BULLOCH COUNTY, Ga. () — A Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) probe into the Bulloch County Board of Commissioners is still ongoing. On Tuesday, the chairman addressed public concern about the case, asking the public not to convict anyone prematurely.

“You can not like a man for personal reasons that’s fine,” said Commission Chairman David Bennett. “Last time I looked we were still in the United States of America and a man is innocent until he’s proven guilty.”

One of the companies used for the rebuilding, Sand Creek Construction, is owned by the brother of sitting commissioner Toby Conner. County officials tell me that the county had contracts with Sand Creek for many years before Conner had his seat on the commission.

Conner’s brother was at the meeting Tuesday, accompanied by his attorney who says he’s been unfairly targeted.

“I know public corruption and I know fraud, and the allegations that have been made against Clay and his company are as far from that as you could possibly imagine,” said Jim Durham, the attorney for Clay Conner and Sand Creek Construction.

County officials told the contracts for Sand Creek and Derriso Trucking were not put through the usual bidding process since it was under an emergency order. According to the county, they offered the storm repair job to at least five other companies, but they said Sand Creek and Derriso were the only ones willing to help.

The Bulloch County chairman said in the meeting he wanted to respond to all of the public inquiry he’s gotten about it.

“The fact is that we need to look at is a man is innocent until he’s proven guilty, so I tell y’all, ‘stand by’,” said chairman Bennett.

The GBI is not providing much information on their investigation. They said it is still open and waiting on a decision from the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council of Georgia (PAC).

According to PAC, the district attorney has recused himself in the case, and a replacement prosecutor hasn’t been named yet.