Hall Commissioners release closed door minutes

GAINESVILLE - Hall County Commissioners Monday morning agreed to release the minutes of a closed door session held September 8th at which they voted to pay $3-million for Glades Farm Reservoir permitting.

Commissioners came under fire for voting behind closed doors, but County Administrator Charlie Nix got the go-ahead to say that the money was basically a re-imbursement to Glades Farm for their cost in seeking the federal permit to build the reservoir. Republican candidate for Hall County Commission District One Craig Lutz he wishes the Commission would revote in open session the three million dollars paid to Glades Farm.

"Perhaps the $3-million wasn't all justified," Lutz said. "It just looked like they were trying to shield the public from what could be some short of 'black eye'."

Nix said during negotiations the county wanted to make sure the payment was for reservoir permitting expenses and nothing else.

STARTING OVER

Hall County Commissioners and the Planning Department want to get the word out that Hanson Aggregates won't be asking to expand its land fill in Southeast Hall County during the regular session Thursday. The Hall County Planning Commission voted to deny the application; company officials agreed to withdraw their application and come back before the commission next April 1st.
Company Attorney Wayne Phears said Hanson wants to take another look at its application to rezone 113 acres and start all over; nearby residents argue that the expansion would cause water and vibration problems from blasting the rock.

SNOW PLOWS WANTED

Hall County may soon be getting its first snow plows. County commissioners reviewed a bid for snow plows spreaders during their Monday morning work session. County Administrator Nix said eventually the late summer temperatures in the 90's would give way to cold weather and the possibility of snow.

"I think the local folks would appreciate having snow plows instead of these old motor graders, so we'll be ready for snow and ice come January," Nix said.

Nix added the county could sell the old graders and use the money to pay for the snow plows and sand-and-salt spreaders.