WHITE COUNTY, Ga. — The Board of Commissioners unanimously approved several expenditures aimed at improving public safety at Monday’s called meeting and work session.

Commissioners approved Sheriff Rick Kelley’s request for a $76,920  increase in the sheriff’s fiscal year 2022-’23 budget to include the addition of two school resource officers and equipment.  The expenditure is particularly important in the wake of a school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas that claimed the life of 21 teachers and students.

“It is with great pleasure that on Aug. 5, we are going to have a school resource officer in every school in White County,” Kelley said. “That is something that has been long in coming and i’m glad to see it. This Board has supported that and the School Board has been in support of it.”

The Board also approved the sheriff’s request to purchase four new Ford Explorer four-wheel drive vehicles with all necessary equipment for his patrol officers at a cost of $202, 248.

Additionally, commissioners agreed to purchase a software management system from Synergestic Software Integrated for the White County Detention Center, Sheriff’s Office, 911 and Fire Service Operations. The cost is $479,316 to be paid over a 3-year period. Year 1 $202,636. Year 2 $138,340 Year 3 $138,340. The project will be paid for with SPLOST funds.

The Board also approved a request by Fiske Hopkins and William Parker to grant a conditional use permit (CUP) for a short-term rental at 605 Lynch Mountain Road in Sautee Nacoochee  contingent upon the owners paying back taxes. During the discussion, it was learned that the owners had been renting the property for several years without paying a hotel/motel tax. Commissioner Craig Bryant made a motion to approve the request upon the owners showing the amount of revenue that had been generated and paying back taxes. The motion was approved unanimously.

Commissioners tabled a request by Jason Graham to grant a variance to a denial by the Alcohol Beverage Commission of a license to a retail package dealer, retail consumption dealer, retail consumption dealer, wholesaler and winery licensees and tasting room of a farm winery.

Commissioners have encumbered more than $400,000 for work on Claude Sims Road over the years but for a number of reasons, the work has not taken place. The Board voted 3-2 to unencumber all but $10,000 for the design work for road work.