Ordinance under discussion would apply to agricultural property
Foreign ownership of agriculture land could be banned if the commission chair gets his way.
Gilmer County Chair Charlie Paris has asked his fellow commissioners to allow the county attorney to come up with language for a ban.
“It’s another one of these situations where one or two bad apples spoils it for everyone,” Paris said. “In this case, the bad apple is China.”
In his mind, Paris said the ban would affect foreign governments, foreign citizens and foreign-owned corporations.
It would not affect property already owned by these entities.
Paris said his objection comes about because of some news stories about foreign owners buying up agricultural land to be used for spying.
“I just don’t want Gilmer County to be involved in any of that,” he said. “I just don’t think it would be good for us.”
At the work session Gilmer County Attorney David Clark said he was not sure any ordinance would be enforceable. He said the state and federal government should be taking the lead on the issue.
Other business
In other business, commissioners:
﹣ voted to name the Whitepath Road Bridge for Jack and Gene Thurman.
﹣ appointed Donald DeHart to the Gilmer County Election Board.
﹣ appointed Mike Dempsey to the Short-Term Rental Board.
﹣ asked the county attorney to look into removing the road paving list requirement from the county charter.
﹣ amended the budget to allow for $175,000 to demolish and replace the maintenance shelter at the golf course and the demolish a portion of the park and recreation storage facility near the civic center.
﹣ honored three deputies, the volunteers for the warming center and Gilmer County Clerk Edwina Daman.