Commissioners Vote for Salary Increase for Employees
News July 21, 2016
DAHLONEGA, Ga. — Recruitment and retention are ongoing problems for small city and county governments where budgets are tight, especially when there are larger municipalities nearby that offer more attractive compensation packages.
Elected officials are often faced with a difficult decision. Is it more cost effective for our taxpayers to provide higher salaries for employees or pay the high cost to train replacements when employees go elsewhere?
The Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners decided Tuesday that providing a more competitive compensation for employees would be less costly in the long run. Commissioners voted unanimously to implement a $1.03 million compensation package that includes fringe benefits.
The last salary study was done in 2007 and implemented in 2008 but even that was compressed because that was the year the economy tanked.
The estimated annual cost to implement the study to include fringe benefits is $1,032,115. That amount is subject to change since commissioners will not vote on the 2017 budget until September.
“I know it’s difficult for commissioners to make this kind of decision, but I believe it is a positive thing,” said County Manager Stan Kelley. “Like Sheriff (Stacey) Jarrard said, the county is way behind on this and it will certainly help with recruitment and retention.”
The new package is based on a study done by Florida-based Evergreen Solutions.
Frogtown Residents Get a New Fire Station
News June 22, 2016
DAHLONEGA, Ga. — Families in the Frogtown community can rest a little easier once the new fire station is completed. The Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously last night to contract with E&P Contractors to build a metal building to be used as a fire station in the Frogtown Community for a cost of $206,775. The work could be completed by the end of this year.
Commissioners also made some key changes to the county’s Civil Service Plan that provides for the exclusion of probationary and part-time employees from Civil Service protection, the deletion of the 10 day notice/appeal time for adverse actions and the addition of five days for appeal.
The Board also approved:
A renewal of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOA) with the Department of Technical and Adult Education, Lanier Tech end user, for the use of approximately 2,000 square feet of classroom and office space located at 150 B Johnson Street. The DTAE agreed to pay $1.00 per year for the use of the space and is responsible for telecom, utility and janitorial expenses;
Rehabilitation of the elevator in the County Administration Building at a cost of $60,536;
A contract with the Enotah Public Defender Indigent service that gives a 3% pay increase for administrative county-paid staff and a $5,000 increase for the three-county paid attorney positions;
A contract for Legacy Link to provide the Lumpkin County Senior Center with nutrition and wellness services, nutrition screening and support services for senior adults in Lumpkin County. State and federal funding will provide $115,823 and the county will provide a match of $6,654;
A work detail agreement with the Georgia Department of Corrections for inmates incarcerated at its Colwell Probation Detention Center, a sub-unit of Lee Arrendale State Prison facility at a cost of $79,000 annually;
The Enotah Circuit budget at no added cost to the county;
A proposal by the county’s web provider, Mobile Mind, to provide enhanced website services at an additional cost of $1,000 per month;
A request by Norton Agency for the county to abandon a section of Old Cain Road;
A request by Robert S. and Judy Lear to allow 8.995 acres of their land to be annexed into the City of Dahlonega.
Bill Scott, County Commission Candidate District 1.
News, Politics May 10, 2016
Bill Scott is an entrepreneur who has owned his own businesses for 40 years, dealing in international trade and wholesale import and export businesses. He owns rental property in Blairsville, a lodge in Dahlonega and a wedding venue. Now, he hopes to use his experience as a member of the Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners representing District 1.
Asked of the county is headed in the right direction, Scott replied with a firm no.
“If we were, we wouldn’t be losing our employees to surrounding counties,” he said. “They wouldn’t be leaving Lumpkin County. Look at Dawsonville. It’s unbelievable what they’re doing. We need help. We need someone who has the time to work daily to recruit businesses to Lumpkin County.”
Scott said he doesn’t know for sure that he would make a better commissioner than his opponent. “I only know that I have a lot to offer,” he said. “I have a lot of business experience and I know how to deal with people. In my business, I deal with presidents of major companies like Cracker Barrel and TJ Max, buyers, who buy millions of dollars in goods.”
Scott also knows that employee retention and building the right infrastructure to attract businesses are critical to the county’s success. “We spend a lot of money to train county employees then they leave to go somewhere that offers higher pay. I want to keep our first responders at the highest level, our parks at the highest level. We need to take care of our kids because they are our future and we also need to take care of our senior citizens.”
Commissioners Move Closer to Upgrade of County Library
News April 20, 2016
DAHLONEGA, Ga. — The Lumpkin County Library is one step closer to getting a badly needed upgrade after county commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to appoint a task force headed by State Senator Steve Gooch to take on the challenge.
Joining Gooch will be Bill O’Leksy, a member of the county’s Library Board, UNG Vice President of Finance Mac McConnell, United Community Bank President Larry Odom, and County Manager Stan Kelley.
O’Leksy requested the task force at last week’s work session, stating the library was already below state standards when he moved to the county 27 years ago. The building is not ADA compliant and O’Leksy estimated it will cost $500,000 to $1 million just to meet the minimum standards.
Commissioners completed the meeting in 45 minutes with all but two items being approved unanimously.
The Board had planned to make a decision on a drainage problem eminating from two county roads (Coppermine Road and Chestatee River Ridge Road) that is causing damage to property owned by the Eckler family. Commissioners removed the item from the agenda.
There was also disagreement on providing about $1,500 in funding for modification of the Mental Health Building. Chairman Chris Dockery cast the deciding vote against Commissioner Doug Sherrill’s motion.
The Board also appointed Barbara Osanko to the Avita Board and John Gaston as an alternate member of the Development Authority of Lumpkin County.
Library Upgrade, Potential Lawsuit Dominate Commission Work Session
News April 13, 2016
DAHLONEGA, Ga. — Lumpkin County Commissioners worked their way through a long list of agenda items in less than two hours during Tuesday’s work session.
At the top of the agenda was a presentation by Bill O’Leksy, a member of the Friends of the Library, on the status of the county library. O’Leksy said the library was already three years below state standards when he moved to the county 27 years ago and now ranks last in the state.
He pointed out that the building is not ADA compliant and it would cost $500,000 to $1 million to just meet the minimum standards. “Even if we put $1 million into the building, we still have a building that was too small in 1988,” he said.
O’Leksy asked commissioners to appoint a task force to look at all the alternatives and recommend a plan of action. “There was $1 million put into the 2014 SPLOST but it’s sitting there without a plan,” he said. “Without a plan, we can’t get grants or help from the state.”
O’Leksy said he could submit a list of names to serve on the task force and Chairman Chris Dockery agreed to meet with him and review the list prior to next Tuesday’s voting session.
In other action, commissioners discussed appointments to various boards including Barbara Bosanko to the AVITA Board (formerly the Georgia Mountains Community Services Board) and John Gaston as an alternate member to represent the Development Authority of Lumpkin County on the Lumpkin County Water and Sewer Authority.
Finance Director Allison Martin asked commissioners for authorization to join the National Purchasing PartnersGov coop. Membership is free and members have access to a large number of publicly solicited contracts to simplify purchasing while complying with procurement requirements.
The board also discussed an ongoing problem of water draining from two county roads (Coppermine Road and Chestatee River Ridge Road) causing damage to property owned by the Eckler family.
The property owners believe the problem is a result of actions taken by the county and the county should pay to fix the problem. County staff believes the problem is a result of the builder of the house turning the drainage during the construction of the house and not taking proper actions to redirect the water away from the house.
The cost of material to fix the problem is estimated at $4,500. Larry Reiter, Director of Planning and Public Works, recommended a cost-sharing agreement between the county and property owners.
Ridge Rairigh, attorney for the Ecklers, said, “My folks aren’t 100 percent agreeable to cost sharing and I do believe there is liability on the part of the county. I’m a citizen of Lumpkin County and I don’t want to sue the county. I do believe the court cost would greatly outweigh the cost of what we’re trying to accomplish.”
Dockery recommended Rairigh and the staff meet again and come up with a solution the board could act on at the next voting session.
Raffle Will Help Fund New Bridge at Yahoola Creek
News March 27, 2016
DAHLONEGA, Ga. — Yahoola Creek Park is already a great park offering area residents hiking trails, baseball, softball and soccer fields and tennis courts. But a bridge being built over the creek by a public/private partnership between Lumpkin County Government, Leadership Lumpkin and a non-profit ConnectAbility will soon make it a an even better park.
The partners will hold a raffle to fund the bridge between the current playground and a new Americans with Disabilities (ADA) compliant playground to serve both abled and disabled children and adults
The effort is called “Bridging the Gap” and the raffle will be held April 17 at Choice Streets Arts Complex on the campus of the University of North Georgia.
First prize is a 1976 Jeep CJ-7 Quadtrac with an AMC 304 V-8 restored by Gold Rush Jeeps of Dahlonega.
Other major prizes innclude include an AR-15 assault rifle donated by Dahlonega’s Chestatee Firearms, a four days/three night vacation at the Pelican Resort in Destin, Florida, donated by Tammi and Steve Scales and a round of golf for four at Achasta.
Tickets are $50 each and the winners do not have to be present to receive their prize.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.jeepraffle.net, at Gold Rush Jeeps on Long Branch Road, or by calling 404-433-6125.
Public/Private Groups Hold Raffle to Fund ADA Compliant Bridge at Yahoola Creek
News March 23, 2016
DAHLONEGA, Ga. — It’s called “Bridging the Gap” and its purpose is to turn a great park into an even better one.
Yahoola Creek Park currently offers hiking trails, baseball, softball and soccer fields as well as tennis courts. Lumpkin County Commissioners are planning to add an Americans with Disabilities (ADA) compliant playground to serve both abled and disabled children and adults
Meanwhile county commissioners, Leadership Lumpkin and non-profit ConnectAbility are joining forces to build an ADA bridge to the playground by raffling off a 1976 Jeep CJ-7 Quadtrac with an AMC 304 V-8 motor which was fully restored by Gold Rush Jeeps of Dahloneta
Other major prizes innclude include an AR-15 assault rifle donated by Dahlonega’s Chestatee Firearms, a Destin vacation with four days/three nights at the Pelican Resort donated by Tammi and Steve Scales and a round of golf for four at Achasta.
Tickets are $50 each and the drawing will be held April 17 at Choice Street Arts Complex on the campus at the University of North Georgia at 5 p.m. . Winners do not have to attend to receive their prize.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.jeepraffle.net, at Gold Rush Jeeps on Long Branch Road, or by calling 404-433-6125.
David Miller Announces Candidacy for County Commission
Politics March 8, 2016
David Miller, Chairman of the Lumpkin County GOP, has announced he will be a candidate to serve on the Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners representing District One.
“As Chairman, I’ve worked to promote the conservative principles of limited government, free enterprise and personal responsibility. I am pleased that Lumpkin County continues to vote well over 70% for Republican candidates and that we have been successful in continuing to elect Republicans to local office. I’m
passionate about Lumpkin County’s future and I am announcing my candidacy to represent District One on the Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners. My number one goal is to bring economic prosperity and job growth to Lumpkin County and to provide for our children’s future.”
Miller has also served as Treasurer of the “Friends of the Dahlonega Gold Museum”, is a graduate of Leadership Lumpkin County and member of the Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Chamber of Commerce. Recently, he was appointed to the Lumpkin County Comprehensive Planning Committee.
Miller is owner of MPA Holdings, LLC and his wife Sue is the owner of Refined Brush Art, LLC whose gallery is on the square in Dahlonega. He is also a Professor in the College of Business and Mass Communication at Brenau University where he serves as Lead Faculty for the MBA Program in Healthcare Management and teaches classes in Healthcare and Strategic Management. He was listed in the 2015 “Who’s Who in Georgia Education” by the Atlanta Business Chronicle.
An Eagle Scout and Vigil Honor recipient, Miller has been active in the Boy Scouts for many years, including positions as Cubmaster, Scoutmaster and member of the Northeast Georgia Executive Board.
David and Sue have been married for 30 years, have two children, Alex and Liz, and are members of Creekstone Church in Dahlonega.