Board of Commissioners will hear appeal to Alcohol Beverage Commission decision
Business July 31, 2022
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. — An appeal to the Alcohol Beverage Commission denial of a license to Jason Graham will return to the Board of Commissioners agenda when it meets in regular session Monday, Aug. 1 at 4:30 pm in the White County Administration Building.
The Commission found the application violates the county ordinance with regard to the distance from a local church. It found the property, which is located at 7607 Main Street in Helen, is too close to the Helen First Baptist Church.
Commission Chairman Travis Turner said he could not recall the Board of Commissioners ever reversing a decision by the Alcohol Beverage Commission. After further discussion, it was decided to table the appeal until the applicant has a chance to look into having the property annexed into the City of Helen.
Other items in Monday’s agenda include:
- The award of a contract for landscaping services for Freedom Park;
- An appointment to the Board of Elections and Registration to fulfill the remainder of a two-year term that will expire December 31.;
- Adoption of a resolution to revise banking institution signatories;
- Presentation of the monthly financial and SPLOST by Finance Director Jodi Ligon
Commissioners approve $31.6 million budget, millage rate of 10.75 remains unchanged
Business, News June 28, 2022
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. — The White County Board of Commissioners approved a $31.6 million FY 2023 budget Monday.
Despite an inflation rate of 8.6 percent — the nation’s highest in four decades — and the rising cost of labor and construction materials, commissioners maintained a millage rate of 10.75 percent for the fifth consecutive year. That rate reflects only the county’s portion of the overall millage rate and does not include the school system’s millage rate.
“The county has had to absorb many increases as most of us have had to do in our personal lives,” Chairman Travis Turner noted. Turner pointed to a $250,000 increase in the ambulance service contract with Northeast Georgia Medical Center.
The General Fund budget is $25,137,598 with Separate Funds including Hotel/Motel, E911, and the Drug Task Force that total $6,459,105. The total budget of $31,596,703 represents a 13 percent increase over the FY 2022 budget and includes the addition of new positions, an increase in the EMS ambulance services contract, COLA and merit increases for county employees and the rising cost of Health Insurance premiums.
Expenditures are estimated at $25,137,598 with revenues expected to be $24,952,402 which will require moving $185,196 from the Fund Balance, leaving a balance of $6,752,868.
Approximately 48 percent ($12,140,436) will be used to fund Public Safety, which includes Animal Control, Coroner, Jail, Sheriff’s Office, EMS, EMA, E911 and Fire.
The county will hold three public hearings next month before approving the overall millage rate.
White County budget planning begins Monday
Business April 16, 2022
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. — The White County Board of Commissioners will hold its annual departmental budget planning sessions on Monday, April 18 and Tuesday, April 19 starting at 8:30 a.m. each day in the Board Room at the County Administration Building.
Monday’s session begins with Public Safety Director David Murphy presenting the proposed budgets for Animal Control, Emergency Management, E911, and Fire Departments.
Tuesday’s session starts with Tax Commissioner Cindy Cannon’s presentation of the proposed budget for the Tax Commissioner’s Office.
Commissioners consider adding parking kiosks at Yonah Preserve Trailhead
News April 28, 2021
WHITE COUNTY, Ga. – As the number of visitors to Yonah Preserve Trailhead grows, so does cost to maintaining the property and restrooms. At Monday’s work session and called meeting, the Board of Commissioners discussed the possibility of adding a parking kiosk.
Commission Chairman Travis Turner was quick to point out that there would be no cost for admittance. The kiosk would be for parking only and would help the county to recoup some of its maintenance costs. “We’re not talking some astronomical fee,” Turner said. “That is not where we want to go.”
County Manager Jason Cobb said the cost to purchase kiosks “could range from $6,000 or $7,000 and all the way up to $40,000.” The City of Helen has two parking kiosks that cost approximately $15,000 each. The issue was discussed but not voted on.
Land use applications for short term rentals are also growing in number. There were three such requests on Monday’s agenda and Turner said there were six more on next week’s agenda.
Commissioners approved the land use applications for short term rentals for Eduin Rossell on Lookout Ridge in Cleveland and James Allison on Holiness Campground Road but denied the one by Jennifer Palazzo on High Meadow Trail.
The Board also unanimously (Commissioner Craig Bryant was absent) approved the appointment of Bill Scandrett to the Region 2 Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board.
Will Wagner, chairman of the Historical Preservation Committee, presented an update on the work the committee has done toward creating a Historic District Overlay that could be incorporated into the county land-use map. The committee was formed in 2019. Wagner said the committee has been meeting monthly and has held several open houses that were well attended by the citizens and that helped to identify many historic sites. The work is ongoing.