The county commissioner seat recently vacated when John Green moved outside the county recently was filled Monday night.
During the regular monthly meeting of the commission, commissioners chose Rick Cantrell to serve the remainder of  the 5th District commissioner’s term.
Cantrell, competing against Steven Cantrell, Eugene LaFever, and James Young for the position, received eight votes to gain the seat.
A majority of seven votes were needed for the appointment.
County Commissioners voting for Cantrell were Jimmy Poss, Larry Summers, Marshall Ferrell, Wayne Cantrell, Bradley Hendrix, Bobby Joines, Elmer Ellis, Jr., and Mason Carter.
Commissioners Jeff Barnes and Jerry Adcock cast votes for James Young.
Commissioners Jerry Scott and Jack Barton voted for Eugene LaFever.
All four applicants were interviewed by the commission during a Thursday night All-Committees meeting held at the courthouse.
Cantrell, who was born and raised in the 5th district, has served on the DeKalb County Regional Planning Commission since 1995.
“I have lived in DeKalb County all my life,” Cantrell said during his interview Thursday. “I went to school here. I have worked for BFN Operations, formerly Knowles & Sons Nursery for 38 years. I am one of the managers there.”
When commissioners asked Cantrell if he would run for the office in the next election, Cantrell answered, “That's a possibility. If the people of the 5th District ask me to, I would. I will address that when the time comes.”
According to County Mayor Mike Foster, Cantrell will take the oath of office on Sept. 1.
Green's term will expire on August 31, 2014.
Green left the commission in April after moving to White County.
Green served on the commission for eleven years, first elected in 2002 and then re-elected in 2006 and 2010.
Green was recognized for his service with a plaque at the meeting Monday night.
Meanwhile, the commission chose Hoyte Barrett and Taft Hendrixson from six applicants for two warrant commissioner positions.
The two new judicial commissioners will work along with current  commissioner Jerry Taylor.
Before deciding on the applicants for the job, the county commission first voted not only to fill the vacant judicial commissioner post vacated by the recent resignation of Tammy Ashburn, but to create another one as well.
Rod Higham, who fills in as a part-time assistant judicial commissioner, will continue in that capacity.
Plans are for the three judicial commissioners to be on call 24-hours-a-day for one week, and then be available for secondary calls while the next commissioner in line is the primary call for a week.
Previously, the two judicial commissioners worked two weeks on call and two weeks off.
The mayor said, however, that even when they are off duty, the judicial commissioners are still on call if needed.
The Judicial commissioners are paid  $884 per month.
Judicial commissioners issue criminal arrest warrants upon finding probable cause, and are subject to be called in at any time.
A budget amendment will be necessary to fund the new position.
In addition to Barrett and Hendrixson, Mark Adams, Oscar Boyd, McClure Cantrell, and Richard Jennings applied for the job.
All six men were interviewed by the commission Thursday night.
Since seven votes were needed to get the jobs, three roll-call votes were taken Monday before the first position was filled.
During the first vote, Barrett took five votes and Hendrixson received four.
Mark Adams got two votes and Oscar Boyd received one.
Mason Carter, Jerry Scott, Jeff Barnes, Marshall Ferrell, and Jimmy Poss cast votes for Barrett.
Bobby Joines, Jack Barton, Wayne Cantrell, and Larry Summers voted for Hendrixson, Elmer Ellis, Jr. and Jerry Adcock voted for Adams, and Bradley Hendrix voted for Boyd.
Jennings, Cantrell, and Boyd were dropped from the ballot on the second vote, in which Barrett received six votes, Hendrixson took four, and Adams got two.
In that round,  Mason Carter, Jerry Scott, Jeff Barnes, Marshall Ferrell, Jimmy Poss, and Bradley Hendrix voted for Barrett.
Bobby Joines, Jack Barton, Wayne Cantrell, and Larry Summers maintained votes for Hendrixson, and Elmer Ellis, Jr. and Jerry Adcock again voted for Adams.
Adams' was dropped from the third ballot leaving Barrett and Hendrixson.
Mason Carter, Elmer Ellis, Jr., Jerry Scott, Bradley Hendrix, Jerry Adcock, Jeff Barnes, and Marshall Ferrell cast votes for Barrett, giving him seven votes needed to take the appointment.
Bobby Joines, Jack Barton, and Wayne Cantrell cast votes for Hendrixson.
Voting ended when a majority of seven was reached, and Jimmy Poss and Larry Summers did not cast votes.
Hendrixson received the appointment in the second round of voting, getting the required seven nods in the first roll call.
Cantrell took four votes, and Boyd got one.
Marshall Ferrell, Jerry Adcock, Wayne Cantrell, Jerry Scott, Bobby Joines, Elmer Ellis, Jr., and Mason Carter voted for Hendrixson.
Cantrell received the votes of Jimmy Poss, Larry Summers, Jeff Barnes, and Jack Barton.
Bradley Hendrix voted for Boyd.
Foster said Barrett and Hendrixson will be sworn in soon, and will require some training.