Commission Chairman's Weekly Report

Here is the BOC Chairman's Report that will be printed in the Times-Courier on May 28, 2009.

We had a very productive workshop Tuesday. Several items were discussed and attendance was good. This was general round-table type discussion between the commissioners and the county staff who are involved in the various topics we discussed. It was very good to have staff and other elected officials present during business hours in an informal but structured discussion. Before any final action is taken on any of these items, further evaluation will be conducted and brought to a formal public meeting for further discussion and voting.

The final lease has been executed with the state for the probation office relocating to the current location of planning and zoning. Planning and zoning will move into the Watkins House (the old commissioners office across the street from the courthouse) with Community Development. This leaves the old bank building open for the Sheriff’s detectives, who are currently based out of the second floor of the BB&T bank building on Maddox Drive. The vaults in the old bank building provide necessary evidence storage capability which will allow for a considerable reduction in the size of the future jail expansion.

Discussions will be finalized at the next commissioners meeting to make use of the old Voters Registration building which lies between the Watkins House and the Dalton State College campus. This building will become a joint city-county use Downtown Welcome Center, and will include typical welcome center staffing and local attraction information, as well as a public restroom on the square. Our goal is to provide an amenity that will serve Gilmer businesses, residents, and visitors in the downtown area.

We are advertising now for proposals for re-roofing the civic center. There is a drastic problem of leaks and mold in a few areas of the civic center, which is now largely vacant. Until the roof and leak problems are solved, there is no use to address the mold issue. Our plan is to fix the roof, then address the mold along with electrical and mechanical upgrades. On option and hope is to be able to use part of the building for an expanded Boys and Girls Club. Several teachers and students that I’ve mentioned this to have been very supportive. I’m excited about the possibility of using this facility to give the youth of the county something good to do with their time. The old gym in the middle of the civic center will also be returned to gym use by removing the rooms that were built near the entrance.

We finally received the contract amendment that clears the way for Gilmer County to engage in recycling. Subsequently, we have begun to advertise for proposals to provide recycling services to the county. I am confident that we will be able to come up with a plan that will benefit the taxpayers of Gilmer County as well as the environment.

Work begins this week on Maxwell Road. The narrow graveled portion that lies in Gilmer County will be widened and paved. Due to the stream buffer and steep terrain on the north side of the road, it will be closed to through traffic from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm during week days while construction is on-going.

As always, feel free to contact me by email (mchastain@gilmercounty-ga.gov) or by calling the BOC office at 706-635-4361. Comments can be left on 706-515-2320.