Clear Creek Ball Fields Put on Hold, Yet Whitepath Pro Shop open for Business

News

Citizens of Gilmer County filled the Commissioners Conference room on the afternoon of March 11, 2010 for the workshop. They wanted to hear how the Commissioners intended to spend the balance of the General Obligation Bond funds.The meeting started in the conference room but was filled beyond capacity. The Commissioners had no choice but to recess for 5 minutes and move the workshop to the Jury room of the courthouse.

The mood in the room was mixed. But most of the citizens in the room were there to ensure the Parks and Recreation part of the bond money would be used for just that.

Clear Creek Ball Fields Project Halted photo taken 5/10/11

Former Chairman Commissioner Mark Chastain opened the meeting and acknowledged that the citizens filled the room for just that purpose saying, “A lot of folks that came today is here to make sure there’s money spent on Park and Rec. facilities”.

Clear Creek Ball Fields project halted – photos taken 5/10/11

You see, these same citizens are also known as the voters and on November 7, 2006 the voters passed a $30,000,000 Gilmer County Capital Improvement plan with a General Obligation Bond.

NOTICE OF BOND ELECTION TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF GILMER COUNTY
1. Notice is hereby given by the Board of Commissioners of Gilmer County (the “Board of Commissioners”), the governing body of Gilmer County (the “County”), and by the Judge of Probate Court of Gilmer County, as Election Superintendent for the County, that on November 7, 2006, an election will be held in the County to submit to the qualified voters of the County the following question:
Yes ____ Shall Gilmer County issue general obligation bonds in principal amount not to exceed $30,000,000 to pay the costs of the 2006
No ____ Gilmer County Capital Improvement Plan which includes roads, streets, and bridges and equipment therefor, public safety facilities, parks and recreation facilities, improvements to the airport, improvements to existing animal control facilities, and acquisition of and payment for public safety equipment?
Reference is made to the published notice of election and the 2006 Gilmer County Capital Improvement Plan on file in the offices of the Board of Commissioners of Gilmer County for a more complete description of said plan.
2. The approval of such question shall constitute authorization for the Board of Commissioners to purchase such property, real or personal, and any interest therein, including easements, rights-of-way and franchises needed in connection therewith or necessary therefor or incident thereto, and to pay capitalized interest and expenses incident thereto.

3. The bonds shall be general obligations of the County. The principal amount of the bonds to be issued shall not exceed $30,000,000. The maximum rate or rates of interest on such debt shall not exceed six and one-quarter percent (6.25%) per annum. The amount of principal to be paid in each year during the life of the debt shall be as follows:

Gilmer County may issue aggregate general obligation debt which is less than $30,000,000 and reduce the principal amounts maturing which are shown above, or increase any of the principal amounts maturing which are shown above by a maximum amount of 10% provided that the aggregate principal amount does not exceed $30,000,000. The bonds may be issued in one or more series, and on one or more dates of issuance as the Board of Commissioners may approve. The bonds may be made subject to redemption prior to maturity, to the extent permitted by law, upon terms and conditions to be determined by the Board of Commissioners.

4. The specific capital outlay projects of the 2006 Gilmer County Capital Improvement Projects which the County currently expects to fund from the general obligation debt are as follows:

(a) Acquiring, constructing, and equipping new roads, streets, and bridges, including equipment therefor;

(b) acquiring, constructing, and improving public safety facilities including the expansion of the county jail, a new fire department headquarters, renovations to existing fire stations and water tank equipment, and a new emergency medical services (E.M.S.) headquarters and facility;

(c) Acquiring, constructing, and improving parks and recreation facilities;

(d) Constructing, improving, and equipping existing airport facilities including land acquisition for runway extensions and new taxiways;

(e) Construction and improvements to existing animal control facilities;

(f) Acquisition of and payment for public safety equipment

Two hours were spent discussing where the balance of the General Obligation Bond should be spent. The BOC commissioners presented Resolution 10-015, adopting an appropriations schedule for the remaining General Obligation Bond Funds.
5. Action on Resolution 10-015, Adopting an appropriations schedule for the remaining General Obligation Bond funds. (MC)

At the Board of Commissioners work session held at 4:00 p.m. on this date an in depth GO Bond Project list, and other projects which may be separately funded, was reviewed and discussed. Questions from the public were answered. In lieu of reiterating the same discussion held during the work session Chairman Chastain moved to adopt the project schedule as noted in Attachments “A” & “B” of this document. Before finalizing the vote Chairman Chastain asked for comments from the public.

• Mr. Patrick O’Donnell asked how the property along the river in the Buckhorn Estates subdivision (referenced as “Park A”) will be maintained since it was noted to be county owned property during the previous discussion. He also asked if the property could be leased to the Buckhorn Property Owners Association since they were paying for it to be mowed.
• Mr. Larry Buttram recommended that said property be held unstructured for future needs by the golf course, especially in light of the current golf course maintenance discussions.

Commissioner Beattie informed Mr. O’Donnell that he would not be in favor of leasing said property to the Buckhorn POA for several reasons. Chairman Chastain informed Mr. O’Donnell that the maintenance issue for said property would be addressed in the next agenda item and would clarify the maintenance responsibilities of the golf course lease holder.

With no further comments from the public, Commissioner Beattie seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

ATTACHMENT “A”
Appropriations Schedule for General Obligation Bond Funds

As referenced in New Agenda Item # 5
Resolution #10-015

1. Civic Center – Plans and approvals are proceeding. The plan is to restore the gym as a practice gym for use by the younger age groups, finish a youth wing where the ambulance office was previously (this area is anticipated to be operated by the Boys and Girls Club at no cost to the county) The kiddy pool area will be converted to a patio for tables and chairs. The restroom and changing area of the pool will be updated and brought up to code. Re-roof and insulate dome roof: $44,000; windows and doors package – including the high windows in the gym portion and all renovations: $48,000; Electrical work, lighting package, alarm and alert systems: $84,000; HVAC: $56,000; Plumbing and fixtures: $55,000. Materials and labor for walls, ceilings, outside finish (by county forces): $150,000. Total budget estimate: $437,000.

2. Whitepath/Cherokee Drive tract: No pavilion or bathroom will be built, improve gravel parking area and place signage indicating that the site is county property. Budget: $4000

3. Gym Building: A two-gym facility with shared restrooms, concessions, and meeting room, to be located on the Clear Creek Road property near the new ball fields. Estimated cost $1,200,000 for building construction does not include site preparation and utilities for the Clear Creek Road site. Previous discussions had located the new facility on the civic center tract which is included in the decision to proceed).

4. River Park Ball Fields: Improve ditching and drainage around field #2, update and improve the restroom facilities and concession stands. Expand parking where feasible. Budget estimate: $40,000

5. Clear Creek Ball Fields: Total estimated cost for four (4) ball fields of 225’ size was $685,000. With the decision to extend these fields to 300’ (where possible), the budget will increase based on the extra site preparation, fencing, and grass for the greater field size. There will also be some adjustments to the budget for utilities and site preparation due to sharing the site with the new gyms.

6. Shop Building: The project is proceeding according to plan. The pad is almost complete and utilities have been planned. It should be ready for the bid process in the very near future. It was agreed to have further discussions with the architect before plans go to bid. The architect’s latest estimate for construction costs: $400,000

7. Boardtown Fire Station Apparatus Bays: Proceed with an approximate budget of $60,000. This will be a building with two (2) apparatus bays. Living quarters will either be accounted for or incorporated into the space of the current truck bays which are attached to the clubhouse.

8. Airport: “The airport is on autopilot”. The county’s 2.5% of matching funds (should the current $705,000 request be approved) is approximately $17,625. The county’s portion of the restriping grant which has been approved is approximately $700, Total cost: $18,325.

9. Jail Expansion: The plan preparation is moving forward in the architect’s office and should be ready to put out to bid soon. Budget: $1,700,000.

10. Remaining funds to be reserved for road projects and other projects as may be considered and approved before November. Workshops will be scheduled in near future to discuss paving projects and priorities for improvement projects including those that may participate with the GDOT LAP program.

11. Yukon Road site project: Project is now on hold since the Clear Creek Road site project is being re-evaluated.

ATTACHMENT “B”
Appropriation Schedule – Other Projects
Update

As referenced in New Agenda Item # 5
Resolution #10-015

• Corps of Engineers Property: Jim Smith reviewed the mandated processes that will be necessary to proceed. The commissioners agreed to have Mr. Smith proceed with the due diligence and to be mindful of the actual hard cost.

• New Pro Shop: The latest building plans were presented to the commissioners with copies available for the public. The work is to proceed immediately. (This project is to be funded by SPLOST and/or lease proceeds).

• Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Locally Administered Federal Projects (LAP) Program: After further research and discussion it appears that Gilmer County may have an opportunity to secure some of the federal funds. We are awaiting an answer to whether or not this program funding will be eligible for road resurfacing projects.

As you can see on 11-7-06 the citizens believed they were voting to approve money for Parks and Recreation. And on March, 11th, 2010 those citizens felt that Former Commissioner Mark Chastain was going to follow through with the projects. At no time did they think that any of the money would go to the Whitepath Pro Shop.

Commissioner Will Beattie made the following statement, “The bottom line is Parks and Recreation was on the original referendum. Everyone has their reason why they may have voted that referendum in but I guarantee you there was a lot of people who were considering Parks and Rec. In that aspect it’s not going to be neglected.”

Regarding the pro shop former Chairman Commissioner Mark Chastain said, “The new pro shop is not a GEO bond project, it will be funded by SPLOST and/or lease proceeds.”

At the same BOC meeting Commissioner JC Sanford addressed Chairman Chastain concerning the appropriation schedule for the remaining General Obligation Bond funds and asked, “Mark, will we come back to them as they come up or will you proceed with them without,” Mark interrupts to say, “I will keep you up to speed. Most of these are large enough that they will have to be advertised and bid anyway and will require board action to proceed.”

After two hours of discussion in the workshop, along with all the promises of the BOC, and a unanimous vote, why wouldn’t the citizens of Gilmer County leave that night feeling assured that the Parks and Rec. projects would be completed using the balance of the General Obligation Bond fund?

So now we must ask why the Pro Shop is complete and the Clear Creek Ball Fields left unfinished?

Update on 5-10-11 Clear Creek Ball Fields from Fetch on Vimeo.

It must be that the Pro Shop was built with funds other than the GOB fund. Remember the BOC promised and it was even voted on that night. FYN researched this and it appeared that the Pro Shop had been paid for using GOB funds. We pulled the check register from the County’s financial office and confirmed that indeed the Pro Shop had been paid for out of the GOB fund. When we inquired why it was paid out of that fund we were told that it was at the direction of Chairman Mark Chastain.

Old Pro Shop (no longer used) photo taken 5/10/11

Although FYN doesn’t have the exact total of the Pro Shop we have been told that the cost far exceeded the amount needed to complete the Clear Creek Ball Fields.

New Pro Shop (photo taken 5/10/11)
Clear Creek Ball Fields (photo taken 5/10/11)

FYI from FYN- Marc H. Reece, Director of Golf Operations, has a lease with Gilmer County to privately operate Whitepath Golf Club.

New Pro Shop (photo taken 5/10/11)

Remember the question JC Sanford had for the Chairman? JC Sanford was interrupted by Mark Chastain and reassured that “most of these are large enough that they will have to be advertised” and “I will keep you up to speed.” So what happened to coming back to the BOC for approval on the bids for the projects? It is our understanding that there were no publicly advertised bids for the Pro Shop or the Civic Center. The facts indicate the Chairman utilized the balance of the GOB fund as he saw fit instead of keeping his promise to the citizens and the BOC. What good is, “all in favor say aye, any opposed, unanimous motion carries, next item on the list.”

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