Broadband Access Moving Forward
Featured January 27, 2017
By: Sen. Steve Gooch (R – Dahlonega)
The Senate reconvened for legislative day five on Monday. Standing committees started meeting to adopt their rules in preparation for bill hearings starting next week. Several pieces of legislation were introduced this week and many more will be dropped as we progress through the session. In the next couple of weeks, I will be proposing legislation addressing the findings of the Joint Senate and House Study Committee on High Speed Broadband Communications Access for All Georgians.
The study committee held regional meetings around the state during the interim to hear from rural Georgians about the challenges and opportunities that exist with broadband access. After hearing from citizens and stakeholders, it is clear that broadband access is an issue that must be addressed across the entire state. Greater access to this resource has proven to increase quality of life and serve as an economic development tool.
The legislation I plan to propose is based on the committee’s recommendations and findings. As the legislation moves through the legislative process, I plan to meet with stakeholders, constituents and people around the state to ensure that any proposed legislation will benefit all Georgians.
For the full overview of the final report, please follow this link: http://www.senate.ga.gov/sro/Documents/StudyCommRpts/2016FinalReportBroadbandAccess.pdf
My work at the Capitol relies on your feedback, so please continue reaching out to discuss legislation with me. I am proud to serve over 200,000 constituents who reach out via email, phone calls and visits to provide feedback. My staff and I appreciate these efforts and want to reassure each and every one of you that every phone call, email or office visit is taken into consideration when casting my vote in the Senate chamber. Although we may not be able to respond immediately, your voices are heard. Please do not hesitate to call or email me at any time. I am in office to serve you!
Sen. Steve Gooch serves as Majority Whip of the Senate Majority Caucus. He represents the 51st Senate District which includes Dawson, Fannin, Gilmer, Lumpkin, Union and White counties and portions of Forsyth and Pickens counties. He may be reached at 404.656.9221 or via email at [email protected].
Commissioners Work Session Scheduled Tuesday
News December 1, 2016
DAHLONEGA, Ga. — The Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners will hold a work session Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 4 p.m. in the Administration Building at 99 Courthouse Hill. Issues discussed during a work session may be voted on during the next regular meeting.
Commissioners will award a Certificate of Appreciation for the Board of Elections for its handling of a record-setting Presidential election in November.
The Board will also consider appointments to various boards and committees where members terms are scheduled to expire at the end of this year, including the Park & Recreation Citizen Advisory Board, currently held by Gary Pulley and Kenny Payne, the Joint Development Authority of Dawson, Lumpkin & White now occupied by Sen. Steve Gooch and Steven Leibel, a vacant seat on the North Georgia Resource Management Authority (NGRMA), the Board of Elections and Registration held by Dottie Krull and Sallie Sorohan and the Board of Health held by Dr. Richard Wherry.
Contracts and agreements up for renewal include the Indigent Defense Contract with the City of Dahlonega, the Memorandum of Understanding for continuation of the grant program for Victim of Crime Advocate and one with Legacy Link for senior services.
County Manager Stan Kelley will review the county’s service delivery strategy. Planning Director Larry Reiter will review a proposed update to the sign regulations and the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for the airport.
Wahoo Docks to Open in Lumpkin Co. This Year
News October 19, 2016
DAHLONEGA, Ga. — Another new business is coming to Lumpkin County this year.
State Sen. Steve Gooch (R-Dahlonega) introduced Tim Osby, owner of Wahoo Docks, at Tuesday’s meeting of the Lumpkin County Development Authority. He and his business partner have purchased the 70,000-square foot building on Chesterra Dr. just off Ga. 400. They are remodeling now, but expect to move in before the end of the year.
Wahoo Docks is a high-end manufacturer of aluminum docks and one of the largest in the U.S., with $15 million in annual sales. The company has outgrown its 35,000 square foot facility in Gainesvile where it employs about 100 people. Osby said he will need to hire about 30 new employees to complete his workforce when the company makes the transition.
In other business, Gooch said he is working on finding a tenant for the old Fieldale Building on Hwy. 60. He indicated that he is talking to one company that wants the Authority to purchase the building and lease it to them. He estimated it would cost about $1 million to purchase. Most members indicated they would be interested in that proposal but wanted more information.
Gooch also said he would continue to work with the company.
The Authority also heard a report that construction has started on the footings for the elevated water tank and that the project would begin going vertical in February and hopefully be completed by June 2017
Broadband Study Committee Meets in Toccoa
News September 12, 2016
TOCCOA, Ga. – A study committee headed by State Senators John Wilkinson (R-Cornelia), Don Parsons (R-Marietta) and Steve Gooch (R-Dahlonega) will examine the conditions, needs, issues and problems of high-speed broadband internet access critical to the economic development of Georgia’s communities Thursday.
Public participation is encouraged at the meeting scheduled for 1 p.m. at North Georgia Technical College Currahee Campus in Toccoa
“Community involvement in meetings like this one is extremely important because it opens conversation about what changes are necessary in the state of Georgia,” Wilkinson said. “I encourage anyone who is interested in providing comments, concerns or ideas to attend the meeting and participate.”
The Joint High-Speed Broadband Communications Access for All Georgians Study Committee, created by the passage of Senate Resolution 876, is responsible for submitting a report of findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, by December.
UNG Breaks Ground on $33 Million Convocation Center
News June 4, 2016
DAHLONEGA, Ga. — The University of North Georgia (UNG) broke ground on a long-awaited $33 million convocation center at the Dahlonega Campus Friday. When it opens in 2018, the 103,000-square-foot facility will have a seating capacity of up to 3,600, more than three times that of Memorial Hall which it will replace.
“We are really excited about the new convocation center for UNG, as it will be a transformational facility for UNG,” Mac McConnell, UNG’s senior vice president for business and finance, said.
Memorial Hall was constructed in 1960 with a fixed-seating capacity of 1,049. Enrollment at then-North Georgia College was only 794 students. Today, UNG serves a growing enrollment of more than 17,000 students across five campuses and is one of the state’s largest public universities. Enrollment on the Dahlonega Campus alone has increased to more than 7,000 students.
The convocation center will be located just off Morrison Moore Parkway and will serve multiple uses, including academic courses, physical training activities, and university events such as commencement ceremonies, athletic events and meetings.
The 38,600-square-foot concourse level, where the facility entry will be located, surrounds and overlooks the event area, providing views of the activity taking place below. The concourse level also will include several of the facility’s classrooms and multipurpose areas.
From the concourse level, guests to the facility go down into the nearly 57,000-square-foot event level of the convocation center, which will include both fixed and collapsible seating in the main event area and several classrooms, labs and dressing rooms.
A third, lower level of the facility includes a little less than 7,000 square feet of faculty offices and storage space. On the exterior, plans include both entry and student plazas and landscaping and walkways to connect the facility to the existing UNG Alumni House, located nearby, and parking areas.
The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia approved plans for the Convocation Center in 2014, and, with leadership from north Georgia legislators, including Sen. Steve Gooch and Rep. Kevin Tanner, UNG received funding support through the state legislature of $3.5 million for planning and design funds in 2015 and $29.3 million in construction funding this year. The facility is expected to open by 2018.
Additional private funding also is being sought for the new facility. Jeffrey Tarnowski, UNG’s vice president for advancement, said $2.5 million is needed for the athletics areas of the convocation center.
“While we are thrilled and honored to have this incredible facility coming to our campus, we also know that private and corporate support is going to be imperative if we are going to have full use of it for our athletic teams,” Tarnowski said. “We are pleased to have the opportunity to raise $2.5 million through the help of UNG’s dedicated alumni and supporters, whose love, pride and passion for this institution are second to none.”
In addition to supporting the needs of typical universities, this new facility is critical to UNG’s role as one of only six Senior Military Colleges in the United States. UNG’s nearly 800-member Corps of Cadets and more than 150 active students in the Georgia Army National Guard detachment on UNG’s Dahlonega Campus need expanded military training and assembly space.
Additionally, Memorial Hall will be renovated to provide enhanced classroom capability, more restrooms and an elevator.
Lumpkin County Republican Party 51st State Senate District, 9th Congressional District, and U.S. Senate Forum
Politics May 1, 2016
Lumpkin County Republican Party Forum 4/30/2016.
Scroll down to watch video of each forum.
Republican Primary U.S. Senate Candidates Dr. Mary Kay Bacallao and Mr. Derrick Grayson
Republican Primary 51st District State Senate Candidates John Williamson and Steve Gooch
Republican Primary 9th Congressional District Candidates Roger Fitzpatrick, Paul Broun, Bernie Fontaine and Mike Scupin
Georgia Senate Passes First Two Bills of the 2016 Session
Featured February 1, 2016
News Release by: Sen. Steve Gooch (R – Dahlonega)
The Senate reconvened after a busy third week of budget hearings and committee meetings. It was also a very productive week in that we’ve finally got the ball rolling on a number of pieces of legislation that are sure to benefit the people of Georgia. We also heard the first two bills of the session on the floor last week, signaling that the 2016 legislative session is well underway.
Senate Bill 137 would expand current Georgia law to allow corporations to collect full property insurance payouts when a residence is completely destroyed by fire. The bill was unanimously adopted. A few days later, we also passed Senate Bill 263, which would allow police officers who are either retiring or have to leave police service due to on the job injury to be able to retain their badge and firearm as compensation. The brave men and women who serve as police officers in Georgia have my greatest admiration and believe I echo the sentiments of the entire General Assembly when I thank each and every one of you for your commitment to the state of Georgia and its people.
Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court Hugh P. Thompson presented the annual State of the Judiciary address to a joint session of the House and Senate last week. Chief Justice Thompson outlined a plan for modernizing Georgia’s highest court so that it will only hear the most critical cases in our state, especially ones with the potential to alter existing law. The change will bring Georgia in line with other southern states that have made similar transitions in recent years.
I was proud to recognize the University of North Georgia softball team for their 2015 NCAA Division II Championship. UNG is not only a strong academic institution producing some of the most qualified graduates in the state, but it also has become a formidable contender for sports as well.
Committee meetings also began last week. The committee process is essential because it provides the vetting of legislation, ensuring that it will be of benefit to the people of Georgia before receiving a vote on the floor of the Senate.
This week, budget subcommittee meetings for the AFY 2016 budget will begin. In these meetings, subcommittees will review the AFY 2016 budget for the agencies under their jurisdiction. This is done in order to make sure that all of the funds in the budget are allocated fairly and responsibly, and meets the needs of all the various agencies of the state.
We’re expecting the next few weeks to be fast paced and I am excited to begin moving forward with legislation that will benefit all of Georgia. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions, comments or concerns you may have with any legislation this session. I always appreciate and encourage your feedback!
Sen. Steve Gooch serves as Majority Whip of the Senate Majority Caucus. He represents the 51st Senate District which includes Dawson, Fannin, Gilmer, Lumpkin, Union and White counties and portions of Forsyth and Pickens counties. He may be reached at 404.656.9221 or via email at [email protected].