[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6749136,"mediaKeyId","5355395-980334cb2f624bd49dd085c6349c9317","parentId",5355395,"title","Resident urges Stephens County to expand social‑media notices and allow informational comments at planning meetings","audioSeconds",229,"startMs",1234000,"endMs",1463000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5355395-980334cb2f624bd49dd085c6349c9317&start=1234&end=1463","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5355395-980334cb2f624bd49dd085c6349c9317/thumbnail_1234000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6749136/Georgia/Resident-urges-Stephens-County-to-expand-socialmedia-notices-and-allow-informational-comments-at-planning-meetings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6749136-a6f72efcf71df6275f1ab403047a916b/orig.mp4?Expires=1777219933&Signature=YZJe5Ek~VKOrFlK9AbBag8qtPv-3csG2wXvkqvldozKqQ7mIbtytkOdjQIhula5k1tKGYf2RNdv67WlPchJYiFuksTWG-ZEOMXeTNuPF0ySDSo4x0xuzZMm4eigvNvqvyxEX-o0hX1uMQuSvdAu5mlI2zbprAqUcag2PHvCa0YK7v-X3uFKtb8WGR1rwvn3FVduRoPVlFED0EHAhmm3sbgOBDb7kc224HI-jH5nwpk2P2irbMlMaRgFEU7Zo-gbGwDFLClEKyLs7R6lvwXe5I4EdIWPaZVeUsp8hUbey~EztBWLK9cz0QixMFRnZLB1Y~4S0eFg2gH4CCfwwqRh0YQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-07-09T10:27:49Z","article","Sherry Jeffers addressed the Stephens County Board of Commissioners during the public‑comment period, thanking the board and county staff for recent work and asking the county to do more to publicize planning and zoning notices on social media.

Jeffers noted that notices are posted on county web pages and in the local newspaper but said many residents rely on social platforms. She asked the county to \"blast\" information about development activity, grants and rent rates to increase public awareness. Jeffers also suggested altering the format at planning meetings so individuals can ask informational questions rather than having to declare they are 'for' or 'against' an item when they appear at the meeting.

A commissioner responded that the Development Authority maintains a Facebook presence and encouraged residents to follow it; no formal action was taken in response to the request during the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","07.08.2025 Stephens County Commissioners Live Stream","oneSentenceSummary","Resident Sherry Jeffers urged Stephens County officials to expand social‑media outreach for planning notices and to change planning‑meeting formats to allow informational questions rather than requiring attendees to be 'for' or 'against' an item.","taxTitle","Stephens County, School Districts, Georgia","taxId",56360,"location","Georgia","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6749146,"Development Authority reports job wins, housing starts and workforce training to Stephens County commissioners",941,257000,1198000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5355395-980334cb2f624bd49dd085c6349c9317&start=257&end=1198","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5355395-980334cb2f624bd49dd085c6349c9317/thumbnail_257000.jpg","/articles/6749146/Georgia/Development-Authority-reports-job-wins-housing-starts-and-workforce-training-to-Stephens-County-commissioners","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6749146-aa025c298650dd867adbb83a03e5e914/orig.mp4?Expires=1777219933&Signature=MlEi6ckBgs8xmgV31cObeeyJq7-TciA5hAE9Drf1GIoqSjrD6BOO-mvCkPaqrd9wNhncTHlhlkm-w3JGgYaYlHdZW-0eYvUslc0XH4~HjQ8JP5YaA2TWY5ydthE~9C~9yROrPG4-EaaUVGq-SAn9WQEYc3KOqPyXRm3SUnRLWDt0aFoFguTIeHWQOc4bX7R1zhuBHAwuBMg5ZziYR8n6-LfeM6eKOBerZVfdsIpcEUOhmhXt2NihOHQCukeyEQ6YvNS7Y05vsRsS1xJy1EAxn3lELtPMLgIMjUWV4Z1wpW4tD~C4WLJ2MNvZ9AOXGNogVSzkCXVbIeTkv4CLaIHEWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a meeting of the Stephens County Board of Commissioners, a representative of the Stephens County Development Authority presented the authority’s annual report, detailing project activity, workforce partnerships and housing efforts.

The authority said it worked 38 named projects during the fiscal year, completed 18 state requests for information (RFIs) and hosted nine site visits by prospective developers. Staff reported that existing industries reported roughly 20 new jobs and about $41,000,000 in investment during the reported year.

The presenter described several specific projects: a commercial project identified as “Project Right” that has opened locally; a manufacturing project described as a pharmaceutical operation retrofitting the former Robertson Furniture site on Peachtree Street; and continued outreach to hotel developers using a prior feasibility study.

Infrastructure and grant work were highlighted. The authority said it closed out a state grant enabling additional sewer infrastructure to make a 132‑acre industrial lot more marketable; county matching funds were credited for that work. The authority also reported it received a rural workforce housing initiative grant and that the county provided a $125,000 local match for associated infrastructure work. The presenter said preconstruction activity for the grant‑funded infrastructure is underway and that the related Heritage Drive apartments expect initial building readiness in spring 2026.

On workforce development, the authority said it worked with North Georgia Technical College, WorkSource Georgia and local partners to run industry tours, mock interviews and short‑term training programs. The presenter described a 10‑day training pathway that resulted in at least two students receiving job offers from local employers. The authority also said it received a Georgia Power Company grant to fund industry tours for the next five years.

Housing activity was presented in quantified form: the presenter said county and city permit records showed 181 single‑family residential permits, 49 mobile‑home permits and 164 multifamily permits in a recent 12‑month span; the authority reported selling 50 acres across from the industrial park (30 of those acres have four pad sites planned that together would contain 32 apartments) and a 20‑acre tract where a townhome development is planned.

Commissioners asked about rent limits for an upcoming 90‑unit planned unit development (PUD) tied to the rural workforce housing initiative. The presenter said rents for that project must comply with Department of Community Affairs standards tied to the grant and that the developer’s rents cannot exceed the community average established by that agency.

The Development Authority thanked the county for financial support on multiple projects and said it will publish a finalized annual report when outstanding industry data are received. Commissioners did not take formal action on the authority’s report during the meeting; the presentation was received for the record.","At a meeting of the Stephens County Board of Commissioners, a representative of the Stephens County Development Authority presented the authority’s annual report, detailing project activity, workforce partnerships and housing efforts.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6749141,"Votes at a glance: SPLOST on the ballot, Anderson Thomas speed limit cut to 25 mph, bills approved",161,124000,285000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5355395-980334cb2f624bd49dd085c6349c9317&start=124&end=285","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5355395-980334cb2f624bd49dd085c6349c9317/thumbnail_124000.jpg","/articles/6749141/Georgia/Votes-at-a-glance-SPLOST-on-the-ballot-Anderson-Thomas-speed-limit-cut-to-25-mph-bills-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6749141-34034daf0ab975083bf3e0e33cf1b4f0/orig.mp4?Expires=1777219933&Signature=Jp~U8387kLjN27Zk0GTT8i~5MANHPISQjh2WE~DJFsnyOvBEVy3F3PaVCFRQF7pP-6TLQMVwq0EAtROfUx3qb9W3yWjB9adpguTDPXZeyqzjldzOr1oiIbyhEzkUD4G-6EMZK5hTC0wEtWCeaYLm-Hij2ig5jznKEmBsS~YrgyL12bR7Ct6mqEZfw4gw36wCkHGkqaxoL48QZRkYhJn0Kc~AtFD6zhEium1IPzroWdEt06~9EOZBXrb-UVWA2CPDDYSHyH2rDgkruZK0b9OhM~6U05dKrJMK398tJQA14GCKe3nYeGq2huEj18kBdUEpcdt8mkHr991vrN-pbP-0jg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its meeting, the Stephens County Board of Commissioners voted on multiple routine and substantive items. All recorded motions carried on voice votes.

SPLOST resolution: The board approved a resolution calling an election to reimpose the Stephens County special purpose local option sales tax and authorized the chair to sign the resolution. County staff said this approval is the final step before the resolution and documentation are forwarded to the local board of elections to place the question on the November ballot. Motion: to approve the resolution (mover/second not specified). Vote: carried (voice vote: aye).

Speed zone for Anderson Thomas Road: The board adopted a speed‑zone resolution to reduce the posted limit on Anderson Thomas Road from 30 to 25 miles per hour. Meeting remarks cited a recommendation from KCI consultants (Todd McDuffie) and concurrence from public works staff (Jason Holland) based on the road’s one‑mile paved length, residential driveways, mailboxes and sharp vertical curves. Motion: to adopt the speed zone resolution (mover/second not specified). Vote: carried (voice vote: aye).

Bills and invoices: The commission approved a motion to pay bills, including an invoice from Hanley Welding in the amount of $14,496.40. Motion: to pay the bills (mover/second not specified). Vote: carried (voice vote: aye).

Other routine actions: The commission approved the meeting agenda and approved the prior meeting’s minutes by voice vote. No roll‑call tallies were recorded in the meeting transcript.","The Stephens County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution to place a SPLOST reimposition on the November ballot, adopted a speed‑zone resolution lowering Anderson Thomas Road’s posted limit from 30 to 25 mph on staff recommendation, and approved payment of invoices including $14,496.40 to Hanley Welding.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Resident urges Stephens County to expand social‑media notices and allow informational comments at planning meetings

Development Authority reports job wins, housing starts and workforce training to Stephens County commissioners

Votes at a glance: SPLOST on the ballot, Anderson Thomas speed limit cut to 25 mph, bills approved