The Fannin County Sheriff’s Department received approval, Tuesday, January 28, to build a new firing range on McCaysville Properties’ property on Ocoee Road.
According to County Attorney Lynn Doss, the contract for use of the property is similar to contracts the county has used in the past when leasing fire stations.
“There’s no cost to the county for the actual property,” Doss said. “The county would be responsible for putting up appropriate fencing to keep somebody from just wandering on to it.”
The contract covers use of the property through 2024 and Doss explained that either party can terminate the contract with six month’s notice to the other party.
In other action, the board voted to allow EMA Director Robert Graham to purchase a Ford Explorer from North Georgia Ford for Deputy Director Darrell Payne at a cost of $29,940.
The decision to purchase Payne a new vehicle came after the department realized they needed a vehicle for the six new full-time firefighters to pull trailers, four-wheelers, etc. He suggested giving the firefighters Payne’s current vehicle after the new one is purchased.
Graham said, “We actually have that in the budget, in the fire budget. We have $25,000 in Capital Outlay and the remainder will come out of Fire Operations.”
Chairman Stan Helton explained that all six firefighters have been hired, are local residents and have worked with the county in the past in some capacity. However they are currently keeping their identities concealed for the time being.
Graham also requested and was approved to contract with North Georgia Consulting to update the county’s Hazard Mitigation Plan. His department received and accepted a grant in April of last year to go towards updating the plan, which is a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requirement for the county to receive disaster relief funds.
Public Works Director Zack Ratcliff was approved to purchase a new Buffalo Turpine Leaf Blower from Mason Tractor Company for $5,000 using SPLOST funds.
He explained that the blower would help his department with leaf disposal.
“Some of my guys are going out with pitchforks cleaning the ditches out now and their having to load them because there’s no way of getting rid of them (leaves) where they’re at,” Ratcliff said. “Sometimes they’ll haul as much as six loads a day, three guys loading trucks.”