BOC Meets in Workshop & Regular Session

With the gas line rupture repaired (see Call Before You Dig? below), the Gilmer County Board of Commissioners (BOC) met in a workshop session at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, July 9th. The purpose of the workshop was to discuss items that would be on the agenda of regular meeting at 6:00 p.m.
Several items were discussed, the most notable included:

• Award of the proposal on refurbishing a ladder truck for the Fire Department. The cost of the refurbishing is $199,000. $150,000 will be paid by the City of East Ellijay. There was only one proposal received and that was from the original manufacturer of the vehicle. The cost to refurbish is much less than the estimated cost of a comparable new vehicle at $1.1 million. The award was formally approved at the evening meeting.

• Award of the proposal to re-roof the Civic Center Building. Commission Chairman Chastain explained that the roof on the Civic Center is in deplorable condition and has resulted in mold and mildew in the building. “The mold problem cannot be addressed until the water problem is solved”, said Commissioner Chastain. There were two proposals received and the Commission awarded the contract to the lowest of $42,760 by Paris Roofing at the evening meeting.

• Perhaps the most discussed item at the Workshop was the action to advertise for the new Millage Rate. The Commissioners indicated that they would hold the Millage Rate to 5.0 mils for the 2009 tax year. They also indicated that doing this required the department heads and constitutional officers to hold their budgets “flat”. Budget discussions will commence within the next thirty days with each department head and constitutional officer. Emphasis will be placed on completing this year’s expenditures approximately eight to ten percent less than originally approved to offset the reduction of budgeted income of approximately the same amount. For the first six months (50% of year) County expenditures are a total of 47.57% of budget but revenue is only 39.94% of budget. The Commissioners indicated that they will take action in a future meeting to amend the current budget to reflect the reduction of income and expenses. At the evening meeting formal approval was given to advertise the Millage Rate at 5.0 mils.

Related to the budget discussions, this reporter reminded the members of the Commission that they had each, in the last campaign, talked about the importance of transparency in government. They each had indicated that would support steps to allow citizens to monitor income and expenses within the County. I suggested that they post monthly income & expense reports, by department, on the official County website. They committed to do this and instructed County Finance Director, Faye Harvey to proceed with getting the reports posted.

• The second most discussed item was the award of the contract for the feasibility study on the extension of the airport runway. There seemed to be very little enthusiasm for the runway extension among the Commissioners especially if condemnation of land is involved in completing the project. It was noted however that now is the time to look at the extension with the General Obligation Bond money that is earmarked for the airport. In addition it was felt that the study may provide useful information for economic development. Six proposals were received for the study. The “short list” was two companies. RKG from Virginia was deemed the best proposal because of price and direct experience with airport feasibility studies. At the evening meeting the Commission awarded the $27,500 contract to RKG.

• In other actions at the evening meeting, the Commission approved a zoning request by Billy Masters on Yukon Rd. of a parcel from R-1 to C. Action on the wireless telephone contract was tabled until the next regular meeting. The Commission authorized the Chairman to execute documents to extend the TAN Note from $2 million to $4 million dollars. The Airport Advisory Board was reduced from 8 members to 7 members and Don Isom was appointed to a vacant position on the Board. Approval was given for exchange of road right of way with a private property owner. Proposals were approved for paving and resurfacing of roads, and the Commission authorized the participation in the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission.

July Chamber Network Lunch

Seventy Seven members of the Gilmer Chamber of Commerce gathered at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday July 7, 2009 at Harrison Hall for the monthly Network Lunch. The lunch was sponsored and catered by Quiznos. The lunches provide members the opportunity to get together and discuss business on a monthly basis and receive new businesses and individual members that come into Gilmer County. Approximately 10 new members were introduced at the meeting. For additional information on becoming an individual or business member of the Gilmer Chamber of Commerce call the office at 706-635-7400.

Call Before You Dig?

The Gilmer County Court House was closed for most of the day Thursday, July 9, 2007 when, reportedly, Georgia Power Company ruptured a natural gas line at the corner of Broad and N Gilmer Streets in Ellijay. As of 1 p.m. there is no word on how the closing will affect the 2:00 p.m. Board of Commissioners Workshop that is to be held in the Commissioners’ Conference Room or the regular Commission meeting at 6:00 pm in the Jury Assembly Room of the Court House. Calls to the Commissioners’ Office were, of course, unanswered and there was no information on the official Gilmer County website.

How is the Real Estate Market? - Part 2

In my post of June 30, 2009 I discussed how both lenders and developers have impacted the Gilmer (and national) real estate market. In this post I want to briefly mention the impact that speculative builders have on the market and then in my next post discuss how the federal government played a role in getting us where we are today.

There are basically two types of home builders; custom builders that only build when they have a customer and a signed contract, and speculative builders that typically borrow the money from a lending institution and build the house with the anticipation of selling to an buyer that is yet to be identified. Speculative builders (and the lenders that lend to them) are “betting on the come”. Today there are a total of 721 homes listed for sale on the Northeast Georgia MLS. Please note that this does not include For Sale By Owner or foreclosed properties that are not listed with local real estate companies. Of those 721 listings, approximately 100 are classified as “new construction”. These are homes that have never been occupied. Twelve of those listed were built in 2006, thirty seven were built in 2007, thirty nine were built in 2008 and, amazingly enough, 16 were built (probably started in 2008) in 2009. The remainders are listed as being built in 2004 & 2005 (questionable). Only two in the entire list are listed as being foreclosures. Generally speaking, new construction will have a better chance of selling than re-sales. When houses set on the market for extended periods of time their value drops and that also has an impact on the value and marketability of re-sale properties. Speculative building in Gilmer County has all but stopped. For the first six months of 2009 the average numbers of building permits issued were 6.3. Not all of those permits were for residential construction. In years 2005 – 2006 it was estimated that the building industry accounted for approximately 25% of the economy in Gilmer County.

I hope you are starting to see a pattern here. Too much, too quick with too little feasibility, accountability and responsibility. But keep in mind; for lenders to make money they must lend, for developers to make money they must develop and for builders to make money they must build. The problem is when they do not start by finding out if there are buyers no one makes money!

The next installment I will discuss the role the federal government played in getting us in this mess.

July Activities In Gilmer County

If you are planning your activities calendar for July here are several you won’t want to miss:
• Gilmer Farmers Market: Every Saturday morning starting at 8:00 am located at the Farm Bureau Parking Lot on River Street in Ellijay. New vendors are welcome. Booth fees are only $5.00 per season. Plants and seasonal vegetables as well as homemade jams, jellies, relishes, etc are in good supply.
• Pickin’ on the Square: Every Friday evening from 6:00 pm until about 9:00 pm the square in downtown Ellijay comes alive with bluegrass, country, rock and gospel music. Bring your instrument and “jam” with local musicians or just come to listen.
• Cherry Log Pickin’: Every Thursday evening beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Whitepath Fire Staton #11 on Whitepath Rd., just behind the Blue Ridge Auto Auction on Hwy 515. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy the music.
• July 9th: Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce. Network luncheon, 11:30 a.m. Harrison Hall.
• July 9th: Gilmer County Board of Commissioners. Workshop session at 2:00 p.m. in the Commissioners conference room of the Gilmer County Court House.
• July 9th: Gilmer County Board of Commissioners. Regular meeting at 6:00 p.m. in the Jury Assembly Room of the Gilmer County Court House.
• July 9th: Ellijay Mountain Bike Association weekly ride. 6:30 p.m. at the Pinhoti 2 Trail. Contact club president, Gail Kirkman for additional information www.Gail.Kirkman@ventyx.com).
• July 11th: The Martyn House “Farm to Table Dinner” presents Heather Antonelli, author of “Haute n the Kitchen” as their guest chef. Dinners begin at 6:00 pm. Reservations can be booked online at www.themartynhouse.com.
• July 11th: Pickin’ on the Porch, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the General Store, just outside of the Eagle Mountain Gate of the Coosawattee River Resort. Bring your lawn chair & enjoy the music.
• July 13th: Deadline for filing appeals for property tax assessments. Appeal forms are available on line at www.gilmerassessors.com. This appeal process is for those property owners that received a recently mailed 45 day notice.
• July 25th : Pickin’ on the Porch, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the General Store, just outside of the Eagle Mountain Gate of the Coosawattee River Resort. Bring your lawn chair & enjoy the music.
• Southeastern Bluegrass Association: The Cherry Log chapter SEBA meets on the fourth Saturday (except December) from 3 pm until 6 pm at the Cherry Log Christian Church. Contact Al or Dana Henderson at 706-635-3786 for additional information.

If you have an activity you want published just email me at mjholstein@ccim.net with the details.

New Business Comes To Gilmer County

The Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce held a Ribbon Cutting ceremony on the 7th of July at the Chamber of Commerce office for Appalachian Asset Rehabilitation Professionals; Owner T. J. Dazey 706-669-2029

www.assetrehabilitation.com

B.O.C. Workshop & Meeting Agendas

Please Note: The BOC Workshop will be held in the Board of Commissioners Conference Room at 2:00 p.m., Thursday July 9, 2009.

The regularly scheduled BOC Meeting will be held in the Gilmer County Court House - Jury Assembly Room at 6:00 p.m., Thursday, July 9, 2009.

Taken from the County website.

7/9/09 BOC WORK SHOP AND REGULAR MEETING

GILMER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
THURSDAY JULY 9, 2009
2:00 PM

LOCATION: BOC CONFERENCE ROOM


WORKSESSION
AGENDA

DISCUSSION:

1. RFP – Ladder Truck

2. RFP – Recycling

3. RFP – Wireless Phones (x2)

4. RFP - Airport Study

5. RFP – Paving Services

6. NORTHWEST GA REGIONAL COMMISSION

7. MILLAGE RATE DISCUSSION

ADJOURNMENT:

_______________________________________________
GILMER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MEETING
THURSDAY JULY 9, 2009
6:00 PM

LOCATION: GILMER COUNTY COURTHOUSE - JURY ASSEMBLY ROOM


AGENDA

CALL TO ORDER: Mark Chastain, Chairman

INVOCATION & PLEDGE:

MINUTES:

Action to Approve the Minutes from the June 11, 2009 Regular Board of Commissioners Meeting.


AGENDA APPROVAL:

Action to Approve Agenda.

OLD BUSINESS:

None


NEW BUSINESS:

1. Action on Resolution 09-053, Award proposal for Ladder Truck. (TP)


2. Action on Resolution 09-054, Award proposal for Wireless Phones (x2). (MC)

3. Action on Resolution 09-055, Award proposal for Civic Center Roofing. (MC)

4. Action on Resolution 09-056, Award proposal for Airport Economic Study. (MC)

5. Action on Resolution 09-057, Award proposal for Paving and Resurfacing Services Project. (JS).

6. Action on Resolution 09-058, To authorize the Chairman to execute all necessary documents to increase the Tax Anticipation Note (TAN). (FH/MC)

7. Action on Resolution 09-059, Final Decision by the Gilmer County Board of Commissioners, Considering the Approval Recommendation of the Gilmer County Planning Commission on the Application for Amendment to the Gilmer County Land Use (Zoning)- Billy Masters, Gilmer County BOC District Map #3085, Parcel #008 – (Yukon Road)

8. Action on Resolution 09-060, Reducing the Gilmer County Airport Advisory Board to a seven member board and appointing a member to a vacant seat.

9. Action on Resolution 09-061, Exchange of Properties/Right-of-Way with Carole Kell. (MC)

10. Action regarding participation with the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission.


ADJOURNMENT:


Entry Date: Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Republicans Meet

A sparse but stalwart group of Republicans met Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at Harrison Hall in Ellijay for their monthly meeting. Upon dispensing with the customary items of general business, Party Chairman, George McClellan turned the floor over to Danny Dukes who represents John Oxendine in his campaign for governor in the 2010 election.

Mr. Dukes explained that while the Republicans have had control of the state government for the past eight years that Governor Purdue was actually a Democrat before he was a Republican and in his words a “RINO” (Republican in Name Only). Dukes said “we (Republicans) got our foot in the door, now we need to kick it down and put a true conservative in the governor’s office”. Mr. Dukes handed out a card entitled “John Oxendine’s Contract with Georgia”, subtitled “John Oxendine offers positive, issues-oriented solutions for Georgia families”. The card highlighted candidate Oxendine’s twelve point platform. Mr. Dukes went on to explain several of the points in the platform. Among those discussed were:

· Candidate Oxendine’s support of the Fair Tax program

· His desire to implement a comprehensive, statewide transportation system that would include, according to Mr. Dukes, a East-West connector route from I-75 to I-85 North of Atlanta that utilizes existing infrastructure.

· Implement a Fair Tax program in the State of Georgia.

· Start the process of building new water reservoirs to ensure an adequate water supply for our future.

· Implement a voucher program for education in the State of Georgia.

These were just a few of the points in Mr. Oxendine’s platform. The remainder can be accessed at his website: www.johnoxendine.com.

Following Mr. Dukes presentation Senator Chip Pearson made a presentation to the group. He discussed the last legislative session in Georgia and term it “a very successful” session. He discussed several bills that were passed where he was either sponsor or co-sponsor. Included in these was:

· SB-20, a bill that prohibits sanctuary cities being declared in State either by action of the city governments or de-facto (not enforcing existing laws or cooperating with federal or state law enforcement).

· SB-55, a bill that requires county Tax Assessors to use foreclosure sales (when they exist) as comparables for establishing market value for property tax assessments.

· A bill that gives an $1,800.00 tax credit for home purchases in the year 2009.

Senator Pearson went on to discuss the state of our political climate nationally and how, in his opinion, the policies of the Obama Administration are serving to hurt the economy (instead of fix it) and provide disincentives to entrepreneurs that would create wealth in the United States. He talked about five things that need to happen to get the country back on track. These five points are:

1. Fix the housing market.

2. Fix the banking industry.

3. Get the private sector back investing in the economy by cutting capital gains tax.

4. Reduce the corporate tax structure in America to allow companies to invest in new products and services thereby creating jobs.

5. Engage small business through low interest loan that are tied to creating jobs.

Senator Pearson reminded the group that 95% of all jobs that are created in Georgia are done so by small business.

Chairman McClellan reminded the group that the local group promoting the Fair Tax Program was planning to join the national rally in Washington, D.C. on September 11^th. A bus for 50 people has been arranged and the group will leave on September 10^th and return on September 12^th. Cost, per person, for the bus ride is $150 and motel rooms have been secured at a rate of $110 per night. If you are interested in making the trip contact Jack Smith via e-mail at jsmith1151@ellijay.com for additional details.