Gilmer County commissioners canceled a public hearing on a short-term rental ordinance and said they were going back to work on the document.
“I think everybody here, unless there has been a change of heart recently, agrees that we are going to kind of start this thing again,” said Chair Charlie Paris. “We are probably just going to start this whole process over again.”
Paris said a lot of short-term rental owners were pushing the Union County ordinance, or something similar, in communications with him. His take was to do what Union County has done and see what people think.
“I think we can incorporate a lot of Union County’s in ours, but I don’t think we throw everything out that we have already done,” said Post Commissioner Hubert Parker.
County Attorney David Clark said the public hearing would be of little benefit. He recommended canceling the public comment period and schedule a work session for the ordinance.
No date was scheduled as of press time.
Joint Comprehensive Plan
Following comment at a previous meeting about the process commissioner used to come up with names for members of the board tasked with developing a Joint Comprehensive Plan for the county and cities, Paris asked the board to renominate the slate.
The board approved naming Mark Holden, Laurel Johnson, Betsy Sheppard, Patrick Burnette, Jim Dupont, Terry Palmeri, Andy Futch, Bobby McNeil, Donna Reece, Scott Stephens and Debbie Osborne.
Paris originally said someone from the group of people who call themselves Keep Gilmer Rural should be added to the board.
In a slate which included Susan Smith, the motion died for lack of a second.
Clark suggested the board approve each member individually. All names were approved except Smith, which died for lack of a second.
Kimberly Reckles spoke up from the audience and volunteered to serve on the board.
“Kimberly, with all due respect, I can’t support that,” said Paris. “I just feel you are too out there.”
From the audience, Diane Schiesser said she was part of Keep Gilmer Rural and supported similar views to Reckles and would serve.
Thomas Morgan asked the board to consider appointing someone from the local utility commission.
Paris said they would look at those nominations at the next meeting.
When it came time for Citizens Wishing to Speak, Reckles lambasted the board.
“You all live in an echo chamber,” she said.
Reckles said she represented the voice of the people of Gilmer County which is never heard.
Turniptown Road abandonment
Commissioners heard from landowner David Bowman who is asking commissioners to abandon a portion of Turniptown Road which runs through his property and to the Lanning family cemetery.
Bowman said he wanted to end public access to his land, but would make provisions for members of the Lanning family to be able to reach the cemetery.
He said he spoke with those who claimed to represent the family.
Several speakers showed up who said they had relatives and ancestors in the cemetery, and they had not agreed to the abandonment. They asked commissioners to continue to maintain the road.
Clark said there were two different issues being put forth. One was family members wanting access to the cemetery. He said any agreement he recommended would provide for some means of access to the cemetery.
He said the other issue was people who want access to U.S. Forest Service land. He said the county could not provide access across private property.
“I can’t imagine there is anyone in here today that would suggest they would allow someone to walk across their property and hunt on another piece of property,” he said “Not unless you gave me permission.”
Paris said there would be a public hearing before the next meeting where the abandonment is set to be considered.
Other business
﹣ Commissioners agreed to allow the Planning and Zoning Department to contract with Bureau Veritas North America to provide inspectors to supplement the one inspector employed by the county. Director Jim Smith said it was cheaper at $95 for a contracted building inspection versus hiring and training an inspector.
﹣ Commissioners approved a paving list including Wingate Road (the east portion), Knight Road, Holt Bridge Road, Hagin Circle, Evans Road, Cartecay Cove Road, Old Miller Rock, Bear Paw Trail, Orchard Lane and Mountaintown Road. They removed Clear Creek Road to get the list within budget.
﹣ Agreed to extend a moratorium on digital billboards for six more months.