Broadband Ready Ordinance proceeds forward in Fannin
Community, News July 21, 2021
BLUE RIDGE, Ga – The first public hearings pertaining to the Broadband Ready Ordinance and adjustment to Fannin’s Comprehensive plan were held last Tuesday.
Fannin County Economic Development Executive Director Christie Gribble explained the importance of implementing a Broadband Ready Ordinance in Fannin to those in attendance. She’s been in charge of finding resources and plans to help the county become attractive for broadband internet expansion.
Around 20 communities in Georgia have already ratified a Broadband Ready Ordinance.
The proposed ordinance would propose a project timeline, point of contact, permitting, right of way, and sets fee limits for a broadband network project.
The single point of contact was established as Marie Woody, the Department Head of Land Development, because the office deals with permitting. The county must respond to the request within 10 days and the fee is set under $100.
Those most likely to apply for a broadband service permit are telecommunications providers like ETC or BRMEMC.
The broadband expansion will likely be in-ground internet lines or wireless.
“In an ideal world, this ordinance would be for reliable internet service…5G isn’t really reliable that’s not to say that there’s not a company out there that wants to do something for Fannin County. But the ordinance and our plan with what we’re doing and the state of Georgia is to provide reliable internet at certain speeds which would be wired service versus 5G,” Gribble explained.
The goal internet speed is 25 megabits (MB) per second download and 3 MB per second upload.
If Fannin County determines an application is not complete, then it must inform the applicant of all incomplete areas with a checklist and provide the applicant 40 calendar days to make changes from the date of application. If the applicant does not respond within 40 days, it is deemed canceled.
If a joint meeting is necessary, it must occur within 50 days of notification and it must include where the work will take place, who Fannin County can contact for information, when the work will be conducted, and what type of work will be performed. Following the meeting, the county has 10 days to approve or deny the application.
Any approved application will be valid for six months.
It depends on the utility service if they want to install broadband internet, so the county’s trying to make installation as simple as possible. No guarantees are being made at this time about broadband access being expanded in the county.
The 5-year comprehensive plan must be amended to include the broadband focus as well. The state has instructed counties and cities to include the broadband initiative to become more competitive for grant funding.
Northwest Georgia Regional Commission Senior Planner Gretchen Lugthart explained that the reliable internet project is like the 1930s rural electrification program.
“It took extra effort and stimulus to get electrification to the rural areas because there’s not many customers there, so the companies have no incentive to put it out there. There needed to be a little boost where the government and private entities worked together,” Lugthart related.
The state of Georgia and communities are now implementing a similar strategy and establishing goals and addressing enhancing quality of life with faster internet speeds.
A second public hearing will be held on the broadband ordinance on July 27.
Commissioners haven’t given support for Blue Ridge’s aquatic center
Board of Commissioners, News March 26, 2021
BLUE RIDGE, Ga – All three Fannin County Commissioners affirmed that they haven’t committed to Blue Ridge City Council’s proposed aquatic center.
Chairman Jamie Hensley explained that the city made an initial presentation in a private meeting but hasn’t seen any follow-up plans or cost analysis.
“There’s so many unanswered questions. The questions haven’t been answered or haven’t been asked,” Hensley said.
Post Two Glenn Patterson added that the commissioners don’t know that much about the proposed pool and community center. Additionally, he hasn’t been formally approached.
Chairman Jamie Hensley
Outgoing Post One Earl Johnson remarked, “When something gets said in another council session, it doesn’t mean it’s true in here.” He was commenting on the statements from members of Blue Ridge City Council who said the commissioners were in favor of building an aquatic center.
Johnson further stated if the council wants to propose a project to the county that they need to do so in a county meeting. Once council members present an idea within a county meeting, then it’s on record and everyone in the county will know exactly what happened. It would prevent rumors from starting.
“The biggest problems are these deals that are getting talked about outside this room,” Johnson stated.
Blue Ridge City Council meets at 5 p.m. on the second Tuesday and can overlap with one commission meeting which takes place at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday. However, Fannin County meets on the fourth Tuesday at 6 p.m. as well.
He brought up the previous annexation debacle which became a he-said, she-said on if the county was informed or not. Johnson asked if anyone saw a councilmember present anything about the annexation in a county meeting.
“We all should working in unison with the city of Blue Ridge, the city of McCaysville,” Johnson commented. “Until it starts being done the right way, the best advice I can give anybody is just don’t believe what you hear.”
Also, Johnson asked why the recreation board wasn’t consulted if Blue Ridge wants to build a new pool and if the recreation board even knew if residents wanted a new pool.
Money hasn’t been allotted by the county for a new pool and community center at this time.
Bottom line: Johnson’s parting thoughts were the county and the cities need to come together and communicate more effectively.
Post One Earl Johnson
At the end of the meeting, Hensley thanked Johnson for his dedication to Fannin County and for staying on while elected Post One Johnny Scearce recovered from COVID-19 related illnesses. Scearce is scheduled to take his oath of office on Friday, March 26.
Additional County Business
EMA Director Robert Graham presented the Debris Management Plan and the commissioners approved it so now the document goes to the state. The document could result in an extra two percent in disaster match money from FEMA.
Liquid springs for the second new ambulance was approved for a total cost of $12,300. The springs were necessary because the chassis on the new ambulances sits higher than expected and makes it hard to load patients. It will take two to three weeks for the liquid springs to be applied and it will hopefully last as long as the truck is in service.
Director of Public Works Zack Ratcliff presented the LMIG Safety Project from GDOT which is a crash-related action plan. GDOT will provide $350,000 to fix roads with high traffic accident statistics. The county would have to match 30 percent, but the number could come down with more data. GDOT advised Salem Road receive improvements with the safety project money. Some of the safety improvements include striping, width, and right of way criteria.
Johnson advised making sure roads are wide enough before overlaying them because every time a road is overlaid it becomes narrower.
Changes on the way for Fannin Commission meetings, Walker selected interim CFO
Board of Commissioners, Featured News, Featured Stories, News January 16, 2021
BLUE RIDGE, Ga – At the first commission meeting of the new administration, Chairman Jamie Hensley proposed several changes to the format.
Going forward, for a trial period, the meetings will be moved until 6 p.m., instead of 5:15 p.m. The later start time will hopefully give more citizens an opportunity to attend the meetings, which remain on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month.
“You can’t get a good pulse from the citizens if they can’t get here,” Post One Commissioner Earl Johnson commented.
Post Two Glenn Patterson asked if county costs would go up if the meeting moved to a later time. He furthered explained if the meeting was later, would county employees add that as extra time to their workday if asked to attend. He also commented the meeting would start after dark for five months out of the year if moved to 6 p.m. Some older individuals prefer not to drive in the dark, he added.
Hensley stated, “Nobody is able to attend and have the input or anything they might want to say. I want everybody to understand I work for the county, for the citizens of Fannin County…I want to give every opportunity they possibly can.”
Board meetings will move to 6 p.m. on a trial basis.
Also, public comments will occur at the end of the meeting, not the middle. The time limit for speakers will be extended from three minutes to five minutes. Again, this change will begin on a trial basis.
“I have mixed emotions,” Patterson remarked about public comments. “I know we deal with a lot of things up here. Some things can be very controversial…The way we do it now. We don’t feed the fire. They come up there thinking about what they want to say.”
Patterson believed the middle of the meeting commentary allows for cooler heads to prevail.
“You’re going to get it whether it’s here or right out there, so take your pick,” Johnson said. “In here, it’s usually more reserved, civil, or go right out there and you might hear something that really hurts your feelings.”
Johnson added moving public commentary to the end gives citizens an opportunity to congratulate the board or quickly get something off their chest instead of “stewing” for two weeks.
“I see both sides,” Hensley stated. “I’m always the one if there’s an issue, I want to know now that way we can put the fire out so to speak, and move forward. I know they are things will have to take a step back on, but I always want to move forward.”
The trial period for the meeting time and public comments runs from January through April. After that, the board will decide to make the change permanent or not.
Additional Bussiness
County Clerk Sherri Walker was selected as the interim Chief Financial Officer following the resignation of Robin Gazaway in December.
Sherri Walker will serve as interim CFO.
The board also granted the tax commissioner approval to accept checks, cash, debit, credit cards on behalf of Fannin County and disperse property tax and motor vehicle tax bimonthly. Additionally, the commissioners approved the tax commissioner’s ability to waive interest or penalties for valid reasons.
Commissioners accepted the Division of Family and Children Services budget for 2021.
Two variances were tabled, and one was approved.
Read more about why Post One Earl Johnson is continuing to serve, here.
Johnson agrees to serve as Post One Commissioner for 90 days
News January 13, 2021
BLUE RIDGE, Ga – Former Post One Earl Johnson took a moment to clear up the details surrounding his extended time in office.
Johnson acknowledged that he’s comfortable continuing to serve the county for a period of time while Post One-elect Johnny Scearce continues to recover. However, he did put a time limit on his return – 90 days or six meetings.
“I’ve always taken my position here very seriously,” Johnson remarked. “Our current circumstances in Fannin County it’s unordinary and unusual event that’s taken place.”
Additionally, Johnson asked to abstain from all votes unless he was needed to break a tie between Chairman Jamie Hensley and Post Two Glenn Patterson. He wouldn’t receive any compensation from the county either.
“This is a new administration, new times, moving forward – essentially my role would be here if needed,” Johnson stated.
County Attorney Lynn Doss reviewed the terms of office again commenting that the newly elected officials must be “elected and qualified.” For that reason, Johnson’s term carries over until Scearce is qualified.
“[Scearce] could take the oath of office via Zoom, but he has expressed to wait until he is a little stronger and he could actually be back in Fannin County,” Doss added.
She also stressed the issue that if the Post One seat sat empty and a mishap befell one of the two existing commissioners, then county government would halt. The county would no longer have a quorum to pass or fail business. Day-to-day functions would continue, but larger decisions couldn’t be voted on.
According to the law and Doss, the only person available to serve as Post One until Scearce takes his oath of office is Johnson.
“I’m just trying to make a good gesture and help Fannin County government continue to move forward. As of the last election, it was very clear that people wanted a different direction,” Johnson commented.
Hensley added he had no objection to it, and Patterson commended Johnson as a “valuable asset” for county government.