Saved: $1.2 million back in Fannin’s General Fund
Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds and Tourism Product Development (TPD) monies generated by the hotel/motel tax used for Fannin County’s new swimming pool and splash pad are credited with saving the county over $1.2 million.
That $1.2 million had been budgeted to come from the county’s General Fund.
County Finance Director Sherri Walker presented commissioners a budget amendment at their regular meeting Tuesday, August 27, reflecting the savings.
She explained the pool and splash pad at the county’s recreation complex on Gray Street in Blue Ridge came it at $1,200,603.42 under the budgeted expense from the county’s General Fund.
As a result, the money was moved from the budget’s expense line back into revenue.
Commissioners Chairman Jamie Hensley, and Johnny Scearce and Glenn Patterson unanimously approved the budget amendment.
Recreation Director Eddie O’Neal said the pool and splash pad have been “a huge success,” and he expects operating revenue has exceeded expenses so far.
Commissioners also learned that two grants have been awarded for fire department equipment.
The largest, for $976,500, is for a new ladder truck.
Emergency Management Agency Director Patrick Cooke said this is a 90% federal grant, meaning the county will have to provide 10% or $97,650.
When questioned by Hensley, Cooke said the “ladder truck will probably be (cost) a little more.”
He and Fire Chief Larry Thomas are hoping to find one already in production so it can be delivered within a year. The normal production time for such a truck is two to three years.
The new truck would replace the county’s 1983 ladder truck. Cooke said that truck will have to be taken out of service once the new unit arrives.
Hensley had hoped it could be moved to McCaysville, but cannot because of the grant terms.
The fire department has also been awarded a $82,300 grant for washers and dryers for turnout gear. This is also a 90% federal grant making the county responsible for $8,230. The equipment will extend the life of the fire department’s current turnout gear.
Commissioners approved for the ladder truck and washers and dryers to be put out for bid.
The commissioners also approved two requests from O’Neal for maintenance projects at Ron Henry Horseshoe Bend Park and the recreation center on Tom Boyd Road.
Seal coat was okayed for the rubber flooring for the large playground at Horseshoe Bend. The work, which O’Neal said should be done every two years, will cost $11,102 and will come from the department’s maintenance budget.
Commissioners also agreed for O’Neal to have the floors refinished on all four courts at the recreation center for a cost of $12,835.20. This will be paid from SPLOST monies.
O’Neal told commissioners that in the “next couple of weeks, we should have the walking path pretty close to finished,” referring to the new path at the recreation complex off Gray Street.
Commissioners also approved a request from Maintenance Director Ed Hawkins to purchase a 2021 F250 Ford utility truck for $38,000. The truck has 68,382 miles. Hawkins said the 2010 Chevrolet currently being used is worn out and needs to be replaced. That truck “has about had it (and is) dollaring us to death,” Hawkins said.
The replacement truck will be paid for with American Rescue Plan Act monies.