515 Republicans The Power of 5 present Georgia Secretary of State Debate April 23rd
Feature News, Featured, Featured News, Featured Stories, News April 15, 2022
515 Republicans The Power of 5 present Georgia Secretary of State Debate April 23rd. Doors open at 3pm for live audience at White Path Creek Farms located at 1121 Old Northcut Rd, Ellijay, GA. Event will be broadcast LIVE on FYNTv.com with Moderator Brian K. Pritchard.
BOC Chairman Paris makes statement on “intimidation tactics”
News, Politics March 11, 2022
ELLIJAY, Ga. – “I don’t mind people trying to influence my vote in a proper way, that’s politics in America. I don’t mind listening to arguments for and against any proposal in an unbiased manner and seriously considering whatever points are made. I don’t mind changing my position if the totality of the information I have warrants it. I do very much mind being told how I have to vote. Even more than that, I mind the intimidation tactics.”
A part of the statement made by Gilmer Board of Commissioners Chairman Charlie Paris on Thursday night, March 10, 2022, sums up the feelings he conveyed as he paused the county meeting during the Rezoning Requests.
Specifically, three rezoning requests that were noted on the agenda for Philip Cash, James Weston Quintrell, and Britton Lyle Quintrell were the ones Paris spoke against. The board as a whole raised several questions with the request including its location and water access. The requests were located on Patterson Lane, Tax Map 3118 Parcel Numbers 020, 023, and o24. The requests were to go from A-1 Agricultural to R-1 Residential Low Density.
Paris restated some of his concerns on the requests from the work session including Blue Ridge not providing the water as he was informed and the road being accessed from Fannin County requiring emergency services having to travel into Fannin and back into Gilmer to reach the subdivision when needed.
Paris went on to say that he received emails furthering the intimidation tactics and reminding him that people were watching how he would vote. He also noted that a comment was made to him by a Mr. Quintrell stating, “You know what week this is right?” Paris called this an obvious reference to qualifying week for the election including Chairman of the Board of Commissioners.
Gilmer Board of Commissioners Chairman Charlie Paris
Paris went on to say that he still believes in the Builders Association and in the need for a partnership between the association and the BOC.
He stated, “I’m convinced there are many fine people associated with the Builder’s Association. Almost all of them, in fact, are decent people with good intentions. As individuals, they have my complete respect. They work hard and they provide a valuable service and a valuable industry to our county. We are fortunate to have them. I very much want to have a good working relationship with them.”
Paris went on to note that even if the board denies the request, the board later did vote unanimously to deny, the Quintrells could move ahead with building a subdivision at this location, though it will be limited in size and number of lots to meet the size requirements of each.
Paris also noted that if they work quickly, the will likely be able to build the subdivision under the three-acre-rule instead of the newer five-acre-rule. Paris said that if denied for the request and the builders move to have the project before the three-acre-rule expires, the county would work with them on that rule as normal.
When speaking on the intimidation tactic of qualifying week, Paris said that one more day of qualifying remained, so anyone who wanted to install an opponent that would be more amenable to their wants could do so. He said, “Let me be very clear now. I will always cast my vote, on any subject, with my only objective being to do what is best for the citizens of Gilmer County.”
Gilmer approves 2022 budget in January
News January 5, 2022
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Today saw the official approval of Gilmer County‘s 2022 budget with a special called meeting that is the first meeting of 2022 for the board.
According to a document presented for the meeting, the board has set the 2022 budget total at $31,799,762. Separate from that is the $10,916,338 for SPLOST and Capital Expenditures and the $2,056,876 in GO Bond Debt repayment.
An increase over last years budget, in December of 2020, the board held a nearly $26 million budget not including bond debt or capital expenditures. The approval came with a motion from Chairman Paris, a second from Post Commissioner Hubert Parker, and a unanimous vote for approval.
There were a few last minute changes made in recent weeks, each department’s overall break down within the total budget is pictured to the right. The process continues as each department could fluctuate minor expenditure swaps and changes as long as no change to the overall budget is made.
After the individual meetings with department heads and budget trimming to fit revenue across November and December, the final document is now in place one week ahead of the county’s first meeting of 2022. January 12 will see the county’s work session at 9:00 a.m. and January 13 will see the county’s regular meeting at 6:00 p.m.
As the county moves into the new year, the budget also includes increases for elections as the county will see several offices open for qualification in March including two BOC seats, Chairman and Post 2 Commissioners. Current Post 2 Commissioner Karleen Ferguson has announced she will not run, but others have announced they will. Despite announcements no official campaign begins until candidates have completed qualification.
This is especially important as the county revisits the Comprehensive Plan this year in hopes of answering needs for housing and concerns for overdevelopment of the county, two major issues within the community right now. the current board will be setting the plan with, as of now, at least one new member coming next year.
Gilmer sets school calendar and board meetings in December
News December 17, 2021
EAST ELLIJAY, Ga. – Preparing for the coming year, Gilmer’s Board of Education has approved a calendar for the school system and the board in December’s meetings. That calendar now reaches two years into the future.
The new year comes with expected changes as the previous calendar approved by the board saw them approve an option different than the most popular voted calendar. Additionally, in February the board had already begun some discussions to prepare for calendars spanning multiple years.
This month, with the end of the first semester of the 2021-22 school year, the board has already approved the calendar for its next two years. The approved calendar sees the same start date of August 8 for both years. The first day of the second semester starts on the first Friday of January.
Unanimously approved by the board, the calendars are officially adopted for use and the community now has two years head start on the schools calendars. Superintendent Dr. Brian Ridley said that he had discussed the calendars with not only stakeholders and his own team but with “local business leaders and the Chamber of Commerce.”
Dr. Ridley also noted that the calendar will align with the boards reclassification schedule so that every two years, as the board reclassifies itself, it will also create a new two year calendar. For the community this means that next year will not see two years ahead again, but rather will likely finish half of the 2022-23 calendar before the next two year calendar is approved.
Along with the school years, another calendar saw approval this month. As the end of the year approaches, the board has set and now approved unanimously the meeting dates for the Board of Education for 2022. Reaching through 2022 and including January of 2023, the board meeting dates are published for the community. Though the board can alter a few meetings as needed, GHSA does limit how many times this can occur. Additionally, the board can call special meeting or emergency meetings as they have done in the past.
Typically, these meetings follow the path of meeting on the third Thursday of the month for the Regular Meeting and holding the Work session on the Monday of the same week before the Regular Session. With a few variations set in for holidays and events, the board followed this meeting schedule for years.
With both calendars officially approved, the county is moving along and, barring a special session, will not meet again until January 24.
Budget Meetings held for Commissioners to discuss 2022 Budget
News November 9, 2021
ELLIJAY, Ga. – With two months left in 2021, talks are underway for Gilmer’s Board of Commissioners to set the coming year’s budget. The annual process begins with meetings with each of the departments, courts, and offices to discuss the budget needs and wants before the county calculates its full revenue side of the budget.
These meetings allow the departments, courts, and offices to discuss their budget as they have presented it. During the meetings, the Board of Commissioners ask questions and clarify sections of the budgets. After these meetings and revenue calculations, the county will return in November with the proposed budget. At the county’s monthly meetings, the 2022 budget is set to be approved before January of 2022.
Animal Shelter
Looking ahead with expectations for the completion of the upgrade to the Anima3l Shelter after donations have plans have been accepted, the Animal Shelter is looking to add at least two new employees in 2022 to support extra dog space, cat space, and help with answering phones and some office work.
Laukka said in the meeting that the calculations include these positions starting in October to allow for the project to complete in the last quarter of the year. With eyes set to October, the Animal Shelters donation funded upgrades will require additional help.
Clerk of Court
An increase in contract services comes from increasing economic costs for services and real estate specifically due to deeds coming into the office. The Clerk of Court is also looking for raises for its employees. This increase in salaries avoids hiring extra help, but instead compensates current employees who are often working double duty according to Johnson.
Code and Regulatory
No major changes over last year.
District Attorney
Gilmer has increased in case load with the District Attorney’s Office. In 2021, Sosebee said the current case load allocation is 36 percent in Pickens, 35 percent in Gilmer, and 28 percent in Fannin. Breaking down employees and pay, the office has seen one employee move from state paid, county reimbursed to directly county paid.
Increases in Office expense line and a request for capital outlay for vehicles to the DA’s office are some of their other increases. Those vehicles include $15,000 from Gilmer County. The office has purchased two vehicles from the Dunwoody Police Department but has others that need to be decommissioned to to rising costs in repairs. Sosebee said that some of the vehicles need repairs that would cost more than replacing the vehicles.
Golf Course
Looking to replace the course’s golf carts and vendor, Brumby presents the Golf Course budget with increases for new equipment like a top-dresser and greens mower. This equipment is requested to aid in maintaining the quality of the greens and course. The Golf Course could hit another major milestone this year if the course actually reaches the financial black for the first time.
Taking steps towards financial neutrality, this goal is something that both the current and previous iterations of Gilmer’s Board of Commissioners have wanted and have encouraged course director Mike Brumby to achieve for years.
Library
Increases are being requested for regional fees based on percentages calculated by each county’s population. This is based on the region-wide budget for the Sequoyah system. The library is also requesting a cost of living increase for employees, which is included in the county’s portion of contributions.
Magistrate Court
Changes have come to the Magistrate Court since the COVID outbreak. Utilizing zoom conferences for court hearings, possible exposures and contact points are limited. Judge Johnson has put a request into contract services for an increase to expand contactless options into warrants as well. Rather than having deputies visit the judges personal home after hours, Johnson said that Gilmer can utilize a secure online resource to view and sign warrants when needed.
The online service will also “save time” according to Johnson who noted that that extra time is spent traveling to and from the judge’s home. Additional increases are coming from utilizing from a need for new copiers and scanning equipment.
Maintenance and Housekeeping
Several changes have hit Maintenance in both increases and decreases. Moving mowing to a contractor actually comes cheaper than paying staff but increasing in contract services with a reinspection of elevators.
Parks and Recreation
With capital requests, Parks and Recreation will be looking to adjust a few buildings at River Park in 2022. Projects like moving the restroom at the far end of the park at the walking trail loop are looking to better protect facilities while also improving the visual look of the area.
Probate and Elections
Probate Judge Scott Chastain and Chief Registrar Tammy Watkins requested combining the elections budgets with Voter Registrar’s Office as Watkins has been doing most of the Elections work, supplies ordering, and budgeting items. The BOC felt better with keeping the budgets as is for public and record keeping. This would have moved another step on the process as Judge Chastain has voiced desires to move elections out of the Probate Office.
Other increases are expected with a major election year, but also in software for elections as Dominion will begin charging for services that they provided for free last year, according to Watkins. Some of the services the Dominion Technician provides includes testing, set up, and a required presence for election day. This will cover which could include 4 elections that includes a possibility of a November Runoff. Elections is also seeing a 41 percent increase to increase staffing at election precincts.
Some precincts have only hosted four to five people in the past. Watkins now wants to see 7 people at every precinct. This is still in request form for the commissioners, and no official changes have been detailed for precincts until a final budget can be approved. The Probate Office is also seeing salary increases as Judge Chastain is requesting funding for an additional person in the front windows of the Probate Court office.
Public Safety
With extra overtime expected in 2021, estimated close to $350,000, Public Safety and Fire Rescue are increasing overtime pay for employees in their coming budget while also working to save overtime hours over the current year. Fire and EMA are also looking to increase salary and wages supporting a step-up style raise program based on levels of education for employees. Inclusion of the new pay raise system would have set levels.
As employees continue working for the county in the department, they will have a set career advancement to look at and plan for. According to Fire Chief Daniel Kauffman, no nearby counties are doing anything similar, which would allow this program to serve as both a hiring tool and retention tool allowing employees to continue improving themselves in the county while also improving their position and pay rate.
As opposed to former years when Public Safety reported far lower pay scales compared to competing counties, Kauffman told the commissioners that Gilmer is far more competitive currently. Other counties have also increased over Gilmer again, but Gilmer still maintains at a comparable level.
In Emergency Management, another increase in salaries comes from a COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment). Few other things saw changes in the department.
The airport is also looking for pay raises for some employees. A major cost comes as the airport is looking to replace its windsock.
Public Works
Another Department looking to increase wages of employees and entry levels, Public Works has not been at full staff for a while. While the county has felt the crunch of the staffing shortage just as any of the county’s businesses, Chairman Charlie Paris has previously said that he has been looking for ways to attract workers. According to revenue trends in solid waste, Public Works Director Jim Smith said that if they continue as they are, the department could see a 10 percent increase in revenue. However, costs are going up in the industry as Waste Management increased scale fees this year. Smith indicated that he is increasing a line item in the solid waste budget reflecting this 50 percent increase. This could also reflect further expected increases in materials such as stone and emulsion.
Smith estimated an increase there over 5 percent, but won’t know for sure until the county receives the bids to approve. Propane is another cost trending upwards alongside all petroleum based bids. A 60 percent increase in piping supplies is also putting pressure on the Public Works budget looking to stay productive in the current economy.
Sheriff
The Sheriff’s Office is one of the hardest hit areas of the county in terms of staffing. While partially for the staffing shortage the county has seen, Sheriff Stacy Nicholson attributes a few causes to the issue. Nicholson list positions to the commissioners saying, “I’m one detective short. I’m four deputies short out of twenty. I’m two school resource officers short out of seven. I’m two court services deputies short of nine. I’m six detention officers short out of twenty. I’m three dispatchers short out of twelve.”
Nicholson also told the commissioner that so far in 2021, the county has 580 new addresses just from new construction, indicating the population growth in the county.
Although public support for law enforcement within the local area is good, according to Nicholson, it is still difficult to get applicants. Another issue Gilmer deals with is similar to what the Public Safety has gone through in the past. Nicholson showed the commissioners a social media post from Dawson County advertising positions starting between three and five dollars an hour more than Gilmer pays.
Nicholson told the Commissioners, “I need to be in here today asking for more people than what we’re budgeted for. But that’s a ludicrous operation if I can’t fill the positions I have.”
The largest part of the budget goes into the wages, and Nicholson urged the county to consider that the county is increasing in size and population while the budgets are not. He later thanked the commissioners saying that the county has always supported law enforcement, but he needs it again for public safety in general, suggesting both law enforcement and emergency services.
Superior and Juvenile Courts
With unknowns and numerous backed up cases, a larger than normal cost in Jurors is requested for the courts. Gilmer’s commissioners will consider the make-up terms but suggested that Weaver set a best guess to cover it as they will expect a budget amendment if the need arises.
Tax Assessors
Requesting a two dollar per person increase, the Tax Assessors Office is looking for more retention. Theresa Gooch noted that many of the assessors carry more plots than is recommended. The department is also looking at an increase in Legal Fees under professional services.
Tax Commissioner
Not looking for any new positions, Marshall is looking to increase pay as they are under the Tax Assessors’ office. Marshall noted that the Tax Commissioner’s Office deals with every property in the county and also handles motor vehicles.
Voter Registrar
A 50 percent increase in salaries and wages over 2020 for voter registrars is requested to move Chief Registrar Tammy Watkins to a comparable level to surrounding counties. The increase also raises up Watkins’ Deputy Registrar and part timers who she said saved her in the last election.
Increasing wages also will see more employees set in for 2022’s early voting as Watkins is looking to increase speed of the process. Increases come normal with election years, but Voter Registrars is seeing higher than normal because of the changes they are looking to implement for citizens.
Is Trump endorsing Doug Collins for Governor in 2022?
Feature News, Featured Stories, News December 10, 2020
Ellijay, GA: As President Trump’s dissatisfaction with Governor Brian Kemp continues to grow, he appears to be pushing Representative Doug Collins as a potential gubernatorial candidate in 2022.
How does Governor @BrianKempGA allow certification of votes without verifying signatures and despite the recently released tape of ballots being stuffed? His poll numbers have dropped like a rock. He is finished as governor! @RepDougCollins
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 10, 2020
Earlier today, Trump called Kemp out for his stance on the November election, asking how Kemp “allow[s] certification of votes without verifying signatures and despite the recently released tape of ballots being stuffed?” He then mentioned Kemps falling poll numbers.
According to a Morning Consult poll, since the General Election, Kemp’s approval rating fell from 86% to 77% among Georgia Republicans and 52 percent to 46 percent among overall voters. His disapproval ratings almost doubled, rising from 10 percent to 19 percent.
The latest tweet showcased the souring relationship between Trump and Kemp because the governor rejects the widespread voter fraud theory and won’t overturn the election. In 2018, Trump endorsed Kemp tipping the election in his favor.
At the end of the tweet, the President tagged Ninth District Representative Doug Collins (R), who is leaving office in January. Collins has always been a staunch supporter of Trump and recently ran for Senate. He came third in the November Primary, and Senator Kelly Loeffler and Raphael Warnock advanced to the January 5 runoff. However, Trump seems to be planting the idea of a governor run in Collins and the public’s mind.
In truth, Trump isn’t the first to jump on the idea of Collins for Governor. The Towns County GOP created “Collins for Governor 2022” shirts weeks ago. They echoed the sentiment among several Georgia Republicans that Kemp isn’t listening to his constituents and it’s time to find someone else. On Sunday, Kemp refused to call the General Assembly into special session to dedicate electors, calling it unconstitutional. The governor came out in support of election reforms going forward, which the General Assembly is discussing.
As for Collins, his spokesperson released the following statement:
“As Congressman Collins said the other day, the only political decision he’s focused on right now is making sure the people of Georgia send Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue back to the Senate in January.”
Collins served Northeast Georgia as the Ninth District Representative in the U.S. House since 2013. He’s a practicing military chaplain in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and attorney. Married to Lisa, a public-school teacher, they have three children, a daughter Jordan and two sons Copelan and Cameron.