FINANCIAL REPORT
- SPLOST AND LOST: SPLOST and LOST revenue shown in the report dated April 30, 2021 reflect collections reported for March 2020. For that period, SPLOST collections were $988,912.72 which is a $216,496.11 (28.03%) increase over the same period last year. LOST collections were $626,796.95 which is a $134,299.66 (27.27%) increase over the same period last year.
- AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021: On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act Of 2021 into law. The first allocation of money to counties is to occur within 60 days according to the law. Gordon County has taken the necessary steps to receive the allocation. Finance Director, Jason Brown, and I met with Al Leonard last week to discuss the permissible rules for expenditure of the funds. In addition, the Federal Government is expected to issue further guidance on permissible expenditures around May 11th.
- BUDGET: The Finance Committee will present the recommended Budget to the Board of Commissioners at the next meeting which is May 18.
SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS AND ACTIVITY
- COVID-19: The Covid-19 task force met on May 4, 2021. Gordon County continues to show a consistent reduction of active cases. Advent Health reports 12 Covid positive patients are hospitalized with 5 of those in critical care and 2 on ventilators. The hospital has seen some cases of patients being re-infected after recovery from Covid, but none of those patients are actually hospitalized. Patients testing positive after vaccination or those that have Covid a second time are having markedly milder symptoms. E-911 reports 34 residences with a Covid positive case in the last 21 days and 11 residences drop off the list this week.
- SENIOR CENTER: The Senior Center opened to in person operations yesterday, May 3rd, with protocols in place to protect our seniors. The Nutrition program that is run by Area Agency on Aging in Rome will not be able to provide hot meals until June 7th. The Director, Ann Bradford, will make arrangements to have some type of meal for the clients during the month of May such as sandwiches, chips, and drinks. In addition, the county repainted the main meeting room prior to re-opening.
- JUDICIAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION: Construction is moving along well. The interiors of all floors are framed out, exterior walls are under construction and brick samples are onsite for inspection.
- EMERGENCY RADIO COVERAGE: This contract for an emergency radio system as a service is on the agenda for acceptance tonight.
- POST FLOOD REPORT: Gordon County is still recovering from extensive countywide flood that occurred around March 25. Harbor Road and Dobson Road remain closed due to flood damage. We expect Dobson Road to reopen in a couple of weeks and Harbor in a couple of months. A shortage of materials such as metal pipe and engineering are impacting the projects.
- BROOKSHIRE PARK: Gordon County continues to pursue a DNR grant to match SPLOST funds for renovations to this park.
- JUVENILE COURT BUILDING: Gordon County continues to work with the Juvenile Court to move operations to the “Adjust Building”.
- OPIOID LITIGATION: The Law Firm representing several NW Georgia counties are in discussions with ACCG Executive Director Dave Wills to ask ACCG to issue a letter to Governor Kemp and AG Carr, requesting a meeting to discuss finalizing an agreement between the State of Georgia and our local government clients as to how any settlement with Opioid distributors, manufacturers and others will be distributed.
- ADP PAYROLL SERVICE: H.R. Director, Don Holley, and his assistant, David Gibson, are receiving training by zoom teleconference and working daily to make the transition to the ADP payroll service. We expect to go live with ADP on June 11, 2021.
- GOMI: I completed the annual Government Management Indicators survey which is due by June 30 each year.
- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: I will meet with developers tomorrow regarding improvements that the developers are required to make to a portion of Trimble Hollow Road. The Development Authority of Gordon County and Calhoun met last week. The Gordon/Floyd Development Authority will meet next week. Interest for Industrial Warehousing remains very high.
- SANTEK: Santek delivered a Memorandum dated April 2021that provides a 2020 Operations Report. A copy is attached for your review. Santek’s sale to Republic may occur tomorrow.
