Habersham County Commissioner Bruce Palmer and County Manager Alicia Vaughn attended their final commission meeting Monday night. Palmer, who was not reelected to a second term, and Vaughn, who will resign her position effective December 27, both reflected on their accomplishments and expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to serve the county.
Palmer’s legacy as Commissioner
Bruce Palmer has served as a Habersham County Commissioner for the past four years. As his term comes to a close, he took time to reflect on some of the key achievements made during his tenure.
Palmer highlighted his role in negotiating a 10-year tax abatement for the development of the new Fairfield Inn hotel in Cornelia. The project had initially been proposed with a 15-year tax abatement. He also played a significant part in securing access to GA 365 for the new Central Fire Station, including a median crossing, at no cost to the county.
In addition to his work on major infrastructure projects, Palmer implemented two free community events at the Ruby Fulbright Aquatic Center. Swim Safety Day, which educates the public on water safety and drowning prevention, and a holiday event where Palmer takes on the role of Santa Claus for families, have both become popular events.
Despite his accomplishments, Palmer expressed that there were areas he wished he could have addressed during his time in office. He pointed to the need for a new detention center, more deputies and firefighters for public safety, and additional recycling centers to alleviate pressure on the county’s landfill as key issues left unresolved.
When asked about any regrets, Palmer admitted that mistakes are inevitable in any role but emphasized the importance of learning from them. “Everyone is human, we all make mistakes. The question is do we learn from them?” he said.
Palmer remains uncertain about his future. However, he has already accepted the appointment to the Chestatee Chattahoochee RC&D board and possibly may be appointed to the Georgia Mountain Regional Commission’s board as well as other boards.
He also expressed his gratitude to the citizens and employees of Habersham County. “To our citizens, I would like to say thank you and it’s an honor to have represented you as a commissioner,” Palmer said. “To the county employees, or better said as my county family, thank you for all the support you have provided for me to serve as your commissioner.”
Vaughn as County Manager
Alicia Vaughn has served as the Habersham County Manager for the past three and a half years. She took a moment to reflect on her time as County Manager.
During her tenure, she played a critical role in the early transfer of the Habersham County Hospital to Northeast Georgia Health Systems (NGHS), collaborating with the Hospital Authority and the Board of Commissioners (BOC) to ensure a smooth transition.
Vaughn also worked alongside the BOC and her management team to complete the Public Safety Radio System. She was instrumental in implementing the county’s pay structure for employees and in developing leadership and management training programs.
Vaughn shared one area she wished she could have addressed: the redevelopment of the old courthouse property. “I would love to see the old courthouse property cleaned and redeveloped,” she said. “This is something I had hoped to accomplish during my tenure.”
Vaughn expressed no regrets about her time as county manager, saying, “Absolutely no regrets! I have been very blessed to lead an incredible group of people.” She added, “My hopes are the board will continue to support our employees because they are a dedicated and amazing group.”
As her resignation date approaches, Vaughn plans to remain involved in local government. “I plan to stay in the local government field, either in county management or working in a consulting role assisting local government,” she said.
In her final message to the community and employees, Vaughn expressed her appreciation. “I wish to thank the community and my employees for the opportunity to be the County Manager for Habersham. This is an amazing community, and I hope the county, schools, cities, and other community partners will continue to look for ways to work together to protect all the characteristics that make Habersham so special.”
As Palmer and Vaughn move on from their roles, their contributions to Habersham County will be remembered.
