Lumpkin County Commission to meet Tuesday

DAHLONEGA, Ga. – The Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners will have another full schedule when it meets on Tuesday at 4 p.m. Two key issues on the agenda include the acceptance of a federal government grant and the proposed adoption of a timber ordinance that raised some questions during a recent commission meeting.

Commissioners applied for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Award in 2015 and were notified two weeks ago that they had been awarded the grant to fund two fixed generators, one for Fire Station #4 and one for the 400 Water System Well #1. The total project costs are $82,315, with $61,736 funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), $8,232 funded by the State of Georgia, and $12,347 to be funded with local dollars.

The purpose of the timber ordinance is to regulate timber harvesting in the unincorporated area of Lumpkin County and to provide procedures, rules and regulations governing persons, firms, businesses, companies and corporations engaged in timber operations to protect the citizens and the environment and to assure the public’s safety. Private land owners raised questions about whether the ordinance applied to them or to the companies that harvest the timber.

Sheriff Stacy Jarrard will address the board to ask for a modification to the county’s noise ordinance aimed at eliminating loud, offensive and disturbing noises, including the use of loudspeakers that attract attention but disturb the public.

Other items on Tuesday’s agenda include:

• A discussion about renaming the intersection of Little Creek Road and Little Mountain the Crane Intersection in honor of the Crane family which has owned and operated Crane’s Store at that intersection for the past 75 years;
• A request by Finance Director Allison Martin to declare several items as surplus and to advertise them for sale on GovDeals.com website. The items include a 1995 Ford Super Club Wagon, 1983 Ford, 1984 Hahn Fire Truck and 1989 Chevy tanker;
• Appointment of members to the Library Board of Trustees and Veterans’ Affairs Advisory Committee.

Contracts to be discussed, include:

• The Tourism Contract with the Chamber of Commerce;
• Go Green Medical Waste Solutions Service Agreement for proper transportation and disposal of regulated medical waste;
• Government Scrap Tire Abatement Reimbursement Program;

Also on the agenda will be discussions about placing a commemorative plaque at Fire Station No. 2 in honor of Lottie Ledford and the workforce development plan.

These and other issues will be discussed during the work session that begins at 4 p.m. and may be voted on during the regular meeting which follows immediately.