Character Area Amendment Approved
Business, Community, Election September 21, 2022
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga.- The Lumpkin County Commissioners voted to approve the character area amendment after hosting a public hearing to give the developer and citizens an opportunity to speak.
They also approved the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the City over the joint project and the distribution of the TSPLOST, and they called for a resolution to have the TSPLOST placed on the ballot. Commissioner Rhett Stringer made a motion in regard to the transfer station and recycling contract at the meeting as well.
Planning Director Bruce Georgia presented the Board with the request for the amendment to the character area map at the first Sept. work session. The board discussed the amendment and heard public comments at that meeting, to review visit https://lumpkin.fetchyournews.com/2022/09/07/commissioners-discuss-amendment-to-character-area-map/.
Architect Canon Manley while presenting to the board.
Assistant Planning Director Jenna Ritter was present at the public hearing and made a smaller presentation to the board with just the basic information. The registered architect for the project Canon Manley presented for the developer. Manely went through each of the requirements for consideration of a character area amendment.
Manely read off from a letter of intent which can be found http://lumpkincountyga.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1645&Inline=True, beginning on page 19. After Manley was finished speaking the public had a chance to comment either in favor of or against the amendment.
In the previous work session, there were two members of the community that spoke in opposition. In this meeting, no public comments were made.
After reviewing the information the commissioners vote to approve with a condition. The clip below is Commissioner Jeff Moran reviewing the condition.
The next item that was approved was the IGA with the City of Dahlonega for the TSPLOST distribution and the joint project as well as a resolution to have the TSPLOST placed on the ballot. The City voted on Sept. 19 to enter into the IGA with the county, to read about that meeting visit https://lumpkin.fetchyournews.com/2022/09/20/city-approves-iga-with-county/.
To see a sample ballot for the election or any other election-related information visit https://www.lumpkincounty.gov/183/Elections-Registration. If the TSPLOST is approved by the voters the city and county will collect on it for five years and get an 81/19 split on the distribution. The joint project will be the Auraria Road, Hwy 52/9 West, and Torrington Road intersections.
The motion Commissioner Stringer made was to maintain the current contract with Mark Robinson for the transfer station and recycling until the end of the Nov. He proposed having signage put up to explain the correct way to recycle and if that system does not work then it may be time for the board to consider charging a fee for the recycling.
Stringer stated that he will work with Robinson on this project. The board approved this motion and will reevaluate again in Nov.
City Council reviews new recycling contract
Community November 3, 2021
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. – Mark Buchanan brought to the City Council’s attention that the residential recycling program is coming under a new contract and will face a rate increase from the new company at their meeting on Nov. 11.
The Council gave the approval to buy a used dump truck, and a new backhoe, at the meeting. During the board of zoning appeals meeting, they approved both items. The final action that was taken by the council was to appoint two members to the Planning Commission.
Red Oak Sanitation has recently acquired Sanitation Solutions, the company that has been handling the recycling for the city. The current rate that all citizens pay, whether they use recycling or not with Sanitation Solutions, is $4.50 a month. Red Oak, however, has suggested that they will be raising the rate to $26 a month.
Currently, only about 25% of the citizens in the city use recycling services. The county also offers recycling services; however, they have also been dealing with difficulties with the program. To find out more about the county’s program visit https://lumpkin.fetchyournews.com/2021/10/19/commissioners-approve-sound-ordinance/
Buchanan brought this new information to the council as soon as he received and verified it with Red Oaks. The Council made the decision once the new contract is in place if the price is raised to the projected amount to temporarily suspend the recycling program until a better option could be found by staff. This decision was unanimous.
“The agenda item and the numbers were certainly a shock to me and I’m very disappointed in our providers. We are currently paying the vendor $6,000 a month and the new vendor is going up to $39,000 per month,” Councilmen Joel Cordle explained.
The next agenda items that were approved were the purchase of a used dump truck and a new backhoe. John Jarrard Director of Water and Wastewater Treatment budgeted $95,000 for the purchase of a used dump truck. He found a used dump truck that fit the city’s need for $70,000.
An example of a similar dump truck to the one being purchased.
Jarrard has brought drivers and maintenance men to review the truck already. He believes it will take another $10,000 to service bringing him still under his original budget.
The new backhoe is, at this time, an additional unit; however, the other could possibly be put up for sell through auction at https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa=Main.AdvSearchResultsNew&searchPg=Classic&inv_num=&category=00&kWord=&kWordSelect=2&sortBy=ad&agency=357&state=&country=&locID=&timing=bySimple&locationType=state&timeType=&timingWithin=1
If the old backhoe is placed for sale, the council will let the public know in order to allow for anyone wishing for the opportunity to buy the chance. Buchanan budgeted $100,000 for the new backhoe. He found one for $89,700.
“They’ve done a good job keeping it under budget,” Mayor Sam Norton complimented.
County Commissioner Rhett Stringer while he was explaining his application to the council.
Proceeding the council meeting was the Board of Zoning Appeals meeting. At that meeting, County Commissioner Rhett Stringer requested a variance of the setback requirement from 60 ft. to 15 ft.
Also at the meeting, Neva Garrett requested an additional 174 seat, 5,000 sq. ft. performance theater to the already 63,000 sq. ft. Greenbriar Shopping Center. Garrett made an additional request for the use of shared parking spaces in the area.
The Planning Commission and staff both recommended approval for both applications. The council after giving the public an opportunity to comment approved the applications.
James Carroll after being sworn into The Planning Commission.
Lastly, the council appointed James Carroll and James Spivey to the Planning Commission. Carroll was the only one presented and he was sworn in at the meeting.
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.