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Photo by Billy Freeman
The Hart County Board of Commissioners met for their final session of 2023 on Dec. 12 to discuss land development and other old business, as well as to approve several county Board appointment recommendations.
The BOC approved the meeting agenda after adding an item, then approved the previous meeting’s minutes.
Chairman Marshall Sayer read the Board’s resolution in recognition of Hartwell Golf Club’s 100th anniversary, congratulating the business on a century of work. The resolution was unanimously adopted.
The Board then moved into reports by constitutional officers and department heads. Shane Hix, chief appraiser, presented the quarterly tax assessors’ report. He said that conservation use renewals were coming up after Jan. 1, and that individuals who are currently under it can renew it between then and April 1. Those who are not under it but qualify may also apply between those dates. Hix also shared that between Jan. 1 and April 1 residents can file for homestead exemptions; for individuals 65 or older, senior citizens’ homestead exemptions. Those who turned 65 in 2023 and wish to apply for senior citizens’ homestead exemptions must apply in 2024. Upon Michael Bennett’s request for clarification, Hix also added that individuals over 65 who have applied in the past do not have to renew their sign-ups.
Terrell Partain then presented the county administrator’s report, sharing that vehicle title fees, EMS fees, and LOST were all above expectations. He also added that the county was operating 1% over on expenses, which is normal for the month of November.
During the chairman’s report, Sayer lauded the Chamber of Commerce’s good judgment in choosing to cancel Sunday’s Christmas parade due to bad weather, and reminded county residents to check on their loved ones this holiday season.
During commissioners’ reports, Bennett echoed Sayer’s sentiments and, along with the other commissioners, wished Hart County a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Jeff Brown thanked other county employees for their hard work, and Joey Dorsey thanked the community’s volunteers and encouraged more people to donate their time in the coming year.
The Board then covered old business, beginning with land development’s third and final reading. The commissioners agreed that there were only two remaining details to come to a consensus on: whether to measure setbacks from the road right-of-way, property line, or the center of the road; and whether to set the lot limit in neighborhoods at either 10 or 15 lots. At the BOC’s previous meeting, Dorsey recommended the Board look into other counties’ state highway setback measurements before their last meeting of the year.
The Board quickly decided to settle the lot limit at 10; however, setback discussion proved more contentious.
“One size doesn’t fit all,” Dorsey said, concerned about fairness. Others, such as Brown, believed in still “staying consistent.”
Ultimately, Sayer moved to measure the setbacks from the property line, as “it’s worked all these years.”
The BOC accepted this with a 4-1 vote, with Dorsey opposed, saying, “I just don’t think that’s going to be fair to everybody.”
Brown also moved to take the discussion as the third and final reading with the amendment of ordinance language to measure from property line, in effect Jan. 1 and extending the moratorium to midnight on Dec. 31; this was approved with a 5-0 vote.
The BOC once again addressed the mobile home ordinance amendment from the previous meeting (in which they had voted to add outside electrical permits to requirements, for safety purposes). Upon Brown’s suggestion, the Board approved changing the installation requirements from the floor height not exceeding 5 feet to the pier height not exceeding that same amount.
The commissioners then canceled their Dec. 26 meeting, as it falls during the week of Christmas.
County attorney Kim Higginbotham added an amendment to the code of ordinances concerning building permits, which now requires that “a building permit for construction on subdivided land shall not be issued until such time as county approval has been provided,” after it has been determined that the lot meets the requirements laid out by the subdivision ordinance section. This was unanimously approved, along with a motion to change language in another section. The exemption criteria now include that the building permit requirements are not applicable when the building or renovation in question does not add value greater than $2,500 to the property.
The BOC also approved the contract for transportation of Department of Human Services (DHS) clients by Hart County Transit for fiscal year 2024, with a 5-0 vote. The contract determines that the Hart County Senior Center will provide meal transportation through Deanna Specialty Transportation, Inc. for its senior citizens.
The last old business item was the Bowersville deed from the intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between Hart County and Bowersville, which incorporates East Main Street in Bowersville into the county road system. Bennett’s motion that Sayer sign the IGA deed was seconded and approved with a 5-0 vote.
Partain then presented the 2024 county fee schedule resolution, concerning the increase in fees due to an increase in the cost of supplies. For example, regular solid waste tipping fees are now $60/ton, with yard waste $30/ton and mulch staying the same. 911 addressing fees are now $55 due to an increase in sign cost. EMS fees have also risen. The Board voted to revisit this item in January.
The BOC then considered the Christmas schedule for the solid waste convenience centers and Transfer Station, moving to authorize Partain to determine a schedule.
After granting a variance request, the BOC then quickly approved numerous beer & wine and distilled spirits licenses for various businesses. They also approved all Board appointment recommendations for the Recreation Advisory Board, Tax Assessors Board, and Chestatee-Chatahoochee Resource Conservation & Development Council Board.
The Board moved to enter executive session and later adjourned, concluding their meetings for 2023.
With the Dec. 26 meeting canceled, the next BOC meeting will be Jan. 9 at 6 p.m.