DAHLONEGA, Ga. –Tuesday’s Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners meeting started with a heartfelt tribute to the county’s first responders who saved the lives of a woman and her baby in a dramatic swift-water rescue from the flood-swollen waters of Clay Creek in December.

Commission Chairman Chris Dockery read a resolution in honor of their professionalism and bravery of EMS employees David McWhorter, Daniel Morris, Chris Maloney, Jason Edwards, Derrick Haynie, Josh Hunter, Keith Gilreath, Ryan Leach, Laura Coleman, Lola Gipson and Ransom Ash and Sheriff’s Office employees Danny Rider, Mark Sutton, Kyle Nix, Alex Blaisdell, Isaac Fortner, Jacob Wise and Dianne Kimmel.

Their action attracted national attention. The woman’s Ford Ranger splashed into Clay Creek and rising flood water nearly submerged the vehicle but first responders worked together to extend a ladder to the bed of the truck and bring the woman and her child to safety.

Each commissioner offered their personal appreciation.

Commissioner Jeff Moran, a retired U.S. Army major and combat veteran who served in Afghanistan, said, “I want to publicly thank you for the incredible service you provide each and every day. I’m retired military and really the military receives glory when we are overseas but you are in harm’s way every single day when you respond to a fire or pull a car over. You never know what you are going to come upon. You did a great job. It was incredible watching the video and incredible that it made national news. You made us all proud.”

In other business, the Board:

• Appointed Elizabeth Curley, Allen Storey, R. Ridge Rairigh Jr., Lewis Houser Bruce Hoffman and Damien Vanlaningham to the Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee;
• Appointed Melanie Taylor to the Board of Health;
• Approved a resolution authorizing the TSPLOST General Obligation Debt Intergovernmental Agreement;
• Accepted Hannah’s Crossing Subdivision Road into county maintenance program;
• Approved a resolution revising and adopting the Land Use Code;
• Approved a contract with North Georgia Network (NGN) to provide phone and internet service to county government;
• Approved a revision to the State Fire Marshal agreement;
• Renewed the lease agreement with Canoe Georgia (Commissioner Rhett Stringer recused);
• Elected Commissioner Stringer vice chairman;
• Approved an alcohol beverage license application for VAHO Enterprise, LLC;
• Approved the naming of certain library facility rooms the David and JoAnn Luke Tutor Room.

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