Road Department sees progress despite a rough October
News November 10, 2020
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Public Works Director Jim Smith offered comments at the Board of Commissioners November Meeting with optimism as he said he was “amazed” at the amount of work the road department has accomplished in October.
These comments come as the department is still recovering from two major hits during the month. This most recent and obvious being the damage and debris left behind by Tropical Storm Zeta. According to Smith, the other major hit came as the Road Department Offices and the maintenance shop were shut down for two weeks of the month in quarantine due to a COVID-19 positive test and hospitalization of an employee.
Amid the fallout of Zeta, Smith said the Road Department has focused on clearing the roads and getting them open for traffic as soon as possible. However, in doing this, they have left a lot of debris alongside the roads. Both Public Safety Director Keith Kucera and Public Works Director Jim Smith are set to attend webinars today as FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) is delivering information on the storm and the decision of declaring Gilmer a disaster area.
Smith said that all indications point to the declaration coming, but he wouldn’t know for sure until the webinar. That webinar will also set plans in motion for disposing of the debris left from the storm. The plan could include options for contracting the work as well. Smith said that the county have cleaned over 350 trees that were six inches or larger in diameter.
Public Safety does have recovery plans set and has been operating on these plans until now. But as the county looks ahead to the next steps, they will be adjusting these to follow these plans that could see financial aid as well as more closely following state and federal regulations.
With Public Works still recovering from the storm, they finished wrapping up their Amnesty Tire Month in October with 2,362 tires collected and hauled away. This was planned for October as a make-up since the program was cancelled earlier in the year due to the virus. The storm and quarantine delays also didn’t stop the department from paving Pleasant Gap Circle and Sherri Leigh Estates and early preparations as the Road Department is now moving to Turniptown Road. Paving originally had nine roads planned for 2020, but Smith gave an early warning to the Commissioner this month that it may be that they request two roads be extended into 2021.
Gilmer will cancel the 2020 Apple Festival
Community, News August 6, 2020
EAST ELLIJAY, Ga. – An email has gone out today with an official statement from the Georgia Apple Festival Board of Directors cancelling the October event for this year, 2020.
Confirming that they will allow vendor fees to rollover to next year’s event or offer refunds upon request, the Festival will be skipped in light of CDC Guidelines and rising numbers in Coronavirus cases. Though they do say they had considered holding the event under those guidelines, the extra costs and restrictions would be too much.
Read the Board of Directors’ full statement as follows:
It is with a heavy heart that the Georgia Apple Festival board of directors announces that the 49th annual Georgia Apple Festival Arts & Crafts show has been cancelled for October 2020. The difficult decision was made following the guidance of the local healthcare community, after consultation with local officials, and with extensive feedback from vendors, volunteers, and local citizens.
The health and well being of all concerned including our volunteers, vendors, and guests was paramount in the decision process. The board also weighed the additional costs and undertaking of trying to produce the event under the current CDC guidelines. It is our belief that the integrity and spirit of the event would suffer and not be profitable for vendors nor provide the type of experience that our guests have come to expect.
All vendors and other stakeholders will receive direct communication from the festival management in the coming days. We ask your patience and understanding as we proceed. Moving forward the board will explore various opportunities to celebrate the fall apple season and that safely enhance and promote Georgia’s apple capital.
We understand the far-reaching impact that this decision will have on the economic well being of our artists, our local businesses and community at large. The impact will also be felt by the two sponsoring agencies, the Ellijay Lions Club and the Gilmer Chamber. The Georgia Apple Festival is the largest fundraiser for both entities and the loss of revenue will be felt deeply by both in their effort to meet the charitable needs of the community supported by the Ellijay Lions Club and the needs of the Gilmer County business community supported by the Gilmer Chamber.
It is our deepest desire that the current health crisis facing our county, state, nation and world will be behind us and that you will make plans to join us October 2021 as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary Georgia Apple Festival.