Admin Report for May 19, 2020

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FINANCIAL REPORT

• CASH AND INVESTMENT REPORT:  This report dated May 18, 2020, is available for your review.
• BUDGET PREPARATION CALENDAR FOR F/Y 2020-2021:  The Board of Commissioners receives the recommended budget at this meeting. A copy of the recommended budget will be posted online at the county website (www.gordoncounty.org). The BOC and Staff may hold budget discussions between now and June 2. The next commission meeting will include a budget hearing. The BOC will have until June 16 to review the proposed budget. The final budget is to be adopted on June 16 with an effective date of July 1.

SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS AND ACTIVITY

• COVID-19:  Gordon County continues to participate in the COVID-19 task force meetings on a weekly basis. This task force was formed in early March and includes open discussion between EMA; Calhoun P.D; Fire; and Administration; E-911; GEMA; Calhoun City Schools; The Gordon County Schools; Plainville; Resaca; Fairmount; Several Churches and the VAC; Nursing Homes and Assisted Living facilities; Advent Health; the Department of Public Health; Gordon County Sheriff’s Office; Gordon County Fire Department; and, County Administration.
  Gordon County Government is cautiously easing some restrictions that were put in place in March while adhering to the various guidelines set by the Governor, Georgia Supreme Court; CDC, and others. Anyone needing to conduct business with the county can always call the applicable department for more information as needed.
  Based on the reports that I am seeing, the positive test numbers in Gordon County are in decline. Our community has acted responsibly and has done a great job fighting the virus. We are indebted to our frontline workers and thank them for their dedication to our health and well being! Now, as we seem to be in recovery, let’s remain safe and remember local businesses who have been hit so hard over the last couple of months. Local businesses, local merchants, barbershops and beauticians, restaurants and others have shut down or limited their operations while doing their part to slow the spread of the virus. Yet, their bills and overhead have continued to accrue. So, let’s shop and dine locally to support them. We all want this virus to be done. As a community, we need to stay vigilant to protect each other and especially our elderly and at-risk populations
• COVID-19 AND COUNTY OPERATIONS:
  • Parks and Recreation: Sonoraville Recreation is open for tennis and walking. Boat ramps are open. Camping is allowed at Salacoa subject to restrictions. Resaca Battlefield remains open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Team sports are still closed under CDC guidelines:
    “In general, most organized activities and sports such as basketball, baseball, soccer, and football that are held on park fields, open areas, and courts are not recommended during times in which individuals are encouraged or required to practice social distancing. These activities and sports typically require coaches and athletes who are not from the same household or living unit to be in close proximity, which increases their potential for exposure to COVID-19.
    Park administrators should monitor directives issued at the national, state, and local levels related to limiting the size of gatherings. These directives can inform decisions about limiting participation for those sports and activities that exceed the maximum number allowed. Until local public health officials have coordinated with organizers to determine if/when it is safe to participate in such activities, all should be postponed or canceled.”
  • Senior Center – Closed until the Governor lifts shelter in place for seniors. The Director continues to follow up with seniors by telephone and follows nutrition services.
  • Government Plaza (Tax Commissioner and Assessor) – Has been open with restricted access for the duration of the pandemic. Doors are being unlocked so long as relevant guidelines can be followed.
  • Courthouse – Has continued restricted access and restricted function under the Supreme Court Order. All courts and the Clerk are attempting to expand services within the confines of the Supreme Court Order and relevant guidelines.
  • Building Inspection and Zoning – Has continued to work by appointment and dropbox. This Department plans to open doors by the end of this week.
  • Administration – has remained open for work with restricted access. Finance and I.T. and GIS– have continued to operate and will remain operational with continued limited public access.
  • Public Safety, Public Works, Fire Department, Animal Control, Code Compliance, and EMA – continue to remain fully operational.
• EARLY VOTING:  Early voting began on Monday, May 18. You may vote at the elections office which is set up at the first floor of the Courthouse Annex on Piedmont Street. The Board of Elections has taken many steps for our health and safety with adequate space for social distancing, the staff is wearing masks, and there is plenty of hand sanitizer and other steps. If you do not want to come in, you may make a request for an absentee ballot.
  To view a copy of the sample ballot please go to My Voter Page, www.mvp.sos.ga.gov.Please note that some ballots will have the Presidential Preference Primary listed on the General Primary/Nonpartisan Election ballot while others will not.
  Example: If you cast a ballot in the Presidential Preference Primary Election (back in March 2020) then your ballot will not have the presidential candidates listed on your June 9, 2020, General Primary/Nonpartisan Ballot. If you did not vote in the Presidential Preference Primary then your ballot for June 9th Election will include the Presidential Preference Primary and General Primary/Nonpartisan Election on the ballot.
• KEEP CALHOUN GORDON BEAUTIFUL:  This is a non-profit organization that has requested a letter of support from Gordon County and Calhoun. Ed Weldon has given me an example of the type of letter they request. They are not seeking money from Gordon County.
• HEALTH DEPARTMENT:
  • An Owner’s walkthrough was held Monday, May 11th
  • Move-in has begun while punch list items are being addressed.
  • A substantial completion walkthrough is set for this Friday, May 22.
  • Project completion with the demolition of the old building and parking lot paving is scheduled for the first of July.
• GOVERNMENT PLAZA 2ND FLOOR:  This project is complete.
• SPLASH PAD & PAVILION: 
  • Project completion scheduled for the first of July.
• BROOKSHIRE PARK:
  • Pending Bids.
• NEW EVIDENCE BUILDING & MORGUE:
  • Currently in Design Phase
  • Looking at fine-tuning the location.
• ANNEX / COURTHOUSE:
  • The Construction Manager has begun the first phase of its work by reviewing the plans, evaluating the site, and determining costs to prepare the recommended maximum price for the BOC to review.
• DOE LANE:
  • The County has received a preliminary engineering plan to raise the road. The next steps will be a discussion of this plan with affected residents living adjacent to Doe lane. The arrangements for this meeting have been delayed by Covid-19 gathering and social distance restrictions.
• MT. OLIVE CHURCH ROAD:
  • The County has received preliminary engineering plans to rebuild the road between the two lakes. This is a voter-approved SPLOST project.