Following an hourlong closed session, Gilmer County commissioners voted to spend $175,000 to buy 2 acres of property.
Land was not the goal of the purchase, but rather cutting down trees on the land which were beginning to encroach on the flight path in to the airport.
“This was basically an emergency situation,” said Gilmer County Chair Charlie Paris. “It was a dangerous situation.”
Paris said the airport had precision approach lights installed which could not be certified because of the trees.
“We were basically given the ultimatum to get rid of those trees,” he said. “This is our permanent solution. Now, we will take them to the ground.”
A similar situation arose in the past, Paris said, where the county had to bargain with the landowner to top some trees for safety at the airport.
The vote was taken at a special called meeting Oct. 28, attended by Paris and Post Commissioner Hubert Parker.
Contract prosecutor
Earlier in the meeting, the board voted to contract with Courtney Stuart to represent the county in cases brought before the magistrate court.
Magistrate is where citations dealing with county ordinances are dealt with, issues such as animal citations or junk cars, for example.
Paris said a similar situation arose in Fannin and Pickens counties. If the defendant brought a lawyer, there was no one representing the county.
“We have to either stop citing people or provide someone to prosecute,” Paris said.
A retainer of $1,000 a month will be paid to Stuart to represent the county.