The Habersham County Commission will discuss the animal control facility during its work session Monday. The discussion will be part of a SPLOST update and financing options for capital projects.
The construction of the new animal control facility has seen delays over the last year due to design issues and increasing construction costs.
The project was originally budgeted to cost the county approximately $1.75 million when Habersham County voters approved the project in November 2020. Over the last three and a half years, that project has ballooned to nearly $8 million.
Capital Projects Manager Jerry Badgett and Sunbelt Builders, Construction Manager at Risk (CM), will be providing an update on the project at the work session to the commissioners.
SEE RELATED: HABCO animal shelter moves one step closer to construction
Sunbelt Builders were approved as the CM during the commission’s regular meeting in May for nearly $500,000. During that meeting, Baggett told commissioners that approving the CM could result in the ground breaking for the animal shelter project as early as last month. According to Habersham County Commissioner Bruce Palmer, to his knowledge, that has not occurred.
Financial Advisor
County Manager Alicia Vaughn proposed implementing a Public Facilities Authority in October 2022 to fund not only the SPLOST projects but also possibly funding a new county jail. However, the county commission did not move forward with that proposal.
Now the commission will hear from financial advisors Davenport and Company during the work session Monday afternoon. The discussion will be focused on financing options that are available to the county for its capital projects, specifically SPLOST projects. Those projects include not only the animal shelter but also the new Central Fire Station and 911 Center.
Public comment
Dale Latty has signed up to speak to the commissioners about “pausing” the construction of the animal shelter for 90 days. His address will come during the commission’s regular meeting Monday after the work session.
According to a social media post, he is requesting the commission to “pause” construction so that others may be able to review documents and make suggestions to save costs on the animal shelter project due to construction cost increases.
Others are expected to speak in opposition of the “pause” but the agenda does not reflect that anyone has signed up. However, the public can sign up prior to the meeting to speak and will be given three minutes to address the commission.
Other business
During its regular meeting, the commission will consider an update to the Recreation Advisory Board by-laws. Over the last several months, a sub-committee of the board has looked over the by-laws and has requested that a seventh position be added to the advisory board and not add two at-large positions.
The sub-committee has also requested that under the “DUTIES” section of the by-laws that the Recreation Advisory Board receive a copy of the draft budget for the Recreation Department. The submission of the draft budget to the board would occur prior to the Recreation Department Director submitting it to the county Finance Department.
The commission will also revisit Habersham County Probate Judge Pam Wooley’s request to allow for the appointment of a temporary judge so she can recuse herself from a case in probate court. The matter was tabled during the commission’s August regular meeting.
The case involving the estate of Carol O’Dell Lovell, who passed away a few months ago, creates a conflict of interest for Wooley, and she cannot hear the case. She has asked the county commission to consider setting the temporary judge’s per diem compensation at $500 per day until the case is resolved.
The Habersham County Commission will meet for its work session and regular meeting on Monday, September 16. Both meetings will take place in the Habersham County Courthouse Jury Assembly Room located at 295 Llewellyn Street in Clarkesville. The work session will begin at 5 p.m. and the regular meeting will begin at 6 p.m.
