Variance request disrupts meeting, hazard mitigation grant contract

Board of Commissioners
variance request

FANNIN COUNTY, Ga – Tensions rose among those in the audience during Jan. 28 board of commissioners meeting after a contested variance request passed with two in favor and one abstaining.

Members of the Falls Over Like Blue Ridge Homeowners Association (HOA) had returned to see if the variance request would be approved or not. Chairman Stan Helton and Post Two Glenn Patterson approved the variance and Post One Earl Johnson had to abstain because Johnson Paving had previously been hired by Falls Over Lake Blue Ridge for Grandeur Dr. It was passed without any mention of the previous meeting’s prescribed mitigation or opposition.

Immediately after, the group could be heard saying, “Good thing it’s an election year” and “someone was paid off.”

Serene Mountain Properties (Serene) requested a variance for a lot on Grandeur Drive and HOA appeared before the commissioner to express their content with the request.

President Barbara Shrewsbury spoke for the HOA and stated that Serene’s variance contradicted itself.

“It says that the porch will be 17 feet from the edge of Grandeur Dr. The edge of any road in Fannin County is considered where the end of the easement is. If you go 17 feet off the road that’s going to be 37 feet from the center of the road. He says he’s going to go 24.5 feet from the center line,” explained Shrewsbury.

Serene wants to build off the slope of the road.

“If we have to go put a support wall to keep that road up, we won’t have anymore room. It’s going to be in driveways,” she stated. Shrewsbury also took issue with proposed wells being in the road easement as well.

After providing a wealth of information, Helton informed Shrewsbury that the commissioners don’t become involved in HOA disputes. He did ask the inspection office to contact Serene and set up a meeting with both parties to try and find an amicable solution.

Fetch Your News asked Helton if the two parties met to try and reach a solution. He told us that they had but were unable to find a solution.

The passing of the request does fall in line with the board’s policy to not get involved with HOA and developer arguments.

Grant for Hazard Mitigation Plan

EMA Director Robert Graham received approval to hire North Georgia Consulting Group to assist with the updating Fannin’s Hazard Mitigation Plan. The grant will pay for the service.

“They do a good job for us. They take care of all the documentation,” stated Graham. “We also received an extra $1,600 for management of the grant which will also help pay for local resources to complete the grant process. The bottom line is it won’t cost the county anything when it is all said and done.”

The current hazard mitigation plan is good through Dec. 2022, and this grant would update it for another five years. The application must be completed by Dec. 2021 and would last through 2026.

The grant provided $19,500 in Federal government funding, $2,600 from state, and $3,900 in local funds, which would be in-kind labor.

Commissioners also approved the purchase of a Ford Explorer for $29,940 for a new EMS Supervisor vehicle. The current EMS Supervisor vehicle, an F250, will be given to the new firefighters in Fannin for use. EMA/EMS budgeted for the purchase, and the Explorer was purchased from North Georgia Ford.

Public Works Purchase

Public Works Director Zack Ratcliff received approval for the $5,000 purchase of a debris blower from Mason Tractor. The equipment came with a 10 year warranty and will be used almost all year round.

Firing Range Property Lease

Sheriff Dane Kirby presented and received approval to enter into an agreement with McCaysville property for a new firing range. The sheriff’s office current space soon won’t be available for deputies to use. There is no cost to the county for use of the new property, but fencing will need to be put up around the area.

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