DAHLONEGA, Ga. – The Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners will hold a work session at 4 p.m. Tuesday, followed by a 6 p.m. public hearing in the County Administration Building.

The meeting will begin with the presentation of the 2019 Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) Legislative Service Award to State Senator Steve Gooch (R-Dahlonega) by ACCG Deputy Legislative Director Todd Edwards.

State Senator Steve Gooch (R-Dahlonega)

Gooch has been a driving force behind rural broadband initiatives during the last two legislative sessions. He authored SB 402 (the Achieving Connectivity Everywhere Act) in 2018 that set the framework for Georgia’s Broadband Deployment Initiative. In 2019, he sponsored SB 2, authorizing the state Electric Membership Cooperatives to provide broadband service.

Although his bill to provide the legal framework for e-scooters to operate in Georgia did not pass, he facilitated discussions between the e-scooter industry and local governments that ultimately led to a study committee being created on the topic.

Commissioners will have a number of resolutions to consider, including establishment of the millage rate and the 2020 budget, Mobile Home and Manufactured Home Decal ordinance, a Senior Center transportation resolution and an amendment to the surplus property resolution.

The Mobile Home & Manufactured Home Decal Ordinance resolution would allow Tax Commissioner Rachel Pruitt to contract with a retired law enforcement official to serve citations to each delinquent mobile home statement. The fee for delinquent tax would be $50. The process server would be paid $30 per citation and the county general fund will receive the addition $20 for services rendered and the cost of citation.

The Senior Center resolution would enable the Senior Center to operate a vehicle for transporting seniors to and from the center for the congregate nutrition and activity programs. Additionally, the funds allow for taking congregate participants on off-site trips, to shopping, errands and medical appointments. The resolution would allow the Senior Center to contract with Deanna Specialty Transportation, Inc. to provide transportation at a cost of $52,000.00 for the period July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020.

The Board will also consider a contract with North Georgia Concrete for $78,902 for modification of the front entrance of the Senior Center and Mental Health buildings to bring them into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. County staff could provide the demolition work which would reduce the overall cost of the project. If North Georgia Concrete does the demolition work, the overall cost would be $106,527.50.

Commissioners are also expected to consider annual lease renewals for the Ninth District Opportunity to operate the Lumpkin County Head Start Program in a county facility and maintenance and testing of the 911 phone system.

Taylor Stukes and his wife have generously offered to donate an eight-foot by 20-foot metal shipping container to the Emergency Services department to help them with the erection of their burn building. Commissioners will approve a resolution to accept the gift.

The county has a proposed a budget based upon the direction of the Board of Commissioners. Staff is still waiting on operational estimates for the new library. Representatives from Lumpkin County and Dawson County will meet in early September to discuss funding. After that meeting, staff should have a better understanding of how the system will be funded by Dawson County and can obtain direction from the Board on how much funding should be given to the library.

Staff has prepared the unincorporated millage rate with a 1 mill rollback. Until the budget is finalized, the millage rate calculations and forms cannot be completed. As soon as everything is finalized, it will be posted to the notebook.

A public hearing is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday to discuss the budget, but staff notes that the budget will not be in final form at that time.

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