DAHLONEGA, Ga. – The Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved spending $438,093 for shelving and furniture for the new library during Tuesday’s voting session.

The $4.7 million dollar facility is expected to open in January and is under budget. Denson Martin, of the Lumpkin County Library Foundation presented commissioners with a check for $26,000 and pledged to raise $24,000 more to donate to library operations.

Commissioners sailed through the remainder of the meeting with ease until they hit a speed bump during public comments.

One-by-one, nine residents of McDonalds Mills subdivision stepped up to complain about the existence of short-term rental homes in their community, which they say violated their community’s restricted covenants.

Complaints ranged from loud music and parties lasting until 1 or 2 a.m., trash being discarded in the street and private property disappearing.

Mary Thompson said, “Our neighborhood has protective covenants and one of the covenants states ‘no commercial operations of any kind.’ We’ve been told by Lumpkin County this is a civil matter, but governmental approval of something that is legally registered zoning or covenants is not a civil matter. It is a governmental matter. Approval of this (short-term rental) application is a mistake that Lumpkin County made and we are suffering with.”

Commissioners took the complaints seriously. Chairman Chris Dockery said “I feel like you all have some valid concerns It looks like there have been some violations of our ordinance.”

Commissioner Jeff Moran, who represents the community, asked to exchange contact information with Thompson to gather more information.

The Board unanimously approved:

• A Banking Services Contract;
• County and City Fueling Station IGA;
• Calhoun Mine Road Bid Proposal;
• Memorandum of Understanding with Union County to Acquire Blue Recycle Bins;
• Memorandum of Understanding between GEMA Homeland Security and Lumpkin County Emergency Management;
• Radio Frequency Memorandum of Understanding between Lumpkin County Emergency Services and Dawson County Emergency Services;
• Secure Rural Schools Act – Title III Money Certification on Use of Funds;
• Merit increase for Non-Civil Service departments;
• 2014 SPLOST – 2019 Work Plan Amendment 1;
• Community Development Block Grant extension request;

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com

DAHLONEGA, Ga. – The Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners presented  a number of awards during the regular meeting Wednesday to people who have made a significant, positive difference within their community.

Commission Chairman Chris Dockery read a resolution to honor the Fowler family for the donation of a Lund Hospital Cardiac Arrest System (LUCAS). Rob Fowler presented the gift to Lumpkin County on behalf of his late father Bob Fowler, Sr. The LUCAS device provides external cardiac compression to patients suffering cardiac arrest.

In accepting the award, Fowler said, “That device can make a huge difference in cardiac survival while transporting someone from Lumpkin County to an area hospital so we’re proud to be a part of that.”

Commissioners also recognized Employees of the Year in three departments. James Lord was chosen for his work in Emergency Services. Lord has worked for Lumpkin County for 30 years. Gabriel Castillo was selected for his work in the Sheriff’s Office and Wayne Marshall was chosen for his effort in Animal Control.

The Board then approved contracts to the law firm of Blasingame, Burch, Garrard and Ashley to represent the county in a potential class action law suit against contributors to the opioid addiction crisis, Mauldin and Jenkins to perform the county audit and Capital Accounts to collect unpaid fees due the Parks and Recreation Department.

The Board also approved:

• An addendum to the Legacy Link contract for senior center operations and the Meals on Wheels Program;
• Renewal of a contract with Agape Food Service & Catering, Inc. which has provided an inmate catering service for prisoners at the Lumpkin County Detention Center since 2009;
• The appointment of reappointment of members to the Audit Committee
• The appointment of Donna Minnich and John Gaston to the Development Authority;
• The appointment of John Gaston to the Water and Sewer Authority;
• The surplus of no-longer needed or used items recommended for sale on GovDeals.com;
• A request to include three county roads – Nimblecrest Way, West Woods Drive and West Woods Way — for acceptance into the county’s road maintenance system;
• A building modification request by EMA Director David Wimpy to close one bay of Fire Station No. 1 to enlarge the Emergency Operations Center;
• A tax refund request filed by Kingwood Dahlonega International Resort.

Commissioners tabled a request by James G. Cambron for annexation of his property into the City of Dahlonega.

(Photo front row from left: Michael Joiner, Colton Seckinger, Rob Fowler, Leslie Fowler and Bridget Rigby. Back row Commissioners Jeff Moran, Bob Mayfield, David Miller, Chairman Chris Dockery and Rhett Stringer).

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com

DAHLONEGA, Ga. — The Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners held a work session Tuesday, followed by a called meeting.

During the work session, they discussed adoption of the calendars for commission meetings and budget hearings, the revised comprehensive land plan, revised sign regulations and an amended fee schedule for animals at the county shelter.

They also considered several contracts, including various lease agreements for Wimpy’s Airport, and a funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice for bullet proof vests.

Commissioners also heard from Finance Director Allison Martin regarding a bridge and sidewalk project at Yahoola Creek Park. The project is being under taken by Leadership Lumpkin to facilitate access between the all abilities park and the main park.

Director of Planning and Public Works Director addressed the Board about complaints his office has received from homes along Calhoun Mine Road regarding the dust being created by passing vehicles. Reiter said the extreme drought has made the situation worse but the county could not pave the road because property owners would not grant the county the necessary right of way.

County commissioners decided to use the county’s water truck to water the road and eliminate the dust at least for a week or two. By then, hopefully the county will receive some badly-needed rain.

Items discussed at the work session may be voted on at the next regular meeting.

In a called meeting that followed the work session, commissioners unanimously approved application for a Georgia Forestry Volunteer Firefighters Assistance Grant, which requires $5,000 in matching funds from the county. EMA Director David Wimpy said the county has received the grant the last five or six years to assist with the hoses, turnout gear, hand tools, etc.

Chairman Chris Dockery made a motion to approve a waiver of the bond requirement for the bridge and sidewalk project if requested by the contractor and replace it with a conditional lien waiver upon completion of the work. That motion was approved unanimously.