Closed Door Meeting, Did Sanford and Hall Break the Law?

NO Coke for you!!!

Did Gilmer Commission Chairman J.C. Sanford and Post 2 Commissioner Danny Hall break the law?
The state of Georgia’s Sunshine law requires a one week notice to be published in the County’s legal organ telling the citizens the time, location, and agenda before a Board of Commissioners can hold a meeting. A 24 hour notice is required if Commissioners have need to hold an emergency meeting. So why were Chairman J.C. Sanford and Post 2 Commissioner Danny Hall in a closed door meeting with owner of Reece Golf, Marc Reece?

This morning Chairman Sanford and Post 2 commissioner Hall appeared to have had an illegal meeting with Marc Reece, owner of Reece Golf at Whitepath Golf Course.

Gilmer County owns the golf course; however it is operated by Reece Golf.

Post 1 Commissioner Randy Bell discovered that Reece Golf had not been paying the correct amount of rent according to the lease. Bell asked County attorney David Clark at a public meeting if the section of the lease that pertained to payment was open to interpretation. Clark told the Commissioners that the lease said “shall” and that was not open to interpretation.

The county raised the rent from $7,500 to $9,200 as reflected in the terms of the lease. Reece attempted to pay the amount of $7,500 in June and July but the county refused the partial payment.

Sources tell FYN that Reece is telling people that he is leaving the Golf course August 1st. Reece has five months left on the lease and if he leaves at that time, he will owe Gilmer County $64,400 (including the two months he is currently behind).

Sources tell FYN that Reece has provided the county a list of equipment he owns and that he is trying to sell it to the county. Sanford and Hall had a closed door meeting with Reece this morning at the White Path Snack Shop. FYN tried to enter the snack shop to listen to the meeting. Unless commissioners are in an executive session, any meeting is open to the public when county business is being conducted. Reece threatened to call the police and have FYN removed for trespassing.

Why was Post 1 Commissioner Randy Bell not at the meeting? Was he invited? If so was he welcome? As the pictures show Reece blames Bell and posted notices with Bell’s name on them on the doors of the golf course. Why would Sanford and Hall have a meeting with Reece knowing Bell was not welcome? Should the Post 1 Commissioner not know and be involved in what is going on?

Watch full video / Listen to Audio of FYN’s encounter at Whitepath Golf Course