New ordinance
To read the data center ordinance, click on this link. The next meeting of the Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5.
The Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a “restrictive” data center ordinance in its meeting on Monday at the courthouse.
The ordinance doesn’t ban data centers. Instead, it sets clear rules regarding proximity to property lines and residences, water consumption, noise levels, square footage and backup generator requirements.
This followed the zoning board’s approval, said Jeff Sharp, director of planning, zoning and compliance.
The board approved a 90-day moratorium on data centers in July, which temporarily hindered data center applications while county officials worked on long-term regulations.
Dave Gossage, chairman of the Oglethorpe County Republican Party, asked the commissioners if the public could see the ordinance before publicly commenting on it.
Sharp said the document had been posted online for approximately a month and a half.
He added that he gathered “some of the toughest ordinances throughout the United States and combined them” to create one specific for Oglethorpe County.
“That’s sufficient for me,” Gossage said. “I trust you.”
Chairman Jay Paul noted that data centers are a “pretty hot topic.”
About 25 people attended the meeting, which featured mics at the lectern and one for each commissioner, and screens to display presentations and documents, leading to improved audio and video for county officials and those in attendance.
Commissioner Andy Saxon was absent, leaving four commissioners to vote.
Deannexation of mill property
The Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the deannexation of the Old Mill property from Crawford. The property sits on the city limits, with part in unincorporated Oglethorpe County and part in Crawford.
The proposed buyer of the property would prefer to deal with only Oglethorpe County. The Crawford City Council had already voted to approve the move.
Digital Atlas Project
Tom Gresham asked the Board of Commissioners for its support of the Digital Atlas Project.
Gresham and Elaine Collier Neal developed the idea of digital historic atlas project in 2022, as a follow-up to their previous cemetery project.
The cemetery project showcases approximately 450 cemeteries in Oglethorpe County on a digital map.
They would like to create a digital atlas of other historical landmarks in the county, such as churches, schools, water power mills and post offices. Gresham was not asking for funding or any official requests.
County administrator Jason Lewis said the atlas could be hosted on the county’s upgraded, ADA-compliant website, which is tentatively planned to launch next February.
Tractor replacement
The Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a funding request proposed by Public Works director Adam Nation for a new mowing tractor.
Nation, who oversees the county’s paved and dirt roads and local infrastructure projects, said his department tries to replace a tractor every other year.
Nation stated he received quotes from two companies, one being approximately $75,400 and the other being $82,000. The board said they would approve the purchase but only after a third quote.
Landfill expansion
The commissioners voted unanimously to accept the resolution of consistency for the Oglethorpe County Construction & Demolition Landfill expansion. The final plans for the expansion were deemed consistent with the Northeast Georgia Solid Waste Management Authority.
The long process of expanding the landfill seems to be in sight, but Paul said even though he’d love to get this done by the end of the year, that likely won’t happen.
In other business, the BOC:
Unanimously approved Andrew Baker’s request to rezone for a portion of Tax Parcel 009 198 at 1070 Arnoldsville Road from General Agriculture (A2) to Agriculture Residential (AR). Baker wishes to subdivide 6.97 acres.
Unanimously approved Betty Melton’s request to rezone for Tax Parcel 007 041 at 65 Melton Road. Melton requested to subdivide two parcels. One, being 1.72 acres, requested from General Agriculture (A2) to Single-Family Residential (R1). The other, being 8.81 acres, requested from General Agriculture (A2) to Agriculture Residential (AR).
Unanimously approved David Stevens’ request of a variance to the minimum acreage required for A2 zoning district in the “Back-Forty” Character Area for Tax Parcel 129 036 located at 168 Veribest Road. Steven wishes to subdivide 10.78 acres.
Heard from Joe Epps, a Crawford resident, who said he believes the county should get rid of the school zone speed cameras.
- Heard from Freddy Gilbert, a Stephens resident, a sixth-generation farmer. He’s said he’s worried his legacy is in jeopardy with this year’s tax assessments. He urged the Board of Commissioners to “start saying no” to funding proposals that he believes drive up property taxes.