Commissioners Approve Rehabilitation Work on County Bridges
News October 14, 2016
CLEVELAND, Ga. — The White County Board of Commissioners approved rehabilitation and improvement work on the Town Creek Road bridge and two bridges on New Bridge Road as part of the 2017 Local Maintenance Improvement Grant from the Georgia Department of Transportation during Thursday’s called meeting.
The grant is for $382,326.74 with a match of $114,694 from the county.
The board also approved a professional services agreement with Sastry Associates, Inc. for engineering work in conjunction with the LMIG project.
Commissioners then held a discussion, but took no action on, a proposed amendment to the White County Land Use Regulations that would permit a full-time child care facility to be built within agricultural and residential single-family districts.
The three commissioners who were present for the meeting (Chairman Travis Turner, Terry Goodger and Lyn Holcomb) indicated they could support what essentially would be a foster home with a limited number of children. However, they also said they want the request to go to the Planning Commission first and since that had not been done, they took no decision.
Commissioners Shoot Down Shooting Range
News September 13, 2016
CLEVELAND, Ga. — The White County Board of Commissioners unanimously rejected a rezoning request by Caleb Huiet and Josh Wofford that would have allowed a private outdoor shooting range to be built on Hwy. 75 Alternate during Monday’s regular meeting.
Once again, the meeting room was packed by those for and against the shooting range. Commission Chairman Travis Turner asked and received restraint from the audience when the decision was announced.
At a recent public hearing on the issue, those supporting the request said they would like to have some place where they could teach gun safety to their children and grandchildren. Opponents said the range would disturb the tranquility of the area reduce property values.
Tammy Dean, who said her family has lived near the proposed facility for several generations, made the most compelling argument on behalf of her special needs daughter during that public hearing. Dean said her daughter suffers from epilepsy and is prone to seizures that can be brought on by loud noises.
“We have to take precautions at school,” Dean said. “She is not allowed to be in the building when a fire alarm goes off. We have had instances where we have had to call an ambulance and White County ambulances know when they come to pick our daughter up they can’t use their sirens. We have also had to take her somewhere else during the times when these gentlemen (property owners) have been shooting.”
In other decisions Monday, the Board tabled Shirley Van’s application for redistricting her property at 5642 Hwy. 115 West from single family residential to highway business district until several code violations have been rectified.
Commissioners unanimously denied a request for a variance from land use requirements for residential lot sizes of less than one acre by Tanvor, LLC.
In a 3-2 vote, with commissioners Terry Goodger, Edwin Nix and Lyn Holcomb in favor, the Board chose to go with a lease from Caterpillar for heavy equipment for the Road Department.
Commissioners Adopt 9.998 Millage Rate
News August 9, 2016
CLEVELAND, Ga. – The White County Board of Commissioners voted to raise the millage rate by .89 mils to 9.998 Monday and the only complaint heard during the third and final public hearing was from citizens who thought the increase should have been bigger.
Elizabeth Wells, one of five people to make public comment, said she would be willing to have a bigger tax increase if commissioners would approve a pay raise for public safety personnel.
“We all know the importance of our public safety employees and the tensions that have arisen,” she said. “Now that our population has reached 33,000, their job is even more important. I’d like to see them paid more to stay here.”
Sheriff Neal Walden has spoken often about the high cost of training replacements when experienced deputies leave to accept higher paying law enforcement jobs in other counties.
Russell Mobley said, “No one wants to pay more taxes, but I strongly support the Board of Commissioners in raising the millage rate.”
Laurie Lee said, “I too support the commissioners and commend them for doing of this.”
Chairman Travis Turner and Commissioners Terry Goodger and Lyn Holcomb voted for the increase while Commissioners Craig Bryant and Edwin Nix opposed it.
Turner said, “Raising taxes is not what I’m all about but when you milk a cow, there is only so far you can go. We have to look ahead.”
The millage rate was 8.19 in 2006 and ’07 then increased to 9.19 in 2008 and remained there until it was lowered to 9.168 from 2014- ’16.
White County Commissioners Will Advertise Millage Increase
News July 19, 2016
CLEVELAND, Ga. — The White County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 during a called meeting Tuesday to advertise a millage rate increase to 9.998 mils to support the Fy 2017 budget. Public hearings are scheduled for Aug. 1st and Aug. 4th at 8 a.m. and Aug. 8th at 6 p.m.
The advertised rate represents an increase of .89 mills. The proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $160,000.00 is approximately $56.96 and the proposed tax increase for non- homestead property with a fair market value of $130,000.00 is approximately $46.28.
Commissioners had projected a tax digest of $863,623,546 when they approved the FY 2017 budget but on Thursday they received the bad news that the digest was about $3 million below that projection.
As a result, commissioners were faced with the difficult decision to raise the millage rate or lower the county’s fund balance in order to balance the budget. The Association County Commissioners of Georgia recommends that counties keep at least a three-month fund balance in case of emergencies.
Reluctantly, Commissioner Terry Goodger proposed a millage rate of 10.108 in order to preserve a three-month fund balance.
“This Board has worked hard and been frugal with the taxpayers money,” he said. “This will be the first time in my six years on the board we’ve needed to raise taxes. But I’ve looked at the future and I don’t see the tax digest getting any better in the next two or three years. So I think we need to step forward and take care of this now.”
The motion failed 2-3 with Chairman Travis Turner voting with Goodger.
After a lengthy discussion, Goodger motioned for a millage rate of 0.966 which would have balanced the budget, but kept only about two-and-a-half months in the fund balance. That motion also failed 2-3.
Lyn Holcomb finally made a motion to advertise for a 9.998 millage rate and that was approved 3-2 with Craig Bryant and Edwin Nix opposed.