While the holiday season is upon us, the business of Habersham County continues to move forward. The Habersham County Commission has called a meeting for Tuesday, December 3, to discuss several important key issues that have been lingering for months.
The agenda for the meeting includes decisions on the animal shelter and the gymnastics program. It will also hold a closed session to discuss property disposal and personnel. It is expected that the items to be discussed are the county manager search and the potential disposal of the old courthouse.
Animal shelter funding
One of the key topics for discussion is the funding for the county’s long-awaited animal shelter. The project has been on the table for several months. The commission has been making incremental progress on value engineering and addressing various questions surrounding the shelter’s financing. Now, with many of those questions resolved, the commission will need to make a final decision on how to fund the project and move it forward. This decision is seen as a crucial step in meeting the county’s animal welfare needs in the future.
Gymnastics program privatization
Another issue up for consideration is the potential privatization of the county’s gymnastics program. This topic first emerged during the county’s budget discussions earlier this year. It became clear that the gymnastics program was running at a significant loss, with taxpayers subsidizing the service to the tune of approximately $100,000 annually.
The county issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the privatization of the program. It only received one submission, North Georgia Reigns Gymnastics located in Cleveland. Owner Neva Daniels expressed her willingness to take over the program, assuring the commission that it would remain affordable and uninterrupted for Habersham County families. The county must now decide whether to move forward with this privatization plan or explore other options.
Executive session
The commission will also hold a closed session to discuss property disposal and personnel matters.
Personnel discussion is widely expected to focus on the search for a new county manager. County Manager Alicia Vaughn submitted an amended employment contract in September that the commission approved. Her last day is December 27.
County manager search
Since October, the commission has been reviewing 31 applications for the position. However, sources close to the process suggest that the commission has yet to narrow the pool to a final list of candidates. There is also speculation about whether the commission will hire an interim manager or a permanent replacement. Details on the candidates will not be made public until the commission has selected three candidates as finalists or a sole finalist for the position. With time running out, the commission will need to make a decision soon prior to Vaughn’s departure.
Property disposal
Another major item is the potential transfer of the old courthouse property to the Habersham County Development Authority. The request was presented by Development Authority Chairman Jim Butterworth in October. It comes on the heels of Parkside Partners withdrawing from a memorandum of understanding with the county, the development authority, and the City of Clarkesville regarding redevelopment plans for the courthouse site.
The development authority has proposed demolishing the old courthouse and marketing the property for redevelopment. The cost of demolition would be borne by the Development Authority. The proceeds from any sale of the property will be used to reimburse the authority for the demolition expenses. Remaining funds would be split 50/50 between the county and the development authority.
As the year winds down, the Habersham County Commission has a number of important decisions. Those decisions will impact the county’s future. The meeting will be critical in determining the next steps for the animal shelter, gymnastics program, county manager search, and old courthouse property.
The Habersham County Commission will meet Tuesday, December 3, at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Jury Assembly Room in the Habersham County Courthouse located at 295 Llewellyn Street in Clarkesville.
