Pool construction bid could come by August
News July 18, 2022
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Among several bid and contract agenda items in July, the BOC heard an update that the engineering is completed and they could call for bids on the county pool by August.
As the county is ready to bid, they currently have the documentation with County Attorney David Clark who said that he has some final touches to do but the county should be able to move forward in the bid process on or close to Wednesday, July 27, 2022.
Clark also informed the Board of Commissioners that the bids will go out in several different sites both locally and statewide including the state procurement website and utilizing the architect to help solicit contractors in addition to the county’s efforts.
The commissioners have previously made statements aiming for Memorial Day 2023 as opening day for the new pool. Also, the BOC’s October Budget Sessions will reveal more about the pool’s future as the board discusses additional upgrades, buildings, the future rec-center, and funding or savings for those potential projects and if they will happen in the coming year.
In addition to the pool, the county also dealt with bids on HVAC and facilities in the July session. The county approved to collect quotes for the Jail air system and the Learning Center but then bid out other systems that needed repair. With changes since the last bid process, the bids came in higher than expected as the county is incorporating them into a computer control system. The county avoided a bid do to requests for pre-payment and went with a slightly higher base price bid. The approved bid was for QT Contracting for $785,777.
The Jail system is still looking for a second quote and the Learning Center was approved for a quote just under $20,000.
Financial approvals come as BOE finishes fiscal year
Board of Education, News June 26, 2022
EAST ELLIJAY, Ga. – June marks the end of Gilmer BOE’s fiscal year and the preparations for the new year are receiving final approvals before July. With fuel bids, natural gas, and the FY 23 budget all on the agenda, the school system prepared for its new school year.
Already approved as the tentative budget, this now moves into official status as the actual FY 2023 budget with the final touches and modifications made for the $45 million budget. This did increase slightly since the tentative budget approval as it went from $45,012,326 to final approval at $45,739,326 in June’s meetings. The difference in revenues and expenditures also slightly increased from $2,788,218 of expenditures over revenues to $2,810,338 of expenditures over revenue.
Just like the tentative budget approval, the BOE adjusts for changes like the governor’s $2,000 increase in teacher’s salaries, cost of living increases, and QBE Allotment changes, and an increase to all classified salary schedules to a minimum starting hourly pay of $12 and an eight hour workday for those classified staff.
This final budget approval is expected to take the BOE’s fund balance from $22,066,332 in July 2022 to $19,255,994 in June 2023.
The BOE also approved the 2022 Amended Budget in June and was approved for the expenditures total at $43,101,121 in the general fund.
In addition to general budgets, the Board of Education approved SCANA Energy for natural gas provider with the contract set to go from July 2022 through June 2024. Prices were set at $0.749 per therm plus $8.50 times the Dedicated Day Design Capacity.
Morgan and Hunt Oil Company were approved for Fuel with their bid of 0.0375 over cheapest rack price plus a freight cost for both Diesel and Ethanol Free Gasoline.
Other bidders on fuel included Petroleum Traders Corp at 0.0334 over highest rack cost and Gladieux Trading at 0.0693 “over rack price.”
With unanimous approvals these bid approvals were accepted for the new year.
School Nutrition changes coming this summer
News May 22, 2022
EAST ELLIJAY, Ga. – Gilmer Schools will be seeing a major federal program end this summer for the Nutrition Department as many changes are beginning to show in the department. Not all will be in the federal space though as Seamless Summer will be kicking off on June 6 and lasting until July 22.
In addition to the news of the school nutrition department not getting a bid renewal from US Foods, current indications from the Federal Government have the school system preparing to also not continue the COVID outbreak response that allowed free lunches for all. Instead, it was stated this week that Gilmer Schools will likely return to the standard National School Lunch Program and Provision 2 for Breakfast.
This means that those applying for free and reduced lunches will need to refill those forms out for next year. The school system encouraged all parents to fill out those forms during the free meals for all as the state was still keeping track of them. Continuing in the same efforts, the Nutrition Department is returning to the same message as last year, encouraging all parents to fill out the free/reduced lunch forms. This year, they will be processed and return to normal operation of the program unless something changes over the summer.
Locations, times, and more information for the Gilmer Schools’ Seamless Summer program.
Schools are also preparing for the summer itself as a new location has been added to the Seamless Summer Program. With eight total locations this year, Seamless Summer sites include Gilmer High School, Tower Road, the Boys and Girls Club, the Gilmer County Health Department, Ellijay’s First United Methodist Church, Mulberry Apartments, Sunlight Baptist Church, and the Bobcat Café Mobile Site will run on Dalton Street. All sites will run lunch around noon with the specific site’s times listed in the photo to the right.
In addition to the Seamless Summer, the school system is adding a Summer STEM Camp Monday June 27 through Thursday June 30, 2022, at Ellijay Elementary School. The Stem Camp will also be running at each Seamless Summer Programs at different times throughout the program, but the June 27 Ellijay Elementary School location is open to all students between Kindergarten and 5th Grade. It will also operate longer as it goes daily from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The school nutrition department could be seeing more changes in operations as they continue handling challenges with food distributors, but nothing was said about canceling the summer programs due to food. Instead, Director Partin encouraged students to visit the locations and said that these locations were strategically located, including the additional location, to maximize access for students in the county.
County considering paving amendment with increasing prices
News April 13, 2022
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Public Works Director Jim Smith delivered a letter to the Board of Commissioners during their monthly work session today with expectations to need a budget amendment for rising costs in materials for paving and other projects.
Due to continuing inflation in prices, the county is looking at an estimated 30 percent increase, according to Smith. He also reported a letter from Vulcan Materials notifying the county of intent to increase prices. In that letter, Smith noted that Vulcan is increasing its prices by $2.25 per ton on wash stone, this is the main stone Gilmer uses for its paving. Additionally, they will also increase by $1.25 per ton for base stone along other increases on other materials.
Smith noted that Vulcan isn’t the only increase as other areas are also experiencing the increases in parts, piping, equipment, and more. Even in the capital budget, the Road Department is looking at serious need for replacement or repairs on two bridges on Rock Creek Road. Other options for these bridges could mean use of box culverts or metal piping. The county may be dipping into funds set aside for asphalt paving to go towards these bridges.
Commission Chairman Charlie Paris said that while a budget amendment may be necessary, the county needs to look at multiple options. He noted that the county could be looking at that by years end for this, but would also be looking at an amendment of the road paving list, meaning that the county may not get to pave every road they had originally planned to pave this year. However, he did note that they would be looking at repairing sections of the road if not fully repaving them.
Post 1 Commissioner Hubert Parker asked if the annual bidding process guarantees prices, but Smith stated that the bids are not contracted in that way. He read that the letter stated pricing increases will take effect on June 1. One option discussed among the commissioners in response to the change would be to find another supplier and abandon Vulcan should they not honor the prices as they were bid. However, DOT must approve quarries for use with state grant money.
While Road Department was the most discussed, amendments in other departments could come as additional increases are being seen across the county as well as delays in supplies and orders for projects like the Parks and Recreation work in River Park.
BOE bids for Legion Road gas tank sees stark difference
Board of Education, News April 12, 2022
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Gilmer’s Board of Education saw a stark difference in two bids collected this week for installing a new 10,000 gallon gas tank on Legion Road.
The tank will be an above-ground storage unit with dispensary installed for the school system’s storage and use at their Legion Road annex and will be split, according to the bids, as a 6,ooo/4,000 gallon tank that holds both diesel and gasoline. According to reports the tanks could split as 6,000 gallons of diesel fuel and 4,000 gallons of gasoline or the split could go to 8,000 gallons of diesel and 2,000 gallons of gas if the board wished.
The bids include the required equipment needed for the tanks and pumps. The bid totals came in at $230,371.43 for JF Petroleum Group and $97,810.00 for McNally & Associates, INC. According to the bid paperwork, JF Petroleum is based out of Morrisville, North Carolina, and McNally & Associates is based out of Kennesaw, Georgia. Gilmer Schools Superintendent Dr. Brian Ridley said his intent on Thursday will be to recommend the $97 k bid for approval as the low bidder.
The large disparity in the bid was questioned at first. But it was not the only surprise in pricing that the board of education saw in relation to the gas tanks. Ridley also stated that he has already approved the removal of the tanks at the high school transportation department. Costing roughly $13,000, this did not require board approval. The board discussed the removal costs some expected it to be much higher. Dana Berry, Assistant Superintendent – Operations, stated that the company has been asked to confirm the bid several times. He also stated that the school system would make sure it was a fixed bid.
Berry said the school system has been in contact and following EPA guidelines for tank removal, he noted that filling the tanks with sand was another option, but with the low bid, the board did not speak further on this option.
Gilmer approves revised bid for gym scoreboard
Board of Education, News March 23, 2022
EAST ELLIJAY, Ga. – Gilmer’s BOE has spent four months analyzing engineering and specifications for scoreboards in the high school’s gym. Since the approval of the Plainview LED scoreboard for the football field, the board has been looking at replacing the gym scoreboards and had an opportunity to look at options in December 2021.
Three options were presented for the Board of Education on Thursday, but approval came for Option C. Superintendent Dr. Brian Ridley said in the meeting that this option was the revised bid where they changed the format of the boards. The option still has the middle two-sided board but with two smaller fixed-digit scoreboards on the side walls. The three options totals in prices were Option A for $551,569, Option B for $471,569, and Option C for $297,879.56.
Final approval for the gym scoreboard came for Option C with a 4-1 vote. Board member Joe Pflueger was the dissenting vote.
As stated earlier in the week, the board also is adding shot clocks with illuminated backboards with this project. The middle two-sided video board will be suspended from the roof by a hoist, according to reports.
Plainview was on hand during the week’s meetings to discuss questions that included the maintenance, how the shot clocks and backboard illumination would work, and the hoist option over purchasing a new lift. The scoreboard is set to work alongside the gym’s audio system that has been replaced in the last few years.
New vendor proposal approved for county’s solid waste
News December 4, 2021
ELLIJAY, Ga. – With increasing prices and costs for Gilmer’s Solid Waste Department, negotiations and requests for proposal have come back with Gilmer officially approving Waste Pro out of Ball Ground for the service.
Putting in their own compactors and servicing Gilmer with the hauling away of trash, Waste Pro will begin service in the new year as the county exercised its notification on the current contract to exit. Waste Pro’s proposal for the county included both 4 yard compactors with break away units and 35 yard self contained compactors.
Headquartered in Longwood, Florida, Waste Pro hosts an office in Ball Ground, Georgia.
Just as the county currently uses, the compactors with break away units are filled and replaced as the containers are hauled off. The proposal price from Waste Pro for the 4 yard compactors is $775 per month with 11 units proposed. However, continuing negotiations with Gilmer could see a drop in this proposed price as the proposal is noted that if the county opts for older used units, this price will be reduced.
That note also applies with the 12 proposed 35 yard self-contained compactors in the proposal.
The county is readying for the new year along with its recent approvals for bids for materials as well.
Appalachian Propane was approved for their Propane bid of $1.98 per gallon.
Vulcan Materials was approved for their bid of Crushed Stone at $15.25 per ton among alongside others.
Hudson Materials Company was approved for their bid of Emulsion at $2.05 per gallon of CRS-2H and $2.49 per gallon of CRS-2p with increases based on if delivered and partial or full load.
West Block was approved for their bid on Concrete between $114 and $140 per cubic yard based on mixes at different PSI.
CW Matthews was approved for their bid on Asphalt materials ranging between $60 and $75 per unit based on specifications of the asphalt.
Bids approved at November BOC
News November 21, 2019
ELLIJAY, Ga. – The final months of the year are seeing the Board of Commissioners approving items to begin the new year without seeing delays, from budgets and bids approved to TSPLOST talks, the board is already gearing up for changes and issues to be addressed.
Some of those details came through the county’s November meeting as it approved bids for materials and appointed board members.
Bid requests for the county’s material needs came sparsely as many only received one bid, and one material bid was tabled. Bids were received for stone, propane, emulsion, concrete, and
The BOC voted to approve Vulcan Materials Company for stone, Appalachian Propane for propane fuel, Hudson Materials Company for emulsion, and C.W. Matthews Contracting Co. for Asphalt.
With concrete, however, some confusion came when trying to compare the two bids received, West Block Co Inc. and Wayne Davis Concrete Company. As the board members struggled to compare the two, Attorney David Clark suggested they could hold onto the bids until December’s meeting to utilize the time to better understand the two. In past years, the county had relied on explanations from Public Works Director Jim Smith, who was not available during this month’s meetings.
The second bid item accepted approved Jacob Anderson Company LLC for the demolition of two poultry houses at the Airport.
Also during the meeting, the commissioners voted to appoint Eric Irish to the EMS Region 1 Council and Maria Mullins to the Airport Advisory Board.
Frustrations in BOC over pool project
News December 16, 2019
ELLIJAY, Ga. – County officials are looking deeper into the demolition of the county’s old pool and deciding what to salvage and what to dispose of as they look at placing the county’s new pool project there.
The county is also looking at the plumbing as Maintenance Director D.J. Spagnola said he wanted to be involved with the process as the dig down so that he could look at plumbing for the restrooms and pool project to determine needed fixes and replacements before they move forward with constructing the new pool.
Commission Chairman Charlie Paris said at the December meetings, “Originally, I really wanted to have this done by opening day. I don’t think we’re going to be able to make that… I’m getting really frustrated because it has been seven months now…”
Paris went on to say that most of the county’s time has been spent looking for a location when it started at Clear Creek and then on to River Park. The county began looking for property but came to the conclusion that they didn’t want the old location due to the costs of demolition, a project they could effectively delay until a later date. Now, considering the costs of buying property versus demolishing the old location for the new pool.
The county has almost completely decided on this location for the new pool. However, reservations are still being held as Post 2 Commissioner Karleen Ferguson has said in previous meetings that she wants to see what they find during the demolition before setting the location in stone. She did note that she is for the location, but is just wanting to hold a way out in case they find something big and to consider the price of the demolition.
As Paris said he still wanted to expedite the project to attempt to complete it before the season ends, Ferguson said, “I commend you for the work. We’ve tried different avenues. I think this is too important a project to speed through and rush it anyway… I think it’s better that we have taken the time and we have tried different options. We have considered all options that were possibilities.”
The county is focusing on this location, though, and are looking to get out and receive bids on the demolition as soon as possible.
County requesting bids to demolish the old pool site
News November 19, 2019
ELLIJAY, Ga. – The county is moving forward with and advertisement for bids to demolish the old pool after approval this month in their work session.
Despite some slight confusion in having the entire board on the same page about using the location as the site for the coming pool, County Attorney David Clark urged the county to move forward with demolition plans for the site due to hazards and liability issues that could arise with the site.
Chairman Paris said his original understanding was that the board was very much in favor of the location.
And although Post 2 Commissioner Karleen Ferguson wanted more discussion on officially declaring the site as the definitive location of the new pool, she did agree that they should go ahead with the demolition proceedings and the vote came unanimously in favor of advertising for bids.
In fact, Ferguson even said she did not have a problem with the location as the new pool site “unless there is something crazy that we find under the pool…” Ferguson’s concerns tended toward unexpected costs that could come through issues they had not found yet or may find as they demolish the old pool.
As she said she didn’t have a problem with the site, she later added that she didn’t realize that they had agreed on the location “no matter what.”
Paris did point out that a lot of time has been spent on site locations and inspections and that the county has yet to even advertise for bids on the project. Continuing along the process, the target of a pool constructed in May is fast approaching. In fact, the Memorial Day target has been spoken of less and less in recent meetings.
However, recalling the original meetings and planning session for the project, Paris did note several times that the Memorial Day opening was not a deadline, but rather a target date that he wanted to shoot for.
Still, progress is continuing on the project with this advertisement, and should the county move forward and accept a bid, it will be one step closer on a long journey that has become the pool project.
Pool Debate jumps into the deep end
News July 14, 2019
ELLIJAY, Ga. – The story is continuing with Gilmer County’s pool as the debate received another change in the July Board of Commissioners meetings.
Questions arose to revisit the idea of a deeper area in the pool with a diving board for citizens and children use to jump into the pool. This idea was originally not at all a part of the plans for the pool as liability and insurance issues made each member of the board question the addition.
As such, until now, plans have never included the area, instead having an offset area with two slides set up for play. The offset area was, and still is, connected to the “competition pool,” the first pool to be put in during the construction project that is now almost certain to span years to ultimately achieve a full recreation center.
Concern was also raised about continued debates on designs and inclusions for the project. Commission Chairman Charlie Paris noted how late in the year we are without the county having even put out requests for bids. Paris is continuing to try to hold to his plans to meet a Memorial Day 2020 deadline or sometime soon after to open the basic pool for the public. Tempering the plans with cost concerns, Post Commissioner Dallas Miller continued the debate questioning exactly how much extra the addition would cost the county in building a diving well in addition to the slide area and the pool.
Plans have only inflated since the pools’ original design was released early last week. Citizens are continuing to debate, question, change, and increase plans for the pool despite many of them being against beginning construction of the pool this year.
Paris commented on the changes that citizens are requesting as he said in an earlier meeting he didn’t want to wind up spending millions of dollars on a pool “that doesn’t meet our needs.” Miller also said he would rather spend $4 million on the pool that people want even if it adds years to the completion time.
County Attorney David Clark offered an answer to the debate as the county is still early in the design phase. Clark suggested the county request bids for both options including and excluding the diving well.
The county is also holding fast to the $1.2 million budget for the pool for now as they march towards Memorial Day. Debate is starting to grow if the county will stay within the $1.2 million. Constantly being asked over and over again, Paris has simply repeated his statement saying that he wants to get everything he can for the pool for $1.2 million. He has taken several opportunities at several meetings and interviews to list the county’s priority of getting the main pool in with all the extra they can, but coming back in subsequent years for the other additions like a cover, a kids pool, a splash pad, and other items.
With designs set and citizens already speaking out on their plans, the county is already hearing and changing ideas. It seems the presentation of the design proposal has already doubled as the town hall meeting promised to citizens to consider design changes. Despite that, the county’s monthly meetings are also seeing comments and changes right up to the last minute before bids are received.
Ethics and Security questioned in Gilmer Administration
News March 22, 2019
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Citizens are questioning the Gilmer County Board of Education this week after reports have surfaced of the involvement of and connections between the school systems Superintendent, Dr. Shanna Downs, and her husband’s, Jeff Downs, career in a company that the school is now engaging to install a security system in the schools.
Jeff Downs, Senior Vice President of Sales
While allegations pointed that Shanna Downs financially benefited from this contract between the school and the company known as Centegix, where sources say Jeff Downs serves and Senior Vice President of Sales.
FYN looked deeper into the contract and Request for Proposals (RFP) process that was headed up by Gilmer Schools Director of Technology John Call. According to hid RFP listed, the criteria of the RFP included:
1. Bidder’s total proposed price
2. Product quality/appropriateness/compatibility/performance
3. Bidder’s qualifications/experience
4. Bidder’s ability to provide support/service
5. Bidder’s warranty/maintenance
6. Proposed product meeting the district’s present needs as well as future needs through
enhancements and upgrades.
Call headed the reviews and RFP process, according to Downs, who said, “When I realized that my husband would likely accept a position with Centegix in November, I notified the board and I placed our technology director, John Call, in charge of the competitive bidding process for the security system. I asked that I be left completely out of the process.”
Downs further stated that Call and Stuart Sheriff, Assistant Superintendent, contacted Harbin, Hartley and Hawkins Attorneys at Law on November 12 for legal advice. As they saw no problem after Downs recusal, Downs says she informed the Board of her husband’s potential future employment with Centegix. She says, “Mr. Call assembled a committee of building level administrators to review and score the responses to the Request for Proposals (RFPs). Details of that process can be found in our board minutes from December 13, 2018. Until that process was complete, I stayed unaware of the selection of the product.”
Gilmer County Schools Superintendent Dr. Shanna Downs
Downs made one further note on her husband’s involvement saying, “My husband began work with Centegix on December 3rd and will not make any commission off of the purchase.”
Centegix Proposal:
ETC Proposal:
ETC – Alert System – RFP – Additional Information / ETC – Alert System – RFP – Additional Information
Finance decisions dominate BOE’s July Meeting
News July 24, 2018
ELLIJAY, GA. – Casting the final vote for the coming ESPLOST, alongside votes on bids and lunch prices, set the theme for the Board of Education’s last regular meeting before school starts back.
As previously reported in last week’s BOE to call for an ESPLOST Election, the survey results were provided to board member along with the choices for the final item on the list of projects. While Gilmer County Charter Schools Superintendent Dr. Shanna Downs reiterated that the priorities of the new ESPLOST will remain with the continuing technology, security, safety, and bus purchases, this sets two major projects into Gilmer County’s Educational future.
Those projects take up two of the five items as set on the official ballot question which reads as:
(a) upgrading the technology used to support teaching and learning at all facilities, including the purchase and
installation of computers, laptops, tablets, mobile devices, servers, wiring, wireless antennas, and other technology upgrades with necessary hardware, software, and programs; (b) the acquisition, construction, equipping, and installation of safety and security equipment to improve security in all facilities located within the School District (c) the purchase of new school buses; (d) the acquisition, construction, and equipping of a new elementaryschool to replace the current Ellijay Primary School; and (e) the acquisition, construction, and equipping of a new performing/fine arts center, all in accordance with the facilities plans of the School District…
The official resolution was approved in a 4-1 vote with board member Nick Weaver as the dissenting vote. With earlier disagreements on which final project was to be implemented and the polled decision leaning towards the Performing Arts Center, this vote count was not entirely unexpected as the board’s poll on the project inclusion was a mirror outcome.
Moving forward with the ESPLOST at this point will see the Board of Education formally submitting their Notice of Sales and Use Tax For Educational Purposes Election to Gilmer County Probate Judge Scott Chastain, as Election Superintendent, to have the referendum voted on by the public in the November 2018 elections. Citizens will take this opportunity to voice their opinions on the ESPLOST and decide on the continuing the already in place ESPLOST for another cycle with its new projects.
Financially, the board is estimating $28 million in collections but is aiming high so as not to have an interruption in collections during the cycle.
Finance discussions continued through the meeting during the board’s nutrition and financial reports. The board voted unanimously to support a recommendation by Director of Nutrition Services Linda Waters to increase staff lunch prices from $3.50 to $3.75 and visitor lunches from $4.00 to $4.25. The quarter increases on each of these follow federal regulations which Waters’ recent changes to menus. She stated in the work session, “By Federal Regulations, we have to charge what it costs us to produce a meal.”
Additionally, the July meeting saw the board vote to approve fuel bids for the year. They awarded Petroleum Traders Corp the bid for diesel and gasoline at $0.0315 over costs of diesel and $0.0196 over costs of gasoline. They also awarded Thomas Oil for Propane at $0.95 per gallon.
BOE final decisions on Buses and Millage
News August 24, 2018
ELLIJAY, Ga. – The Gilmer County Board of Education formally accepted their 2018 Millage Rate this week with unanimous approval from the present board members.
The final vote came 4-0, Nick Weaver was absent, on Thursday, August 23, setting the rate at 14.458 mills for the year.
After discussing the rate on Monday’s Work Session and over the last month since their July Meeting, where Gilmer County Charter School Superintendent Dr. Shanna Downs informed the board that their calculated rollback rate was 14.458 mills, decreasing from 2017’s 16.12 mill., the final decision lowered the rate by 1.662 over last year.
Downs mentioned in the board’s regular session that no citizens have commented on the Rollback Rate this year or the boards advertisement of it over the last month.
Continuing along the financial discussions, a bid for two extra buses was approved. Coming from extra funding the state found and spread among school systems, this unexpected item set the board with an opportunity to try a different engine. Originally, Director of Operations Bob Sosebee’s Bid Analysis offered the board the bids for both a diesel engine bus and a gasoline bus.
Sosebee said in the meeting that he wanted to offer the board the option of trying gasoline buses instead of diesel with this extra funding as a trend is beginning to see other school systems do similar. Mentioning emissions and testing stresses on the increase, causing a major increase in time spent on repairs, as one point pushing to change, he presented three company’s bids including both engines. the bids include warranty’s on both engines.
The system currently runs its entire bus fleet on diesel engines. When asked for his recommendation, Sosebee suggested the board try the gas buses to be able to compare the two types. Ultimately, approval came from the board as they said they would be willing to use these, as the extra funding came in from the state, as a test pair.
While continuing to replace and grow the bus fleet, Downs noted the Board is still struggling to find bus drivers. Upon a request, Downs is moving forward of increasing the sign on bonus for new drivers from $500 to $1000. As the board discussed the rise and answers to problem, one suggestion arose that the board may look at possibly considering changing the salary as well. Though no real action came except to notify the board of increasing the sign on bonus, indications lean that we could learn more at next month’s meeting.
Rezoning and Repaving Take Focus in November for BOC
News, Police & Government November 15, 2017
ELLIJAY, GA – Rezonings and LMIG took a large portion of the Board of Commissioners November Meetings as opposition and details came in abundance for both.
A request to rezone for Lalit Devgan, Tax Map 3150 Parcel 007a, wanted to add a conditional use to the R-1 Residential Zoning. The conditional use would allow for a bed and breakfast home. Though Devgan and the Realtor spoke on behalf of the Bed and Breakfast, numerous others spoke against it. Bill Craig spoke at the meeting about a petition with over 20 names set against the rezone.
Craig also noted the county definition of a bed and breakfast home states the owner must live in the building while maintaining short overnight stays for no more than four guests. Craig and others noted that Devgan openly admitted he would not continually occupy the house as his family lives in Atlanta.
While the idea of “owner occupied” could be overcome by giving a share of the business to a manager. Still more citizens spoke about the business and their opposition to it. Aiden Stuart spoke on the concept of wanting to maintain his area outside of the city to be non-commercial. Saying he moved to Gilmer for the mountain home, he opposed the rezoning as it would be changing the concept of his neighborhood.
As the Commissioners debated the rezoning request, Chairman Charlie Paris stated he would vote to protect what the citizens believe to keep the rural parts of the county in a rural setting. Opposing the rezoning, Paris stated that citizens who move to the county and “do their homework,” to see that the entire surrounding area is marked R1 for a residential zone, want to avoid something commercial coming in later, “I think we have an obligation to protect that for them.”
Post Commissioner Dallas Miller noted he believed the ordinance should be changed to avoid the commercialization of residential zones, but as the ordinance currently stands, he could not vote against it as it is allowed by the ordinance. The application being “pretty cut and dry,” he would have to allow it as a Commissioner. While he noted he really did not want to vote either way, he was not allowed to abstain, therefore voting in favor of the rezoning.
Post Commissioner Travis Crouch also noted the land use ordinance, stating a bed and breakfast home was in the ordinance as an allowed conditional use. He stated he felt conflicted over the issue, but weighing in the ordinance and the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Board as a unanimous decision to approve, Crouch voted in favor of the rezoning.
With the vote, Chairman Paris actually first moved to deny the request, but had no second. Therefore, his motion died. Crouch then motioned to approve with a second from Miller. The final vote came 2-1 with Paris being the dissenting vote.
Another major issue discussed over the month’s meetings came through next year’s LMIG. The County received estimates for the LMIG funds, along with the currently awarded bids for materials next year. Public Works Director Jim Smith originally gave a list of roads he recommended to pave next year. However, seeing the bids in the work session, Smith recalculated and returned to the Regular Session to estimate the county will be able to re-pave 7.63 miles of road in the unincorporated areas. Especially citing stone increasing by a dollar per ton, Asphault increasing on the 12.5 milmeter super pave by $3.76 per ton, and Emulsion expected to increase even after rebidding, Smith recommended the following roads for LMIG next year: Tower Road, Johnson Mill Road, Blackberry Mountain Road, Pisgah Road, and Cherokee Drive in addition to the second half of the Mountaintown Road as Phase 2 from this years paving.
The 2018 LMIG will also return to County Personnel laying and paving the roads as opposed to bidding the projects this year to free up resources and people to continue working on the Cherry Log Fire Station.
The Board also approved an offer for Duplicating Processes for a new copier contract as seen below. The Commissioners noted that several private entities in the county use this company as well as certain offices in the county who already use them.
Additionally in the meeting, the Commissioners appointed Max Holstein to the Whitepath Golf Course Advisory Board. Though the Commissioners originally had another candidate, Chairman Paris noted he would like to not fill the Board with locals around the Golf Course, but instead maintain a variety of people from across the county.
County Materials Bids Approved for 2017
News, Police & Government November 14, 2017
ELLIJAY, Ga. – The Gilmer County Board of Commissioners approved Materials Bids for the coming 2018 year. After accepting bids for the five areas, only one has been rejected.
Emulsion was the one rejected bid. Hudson Materials delivered a bid to the county for emulsion over $1.50 for all three of their materials. Deemed higher than expected, the commissioners voted to reject this bid. Chairman Paris assured those present there would be enough time to rebid this before the new year.
C.W. Matthews Contracting Company out of Marietta, Georgia, was awarded the county’s asphalt bid for materials ranging between $55 to $62 for 2018. Increases in these prices are also affecting paving projects and the Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG) for 2018 as Public Works Director Jim Smith estimated the county will be able to pave 7.63 miles with LMIG next year.
West Block Company was awarded its bid for concrete, beating Wayne Davis Concrete Company. Though discussion arose on certain aspects of the bid such as a “truck time charge after one hour,” the commissioners ultimately awarded the bid after continued investigation still resulted with West Block being the lower bid.
Another contested bid came with propane. Though Heritage Propane delivered a fixed price bid of $1.49 per gallon, they were largely outbid by Appalachian Propane at $1.08 per gallon.
The final bid, stone, was another uncontested bid, same as it was last year, by Vulcan Materials Company. With prices ranging between $15 and $30 depending on the grade and type of stone, Director Smith also reports this is another bid continuing to increase costs for the county in the coming year.
