Gordon County nets several recreation awards

Gordon County Parks and Recreation took home several awards from the District 5 of the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association. The recreation awards went to Don Holley for District Professional of the year. Charles Stephenson was awarded the Facilities and Grounds Professional of the Year and the Gordon County Parks and Recreation Department is the Agency of the Year.

“It was a good night for Gordon County,” said James Ledbetter, county administrator about the recreation awards.

Retiring judge

Superior Court Judge David K. Smith, the Chief Judge of the Cherokee Judicial Circuit plans to retire after 20s years on the bench.

“He has served the citizens of Gordon and Bartow County well,” said Ledbetter. “He presided over the courtroom with fairness, equality, knowledge, professionalism and integrity.”

License suspension

The commissioners voted to suspend the license for beer and wine sales at Rainbow Corner on Dews Pond Road through the remainder of

the year and impose a $1,000 fine for selling alcohol to minors. The suspension coincides with the expiration date of the license.

Financial report

SPLOST earnings for September were $795,297.85, a 1.31-percent increase over the $10,282.27 from the same period in 2019. LOST came in at $504,068.35, a 1.14-percent increase from $5,699.50 for September 2019.

The budget numbers are in for fiscal year 2020. The county collected $36,383,494.85 and expenditures were $33,149,249.79 leaving the county in the black by $3,234,245.06. In 2019, the county collected $32,742,685.51 and spent $33,517,836.91, putting it in the red by $775,151.40. The county collected $3,640,809.34 more in FY 2020 over FY 2019 and expenditures decreased by $368, 587.12.

GEORGIA GOES TO TRUMP

COVID-19 update

The Covid-19 task force met Tuesday morning and Ledbetter presented the following information to the board.

• • Public safety has 436 total personnel with ten total out of service and six quarantined due to COVID.
  • The hospital update, as of Monday, shows 15 COVID-19 patients and two additional patients under investigation. Three of the fifteen are in critical care.
  • As of Monday, November 2, Gordon County has had 2,467 cases and 47 deaths which is up 309 cases and five deaths in the last two weeks. As of Monday, October 19, Gordon County had 2,158 cases and 42 deaths which is up by 240 cases and two deaths in the last two weeks.
  • In Georgia , there were a total of 362,921 cases and 7,999 deaths as of Monday, November 2.

SEE GORDON COUNTY ELECTION RESULTS AND JOB OPENINGS

Tropical storm Zeta update

More than 100 trees from the roads were cleared after the storm passed through Gordon County early Thursday morning and all roads are no opened.

Bray Road

The county continues to wait for a GDOT response to the complaint of water runoff from the new bypass that is affecting Bray Road.

Construction update

Site work at the courthouse annex continues with the construction of the new retaining wall. Starting Thursday, the second floor of the Annex will be moved to the Plaza and the next project meeting is scheduled for Nov. 19.

An application for a $175,000 matching Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant has been filed. Ledbetter credited Keith King of the county with spearheading the project. The grant would go to Brookshire Park for upgrades. Boy Scout Troop 22 and New Echota Rivers Alliance have offered in kind labor and Oostanaula Baptist Church will sponsor three picnic tables totaling $1,500.

Emergency radio coverage

The county is meeting with  the company that currently maintains the radio system to discuss short- and long-term solutions to providing coverage for areas with poor reception.

Finance director

Ledbetter said he intends to announce the results of candidate interviews at the next meeting.