Habersham County’s Board of Commissioners decided Monday not to contest an annexation by the city of Baldwin off Highway 365.
The city plans to allow a 10,000-square foot daycare facility to be built there, with entrances and exits directly from the highway.
“I have safety concerns, but there is no legal reason to deny the annexation request,” Chairman Bruce Palmer said. “Do I think this is a good place for a daycare? I absolutely do not.”
If the annexation is contiguous to the city and does not create a geographic island, then there is little recourse for the commission.
The county commission did approve a zoning change on Highway 17 to allow Habersham Homeless Ministries to use a former single-family home as an additional shelter when needed.
“We are not a treatment facility,” ministry representative Tommy Stowe said. “It’s a place they can stay for up to 30 days, and we help them find a job, a place to live and get back on their feet.”
In other county news Monday night:
The commission selected Croft & Associates to do the architectural plans for both the proposed new animal shelter and the emergency services headquarters.
Construction will begin soon on the towers for the county’s new radio system, which should be up and running sometime in 2023.
There were 23 applicants for the position of airport manager, and County Manager Alicia Vaughn is preparing to conduct the first round of interviews. The county has already interviewed several candidates for the Fire/Emergency Director position.
The county updates its memorandum of understanding with the Board of Education regarding school resource officers. The school board agreed to fund a second SRO at Habersham Central High School, and the county funds the other officer there. The schools fund the other six SROs at a 70-30 split with the county.
Board members appointed Monday night include: Tax Assessors, Amy Vandiver Sgro; Airport Commission, D. Higgins, Andy Anderson and Justin Schapansky; Development Authority, Kelly Woodall.
Commissioner Jimmy Tench nominated C. Allen Whitener for an additional seat on the Development Authority but there was no second. He then tabled his nomination.