FINANCIAL REPORT
- FINANCE DIRECTOR: Gordon County Finance Director Al Leonard is retiring at the end of this month. Al came to work for Gordon County in 2005. He has received an award for excellence in Government Financial Reporting every year he has worked for the Gordon County. Mr. Leonard’s financial records have always exceeded the minimum requirements of reporting. Because of his detailed budget work and annual audits, the finances of Gordon County Government are open and available to the public with full disclosure and a level of precision that is not found in other jurisdictions. Al is truly one of the top experts in County Government Accounting in the State of Georgia. He has an uncanny ability to anticipate needs and problems. Al has treated the County Treasury as his sole responsibility and has been an important player in keeping government spending low and financial reserves high. In other words, he heads to retirement leaving Gordon County in excellent financial shape. On a personal note, Al has been a great mentor to me and others, including Jason Brown.
Jason has served as Al’s assistant for the last 15years. He has been behind the scenes helping produce the excellent work that we have come to expect from the Finance Department. Now, Jason Brown has earned the privilege to step forward. It is my great pleasure to announce that Jason Brown will serve Gordon County as its interim Finance Director effective on December1, 2020. I have confidence that Jason will continue the tradition of excellence that Gordon County has come to expect from its Finance Department. I wish Al and Jason all of the best as one pursues retirement and the other promotion.
SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS AND ACTIVITY
- COVID-19: The Covid-19 task force met this morning.
- Public safety has 436 total personnel with eight out of service due to COVID.
- The Hospital update (numbers as of Monday afternoon) shows fifteen COVID+ patients and three additional patients under investigation. Four of the fifteen are in critical care.
- Gordon County has an increase of 316 cases and 7 deaths over the last two weeks.
- BRAY ROAD: The County is still waiting for a GDOT response to the county complaint of water runoff from the new bypass that is impacting Bray Road.
- JUDICIAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION: Site work is well underway. Construction of the new retaining wall behind the City Municipal Court Building has begun. Footings and elevator pits have been poured. A large wall is going up on the back side.
- Elections: The Elections Department completed its portion of the State Audit yesterday.
- BROOKSHIRE PARK: My wife and I paddled with the New Echota Rivers Alliance two Saturdays ago. A total of about 40 people put in at Brookshire Park and we took out at Highway 140 in Floyd County. About 30 of the participants were from Tennessee. The scenery on the river is beautiful and we saw a lot of wildlife including a bald eagle.
- EMERGENCY RADIO COVERAGE: County Representatives continue to meet with service providers and explore solutions to areas of poor reception and equipment upgrade needs.
- BROADBAND: Chairman Hood and I met with a Broadband provider last week as we continue efforts to bring Broadband accessibility to un-served areas in the county.
- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: The CFL project on Highway 41 South received the prestigious award for Deal of the Year. In addition, an Electric Vehicle parts supplier, Teklas, is locating in Calhoun.
MISCELLANEOUS ACTIVITY
- Participated in a tax appeal hearing before the Board of Equalization.
- Keith King and Jeff Champion headed up the move of the Superior Court, District Attorney and Victims Assistance to the second floor of the Plaza.
- We have provided assistance to Elections.
- Tomorrow we will have a meeting of the Gordon Floyd Joint Development Authority.
PROJECT PLANNING
- Brookshire Park: Currently in a holding phase until we hear if the grant has been accepted. This will be in February 2021.
- Admin Building: Plan to discuss roof and soffits with the team this Thursday, the 19th.
- Evidence Building & Morgue: Plan to measure the square footage and cubic footage of the current Evidence Building this week and communicate with Carter Watkins concerning design vs budget.
- Health Department: Currently working on the warranty list and plan to meet with Pro Construction after Thanksgiving.
