Thomasville Chief of Police Ellis Jackson said using officers is definitely being looked at for the program and would provide a measure of security to the community.

Campbell also asked if workers would be able to go into neighborhoods or just state right-of-ways.

Sykes said, as long as it is public property, workers can be there. He also said they would mainly be picking up garbage so no skilled laborers would be required.

“I think it is a win-win,” he said.

City officials said there is need of an outlet in the community for the service.

“We have a lot of people come through our court system who are put on probation or community service as their sentence,” Jackson said. “I think we could benefit by having them do things inside the city, such as pick up paper on side of road, to help beautify our city.”

Jackson has been involved in the strategic planning process, specifically in discussing ways to clean up the general appearance of the city.

The city manager also spoke with personnel at the local probation office and with Harry Jay Altman, chief judge of the Southern Judicial Circuit, and said both expressed interest and support of the city’s using the detail.

“This gives them an outlet,” Sykes said. “Rather than putting someone in jail, persons can repay the community through service.”

The Times-Enterprise contacted Altman for comment on this story but he said, since he had no idea what was discussed at the meeting, he had no comment.

Altman previously wrote a letter to the county citing the importance of the program, which the Times-Enterprise used in the story about the county’s decision to cut the $35,000 program from its budget.

He wrote, in the letter, that community service provides an impetus to defendants to change and to become acquainted with personal responsibility and to develop a work ethic.

Thomas County has used more than 12,300 hours of community service work, which, based on minimum wage, amounts to more than $80,000 worth of labor, according to the judge’s letter.

Plans are already underway to get the program rolling inside the city limits, Sykes said. City staff will meet with the probation office to begin coordinating when community service work could start.

“One thing I’ve heard from the community is it wants the city to be cleaner,” he said. “This is a chance for us to focus on our roads, streets and parks and clean them up. I don’t think there will be an issue with us spending a small amount for the reward we will receive from it.”