BOC considers change to Waste Pro contract for fuel charge
News June 23, 2022
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Gilmer is continuing to feel the increases of inflation in many ways. The county itself is also seeing this with increasing prices on bids that were approved before the massive increases. One of these increases comes at what gas stations charge at the pump, which is why Waste Pro says it presented a fuel surcharge addition into the contract for the county.
Originally bid in December 2021, Waste Pro set prices for hauling off dumpsters from convenience centers to begin in January 2022. Today, with continuing rising gas prices, Waste Pro is asking for an additional surcharge based of fuel prices starting from today’s average prices. This means that as gas continues to climb, an additional charge will be put on Gilmer County based on the price increase. That formula, noted in a special called meeting of the Gilmer BOC on June 22, 2022, would be 0.05 percent of every one cent increase in gas prices. It was also noted that this increasing surcharge added on as prices increase would also decrease back to zero as prices return back to the starting point based on today’s average prices.
In negotiations, Chairman Charlie Paris suggested also implementing a decrease on the same charge below the established zero point based on the gas prices. Both parties are still looking into the negotiation and possible inclusion of both concepts of the increasing and decreasing charge that could go below the bid price if gas goes below the average prices. Current understanding is that the surcharge will begin based on today’s average prices, so the county would not be paying the surcharge on how much gas has increased since December’s bid. If the decreasing charge, or discount, is based on December’s or January’s average prices, based on the original contract bid and the start date respectively, then this would establish a wide “zero” level between what average prices were then and what average prices are now where there would be no charge increase or decrease.
Paris did note that he didn’t want a formula based solely on original bid prices as Waste Pro is offering to start the surcharge increases based on today’s prices and he did not want Gilmer County also covering the difference over the last six months.
County Attorney David Clark also weighed in on the topic saying that the county could push to enforce the original bid contract. He noted that the county is being “accommodating” in the understanding of the rising gas prices. He went on to offer his opinion on the item saying, “By building in the fuel surcharge that they are proposing, whatever the base rate is, if it goes up, the county pays. If it goes down from that base rate, by virtue of you all accommodating that, it should be a decrease to the taxpayers. There shouldn’t be a gap between today’s price… and January’s price.”
With no set decision on whether the county would have that wide gap of no increase or decrease or simply base the decrease on today’s prices or earlier prices, and with Waste Pro looking at incorporating some kind of change in their proposal to include a decrease below zero, the item was tabled to be revisited. The Board is expecting to hear another proposal from Waste Pro during it’s July meetings. Post Commissioner Karleen Ferguson did note during the meeting that she has heard good things about Waste Pro’s services. Waste Pro began its service in January after the county began looking for competitive bids after increases with its previous service provider. The county has only had Waste Pro in service beginning this year.
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.
Authorities offer statement to warn of possible severe weather conditions
News June 17, 2021
GILMER COUNTY, Ga. – The National Weather Service (NWS), Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA), and Gilmer County Public Safety are alerting citizens to a possible hazardous weather condition over the coming weekend.
According to the statement released, areas of North Georgia could see increased risks of Flooding “Saturday night through Tuesday.” Public Safety told FYN that they receive their information directly from and work closely with these agencies like GEMA in preparing and readying the local response.
Authorities over the North Georgia Region are currently looking for more information to better estimate the exact amount of rainfall. The current information predicts between 3 and 7 inches of rainfall but the NWS did say there remains a large amount of uncertainty regarding the rainfall totals.
The NWS stated, “The combination of a Gulf tropical low and a cold front will create a one-two punch for Georgia beginning late Saturday and continuing through Tuesday. There remains a good deal of model uncertainty with the timing and coverage of the heaviest precipitation and changes to the forecast rainfall totals can be expected with subsequent forecast packages.”
GEMA’s release was also shared by local Public Safety as they are attempting to give citizens information about the possibility. The release stated, “The highest amounts of 5 to 7 inches are expected over portions of north and northeast Georgia where the topography will enhance rainfall activity.”
Part of the reason for concern comes as the recent storms in the area have kept streamflow normal at most river gage locations. The heat and dryness could help soil absorb some rain, but “persistent heavy rainfall over an area will create runoff issues quickly, especially across urban areas and north Georgia’s complex terrain.”
With this advisory, authorities are suggesting that people consider the possibility and prepare by cleaning drainage systems on or around their homes and property. As Gilmer is heavily rural, quickly accumulating rainfall can also produce widespread flooding of smaller, fast-responding creeks in the area.
Stay alert to changing forecasts. “A Flash Flood or Flood Watch may be issued for portions of north and central Georgia in the next 24 to 48 hours if forecast totals remain similar.”
Gilmer has had a number of devastating storms in recent years, many locals know which creeks and rivers will rapidly rise, for those aware and those unaware, Public Safety is sharing information at this point to keep citizens from potentially being caught off guard.
Sheriff’s Office honors 25th Anniversary for Brett Dickey
Community, News February 14, 2021
A long weekend for some as they take a day to remember Presidents and celebrate Valentine’s Day, yet, it also marked a major event for the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office and Gilmer Sheriff Stacy Nicholson. The office honored the memory of their fallen Deputy Brett Dickey in the 25th anniversary ceremony.
An annual event, many will recognize certain memorial actions like lowering the courthouses flag to half mast or the playing of taps as Officers salute the memorial. Sheriff Nicholson spoke for the memorial, thanking those who were present for the ceremony.
Nicholson said, “Today is a milestone mark in the memory of Brett. It’s the 25th anniversary, today, of when he was killed in the line of duty as a Gilmer County Deputy Sheriff. February 13, 1996, I will never, ever forget that day… There is so many here today, so many that worked for the Sheriff’s Office, so many citizens in the county that are so supportive of the Sheriff’s Office.”
Nicholson said, “I hope that what we try to do, in some small way gives some comfort or peace to the family. I feel like it is our responsibility to honor Brett’s memory every year.”
The memorial transpired in the rain as Nicholson jokingly said it was “perfect weather.” Yet, some would agree it is altogether right and proper that a day of remembrance be somber and cloudy.
It is difficult to label the remembering of a tragic day and the loss of someone in a community. More so for those in the department who knew him or were close to him. As citizens we can only know a part of the sacrifice and the life. Some call days of remembrance a celebration to celebrate the life and the efforts of this man. Some call it a memorial, calling to mind memories of life together or service alongside him. Still others might call it a ceremony, ritualizing the events to create honor from tragedy. One may call it a vigil as they wish to guard the story and carry it onward into the future, so that others may know of the sacrifice.
Additionally, many people will drift from year to year, the day may be a sad dirge one year becoming a day of celebration and memory the next.
Nicholson said that his wish to continue past the 25th anniversary is to continue the memory. He spoke about the younger generation and many citizens that didn’t know Dickey, offering his thoughts and hopes that the people of Gilmer County would share the memory. He said, “Tell your kids who Brett Dickey was. He made the ultimate sacrifice for citizens of this county and the state of Georgia.”
Nicholson recalled a couple stories of his time with Brett Dickey including one from the night that he died. He also recalled how small the Gilmer Sheriff’s Office was at the time, a small “family” he called them. A family devastated by the events that transpired. Nicholson thanked retired Gordon County Sheriff Sid Roberts and retired Murray County Sheriff Howard Ensley who were present at the 25th anniversary ceremony. Nicholson thanked them because he said they “ran Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office” for a few days after the events of Dickey’s death.
Gilmer Deputy Sheriff Brett Dickey
With tears welling up, Nicholson said to both the retired Sheriffs, “That made an impression on me.”
Gilmer Sheriff’s Office Chaplain Scotty Davis also spoke before praying over those present. He said, “We are here honoring a man who is a hero because he served this county and he served this community. Preserving, serving, and protecting you and your parents as they grew up. It is a great honor serving in law enforcement.”
Davis’ prayer ended the ceremony as the deputies present marched away immediately after.
In the Bible, in the book of John, Jesus speaks to those who follow his faith saying, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” A man who serves, who offers his life daily in that service, may have died in that service, but he offers that love to those he served and to those he offered his life daily to protect. It is sad that one day, that offer was claimed. Yet, it is a portrayal of love on this Valentine’s Day weekend that one man gave to a community, that he gave to those he served.
It is on this day that the Sheriff’s Office remembers its loss. It is on this day that they remember what they gained. It is on this day that they refresh and renew the meaning of that sacrifice. It is we who live on that attribute meaning and honor to those who have sacrificed for us.