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The Hartwell Sun
Hart County’s local emergency declaration is extended until May 13, or as otherwise specified by the governor, and local work crews are aiding Stephens County after a Sunday night storm brought heavy damage to the nearby county.
The Hart County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the local emergency declaration extension on April 13 during a called meeting at Hartwell City Hall. The called meeting on Monday serves as the county’s regular biweekly meeting, which was scheduled for Tuesday, commission chairman Joey Dorsey said.
The local declaration mirrors Gov. Brian Kemp’s executive order to shelter-in-place, which was extended to April 30.
“Basically this just says, everything that’s in effect now stays in effect and if the governor makes any changes with his declaration, that will be binding to Hart County as well,” Dorsey said to summarize the local declaration’s extension.
The board of commissioners also unanimously approved a motion to assist Stephens County with mutual aid by sending work crews to help after storms knocked down power lines, blocked roads with trees and forced businesses to close temporarily.
“Stephens County got hit really hard with the storms last night,” Dorsey said. “The industrial park was hit very hard. A lot of trees down. They still have roads blocked. Walmart in Toccoa is closed. They don’t have power. Other businesses in Toccoa have been closed all day.”
Dorsey said if Hart County ever needed help and reached out to Stephens County, “I feel sure we would get it back as a reciprocal.”
In other business:
• The board opened bids for a new ambulance and turned them over to county administrator Terrell Partain for review.
• Max Saver’s appeal for a beer and wine license passed unanimously.
• The mobile home used for the Airline EMS substation was declared as surplus and was posted for sealed bids until noon on May 11.