Fannin Commissioners appoint Grable to Economic Development Authority
Board of Commissioners April 27, 2022
FANNIN COUNTY, Ga. — The Fannin County Board of Commissioners met April 26, 2022. At the meeting they approved an appointment and several purchases.
At their last meeting, the commissioners tabled the appointment of Steve Grable to the Fannin County Economic Development Authority. They all noted a desire to speak to Grable personally before approving the appointment. At their April 26 meeting, Post 2 Commissioner Glenn Patterson said, after meeting with Grable, “I feel like he’s very qualified to help us out, and appreciate him doing so.”
Fannin County Fire Chief Larry Thomas first told the board that the Fannin County Fire Department had assisted Polk County, Tenn. with a fire that destroyed the Ocoee Whitewater Center that morning. Thomas then shared that the fire department had received a letter of acceptance for the Fireworks Tax Grant. The county will receive $19,017 after contributing $2,113. The total $21,130 will “purchase some much needed turnout gear,” Thomas added.
Public Works Director Zack Ratcliff spoke to the board about projects and purchases. The board heard updates about future paving projects on parts of Tower Road, Daves Road, Picklesimer Road, North Burgess Gap Road, Fightingtown Creek Road, Peter Knob Road, Friendship Road, Snake Nation Road, and Weaver Creek Road. Those projects will be done using SPLOST funding, but a paving project on Cutcane Road will receive funding from the Local Maintenance & Improvement Grant (LMIG).
Ratcliff also noted that the county will be returning about $100,000 to the SPLOST fund after the state government allocated funding for Newport Bridge. Ratcliff requested purchase of a pole barn for $20,990 and Kubota tractor for $36,670.72. “We’ve tried our best for the last year and a half now to get that better equipment to provide the better service for our community,” Chairman Jamie Hensley said before approving the purchase.
Chairman Hensley also briefly spoke about the intergovernmental agreement announced on April 22, 2022 that will bring Fannin County a standalone library: “We’re thankful to be able to say that.” Commissioner Patterson added: “I think it’s gonna be something that can stand long after we’re gone, and help … young and old alike in so many different ways.” In addition, Chairman Hensley announced that a meeting will be held at Blue Ridge City Hall on May 2, 2022 to discuss the city’s park.
Clearing up misconceptions about the library’s state granted funds
News March 10, 2021
BLUE RIDGE, Ga – Mountain Regional Library Director Heath Lee spoke about misunderstandings concerning Fannin County Library’s future.
Representing himself and not the library, Lee remarked the state hadn’t released the $1.3 million in funds. Capital outlay projects such as the library operate on a reimbursement basis, paid out after project completion. Additionally, all rules and regulations must be met throughout the process.
“The grant funding is a product of an application being filed to the Georgia Public Library Service, a funding partner’s commitment to also join in a construction project, many library advocates at all levels of public and governmental interests championing the cause, and finally, the state of Georgia legislature approving the sale of bonds to support the projects the legislature approves. Being a recipient of state of Georgia grant funding for the purpose of a capital outlay project is no small feat. It requires years of diligence, advocating, and sometimes a little luck to be awarded the funds,” Lee stated.
For the library to receive funding, the construction project would need a “funding partner” who would ensure completion. Also, the grant amount is partially determined by the partner’s committed amount. A press release from Representative David Ralston announcing the grants last year stated, “local government will provide an additional $582,000 for a total project cost of $1,965,000.”
Mountain Regional Library Director Heath Lee
Once Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission (GSFIC) approved the sale of bonds for a project, a timeline for using those goes into place. Fannin County and the library were given a five-year window to start the project.
At a previous commissioners’ meeting, they floated the idea of the library reimbursing the county for its portion of the WhitePath building. A new library wasn’t listed as a project on the current SPLOST, so it brought up the discussion topic of if the citizens didn’t vote for a new library, can it be included. A large group did want a library on the SPLOST.
Lee clarified GSFIC state funds can’t be used “for the purchase of land or location, be used as a reimbursement for a completed project, or reimburse an existing account of funding such as a SPLOST account.” The money can only go toward constructing a new facility, rehabilitate an existing library or alternate location, and furnishing the library.
As for size, the Georgia Public Library Service’s one project requirement is a minimum of 5,000 square feet for a state grant funded capital outlay project. Currently, the Fannin County Library is 6,800 square feet. The Georgia Public Library Service, GSFIC, and the state legislature of Georgia have approved the proposed partial renovation of 13,000 square feet of the WhitePath building.
Project cost can’t be determined at this time because neither the local nor regional board of trustees knows for certain where the library will go. They haven’t hired an architect, construction firm, or design firm because the Whitepath situation is still unsettled. It’s irresponsible to use public funds for a project that might not come to pass.
“Until the library boards of trustees understands exactly where the project will take place when the project will take place, and who will be chosen to lead the construction and design phases, the final associated construction and furnishing costs will not be known,” Lee commented.
He also stressed that it shouldn’t be taken for granted that if the funds aren’t used, then another capital outlay grant will readily become available. Fannin would be placed back on the grant list, but other counties also need new facilities.
Whitepath building
Lee added, “These state grants are competitive. There are over 400 public libraries in Georgia, and there are always new library projects being added to the capital outlay menu. On average, only three to five capital outlay projects are approved by the state legislature annually.”
He ended by thanking the commissioners for their efforts to provide “seismic library service improvements.”
Fannin library’s been searching for a permanent home since at least the early 2000s when it was demolished for the new courthouse.