A DDA FOR BLUE RIDGE: TWO ISSUES ANALYZED

There is controversy in the City of Blue Ridge over whether the city council should create a Down­town Development Authority (DDA).

Council Member Angie Arp opposes a DDA saying it would create another layer of govern­ment. Some council members and voters may fear a DDA would take away some of the council’s control over the future development of downtown Blue Ridge. Proponents of the DDA poo-poo these ideas. They reject Arp’s concerns and say that the city council would retain control of the actions of the DDA because the council appoints the DDA’s board of directors. 

SIMONDS THREATENS TO SUE POST COMMISSIONERS OVER CHARTER CHANGE

COURTS HAVE ALREADY RULED ON ISSUE

Chairman Bill Simonds of the Fannin County Board of Commissioners has threatened to sue the two Post Commissioners, Earl Johnson and Larry Joe Sosebee, over their proposed change to the local legislation (sometimes referred to as the county charter) which would give the entire board rather than Simonds the right to hire and fire department heads.

Simonds will likely lose the lawsuit.

COUNTY ORDINANCES DRAFTED IMPROPERLY SINCE 2007

In 2002 Georgia enacted a law requiring counties to compile and publish a code of ordinances no later than January 1, 2002. O.C.G.A. § 36-80-19 (2014). The law also requires that subsequently enacted ordinances be drafted in the same format as the code of ordinances. Fannin county has routinely violated the law since 2007.