The Habersham County Commission approved several agenda items during its regular commission meeting Monday evening. They approved the school resource officer (SRO) intergovernmental agreement with the Habersham County Board of Education (BOE). The commission approved the replacement of all of the scoreboards at the ballfields for the Recreation Department and the sign at the fairgrounds will be moved and replaced.
SRO program
The new intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the BOE states that the school board will fully fund the SRO program, reimbursing the county for the expense. The budgeted amount to fully fund the program is over $1.1 million in salaries and benefits. The program proposes having one supervisor and 14 SRO positions, providing at least one SRO at each school. However, the program has not been fully staffed over the years.
Chief Financial Officer Tim Sims explained to the commission that the BOE previously paid 70% of the cost for the SRO program. Last year, the school board paid 80% of the cost. This year, the BOE will reimburse the county 100% of the deputies salaries and benefits for the program.
According to the IGA, the Sheriff’s Office will retain sole responsibility for all personnel assigned to the SRO program. Those deputies assigned will remain employees of the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office. The school board reserves the right for certain personnel not to be assigned to the program.
The BOE will provide office space for the school resource officer at each school that they are assigned to. The Sheriff’s Office will continue to provide all equipment and vehicles necessary to provide this service. However, the equipment and vehicles provided will remain the property of the Sheriff’s Office.
Vehicle transfer
In related business, Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell requested the surplus and transfer of a Sheriff’s Office vehicle to the BOE for the SRO program. The 2015 Dodge Charger has over 210,000 miles and is no longer a primary vehicle for the Sheriff’s Office. Terrell told the commission that the vehicle is only valued at about $2,000. Once transferred to the school board, the vehicle’s Sheriff’s Office decals would be removed and replaced with the school resource officer decals.
The commission approved both items unanimously.
Scoreboards
Baseball and softball players will see new scoreboards next year at the Recreation Department’s ballfields. The commission approved the replacement of all eight scoreboards at the ballfields the Recreation Department maintains.
The existing scoreboards are wired and use outdated technology and physical light bulbs. The cost and frequency of repairs make their maintenance highly unpredictable. The new scoreboards will be wireless, use LED screens, and will come with a warranty for their maintenance.
Electro-mech was awarded the contract for the Diamond Memorial Field scoreboards. The projects was funded by the FY 2024 Parks and Recreation Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) budget. The original project for the four scoreboards was bid out in June and came in under budget at $29,740. By adding the additional four scoreboards, the county says it will save approximately $30,000 on the entire project. The timing will also ensure all eight scoreboards will be replaced at one time.
Funding for the additional scoreboards would come from the Parks and Recreation FY 2025 CIP.
Fairgrounds sign
County commissioners approved the demolition and replacement of the fairground sign on Toccoa Highway/GA 17. According to Sims, the current sign is in disrepair and on a Georgia Power easement, so it must be demolished. A new sign will be constructed about ten feet away from the existing sign.
Through the bid process, the project has come in approximately $15,000 under budget for the demolition, construction, installation and training for the new sign with MetroLED, Sims said. The cost of the demolition and new sign replacement will be $39,356.
Department of Driver’s Services
The commission approved a facility usage agreement with the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS). According to that agreement, DDS would utilize a portion of the parking lot behind the aquatic center and classroom space inside the building to conduct its Motorcycle Safety Program from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
The agreement gives DDS permission to use the parking lot between the aquatic center and baseball/softball fields, space to store a conex container, and use of classroom space inside the aquatic center for testing.
Under the terms of the agreement, DDS will pay the county $150 per scheduled training session—up to twice per month (maximum of $300). DDS expects to have at least one training session scheduled per month year-round. Training would take place mostly during regular business hours, Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
County Manager Alicia Vaughn explained that the motorcycle safety training was being done at the aquatic center due to the permanent markings that DDS has to put down for the motorcycle course. Last year, the county sealed, repaved, and restriped the parking lot at the fairgrounds and did not want to mark up the parking lot. The aquatic center parking lot has not had any work done to it yet.
Vaughn also explained that where DDS is operating in the parking lot, it is out of the way enough that it does not cause a conflict with the main parking area or affect the pickleball and tennis courts.
