Gilmer County restructures two department’s leadership
Featured Stories, News August 14, 2022
GILMER COUNTY, Ga. – An Executive Session late Thursday night at the end the Gilmer Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting saw the board return with formal motions and approvals that moved one department director affecting three people.
As the meeting’s regular agenda ended, the board approved a motion for executive session and said they anticipated action. Upon return, Chairman Charlie Paris made a motion to move Public Works Director Jim Smith to Planning and Zoning Director, a position held by Karen Henson.
With the motion, Paris explained that current Planning and Zoning Director Karen Henson would take on a role as Smith’s assistant in the department. In Public Works, the former Assistant Director Ryan Steingruber will step up as the new Director.
Newly appointed Planning and Zoning Director Jim Smith
Post 2 Commissioner Karleen Ferguson took a moment to thank all three people for their service in the county. Ferguson stated, “I’ll say thank you all for your service. Jim, Karen, Ryan, much appreciated. This has been a difficult, challenging year. Now that we’ve got a little adjustment, we’ve got the dream team back.”
This is not Smith’s first time in the Planning and Zoning Department as he did previously hold positions within it as it used to be Planning and Community Development in the early 2000’s. Smith was formerly the Director of this department.
Likewise, as the newly appointed Public Works Director, Steingruber is not unfamiliar with his position either as he stepped in to the role when Smith dealt with health and family issues in recent years. Steingruber not only stepped in to deliver updates and reports to the county in meetings, but served as the Director in formal capacities with contracts and other day to day operations.
With the motion seconded and unanimously approved, these changes will be taking place immediately as the department undergo the transitions to their new directors.
Public Works beginning Lift Station project with new grant
News March 9, 2022
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Gilmer County is soon to begin a major project in its landfill after a major leachate issue in 2019 saw engineering firm Carter & Sloope send a representative to the Board of Commissioners discussing this project.
In July of 2019, Kurt McCord of Carter & Sloope said that they had mad an emergency repair to the pipe to stop a leachate leak. Now, Gilmer Public Works Director Jim Smith stated today that the county has just finished a pre-construction meeting with engineers and the contractor on the project, Stanco, as well as the GEFA (Georgia Environmental Finance Authority) Project Manager.
Leachate, by definition, is water that has percolated through a solid and leached out some of the constituents. In this situation, that water has soaked through trash at the landfill before it gets collected and pumped out to a holding tank for treatment later. McCord explained in 2019 that the piping on the site uses two pipes, an inner 6-inch pipe, and an outer 10-inch pipe.
According to McCord, the system was not operating at optimal efficiency, about 35 or 40 percent. The resolution he offered at the time would run optimally at 75 percent efficiency, drastically reducing power consumption as well as systemic failures.
Now, according to Smith, the project is set to begin construction on the permanent solution in June of 2022. Smith said, “In the interim, we will be stockpiling dirt and things of that nature for getting ready.”
That stockpiling and preparation is going slow, however, as Smith has said that collecting supplies for major projects is stalling as waiting lists are backing up. Smith stated that, at this time, its hard to get a definitive answer on when materials like piping and concrete can be delivered.
Public Works Director Jim Smith
However, a new grant is aiding in funding the million dollar project. Smith said that the county has received official notification to receive an additional $286,000 from ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act). The county has already received funding from the Act for other projects at the county’s discretion, some of those projects approved last year, 2021, included Hazard Pay for county employees who worked the the COVID-19 outbreak, a UV sterilization filter, and even considered utilizing some funds to expand the current water system further throughout the county.
This new contribution for $286,000 is a separate grant that the county will be using to fund part of this project.
Smith stated that with the extra funding they can replace the current gravity fed system with a force main pumping the water out of the 10,000 gallon collection and holding tank and into the public sewer system. However, Smith went on to add that this will be later in the project as they will focus on the area inside the landfill first.
The project is scheduled to continue into 2023 as the main project will complete in January and then they will move to the pump and line along Tower Road.
County updates Lower Cartecay Bridge Replacement
News February 17, 2022
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Since April of 2017, almost five years ago, the Lower Cartecay Road Bridge has been closed. This came due to an inspection deeming the bridge “unsafe.” Since then, Gilmer has pushed for a state project for bridge replacements and achieved it with Lower Cartecay taking the priority place that another bridge in the county held.
Now, a new update from Public Works Director Jim Smith has reported that right of way acquisition was completed in January. Smith went on to add the final field plans could be ready by July. With this update, a major change is coming to Gilmer’s future plans for the bridge.
The acquisition costs were shared between the state and the county at 50 percent each. However, this was the only costs the county incurred with the, originally estimated in 2017, $1.2 million project for replacement. In 2019, an update from the county reported the invoice for right of way acquisition totaled $50,000, which Gilmer paid shortly after receiving. Since then, the state has taken over with an expectation to begin construction in 2025.
Last March, the state also began plans for replacement of bridges on Highway 52 East. This conflicted with the area as Smith said at the time that detour traffic would need Lower Cartecay’s Bridge. Reports at the time suggested that the state might be looking at an earlier state date that could be in 2022. Smith said this month that the state is scheduling Lower Cartecay’s replacement to begin construction this December.
However, construction time, according to Smith, will be 18 months. This means that construction will still not complete until June 2024. Smith also noted that the two bridges on 52 East are tentatively set for 2028, long after the completion of Lower Cartecay to serve as the detour route.
Plans for the bridge are to build a spanning bridge to avoid disturbance of the water with pillars. This plan came after the discovery that the area was home to a rare fish called the Goldline Darter. It is a protected fish in state regulations as a “threatened species of fish.”
Road damages total $350,000 from March’s storm devastation
News April 7, 2021
GILMER COUNTY, Ga. – The “third worst storm” in recent history is what Public Works Director Jim Smith called the surge in late March. Smith noted a “preliminary damage report” saying that totals are estimated between $300,000 and $350,000 for road and public works repairs and cleanup. However, that is the preliminary estimate offered to FEMA and GEMA this week.
With the vast majority of that costs in road damage, reports have come that over 80 roads in the county were damaged in some manner. Smith made his comment about the storm being the “third worst” in reference to his two decades of service in Gilmer County.
Public Works Director Jim Smith addresses the BOC regarding the late March storms and the lasting damage.
Additional costs comes from debris removal that the county is performing. However, in outer parts of the county, people have been burning debris in ditches in controlled burns as they are also trying to clean up from the storm.
Smith said the storm has not been declared a disaster yet. But noted that a visit from FEMA and GEMA this week was part of that process so that the Governor could declare it a disaster. Damage assessments, meetings, and reports are all included in that process. Smith said, “The Governor can declare it a disaster and then, in turn, submit his request to Homeland Security, FEMA, and on to the President.”
Smith also noted that Gilmer was reported as one of the worst hit of the roughly 8-10 counties being inspected.
The $350,000 estimate only includes the report from Public Works. More damage has come to other departments like Parks & Recreation and the Golf Course. Including that, Smith commented today that the totals could come closer to $450,000 in total, but no detailed calculation has been officially made yet.
Even today, Hill Road remains closed as the county has awaited manufactured pipes and is currently installing them as part of the repair. The county is continuing the cleanup and repair process as they await a disaster declaration that could bring emergency aid funds to the county to reimburse some of the costs that have already been incurred and paid.
New budget could bring changes to Public Works in 2021
News December 8, 2020
ELLIJAY, Ga. – “The year of Roads and Bridges” is what Gilmer Commissioner Chairman Charlie Paris said he wanted for the 2021 budget in order to improve Public Works. One comment among many as Gilmer’s BOC is still hammering out details for its coming year.
That comment is something that he has done many times over recent years during budget sessions as he has stated that he wanted to focus on getting departments up to par through that extra focus, whether it came through the Maintenance & Operations (M&O) Budget or through the Capital budget.
This year, Some of that extra focus for roads is coming through capital as the county is funding new equipment for the department through capital expenditures and funding almost all of their capital requests along with the county looking to increase Public Works employees pay. Though the Public Works request came for 5 percent, the county looked for ways to maybe increase this a little more, to potentially 8 percent.
On the revenue side, an increase is coming with changes to the weighed trash drop off. Now becoming 14 cents per pound, the rate is similar to surrounding counties, including neighboring Fannin County who Public Works Director Jim Smith says is 12 cents per pound. However, Smith also noted that his requested changes included the elimination of individual charges for items like sofas and appliances. Now, all of that type of construction and demolition trash will follow the 14 cents per pound rate. Additionally, passenger tire disposal went to $5 and larger truck tire disposal went to $12.
If adopted, these changes go into place January 1, 2021.
Another point of note in the budget came as Paris pointed out the county is currently repaying its TAN at around $400k. In previous years, the county has been excited that the TAN has been pushing further back for use. However, they have yet to completely negate the need for a TAN as was their hope. However, in recent years that TAN has been more akin to a $1.5 million repayment.
While Paris and Sandi Holden, Gilmer’s Financial Officer, attributed some of this difference to CARES ACT funding coming for capital expenses and the way it is handled, Paris said that this wouldn’t make the entire million dollar difference they have. Additionally, the county has received additional funds this year through sales tax in LOST and SPLOST for parts of the budget as well.
Paris said the county would know next year just how much this number has been affected by unusual circumstances as to how much it mirrors this year’s $400,000 or the previous year closer to $1.5 million.
The budget is coming up for adoption and Public Comments this week as the Board of Commissioners meet for the Public Hearing at 5:30 p.m. and the Regular Meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, December 10, 2020. The BOC did cancel their Wednesday Worksession.
Tire Amnesty underway as Public Works makes up for lost time
News October 14, 2020
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Over 239 tires have been collected so far this week as Gilmer is making up for its originally cancelled “Amnesty Tire” event in the spring.
According to Public Works Director Jim Smith, the Amnesty event is going on between now and October 24 as Gilmer is somewhat celebrating Earth Day in October. That’s because this event, over recent years, has historically taken place alongside events from other organizations in partnership for Earth Day.
However, due to COVID-19, many spring and summer events were cancelled this year.
Public Works Director Jim Smith
This amnesty event is offering free tire disposal to Gilmer County Residents. Citizens need only bring their tires to the county landfill at Tower Road.
Tires must be clean of debris and water and non-commercial or industrial. Smith has said in Commissioner meetings that the event is only for citizens of Gilmer County and not for commercial businesses that sell them.
As citizens pull onto the location at Tower Road, they will notice a large trailer parked to one side. This is all possible through an annual “Amnesty Tire Grant” that pays the $2,600 fee to haul off the trailer of tires bound for recycling once it has been filled.
A part of wide-spread efforts across the county including the Sheriff Department’s roadside trash collections and Keep Gilmer Beautiful’s Adopt-A-Road program, the Amnesty Tire Program has become an annual event providing this service to residents. The efforts are put forth to remove garbage from roadways, ditches, and homes to maintain and care for the community’s visual beauty.
Smith has reminded citizens in these meetings that the location is only at the Tower Road location. It is not available at the county’s convenience centers in other locations.
According to Smith, the 239 tires collected were only on the first day, He added that even more were lined up Wednesday morning waiting to drop off tires. The program continues every day that the landfill is open, accepting tires through October 24, 2020.
Capital spending halted amid shutdowns including pool project
News March 16, 2020
ELLIJAY, Ga. – During the Board of Commissioners’ work session today, Chairman Charlie Paris spoke in the citizens wishing to speak section addressing concerns and a specific email from the weekend including Capital spending.
During his time speaking, Paris announced that he will be “putting the brakes” on capital spending in the near future. While he did say he wasn’t pointing to anything specific being cut yet, Paris noted that he wanted to look closely at the budget with the understanding that much of the Capital spending is based on estimates from the SPLOST.
Paris said, “I am really concerned with all of this social distancing, all of these shutdowns that are going on, as to what that might translate into in terms of our SPLOST revenue.”
Pointing to the emptiness that Gilmer County has seen recently and people staying home after urgings from health agencies and government.
While some things are already underway, Paris said he will complete these projects. Some things that could be pushed back include the lift stations project from public works. Paris said he doesn’t know when or how far he might look at pushing these items, but the major note from his explanation came when he said that the county will complete the project of demolishing the old pool and will stop there.
Paris said, “Most of you know that I’ve been in a big hurry to get this thing bid out and get it going. I just can’t, in good conscience, continue that without knowing what’s coming.”
Paris said that the pool project is funded through a separate account, but he is concerned that revenue may drop so much that those funds would be temporarily needed somewhere else.
While these projects are major notes, Paris is looking at all budgets with an eye towards the future, not to cut directly, but, according to Paris, to hold off for a little while until they know more.
One citizen, Joene DePlancke, has been a large voice on the issue in recent months, especially on the financial status of the county and their disbursements. DePlancke said she had sent the commissioners and email over the weekend and was prepared to speak further in the meeting on fiscal responsibility. Instead, she thanked Paris on his stance and willingness to listen and respond to the economy and to the needs of citizens.
The county is still taking care of debt service, and DePlancke warned commissioners that the market will have effects on Gilmer and has already has.