Commissioner Bradshaw recites First Reading of Resolution Amending TC Code of Ordinances for roads and streets; Towns County has 20 Firewise Communities

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Sole Commissioner Cliff Bradshaw convened the April Towns County Meeting on April 18, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. at the Towns County Courthouse.

Bradshaw recited the First Reading of a Resolution amending Towns County Code of Ordinances as follows:

COMES NOW, the Sole Commissioner of Towns County, Georgia and amends the Code of Ordinances of Towns County, Georgia, as adopted May 15, 2015. To such end, Chapter 40, Article V, Section 40-140 is amended as follows:

1. Section 40-140 Streets, right-of-way. (1) Public Streets (f) is struck in its entirety and the following is inserted: No public access streets will be accepted by the county until such time as they are paved and meet all other requirements. Further, acceptance of a road into the Towns County Road System is at the discretion of the Sole Commissioner and at his/her determination of the public interest served by the subject road. Any application for consideration of acceptance of a road into the Towns County Road System shall be in the form as designated by the Commissioner.

2. Section 40-140 Streets, right-of-way. (1) Private Roads (e) is struck in its entirety and the following is inserted: No private roads will be accepted by the county until such time as they are paved and meet all other requirements. Further, acceptance of a road into the Towns County Road System is at the discretion of the Sole Commissioner and at his/her determination of the public interest served by the subject road. In addition, prior to any consideration for acceptance as a public road the reason or impediment for any street or right-of-way having been declared a private road must first be cured, abolished or corrected. Any application for consideration of acceptance of a road into the Towns County Road System shall be in the form as designated by the Commissioner.

3. Section 40-226 Exemption for bona fide intra-family transfers. (b)(2) amended by adding
paragraph (f): Grantor is an estate or representative of an estate or of a decedent and the division is in accordance with the terms of a probated Last Will and Testament; division by agreement of the heirs-at-law or named beneficiaries; or the laws of descent and distribution.

Frank M. Riley, Jr.

Frank M. Riley, Jr.

Georgia Firewise Liaison and Executive Director of the Chestatee-Chattahoochee RC&D Council Frank M. Riley, Jr. addressed the Meeting with an update on recent happenings. Riley said he has been working on the Fire Adapted Communities Project that the Council administers in Towns County. He said a Fire Adapted Community is one where all components are in place such that the effects of a wildfire are minimized. He said that out of 91 Firewise communities in Georgia, 20 of them are in Towns County. He said, as a result, in the past three years Fannin County has had 77 wildfires (no Firewise Communities), Union County has had 54 wildfires (1 Firewise Community), and Towns County has had only nine (9) wildfires (20 Firewise Communities). Riley said this is a testament to the group efforts of the residents, Towns County Fire Department, Forest Service and others in Firewise Communities in Towns County. Riley mentioned several programs and upcoming conferences and meetings in Georgia, many of which can be found through the Chestatee-Chattahoochee RC&D Website. He said May 6 will be National Firewise Wildfire Preparedness Day on the Square in Hiawassee.

In his Commissioner’s Report, Bradshaw started by saying: “Everything is going good in the County”. He encouraged residents and visitors alike to visit Hamilton Gardens this time of year. He said the beach is now open and new sand will be delivered, he thought, the following day. He said the bathrooms are open. The official opening of the beach, he said, when the concessions begin operation, will be announced soon. He announced new hours for Foster Park; that is, the gym, walking track and workout room, as of May 1, 2017, will open one hour earlier at 8: a.m.

He announced that the County had put out a proposal to different appraisal companies for rural land schedules for the upcoming year, 2018, to help stay in line with the state codes and facilitate more accurate assessments by the Tax Assessors Office. Bradshaw said Georgia Mass Appraisal Solutions and Services (GMASS) has been chosen for this project at a price of $55,850.

Bradshaw also announced that he had met with Georgia Forestry about converting an old campground off Sunnyside Rd. (GA 288) to handicap-accessible walking trails, running trails, fishing piers, workout stations and possibly renewing the boat ramp and improving the parking. He said there is grant money available to do this project, but lots of preliminary paperwork and approvals to get which will take some time.

Bradshaw proclaimed April 2017 as Donate Life Month in Towns County, which coincides with April 2017 being National Donate Life Month. This was done to recognize the LifeLink Foundation and celebrate the work they do in saving lives by providing transplant recipients with organs and tissue allographs. One needs only to designate themselves as an organ donor on their Georgia Drivers License or Georgia ID card.

Finance Director Andrea Anderson, at Bradshaw’s request, recited a second reading of a Resolution setting terms for the Towns County Board of Assessors:

COMES NOW, the Sole Commissioner of Towns County, Georgia and amends the Code of Ordinances of Towns County, Georgia, as adopted May 15, 2015. To such end, Chapter 2, Article IV, Section 2-322 is struck in its entirety and the following is inserted:

1. The Towns County Board of Tax Assessors shall consist of three members, who shall be residents of the county and shall be appointed by the Sole Commissioner of Towns County.

2. The requirements for qualifications for Tax Assessors are set forth in O.C.G.A. § 48-5-291(a); and each Tax Assessor appointed by the Sole Commissioner of Towns County shall comply with the same.

3. Each Tax Assessor shall be required to remain comply with the educational requirements as set forth in O.C.G.A. § 48-5-291(b), as may be amended.

4. The provision in O.C.G.A. § 48-5-292, gives the Sole Commissioner of Towns County the authority to select the length of terms of office for members of the Board of Tax Assessors by resolution. In the resolution, all new appointments and reappointments shall be for the term lengths specified in the resolution; however, such resolution shall not have the effect of shortening or extending the terms of office of the current members of the Board of Assessors whose terms have not yet expired. As there are no specified terms of appointment within
Section 2-322, the Commissioner hereby adopts the terms as stated for the current appointed
members and establishes the successor terms as follows: As to the term of the existing member appointed for a six (6) year term to run from October 26, 2016 until October 26, 2021; upon expiration of said term the successive Term shall begin on October 27, 2021 and continue for a period of four (4) years with successive four (4) year terms appointed thereafter; As to the term of the existing member appointed for a four (4) year term to run from November 17, 2016 until November 16, 2020; upon expiration of said term the successive terms hall begin on November 17, 2020 and continue for a period of four (4) years with successive four (4) year terms appointed thereafter; As to the term of the existing member appointed for a four (4) year term to run from January 19, 2017 until January 18, 2020; upon expiration of said term the first successive term shall begin on January 19, 2020 and continue for a period of three (3) years until January 18, 2023 with the successive terms being four (4) year terms appointed thereafter;

5. Following any vacancy on the Board of Tax Assessors of Towns County, Georgia, the Sole
Commissioner shall appoint, or reappoint, a qualified member to fill any such vacancy within forty five (45) days of said vacancy and ensure that each appointed, or reappointed, member has taken the oath as required by law;

6. All Sections of O.C.G.A. § 48-5-290 through O.C.G.A. § 48-5-314 pertaining to the Board of Tax Assessors are incorporated herein by reference and made a part of Chapter 2, Article IV of the Code of Ordinances of Towns County, Georgia, as adopted May 15, 2015, as if specifically set forth herein.

This Resolution was adopted.

Jerry Taylor and Holly Tiger were appointed to the Towns County Library Board.

Bill Hyatt receives Award from Commissioner Bradshaw

Bill Hyatt receives Award from Commissioner Bradshaw

Wes Hooper receives Award from Commissioner Bradshaw

Wes Hooper receives Award from Commissioner Bradshaw

Retirement Awards were given by Bradshaw and Towns County for their years of service to Towns County to former Towns County 911 Director Laura Stamey (not present), former Towns County Recreation Director Wes Hooper and former Towns County Road Department Mechanic Bill Hyatt. Bradshaw said each one of them had given large parts of their lives in service to Towns County and that they were appreciated. Cake and coffee was served after the Meeting in their honor.

With no Public Comments made and no further business to conduct the Meeting adjourned.

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