Fire Chief becomes a department head in reorganization
Gilmer County’s golf course director will now also be the director of the parks and recreation department.
Commissioners voted unanimously following a closed session at a special called meeting May 2, to appoint Mike Brumby as the director of the parks and recreation department. He will also maintain his position as head of the golf course.
“He is just a good candidate,” said Post Commissioner Hubert Parker.
Brumby, who has been heading up Whitepath Golf Course since 2014, will get a salary bump from $68,000 to $78,000.
“It is a restructure,” said Gilmer County Chair Charlie Paris.
Fire Chief
Gilmer County’s fire chief has been made a department head in a another change to the county’s organizational chart.
By unanimous vote, the change was made at a special called meeting April 25, following a 50-minute closed session.
“We had an inspection of the fire department,” said Paris.
Following the inspection, they discovered Public Safety Director Keith Kucera, who is not a certified firefighter, could not be head of the department.
Paris said the solution was to make Fire Chief Daniel Kauffman a department head. Kauffman will be in charge of the fire department and emergency medical services.
Kucera with continue as the Emergency Management Director for the county. His duties will include disaster preparation and management, as well as grant procurement.
Parks and Rec
At the same meeting April 25, commissioners reviewed the bylaws for a Parks and Recreation Advisory board.
The board will consist of nine members total. Each commissioner will appoint three members — one for a one-year term, one for a two-year term and one for a three-year term.
Paris said this way the board will have a staggered membership with three members being appointed for three years in the future.
Creation of the advisory board is set to take place at the regular May meeting of the board of commissioners.
Inmate insurance
Commissioners revisited action on purchase of catastrophic inmate medical insurance which was tabled at an earlier meeting.
The board voted unanimously to spend $21,600 for the coverage.
Paris told the post commissioners the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office was in favor of the policy. He said he was told one inmate having a heart attack could cost the department thousands of dollars.
“They do feel strongly it is needed,” Paris said.
The policy will be contracted through the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia.
HB1405
Commissioners reviewed changes to Gilmer County ordinances mandated by HB 1405 which is set to take effect June 1 and must be active in the county by July 1.
The changes mostly deal with advertising and hearing requirements for intense land use zoning.
“They are not optional,” said Paris.
He said they are fairly minor changes.
Commissioners reviewed the changes and expect a public hearing to be scheduled in May.