The Lumpkin County Trails Committee worked successfully for five years as a required public involvement for trails grants.  A single experienced county resident contractor had worked with the committee to lay out a route for the trail with switchbacks that would make the trail accessible to almost anyone who could walk.  Numerous volunteers who had training in trail construction had committed to help construct such a trail.

Public concerns were disregarded and public input eliminated when commissioners hired an independent contractor at a much greater cost to the county.  You see, when the trail was built, Lumpkin County had more money than it had sense.  The building boom was still going full force with property values and taxes still rising.

The hired contractor designed and constructed a trail straight down a steep hill toward and within a few feet of the reservoir.  It’s no wonder the EPD finally questioned the wisdom of a silt fence to protect the reservoir from a mudslide down that hill.

Unfortunately, the county now seems to have made the situation worse by widening the trail into an un-surfaced road that will need constant attention.  Rip rap added at the edge of the water may prevent erosion of the bank; but it doesn’t stand a prayer of stopping dirt that will be washed down the hill.  See the pictures.

During trail construction, members of the public were concerned about dirt entering the reservoir.  In response to those concerns, Lumpkin County Trails Committee members requested an opportunity to look at the work that was being done.  Immediately following their visit to the site accompanied by the contractor and numerous county employees, the Trails Committee was abolished.  Or to be more accurate, a determination was made that the committee never existed.  County employee members of the trails committee are well aware that the grant for our reservoir trail would have been lost without the efforts of that committee.

In the current economy, the county can no longer afford to kick volunteers to the curb.  This is our government.  Public land belongs to all of us.  If you are an elected official who does not value and respect volunteers, you are in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Maybe it is time for you to move on.

You created a disaster around our reservoir where we wanted a lovely winding trail that would be accessible to anyone who can walk.  Your so-called improvements have made it wider and much more likely to erode.  You have created pollution instead of protecting our water reservoir.  Where is the EPD?  Hopefully they will soon be all over you.

All county residents are encouraged to attend and participate.  We will have an update and discussion on Blackburn Park, the reservoir trail, the dog park, and other issues of concern to members.

Discussions on the county budget at the last meeting resulted in the conclusion that we do not want emergency services and public safety reduced.  There were no recommendations for where the budget should be cut due to lack of information about the budget.

Join us for coffee, cake and lively discussion.

We believe that working together we will be more effective at dealing with issues than we are as individuals going up against the challenges alone.

Lumpkin County is currently advertising for the position of “Park Beautification Technician.” Now, for most people that’s just a glorified title for a pine straw spreader, but this is government, after all…

Even funnier, though– the job title is misspelled. The county is looking to fill the position of “Park Beatification Technician;” in other words, somebody whose job it is to make sure that all parks make it into heaven! (If the PBT does his job really well, will we have to change the name to “Blessed Blackburn Park”?)

The “Park Pastor” must know how to drive a tractor and spread weed killer. $7.25 an hour, 30 hours a week maximum.

Major problems include: a failing system, no service manual, manufacturer gone out of business and parts not available.

There are great potential liability issues for both the Sheriff’s Department and the BOC.  It is one thing to be between a rock and a hard place on the budget; but lawsuits you could not win would only make matters worse.  The Sheriff and the BOC owe a duty to maintain a reasonably safe environment for incarcerated persons.

If your son or daughter were locked up for a traffic violation, you would expect them to be safe in jail.  Just think about that.

Jarrard came with a plan to pay for a new security system.  He pointed out that he had committed to the BOC that he would bring in some $300,000 to the county General Fund from housing prisoners from other counties.  He expects to bring in much more than that amount.  He requests using the additional amount he can bring in to fund a security system. Remember, the former Sheriff did not bring in this kind of money from housing out of county prisoners.

County Manager Stan Kelley responded that while he recognized the need; excess collections were required to go into the General Fund and not be dispersed based on requests from any specific department.  He proposed instead funding from SPLOST since this would be a capital improvement for the Sheriff’s Department.

Commissioners discussed the issue seeming to recognize the importance of security for the jail and its inmates.  Chairman Raber recommended a Special Called Meeting to discuss the matter.  He pointed out that there was a request for SPLOST funds from the Water Authority.

It seems that the Water Authority may be eligible for a loan of $800,000 that would not have to be repaid if the county will commit 30% or $240,000 from SPLOST funding for the project.  More than that amount was originally listed from SPLOST for the Water Authority.  It would be a shame to miss out on this deal to improve the county water system.

So the commissioners do have major decisions.  It seems that the demand for those SPLOST funds just keeps growing.  They need to hear from you.

The Enotah Family Drug Court with mandatory treatment and counseling has proven to be amazingly successful at keeping families together when they are about to lose custody of their children to the Department of Family and Childrens’ Services. Twenty young people who live in Lumpkin County are currently enrolled. Since the program began a year ago, no participant has been terminated from the program or been arrested for an alcohol or drug abuse related offense. This is one great success story!

Lumpkin County Commissioners have not included Judge Turk’s request for $35,000 in the 2010 county budget.  At this point, fundraisers are the only way to provide funding for this very successful way to preserve families and turn around the lives of these young Lumpkin County residents

Fundraisers are being held all around the Enotah Judicial District that will benefit Lumpkin County residents.  Later in the Fall, a fundraiser will be held here, too.  Help spread the word about all the fundraisers and preserve the Family Drug Court.