The Habersham County Commission will kick off its 2025 meetings with new Commissioner Kelly Woodall on Tuesday, January 21, with both a work session and a regular commission meeting. Commissioners are set to discuss a range of important topics, including a fire consolidation study, selecting a chairman and vice-chairman, as well as HB 581, a piece of state legislation that could impact county tax policy.
Work session
The commission will begin its work session at 5 p.m. to discuss the Safe Streets for All Action Plan. Public Works Director Jerry Baggett and representatives from the engineering firm Kimley-Horn, based in Atlanta, will provide details about the plan, which aims to improve safety and infrastructure in the county.
Additionally, Interim County Manager Tim Sims will present information on the floating homestead exemption and the potential for a future local option sales tax, often referred to as HB 581. On Wednesday, January 22, county officials will participate in a joint public meeting with city representatives to discuss the impacts of HB 581 on the community.
Regular meeting
The regular commission meeting will begin at 6 p.m. and is expected to include discussions on several key items.
One major topic is the proposed fire consolidation feasibility study. Over the past few months, county and city officials have discussed the possibility of consolidating fire services across Habersham County. The cities of Baldwin, Cornelia, Clarkesville, Demorest, and Tallulah Falls have all passed resolutions to participate in the study at no cost.
The commission will consider moving forward with the study, which will be conducted by Southeastern Fire Consulting Company, LLC. The cost of the study is estimated at $55,000.
Another key item on the agenda is HB 581, which relates to a statewide floating homestead exemption. The commission will consider a resolution that would allow the floating exemption to remain in place for county property owners who qualify for a homestead exemption. This decision would also set the stage for a future sales and use tax referendum that county voters could consider.
County officials have previously indicated that they believe Habersham’s current homestead exemption freeze—where the valuation of eligible properties remains fixed until they are sold or significant improvements are made—provides more benefits than the statewide floating exemption.
Other business
The commission will also vote to elect a Chairman and Vice Chairman for 2025. Commissioner Ty Akins has served as Chairman for the last two years, while Commissioner Bruce Harkness has held the Vice-Chairman position for the past three years.
Additionally, the commission will discuss personnel and property disposal matters in a closed session. The county recently reopened the application window for the county manager position, following the departure of former County Manager Alicia Vaughn. The application period closed on January 9.
Earlier this month, the city of Clarkesville publicly proposed purchasing the old Habersham County Courthouse property and assuming the cost of demolishing the building. This issue is expected to be discussed during the closed session as well.
Meeting details
The Habersham County Commission will meet on Tuesday, January 21, with the work session at 5 p.m. and the regular meeting at 6 p.m. Both meetings will take place in the Jury Assembly Room of the Habersham County Courthouse, located at 295 Llewellyn Street in Clarkesville.
Typically, commission meetings are held on the third Monday of each month, but due to the observance of Martin Luther King Day on Monday, January 20, county offices will be closed, resulting in the meeting schedule being adjusted.
