At the first regularly scheduled work session of 2022, Gilmer County commissioners began discussing ideas to help pay for infrastructure to match growth.
“Right now, infrastructure is the big problem we have on the subdivisions,” said Gilmer County Chair Charlie Paris. “I just hate to see the county in a position where somebody is developing a huge subdivision so now we have to build a fire station.”
Specifically, the board focused on large subdivisions and how developers could help mitigate the impact on infrastructure.
“If you’ve got a subdivision that is going to put hundreds, maybe even a thousand or more, homes in an area, that is going to cost the county a lot of money,” said Paris.
He said the costs would show up in increased fire protection, emergency services and roads, just to name a few.
“I just want to ask the question, should we then consider putting some regulations in place in the subdivisions that, depending on size, infrastructure considerations have to be made,” Paris said.
Originally, he discussed having the subdivisions build fire stations or donating the land as possible remedies.
Post Commissioner Karleen Ferguson asked if impact fees paid by the large developers were a possibility.
Paris said it was one way to go, or they could look at it on a case-by-case basis depending on where the developer decided to build and what infrastructure was in place.
It was pointed out the homebuyers become taxpayers in the county.
“As long as the Taxpayers Bill of Rights is in effect, we have to do the rollback rate,” Paris said. “Yes, they become taxpayers, but by the time we put in the rollback rate, we’re not getting a lot more money for them, if any.”
In essence, he said, it lowers the taxpayers rate for everyone else. During revaluation, revenue can go up some, but may not keep pace with the costs of infrastructure.
Post Commissioner Hubert Parker said it was an issue worth looking into, but he wanted to gather more information. He said the water authority has some impact fees.
“I am for impact fees, and have been for a long time, the board didn’t want to bring them or talk about them when we were doing the ordinance,” Ferguson said. “I am thinking for larger subdivisions which really have an impact.”
Department heads for public works, public safety and fire and rescue all voiced support for some system to allow developers of large subdivisions to help with infrastructure.
In the end, the board of commissioners discussed a group being put together made up of county employees, professionals, builders and citizens.
“The thing we would have to avoid, or else we wouldn’t get anything done, we couldn’t have, for lack of a better word, zealots on there,” Paris said.
Gilmer County Board of Commissioners work session took place Jan. 12, and the regular meeting was Jan. 13. At the meeting, commissioners worked through a lot of beginning of the year appointments and also looked at mobile cancer screening for firefighters.
Commissioners approved an agreement with SiteMed to provide physicals and cancer screenings. It is a mobile operation which will come to the firehouse.
“In years past, and up to current, there has been no physicals for firefighters with fire rescue,” said Gilmer County Chief Daniel Kauffman.
Physicals are now mandated, he said. Cancer is one of the leading causes of firefighter deaths.
A $55,000 grant will be used to pay for the physicals for two years.