COVID-19 will have a major impact on Board of Commissioners agenda items

LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. – The COVID-19 pandemic will impact a number of issues the Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners will decide when they meet in a voting session Tuesday (April 21) at 6 p.m. in the Administration Building.

That meeting will be preceded by a public hearing at 5:15 p.m. on abandonment of George Avery Road and a work session at 5:30 p.m. The public can view the meetings via teleconference by calling 1 929 436 2866. The ID to access the public hearing is 937 8088 2957. ID for the work session is 912 0787 2266. ID for the voting session is 927 2337 3831.

Agenda items affected by the virus range from renewal of county employees’ health insurance plan to the expansion of the county’s senior center.

A new county employee health insurance plan with a small premium increase to both employer and employee was scheduled to go into effect July 1. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, Lincoln Financial has made a decision to assist with certain premiums by keeping the rates at their current level through Jan. 2021.

In 2017, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs granted the county’s request for a community development block grant to expand the senior center with a deadline of Nov. 2019. County commissioners were subsequently granted an extension through May 15, 2020. However, due to the coronavirus outbreak, the county is unable to meet the second deadline and commissioners will have to vote Monday on requesting a second extension.

The virus has also made a significant impact on the Park and Recreation Spring Sports program. None of the sports have had any games or meets this year and the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association (GRPA) has cancelled all district and state tournaments. The county has already purchased uniforms for the spring sports teams. Commissioners must decide whether to cancel the season and issue full refunds or account credits, cancel the season and issue refunds, minus the cost of uniforms, choose a start date for an in-house season for the age groups able to form an in-house league for baseball/softball or issue full refunds for Track & Field.

Another agenda item impacted by the virus is the county’s Local Emergency Operations Plan (LEOP).  Staff has been directed to prepare operational plans that detail how essential services will continue to be provided to citizens, given the spread of the virus. The plans will then be incorporated into a Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) that would become an annex to the LEOP.

Finally, the Board must vote on a request by Classic Cleaners to have its rent reduced or suspended due to the economic impact of the coronavirus. Classic Cleaners is under contract with Lumpkin County to rent the building in which the business is located. The specific request is to defer May’s payment, and divide it evenly throughout the remainder of 2020.

Other items on Monday’s agenda include:

• A resolution that the city and county proclaim the month of April 2020 to be Child Abuse Prevention Month, and urge all citizens to recognize this month by dedicating themselves to the task of improving the quality of life for all children and families.
• Revision of the Lumpkin County Building Committee that includes the addition of four new members.
• Abandonment of George Avery Road.
• An update of the Hotel/Motel Ordinance that reflects the role of Host Compliance to manage complaints, renewals, and tax collections.
• A bond resolution for county recreation projects and refinancing of the Justice Center bond.
• Development Authority request for an intergovernmental agreement for full-time staff to be added to the county’s financial services and insurance. There would be no impact to the Lumpkin County budget for adding the services as the Authority agrees to pay the Finance Department $350/month for the financial services and add on costs for insurance.
• Approve a contract with Chattahoochee Group in the amount of $67,325 for the restoration, drainage and improvements of baseball fields at Yahoola Creek Park.
• Abandonment of a portion of Lawrence Road.
• Request to sell county-owned right-of-way off Cavender’s Creek Road.

 

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