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.

FANNIN COUNTY FAILS TO PUBLISH CODE OF ORDINANCES

COUNTY VIOLATES STATE LAW, INCONVENIENCES CITIZENS

Fannin County has not complied with a 2001 state law that requires it to codify and publish a code of ordinances.

The Coming Storm of Development

COUNTY NEEDS TO PREPARE FOR GROWTH

There’s a tempest coming to Fannin County … or at least a lively squall. And it will cross the boundary between newcomers and old-timers and divide the county into two camps. The dispute will be over progress, commerce and development. If you spent the last 35 years living in Pinellas County on the west coast of Florida across the bay from Tampa as I did you would recognize that the first signs are already here. 

A Coup at the County

POST COMMISSIONERS WANT SAY IN HIRING AND FIRING

There is a minor coup d’état happening at the county commission. The two post commissioners, Earl Johnson and Larry Joe Sosebee, want to horn in on Chairman Bill Simonds’ authority to hire and fire department heads. 

Muzzling Public Comment at Commission Meetings

PROHIBITION AGAINST POLITICAL COMMENTS UNCONSTITUTIONAL

SIMONDS EXPOSES COUNTY TO POSSIBLE LAWSUIT

Fannin County Commission Chairman Bill Simonds has severely limited a citizen’s right to speak at Fannin County Commission meetings by prohibiting “political comments.” While Simonds may have the right to adopt reasonable rules to regulate public comments at Commission meetings, First Amendment attorneys say that it is unconstitutional for him to prohibit political comments but allow other comments.