Many changes arose in Thursday’s meeting of the Board of Commissioners.
The Commissioner’s took several hours to push through their work session and deliberate over the issues that culminated in a barely 40 minute regular meeting. Financial Reports, Proclamations, and Bids were just a few pieces that were brought up.

The financial report was approved up to April 30, 2015. Though many offices are currently just over the expected 33.3% of budget completion, Dallas Miller reported that our revenues are up this year. Including Clerk of Court, Sheriff’s office, Planning and Zoning, Tax Receivables, and a few others, our revenues are

“approximately $500,000 or more above where we were a year ago.”

The Amateur Radio Week Proclamation was approved by the Board along with a new proclamation order as the Chairman is now granted authority to handle proclamations outside of meetings. He is to email both Post Commissioners and if they hold no objections the Chairman may move forward with a proclamation. However, if one Post Commissioner objects for any reason, the Proclamation is to be scheduled for the following meeting.

In a 2 – 1 vote, the Commissioners appointed Paul Nealey and Charlie Paris to the Limestone Valley RC&D Council. Commissioner Miller did oppose the vote. He has previously issued concerns of not knowing how this council membership benefits the County. Chairman Paris responded stating he would report on what benefits he discovers at the first meeting.

The Board of Commissioners have combined the duties of the Planning Commission and the BOLUA (Board of Land Use Appeals) Board. Due to this combination, they had to also appoint members. The Board nominated and accepted Alan Davenport for 3 years, Jim Dupont for 3 years, Lamar Walker for 2 years, Paul Mooney for 2 years, and Dot Logan for 1 year to the newly established Planning Commission.

Moving on to the Amendments to the Gilmer County Charter the Commissioners struck the local preference portion and the modifications to the raised limit for non-bids. This means they will not raise the bid limit above $20,000, nor will they allow local preference to those bids. However, they did approve adding two paragraphs to the Gilmer County Charter. The first addition is in third paragraph of Section 10A stating an exemption to include “consulting, legal, and professional services.” The second was an exemption to include expenditures for the county’s construction and maintenance of its public roads that are governed by state law under Title 32.

Several items brought up in the meeting were handled in seconds with little discussion. The Board reappointed Greg Teague to the Ellijay-Gilmer Water Sewer Authority, re-appointed Beth McArthur to the DFACS Board, adopted the Fiscal Year 2016 Family Connections Contract for $46,000 covered by the State, created the Keep Gilmer Beautiful Advisory Committee for five currently unappointed members, and they renewed the River Park lease with Georgia Power for a 20 year lease that will automatically extend for another 20 years.

The Board awarded several bids including the Asphalt materials bid to CW Matthews, the Concrete Bid to West Block, the Emulsion Bid and Emulsion – Latex bid to Seaco, the Propane Bid to Appalachian Propane, and the Stone Bid to Vulcan Materials Company.

The Commissioners reworded the parking ban on Mulkey Road. The signs will now state

“No Parking Between 10:00AM and 6:00PM Friday through Sunday May 15 to September 15.”

Finally, two topics were tabled during the meeting’s progression; the Action on Changing the speed limit on Mulkey Road and the creation of a Citizen’s Pool Committee.