Golf Course Bills County Over $19,000

This leaves some questions. Mr. Reece has an approved invoice, why not pay him?
Is this work considered Capital Improvements or maintenance? How will the County Attorney advise the BOC to make the payment and how to handle the other outstanding bills? Did Mark Chastain mislead J.C. Sanford about the pro shop? Is this part of the questions to be answered by the Civil Investigation into the Gilmer BOC office?
Watch the video – ask your own questions? Send us your questions and comments.
The Gilmer County Commissioners held the 2012 budget meetings last week. With the economy showing no improvement in North Georgia Chairman Sanford went thoroughly through the upcoming budgets. Sanford examined each department and met with all elected officials. The BOC, all department heads, and elected officials engaged in good discussions concerning the 2012 budget. Some budget talks had tension but all parties understood the county is in tough times. While the meetings went well they are far from over.

The county also reviewed the status of the airport and the golf course which are the two biggest assets the county owns. Jim Smith of the Gilmer County Board of Commissioners office has served as the county liaison and coordinator for those projects and gave a report on both. The lease holder for the airport did not attend but Mr. Reece, lease holder for the golf course was present.

Chairman Sanford appeared surprised when Reece Golf, Inc. presented bills exceeding $19,000.00 for work done to the golf course dating back in 2010. Sanford seemed even more caught off guard to discover that the bill contained initialed approval from himself and Former Chairman Mark Chastain.

When you watch the video you will see Sanford explain to Mr. Smith and Mr. Reece that this was not how Chastain explained the bills at the time he gave his approval. He thought the bills were part of the pro shop construction and would be paid with a municipal lease. However the County was not able to acquire a municipal lease thus the pro shop was paid out of the GO bond.

These bills were never budgeted into the 2011 budget and now the BOC has to consult the County attorney as to which account the bills can be paid from. The BOC said the only fund they could use to make a payment is the county contingency fund. But this fund is not intended for golf course improvements.

Mr. Reece submitted the invoices to the county on Nov 3rd and let them know that he had several more bills that he would be submitting soon. At the end of the meeting the BOC instructed Mr. Reece to halt all work at the Golf Course until they can get everything sorted out.

This leaves some questions. Mr. Reece has an approved invoice, why not pay him?
Is this work considered Capital Improvements or maintenance? How will the County Attorney advise the BOC to make the payment and how to handle the other outstanding bills? Did Mark Chastain mislead J.C. Sanford about the pro shop? Is this part of the questions to be answered by the Civil Investigation into the Gilmer BOC office?
Watch the video – ask your own questions? Send us your questions and comments.