The Fannin County Board of Commissioners held its first meeting of the year on the 14th. The main topic for discussion change.The meeting started out like any regular BOC meeting quickly moving through Variance request for Stephen and Virginia Strickland and Blane and Nancy Simmons.

After the variances Commission Chairman Bill Simonds made a motion to approve to balance the 2013 budget.

Post Commissioner Earl Johnson had some questions on this motion. He wanted to know which departments went over budget and which remained with in their budget. He stated it would be hard for him to vote on the motion without seeing all of the information.

Johnson stated,

“I can’t vote to right something that I don’t know how it is wrong.”

The other Post Commissioner Larry Joe Sosebee would second the motion and carry on without Johnson voting.

Johnson later cleared the air in the meeting that he was not confused. He just wanted to see who went over budget and why before he wanted to balance the remainder of the 2013 budget.

The next change in the future became more prevalent as the BOC set the qualifying rates for the upcoming election.

The fee’s are as follows: Post II Commissioner: $216.00, Board of Education Seat: $144.00, Board of Education Seat: $144.00. These are the seats that will be on the next ballot in May.

Theses seats are currently held by Larry Joe Sosebee, Steve Stanley and Bobby Bearden. It is expected that all three will run for reelection.

After a short public comment section it was time for the Commissioners’ Commentary.
Simonds started the time with the changes he saw and wanted to see within the county.

He informed the crowd that in 2013 Fannin County had 174 new home permits with the next closest being Union County with 99. Gilmer County had 83 while Pickens only had 58.

To move on to changes he wanted to see, Simonds brought up Fire Station 1 and the 911 Center. He told the audience the original plans that were drawn up with the Court House would cost a little over 5.5 million dollars.

“That is out of the question,”

stated Simonds.

“We need to come up with something else.”

Simonds went on to state that Union County built a new station and a 911 center for around 2 million. He would say that,

“I would like to see a bond put on the next election to help pay for that.”

If a new station is built by tearing down the old one it could in return free up around 40 parking spots in the congested downtown.

Without going into much detail Simonds mentioned some other big projects coming soon to the County. First was fixing the turning lane around Hwy 2 and Hwy 5. The next would be improving Shallowford Bridge.

After telling the crowd of his plan fireworks went off in the room. James Bond showed up late to the meeting and was upset that he did not get to speak. The fuming Bond showed his temper and had to be escorted out of the room by Sheriff Kirby.

Watch the meeting in its entirety in the video below.