Hall Commissioners want clarification on opportunity zone

GAINESVILLE - Hall County Commissioners Monday wanted clarification on exactly where a proposed opportunity zone might be set up to provide job credits for new business.

Gainesville City Council has already agreed to apply for the economic development tool to bring in new jobs in this joint application with Hall County to the State Department of Community Affairs.

Island annexation of over 100 county parcels inside the city could be coming up this month, however, and Commissioner Scott Gibbs was not sure about county opportunity where properties are being annexed.

"That was my question," Gibbs said. "I wanted to see the parcels that are being annexed in, whether those will all be in the city limits. I just want to make sure the county has the opportunity to also offer this opportunity zone in the unincorporated area."

Gibbs added that the DCA program that provides an incentive to locate industry with job tax credits would be an opportunity for both parties, the city and the county, but he wanted to clarify the number of parcels in the city and the number in the unincorporated area. Commissioner Billy Powell also said he wants more information about where properties are before a decision to approve the opportunity zone application.

"Basically what you're interested in is enticing businesses," Commission Chairman Dick Mecum said. "It's for businesses and businesses moving into an opportunity zone would be able to receive the $3,500 per employee tax credit for five years. That's a large chunk of change to move into an area, so having it for both the city and county is a benefit to us all."

PROPERTY REGISTRY

Hall County Commissioners Thursday expect a first reading approval on a residential property registration program to enable county marshals to find out who is responsible for abandoned, foreclosed and vacant homes.

Commissioner Craig Lutz said those run down dwellings are an eyesore all over the county.

"The hope is that by bringing in this registry we will now have somebody who we know has responsibility for that property," Lutz said.

Lutz said the registry would allow the marshals to follow up on complaints, contact title holders and require them to maintain the properties.

"We haven't been able to find a solution to the problems we've been having with foreclosed homes and nobody taking responsibility for the property," Lutz added.

Foreclosed or abandoned property owners would be required to register the property with Hall County's Chief Building Inspector within 30 days after it is foreclosed on. The ordinance requires identification including the owner or agent's name, street and mailing address, telephone number and e-mail address.