CPA probe to include Hall Tax Assessors

GAINESVILLE - Hall County's chief property appraiser and the Tax Assessor's office are coming under investigation. Hall commissioners Thursday accepted that recommendation from County Administrator Charley Nix.

Nix said Bates and Carter CPA's should take about five days to investigate allegations that appraiser Mike Henderson claimed improper homestead exemptions and issued improper tax bills.

An investigation of Tax Assessors procedures and records could take a month.

"I think it would benefit everyone to have an independent look at how it's run, an in depth study of that," Nix said.

Nix said the total cost of the CPA probe of Henderson and the Tax Assessors Office, to start next Monday, is $23,000.

The allegations surfaced last week from Hall County Citizens for Efficient Government, a watchdog group that urged the investigation.

SEWER RATES UNDER FIRE

Hall County commissioners came under fire for proposed South Hall sewer rates from subdivision homeowners.

Those rates come with the new county sewer system, but Phyllis Mercer from the Village at Deaton Creek said the county needs to go back to the drawing board.

Public Works Director Ken Reardon said the rates could come down with money from the next Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.

HOMEOWNERS PACIFIED

Homeowners opposed to a planned residential development moving in near them on Union Church Road got pacified by conditions on the project from Commissioner Bobby Banks.

Lynn Rees said she was opposed to proposed density, commercial zoning and an onsite private sewer system. Banks said the development had to go on public sewer when available.

Banks' conditions also required no commercial development at all on Union Church Road, and specified housing square footage.

GLADE FARM PROJECT APPROVED

Commissioners approved the giant Glade Farm master planned mixed use development over the objections of a single property holder.

George Thorpe called it a "wish, hope and dream" project that has escaped review by local bankers and realtors. Not so, said developer's attorney Emily Bagwell, who said there was careful planning and review by area realtors and bankers.

Glade Farm's Cane Creek includes nearly 3 million square feet of non-residential uses and more than 2,000 residential units with a 12 to 15-year build out on 1,100 acres near Lula.

FAREWELL TO DEBORAH MACK

Thursday night was the commission's last meeting of the year, and District Four Commissioner Deborah Mack's last meeting. Commissioners celebrated her departure with allocades from friends and relatives, as well as incoming commissioner Ashley Bell.

Mack received a wrist watch, and then announced the unveiling of a statue of former Commissioner Frances Meadows.

Mack filled Meadows' seat after she passed away six years ago, and she said she will ask the City of Gainesville to place the statue at the Frances Meadows Community and Aquatic Center.