Commissioners approve sound ordinance
Community, News October 19, 2021
LUMPKIN, GA.- The commissioners approved a new sound ordinance that directly affects the venues in the area.
The ordinance says that no device of noise amplification can be used outside after the hours of 10:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and after 11:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Offenses of this ordinance will be dealt with by the sheriff’s office.
There will be a fine with a maximum of $1,000 or jail time up to 60 days. The sheriff’s office has the discretion to sever warnings instead of citations for first offenses. The ordinance goes into effect immediately.
Sherriff Jarrard spoke before the board about the noise ordinance.
“I want to thank you all for the amplified noise ordinance, I think that’s a great step in the right direction, thank you for doing that and hopefully it can help the people that live close to the venues. We’ve always had a state law for residents we just didn’t have anything for venues so I want to thank you for doing that,” commented Sherriff Jarrard.
Recycling Program
The next matter that was voted on was the recycling program. The board tasked staff with bringing forth ideas before the contract renewal takes place in December.
There were a couple of ideas brought before the board. The board decided that their best option, for now, was to not make any changes to the program and reevaluate again in January.
“The recycling program is heavily supplemented by taxpayer funds, by property tax. It does not sustain itself, its around $72,000 annually just to have that program, to me that’s unacceptable I think there should be an opportunity to recycle if you want to recycle but I don’t think it should be an undue burden on the taxpayers,” explained Chairman of the Board Chris Dockery.
The last item that was voted on was the alcoholic beverage license at Iron Mountain Park. After a public hearing, the board vote to approve the licenses.
The board also is reminding citizens that there will be an open opportunity for the public to view and comment on the Comprehensive plan on Thursday 21, from 4:00 p.m. till 7:00 p.m. at the Park and Rec. The board has also been asked to participate with Pickle Ball on that day at the same location.
“We welcome public comments on the plan,” stated Dockery.
Commissioners Discuss Recycling
Community October 6, 2021
LUMPKIN, GA.- The commissioners began discussions about reevaluating the recycling program at the work session on October 5.
Commissioner Bobby Mayfield reintroduced the need for a noise ordinance in the county at the session as well. The board announced that there will be two public opportunities for the public to comment on the Comprehensive Plan on October 21, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and on November 9, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Community Center.
The commissioners in their July meetings asked Public Works Director Larry Reiter and the public for new ideas for the recycling program before the contract renews in December. For more information about that meeting visit https://lumpkin.fetchyournews.com/2021/07/21/commissioners-approve-new-hospital/
Reiter came before the board with his suggestions for the Recycling program at the work session. Those sessions include raising the price of recycling to that of the regular garbage disposal, doing away with the program, or making no changes to the program. The board wanted more information on how many people recycle before they considered the options.
“It could offset the cost of property tax owners and those that wish to recycle can participate in the program can pay to recycle. I think it’s important to know how many people recycle before making an informed decision,” commented Chairman of the Board Chris Dockery.
The board tasked Reiter with trying to come up with a ballpark number before the regular meeting on October 19. The meeting will be proceeded by a public hearing at 5:15 p.m. and another work session at 5:30 p.m. the meeting itself will take place at 6:00 p.m.
Commissioner Bobby Mayfield added an item to the agenda in the form of a noise ordinance. The board had previously formed a committee to look into a noise ordinance but due to the untimely death of Commissioner David J. Miller, they tabled the decision until they once again had a full board.
Mayfield told the board that it seems due to the lack of action taken on the matter some citizens seem to view it as not going to happen and have been abusing the system. He found an ordinance that was upheld in another jurisdiction by the Supreme Court and that was what he presented to the board.
The board reviewed the ordinance and proposed changes to County Attorney Joy Edelberg. Once Edelberg has had time to make the necessary changes to the document the board will vote on the matter.
“Unfortunately it would seem as some of the folks who are violators of this noise thing have taken our inaction over the last few months to mean Nah we just forgot about it. Well let me tell you right we haven’t forgotten about it, it’s still on the agenda, it’s still on our minds, and we still have a committee and we will have some more meetings,” stated Mayfield.
On a related note on October 14 at 6:00 p.m. the Chamber of Commerce is hosting a forum between the candidates for the empty Commissioner District 1 seat. For more information on this visit https://members.dlcchamber.org/events/details/2021-board-of-commissioners-district-1-forum-66329
Candidate Mitchell Ridley was present at the meeting and did voice his opinions on the matters discussed at the meeting.
Candidate Mitchell Ridely addressing the board during the public comment section of the meeting.