GORDON PROCLAIMS American Red Cross Month
Members of the local American Red Cross board were on hand at this week’s Gordon County Board of Commissioners meeting as the organization was recognized.
“We hereby recognize this month of March in honor of those who lead with their hearts to serve people in need, and we ask everyone to join in this commitment to strengthen our community,” Commission Chair Bud Owens said, reading from an official proclamation declaring March as American Red Cross Month in Gordon County. “I encourage all citizens of Gordon County to reach out and support its mission.”
With several board members on hand at the regular commission meeting, Northwest Georgia Executive Director Carla Maton spoke on behalf of the local Red Cross Board.
“March is Red Cross Month, and it’s a time for us to just say ‘thank you’ to the community in supporting
all that we do through blood drives, through coordination with the fire and EMA departments, disaster relief, and so much more.” Maton said. “Thank you for all of the support, and we just encourage anyone who would like to get involved with Red Cross this month, there are a dozen ways, so please call our office or go to our website and we’d be happy to welcome you to our family.”
Also during the meeting, commissioners heard a first reading of an ordinance change that, if eventually passed, would give residents more
freedom in what building materials they choose for future residential projects.
A possible amendment to Chapter 4 of the county’s Unified Land Development Code section for site design standards would aim to strike a portion of the section related to exterior wall surfaces. The section currently disallows both metal siding and concrete block as outer materials on homes, but commissioners may consider striking one or both of those.
A second reading on the matter is set for the Tuesday, March 19 commission meeting with an eventual public hearing to be held. All notices on the possible change will be posted as legal ads in the Calhoun Times in the coming weeks.
At the request of the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office, an inmate telecommunications agreement with Pay Tel Communications Inc. was approved for the jail at no cost to the taxpayer. The deal includes a onetime $40,000 sign on bonus, with the county netting around $80,000 annually on the deal in recent years, according to officials.
One spending item was approved by the board at
the request of Gordon County Fire Rescue with three trucks at state bid pricing from Prater Ford getting the go ahead — Two 2024 Ford Maverick XLT vehicles at a combined $59,485.88, and one 2024 Ford F250 XLT at $52,000. All three vehicles will be paid for using 2018 Special Local Option Sales Tax funds.
Also passed was a request from Gordon County Emergency Management Agency and Gordon County Animal Control to approve a required disaster plan in coordination with the Georgia Department of Agriculture for handling domestic pets and livestock during a disaster event.
In other business, commissioners unanimously approved a pair of board reappointments with Jim Rosencrance for a first full term on the Gordon Floyd
Joint Development Authority expiring March 20, 2027; and Jim Mathews to the Development Authority for a term expiring March 1, 2028.
The board also approved several alcohol-related items, including a change of ownership request for the Malt Beverage, Wine, and Liquor License for BP Food Mart, 110 Shope Lake Road; a Malt Beverage, Wine, and Liquor License renewal for Fairmount American Legion Post 305, 2962 Highway 411; and a Malt Beverage, Wine, and Liquor License for ABC Convenience Store No. 1, 4095 Chatsworth Highway, Resaca. All votes were passed 4-1, with Commissioner Kevin Cunningham the lone dissenting vote on all three items.
Finally, in the public participation portion of the meeting, Dianne Kirby suggested the location of county foreclosure readings be moved the covered back patio of the main courthouse on the South Piedmont Street side rather than the front traditional front steps location due to gatherings not only being exposed to the weather, but also sometimes becoming an impediment to other citizens during periods of early voting and election days.
Kirby also shared with the board her opinion that Gordon County should have both a County Attorney and a County Administrator like other municipalities around the state rather than a combined position.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the board is set for Tuesday, March 19, in the Gordon County Judicial Building Assembly Room, 101 S. Piedmont St. All regular meetings are open to the public.