The Fannin County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to extend the county’s State of Emergency declaration ordinance Wednesday, April 8, following Governor Brian Kemp’s extension of the statewide shelter-in-place order through the end of the month.
The ordinance, which encourages Fannin residents to shelter in place, will now run through April 30 rather than April 13. According to Chairman Stan Helton, Regional Health Board and Fannin Regional Hospital officials had encouraged the board to extend the order to best protect the county’s residents from COVID-19.
“A big concern has been that since the tourism activity has declined in our county … that this activity will be replaced by folks that are coming up here from high-risk areas to shelter in Fannin County,” Chairman Stan Helton said. “That is what we’ve tried to target with our emergency declaration. We want to reduce that risk.”
Helton explained that rental occupancy is down for most of March and April, with most of the decline occurring since the ordinance went into effect.
“Additionally, overnight bookings, or cabin rentals and tourism activity, is down 70% versus 2019,” he said. “Now, cancellations for cabin rentals, these have spiked. In other words, a lot more cancellations have come in for the month of April and the month of May, but at this time the bookings for June and July are normal for this time, which we all have great hopes that by that time we’re all back in a robust tourism economy.”
Since the ordinance was first put in place, there has been a 40% decrease in emergency service in-service calls as well.
“This is a positive, because it’s basically a 40% decrease in the potential exposure to our first responders and law enforcement personnel who most certainly under a great amount of duress dealing with this pandemic,” he said.
However, the 9-1-1 administration calls are up “significantly” due to calls seeking information on both the state and county COVID-19 related orders. According to the Fannin County Emergency Management Agency, all non-emergent calls should be directed to their department at 706-258-3189.
Both post commissioners agreed that the ordinance needed to be extended.
“That would be relevant for us to extend it at this time, knowing the data we see and things like that, we don’t want to start it too early and then have to shut it back down again,” Post Two Commissioner Glenn Patterson said.
Post One Commissioner Earl Johnson wanted the tourism industry to know that the board understands the impact the ordinance has on them.
“But at this point, I don’t see how we could do anything to lift the ordinance and continue on the trajectory we’re on now,” Johnson said. “By the numbers provided, calls are way down and it does help all the county employees reduce their risk of exposure. I think the alternative of allowing it open again at this point, would just create a very quick vacuum to be filled.”
Sheriff Dane Kirby felt extending through April 30, lining up with the state’s order, would be appropriate.
“It’s been a real fight keeping the crowds beat back up here, because everybody has wanted to come to the mountains to hide and get away,” Kirby said. “If we were to lift that, I don’t think it would have a positive effect.”
Kirby had previously spoken with the governor’s chief of staff and expressed the county’s need for “some avenue to be able to stop people from coming here just on day trips and coming up here for no other purpose but to recreate and flooding in here on us like they have been.”
He hopes the state is working on a more detailed plan to incorporate his concerns.
Kirby also requested, and was approved, to purchase three new law enforcement vehicles for approximately $99,000, and $20,232 for the accompanying necessary equipment, using money within his budget.
The board also voted to cancel their Tuesday, April 14 meeting.