Woman found dead hours after vehicle leads Banks County deputies on dangerous pursuit

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November 18, 2024

A woman was found dead on Saturday, Nov. 16, near a vehicle that had previously been involved in a chase with the Banks County Sheriff’s Office, according to authorities.

The woman has not been identified, and it’s unclear whether she was in the vehicle at the time of the chase.

Earlier that morning, just after 2 a.m., deputies observed a white Kia on I-85 north between mile markers 149 and 154 failing to maintain lane. When officers initiated a traffic stop, the vehicle allegedly fled and led police on a brief pursuit.

The vehicle then exited I-85 north at mile marker 154 onto Highway 63, drove through a roundabout on Highway 59 and traveled south toward GA-15/Highway 441.

The vehicle crossed into oncoming traffic numerous times, according to authorities, as police continued in pursuit. At an intersection, police say the driver failed to stop at the red light and turned left onto GA-15/Highway 441 before traveling southbound in the northbound lanes into Jackson County.

A multi-agency BOLO was issued after deputies lost sight of the vehicle, which was located on Saturday afternoon approximately 100 yards off the roadway.

In an area near the intersection of Highway 98/Highway 441, officers with the Commerce Police Department discovered a female deceased near a vehicle that matched the description of the Kia, according to police.

Georgia State Patrol has been called in to investigate.

Clermont Cares offers hope for special needs children at Christmas

By

Nora Almazan

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November 18, 2024

Clermont Cares 9 — Clermont Cares works to bring gifts to families with special needs children. (Clermont Historical Society)

With the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons just up ahead, many are looking for opportunities to help others and to feel a part of the true spirit of the holidays.

Clermont Cares is an avenue to help those who would not have a Christmas otherwise. They partner with the North Georgia Food Bank and other area organizations to identify and bless families with special needs children.

They are asking for your help in the donation of gift cards, non-perishable food, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and toys.

Many people do not realize that EBT (the electronic transfer program that allows Supplemental Assistance) does not cover such things as toothpaste, cleaning supplies, and diapers. These are such important items in any home, but any gift is appreciated and welcomed.

Families in need

“We have identified five families so far,” Sandra Cantrell of the Clermont Historical Society said.

“A few individuals help us to identify families who need extra help during the holidays.”

Family #1 has six children. They lost their father last summer, who was the income producer.

Mom stayed home to care for the children and is now trying to navigate how to work while raising six children. The family has four boys, ages 9, 6, 5, and 4, and two girls, ages 8 and 3.

Family #2 is a single mom with three boys, ages 9, 6, and 4.

Family #3 is a single mom with two boys, ages 9 (almost) and 5.

Family #4 is a grandmother raising two children, a boy, 9, and a girl.

Family #5 is a single mom with a boy, age 9.

Sandra Cantrell of Clermont Historical Society says Clermont Cares is a blessing for so many families. (Clermont Historical Society)

How you can help

The focus is on families who have special needs children.

“I remember a Christmas a few years ago, a grandmother was raising her grandchildren. And she needed help. She had lost her husband a few months before we heard about her,” Cantrell reminisced.

“It has always amazed me how people will bring the right gifts for the right family, and it’s obvious God has His hand in it. We were able to supply her with all that she needed without even asking for anything. It had already been given.”

Cantrell told another story of a handicapped adult who wanted a bicycle but it needed to have training wheels. We had no idea where we could get such a bike and Habersham Bicycle came through for us. “It made our Christmas and the generosity of Habersham Bicycle is always remembered.”

Bushels of Blessings

Tuesday, November 19 at 6 p.m. at the Chattahoochee Center, 639 Main Street, Clermont Cares is hosting a dinner. It is being held to celebrate these families.

Clermont Cares needs donations of toys for special needs children. (Clermont Historical Society)

The dinner is called Bushels of Blessings and it has been the official kick-off for Clermont Cares for the past 7 years.

Bring your gifts and a side dish or dessert. Ham is provided. RSVP by calling, texting, or emailing Sandra at 678-300-5206 if you would like to attend. This will be the first collection for these special families.

If you are unable to attend the dinner, you can drop off donations at The Clermont DIP Library & History Center and Clermont Town Hall located at 109 King Street, Clermont, GA.

Biden administration asks Congress for $98.4 billion in disaster aid after stormy year

By

Jennifer Shutt

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November 18, 2024

A tree-damaged house near Evans, Georgia, after Hurricane Helene damaged the area. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

WASHINGTON (States Newsroom) — The Biden administration is asking Congress to approve $98.4 billion in emergency spending to bolster the federal government’s response and recovery efforts following a series of natural disasters, including Hurricanes Helene and Milton that devastated parts of Southeastern states.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Agriculture would receive the bulk of the funding request, if lawmakers approve it in full, though they can increase, decrease, or ignore whatever they wish.

Congress is expected to begin vetting the supplemental spending request this week before departing on a one-week Thanksgiving break. It’s likely lawmakers and staff will release an emergency spending bill in early December when both chambers return for a three-week session.

“It is absolutely critical that these communities know that their government has not forgotten them,” White House budget director Shalanda Young said Monday in a briefing with reporters.

The spending request, she said, would address a series of natural disasters throughout the country, including ongoing recovery efforts following the wildfires in Maui; tornados across the Midwest; the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland; and severe storms in Alaska, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia were hit by the hurricanes.

Busy hurricane, tornado seasons

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said during the call that 2024 has been “a year of records.”

“Hurricane Beryl became the earliest Category 5 storm to form in the Atlantic and Hurricane Helene has devastated six states,” Criswell said. “We saw the second-busiest spring tornado season ever recorded. And we’ve seen, overall, a 50% increase in disaster activity.”

FEMA managed 114 disaster declarations during 2023, but has provided response and recovery aid to 172 natural disasters so far this year, Criswell said.

“To date, FEMA has obligated over $7.5 billion alone for the response and recovery for Hurricanes Helene and Milton,” she said. “These storms were incredibly large and spending on the first month, post-landfall for each storm outpaced nearly all disasters that we have responded to over the last 20 years.”

FEMA, she said, has enough funding to continue its life-saving response and recovery activities through the end of a stopgap funding bill on Dec. 20, assuming no other major disasters take place.

The emergency spending request released Monday asks Congress to provide

$40 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief fund.
$24 billion for the Department of Agriculture to “provide assistance to farmers that experienced crop or livestock losses due to natural disasters like hurricanes, drought and wildfires.” That funding would also go toward a permanent overhaul of pay for federal wildland firefighters and emergency food support programs, like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Programs for Women, Infants and Children or WIC, according to a fact sheet.
$12 billion for the Department of Housing and Urban Development for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery programs.
$8 billion for the Department of Transportation to repair roads and bridges throughout 40 states and territories that were “seriously damaged by natural disasters or catastrophic failures from external causes,” according to a fact sheet.
$4 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency for “long-term water system upgrades” as well as hazardous waste and debris clean up.
$3 billion for the Health and Human Services Department, which Young said would help “build supply chain capacity and resilience for IV fluids and other critical medical products that became scarce during recent hurricanes.”
$2 billion for the Small Business Administration for low-interest disaster loans.
$2 billion for the Commerce Department for flexible economic development grants and to buy three “hurricane hunter” aircraft.
$1 billion for the Education Department to aid schools in affected areas.
$1 billion for the Energy Department to “support grid rebuilding, modernization and future hardening efforts in areas hardest hit by Hurricanes Helene and Milton and funding to implement energy recovery efforts in communities affected by the Maui wildfires,” according to a fact sheet.
$500 million for the Army Corps of Engineers to reimburse the cost of cleaning up wreckage after a ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland.
$300 million for the State Department to “address the need for additional water infrastructure to prevent and reduce sewage flows and contamination at the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant” in California.
$200 million for the Interior Department for several programs, including a permanent overhaul of federal wildland firefighter pay, repairing siphons on the St. Mary Canal in Montana and mapping hazard impacts, according to the fact sheet.
$200 million for the Department of Labor’s Dislocated Worker National Reserve.
$100 million for the Legal Services Corporation for legal assistance for low-income disaster survivors.
$100 million for AmeriCorps for disaster recovery projects.

Congress to probe disaster recovery

Congressional committees are holding a series of hearings this week to delve into how the Biden administration responded to the slew of natural disasters that have happened this year and to vet the supplemental spending request.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing Tuesday morning with Criswell; North Carolina Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards, who represents western sections of the state, including Asheville; and Florida Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor, who represents parts of the Tampa Bay area.

The House Oversight and Accountability Committee will hold a hearing Tuesday afternoon on FEMA’s natural disaster response, with testimony from Criswell.

On Wednesday, the Senate Appropriations Committee will hold a hearing on disaster funding needs with testimony from Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Small Business Administrator Isabel Guzman, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Xochitl Torres Small, Deputy Secretary for the Department of Housing and Urban Development Adrianne Todman and FEMA Administrator Criswell.

The Appropriations committees in the House and Senate will work with leadership to draft the supplemental spending bill.

Clarkesville woman arrested on drug charges after alleged attempt to elude police

By

Brian Wellmeier

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November 18, 2024

A Clarkesville woman was arrested on a list of charges after she allegedly tried to elude Habersham County deputies earlier this month.

On Nov. 5, authorities say Jeanette Kristine Kelley, 26, was driving a red Ford Escape northbound on GA 365 when a deputy attempted to stop the vehicle for a suspended registration on Crane Mill Road.

Kelley allegedly continued at a speed of between 50-60 mph, “passing multiple side roads to pull over” until she took a quick turn onto Herring Mill Road. Police say Kelley ignored the officer’s sirens and blue lights and continued at about 40 mph as the vehicle approached Harrison Trail Road.

Jeanette Kristine Kelley (Habersham County Sheriff’s Office)

Kelley then came to an “abrupt stop,” according to police, and crawled over the elderly occupant opening the passenger door before she “attempted to run.”

The deputy pursued Kelley on foot for 25 yards before she was apprehended and placed under arrest, according to the report. Police say the passenger was detained for possession of drug related objects while Kelley allegedly admitted to being in possession of Fentanyl.

Two large baggies of methamphetamine also was located in the passenger side door of the vehicle, according to authorities.

Kelley was charged with probation violation, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, fleeing or attempting to elude an officer and expired registration.

Two people escape residential fire in White County

By

Brian Wellmeier

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November 18, 2024

Whiteco-Fire — Home on Underwood Farm Road in Cleveland is nearly destroyed by fire Sunday, Nov. 17 (Bryce Barrett/White County)

A White County home under construction on Underwood Farm Road was nearly destroyed in a fire as two people escaped uninjured.

Just after 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17, White County fire crews and emergency agencies responded to the call at a residence in the 300 block of Underwood Farm Road in Cleveland, where half of a home “under construction” was engulfed in flames.

Fire crews moved to contain the blaze to prevent the fire from spreading. Much of the home sustained significant fire damage, and the remaining portions of the structure were heavily affected by smoke, according to officials. Two occupants escaped the home without injury.

The Georgia State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire, which is not yet known.

Cornelia business “Smash It” aims to reopen in three weeks as repairs continue

By

Brian Wellmeier

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November 18, 2024

Smash It repairs — Smash It, located in Cornelia, continues repair efforts (Smash It/Facebook)

“Smash It,” a rage room recently opened near downtown Cornelia, will remain closed for about three more weeks as the business continues to undergo repairs.

Part of the business was damaged when an SUV wrecked through structure’s front entrance on Sunday, Nov. 3, near the intersection of Irvin Street and Level Grove Road.

“Repairs will begin next week and hopefully nothing else goes wrong,” the business posted on Facebook Friday, Nov. 15. “Thank you so much to everyone who has reached out and offered to help in one way or another. We appreciate you. We’re sorry to everyone who had to miss their appointment and everyone that has tried to come smash, please come back and see us when we’re open.”

A rage room – also known as a smash or anger room – serves as a space where customers can pay to destroy objects as a form of stress relief or for recreation.

GBI investigates officer-involved shooting in Cornelia (Brian Wellmeier/Now Habersham)

After the Nov. 3 accident, the driver of the SUV, Christian Drake Shurtleff, 33, of Mt. Airy, was shot by a Cornelia police officer during an alleged struggle at the scene. Authorities say Shurtleff became “uncooperative and combative” and “began to fight with the officer” before he was shot. Shurtleff was then taken to the hospital where he was treated for his injuries.

Shurtleff’s 7-year-old daughter, a passenger in the vehicle, was safely removed without injury.

The GBI, which is investigating the incident, has charged Shurtleff with felony obstruction of a law enforcement officer with other charges possibly pending. As a matter of routine, the GBI is asked to conduct independent investigations into officer-involved shootings.

U.S. lawmakers propose legislation to counter human trafficking

By

Staff Report

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November 18, 2024

U.S. Sens. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) recently proposed legislation intended to “crack down” on human trafficking at the southern border.

There’s reportedly been a rise in cases of kidnapping and extortion of migrants in U.S. border cities in recent years, according to federal authorities, as human smuggling has gone from a “largely individually-led enterprise” to one controlled by major “transnational criminal organizations.”

Through Ossoff’s and Blackburn’s bipartisan Border Smuggling Crackdown Act, updated sentencing guidelines for convicted human traffickers could “ensure penalties reflect the number of humans smuggled.”

With the Department of Justice reporting that current U.S. sentencing guidelines fail to address the scope of human smuggling crimes, officials say the new bipartisan bill could seek to update sentencing guidelines – in that they’d reflect the number of persons injured or murdered in instances of human smuggling.

“Criminals and human traffickers who exploit and smuggle human beings across our southern border must pay a heavy price. They threaten our national security and exploit victims of trafficking,” Ossoff said. “I’m introducing the Border Smuggling Crackdown Act with Senator Blackburn to empower federal law enforcement in their fight against human trafficking at our southern border.”

Blackburn also emphasized the need to “modernize” sentencing guidelines to counter human trafficking.

“Cartels at our southern border are trafficking and exploiting innocent men, women, and children every day,” Blackburn said. “Our bill would modernize federal sentencing law to better hold these human smugglers to account and ensure that sentencing for these crimes reflects every single person these criminals injure or murder.”

Officials say that in fiscal year 2023 there were 4,731 individuals sentenced for alien smuggling across the U.S. – a 675-person increase from FY22 and a 1,180-person increase from FY21.

Georgia election board resumes rulemaking push this week

By

Stanley Dunlap

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November 18, 2024

1NATION — Georgia Election Board member Janice Johnston voted Sept. 23 in favor of the board opening an investigation into eight county boards that review mass voter eligibility challenges filed predominantly by conservative residents. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

(Georgia Recorder) — The Georgia State Election Board will hold its first post-election meeting on Monday, where it is set to consider resuming its recent push to change Georgia’s election rules and stir the debate anew about counties review controversial mass voter challenges.

The State Election Board meeting is scheduled to begin Monday morning with a public comment period where people can discuss the board’s wishlist sketched out on a significantly condensed agenda, at least in contrast to marathon-length meetings recently held in a rush to enforce several new electoral rules by the Nov. 5th election.

On Nov. 5, President-elect Donald Trump won the election decisively in Georgia and six other swing states over Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, an outcome celebrated by Georgia Republicans waging the ongoing legal battle over the recent rulemaking of the State Election Board.

Three members of the board, Janelle King, Janice Johnston and Rick Jeffares, were publicly praised as “pit bulls” for victory at an Atlanta campaign rally by Trump this fall for their efforts to change the game for voters ahead of Georgia’s November election.

On Monday’s Georgia election board agenda are two rule amendment petitions filed by Lucia Frazier of Roswell, which would require each county to make public a list of all eligible voters during and after every election. Frazier wants the state board to mandate that counties post a numbered list of voters no later than five days after every primary, election, or run-off.

The file would include the name of every voter along with their voter ID, precinct, and check-in time and must be available for two years after the election.

“The intent of this petition is to have the State Election Board adopt a rule change to affirm existing Georgia law in that citizens of Georgia have access to all data generated in the process of elections,” Frazier wrote.

In September, Frazier’s husband, Republican activist Jason Frazier, retracted his lawsuit alleging Fulton County election officials failed to remove ineligible voters from their registration lists.

The State Election Board will continue the debate Monday following a report by Executive Director Mike Coan that assessed how election boards are handling mass voter challenges in Fulton and other metro Atlanta counties.

The Trump-aligned Georgia election board members all voted last month against their two colleagues to ask state lawmakers to update rules that would make it more difficult for county election boards to reject thousands of challenges to voters’ eligibility.

With two new conservative board members appointed this year, the board meetings became the site of a heated debate over several election administration proposals pushed by the Republican majority.

Georgia’s board, which has no direct role in determining election results, writes rules to ensure that elections run smoothly and hears complaints about alleged violations. The state Legislature creates laws that govern elections, a principle upheld as King, Johnston and Jeffares tried to advance their agenda since this summer.

Democrats and voting rights groups fear that a recently cemented majority of right-leaning Republican partisans on the board could push the limits of state law with rules hindering the effective administration of elections and the swift certification of results.

The Georgia Supreme Court has agreed to review the legality of several rules passed this year by Georgia election officials.

Madeline Summerville, an Atlanta-based attorney and political analyst, said she hopes the outcome of this November’s election will lead to fewer petitions to change Georgia’s election rules pushed at the election board’s meetings, which have often been packed with people waving signs, demanding changes like a requirement for hand counts of paper ballots.

The 2024 general election will prove the current election administration protocols are working as intended and disprove widespread fraud claims, she said.

The upcoming Legislative session is likely the place where new election rules will be put in place, Summerville said.

“I think that in the future you are likely to see fewer of these pushes simply because the people who are pushing them got the outcome they wanted,” she said. “But I do think the state Legislature will try to take up whatever the strongest arguments are and drop the rest.”

Cornelia man arrested after ‘hospital toilet heist’ in Lavonia

By

Brian Wellmeier

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November 18, 2024

Philip Alexander of Cornelia arrested by Lavonia Police Department last week (Lavonia Police Department/Facebook)

A Cornelia man was arrested last week after allegedly stealing “metal components” from toilets at Saint Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia, according to police.

The hospital had reported “multiple thefts” over the course of several days after “various toilet components” disappeared from restrooms throughout the building.

On Thursday, Nov. 14, an investigation led police to Philip Alexander of Cornelia. During a search of Alexander’s vehicle, officers say they recovered “stolen toilet components” and tools they believe the suspect used in the theft.

Alexander was also in possession of financial transaction cards of other individuals, according to authorities, as well as suspected methamphetamine.

Alexander was arrested and transported to the Franklin County Detention Center, though a release by the Lavonia Police Department didn’t disclose his specific charges.

Chick-fil-A Cornelia hosts annual Christmas Tree Lighting

By

Nora Almazan

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November 18, 2024

CFA 3 — November 18, 6:30 p.m. join with friends and family for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting at Chick-fil-A Cornelia. (Christy Bowen/Chick-fil-A)

The night will be much brighter around 330 Furniture Drive in Cornelia, Georgia, with the annual Chick-fil-A Christmas Tree Lighting.

“We have been working on this year’s display since September,” Christy Bowen said excitedly. “Many of our decorations are handmade!”

Hot Chocolate, candy canes, and snowmen are only some of the decorations at Chick-fil-A Cornelia. (Christy Bowen/Chick-fil-A)

On Monday, November 18, at 6:30 p.m., Chick-fil-A’s hard work and beautiful ornaments will light up the holidays for all those who visit the restaurant or pass by.

Known for its holiday displays, Chick-fil-A welcomes you to ‘Share the Merry’ and spend time with family and friends.

Owner-operator Chris Wright invites everyone to come and experience a Pepperminty Wonderland. “Come see our Gingerbread family, friendly Snowman, and an 8 1/2 ft Santa.”

With candy canes and lollipops adorning the drive-through and toy soldiers to welcome you by the door, the restaurant is bathed in the holiday spirit. Enjoy samples of the all-time favorite Seasonal Peppermint Chip Milkshake, and if you haven’t had dinner, bring the family for the show.

Lollipops and other treats adorn the drive-through at Chick-fil-A, Cornelia, GA. (Christy Bowen/Chick-fil-A)

If you can’t join in person, a Facebook Live video will be broadcast to make sure no one misses out on this spectacular holiday event.

Beginning at 6:30 p.m., it is a delicious way to bring in the holiday season.

“We can’t wait to see you and show you all the new decorations,” Christy Bowen added.

What to know about the congressional push to expand some Social Security benefits

By

Associated Press

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November 18, 2024

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has passed legislation that would provide full Social Security benefits to millions of people, pushing it one step closer to becoming law.

The Social Security bill won bipartisan support in the House, 327-75, on Nov. 12 in what is now the lame-duck period for Congress. The bill now heads to the Senate, where passage is not assured despite considerable support.

Here’s what to know about the legislation and what could happen next.

WHAT DOES THE BILL DO?

Decades in the making, the bill would repeal two federal policies — the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset — that currently limit Social Security payouts for roughly 2.8 million people, according to reports from the Congressional Research Service.

The policies broadly reduce payments to two groups of Social Security recipients: people who also receive a pension from a job that is not covered by Social Security and surviving spouses of Social Security recipients who receive a government pension of their own.

People who worked in state, local and federal government jobs have been heavily affected by the policies, as have teachers, firefighters and police officers, according to lawmakers and advocates.

Both provisions would be repealed by the bill, thereby increasing Social Security payments for many.

WHAT WOULD BE THE COST OF EXPANDING THE BENEFITS?

The budgetary effect of the legislation is considerable, adding an estimated $195 billion to federal deficits over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

That means more fiscal strain on the Social Security Trust funds, which were already estimated to be unable to pay out full benefits beginning in 2035. Some conservatives in the House attempted to block the legislation due to its cost.

Supporters of the bill in the House acknowledged the fiscal impact but said it was a matter of fairness.

“For more than 40 years, the Social Security trust funds have been artificially propped up by stolen benefits that millions of Americans paid for and that their families deserve,” said Reps. Garret Graves, R-La. and Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., the lead sponsors of the bill in the House.

“The time to put an end to this theft is now,” they said.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

The Social Security bill has 63 sponsors in the Senate — a significant tally because 60 votes are needed to pass most legislation in the chamber.

Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, the lead sponsors, have urged colleagues to take up the bill as soon as possible.

But the Senate has a jam-packed schedule in the remaining weeks of the year, with government funding, disaster relief and an annual must-pass defense bill likely to eat up considerable floor time.

If passed by the Senate, the bill would go to President Joe Biden. If the bill is signed into law, the changes would be effective for benefits payable after December 2023.

But if the bill doesn’t pass the Senate by Jan. 3, when a new session of Congress begins, it would expire and supporters would have to start over.

HabCo Comm. will discuss gymnastics privatization and shelter finance options

By

Jerry Neace

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November 17, 2024

HabCo Comm. July-2024 — The Habersham County Commission will meet Monday, November 18, for a work session and regular meeting to discuss and consider privatizing the gymnastics program and financing options for the new animal shelter. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)

The Habersham County Commission will hold a work session Monday prior to its regular meeting. It will discuss the request for proposals (RFP) for the privatization of the gymnastics program and financing options for the animal shelter.

Both items are also on the commission’s regular meeting agenda for it to consider moving forward with privatization of the program and financing the construction of the animal shelter.

A handful of citizens have requested that the gymnastics program that is currently run by the county’s Rec Department be privatized in an effort to cut costs to taxpayers. Fees collected for the program are not enough to cover the cost and must be subsidized by taxpayers. However, many support the program and want it to remain a public service through the county’s Rec. Department.

Animal shelter financing

The commission will discuss financing the construction of the SPLOST approved animal shelter project. The project cost has been a source of contention for some in the community with many supporters in the community wanting to see it built now rather than later.

Estimated construction costs have soared over the last four years for the project that was originally budgeted for $1.75 million. Commissioners have admitted that the original amount budgeted for the project was grossly inadequate. Now the commission will consider how to fund the project that is estimated to cost more than $7.5 million after value engineering reductions.

Two options have been presented to fund the animal shelter project. One financing option is where the county could borrow the money as a lease/purchase option. The county did the same financing for the Administration Building. The county would repay the money as a certificate of participation. This option will cost more due to having a higher interest rate.

Industrial Development Authority

The other financing option is reactivating an industrial development authority. This authority could give the county the flexibility to fund other projects by issuing bonds. During a recent commission meeting, Commissioner Jimmy Tench asked if this authority was similar to a Public Facilities Authority? County Attorney Donnie Hunt responded that it was similar. The interest rate for the bonds is lower than the interest rate for certificates of participation.

Neither financing option requires a voter referendum and can be approved by the county commission.

The Habersham County Commission will meet for a work session at 5 p.m. and its regular commission meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, November 18. Both meetings will be held in the Jury Assembly Room in the Habersham County Courthouse located at 295 Llewellyn Street in Clarkesville.