Commissioners take no action on Parkdale Village proposal

Hart County Commissioners took no action on a resolution of support for a 56-unit Parkdale Village Proposal at Tuesday’s commission meeting. Commissioner Jeff Brown was not present at the meeting due to being out of the country.

The complex’s potential developer is Parkdale Village LP, and Edward Libershal spoke at the meeting in support of the project and answered any questions from commissioners.

“We’ve looked at this every which way we can look at this,” said commission chair Marshall Sayer about the proposal. “It’s not going to be a project the county is going to be able to support [because of the current moratorium].”

Commissioners originally voted on July 27, 2021 to enact a moratorium that halted all residential development outside of site-specific, stick-built single family residential homes, mobile homes or modular homes in order to modify its ordinances regarding subdivisions and multi-family residential developments.

Commissioners voted to place the county under a 180-day moratorium on July 27, 2021, before voting on three separate occasions to extend the moratorium. The current extension is set to expire in July.

Libershal asked commissioners if they would consider a resolution of support for the project and for the language to be modified to address some of the questions and concerns commissioners had.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t see a way the county will be able to do this,” Sayer said.

Commissioners also discussed that there is already a development across the street from the proposed one, and it would be setting a precedent to approve a development that does not have concrete site plans and they would have to consider similar future developments.

Hartwell City Council members approved a letter of support for the same development at its May 1 council meeting. The commissioners agreed Libershal should meet with county attorney Kim Higginbotham to look at the language in the proposal, and if she says it meets certain requirements, a special called meeting would be held to take action.

Bid awarded for road paving

In other business, commissioners awarded a bid to Franklin County, Ga., paving contractor Stratton & Sons Construction, Inc. for re-paving, widening, milling and stripping of roads.

County administrator Terrell Partain said Bio Church Road will be widened by one foot on each side before leveling and topping. At 2.5 miles from State Route 172 to intersection of Bio Lane and Bethesda Road, there will be 4 feet depth of asphalt in the widened area, with an estimated tonnage 650.

Airline Goldmine Road will have milling and patching 3.5 miles from beginning at State Highway 51 to the intersection of Alexander Ray Road and in various sections milled with 4 feet depth of asphalt applied in patched areas – approximately 2,400 sq. yards.

Other roads will be striped using GDOT specification reflective paint.

Laurel Drive will be striped 0.965 miles from the city limits of Hartwell to Memorial Road. There will be a white fog line on each side, with a double yellow center line, and a stop bar at the Memorial Road intersection.

Milford Road will be striped 0.695 miles from Old 29 Highway to Ridge Road, with a double yellow center line and stop bars at each end.

Bio Church Road will be striped 4.075 miles from State Route 77 to State Route 172, with white fog lines on each side, a double yellow center, and stop bar at each end.

Cold Water Road will be striped 1.103 miles from State Route 77 to the Elbert County line, with a white fog line on each side, a double yellow center line, and a stop bar at Ga. 77 end.

No action on Recreation Department Grant

In other business, commissioners did not take action on a request giving the Recreation and Parks department permission to apply for a $500,000 LWCF Grant to go towards a Recreation Center.

Recreation and Parks Director James Owens spoke to commissioners and said Hart County is the only county among surrounding counties that does not have a Recreation Center.

Commissioners discussed that funding should be geared toward a much-needed jail in the county and could not see approving a grant application for a project that might not be able to be completed now because of matching funding needed for the grant.

“It’s not that we are neglecting the Recreation Department,” commissioners discussed. “We’ve got to get behind this jail first. We’re not saying no, but we can’t right now.”

Additional equipment for EMS, 6U tackle football approved

Commissioners approved a request from Hart County EMS to purchase five stretchers and one cardiac monitor. EMS Director Mike Adams presented the proposal to commissioners at the meeting. These items would be funded with ARPA funds and the total budget would be amended by adding $170,000 to the existing budget.

Commissioners also approved hiring an EMT-A with 10 years experience full time to fill one of the open slots. “We want to provide them with the resources they need,” Sayer said about why it is important to equip them properly. All commissioners agreed that EMS and public safety do a great job for the community and need to be supported.

Commissioners approved adding 6U Tackle Football to the recreation department program. They also approved the Recreation Youth Tackle Football fee increase to $90 from $65, which is more in line with what surrounding areas are charging.

Commissioners also approved an increase for recreation basketball scorekeepers’ pay from $10 to $12 per game.

Commissioners approved allowing the senior center to apply for a grant in the county’s name worth up to $15,000. It would be at no cost to the county.

A temporary beer and wine permit for Hart County Humane Society for a Lake Hartwell music festival event May 28, 2023 was awarded. Commissioners encouraged attendees to support the humane society while also having a good time and listening to great music.

Public comment and closed session

Commissioners opened the floor for public comment, but it was brought with no participation from the audience. Before the floor opened for comment, Sayer said that public comment was meant for county business and “not to take a shot at a commissioner or any of those sorts of things.”

Commissioners then went into closed session to discuss litigation and real estate. When asked by a reporter if there would be an action, Higginbotham said she was unsure because she was not certain what the specific discussion regarding litigation and real estate would be.

No action was taken after the closed session ended.