The Gainesville City Council is expected to hear from several departments at its Thursday work session, including Administrative Services, Parks and Recreation, Public Works and Community Development.
Council members are expected to get an update on Midtown from Community Services Director Rusty Ligon. He is also scheduled to present public hearing items the City Council will hear at its meeting next week.
Members are also expected to hear presentations on a pawnshop license application from Check Into Cash Inc. on Shallowford Road and an alcoholic beverage application from Fajitas Mexican Restaurant Inc. on Thompson Bridge Road.
Melvin Cooper, director of the city’s parks department, will introduce a resolution regarding an alcoholic beverage franchise for the Gainesville Civic Center and an ordinance that would amend the city’s code on weapons in parks. Current law prohibits people from having items such as shotguns, air rifles, bows and explosive substances in a park. Weapons are currently not allowed to be discharged or set off on park property.
Chris Rotalsky, assistant director of Public Works, is scheduled to present an amendment to Gainesville’s law on cemeteries.
Hall considers changing term limits for tax assessor board
The Hall County Board of Commissioners is considering changing the term limits for members of the Board of Tax Assessors. The five-member board is responsible for preparing the annual tax digest, which is the taxable value of all properties in a jurisdiction. The Hall County Board of Commissioners appoints board members and sets the budget.
Terms for the Tax Assessors Board are currently six years, and the proposed ordinance would change them to four years beginning Jan. 1. The commission may also consider a combination of three-, four- and five-year terms.
The commission held a public hearing on the proposal last week and is scheduled for a second reading and vote on the issue at its Nov. 14 meeting.
Hall to consider planning, zoning issues
The Hall County Planning Commission is scheduled to meet Monday to consider three items. One item is to rezone 476 acres on the east side of Cornelia Highway at its intersection with Chiplan Road. Barker Street LLC wants the property zoning changed from agricultural residential to planned commercial development so the company can create a mixed-use commercial and residential area.
Verizon Wireless is asking to build a telecommunications tower on nearly 39 acres on the north side of Allen Drive west of its intersection with Allen Road. Both of those items must get final approval from the Hall County Board of Commissioners.
The last item is an annual hardship mobile home request.
Gainesville Historic Preservation Commission meeting canceled
The Nov. 4 meeting of the Gainesville Historic Preservation Commission has been canceled. The next scheduled meeting is Dec. 2.
Sarah Mueller covers government issues for The Times. Share your thoughts, news tips and questions with her: