White County Water Authority working to meet demands of growing population
News March 2, 2022
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. – A report by White County Water Authority Board of Directors Chairman John Ziemer presented at the Board of Commissioners meeting this week has raised questions about how the Authority will meet the future needs of a fast-growing White County population.
Ziemer pointed out that the Authority is an enterprise, meaning it receives no money from the county. It serves approximately 2,450 households and its revenue is derived from the sale of water (about 89 percent) and new service connections. The authority has $11.1 million in assets and $1.8 million he said.
Turner Creek is the Authority’s water source with an average production of about 850 to 1 million gallons per day.
In a phone interview Tuesday, County Commissioner Edwin Nix, the Authority’s Executive Director said the Authority bought one well about 20 years ago but it didn’t turn out to be the producer it should have been. “It’s so expensive to bring those things on line that when engineers say you can only run it 12 hours a day and have to let it rest 12 hours, it wouldn’t be worth the money to bring it online.”
Nix said there is another well on the Authority compound that hit water in late 2019 and is pumping water 24/7 but has to be throttled back to no more than 100,000 gallons per day while waiting for paperwork to be approved by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. “Once you go over 100,000 gallons a day, it has to be a permitted withdrawal,” he said.
“As soon as we get that permit, we’re going to drill another one here on the upper end of the compound. We’re hoping to have two good wells here on site.”
Nix also said the Authority had approached the EPD to suggest building a new plant to pull water out of Yonah Preserve “That was an absolute ‘no,’ he said. They said don’t even think about it so we don’t think about it.”
Commissioner Nix warns residents to beware of scam involving paving asphalt
Business August 5, 2021
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. — Commissioner Edwin Nix issued a stern warning to White County residents during Monday’s meeting to beware of scammers.
Nix told of a couple of senior citizens who had been approached about doing paving work with asphalt left over from a county job. Interim County Manager Shanda Murphy said they operate under the name R and M and quote a decent price on the front end but inflate the price on the back end.
“Be careful, don’t be conned by these guys,” Nix said. “They have no heart. They don’t care how they treat you or how they conduct business. If somebody comes and approaches you about paving asphalt left over from a county job, or something like that, first of all, that should not be happening if it’s county property to start with.”
White County Sheriff’s Deputy Gus Sessam, who attended the meeting, said he was aware of two victims, one who had been scammed out of $34,000.
Gov. Kemp appoints Nix to serve on state board
News October 22, 2020
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. — Gov. Brian Kemp announced 23 appointments to various state boards, commissions and councils Wednesday. White County Commissioner Edwin Nix was appointed to serve on the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Coalition.
The coalition was formed to protect, conserve and improve soil and water resources in the state.
Nix has represented District 3 on the White County Board of Commissioners since 2011 and previously served as a county commissioner from 1999-2002. He has always been active in working to protect water, environment, and quality of life in North Georgia.
He is employed as the Executive Director of the White County Water Authority and serves on the North Georgia Coosa River Council, Executive Board Vice-President of the Chestatee Chattahoochee Resource Conservation & Development Council, and serves on the newly created Stakeholder Committee for Management of the Lake Lanier Watershed.
White County may join Habersham, Stephens in becoming a Second Amendment Sanctuary
News January 28, 2020
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. – As Democrats continue to push unconstitutional gun control laws, White County Commissioners are considering a resolution that would declare the county a Second Amendment Sanctuary.
Board of Commissioners Chairman Travis Turner revealed during Monday’s called meeting and work session, that commissioners have asked county attorney Mary Jane Henneke to research a resolution similar to the ones approved in Habersham and Stephens counties this month.
“We want to make sure everything we do stands up in a court of law.”
Commissioner Edwin Nix
Commissioner Edwin Nix made it clear where he stands on the Second Amendment saying, “We all know that the intent of some people in this country is to make sure the criminals have guns and that good people don’t. Sooner or later if that happens, we are all in trouble. They may come and get all my guns. They may take them. But it will be after I have exhausted all my bullets.”
More importantly, White County Sheriff Neal Walden spoke out firmly, saying, “I took an oath to uphold the laws of this state and the U.S. Constitution and that includes the right to bear arms. I will not enforce any law that prevents that.”
The Second Amendment Sanctuary movement is spreading all across Georgia and the rest of the nation. A gun-rights rally in Virginia drew an estimated 22,000 supporters recently. On Saturday, hundreds of gun-rights advocates rallied in Rome to advocate for the creation of Second Amendment sanctuaries in Georgia.
The issue was not on Monday’s agenda, but it was raised by White County resident William King during the Public Comment portion of the meeting.
The Habersham County resolution reads, in part, “No agent, employee or official of Habersham County, or any corporation providing services to Habersham County, shall provide material support or participate in any way with the implementation of federal acts, orders, rules, laws or regulations in violation of the Second Amendment to the United States of America.”
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
White County commissioners grapple with short-term rental issues during Tuesday’s called meeting
News February 13, 2019
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Short-term rentals have become a booming industry, forecast to reach $23 billion in the U.S. by 2022. The rise in popularity has left governments struggling with how to regulate rentals, rental operators and neighborhood activists.
White County commissioners spent one hour in a special called meeting Tuesday morning, wrestling with what is a much more complex issue than it may seem on the surface. County staff is charged with drafting regulations for short-term rentals. Tuesday’s meeting was called so commissioners could provide some direction.
Commission Chairman Travis Turner expressed the difficulty of regulating short-term rentals, saying, “I’ve gone from one extreme to another trying to find a common-sense middle ground.”
On the one hand, those who would like to rent rooms in their home on a short-term basis argue they have a right to use their property as they see fit. On the other, their neighbors counter that kind of activity can affect security in the neighborhood as well as property values.
Commissioner Edwin Nix said, “I’ve probably put more thought into this than anything since we started land use. It is our responsibility and the citizens of this county are looking to us to protect their interests. One thing I would want if I lived in a subdivision is to know who my neighbor was each night. This commissioner would almost vote not to allow this in a subdivision. Period.”
Nix advised staff to pay attention to health issues in drafting regulations. “You’ve got health issues when drafting criteria,” he said “Are (rentals) on public water? Are they on well water? Is the sewage system designed to handle what they are doing?”
There are also licensing issues, insurance issues, parking issues and zoning issues to be addressed.
County Manager Michael Melton said, “What we need to know from the Board is do you want this regulated under land use or do you want it regulated under a permit system?”
Commissioner Terry Goodger pointed out that Hall County and the City of Savannah are struggling with the same issues and they have left it under land use.
Board voted unanimously to have staff draft a stand-alone ordinance and present it to the Board in two weeks for review.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Nix will return to Board of Commissioners, Holcomb faces two challengers
Election 2018 March 9, 2018
Commissioner Edwin Nix
CLEVELAND, Ga. – Qualifying ended at noon today. The field is now set for the May 22 General Primary election.
District 2 County Commissioner Lyn Holcomb will have to defeat Mike Boswell, who lists his occupation as wastewater operator, and Ricky Farmer, the owner of a pet crematory, to serve another term on the Board of Commissioners.
District 3 Commissioner Edwin Nix, however, is unopposed and will return to the Board in January.
Charlie Bryson, a fire investigator, is the incumbent Board of Education member from District 2. Carly Adam, an administrative assistant, and John Solmon will challenge for that seat.
For a time, it appeared as though there would be no candidates in the District 4 Board of Education race, but on the final day of qualifying, two candidates stepped forward. Jeannette Gearing, a substitute teacher, and Linda Erbele, a freelance writer, qualified.
The state level race has incumbent District 9 State Representative Kevin Tanner (R) of Dawsonville pitted against Mark Hajduk (R) of Cumming.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Charlie Bryson
Carly Adam
Kemp Bus Tour stops at Truett McConnell Tuesday
News, Politics October 30, 2018
CLEVELAND, Ga. – Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Kemp’s “Road to Victory” bus tour visited the campus of Truett McConnell University, a Christian liberal arts and sciences school in the foothills of the north Georgia mountains, Tuesday morning.
Following morning chapel service led by Anthony George, senior associate pastor of First Baptist Church in Atlanta, in the beautiful George Blaurock Student Wellness Center, Kemp briefly addressed students and staff and delivered a message of faith and hope.
The Republican candidate for governor said, “I know God has a plan for our family and I’m just here living It out. We’re going to know shortly what that plan is and we’re trusting in the Lord every single day. That is giving me a lot of peace in my heart. Its people of faith – in a lot of ways – this campaign is about.”
Kemp said he was encouraged to see how many young people are interested in the campaign.
“I’m optimistic that we see a lot of young people all over our state that are interested in who their leaders are going to be. They want good government. They want to have good opportunities and that’s why I’m running, so my kids and you all and your kids, one day, will have all the same opportunities that I have had.”
Many government heavy-hitters at both the state and local level were on hand to show their support for Kemp, who will face Democrat Stacey Abrams and Libertarian Ted Metz in next Tuesday’s election.
Governor Nathan Deal told attendees he is aware that politics has a bad rap but he said, “The truth of the matter is our great nation is based on the idea we are not just a democracy. We are a republic in which people have the right to elect their leaders. If those leaders do not reflect the moral values that our nation should have, our nation will not remain strong.”
Other leaders who visited with Kemp included, Congressman Doug Collins, State Senator Steve Gooch and White County commissioners Travis Turner, Terry Goodger and Edwin Nix.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Commissioners update county land use map
News January 30, 2018
CLEVELAND, Ga. – Following a public hearing Monday, White County commissioners approved an update to the official land use map during a combined called meeting and work session.
The map update does not make any additional changes, but merely incorporates all land use actions taken by commissioners since the map was last updated in December 2015.
Habersham County Commission Chairman Victor Anderson attended the meeting to read a proclamation honoring Habersham’s 2018 bicentennial and declaring Habersham’s adjacent counties as “honorary Habersham countians.”
With the rise in popularity of tiny houses (under 400 square feet), commissioners have questioned whether a modification of the county’s housing regulations would be in order. Community and Economic Development Director John Sell reported that the regulations already cover single-wide mobile homes (320 square feet) and that no changes would be necessary.
Commissioner Edwin Nix expressed concern about the impact of property values on neighboring homes should an applicant decide to build a tiny home in a neighborhood of more expensive homes.
Sell explained that homes under 400 square feet would only be allowed in “permanent campground settings.”
Later, Sell was appointed to replace Tom O’Bryant on the Joint Development Authority of White, Lumpkin and Dawson counties. O’Bryant left White County government to become Cleveland city manager. Cheyenne Thornton was appointed to serve on the county’s Department of Family and Children Services board.
Commissioners unanimously approved renewal of the joint use agreement with the Board of Education to share the school’s recreational facilities and a corrected resolution setting qualifying fees for county commission candidates at $360 rather than the $497.64 that had been previously approved.
Commissioners also agreed to provide correspondence to the city of Cleveland regarding water and sewer service to Freudenberg, the community’s largest employer.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Commissioners Borrow from Fund Balance to Erase a $1.06 Million Budget Shortfall
News July 19, 2017
Commissioner Edwin Nix
CLEVELAND, Ga. – Shocked by a tax digest that produced only slightly more revenue than it did a year ago and faced with a budget shortfall of $1.06 million, the White County Board of Commissioners elected to keep the millage rate at 9.998 mils, essentially kicking the can down the road for another year when another shortfall is likely.
Keeping the millage rate the same will require three public hearings and commissioners voted to hold two hearings on August 3, one at 8 a.m., the other at 6 pm. The third hearing is set for Aug. 14 at 4:30 p.m.
Commissioner Terry Goodger
The vote to leave the millage rate unchanged was 3-2 with Commissioners Lyn Holcomb, Edwin Nix and Craig Bryant in support and Chairman Travis Turner and Commissioner Terry Goodger opposed.
Goodger proposed a one mil increase but that died for the lack of a second. He then proposed a half-mil increase that was seconded by Turner, but failed to attract the three votes necessary for passage.
Surprised by the fact that the current digest produced only $8,700,101, or approximately $65,000 more than last year, Nix asked County Manager Michael Melton, “On the net digest increase, that is a numerical mistake isn’t it?”
Melton assured him the figure was correct.
To erase the shortfall, commissioners will pull about $1.065 out of the county’s fund balance, leaving only enough to operate the county for 2.3 months in case of an emergency. The Association County Commissioners of Georgia recommends that counties keep enough money in the fund balance to operate the county for three months.
“I’m not comfortable with a 2.3 month balance myself,” Goodger said. “That could affect our bond rating in the long term. We are certainly much stronger with a three-month reserve.” If the bond rating is downgraded, it will mean paying a higher interest rate to finance capital projects.
Turner agreed with Goodger. “We’ve always tried to keep a three-month reserve. We need to do our best to get back to that…2.3 months is a little too skinny for my taste.”
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.co