake Prince.

Smith’s complaint alleges that “there is uncertainty as to the exercise of the authority and duties delegated to him by the General Assembly” and that his authority “has been largely usurped by the Board of Commissioners illegally and in an unconstitutional manner.”

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The renovation of Jekyll Island's Great Dunes golf course includes nine holes designed by Walter Travis in the 1920s for the members of the Jekyll Island Club. Several holes that were part of the original layout where located along the beach and were bulldozed in the 1950s.(Photo by Austin Kaseman)

Credit: Photo by Austin Kaseman