Thursday, December 9, 2010, during the Board of Commissioners meeting in the Jury Assembly Room of the Gilmer County Courthouse that ran just over three hours, the 150 plus Gilmer County citizens in attendance took full advantage of their chance to express, extensively, how unhappy they have been with the “mismanagement” they’ve seen during the current board’s tenure.While many citizens agreed that the county needs to spend less money, few offered solutions to the proposed 2011 budget cuts. Close to 15 individuals approached the podium with the intention to highlights parts of the budget they disagree with. Most represented a much larger group of citizens in attendance from different parts of the county affected by the proposed closing of many county services, fire stations, trash compactor sites, and the county pool.

It was apparent the past and present members that have sat on Gilmer’s board, especially Commissioner Mark Chastain who took the brunt of the complaints, have made poor judgments in the past. Poor management that has forced the new, re-positioned 2011 Gilmer BOC into a position to make drastic 12% overall budget cuts that will have a direct affect on county jobs, and services.

The commissioners spent the majority of the meeting hearing complaints and addressing each issue citizens shared towards the end.

There was, however, a small portion of the meeting devoted to other county business.

The Cartecay Vineyards Tasting Room was given unanimous approval for a license allowing wine to be served in the tasting room, to be built on the property with a projected opening May 2011.

An area previously zoned as residential located on Fendley Road was given conditional use to house livestock.

There was much conjecture about changing the annual property tax collection due date to October 1st, which would change the latest payment date to December 1st as opposed to the current payment date, December 20th.

It was approved with the condition that it may be moved back to the original date if the departments involved were logistically unable to move the date up,

During this discussion whispers from the agitated crowd grew louder with comments like, “It’s just a mess,” and “They don’t know what they’re doing.”

At one point Beattie read aloud a document submitted by former post 2 commissioner candidate Randy Bell alleging current commissioner chairman Mark Chastain of a violation of ethics in government act.

Click here to see this document.

Beattie stated that Bell was supposed to read the document but was delayed from attending the meeting due to his car engine overheating.

This official allegation’s mention was brought up as a cap to the seemingly never-ending accusations against Chastain, including mention of a previous dispute over access to surveying records with former business partner and County Surveyor, Scott Chastain, throughout the entirety of the meeting.

Beattie brought up the $473K approved spending to build the Civic Center, and the fact that the project still has incurring costs currently totaled over one million dollars.

“I may have made mistakes, but I did the best I could,” Chastain said.

“Hindsight is 20/20,” he added several times throughout the meeting.

Beattie also stated in reference to the Clear Creek Ball Park Facility, “…right now we don’t have the money.”

Max Holstein confirmed the fact that the project was off the table with Beattie later in the meeting.

“That’s what it appears,” added Beattie.

It is not certain what of the advertised budget cuts will remain for approval in the next regular called meeting Thursday, December 23, 2010. But, one thing is certain. There will be county jobs and services discontinued and lost.

Gilmer County faces hard times along with the state of Georgia and the United States of America.

Each of the commissioners invited anyone with better ideas to talk with them before the next meeting.

JC Sanford said that he would speak to any citizen about the budget, “…for as long as you want to stay there.”

However, if nothing can be salvaged, this proposed budget will go into effect for 2011. And, if these cuts do not work, there could be much larger issues at hand.